HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/1/21

February 1st, 2021 at 4:29pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Today’s reserve/futures deals will be posted here:

Indianapolis Colts

Tennessee Titans

Nelson has a bit more NFL experience than your typical reserve/futures signee. A fifth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2015, Nelson made some real noise with Arizona for a while. A speedy deep-threat who has averaged a whopping 17.4 yards per reception on his 85 career catches, he had 568 yards and six touchdowns in 2016. He topped 500 yards again in 2017, but quickly fell out of favor and wasn’t re-signed after his rookie deal ran out.

He signed with the Raiders in 2019 but was released after catching only four passes, and then was in camp with the 49ers this past August before getting hurt and then cut. He signed to the Bills practice squad a month ago, but lasted only a few days in Buffalo. Still only 28, it wouldn’t be shocking if he manages to crack a roster again as a field-stretcher.

Chiefs Place Daniel Kilgore, Demarcus Robinson On Reserve/COVID-19 List

February 1st, 2021 at 3:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It’s far from a worst-case scenario, but COVID-19 issues are beginning to creep into the Super Bowl. The Chiefs have placed center Daniel Kilgore and receiver Demarcus Robinson on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The good news is that Schefter reports both are going on the list due to close contacts, and not positive tests. There’s only a five-day clearance period needed for close contacts, so if both players continue to test negative they’ll be able to rejoin the team this weekend before the game and suit up for Super Bowl LV. Kilgore started 13 games for the Dolphins last year, but he’s mostly been a reserve for Kansas City this season.

He’s appeared in seven games with four starts, although he hasn’t been counted on to start in the playoffs yet. Robinson plays a pretty large role, so the Chiefs certainly don’t want to lose him. He finished the regular season appearing in all 16 games with nine starts, racking up 45 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns.

He only has three targets through Kansas City’s first two playoff games, but he played at least 65 percent of the offensive snaps in both of those games. We’ve got a long week left to go, but hopefully these are the only COVID-related issues that arise before the big game (knock on wood).

Panthers Offered 8th Pick For Matthew Stafford, Details On Other Offers

February 1st, 2021 at 2:47pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As the fallout continues to pour in from the blockbuster Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff trade, we’ve got some new details on the talks the Lions had leading up to it. Most notably, the Panthers had offered the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft as well as a later pick, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. Many would argue that’s a better offer than what Detroit took from the Rams, two future first-round picks (which could be late ones), a third-rounder, and Goff’s bloated contract. 

Taking that deal would’ve given the Lions the seventh and eighth picks this April, giving them a ton of ammo if they wanted to move up for one of the top couple of quarterbacks. Clearly, they didn’t view Goff and his contract as a huge negative like many others do, and this offer from Matt Rhule will likely be the one looked back on most when we reflect on this trade in the years to come. If nothing else this just goes to show how serious Carolina is about upgrading from Teddy Bridgewater, and we’ve heard they’re gearing up for an aggressive run at Deshaun Watson.

Washington offered the 19th pick this April as well as a third-round selection, Breer writes. The Colts discussed packages of picks but never made an offer that included their first-rounder this year, the 21st pick. Although the 49ers did show some interest, they never made a formal offer, which tracks with them being content to run it back with Jimmy Garoppolo.

The Broncos also showed interest but Breer says it became clear early on the price was rising well beyond what new GM George Paton was willing to pay. The Patriots were willing to package a second-rounder with a defensive player although obviously that wasn’t going to cut it and Stafford apparently had no interest in going to New England and reuniting with Matt Patricia anyway.

Interestingly, Breer notes that the Jets checked in over the weekend. All those other teams had been heavily linked to Stafford, but New York would’ve been something of a wild card. Obviously the talks went nowhere, but it’s notable to learn the Jets are at least considering rolling with a veteran passer instead of Sam Darnold or a rookie with their second overall pick.

So, what do you think? Are the Lions foolish for not taking the eighth pick and running with it, or will Goff prove some people wrong?

Bills Re-Sign OL Jordan Devey

February 1st, 2021 at 1:41pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As the Bills start to get their offseason in order following their AFCCG loss to the Chiefs, they’ve made a relatively minor move. Buffalo has re-signed offensive lineman Jordan Devey to a one-year deal, the team announced Monday.

Terms weren’t immediately available, although it’s safe to assume it’s for close to league minimum. He bounced between the practice squad and active roster, and only played a couple of offensive snaps this past season. While he didn’t see the field much for Buffalo, he has received some significant run in the past. In 2019 he started four games with the Raiders, and appeared in seven with a couple of starts with the Chiefs the year before.

Devey entered the league as an UDFA in 2013 and has bounced around since, starting four games for the Patriots in 2014 and nine with the 49ers in 2015. He won Super Bowl XLIX with New England. Although he has a decent amount of starting experience this is nothing more than a depth signing, and in an ideal world he won’t be helping to protect Josh Allen next year.

Deshaun Watson Won’t Veto Many Teams, Dolphins Favorite To Land Him?

February 1st, 2021 at 1:00pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Deshaun Watson saga will likely take at least several more twists and turns before it’s finally resolved, and we’ve got a couple of new updates to pass along. The Texans are still insisting they have no plans to trade the star quarterback, but that hasn’t stopped teams from trying.

When/if the Texans finally relent to Watson’s trade demand, he does have some leverage in the form of a no-trade clause that can prevent him from getting dealt somewhere he doesn’t want to be. But it sounds like Watson’s main priority is getting out of Houston, and he won’t be too picky about a new destination. “Let me be very clear about this: I think Deshaun Watson is going to be open about where he’s traded to. I don’t think he’s going to veto too many teams. He wants to go anywhere other than the Texans,” Adam Schefter of ESPN.com said recently, via Barry Jackson and Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.

That makes it sound like unlike Matthew Stafford, who reportedly wanted to go play for Sean McVay and the Rams, Watson will just be happy to be anywhere else. There was a report last week that Watson would prefer the Jets to the Dolphins, but clearly he doesn’t feel all that strongly about it. That certainly could make facilitating a deal a lot easier. Additionally, it looks like the Dolphins could be emerging as a favorite to land him despite their recent commitment to Tua Tagovailoa.

Jackson and Beasley write that the “sense among league power brokers at this week’s Senior Bowl” is that “Miami is Watson’s likeliest destination.” Going further, one source told them that “Miami is seen as the front-runner behind the scenes.” The Dolphins have a boatload of draft capital and also a young quarterback they could trade, although there have been some reports that Houston might not be that interested in Tagovailoa.

If the Texans don’t want Tua, Jackson and Beasley float a scenario where the Dolphins package picks with shutdown corner Xavien Howard, who they write is “expected to ask for a trade” if he doesn’t get the new contract that he’s seeking. There are a lot of moving parts here, and we should know a lot more soon so make sure to check back.

Packers Interview Kris Richard For DC

February 1st, 2021 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have discussed their defensive coordinator vacancy with Kris Richard, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. He’s the latest candidate to surface for the job, joining Chargers assistant Joe Barry, Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero, and Washington defensive backs coach Chris Harris on the list.

Richard was one of the architects of the Seahawks’ famed Legion of Boom. After managing Seattle’s defensive backs, he was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2015. The ‘Hawks parted ways with Richard at the end of the 2017 season, prompting him to move on to the Cowboys as their DB/defensive passing game coach.

He didn’t get to stick around for Mike McCarthy‘s staff, however, and he spent the 2020 season out of football. Still, it wasn’t long ago that Richard was being considered for head coaching jobs and his overall track record is impressive.

Richard, who also interviewed with the Raiders before the hiring of Gus Bradley, would take over for Mike Pettine.

Vikings To Interview Tyke Tolbert For OC

February 1st, 2021 at 10:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings will interview Giants wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert for their offensive coordinator vacancy (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Tolbert worked closely with recently-retired coordinator Gary Kubiak in Denver, so Tolbert could help the Vikings keep the same system in place.

Tolbert was on Kubiak’s staff during the Broncos’ run to Super Bowl 50. He impressed during his time in Denver, and Kubiak has long lobbied for Tolbert to get his big break.

“He’s an amazing coach, a great person, handles personalities extremely well [and] gets the most out of his players,” Kubiak said in 2016 (via the Broncos’ team website). “So I think that would be an exceptional thought. He’s a heck of a football coach.”

The Vikings were a disappointment on the whole, but that was mostly on the defense. Offensively, the Vikings saw Dalvin Cook rush for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns while rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson showed serious promise. In terms of talent, Tolbert would have tons to work with.

Packers HC: Aaron Rodgers Staying “For A Long Time”

February 1st, 2021 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about Aaron Rodgers‘ status with the team. LaFleur did not hesitate or stutter as he addressed the team’s top offseason storyline.

[RELATED: Rodgers Says Future Is “Uncertain”]

“Is that a trick question?,” LaFleur said (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “Absolutely. There’s no doubt about it. You’re talking about the guy who’s going to win the MVP of the league. We’re not in this position without him.”

After the Packers’ devastating loss in the NFC title game, Rodgers told reporters that his future is “uncertain.” The quarterback has downplayed his comments since then, though talk persists of Rodgers’ unhappiness in Green Bay and, potentially, his desire for a new deal. Currently, Rodgers ranks just fifth among quarterbacks in average annual salary, behind Patrick Mahomes ($45MM), Deshaun Watson($39MM), Russell Wilson ($35MM), and Ben Roethlisberger ($34MM). It’s fair to say that he’s due for a raise after turning in an absolutely stellar season.

A new contract may help but, ultimately, Rodgers seems to be searching for a stronger commitment from the Packers as Jordan Love waits in the wings. Things haven’t been great between Rodgers and LaFleur, but the head coach’s latest comments may help smooth things out.