2020 October - Pro Football Rumors

Teams Calling Texans On Fuller, Cobb

October 28th, 2020 at 3:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite trading DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans entered the season with a bloated wide receiver payroll. They are now 1-6 and between GMs, leading teams to inquire about some of their players.

Teams have contacted the Texans about their wide receivers, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who notes the team has fielded calls on Will Fuller and Randall Cobb (Twitter link).

The trade deadline looms Nov. 3, though teams who would like to deploy their new players in Week 9 would need to make deals this week in order for them to begin practicing ahead of those games. COVID-19 testing protocols require players to pass six tests — each a day apart — before practicing with new teams.

Fuller and Cobb represent half of Houston’s veteran receiving corps, which also includes 2020 trade acquisition Brandin Cooks and 2019 trade get Kenny Stills. Fuller, who is playing on a $10.16MM fifth-year option salary, would bring far more value back to the Texans in a deal than a Cobb swap would. The then-Bill O’Brien-run Texans signed Cobb to a three-year, $27MM deal in March. Shipping out the 30-year-old slot receiver would not bring especially notable compensation, and Wilson adds the Texans are not receiving strong offers for either player as of Wednesday afternoon.

Houston having dealt Hopkins would seemingly make a Fuller trade less likely. He has emerged as Deshaun Watson‘s top target, hauling in 31 passes for a team-high 490 yards and five touchdowns. Although the former first-round pick is a free agent at year’s end and has been unable to stay healthy for most of his career, the Texans do not have any surefire building blocks at this position for Watson moving forward. Cooks would qualify, but the O’Brien acquisition is on his fourth team. Cooks, 27, has also come up in trade talks. While the Texans appear ready to deal one of their veteran wideouts, it is unclear as of now which one will go.

Cowboys To Cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley

October 28th, 2020 at 3:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys continue to cut bait on veteran defenders. After failing in efforts to trade Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley, the Cowboys will release both, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Owner Jerry Jones said that Poe’s release was due to his weight and lack of performance, and he declined to say whether Poe’s decision to kneel during the playing of the national anthem before games was a consideration (via Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com).

These moves come a day after the team shipped Everson Griffen to the Lions for a conditional draft pick. While the Cowboys are a half-game out of first place in the woeful NFC East, they are coming off one of their worst performances in many years. And Dallas’ defense will feature less experience because of it.

Poe and Worley signed with the Cowboys this offseason. A former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Poe signed a two-year deal worth $4.5MM. This release will tag the Cowboys with more than $1MM in dead money. The Cowboys added Worley on a one-year, $3MM pact and will be hit with over $1MM in dead money from this transaction as well.

A former Chiefs first-round pick, Poe has started all seven of the Cowboys’ games this season. Worley has been a first-unit player in four contests, with the Cowboys dealing with injuries at cornerback. Dallas’ defense ranks 30th in DVOA, setting the stage for one of the most disappointing seasons in modern NFL history.

While Worley has allowed 10 receptions on 12 targets, he has graded as the Cowboys’ second-best corner — in the view of Pro Football Focus. Though, that assessment still places the journeyman outside the top 80 at the position. Worley spent two seasons with the Panthers and two with the Raiders prior to his Cowboys agreement.

Poe has been on four teams now, and his two Pro Bowl appearances came early during his Chiefs tenure. The Panthers declined his 2020 option, sending the 30-year-old back to free agency. The Cowboys signed Poe and Gerald McCoy this offseason. Prior to the midway point, they will be without both and Trysten Hill from their defensive tackle rotation.

Adam Gase: Jets Won’t Trade Quinnen Williams

October 28th, 2020 at 12:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Despite the speculation, the Jets won’t trade defensive lineman Quinnen Williams between now and Tuesday’s deadline. At least, that’s what head coach Adam Gase says.

“He’s going to be here,” said Gase (Twitter link via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano).

Gase went on to say that there’s “nothing” to the “false” rumors of the first-round pick being shopped. However, at multiple beat writers have heard that the Jets are willing to listen on Williams, and one recent report indicated that the Jets are actively looking to recoup draft compensation for him.

The Jets took Williams with the No. 3 overall pick just last year. With the talent to be a defensive cornerstone for years to come, a trade would be shocking. Still, at 0-7, the Jets are expected to be active in the coming days.

The Jets reportedly more than a second-round pick for the former Alabama standout, though Gase claims he’s practically untouchable. Given his ability and improvement as an NFL sophomore, that seems like an achievable asking price. Through seven games, Williams has five tackles for loss and ranks as one of the league’s very best run-stoppers on the interior, according to Pro Football Focus.

If Williams stays put this week, he’ll line up across from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.

Bengals Trade Carlos Dunlap To Seahawks

October 28th, 2020 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

First, the Bengals told Carlos Dunlap to stay home. Now, they’re shipping him across the country. The Bengals have agreed to trade defensive end Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). In exchange for the former Pro Bowler, the Seahawks will send offensive lineman B.J. Finney and an undisclosed draft pick to the Bengals. The Bengals announced the trade.

The Seahawks have been in the market for help on the edge, having pursued Cowboys notable Everson Griffen last week. Instead, the Lions beat them to the punch, leading them to talks with Dunlap. The 5-1 Seahawks have been flying high so far this year, but their pressure has been lacking. Now, they have some big-time support to address their weakest unit.

Dunlap has been unhappy with his role in Cincinnati, to say the least. In recent weeks, he’s ripped the Bengals on social media and he’s been seen yelling at his coaches on the sidelines. Dunlap, 32, has been with the Bengals since 2010, making 148 starts between his debut year and 2019. This year, he’s been bumped from the starting lineup with his playing time dropping week after week.

The Bengals probably should have started their rebuild in earnest last year. Instead, they held on to pricey vets like Dunlap and watched their trade value dip significantly. Dunlap likely won’t be the only player traded this week — longtime D-Line partner Geno Atkins also wants a fresh start. On the other side of the ball, speedy wide receiver John Ross continues to push for a trade.

Falcons To Trade Takkarist McKinley?

October 28th, 2020 at 11:27am CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have had trade talks about defensive end Takkarist McKinley and other teams believe he’ll be moved before the Nov. 3 deadline, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Nothing is imminent at this moment, but the Falcons could very well find a trade for the former first-round pick between now and Tuesday.

McKinley, who has been out of practice this week with a groin injury, has not lived up to expectations since being taken with the No. 26 overall pick in 2017. In his first two seasons, he managed a combined 13 sacks, but he started to regress in 2019. Last year, he finished out with just 3.5 sacks in 15 games. Then, he finished the year on IR thanks to a shoulder injury in December. The Falcons declined his 2021 option this offseason. That would have tied McKinley to the team through 2021 at a rate of $10MM, guaranteed only for injury.

So far this year, McKinley has notched just one sack and eight total stops in four games. But, for all the question marks, the talent and potential is still there.

Vikings’ Danielle Hunter Officially Done For Year

October 28th, 2020 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

Danielle Hunter has been officially ruled out for the season after undergoing successful neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, head coach Mike Zimmer announced (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). This was the expected move for Hunter, who has not seen the field in 2020.

Hunter recently got a second opinion from a specialist in New York, who told him to shut it down for the season. On the field, he’s been sorely missed, though the Vikings’ problems have not been limited to the edge rush. The Vikings have struggled to generate consistent pressure without Hunter, and they’re now trying to improve on that front without the services of Yannick Ngakoue, who was shipped to the Ravens earlier this month.

When the Vikings placed Hunter on injured reserve in September, they hoped that Hunter would be able to make his debut either this week or next. Instead, he’ll be shelved for the remainder of the season. Even in a best case scenario, it wouldn’t have been an easy call to activate him. At 1-5, the one-time Super Bowl contenders aren’t playing for much.

Last year, Hunter graded out as the No. 7 ranked edge rusher in the league, ahead of Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Demarcus Lawrence, and a host of other big names. He notched 14.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, bringing his career tally to 54.5. He’ll still be tied to the team for years to come, thanks to the five-year, $72MM extension he inked in 2018.

Bengals To Carlos Dunlap: Stay Home

October 28th, 2020 at 10:08am CST by Zachary Links

Carlos Dunlap‘s time with the Bengals is running short. On Wednesday, the Bengals told the pass rusher to stay home instead than of joining his teammates in practice (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

[RELATED: Bengals’ John Ross Requests Trade]

Dunlap has been unhappy with his role in Cincinnati, and he’s been vocal about it. The Bengals have discussed trades involving the veteran in recent weeks and it sounds like they may pull something together between now and November 3. If they don’t, the Bengals could opt to release him outright.

Cutting Dunlap sometime before the 2021 season would put $11.25MM back on next year’s books. That probably wouldn’t bother defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has hardly used the longtime pillar of the Bengals’ D. Dunlap didn’t start in the Week 5 loss to the Ravens and he saw just eleven defensive snaps last week against the Browns.

Lately, Dunlap has been seen arguing with coaches on the sidelines and chirping at team brass on social media. Clearly, both sides are fed up, and a divorce is imminent.

Dolphins Extend Adam Shaheen

October 28th, 2020 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have agreed to a two-year contract extension with tight end Adam Shaheen, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The deal — worth up to $7.85MM with $3.2MM fully guaranteed — will keep him in the fold through the 2022 season.

The Dolphins acquired Shaheen from the Bears in July for the cost of a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. That is to say, they didn’t give up much for Shaheen, who was a second-round pick just a few years ago. In Chicago, he didn’t live up to his 2017 expectations, due in large part to injuries. All in all, he had totaled 26 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games, out of a possible 48.

With the Dolphins, he’s managed to stay healthy while serving as a solid blocking tight end. Through six games, he’s played on 32% of Miami’s offensive snaps.

Shaheen figures to see more time this week, when the Tua Tagovailoa-led Dolphins face the Rams in Miami.

Cowboys To Trade Or Cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley

October 28th, 2020 at 9:39am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys told defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley they’ll be released if a trade cannot be completed today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Poe, a 346-pound force, spent 2018 and 2019 with the Panthers before his 2020 option was declined. That led him to Dallas, where he scored a two-year deal worth up to $10.5MM. Since then, Poe has started seven games with just seven total stops. According to Pro Football Focus, he has just one hurry to his credit this year. It’s a far cry from what Dallas expected of Poe, who made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 while he was with the Chiefs. And, last year, he managed four sacks from the interior, despite being limited to just eleven regular season games.

Worley, meanwhile, has allowed ten catches on 12 targets. Prior to his one-year deal with the Cowboys, Worley started in most of his 25 games across two seasons. Last year, in 15 contests, he notched 58 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

The trade deadline won’t come until Nov. 3, but the Cowboys are looking to get an early jump on things by moving — or dropping — the duo. So far this year, the Cowboys have averaged 34.7 points allowed per game, positioning them as the worst defense in the league.

Dolphins Receiving Trade Inquiries On Xavien Howard

October 27th, 2020 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Xavien Howard has intercepted a pass in four straight games, and those four picks are tied for the NFL lead. The veteran cornerback has rebounded from an injury-marred 2019.

Although the Dolphins are 3-3, they have received trade inquiries on their standout corner. At least two teams have called the Dolphins about Howard, Barry Jackson and Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald report. While Howard would not mind being traded, according to the Herald, the Dolphins made the interesting move of sending out a statement they are not shopping him (Twitter link via Jackson).

Multiple other media outlets indicated the Dolphins were, in fact, entertaining offers for Howard. Considering the Dolphins are still in a rebuilding phase, having just given Tua Tagovailoa the reins, listening to proposals would make sense. The current regime, however, did extend Howard in April 2019. His $15MM-per-year deal runs through 2024. However, no guaranteed money remains on the contract after 2020. The Dolphins would take only a $4.1MM cap hit by trading the 27-year-old defender, who is due base salaries of $12.1MM and $12.4MM in 2021 and ’22. His 2023 and ’24 prices dip below $12MM, increasing potential trade value.

The Dolphins gave Byron Jones a then-cornerback-record contract in March and drafted Noah Igbinoghene in the first round a month later. The team has not been shy on dealing key players, with Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick being shipped out last year. No first-round pick would likely come Miami’s way in a Howard swap, though.

Howard, who missed 11 games last season, led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2018 and already has 16 picks in his four-plus-season career. In that span, only Titans safety Kevin Byard has more INTs.