2020 July - Pro Football Rumors

NFL, NFLPA Agree On Training Camp Setup, Opt-Out System

July 24th, 2020 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

A two-tiered opt-out system will be in place this year. It will classify players in two categories: those who opt out of the season because they are at high risk of developing coronavirus complications and those who simply choose not to play, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. Players who opt out would receive stipends, Volin tweets, but must decide within 10 days if they plan to play in 2020. Players who are in the high-risk category will receive a $350K stipend and an accrued season toward free agency, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Players without such risk will receive $150K and no such accrued season, per Fowler. Although high-risk NFL players did not receive a deal on the level of what Major League Baseball players secured — where high-risk opt-out players receive their full salary and get credit for the season — but the accrued-season component is a significant win for players in the high-risk category.

There will be an opt-out exception for certain players. Players will be able to opt out beyond the early-August deadline, and apparently into the regular season, if a family member develops complications from the virus (Twitter link via NFL reporter Josina Anderson).

Days before full teams are scheduled to report to training camp, the NFL and NFLPA have reached agreements on other fronts as well. Here is the latest on the solutions the sides reached after months of negotiations:

Training camps will still begin July 28, but the acclimation period players sought will take place. No full-padded practices will occur until August 17, Lindsay Jones of The Athletic tweets. Eight days of strength and conditioning will first take place before four days of helmets-and-shells work commences, Jones adds. Days 1-6 of camp will consist of COVID-19 testing and virtual meetings, per SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter). This year’s camps will feature a maximum of 14 padded practices. That is down by just two from the 2020 CBA’s limitation but down considerably from last year’s setup.
Teams do not have to cut rosters down from 90 to 80 players — a long-rumored scenario in this COVID-19 reality — until they begin practicing in pads August 16, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will remind of the recent past, when teams needed to trim their rosters from 90 to 75 players before ultimately cutting down to 53.
As expected, practice squads will expand from 12 to 16 players. However, a key caveat exists to protect teams from losing higher-end P-squad talent. Teams can protect four players from being poached by other teams on a weekly basis, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Normally, teams can sign other franchises’ practice squad players if they promote them to the 53-man roster. In this historically unusual year, teams can block certain players from such advancement and have up to six players with unlimited experience on their taxi squads.

NFL, NFLPA Reach Agreement On 2021 Cap

July 24th, 2020 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

News about the potential solutions in place for a revamped NFL structure continues to trickle out. Part of that: a resolution to the months-long debate about the salary cap.

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to some financial compromises. Next year’s salary cap will be no lower than $175MM, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report (Twitter link). Rather than borrowing money from projected future revenues through 2030 — as the players initially sought — this agreement will take from projected funds through 2024 to help guard against a salary cap freefall this COVID-19-altered season could cause, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. Ownership previously hoped to only borrow against projected gains through 2021.

The NFLPA has voted unanimously to recommend this change to the CBA. Barring a down vote from the 32 union player reps later today, the parties have prevented a future in which the cap plummets considerably from its current $198.2MM perch.

Still, the cap coming in at $175MM, or even anywhere below $195MM, would represent the biggest drop in its 28-year history. The cap has steadily risen by approximately $10MM annually since 2014. Twelve of this year’s 14 franchise-tagged players did not sign long-term extensions. This could flood the 2021 free agency pool, with more cap-casualty cuts likely coming as well. Coupled with a cap reduction, this would create a buyer’s market next year. And the agreed-upon smoothing process will limit cap growth through 2024.

But the cap will not drop this year, as some owners sought. Owners dropped their request for an $8MM cap reduction this year, Pelissero tweets. However, the players gave in on another point that could affect 2020 earnings. Games must be played in order for players to receive money, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The NFLPA, though, was able to secure a fund that will pay back players who lost guaranteed money, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This will cover COVID-induced losses up to 2023. While particulars are unclear, Rapoport adds players who lose base salary money in 2020 will have it paid back next year (Twitter link).

Jets Sign Ashtyn Davis, Wrap Draft Class

July 24th, 2020 at 10:06am CST by Zachary Links

That’s a wrap. The Jets have inked third-round safety Ashtyn Davis to his rookie contract to round out their 2020 draft class (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the Daily News).

Davis, a Cal product, underwent core muscle surgery just before the draft. However, he’s expected to be 100% healthy by Week 1.

Safety seems to be Davis’ most likely position in the pros, but he also spent time at cornerback early in his collegiate career. The former walk-on is ready, willing, and even eager to line up at different spots in Gregg Williams‘ defense.

“I think I can contribute anywhere they put me. I’m comfortable on the outside and inside, whatever the case may be,” Davis said. “After my first year of playing safety, I wanted to know every position and not just my responsibility. That way if someone went down they could put me in.”

Per the terms of his slot, Davis has received a four-year, $4.9MM deal. Here’s the full rundown of the Jets’ nine-man freshman class, via PFR’s tracker:

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

Jamal Adams: Adam Gase Isn’t “Right Leader” For Jets

July 24th, 2020 at 9:54am CST by Zachary Links

They say that time heals all wounds. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case for the Jets and Jamal Adams. In an interview with Manish Mehta of the Daily News, the Pro Bowl safety slammed Jets head coach Adam Gase and GM Joe Douglas.

“I don’t feel like he’s the right leader for this organization to reach the Promised Land. As a leader, what really bothers me is that he doesn’t have a relationship with everybody in the building,” Adams said, in reference to Gase. “At the end of the day, he doesn’t address the team,”. “If there’s a problem in the locker room, he lets another coach address the team. If we’re playing s—-y and we’re losing, he doesn’t address the entire team as a group at halftime. He’ll walk out of the locker room and let another coach handle it.”

Adams hasn’t spoken to Gase since the end of the regular season and hasn’t received the extension offer he says he was promised in January. In February, Douglas told the world that he wanted Adams to be a “Jet for life.” The delay in talks could be attributed to the pandemic, but Mehta hears that the Jets front office was told to ease up on spending long before COVID-19 reached the U.S. In May, Adams says the Jets asked his camp to table talks until next year, so that they could monitor Adams and see if he was still committed to the game and the team.

“It was very insulting,” said Adams, who has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s hardest working players. “You know I bust my ass for that organization every day. I work my ass off. For them to say that to me, I was like ‘Okay… Whoa! That was little bit too far.’”

“If they would have just simply said, ‘You know what, Jamal — we’re not going to look to pay you this year, we want to keep adding players — I would have respected that more. I would say, ‘You know what? I respect it. As a man, I get it. I understand it’s a business.’ But for them to tell me that they’re going to pay me and then not send over a proposal after they said that’s what they were going to, that’s where we go wrong. And then for you to ignore me, that’s why I have a problem.”

Despite the animosity, Adams confirmed that he will report to camp on July 28th. Meanwhile, Adams says that Douglas is now open to trading him before the start of the season. After months of subtweets, pointed comments, and flat-out trade demands, the saga between Adams and Gang Green could be nearing its finale.

Dolphins Rookie DL Ray Lima Retires

July 23rd, 2020 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins waived undrafted defensive lineman Ray Lima earlier today, but the move wasn’t simply an attempt to trim the roster. Rather, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets, the rookie has decided to retire.

Lima didn’t show up to Dolphins camp today, and while head coach Brian Flores tried to change the rookie’s mind, the lineman decided to move on from the sport. Jackson notes that the decision had “nothing to do with COVID-19.” Rather, Lima simply “wants to do something else with his life.”

The six-foot-three, 316-pound lineman appeared in 35 games for Iowa State between the 2017 and 2019 seasons, compiling 87 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He appeared in 11 games during his senior campaign, finishing with 28 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

As an undrafted free agent, Lima already faced an uphill battle to make the Dolphins roster. He was one of four undrafted lineman to sign with the Dolphins, and he was competing with the likes of Zach Sieler for reps behind Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins.

As Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com notes, the move leaves the Dolphins with 86 players on the roster, so more moves are certainly coming.

This Date In Transactions History: Browns Extend OL John Greco

July 23rd, 2020 at 7:06pm CST by Ben Levine

The 2013 offseason was a busy one for the Cleveland Browns. The organization replaced general manager Tom Heckert Jr. with Michael Lombardi, and they hired Rob Chudzinski as head coach after canning Pat Shurmur. The team also made significant changes to the roster, ditching former third-round quarterback Colt McCoy and signing veteran Jason Campbell to a two-year deal. The front office also traded former third-overall pick Trent Richardson.

One of the moves that went under the radar was a move made on July 23rd, 2013. On that date, the organization signed offensive lineman John Greco to a five-year, $13MM deal. The contract featured only $3MM in guaranteed money.

Greco originally joined the Browns before the 2011 season, as the Rams traded their former third-round pick to Cleveland for a conditional seventh-rounder. Greco appeared as a backup in 15 games during the 2011 campaign, but he endeared himself to the organization in 2012 when he started 10 games in place of Jason Pinkston.

The Browns proceeded to ink Greco to a surprisingly lengthy extension, but the organization ended up getting plenty out of the offensive guard. The lineman started 56 games for Cleveland between 2013 and 2016, including a stint at center when regular starter Alex Mack was sidelined.

While Greco dealt with a handful of injuries during his tenure in Cleveland, he emerged as a dependable, reliable option for the coaching staff. While he certainly wasn’t a household name, the lineman consistently ranked in the top-20 of Pro Football Focus’ offensive guard rankings.

Cleveland made some changes to their offensive line before the 2017 season, adding Kevin Zeitler and center J.C. Tretter. Greco was ultimately cut by the Browns at the end of the preseason. He didn’t end up seeing the field during his subsequent stint with the Saints, but he appeared in 21 games (with seven starts) for the Giants between the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

While Greco’s career ended unceremoniously, he’s getting his time in the (PFR) limelight today.

Bears Release TE Ben Braunecker

July 23rd, 2020 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Ben Braunecker‘s tenure with the Bears has come to an end. The team announced today that they’ve released the veteran tight end.

The Harvard product joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and he proceeded to spend four years with the organization. The 26-year-old has appeared in 48 total games with eight starts (including postseason), hauling in 15 receptions for 157 receiving yards. The six-foot-three tight end finally hauled in his first career touchdown pass during the Bears’ Week 9 win over the Lions this past season.

Braunecker was also a stalwart on special teams for Chicago, compiling 16 career tackles in 780 career special teams snaps.

The veteran was limited to only 11 games last season. He landed on the injured reserve in mid-December after sustaining a concussion.

The Bears have revamped their tight end depth chart this offseason. The team signed Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris, and they added rookie Cole Kmet in the second round of the draft. The organization is also rostering holdovers Adam Shaheen, J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, and Eric Saubert, as well as former USC basketball player Darion Clark.

Vikings Sign CB Jeff Gladney, Wrap 15-Player Draft Class

July 23rd, 2020 at 4:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The largest draft class in the seven-round era is now under contract. The Vikings agreed to terms with first-round cornerback Jeff Gladney on Thursday, closing the book on negotiations with their 15-man draft class.

Chosen 31st overall, Gladney will be expected to compete for a starting job right away. While the COVID-19 pandemic eliminating onsite offseason work (and threatening training camps’ start date) will make the TCU product’s climb more difficult, the Vikings lost three corners — Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander — this offseason.

Minnesota made Gladney its second first-round corner chosen in three years, following Mike Hughes, and fourth since 2013. Gladney spent five years with the Horned Frogs. He finished as a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season and graded as Pro Football Focus’ top Big 12 corner in passer rating allowed in 2018.

The Vikings made three corner selections this year. They will join Hughes, Holton Hill and 2019 seventh-rounder Kris Boyd in attempting to fill the void left by the Rhodes release and the Waynes and Alexander free agency defections.

Here is the full Vikings 15-man draft class:

1-22: Justin Jefferson, WR (LSU): Signed
1-31: Jeff Gladney, CB (TCU): Signed
2-58: Ezra Cleveland, OT (Boise State): Signed
3-89: Cameron Dantzler, CB (Mississippi State): Signed
4-117: D.J. Wonnum, DE (South Carolina): Signed
4-130: James Lynch, DT (Baylor): Signed
4-132: Troy Dye, OLB (Oregon): Signed
5-169: Harrison Hand, CB (Temple): Signed
5-176: K.J. Osborn, WR (Miami): Signed
6-201: Blake Brandel, T (Oregon State): Signed
6-203: Josh Metellus, S (Michigan): Signed
7-225: Kenny Willekes, DE (Michigan State): Signed
7-244: Nate Stanley, QB (Iowa): Signed
7-249: Brian Cole II, S (Mississippi State): Signed
7-253: Kyle Hinton, OL (Washburn): Signed

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/23/20

July 23rd, 2020 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s draft pick agreements, with the list being updated throughout the day.

The Vikings picked an interesting year to make 15 draft choices, given the pandemic’s impact on developmental work. But the team is nearly finished with rookie contract agreements. Minnesota signed third-round cornerback Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State), fourth-round defensive end D.J. Wonnum (South Carolina), fifth-round corner Harrison Hand (Temple), fifth-round wideout K.J. Osborn (Miami), sixth-round tackle Blake Brandel (Oregon State), sixth-round safety Josh Metellus (Michigan), seventh-round defensive end Kenny Willekes (Michigan State) and seventh-round safety Brian Cole (Mississippi State). Minnesota lost Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander this offseason and tripled up on corners in the draft. First-round corner Jeff Gladney is the Vikes’ lone unsigned pick.
Top 2020 Steelers pick Chase Claypool, a second-rounder, is now under contract. The Steelers have their latest Day 2 wide receiver investment signed, along with Round 6 safety Antoine Brooks (Maryland). Claypool’s addition means the top four Pittsburgh wideouts — JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Claypool — came from the second or third rounds. The Notre Dame product has quite the SPARQ profile, going 6-foot-4, 238 pounds and running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
Washington wrapped up its 2020 draft class by signing Round 4 tackle Saahdiq Charles, Round 5 linebacker Khaleke Hudson, Round 6 safety Kamren Curl and Round 7 defensive end James Smith-Williams.
The Bengals signed one of Claypool’s former Fighting Irish teammates, fifth-round defensive end Khalid Kareem. He is the first of Cincinnati’s seven 2020 picks to agree to terms.

Eagles Cut CB Trevor Williams

July 23rd, 2020 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles trimmed their roster by two players, releasing cornerback Trevor Williams and waiving center Keegan Render. Both players were part of Philadelphia’s reserve/futures contract class in January.

Williams’ resume has him somewhat overqualified for a reserve/futures contingent, though he has not seen much action lately. The former UDFA has 27 career starts, being a Chargers regular from 2016-18. The Bolts, however, cut Williams from their IR list last year.

A Penn State product, Williams was a full-time Chargers starter in 2017. However, he landed on IR in 2018 and ’19. The Bolts still tendered him as an RFA earlier in 2019, but after his latest injury, they cut bait in October. The Cardinals signed Williams and played him in two games last season.

If teams’ rosters will be slashed from 90 to 80 players in the coming days, 300-plus players on this level will endure similar fates. While rookie UDFAs will likely represent the main casualties here, younger veterans given reserve/futures contracts would stand to be the next group of players franchises look to jettison.