Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jamil Douglas
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Will Redmond
Los Angeles Rams
- Suspended five games (PEDs): DB Tyrique McGhee
For several months, the Broncos have been linked to adding a quarterback that would at least provide Drew Lock with competition. No such move has transpired, but James Palmer of NFL.com notes GM George Paton is doing extensive research on this year’s crop of QB prospects (video link). Paton attended Trey Lance‘s pro day and mentioned last month that the team will consider a passer at No. 9 overall. However, Palmer expects the Broncos to also be in play for a trade-up — should the team become infatuated with one of the available arms.
While the Broncos are doing homework on all five of the top quarterbacks, they realistically only have a shot at two of them. This draft is, as of now, expected to begin with Trevor Lawrence going to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson heading to New York. Now in possession of the No. 3 overall pick, the 49ers have been linked to Mac Jones more so than Lance or Justin Fields. The Broncos believe Lock will improve next season and do not want to make a quarterback transaction for the sake of making one. Lock was without top receiver Courtland Sutton for most of last season and was transitioning to a new offense without the benefit of onsite offseason work, but he ranked 29th in QBR and led the league in INTs despite missing three games.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- Prior to the Cardinals using the transition tag on Kenyan Drake, Jon Gruden was interested in signing the running back last year, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). The Raiders showed significantly more interest in Drake than anyone else this offseason, per Drake, whom Gruden plans using in the backfield and at wide receiver. Drake’s two-year, $11MM deal includes just $3MM guaranteed in 2021, per Tafur, but carries $5.5MM in guarantees in 2022. Drake totaled just 127 receiving yards with the Cardinals last season, but the former third-round pick should be expected to play a bigger role in the passing game in Las Vegas.
- The Chiefs hired former defensive coordinator Ken Flajole to replace Britt Reid as outside linebackers coach, the team announced. Flajole’s most notable NFL role came when he served as Rams DC during Steve Spagnuolo‘s three-year stay (2009-11). The Rams went just 10-38 during that stretch. Flajole, 66, will come to Kansas City after spending the past five seasons as Philadelphia’s linebackers coach under Doug Pederson. Reid is no longer with the Chiefs and remains under NFL investigation. Following his February car accident that left a 5-year-old in critical condition, the Chiefs let Reid’s contract expire.
- The Raiders considered cutting their losses on Carl Nassib‘s three-year, $25MM contract, Tafur adds, but the team instead decided to keep the rotational pass rusher on a restructured deal (subscription required). The team added three void years to Nassib’s contract, spreading out the cap hit through 2025. Nassib is on the Raiders’ cap sheet at just $4.9MM this year; that number rises to $9.2MM in 2022. Releasing Nassib next year would tag the Raiders with a $4.6MM dead-money hit.
- Drafted third overall as a defensive end four years ago, Solomon Thomas will primarily work as a three-technique tackle with the Raiders, according to Tafur. Thomas is in line to replace Maliek Collins, who defected to the Texans in free agency. A four-year 49ers contributor, Thomas has not come close to living up to his top-five draft status. The Raiders gave him a one-year deal worth $3.25MM.
Jarran Reed made a somewhat surprising relocation this offseason, leaving the Seahawks and joining the Chiefs. After he hit the market more than a week after free agency’s outset, the veteran defensive tackle will make less money in 2021.
The Seahawks wanted to keep Reed for the 2021 season, with Mike Garafolo reporting the team approached the D-tackle starter about a restructure (video link). While this was not a pay-cut request, Reed refused Seattle’s bid to restructure his contract — thus lowering his cap hit and adding void years to the deal — and made a push for an extension. But the Seahawks balked and released him, leading the five-year veteran to Kansas City.
Reed is set to make $5MM on his one-year Chiefs contract. Had he agreed to the Seahawks’ restructure offer, he was due to earn nearly $9MM next season. Reed’s agent recommended his client agree to the Seattle restructure, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports, but Garafolo adds that Reed knew he would end up making less with another team and declined to redo his Seahawks deal anyway.
When the Seahawks declined to extend Reed, the former second-round pick asked if they would commit to an extension down the road, per Henderson. The team did made no such pledge, which upset the four-year starter, according to 710 AM Seattle’s John Clayton. The Seahawks attempted to trade Reed but opted to release him soon after.
A Seahawks restructure would have reduced Reed’s base salary to $1MM, but he would have collected the rest of the money — from his 2020 deal (two years, $23MM) — via signing bonus, Henderson adds. Reed would still have been a free agent in 2022. His Chiefs pact also puts him on track to hit the market again next year.
The Seahawks spent late March reorganizing their defensive line. They re-signed Carlos Dunlap, Benson Mayowa and Poona Ford and added Kerry Hyder. After Reed’s exit, the Seahawks brought back Al Woods for a third stint. Reed will now team with Chris Jones and former teammate Frank Clark with the Chiefs. During Reed and Clark’s previous season together, 2018, Reed recorded a career-best 10.5 sacks. He registered 6.5 last season.
The Houston Police Department received a report of an allegation against Deshaun Watson and is now conducting an investigation into the Texans quarterback (Twitter link).
Prior to Friday, none of Watson’s 20-plus accusers had gone to the police. The attorney representing Watson’s accusers, Tony Buzbee, indicated he would not take these accusations to the police, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic tweets. One accuser has done so, however, though it is not known if the complainant is among the 21 accusers who previously filed civil suits against Watson.
“Today, a complainant filed a report with the Houston Police Department concerning Deshaun Watson,” Houston PD’s statement read. “As with any allegation, the Houston Police Department is now conducting an investigation and will not comment further during the investigative process.”
Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, subsequently indicated his legal team will cooperate fully with the Houston PD’s investigation, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Twenty-one women have accused Watson of sexual assault or sexual misconduct; 18 different massage therapists have voiced support for Watson, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The NFL began its investigation into Watson more than two weeks ago.
Three-plus weeks away from the draft, the early consensus points the Jets to selecting Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall. This would lead former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold out of the Big Apple. But the incumbent has supporters within the organization.
Some “high-powered” Jets personnel remain in the pro-Darnold camp, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes, with that faction preferring to see the former USC prospect be given another chance with a better roster in 2021. However, another group within the organization is behind a Wilson-centric future — one that would give the Jets at least three years to build around another rookie contract.
Wilson’s value laps Darnold’s at this point, and Vacchiano adds that some around the league wonder if the Jets could even fetch a second-round pick for their three-year starter. Some teams that would have made sense as Darnold suitors have moved on, and the Broncos are not planning to fork over a second-rounder for Darnold. While it is not certain if Denver is fully out on the passer it once coveted, new GM George Paton is not keen on trading his second-round pick for the passer that ranked last in 2020 QBR. The Panthers are also not believed to be high on Darnold.
The Jets were connected to a trade of Darnold or a trade of the No. 2 pick, but Vacchiano notes nothing has surfaced indicating the team has engaged in serious Darnold trade talks. Teams have inquired, however. Darnold remains on his rookie salary for 2021, but the Jets (or the team that acquires him) must decide on an $18.8MM fifth-year option by May 3. The Jets could theoretically keep both QBs, which would remind of the Chargers’ Drew Brees–Philip Rivers situation in the mid-2000s, but it should still be expected the team chooses between them.
The 49ers are not believed to have had serious discussions with the Jets about trading up to No. 2 overall, with San Francisco instead climbing to No. 3. The price the 49ers paid to rise nine slots — the No. 12 pick and a third-rounder in this year’s draft, along with 2022 and ’23 first-rounders — illustrates the value of the Jets’ selection. While Wilson still appears on course to succeed Darnold, GM Joe Douglas may not have made his final decision yet.
With the Bears midway through what became a six-game losing streak last season, Matt Nagy relinquished play-calling duties. But the fourth-year Bears head coach will take back the play sheet come September.
Nagy said Friday he will call plays next season. This comes after the Bears signed ex-Bill Lazor pupil Andy Dalton. Lazor called the Bears’ offensive plays beginning in Week 10. Despite Lazor having been Dalton’s position coach in 2016 and his offensive coordinator for the next two seasons, he will return to his initial Bears role as a non-play-calling OC.
Nagy’s play-calling acumen played a key role in his 2018 Coach of the Year award, with the former Chiefs OC elevating Mitchell Trubisky during a season that nearly ended with the Bears advancing to the divisional round. However, Trubisky regressed considerably in 2019 and was benched early in the 2020 season. While Trubisky returned to his QB1 role late in the season and led the Bears to three straight wins in Nagy’s second playoff bid, Chicago proved no match for Green Bay and New Orleans in one-sided defeats to close the season. The Bears ranked 25th in offensive DVOA last season and have not ranked above 20th in Nagy’s three seasons in charge.
The Bears promised Dalton he would be the starter and followed through on that pledge Friday, slotting the 10-year veteran above Nick Foles at quarterback. Nagy, who will enter the season on one of the NFL’s hottest seats, will be running the show during Dalton’s Chicago debut.
After hosting Damien Wilson on a visit earlier this week, the Jaguars agreed to terms with the veteran linebacker on Friday. The team announced the signing.
Wilson spent the past two seasons as a starter with the Chiefs, working as a first-stringer for both of Kansas City’s two Super Bowl runs. Wilson will join a Jaguars team that houses three-down linebackers Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, adding some additional experience to defensive coordinator Joe Cullen‘s linebacking corps.
The Jags will be Wilson’s third team. He began his career as a part-time starter with the Cowboys, arriving in Dallas as a fourth-round pick in 2015. While Wilson made 22 starts in four Cowboys seasons, he logged 29 for the Chiefs over the past two. This agreement could push Wilson into Jacksonville’s starting lineup, but he likely will have to battle a few younger cogs to earn that spot alongside Jack and Schobert.
Wilson, 27, posted a career-high 81 tackles for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in 2019. Pro Football Focus graded Wilson better in 2020, when he rated 44th among off-ball ‘backers. The six-year veteran wrapped his Chiefs career with a team-high 10 tackles (one for loss) in Super Bowl LV.
The Bills continue to hunt for roster depth. They are set to meet with veteran offensive lineman Le’Raven Clark, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Clark has spent his entire career with the Colts, arriving in Indianapolis as a third-round pick in 2016 and spending most of his time there as a swing backup. He signed a one-year deal to stay with the Colts last March but may now need to relocate to continue his career.
One of Patrick Mahomes‘ blockers at Texas Tech, Clark has started 15 games throughout his pro career. Although, the Colts did not turn to him as a full-timer. Clark maxed out at five starts in 2017. He did line up with Indianapolis’ first-stringers in three games last season but saw an Achilles tear end that campaign early.
Clark, 27, suffered the injury in early December and will not be ready to return to action for several months. But the Bills are monitoring the five-year veteran nonetheless. Buffalo has agreed to deals with multiple depth pieces this week, signing tackle Bobby Hart and linebackers Tyrell Adams and Marquel Lee.
Nevin Lawson re-signed with the Raiders late last month, but the veteran defender will not be available at the season’s outset. The NFL handed Lawson a two-game suspension on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This will mark the second straight season in which a suspension has sidelined Lawson. He received a one-game ban for an on-field infraction in 2020. This suspension is for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News tweets.
The Raiders brought back Lawson on a one-year, $1.1MM deal. Should he reside on the team’s 53-man roster once his suspension ends, this will be the soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback’s third season with the Silver and Black.
A former Lions draftee who played five years in Detroit, Lawson has become a key Raiders cog during much of Jon Gruden‘s second stay with the franchise. He started nine games last season, making a career-high 61 tackles, and five in 2019.
William Jackson III is glad to be done with the Bengals. Now with the Washington Football Team, the standout cornerback says it was a “blessing” to leave Cincinnati. 
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“Cincinnati, they got some crude fans, man. You know misery loves company. When nothing (is) going good, everybody’s not doing any good,” Jackson said (via 106.7 The Fan). “(WFT) has been nothing but supportive since Day 1. The Bengals, on the other hand, them dudes – they wonder why they’re not winning. I’m happy I’m out of that thing man. It’s a blessing to get away and I wish them the best, but Washington – let’s go from here.”
Jackson spent four up-and-down seasons with the Bengals, but saved his best for last. After a so-so 2019, he notched 45 stops, eleven passes defensed, and one interception in his platform year. Then, he parlayed that into a three-year, $40MM deal to join up with Washington and aid them in their bid to return to the playoffs.
The cornerback drew lots of interest on the open market, but his price tag was too rich for the Bengals’ blood. Instead, they pivoted to former Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (at about half the price of Jackson’s deal) and ex-Steeler Mike Hilton (for just over 50% of WJIII’s contract).