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Month: November 2024

Jaguars Sign K’Lavon Chaisson, 3 Others To Wrap Draft Class

July 20th, 2020 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars became the latest team to wrap their 2020 draft class’ deals. They reached an agreement with first-round pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson and three others to do so Monday.

In addition to their agreement with the LSU-developed edge defender, the Jags signed fifth-round safety Daniel Thomas, sixth-round quarterback Jake Luton and seventh-round cornerback Chris Claybrooks.

Chaisson will join a revamped defensive front, one that is thin on contributors from the acclaimed “Sacksonville” era. Jacksonville traded Calais Campbell and released both Malik Jackson and Marcell Dareus in the past two offseasons. Yannick Ngakoue must play this season on the franchise tag, but the team’s top pass rusher has vowed not to return to Jacksonville for a fifth season.

Jacksonville used first-round picks on edge defenders in two straight years, with Chaisson following Josh Allen to north Florida. Chaisson broke out for the national champion Tigers last season, registering 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. For his career, however, Chaisson only finished with 9.5 sacks.

Luton, who played at Oregon State, will compete for a job behind starter Gardner Minshew. Considering Mike Glennon and Joshua Dobbs are on the roster, Luton profiles as a candidate for the Jags’ practice squad. Thomas (Auburn) and Claybrooks (Memphis) will attempt to impress, despite limited offseason work, in training camp to earn jobs in the Jaguars’ secondary.

Here is the Jags’ 2020 draft class:

1-9: C.J. Henderson, CB (Florida): Signed
1-20: K’Lavon Chaisson, DE (LSU): Signed
2-42: Laviska Shenault, WR (Colorado): Signed
3-73: Davon Hamilton, DT (Ohio State): Signed
4-116: Ben Bartch, OT (St. John’s (MN)): Signed
4-137: Josiah Scott, CB (Michigan State): Signed
4-140: Shaquille Quarterman, ILB (Miami): Signed
5-157: Daniel Thomas, S (Auburn): Signed
5-165: Collin Johnson, WR (Texas): Signed
6-189: Jake Luton, QB (Oregon State): Signed
6-206: Tyler Davis, TE (Georgia Tech): Signed
7-223: Chris Claybrooks, CB (Memphis): Signed

NFL Draft Signings: 7/20/20

July 20th, 2020 at 5:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

With training camps looming, teams are rushing to get picks signed. Here are the latest draft deals:

  • The Falcons signed third-round center Matt Hennessy. The No. 78 overall pick is set to develop behind Pro Bowler Alex Mack, whose contract expires after the 2020 season. Atlanta’s Hennessy pick caused Denver to change course, with the Broncos having a deal in place with the Jets to move up to No. 79 to draft the Temple blocker. But the Falcons struck one pick earlier, allocating another early-round resource to their offensive line after using two first-round picks on the group last year.
  • The Jets were busy Monday, signing three of their 2020 draftees. Third-round pass rusher Jabari Zuniga (Florida), fourth-round quarterback James Morgan (Florida International) and sixth-round punter Braden Mann (Texas A&M) are now under contract. Mann is on track to be Gang Green’s punter, while Zuniga may a rotational role from the outset. Despite an apparent need, the Jets were not especially aggressive in addressing their years-long edge-rushing issue this offseason. Morgan will be on track for the developmental route, with the Jets having signed Joe Flacco after the draft.
  • Two Cowboys picks agreed to terms as well. Fifth-round defensive end Bradlee Anae (Utah) and seventh-round quarterback Ben DiNucci are under contract. Both project as backups, with the latter — a former Pitt recruit who transferred to James Madison — joining Clayton Thorson as UDFA QBs behind Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton.

Dolphins Sign Round 1 CB Noah Igbinoghene

July 20th, 2020 at 5:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins are one player away from finishing up their draft class agreements. But they took care of a key contract Monday, coming to terms with first-round cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Miami acquired first-round picks from its Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick trades last year. The team made the Igbinoghene pick — at No. 30 overall — with the selection acquired from the Texans. The Dolphins traded down four spots, when the Packers moved up for Jordan Love, and further bolstered their new-look cornerback contingent.

Despite the Dolphins rostering two of the league’s three highest-paid corners — Byron Jones and Xavien Howard — the team used one of its three first-round picks to add to the group. Igbinoghene projects as a slot defender, one that may need some developmental time before assuming such a role. The Auburn alum has been a full-time cornerback for barely two years.

Igbinoghene moved from wide receiver to cornerback early in his college career, moving to defense in spring practice in 2018. He started the next two seasons on defense for the Tigers, however. Igbinoghene also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns during his three-year Auburn career.

This agreement leaves only second-round offensive lineman Robert Hunt unsigned. Here is how the Dolphins’ rookie class now stands:

1-5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Alabama): Signed
1-18: Austin Jackson, T (Miami): Signed
1-30: Noah Igbinoghene, CB (Auburn): Signed
2-39: Robert Hunt, OL (Louisiana)
2-56: Raekwon Davis, DL (Alabama): Signed
3-70: Brandon Jones, S (Texas): Signed
4-111: Solomon Kindley, OL (Georgia): Signed
5-154: Jason Strowbridge, DT (UNC): Signed
5-164: Curtis Weaver, DE (Boise State): Signed
6-185: Blake Ferguson, LS (LSU): Signed
7-246: Malcolm Perry, WR/RB (Navy): Signed

NFL Proposes Practice Squad Expansion

July 20th, 2020 at 5:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The COVID-19 pandemic will almost certainly change NFL roster management throughout the 2020 season. Adjustments to practice squad sizes are being discussed, and it looks like there will be more practice work available this season.

Weeks after a report indicated a possible expansion from 12 to 16 players on teams’ practice squads, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the NFL has sent the NFLPA a proposal on raising the P-squad limit by four. This would represent a major spike, considering practice squads resided at 10 players last season and stood at eight not that long ago.

To help teams with this unique health crisis, the NFL is proposing that six players on practice squads can have unlimited experience. This would help create additional jobs for vested veterans and allow teams to promote seasoned players to their active rosters in the event of positive COVID-19 tests that arise in-season. At the time of the CBA ratification in March, teams were set to be limited to just two such veterans on practice squads.

The NFL’s proposal cited its contagious disease policy, which allows for six P-squad players to be promoted within four hours of kickoff. The league is proposing to move that deadline to 90 minutes prior to kickoff, Florio notes.

Normally, teams cannot promote practice squad players after 4pm CT on Saturdays before Sunday tilts. For a team to be permitted to take advantage of this proposed rule change, one of its players must test positive after the 4pm deadline, Florio adds. The league’s proposal for this season, however, would remove the six-player limit, meaning teams could promote any number of practice squad players on game days — in the event of a virus outbreak.

Reshad Jones Considering Retirement

July 20th, 2020 at 4:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reshad Jones‘ first offseason as a free agent came at a bad time for unattached players with injury issues. The longtime Dolphins safety needs to undergo a neck surgery, but the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted this process.

As a result, the 32-year-old defender is considering ending his career after 10 seasons. The Dolphins released Jones in March. The pandemic has prevented free agents from visiting teams.

“I definitely can play again; I just don’t know if I will,” Jones said, via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “I had a couple teams call my agent, but I can’t pass a physical right now. So a lot of teams when they call it’s just no point. They find out I have to have surgery.

“So right now, a lot of teams don’t want to talk because I can’t get on the field or pass the physical. But it’s not career-ending. I don’t think it is. The doctor said I can get a surgery and play again. But in Year 10, with all I have accomplished and financially I am set, I have a couple things I have to weigh out.”

Jones said the pandemic, with hospitals being flooded with coronavirus patients, has put his surgery on hold. With barely six weeks remaining until Week 1 is slated to begin, Jones being in this spot may shelve him for the 2020 season anyway. He will turn 33 in February. If he is to come off a neck surgery-induced absence this year, after he missed time because of a chest injury in 2019, returning to the field in 2021 would be difficult.

A former fifth-round pick, Jones once resided as one of the NFL’s best safeties. He scored six defensive touchdowns and made two Pro Bowls. His 113 starts lead all safeties in the Dolphins’ 54-season history.

NFL To Conduct Daily COVID-19 Testing

July 20th, 2020 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the first set of rookies report to training camps, the NFL and NFLPA have gone back and forth about key issues. But the sides are now closer to an agreement.

The NFLPA made daily testing a high priority, and that pursuit looks to have succeeded. The NFL has agreed to test for COVID-19 daily, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). Daily tests will be administered during the first two weeks of camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, before a re-evaluation of the policy will take place.

If the positive rate drops below 5% over the first two weeks of camp, the league will move to every-other-day tests, Pelissero adds. This will apply to players, coaches, staffers and certain front office members. The league expects test results to emerge within 24 hours, according to NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills (Twitter link). Upon arrival at team headquarters, players and staffers will only be allowed to enter their respective facilities if they test negative twice, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. BioReference Laboratories will conduct the tests.

This comes after a coordinated social media blitz from high-profile players Sunday. Other key issues remain unresolved — from financial solutions to the return-to-work acclimation period represent two of those — but the players have moved the needle on two key health-related matters Monday. The NFL preseason will now feature either one game or no games, with the league backing down from seeking two.

It remains to be seen if football can proceed during a pandemic, given the nature of the sport, the personnel required and the lack of a bubble setup. But daily testing will undoubtedly help the league as it attempts to find out.

Chiefs To Sign Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Wrap Draft Class

July 20th, 2020 at 3:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs have verbally agreed to deals with all six players in their draft class, as Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports tweets. Here’s the full rundown of the group, headlined by one of this year’s most intriguing rushers: 

1-32: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB (LSU)
2-63: Willie Gay Jr., LB (Mississippi State)
3-96: Lucas Niang, OT (TCU)
4-138: L’Jarius Sneed, S (Louisiana Tech)
5-177: Mike Danna, DE (Michigan)
7-237: Thakarius Keyes, CB (Tulane)

Don’t let Edwards-Helaire’s 5’7″ frame fool you – he’s tough, durable, and a proven three-down back. His agility and soft hands made him one of this year’s most coveted rookie RBs, though some evaluators were concerned about his speed. That’s not a huge problem in KC, where they already have ample quickness on offense.

The LSU product is expected to serve as the Chiefs’ top running back, ahead of Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson. Elijah McGuire, Darrel Williams, and former Raiders rusher DeAndre Washington are also on the offseason roster.

Eagles Sign Jalen Hurts, Wrap Draft Class

July 20th, 2020 at 2:49pm CST by Zachary Links

That’s a wrap. On Monday, the Eagles formally announced the signing of second-round quarterback Jalen Hurts, plus five other draft picks. With that, the Eagles have formally inked all ten of their rookies in advance of training camp.

[RELATED: Eagles, Jalen Reagor Agree To Terms]

The Birds surprised everyone with their selection of Hurts at No. 53 overall. Few saw the QB2 role as a priority, but Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson couldn’t pass up the chance to grab the Oklahoma star.

“I think this player, obviously with Jalen Hurts, he has a unique skillset and you see what Taysom Hill has done in New Orleans,” Pederson said earlier this year. “And now he and Drew Brees have a connection there and a bond there. You look at with (Joe) Flacco and Lamar (Jackson) in Baltimore in the short period of time, how they gelled together. It’s just something we’re going to explore.”

During his lone season at Oklahoma, Hurts ran for 1,298 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 233 carries. He also had five receptions during his collegiate career, including two for 25 yards and a score during the 2019 campaign. His versatility is a major plus, and so is his salary – he’ll make just $6.025MM over the course of his four-year deal, allowing the Eagles to spend elsewhere and save in advance of their 2021 cap crunch.

The Eagles also inked deals with third-round linebacker Davion Taylor, fourth-round guard Jack Driscoll, fifth-round receiver John Hightower, sixth-round linebacker Shaun Bradley, and seventh-round linebacker Casey Toohill to round out the group. Here’s the full rundown, via PFR’s Tracker:

1-21: Jalen Reagor, WR (TCU): Signed
2-53: Jalen Hurts, QB (Oklahoma): Signed
3-103: Davion Taylor, LB (Colorado): Signed
4-127: K’Von Wallace, S (Clemson): Signed
4-145: Jack Driscoll, G (Auburn): Signed
5-168: John Hightower, WR (Boise State): Signed
6-196: Shaun Bradley, LB (Temple): Signed
6-200: Quez Watkins, WR (Southern Miss): Signed
6-210: Prince Tega Wanogho, T (Auburn): Signed
7-233: Casey Toohill, DE (Stanford): Signed

Antonio Brown Retires (Again)

July 20th, 2020 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. On Monday, Antonio Brown announces his retirement from the NFL. This marks at least the third time Brown has publicly called it quits since September of last year. 

[RELATED: Patriots, AB Settle Grievance]

“At this point, the risk is greater than the reward,” Brown tweeted. “Thank you [to] everyone who [has] been a part of this journey. I sincerely thank you for everything!”

Brown, of course, isn’t the only player who is concerned about the risk involved with playing this season. Still, it remains to be seen whether his latest farewell will stick. Less than three weeks ago, Brown was lobbying the Seahawks to pair him with friend and workout partner Russell Wilson. There were also rumblings of AB and Tom Brady getting together in Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers weren’t interested in the drama that comes with the controversial wide receiver.

Brown, 32, remains under NFL investigation for multiple incidents, including two alleged acts of sexual misconduct. His own safety concerns aside, there was little guarantee that a team would take on the risk of signing him. Brown’s availability for the coming year was also highly questionable.

If this is truly a wrap for Brown, he leaves the game with a complicated legacy. Over the course of his ten-year career, Brown tallied 841 receptions for 11,253 yards and seven Pro Bowl appearances. Before things turned ugly, Brown was a surefire Hall of Famer and regarded as one of the game’s most dangerous offensive talents. Now, (we think), he’ll focus on other endeavors, while untangling some of his off-the-field matters.

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