HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Patriots Have Discussed Julio Jones Trade

May 22nd, 2021 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

With more smoke surfacing on the Julio Jones front, another potential suitor has emerged. The Patriots have held internal discussions on Jones, according to NFL.com’s Mike Giardi (on Twitter).

This certainly does not mean a deal is close, but the Patriots have operated aggressively at the skill positions this offseason. Four new weapons — Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne — are in Foxborough, with the group set to aid Cam Newton and/or Mac Jones in 2021. One of this era’s most accomplished players, Jones would stand to help as well.

Despite the Pats’ uncharacteristic March spending, they still have north of $15MM in cap space. Although they still need to sign some draft picks — Jones among them — that cap-space figure ranks in the top 10. The Falcons, who hold less than $500K as of Saturday, rank 30th here. They have identified a Jones trade as a way to remedy this issue, even though dealing the 32-year-old All-Pro would would an offense that just added Kyle Pitts fourth overall.

[Poll: Who Will Julio Jones Play For In 2021?]

Bill Belichick sent the Falcons a second-round pick for longtime Jones teammate Mohamed Sanu in 2019, but that move backfired. While this is a new Falcons front office, Belichick dealt with GM Terry Fontenot‘s former team in a high-end receiver swap in 2017. Fontenot was with the Saints when they sent Brandin Cooks to the Patriots for a first-round pick four years ago. The new Atlanta GM said last month the team must listen to offers for Jones. Belichick has used the trade market extensively to land impact wideouts, with the 2007 offseason including deals for Randy Moss and Wes Welker. The Pats also traded for Chad Johnson in 2011 and Josh Gordon in 2018.

New England’s passing game sputtered last season — and neither Agholor nor Bourne profiles as a No. 1-caliber wide receiver. Jones missed seven games in 2020, due to a hamstring malady, but only missed four over the previous six years combined. His 9,388 receiving yards from 2014-19 not only led the NFL by more than 1,000; that total is the most ever in a six-season span. Jones’ 95.5 yards per game over the course of his career ranks No. 1 in NFL history.

The Titans are also believed to be on the radar for a Jones trade, and other teams should be expected to explore what it would take to acquire the 10-year veteran. Though, the Falcons are not expected to receive a first-round pick for their future Hall of Fame wideout. A Jones trade would need to take place after June 1, when such a move becomes less financially punishing for the Falcons. Jones’ $22MM-per-year contract includes a $15.3MM 2021 base salary; Jones is due $11.5MM in 2022 and ’23.

Bradley Chubb Underwent Ankle Procedure

May 22nd, 2021 at 12:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Bradley Chubb recently went under the knife. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that the Broncos linebacker recently had a minor ankle procedure.

Chubb is expected to be sidelined through OTAs. However, there’s optimism that he’ll be ready to go for training camp in two months, which means he’ll have plenty of time to get ready for the regular season. For those keeping track at home, this was the same ankle that forced Chubb to miss the final two games of the 2020 campaign.

Chubb has struggled a bit to stay on the field since being selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 draft. He earned All-Rookie team honors after compiling 12 sacks and 21 QB hits, but he was limited to only four games in 2019 after partially tearing his ACL. Chubb managed to return in time for the start of the 2020 season, and despite missing the final two contests, he still earned a Pro Bowl nod after finishing with 42 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 19 QB hits. The Broncos picked up the 24-year-old’s fifth-year option last month.

Even if Chubb’s recovery leaked into training camp or the preseason, the Broncos would be fine at strongside linebacker. Malik Reed finished last season with eight sacks, and the team claimed Natrez Patrick way back in January.

Jaguars ST Coordinator Brian Schneider Stepping Away

May 22nd, 2021 at 11:25am CST by Ben Levine

Months after joining the Jaguars, special teams coordinator Brian Schneider is stepping away indefinitely. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the 50-year-old coach is taking time away from football for personal reasons.

Schneider announced back in September that he was leaving his position as Seahawks special teams coordinator for personal reasons. Following Urban Meyer’s hire in Jacksonville, Schneider agreed to resume coaching and join the Jaguars staff as ST coordinator back in January.

Schneider had been with the Seahawks since 2010. He was apart of nine playoff runs in Seattle, including a 2013 Super Bowl win that saw Percy Harvin return an 87-yard kickoff for a score. During his stint with the Seahawks, the special teams unit consistently ranked toward the top of the league in takeaways, blocked kicks, and touchdowns/safeties scored. He began his coaching career at Colorado State, where he worked with Meyer, and he later spent time with UCLA, Iowa State, USC, and the Raiders.

Former Chargers special teams ace Carlos Polk is currently the Jaguars assistant ST coach, and it’s easy to assume that he’ll step up in Schneider’s absence. Polk previous served as an assistant ST coach with the Chargers, Buccaneers, and Cowboys.

This Date In NFL Transactions History: Giants Acquire K Lawrence Tynes

May 22nd, 2021 at 9:38am CST by Ben Levine

On this date 14 years ago, the Giants and Chiefs pulled off a trade that probably would have been filed under one of our ‘Minor Transactions’ posts (had PFR existed at the time). While no one knew it at the time, the key player in the trade would ultimately play a major role in both of the Giants Super Bowl runs. On May 22, 2007, the Kansas City Chiefs traded kicker Lawrence Tynes to the Giants for a future seventh-round pick.

The 2001 undrafted free agent out of Troy had to spend a couple of years in the Canadian Football League before finally getting an opportunity with the Chiefs. He spent three years in Kansas City but didn’t do anything miraculous, converting only 78.2-percent of his field goals attempts. He also blew a field goal attempt in a playoff game against the Colts, drawing the ire of head coach Herm Edwards. The organization would later select UCLA’s Justin Medlock in the fifth-round of the draft, leading to Tynes departure.

The Giants seemed like a natural trade partner after losing Jay Feely in free agency, and they were looking for a veteran who could compete with former undrafted free agent Josh Huston. So, on May 22, 2007, the two teams pulled off the transaction, with Kansas City receiving a reported ‘undisclosed’ pick. We later learned that the mystery selection was a 2008 seventh-round pick (which ultimately turned into No. 239), which the Chiefs used on fullback Michael Merritt.

Tynes ended up winning the job for the Giants, and he proceeded to have a career year in 2007. He connected on a career-high 85.2-percent of his field goals, and he converted 40 of his 42 extra point tries. However, the kicker truly inserted himself into Giants lore with his performance in the 2007 postseason. At one point, Tynes was in the doghouse instead of the penthouse; in the NFC Championship Game, he missed a pair of fourth-quarter field goals (although one was on a bad snap), and the game ultimately went to overtime. However, Tynes redeemed himself by making a 47-yarder in overtime to send the Giants to the championship game. Tynes wasn’t the hero of the Super Bowl, but he still converted his one field goal attempt and two extra point attempts, earning himself his first ring.

Tynes missed most of the 2008 season with a knee injury, but he returned to the starting gig the following year. The kicker maintained his 83-percent(ish) field goal percentage in 2009 and 2010, but he started to show some cracks in 2011, missing five of his 24 field goal attempts. During the 2011 postseason, Tynes redeemed himself once again with playoff heroics. He kicked another game-winning field goal (this time against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game), becoming the only player in NFL history to have a pair of postseason overtime/game-winning field goals. The Giants would again beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, with the kicker making each of his field goal attempts in that game.

Tynes would spend one more season in New York, making a career-high 33 field goals. He signed with the Buccaneers the following offseason, but he missed the entire season thanks to a toe infection that ultimately led to a lawsuit against the team (if you’re curious, Google ‘Buccaners MRSA’). Tynes ultimately retired after getting released the following offseason.

When this trade was pulled off on May 22, 2007, it probably didn’t catch the attention of many fans. However, with the value of hindsight (and considering Tynes’ penchant for making dramatic overtime field goals in the playoffs), you could argue that this was one of the biggest transactions that influenced the Giants two Super Bowl runs.

Raiders Release DL David Irving

May 21st, 2021 at 7:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite not seeing much time with the Raiders last season, David Irving generated some interest in free agency this year. But the former Cowboys regular opted to re-sign with the Raiders. That deal did not end up lasting too long.

The Raiders released Irving on Friday. This is not the first time such a transaction has occurred. Las Vegas signed Irving midway through last season but cut him on multiple occasions, shuttling him to its practice squad. With practice squads not forming until September, Irving is back in free agency.

Irving played in two games last season, logging just 45 snaps, and has suited up for just four over the past three years. Suspensions have dogged the 27-year-old D-lineman, but he has avoided any bans since his most recent reinstatement last fall. The ex-Cowboys starter worked out for the Colts and Lions this offseason as well. While more interest may develop, Irving is nearly four years removed from his last season of consequence.

The 6-foot-7 pass rusher did log seven sacks in eight games in 2017; that has likely continued to generate interest. It will be interesting to see if the former Chiefs UDFA can land with a fourth NFL team.

Las Vegas added several defensive line pieces this offseason, signing Yannick Ngakoue and using a third-round pick on fellow defensive end Malcolm Koonce. Former top-five pick Solomon Thomas and Quinton Jefferson are also now with the Raiders. Like Irving, each has experience working at both D-end and D-tackle.

Patrick Mahomes To Participate In OTAs

May 21st, 2021 at 5:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

A month ago, Patrick Mahomes proclaimed himself ahead of schedule in his recovery from a turf toe injury. The superstar quarterback will soon prove that. Mahomes is expected to participate in OTAs next week, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.

Mahomes, who underwent surgery on his left foot shortly after Super Bowl LV, is not expected to take his usual number of reps in team drills, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. But the fifth-year passer will participate. He was initially not expected to be ready to return to work until the Chiefs’ mid-June minicamp.

Regardless of his participation level next week and in Kansas City’s minicamp, Palmer adds Mahomes is on track to be full-go by training camp. This is certainly positive news for the Chiefs, who made big moves to assemble a new offensive line for its franchise centerpiece this offseason.

The 25-year-old QB suffered the toe injury against the Browns in the divisional round. That became an afterthought after the concussion Mahomes encountered later in that game, but it has resulted in a few months of rehab. The Chiefs have Chad Henne under contract to return as Mahomes’ backup, with UDFAs Anthony Gordon (Washington State) and Shane Buechele (SMU) on the AFC champions’ 90-man roster as well.

Texans Claim T Geron Christian

May 21st, 2021 at 3:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Morgan Moses had enough service time to head to free agency, the other tackle Washington cut Thursday did not. And the Texans will add a former third-round pick as a result.

Houston submitted a successful waiver claim for Geron Christian. The fourth-year veteran will be the latest notable name to join the Texans on what is now a one-year contract. The 2018 draftee’s deal, like most of the others the Texans have authorized this offseason, expires after the 2021 season.

A Louisville alum, Christian started six games for Washington at left tackle last season. The 6-foot-6 blocker has played in 24 over the course of his career, which began in a developmental role during the end of Washington’s Trent Williams era. Pro Football Focus graded Christian 60th overall among tackles in his 263-snap 2020 season.

Injuries have interfered with Christian’s career as well. An MCL tear sidelined him as a rookie, while another knee injury limited him to six games last season. Washington moved on, drafting Samuel Cosmi in Round 2 and signing Charles Leno as its presumptive Week 1 left tackle starter.

The Texans have their left tackle position checked off, with Laremy Tunsil anchoring the rebuilding team’s offensive line. On the right side, Houston has 2019 first-round pick Tytus Howard and longtime Patriots right tackle Marcus Cannon.

Seahawks Sign CB Tre Brown, Wrap Draft Class Deals

May 21st, 2021 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks and Tre Brown agreed to terms on his four-year rookie deal, according to the team. Seattle now has its 2021 draft class under contract.

Of course, this proved a simpler task than in most cases. The Seahawks made just three picks this year. That marked the fewest in the NFL and eclipsed their five-man 1997 draft — headlined by top-six picks Shawn Springs and Walter Jones — for the fewest in franchise history.

A cornerback out of Oklahoma, Brown is ticketed to begin his career on the boundary. While the Seahawks have generally preferred tall corners on the outside under their current regime, the 5-foot-10 Brown will line up there once team drills commence. Brown, whom the Seahawks selected at No. 137 overall, intercepted three passes last season and played a regular role for the past three Sooners teams.

Brown joins second-round wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge (Western Michigan) and sixth-round tackle Stone Forsythe (Florida) in the Seahawks’ 2021 draft trio. All three are signed through 2024.

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