2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

Urban Meyer: Drafting Trevor Lawrence ‘Certainly The Direction We’re Headed’

March 28th, 2021 at 9:16pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Gone are the days of NFL teams with the first overall pick trying to play it particularly coy. It’s been widely assumed for a while now that the Jaguars will be taking Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence when the 2021 NFL Draft opens, and new Jags coach Urban Meyer more or less confirmed that to Peter King of NBC Sports.

“I’d have to say that’s the direction we’re going. I’ll leave that up to the owner when we make that decision official. But I’m certainly not stepping out of line that that’s certainly the direction we’re headed,” Meyer acknowledged. “Trevor checks all the boxes, you know?” Meyer said before explaining what exactly he loves about the passer regarded as one of the best pro prospects in recent memory.

“The number one common quality of every great player, not just quarterback, is competitive maniac. He’s 34-2. Won a national title as a true freshman. Is a winner. I’ve seen him up close and in person compete. And then character. I see him and I witness with my players, when the guys get drafted high, a lot of people get . . . They have influences in their live. Like, whether it be social media, whether it be other things that really don’t pertain to winning,” Meyer said.

“What I’m really pleased with and I don’t want to say surprised, but him, his agent, his family, they’re focused on one thing. He wants to become the best version of himself for the National Football League, which is, well, it is somewhat refreshing.” It sounds like Meyer has spent a lot of time around Lawrence and his family, and is more than comfortable with the coming selection.

Considering we heard in February that Meyer had advised Lawrence on his pro day schedule, this isn’t too surprising. In the full piece, which is worth a read, Meyer explains his decision to jump to the NFL ranks, and said he’s “committed to Jacksonville.” He said he gave a lot of thought to the health issues that have plagued him in the past, and clearly doesn’t think they’ll be an issue with the Jags.

With their coach more or less admitting Lawrence will be the pick, this could potentially speed the process of a Gardner Minshew trade. The Jags just signed C.J. Beathard to be a backup signal-caller, potentially signaling that Minshew might not be long for the roster. Either way, you can pretty much put it in ink that Roger Goodell will be announcing Lawrence to Jacksonville next month.

Chiefs To Sign Jarran Reed

March 28th, 2021 at 7:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chiefs continue to bolster their trenches. They’ve made significant changes to their offensive line this offseason, and now they’re adding to the defensive line by signing defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

Kansas City is expected to add Reed, a source first told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The signing was soon confirmed by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who reported that it’s a one-year deal (Twitter link). The short-term pact is worth up to $7MM for the 2021 season with $5MM being guaranteed, Rapoport noted in a follow-up tweet.

As many were quick to point out, this will reunite Reed with former Seahawks teammate Frank Clark, who Reed had a career year next to in 2018. Reed was cut by Seattle on Friday, and it didn’t take him very long to find a new team. Reed had signed a two-year, $23MM extension with the Seahawks around this time last year, but made it just one season into that pact.

The 28-year-old was drafted in the second round by Seattle back in 2016. The Alabama product started all 16 games last season, finishing with 38 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. In that aforementioned career year in 2018, he had a whopping 10.5 sacks as an interior lineman.

With Reed, Clark, and Chris Jones, the Chiefs will now have a very talented defensive front. They already had all the skill position talent you could ask for, and GM Brett Veach has been very aggressive at adding the big boys up front this offseason.

Contract Details: Rhodes, Johnson, Abdullah, Roberts, Moreau

March 28th, 2021 at 6:33pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Let’s catch up on the latest batch of financial terms from recent free agent deals:

Colts CB Xavier Rhodes: One-year, $4.77MM. $3.75MM fully guaranteed salary, $1.02MM in per game active roster bonuses. $1.75MM in additional playing time, interception, and Pro Bowl incentives, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). This was originally reported as a one-year, $6.5MM pact, but it looks like that’ll only be the case if he hits those incentives.
Titans CB Kevin Johnson: One-year, $2.25MM. $2MM guaranteed, with a $1MM salary and $1MM signing bonus. $250K in per game active roster bonuses, via Wilson on Twitter. We didn’t have any word on compensation initially, and it turns out Tennessee got the former first-rounder for a pretty reasonable price.
Vikings RB Ameer Abdullah: One-year, $990K. Non-guaranteed. Via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Twitter. Terms of the deal weren’t previously reported, but the Vikings got the former second-rounder back for a non-guaranteed vet minimum contract.
Dolphins LB Elandon Roberts: One-year, $1.995MM. $1.345MM salary, $650K signing bonus, plus $750K in incentives available, via Field Yates of ESPN on Twitter. We also didn’t have any terms for Roberts, and he ended up getting some decent money to return to Miami.
Falcons CB Fabian Moreau: One-year, $1.127MM. $987.5K guaranteed. $137.5K signing bonus, $990K salary ($850K guaranteed), via Wilson on Twitter. Finishing things up with one more cornerback we were missing terms on. Moreau, a part-time starter for Washington the past few years, got just above the minimum, although it’s almost entirely guaranteed at least.

Chiefs Have ‘Checked In On’ Russell Okung

March 28th, 2021 at 5:00pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chiefs have been very proactive in remaking their offensive line this offseason, and they might not be done adding big names. They’ve already cut both of their starting tackles, will possibly let their starting center walk, and have signed Joe Thuney and Kyle Long to play on the interior.

They’ve also re-signed Mike Remmers to presumably man the right side, but are still lacking a clear starter at left tackle. They apparently came very close to landing Trent Williams, but he ultimately opted to re-sign with the 49ers. As they sift through backup plans, the team has “checked in on” Russell Okung, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes (ESPN+ subscription required).

It’s the first known interest we’ve heard of in Okung this offseason. He apparently mulled retirement last summer, but played 2020 with the Panthers. He was limited to only seven games, all of which he started at left tackle for Carolina, and only played in six in 2019 with the Chargers. He’s appeared in 131 games since getting drafted by the Seahawks sixth overall back in 2010, and has started all of them.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Okung is capable of being a very solid starter when healthy and at 32 should have something left in the tank physically. Blood clots in his lungs were what limited him in 2019, and his recent injury history is a bit concerning.

If he managed to play a full (now 17-game) slate in 2021, he could be a nice addition for Kansas City. Fowler also speculates that the Chiefs could be in on a potential Orlando Brown trade to address the left tackle spot. If they don’t make one of these moves, they’ll likely look for a blindside protector for Patrick Mahomes in the draft.

Falcons, Deion Jones Restructure Deal

March 28th, 2021 at 3:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons and linebacker Deion Jones have agreed to a reworked contract, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The adjustment will give the Falcons an extra $4MM in cap space for the coming year. Meanwhile, Jones now has his 2022 base salary fully guaranteed.

The Falcons have been fairly quiet in free agency, save for their recent two-year deal with running back Mike Davis. The additional $4MM alone might not lead to a major signing, but it could allow them to build out their bench and get their rookies under contract. The Falcons’ board starts with the No. 4 overall pick – that choice alone carries a $6MM cap hit for Year One.

Jones, 27 in November, is in the midst of the four-year, $57MM extension he signed in the summer of 2019. After missing much of 2018 due to injury, Jones has bounced back with perfect attendance in each of the last two seasons. Last year, the Falcons asked Jones to bring more pressure against the pass and he delivered a career-high 4.5 sacks, plus two interceptions. He took one of those INTs to the house, giving him five career defensive touchdowns.

Jones will be supported, in part, by Barkevious Mingo. The former No. 6 overall pick agreed to join the Falcons last week on a low-cost, one-year deal.

Bengals Re-Sign Jordan Evans

March 28th, 2021 at 3:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals have re-signed linebacker Jordan Evans to a one-year deal, per a club announcement. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Evans, a 2017 sixth-round pick, has appeared in 60 games over the last four years. In 2019 and 2020, the Bengals used him mostly on special teams. This year, he may have an opportunity to get back into the defensive rotation, especially if linebacker Josh Bynes isn’t re-signed.

Now set to enter his fifth pro season, Evans will look to build on his 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven pass defenses, and two interceptions. Even if he doesn’t see an uptick in snaps, he figures to continue in his key role on special teams. Last year, Pro Football Focus assigned him a special teams grade of 77.6, good for No. 3 on the team. Meanwhile, Cethan Carter, Cincy’s top-ranked ST player, is out of the picture after joining the Dolphins.

Kyle Love Retires From NFL

March 28th, 2021 at 3:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive tackle Kyle Love announced his retirement on Sunday (via Instagram). Love, 34, did not play in 2020 and he will not seek NFL employment for 2021.

Love entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2010. He spent three seasons with the Patriots, appearing in 41 total games before being diagnosed with diabetes and waived with a non-football illness designation. He appeared in only three contests from 2013-14 while playing for the Chiefs, Jaguars, and Panthers, but he eventually reestablished his career with Carolina. From 2017-2019, Love appeared in at least 37% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps. Last year, after six years with the Panthers, he agreed to join the rival Buccaneers.

Love was set to serve as a rotational piece behind of Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh, but he was released before the final cut in September. We here at PFR wish Love the best in retirement.

This Date In Transactions History: Cowboys Extend Jason Witten

March 28th, 2021 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Four years ago today, the Cowboys inked Jason Witten to a brand new deal to take him through the 2021 season. The contract was set to cover four years, but the tight end wound up playing just one year on that pact and two more Dallas years in total — with a retirement sandwiched in between.

At the time, Witten was on the verge of his 35th birthday. But, after all of those seasons and crushing blows, he was still productive. The veteran was riding a 13-year streak of perfect attendance — his only missed contest came as a rookie in 2003. In 2016, Witten hauled in 69 passes for 673 yards and three touchdowns — solid work, even if it wasn’t quite as impressive as his past 1,000-yard efforts.

Witten delivered again in 2017, posting 63 grabs for 560 yards and five scores en route to his tenth Pro Bowl selection. But, in May of 2018, he announced that he would “pass the torch to the next generation” and join ESPN’s Monday Night Football booth. Witten’s transition was short-lived – in February of 2019, he surprised everyone by returning to Dallas. His un-retirement was huge for Dallas. Previously, they were looking at a tight end group consisting of Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, Rico Gathers, and Geoff Swaim.

When Witten changed his mind, the Cowboys issued him a new one-year, $4.5MM deal. It was widely assumed that this would be the final contract of Witten’s career, allowing him to retire in Dallas. Still, Witten had more left in the tank and he was willing to go elsewhere after Jason Garrett‘s departure. That led him to the Raiders, where he turned in an uncharacteristically quiet year. In his age-38 season, Witten caught just 13 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Having been leapfrogged by Pro Bowler Darren Waller and TEs around the league, Witten announced his second retirement in January.

Patriots Made Late Push For Joe Thuney

March 28th, 2021 at 1:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Before Joe Thuney left for the Chiefs, the Patriots made a late push to keep him in New England, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. In addition, the Bengals and Chargers were also in on the standout guard.

[RELATED: Chiefs Sign Joe Thuney]

The Patriots shocked everyone by tagging Thuney last year. This time around, they opted against cuffing him again at a 20% increase, but they still tried to keep him with a multi-year offer. Ultimately, the Chiefs won out – they were the first team to put an offer on the table for Thuney and it proved to be the most lucrative of the bunch. The longtime starter is now tied to Kansas City for five years at a whopping $80MM. The first two years are fully guaranteed at $32.5MM. Meanwhile, Year 3 goes from guaranteed-for-injury to 100% guaranteed in 2022, so $48MM of the deal is effectively locked in. Thuney didn’t come cheap, but he’ll help to fortify a line that has lost starting tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz.

When Thuney went elsewhere, the Bengals pivoted towards lower cost moves, such as re-signing guard Quinton Spain. Unless they make a splashier signing like veteran Nick Easton, they’ll probably look to find a starter early on in the draft. Meanwhile, the Chargers managed to ink All-Pro center Corey Linsley and versatile lineman Matt Feiler, so Justin Herbert should be well protected.

In addition to those aforementioned teams, the Jets also tried to land Thuney. He’s long been a target of Gang Green – they were planning to make a big push for him last year, too, up until the Patriots kept him from the open market.

Colts Remain In Contact With Justin Houston

March 28th, 2021 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

The Colts have been mostly quiet since free agency opened earlier this month. They re-signed WR T.Y. Hilton after a last-minute push convinced him to stay in Indy rather than sign with the Ravens, and they brought back CB Xavier Rhodes and RB Marlon Mack. According to Stephen Holder of The Athletic, the team also remains in contact with Justin Houston.

Houston, 32, has been productive for the Colts since they signed him to a two-year, $24MM deal in 2019. He started all 32 regular season games over the 2019-20 campaigns, recording 69 tackles and 19 sacks. Pro Football Focus wasn’t especially high on his work last season, ranking him as the 65th-best edge defender in the league out of 109 qualifiers, with middling grades in both run defense and pass rush.

Still, the 9.5-sack average he has put up over the past two seasons would be difficult to replace, especially at this stage of the offseason. That is especially true since there are no truly elite pass rushing prospects in this year’s draft, and even if there were, it’s hard to imagine such a player falling to the Colts’ No. 21 overall pick. Holder says the club is in talks with several other veteran edge players in addition to Houston, and a free agent signing before the draft remains a possibility. Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen are two speculative fits.

There have been no concrete reports of interest in Houston since the offseason began. Back in February, we heard that the Colts would allow the market to dictate whether or not they brought Houston back for a third season, and as of right now, it appears that the market has not been kind to Houston. Perhaps that will result in a team-friendly reunion.