2021 February - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Claim CB Shakial Taylor

February 16th, 2021 at 8:26pm CST by Ben Levine

The Eagles have claimed a player from a division rival. The team announced that they’ve claimed cornerback Shakial Taylor off of waivers from the Giants.

The 24-year-old was acquired by the Giants last offseason, and he ultimately opted out of the 2020 campaign with a high-risk designation. The Giants initially attempted to waive the cornerback, but he eventually reverted to their reserve list for the entire season. The Giants ended up waiving Taylor earlier this week.

The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Kansas has also spent time with the Colts and Broncos. He saw time in five games for Indy during his rookie campaign, collecting seven tackles and one pass defended. He garnered a three-year, $1.76MM deal from the Broncos during the 2020 offseason, but he was cut by the time prior to the preseason.

Taylor will have some familiarity with the Eagles, as he played under current defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon during the duo’s time in Indy. Gannon previously served as the Colts cornerbacks coach.

Lions Expected To Franchise WR Kenny Golladay?

February 16th, 2021 at 6:55pm CST by Ben Levine

You could make a good argument that Kenny Golladay is the top free agent wideout, but there’s a chance he won’t even make it that far. Multiple sources have told CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora that the Lions will ultimately slap Golladay with the franchise tag.

It would make sense for the Lions to follow that route, especially from a financial perspective. As La Canfora notes, the going rate for a player of Golladay’s caliber is probably around $19MM. The franchise tag is expected to come in around $16MM, which is a significant discount on a Pro Bowler. Plus, if the Lions commit to a full rebuild and clear house, franchising and subsequently trading Golladay would garner the front office some extra draft assets.

On the flip side, Golladay probably won’t be too thrilled about having to settle for the franchise tag, especially after he was unable to work out an extension with the organization during the 2020 season. The Lions have also hired a new coaching staff, revamped their front office, and traded franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford, an indication that they may be bottoming out before becoming contenders. While Golladay hasn’t been a headache during his tenure in Detroit (he even said that he’d welcome a return), the wideout would have non-financial reasons to not be thrilled with his situation.

The 2017 third-round burst onto the scene during his sophomore campaign, and he followed that up with a Pro Bowl campaign in 2019, hauling in 65 receptions for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns. Injuries limited Golladay to only five games in 2020, with the 27-year-old compiling 20 receptions for 338 yards and two scores.

Titans GM On Isaiah Wilson, Offseason

February 16th, 2021 at 5:48pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We already talked about how Titans GM Jon Robinson confirmed the team had made contact with J.J. Watt‘s reps this morning, but there were some more interesting nuggets to come out of Robinson’s press conference.

For starters, Robinson talked about perhaps the biggest mistake of the 2020 NFL Draft, Isaiah Wilson. Tennessee drafted the offensive tackle 29th overall last April, but he played only four snaps as a rookie. After getting drafted, Wilson was arrested for DUI, received a trespass warning for attending a party at Tennessee State and twice landed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. He was suspended for Week 13 for a violation of team rules and then was placed on the reserve/NFI list in December shortly after finally making his NFL debut.

Robinson revealed on Tuesday that he hasn’t spoken with Wilson since placing him on the NFI list, via Jim Wyatt of the team’s official site. Robinson said others had been in some degree of contact with the first-rounder, but he didn’t sound particularly optimistic about his future with the team. “He is going to have to make a determination on if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football,” Robinson said bluntly.

Wilson only just turned 22 last week so he’s got time to figure it out, but it sure sounds like the Titans won’t be counting on the Georgia product for 2021. Meanwhile, Robinson seemed to indicate there’s a good chance receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith could walk in free agency.

Robinson said he had the same conversation with those two guys that he did with tackle Jack Conklin last year, saying the team “will make competitive offer, but wishes them the best if they opt for free agency,” Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets. Conklin, of course, left for the Browns in free agency. Davis, the fifth overall pick of the 2017 draft, is set to be a free agent since Robinson elected to decline his fifth-year option last May. Davis responded with a resurgent season, racking up a career-high 984 yards in only 14 games. It’ll be very interesting to see what kind of offers he gets on the open market.

Finally, Robinson acknowledged that pass-rushing help was needed in one form or another. “It’s something that’s high on our list – to find guys, whatever position it is defensively – that can affect the quarterback,” he said. Tennessee ranked 30th this past year with only 19 sacks. That would certainly explain the interest in Watt.

Latest On Carson Wentz, Bears Front Runners?

February 16th, 2021 at 4:21pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

What we heard right before the Super Bowl made it sound like a Carson Wentz trade was imminent, but here on February 16th Wentz is still a member of the Eagles. In a recent piece, Albert Breer of SI.com broke down a few of the reasons why things are lagging.

For starters, Breer writes that Philly’s steep asking price caused several potentially interested teams to “drop out of the running altogether.” In addition to his poor play last year, Breer also notes that a “less-talked-about problem is the growing reputation Wentz has of not reacting well to hard coaching.” Stuff like that has been hinted at the past couple years, but it sounds like it’s a full-blown issue at this point.

In an interview with Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports, Breer added that he believes the Bears are the “front runner” as of the beginning of this week. “It’s pretty clear at this point the Bears have pushed harder than the Colts to get Carson Wentz. The Eagles are probably going to get their best return for Carson Wentz from Chicago,” Breer said.

Breer writes that he doesn’t think the Eagles will get a first-round pick, unless there are compounding factors like salary dumps or other picks going back to the trade partner. Both Indy and Chicago’s staffs have ties to Wentz, and the Bears just recently promoted his former quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.

In recent days we’ve heard that both the Broncos and Patriots aren’t interested in Wentz, and there aren’t really any known suitors other than the Colts or Bears.

Latest On Bears, Allen Robinson

February 16th, 2021 at 2:56pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

When the Bears and Allen Robinson resumed extension talks back in September, there was some optimism that the two sides could work out their differences and keep Robinson around long-term. That optimism was short-lived, as the relationship quickly devolved and he eventually started liking tweets encouraging him to skip town.

The last we heard about a month ago, the team was bracing for the star receiver to leave in free agency. However, it appears GM Ryan Pace might not let him walk out the door so easily. Pace recently talked about the franchise tag being a tool at the team’s disposal this offseason, and Adam Jahns of The Athletic thinks that was to send a message to Robinson and his reps that the team is going to play hardball.

Robinson has said recently he’s open to returning to Chicago, but doesn’t want to play under the tag. It seems the Bears are reluctant to pay his asking price, which is rumored to be top of the receiver market money. Meanwhile, the two sides haven’t had any further talks about an extension since those discussions way back in September, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports, so a long-term deal certainly doesn’t seem imminent.

Interestingly, Pelissero floated a potential tag and trade scenario as a viable option. “That would certainly seem to bring the (franchise) tag into play,” Pelissero said. “Whether it is the Bears to try to do an extension, whether it is setting up Robinson to play on the tag, or maybe even a tag-and-trade scenario.”

Robinson has managed to produce consistently despite playing with bottom-tier quarterbacks his entire career, and is still only 27, so if the Bears do dangle him in trade talks there will likely be no shortage of suitors. He had 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns this past season, even as Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles shuffled back and forth ineffectively.

Titans Have Had Contact With J.J. Watt

February 16th, 2021 at 1:47pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The J.J. Watt sweepstakes appear to be heating up. We heard earlier this morning that the Browns were seriously in the running for the pass-rusher’s services, and we now know of at least one more AFC team that has already had some communication with him.

The Titans have had contact with Watt’s camp, GM Jon Robinson confirmed at a press conference Tuesday. There had been an initial report days ago that Tennessee was expected to be in the running. Robinson emphasized that it was early and talks were still in the exploratory stage, but it’s now official that Houston’s AFC South rival is interested in keeping him in the division.

Wherever he lands, it sounds like there’s going to be somewhat of a bidding war between numerous interested teams, and even though he’s about to turn 32 we should expect him to land significant guaranteed money at this point. Tennessee, of course, could desperately use Watt’s help getting after opposing quarterbacks.

They had one of the worst pass-rushes in the league last season, and their big offseason splash acquisition of Jadeveon Clowney didn’t work out as he played in only eight games and registered no sacks before getting shutdown. The Steelers and Bills are other teams reported to be interested in the Texans legend so far, although there will surely be more.

Panthers Plan To Franchise Taylor Moton

February 16th, 2021 at 12:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

There are not many players left from Dave Gettleman‘s run of drafts in Carolina; the Panthers continued to separate from their pre-Matt Rhule era Tuesday by cutting Kawann Short. But they do plan to retain a key piece drafted before Rhule’s arrival.

The Panthers plan to use their franchise tag on tackle Taylor Moton, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes. Moton has worked as Carolina’s right tackle starter for three seasons, after originally coming to Charlotte as a second-round pick. Moton and the Panthers engaged in extension talks ahead of last season, but nothing has emerged on this front in months.

Offensive linemen are grouped together under the franchise tag formula, making tackle tags more palatable for teams. Despite Ronnie Stanley and David Bakhtiari raising the salary ceiling for edge protectors last year, the O-lineman tag is expected to come in at around $15MM. The salary cap’s uncertain status could make final figures elusive until the 11th hour. As of mid-February, the cap is expected to come in at around $180MM. CBS Sports’ Joel Corry slotted the O-line tag at $14.8MM but did so on a $175MM cap — the predetermined floor for 2021.

Pro Football Focus has graded Moton as a top-20 tackle in each of the past three years. He came in as a top-five right tackle in 2020, providing all the more reason for the Panthers to retain him. The Panthers are planning to pursue Deshaun Watson and will be linked to first-round quarterbacks with their No. 8 overall pick. With their left tackle situation uncertain, ensuring one of their edge blockers remains under contract will be critical for the 2021 season.

Jaguars Add Three To Front Office

February 16th, 2021 at 11:32am CST by Sam Robinson

Urban Meyer and Trent Baalke will be overseeing personnel matters in Jacksonville going forward. The staff that will help this duo oversee a Jaguars rebuild is beginning to take shape.

The Jaguars added Trip MacCracken, Michael Davis and Drew Hughes to their front office this week. Two members in this trio will move to Jacksonville after extensive time in Kansas City during the Chiefs’ Andy Reid era, while Hughes will come up from the college ranks. These staffers will also join longtime NFL exec Tom Gamble in Jacksonville’s front office.

MacCracken, who will serve as the Jaguars’ director of roster management, was with the Chiefs from 2010-17. The Scott Pioli-era hire stayed on for several years under Reid. Prior to that, MacCracken served as a Browns exec from the franchise’s 1999 rebirth until 2009. MacCracken figures to be a key cog in the Jags’ cap department. The team parted ways with previous cap exec John Idzik last month.

Tabbed as a senior personnel executive in Jacksonville, Davis joined MacCracken in Kansas City for a time. Davis, however, stayed on during the Chiefs’ two Super Bowl years. He was with the team for the past five years, working mainly in the Chiefs’ scouting department. Davis spent 16 years with the Jets’ scouting department and was with the Eagles for a short time ahead of his Kansas City move.

Hughes will return to north Florida, as the Jags’ player personnel coordinator, after a one-year stay as director of player personnel at South Carolina. He held the same position with the Gators, though he did so after Meyer had left for Ohio State.

The Jaguars are currently the only team to have more than $70MM in cap space. This and the rebuilding franchise’s two first-round picks will make 2021 a pivotal year.

Dolphins Extend K Jason Sanders

February 16th, 2021 at 11:01am CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins and Jason Sanders moved fast. Shortly after a report surfaced indicating the sides sought a long-term partnership, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports an extension agreement is in place (Twitter link). The team subsequently announced the move.

Coming off an All-Pro season, Sanders signed a five-year deal worth $22MM. The three-year veteran kicker will see $10MM of that guaranteed, per Schefter. This will tie Sanders to the Dolphins through the 2026 season. A 2018 seventh-round pick, Sanders only became extension-eligible last month.

On this $4.4MM-per-year deal, Sanders secured a top-five salary at his position. Only Justin Tucker (Ravens) , Graham Gano (Giants) and Ka’imi Fairbairn (Texans) are attached to deals worth more per year, and Sanders’ $10MM guarantee trails only Tucker among kickers.

Sanders, 25, is coming off a dominant season. He made 36 of his 39 field goal tries in 2020 — his second season with at least 90% field goal accuracy — and aided Miami’s offense consistently with long-range precision. The New Mexico product connected on 8 of 9 tries from beyond 50 yards.

This marks the latest extension agreement in GM Chris Grier‘s tenure atop Miami’s front office. Despite Grier not being in charge of Dolphins personnel prior to the 2019 offseason, he has authorized notable extensions for previous Dolphin draftees Sanders, Xavien Howard and DeVante Parker

Panthers To Release DT Kawann Short

February 16th, 2021 at 10:38am CST by Sam Robinson

After running into some injury misfortune over the past two seasons, Kawann Short is now set to be a first-time free agent. The Panthers are releasing the veteran defensive tackle, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Short enjoyed a run as one of the league’s top D-tackles but ran into trouble with injuries recently. He will enter free agency having played in just five of the Panthers’ 32 games over the past two seasons.

Despite being a 2013 draftee, Short is already 32. He will not have much momentum going into free agency, but the two-time Pro Bowler should be able to secure a rebound deal in the near future. The Panthers gave Short a five-year, $80MM extension in 2017, and the former second-round pick rewarded the organization with a 7.5-sack season in 2017 and a Pro Bowl nod a year later. Short notched a career-high 11 sacks during Carolina’s 15-1 season in 2015.

The Panthers purged their roster of cornerstone players last year, and Short’s exit will continue a run of prior-regime anchor talents exiting Charlotte. Carolina will save $8.6MM by making this move. Thanks to a 2019 restructure, however, the transaction will cost the team more than $11MM in dead money. (This will not be a post-June 1 cut, Joe Person of The Athletic tweets, so the Panthers will take the entire dead-money hit this year.) Given Short’s injury troubles, this decision was expected.

Short suffered a partial rotator cuff tear early in the 2019 season and damaged his other shoulder in 2020. For his career, the Purdue product has 32.5 sacks and 59 tackles for loss. Short’s release also means the Panthers are down to one starter, Shaq Thompson, from their Super Bowl 50 appearance.