2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Arrested

March 26th, 2021 at 6:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cleveland Police arrested Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore for possession of a loaded handgun believed to be stolen Thursday night, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. Authorities charged Lattimore with receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony.

Lattimore was booked into Cuyahoga County Jail. The Cleveland native was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for multiple traffic violations, according to Cleveland Police, who also charged Lattimore for possession of a concealed weapon.

Lattimore’s attorney, Marcus Sidoti, called the matter a “misunderstanding.” The 24-year-old corner is expected to be released from jail Saturday morning, Triplett tweets.

The Pro Bowl defender is going into his fifth-year option season. With a $10.2MM cap hit on the Saints’ books, the team was interested in extending its top cover man. It is now possible Lattimore’s fifth season will include a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy, though that is not a certainty at this point.

49ers, Jets Did Not Discuss No. 2 Pick

March 26th, 2021 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers’ decision to trade multiple future first-round picks to move up to No. 3 overall concluded a weekslong process, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that San Francisco held trade talks with both Atlanta and Cincinnati for their respective top-five selections (Nos. 4 and 5 overall, respectively).

However, the Jets and 49ers did not discuss the No. 2 overall pick, according to Schefter. Despite the high cost, the 49ers opted to move as high as they could in this draft. Having turned to ex-49ers coaches to help ignite a rebuild, the Jets have been connected to BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with that choice. The Jets attended Wilson’s pro day Friday, and Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes John Lynch was present at the Provo, Utah, showcase as well. (Interestingly, Jaguars HC Urban Meyer did not, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.)

While GM Joe Douglas may still trade the pick and go with Sam Darnold, the reality Corey Davis said he signed up for, quarterbacks are a near-certainty to go first and second overall. With the 49ers making this move, QBs should be expected to go first, second and third for the first time since 1999 (Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith).

The Jets chose Darnold third overall in 2018 but saw the once-coveted quarterback regress last season, and the team has not seen the USC product justify the previous regime’s investment. Douglas not being with the Jets when they chose Darnold figures to be important here. The 49ers trading up points to the team believing the Jets will draft Wilson second, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes, leaving Justin Fields, Trey Lance or Mac Jones — among QBs — on the board after the Jaguars and Jets make their respective picks.

Douglas keeping Darnold and trading out of that draft slot would open the door to another team trading up to No. 2 and potentially leaving Wilson on the board, should the trading-up franchise prefer one of the other QBs. However, Wilson-to-New York has become the most likely scenario after the Jags begin the draft with Trevor Lawrence.

Regardless of where Wilson goes in the draft, the Dolphins trading out of the No. 3 slot almost certainly means the rest of the non-Jags/Jets/49ers contingent will be down to two of these passers. The Falcons have been connected to quarterbacks as well. No draft has started with four straight QBs going off the board.

Jaguars To Re-Sign S Josh Jones

March 26th, 2021 at 4:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

A starter for the Jaguars last season, Josh Jones will return to the team despite its regime change. The veteran safety agreed to terms to stay with Jacksonville on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Jones started 13 games for the Jags last season, his most frequent first-string work since going off the 2017 draft board in Round 2. He will be back in the mix under Urban Meyer and defensive coordinator Joe Cullen.

The Packers chose Jones 61st overall in 2017 but cut him ahead of the 2019 season. Jones, who started 12 games as a Packer from 2017-18, landed with the Cowboys but did not see much action in 2019. The Jaguars claimed Jones off waivers in December 2019 and turned to him during a grim 2020 season. The North Carolina State alum made 83 tackles and intercepted a pass in his lone Jags slate; Pro Football Focus graded Jones 89th overall among qualified safeties last season.

Jacksonville signed Rayshawn Jenkins from the Chargers but otherwise returns most of its safety group from last season.

Seahawks To Bring Back DT Al Woods

March 26th, 2021 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Al Woods opted out of the 2020 season, and the Jaguars released him last week. But the veteran defensive tackle will land on his feet in a familiar place.

The Seahawks are signing Woods, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Despite missing last season and being a part-time starter in his previous Seattle stay, Woods agreed to a one-year, $3MM deal. The Seahawks will guarantee $750K to the veteran D-tackle, who turned 34 on Thursday. This marks a slight bump from the Jaguars contract Woods inked last year (one year, $2.75MM).

This will be a third Seattle stint for Woods, who has played for five teams and been affiliated with six. He was most recently with the Seahawks in 2019, when he worked as a starter in place of the suspended Jarran Reed. Woods returned to the bench after Reed’s ban ended, but Reed is no longer in the picture for the Seahawks. The team notified the five-year starter of his release.

Woods also spent the 2011 season in Seattle but played only two games. He then spent time with the Steelers, Titans (his longest NFL stay, at three years) and Colts before returning in 2019. Pro Football Focus has graded the 10-year veteran as a plus run defender in his 30s. The Seahawks already ranked fifth against the run last season.

This continues a busy week for the Seahawks’ defensive line. In addition to releasing Reed and reacquiring Woods, Seattle re-signed both Carlos Dunlap and Benson Mayowa and acquired veteran defensive end Kerry Hyder. They re-signed defensive tackle Poona Ford to a two-year deal last week.

49ers To Host S Tony Jefferson On Visit

March 26th, 2021 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tony Jefferson has not played in a game since October 2019, when an ACL tear sidetracked his career. But after missing the entire 2020 season, the veteran safety is planning to play in 2021.

The 49ers will meet with Jefferson about a comeback, with veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweeting the sides will visit at some point within the next three weeks. The former Cardinals and Ravens defender is arranging visits, per Anderson.

Regarded as one of the league’s better safeties prior to his knee injury, Jefferson was not permitted to make visits during the 2020 offseason. The Ravens released him in February 2020. While he did end up meeting with the Colts during the season, nothing materialized from that summit. Jefferson is unlikely to come close to the value of the four-year, $34MM deal he inked with the Ravens in 2017, but he is still just 29 and has five-plus seasons’ worth of starting experience.

A fit with San Francisco would point Jefferson to a depth role. The 49ers have Jimmie Ward signed long-term, and the team just reached an agreement to re-sign Jaquiski Tartt.

Seahawks Release Jarran Reed

March 26th, 2021 at 3:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have released defensive tackle Jarran Reed. As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link) noted this afternoon, this was the expected move after the club was unable to find a suitable trade.

By cutting Reed, the Seahawks will gain $8.5MM in cap space with a $5MM dead cap hit. The Seahawks signed Kerry Hyder earlier this month and brought back Benson Mayowa along with defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Seattle also re-signed defensive tackle Poona Ford this month.

Ultimately, there wasn’t enough room for Reed, and the league’s other 31 teams recognized that. Although no one was willing to give up draft capital while taking on Reed’s old contract, plenty of clubs will be interested in adding him as a free agent.

This move comes just a year after the Seahawks retained Reed via two-year, $23MM extension. The former second-round pick broke out in 2018, registering 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, but saw a suspension derail his 2019 season. Reed missed the first six games of the ’19 campaign, which ended with him collecting just two sacks and eight QB hits. Last season, Reed bounced back with 6.5 sacks to help the Seahawks to their third straight playoff berth.

At 28, and having been a starter since his rookie season, Reed should generate interest on the market — even if no trade materialized. Given the juncture of his Seattle departure and the salary cap reduction, Reed may need to accept a one-year deal at a lower rate and aim for a subsequent extension with his new team or a 2022 free agency payday.

Bears Re-Sign Artie Burns

March 26th, 2021 at 2:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have re-signed Artie Burns on a one-year deal, per a club announcement. The cornerback joined Chicago last year, but never made it to the field.

Burns, 26 in May, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Steelers. Expectations were high for the first-round pick, but his role in the Steelers’ defense dwindled over time. With 32 starts to his credit, he joined the Bears last year, but wound up tearing his ACL in August.

Burns played on just 6% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps in 2019, so he’s really two years removed from standard safety play. He’ll look to bounce back this year and add to his career totals of 149 tackles, four interceptions and 27 pass breakups. Playing alongside old University of Miami pal Deon Bush may help as he gets reacquainted.

Raiders Sign Willie Snead

March 26th, 2021 at 1:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have agreed to sign Willie Snead (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The free agent wide receiver visited Las Vegas earlier this week and landed his deal soon after.

The Raiders will add Snead to their new-look WR group, one without Tyrell Williams and Nelson Agholor. Snead will join John Brown and the newly re-signed Zay Jones, but the Raiders will likely continue to scour the market and the draft for more receivers.

The Ravens didn’t show much interest in re-signing Snead. He spent the past three years in Baltimore, but his role has dwindled somewhat over the last two. The former UDFA kicked off his Ravens tenure with 62 grabs for 651 yards and a touchdown in 2018. But, between 2019 and 2020, he has a combined 64 catches and 771 yards. On the other hand, he does have eight touchdowns between the two seasons.

Dolphins Trade No. 3 Pick To 49ers, Send No. 12 To Eagles

March 26th, 2021 at 12:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have agreed to trade the No. 3 overall pick to the 49ers for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-rounder, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The Niners may use the choice to select their next quarterback, though sources tell Schefter that Jimmy Garoppolo will be staying put.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins quickly pivoted towards another blockbuster of their own, dealing that No. 12 overall choice, No. 123, and a 2022 first-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Nos. 6 and 156. In effect, the Dolphins secured future first-round ammo in exchange for moving from No. 3 to No. 6. From here, the can use their bevy of picks to build around Tua Tagovailoa — or swing another blockbuster for a veteran QB.

The 49ers are moving to No. 3 with the expectation that the Jaguars will take Trevor Lawrence first overall. At No. 2, many believe the Jets will go QB as well — perhaps BYU’s Zach Wilson or Ohio State’s Justin Fields. After that, the Niners would have their pick of the litter. Even if Garoppolo remains, they could weigh Wilson or Fields (depending on which is still available), North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, or Alabama’s Mac Jones.

At No. 12, the Eagles are unlikely to have most of those QBs on the table. By dropping six spots, it appears that the Eagles are ready to move forward with Jalen Hurts in 2021. They also have a 2022 first-round pick — the Dolphins’ original choice – that they can use to fill other gaps. The Birds have been connected to Wilson for a while. But, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport explains (Twitter link), GM Howie Roseman ultimately felt that adding a future first-rounder would be better for the team in the long run.

Buccaneers Re-Sign Leonard Fournette

March 26th, 2021 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: The Buccaneers are keeping the band together. On Friday, GM Jason Licht struck a new one-year deal with running back Leonard Fournette (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Fournette is set to earn $3.25MM with the chance to reach $4MM via incentives. Apparently, that was enough for Fournette to say no to the Seahawks and other suitors.

The former No. 4 overall pick found his way to the Bucs after the Jaguars dropped him last summer. Serving as Ronald Jones‘ backup for much of the year, Fournette shined as the starter from Week 15 onward. In the regular season, Fournette averaged 3.8 yards per carry in 13 games. He also reeled in 36 passes for 233 yards, giving him 600 all-purpose yards for the year. He saved his best for the playoffs, collecting four touchdowns and 448 yards from scrimmage in four games.

The Buccaneers’ high-powered passing offense certainly had something to do with his resurgence. With the Jaguars’, Fournette faced stacked boxes on 39% of his carries from 2017-19. In Tampa, he’s got tons of offensive weapons around him to keep defenses honest.

Some wondered if the Buccaneers would be able to keep their core in tact after their Super Bowl victory. But, in the last month, they’ve held on to Fournette, Chris Godwin, Shaquil Barrett, Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski, Ndamukong Suh, and other key pieces. Next, the Bucs will look to re-sign wide receiver Antonio Brown.