HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Ravens Sign First-Rounder Rashod Bateman

May 12th, 2021 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The first of the Ravens’ two 2021 first-round picks, Rashod Bateman is now under contract. The former Minnesota wide receiver signed his rookie deal Wednesday.

The No. 27 overall pick, Bateman signed a $12.6MM contract — with a $6.5MM signing bonus — and is now under contract through 2024. He could be kept through 2025 on this deal via the now-fully guaranteed fifth-year option. Baltimore will not have to make that decision until May 2024. In the meantime, Bateman will be a welcome addition to a team that has changed up its receiving corps this offseason.

It has not been especially easy for the Ravens to bolster their receiving crew. They were in on Kenny Golladay, and both JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton passed on better offers from Baltimore in order to re-sign with the teams that drafted them. Although the Ravens did sign Sammy Watkins, their run-heavy offense has predictably been an issue for free agent wideouts. As such, the Ravens have spent first-round picks on receivers in two of the past three years.

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Bateman will bring a different skill set compared to Marquise Brown. In 2019, however, Bateman did post a Brown-like yards-per-catch figure (20.9). After that 1,219-yard, 11-touchdown season, the big-bodied wideout played a limited role in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Bateman opted out, opted back in, then left the Golden Gophers during the season to prepare for the draft. He still wound up a first-round pick and will attempt to give Lamar Jackson a steady target on the outside.

Bateman is the first of Baltimore’s draftees to sign and the second first-round pick to ink his rookie contract. The Colts signed Kwity Paye last week.

Bucs GM: Tom Brady Can Play Until He’s 50

May 12th, 2021 at 2:36pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Buccaneers drafted Kyle Trask in the second-round a couple weeks ago, but don’t count on him seeing the field any time soon. Tom Brady continued to defy father time once again this past season, and as far as the Bucs are concerned there’s no cap on when he can keep playing until.

Tampa GM Jason Licht recently appeared on the Rich Eisen Show (Twitter video link), and made it clear he’s not going to force Brady out the door. For starters, Eisen asked Licht whether Brady gave any indication that the extension he signed back in March would be his last. Licht immediately said “none.” While Licht said he’d keep most of their conversations private, he said Brady gave “no inkling at all” that this would be his last go-round.

Most notably, Licht said “I told him if he wants to play until he’s 50, and he feels like he can still play, he can play until he’s 50.” Brady, born in August of 1977, would turn 50 right before the start of the 2027 season. Trask’s rookie contract will have already been long done at that point.

While Licht obviously wasn’t making a firm commitment right there, it’s yet another sign that Brady isn’t going to ride off into the sunset as long as he’s playing at a high level. His most recent extension keeps him under contract through the 2022 season.

The 43-year-old had knee surgery this offseason, although he said recently that he’s hoping to be ready to go by the time the team opens minicamp in June.

Jets Host Tavon Austin

May 12th, 2021 at 1:38pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jets have already given significant money to Corey Davis and Keelan Cole this offseason, but they might not be done adding receivers. New York worked out veteran Tavon Austin on Wednesday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

It seems a contract is a real possibility, since Rapoport writes that it “sounded like it went well.” Austin has appeared on the verge of falling out of the league a couple of times, but has been able to find additional chances. He signed with the 49ers right before the start of last season, but was placed on IR prior to final cuts and then later released. He managed to latch on with the Packers in December and played in four games for Green Bay, catching five passes.

Notably, Aaron Rodgers highlighted Austin late in the season as someone who made a very positive impact on the locker room. Perhaps that’s what the Jets are looking for here. Austin was a big name player coming out of college after a decorated career at West Virginia, and the Rams drafted him eighth overall in 2013.

He made a number of splash plays, and had a punt return touchdown in each of his first three pro seasons, but never lived up to his draft status. His career-high in receiving yards was 509 back in 2016. The Rams traded him to the Cowboys in April of 2018, and he spent the next two seasons in Dallas.

He was mostly used as a gadget player by the Cowboys, with only 21 receptions and 12 rush attempts in 21 games with the team. He turned 31 in March.

Steven Nelson Has Interest From Texans, Bears, Eagles, Bengals, Bills

May 12th, 2021 at 12:37pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

One of the top free agents left on the market is cornerback Steven Nelson. The Steelers released Nelson back on March 23rd, and he’s remained unsigned ever since.

That being said, it sounds like he’s unsigned still by choice, not because of lack of interest. Nelson’s “market has been strong,” and he’s received interest from 14 teams including the Texans, Bears, Eagles, Bengals, and Bills, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Fowler adds that Nelson is choosing to be “patient waiting for right fit and opportunity.” Nelson was originally drafted by the Chiefs in the third-round in 2015. After a 2018 season where he had four interceptions for Kansas City, he signed a three-year, $25.5MM pact with the Steelers. He then started 30 games for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons, and had nine passes defended and two interceptions in 2020.

Nelson has been a solid starter, and has received strong marks from Pro Football Focus. In fact over the last two years, PFF has him graded as the NFL’s 11th-best cornerback. He could be a boost to plenty of teams in need of help in the secondary, and will likely get some significant money from somebody.

Chargers, Asante Samuel Jr. Agree To Deal

May 12th, 2021 at 11:34am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have agreed to terms with second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. (Twitter link via agent David Canter). Per the terms of his slot, the Florida State cornerback will earn just over $7MM on his four-year deal. 

The Bolts nabbed Samuel at No. 47 overall, though he was projected by many to go in the first round. Samuel’s lack of size may have hurt his stock, but he was a first-team All-ACC selection last year with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in just eight games. And, in 2019, he notched 14 passes defensed.

Now, he figures to be a key part of Brandon Staley’s first Chargers defense, especially with Casey Hayward out of the picture. Meanwhile, he’ll also learn from fellow FSU alum Derwin James.

With one down, the Chargers still have eight more draft picks to sign:

WFT To Sign Charles Leno

May 12th, 2021 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Washington Football Team has agreed to sign former Bears left tackle Charles Leno (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year deal for $5MM.

The Bears cut Leno earlier this month after investing a second-round pick in tackle Teven Jenkins. Washington, meanwhile, chose Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi in Round 2. Cosmi may be the long-term solution at LT, but they’ll ease him into the role with Leno as the stopgap starter.

Washington hasn’t had a solid left tackle since things went south with Trent Williams. Leno isn’t on Williams’ level, but he has been an LT starter for the past six seasons, serving as Chicago’s blindside protector from 2015-20. Pro Football Focus graded Leno as a top-25 tackle in three of the past four seasons, including the 2020 season. He’s durable, too; Leno hasn’t missed a game since his rookie year.

The Broncos also had Leno on their radar as they look to replace the injured Ja’Wuan James. Now, they’ll consider other veterans such asBobby Massie, Dennis Kelly, Jermaine Eluemunor and Cameron Fleming.

Bills To Meet With Eli Ankou

May 12th, 2021 at 9:50am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills are set to meet with defensive tackle Eli Ankou, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 (Twitter link). Ankou, who stands at 6’3” and weighs 327 pounds, could provide depth and run-stuffing help in Buffalo.

Ankou, who won’t turn 27 until next month, has already spent time with five different NFL teams. His last stop was with the Cowboys, after the Texans shipped him mid-season in exchange for a seventh-round pick. In 2020 alone, Ankou spent time with three different teams, going from the Colts to the Texans to the Cowboys.

Ankou notched five tackles in seven games for Dallas last year. For the most part, the former undrafted free agent out of UCLA has served as a special teams player, though he did notch 1.5 sacks as a rookie in Jacksonville.

The Bills already boast a solid interior, headlined by Ed Oliver and Vernon Butler plus Harrison Phillips and Star Lotulelei.

Packers Tried To Claim LS Matt Orzech

May 12th, 2021 at 9:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers attempted to claim long snapper Matt Orzech, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, the Rams had higher priority in the order due to their 10-6 finish. The Packers, meanwhile, went 13-3 (and nearly reached the Super Bowl).

[RELATED: Titans Cut Orzech, Orchard]

Orzech, a 2019 undrafted free agent, saw 16 games as a rookie with the Jaguars. In 2020, he had stints with the Jaguars and Dolphins before landing with the Titans’ practice squad. On Monday, the Titans waived him along with linebacker Nate Orchard and tight end Parker Hesse.

Meanwhile, the Packers have bigger fish to fry. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers still wants out and the Packers continue to insist that he’ll stay put. Still, the Broncos believe that they can swing a trade for Rodgers — especially since the other potential suitors have found other solutions at QB.

Dolphins Tried To Claim Kerryon Johnson

May 12th, 2021 at 9:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins submitted a claim for Kerryon Johnson, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Unfortunately for them, the Eagles also submitted a claim for the former Lions running back, and they had the higher priority.

Miami has already invested a bit in the RB group this year, adding Malcolm Brown in free agency and drafting Gerrid Doaks in the seventh round. Meanwhile, they already have Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Laird, and Jordan Scarlett on the roster. Their move for Johnson indicates that they could still explore backfield options between now and the fall.

Johnson, a 2018 second-round pick, was been slowed by injuries in his early seasons. However, he returned to play in 16 games last year. The Eagles hope that he can stay on the field and get back to his rookie form, when he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns, up until the first of two serious knee injuries.

Instead of taking his talents to South Beach, Johnson joins an Eagles group that includes Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and fifth-round rookie Kenneth Gainwell.

Cardinals Give Jordan Hicks Permission To Seek Trade

May 12th, 2021 at 9:27am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have given Jordan Hicks permission to seek a trade (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The veteran linebacker could still stay on board as a reserve, but his starting job as the MIKE ‘backer has been given to new first-round pick, Zaven Collins.

It’s not a shock to hear that Collins, the No. 16 overall pick in last month’s draft, is ticketed for the starting lineup. Still, Hicks is a respected figure in the locker room and he’s already taken a pay cut to make the numbers work.

Originally, he was set to have a $9MM cap charge with a $5MM base salary plus bonuses. Now, the 28-year-old (29 in June) is ticketed for a base salary of $2MM with $1MM in per-game bonuses this year for a lighter figure of $6MM. Hicks also reduced his 2022 compensation to a $4.25MM base salary, plus a $750K roster bonus and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses.

Hicks, a former third-rounder, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles before signing a four-year, $36MM deal ($20MM guaranteed) with the Cardinals in 2019. Since then, he’s started all 32 games for Arizona over the past two years, compiling 268 stops, 11 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

As Rapoport notes, however, a trade is not terribly likely (video link). He believes Hicks will indeed remain in the desert in 2021 as a backup.

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