2021 May - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens Expected Packers To Draft Rashod Bateman At No. 29

May 26th, 2021 at 2:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers last drafted a first-round wide receiver in 2002 — Javon Walker — but they may have been prepared to pull the trigger this year. The Ravens, at least, viewed that as likely to take place.

Earlier this month, select execs around the league viewed Green Bay as Rashod Bateman‘s landing spot — if he remained on the board at No. 29. The Ravens were among the teams that believed this would transpire. Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz said as much recently, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com notes. The Ravens drafted Bateman 27th overall.

“Certainly, we knew [the Packers] liked him and a lot of teams like Rashod,” Hortiz said, via Hensley. “We don’t know for certain, but you do try to pay attention to, ‘OK, the GMs were at this pro day’ — especially this year because the GMs weren’t able to get out and see players. Brian [Gutekunst] is going to look at players that he was interested in. We try to give Eric [DeCosta] all the information that we can get at a pro day (and) at a school visit.”

Gutekunst stood next to Hortiz at Bateman’s pro day in Minneapolis; the longtime friends commuted from the airport to the Golden Gophers’ facility, per Hensley. The Packers ended up taking Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes at No. 29.

Part of the Aaron Rodgers-Packers impasse involves the team’s approach to the receiver position. The Packers were candidates to take a first-round wideout last year but surprised most by trading up for Jordan Love. The team had multiple second-round receivers on its radar in 2020 but could not maneuver to land them. They exited the ’20 draft without taking a receiver. This year, Green Bay selected Clemson’s Amari Rodgers in Round 3.

The Ravens have now taken first-round wide receivers twice in the past three years. Bateman will join Marquise Brown in Baltimore. The Bateman move came after the Ravens added Sammy Watkins in free agency. The team aggressively pursued veteran wideouts this offseason, but J.J. Smith -Schuster and T.Y. Hilton accepted less money to stay with their respective teams. Bateman broke out with a 60-catch, 1,219-yard sophomore season in 2019 and will be expected to play a major role for the run-heavy Ravens next season.

“When I came out of the pro day, I called Eric and John [Harbaugh]: ‘You got to watch his pro day,'” Hortiz said. “You can definitely feel his speed. With him, you really felt it — his ability to get in and out [of cuts] and show that twitch and strength that can transition into the burst and explosion. Certainly the pro day helped.”

Cowboys Hire Ben McAdoo

May 26th, 2021 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have hired former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as a consultant (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Now, McAdoo is set to face his former squad twice in 2021. He’ll also get to reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy — the two last worked together in Green Bay with McAdoo serving as the quarterbacks coach.

McAdoo climbed up the NFL coaching ranks during his stints with the Saints, 49ers, and Packers. He caught on with the Giants in 2014 as their offensive coordinator, improving the squad from the 28th-highest-scoring offense to the sixth-highest-scoring offense. Ownership and the front office turned to their OC after Tom Coughlin stepped down, making McAdoo their 17th head coach in franchise history.

The Giants went 11-5 during McAdoo’s first season as the helm, although the team lost to the Packers in that year’s Wild Card Game. New York stumbled to a 2-10 record to start the 2017 campaign, and the organization ended up firing both their head coach and general manager Jerry Reese before the end of the year.

Since that time, McAdoo has seemingly been out of football altogether. The coach has worked with the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning throughout his career. Now, he’ll be asked to strategize around Dak Prescott.

NFL, Players Agree To $208.2MM Cap For 2022

May 26th, 2021 at 1:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a $208.2MM salary cap for the 2022 season (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). That number could change somewhat based on a few factors. Still, it sounds as though they’re on track for a significant uptick. Currently, the cap is set at $182.5MM.

The ultimate number will be determined by the remainder of the league’s revenue projections. That includes money from TV deals, radio contracts, and gambling partnerships. If the ~$208MM figure holds, it’ll set a new all-time watermark for the cap, which previously spiked at $198.2MM in 2019. Of course, last year’s cap was reduced due to the loss of gate revenue and other income for the league.

The two sides will also have to discuss a salary cap floor. As of this writing, there’s no minimum for payroll – that’s surely front of mind for NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith & Co., who want to shield against teams cheaping out.

As Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes, this is especially welcome for clubs that have significant dollars on the books for 2022. Already, the Packers, Cowboys, Rams, Saints, Giants, and Bills are carrying more than $200MM in committments for ’22. The Packers lead the way with $237MM, per OverTheCap.com, and that might not factor in Dean Lowry’s restructure, which shifts a good chunk of his money into next year.

This Date In Transactions History: Bears Sign Victor Cruz

May 26th, 2021 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2017, Victor Cruz joined the Bears on a one-year deal. With that, the longtime Giants wide receiver was set to start his next chapter. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out as expected.

Cruz was a logical fit for the Bears after they lost Alshon Jeffery in free agency. With their WR1 gone, they were left with Cameron Meredith, the injury-prone Kevin White, veteran Kendall Wright, Daniel Braverman, and Markus Wheaton as their top targets. Cruz was not a one-for-one replacement for Jeffery at this stage of his career, but there was a clear path to the 53-man roster. Then, in the preseason, he suffered a knee injury that took him out of the equation.

From 2011 through 2013, Cruz averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight end zone salsas per season for the Giants. Cruz, a former undrafted free agent out of UMass, came out of nowhere and captivated the NFL . Later, the Giants locked Cruz down with a five-year extension worth up to $43MM. Cruz could have gambled by staying on track for free agency after the 2013 season. With hindsight, Cruz was pretty happy about his decision, which yielded nearly $16MM in guaranteed cash.

Things started to come apart in 2014, thanks to a torn patellar tendon, followed by a calf injury. By ’18, Cruz was still just 31, but also years removed from live action. So, after unsuccessfully lobbying the Giants to bring him back, Cruz called it a career. His final NFL contract came from the Bears, but he left the game having only played for the G-Men.

Texans Sign QB Davis Mills

May 26th, 2021 at 10:17am CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have officially signed rookie quarterback Davis Mills (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). Per the terms of his slot, Davis will earn $5.2MM+ over the course of his four-year deal.

Davis was a third-round pick, but he was the first player taken by the Texans this year. Ideally, the Texans would like to ease the Stanford product into the pro game. But, with continued uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson, there’s no telling how Mills will be deployed. For what it’s worth, new head coach David Culley is high on him.

“Davis Mills, I thought [GM Nick Caserio‘s] staff did a great job of all of a sudden earmarking a guy that fit what a quarterback in the NFL is all about,” Culley said earlier this month. “Obviously he didn’t play as much football as some of the other guys because of the COVID situation in the Pac-12, but we really love what he’s all about. We love all of the intangibles he has. He’s a pro-type NFL quarterback and we feel good to have him. He’s smart. He can make all the throws and we feel good and feel fortunate that we’re able to get him when we got him.”

If Watson doesn’t return to the Texans this year, Mills will likely start the year as the No. 2 QB behind team veteran Tyrod Taylor. Well-traveled QB Jeff Driskel is also in the mix, having leapfrogged Ryan Finley, who was recently cut.

As a two-year starter, Mills threw for 3,468 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 65.5% of his throws. Now, he’ll look to make his mark in the pros along with the rest of the Texans’ rookie class. Mills was the first one picked and the last one to sign, meaning that the Texans’ entire class has now been wrapped up.

Details On Antonio Brown’s New Buccaneers Deal

May 26th, 2021 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

It took a little longer than expected, but Antonio Brown has finally re-signed with the Buccaneers. Now, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link) we have the details on the deal.

As previously reported, Brown can make up to $6.25MM in 2021. He received a $2MM signing bonus plus $1.1MM in base salary, which effectively guarantees $3.1MM. Beyond that, he can make a total of $900K in per-game bonuses, plus incentives.

Brown can collect an additional $334K for each of the following plateaus: 50 catches, 70 catches, 600 receiving yards, 800 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and seven touchdowns. Plus, if he reaches 45% playing time and is active for a (second) Super Bowl victory, he’ll see another $250K.

Often times, NFL incentives are hard to reach. Sometimes, they’re formally designated as such (NLTBE — Not Likely To Be Earned). In this case, it’s not hard to imagine AB maxing out his contract. In eight regular season games last year, Brown notched 45 catches for 483 yards and four touchdowns. Extrapolated for a full 16-game slate, that’s 90 catches, 966 yards, and eight touchdowns. If Brown can do that in 2021, he’ll hit every milestone and then some.

Packers Restructure Dean Lowry’s Deal

May 26th, 2021 at 9:22am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have restructured the contract of defensive lineman Dean Lowry (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). Lowry will have $3.11 million of his $4.1MM salary converted into a signing bonus, giving Green Bay an additional $2.5MM in cap room. That’s a welcome break for Brian Gutekunst, who was sweating Lowry’s scheduled $6.3MM cap hit.

The move provides the Packers with some extra space to add to the roster between now and Week 1. In theory, the extra dollars could be allocated towards a big splash, like trading for Falcons star Julio Jones, but they’ll need more than a few mil to make that happen. Jones will earn a guaranteed $15.3MM this year and already has ~$2MM of his 2022 salary ($15.5MM) locked in.

Lowry, a 2016 fourth-round pick out of Northwestern, inked a three-year, $20.325MM extension towards the end of his rookie deal. He broke out as a part-time starter in 2018 with 57 tackles (seven for loss), three sacks, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two QB hits, and 14 QB pressures. Last year, he delivered three sacks and 36 total stops while starting in all 16 contests.

This Date In NFL Transactions History: Dan Snyder Approved As Owner Of Washington Franchise

May 25th, 2021 at 9:53pm CST by Ben Levine

As with any ownership change, there was optimism in Washington on this date in 1999. Fast forward 22 years, and this was an era that fans would probably prefer to forget. On May 25, 1999, Daniel Snyder was approved as the new owner of the Washington NFL franchise.

The organization was up for sale following the death of former owner Jack Kent Cooke, and Snyder ponied up a then-record $800MM for the team and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (which is now FedEx Field). Snyder’s first season at the helm was a success; his team won 10 games, the first time they hit double-digit victories since their Super Bowl-winning season in 1991. Since that time, the on-field product has been disappointing (to say the least).

Since Snyder took over as owner, the team has gone 149-202-1 with only six playoff appearance. The team has also shuffled through 10 head coaches, including four different coaches between 1999 and 2002. Snyder hasn’t necessarily endeared himself to fans during this time; he sued season ticket holders during a recession, he temporarily banned fans from bringing signs into his stadium, and he threatened a lawsuit against a local newspaper that detailed his various controversies.

Speaking of…Snyder has also found himself in a number of off-field controversies. The owner was at the forefront of the whole name-change fiasco, refusing to change the Redskins moniker until pressured by major sponsors in 2020. That same year, Snyder was a main player in a Washington Post series that detailed rampant sexual harassment and discrimination within the organization. All the while, Snyder has found himself engaged in a number of additional ventures. This includes sports radio, an Arena Football League team, Six Flags, and Johnny Rockets. Generally, these side hustled didn’t work out all that well.

Unfortunately for fans of WFT, it doesn’t sound like Snyder is going anywhere any time soon. After selling part of his ownership to pay off team debt, Snyder managed to repurchase the remaining 40.5-percent of the team this past March. The purchase was unanimously approved by league owners.

On this date in 1999, Washington fans were likely dreaming of a return to glory. Instead, these fans have endured plenty of controversies (along with rising ticket prices and parking) in exchange for a pair of playoff wins over two-plus decades.

Kyle Shanahan Discusses 49ers’ Potential Interest In Julio Jones

May 25th, 2021 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers have already pulled off one blockbuster trade this offseason, and they might not be done. When asked about the team’s potential interest in Falcons wideout Julio Jones, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted that the team’s acquisition of the No. 3 pick (and subsequent selection of Trey Lance) may have paved the way for another major deal.

“Well, you know I’m not legally allowed to talk about players on other teams,” Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “So I can’t answer that exactly the way you want me to.

“Anyone I’ve coached in the past that I have a relationship with, especially a great dude like Julio, obviously I have a ton of respect for. We’re always interested in improving our team. We’ll never just say, ‘Hey, we’re done. We can’t improve our team.’ You always try to make that happen. But, yeah, it makes it harder when you’ve already given up some stuff to make some moves and things like that.”

As Shanahan noted, the coach served as the Falcons offensive coordinator between 2015 and 2016, a pair of seasons that saw Jones compile 3,280 total yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. Five years later, Jones finds himself on the trade block while Shanahan finds himself loading up for an eventual run at the championship.

We learned yesterday that Jones had already requested a trade, and this followed reports that the Falcons would consider dealing the future Hall of Famer as they looked to clear some money off the books. Plenty of teams would naturally have interest in the wideout, but only a handful of names have definitively trickled out over the past few days, including the Patriots and Titans.

While the 49ers won’t be able to satisfy the Falcons’ desire for a first-round pick, they have the cap space to make a deal happen. Plus, Jones would add some legitimacy to an offense that (outside of tight end George Kittle) is predicated on youth and upside. While former first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk and former second-round pick Deebo Samuel have the draft pedigree, the young duo combined for only 1,242 all-purpose yards last season (albeit in only 19 combined games).

49ers RB Jeff Wilson To Miss Start Of Regular Season

May 25th, 2021 at 6:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Jeff Wilson will be sidelined for the next four to six months. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the 49ers running back recently underwent surgery on a torn meniscus and will be sidelined through the start of the regular season.

If the timeline is to be believed, Wilson could see the field anytime between late September and late November. Garafolo notes that this procedure repaired the meniscus (vs. trimming the meniscus), necessitating the lengthy recovery. Wilson opted to go under the knife after dealing with a locked knee joint, and the surgery is expected to be the best route for his long-term health.

The former undrafted free agent had a career year in 2020, finishing with 733 yards from scrimmage and 10 offensive touchdowns. Thanks to that performance, 25-year-old was rewarded with a fully-guaranteed $2MM salary for 2021.

While the 49ers would obviously prefer Wilson be on the field, they’ve done a nice job stocking up on running backs this offseason. The team signed veteran Wayne Gallman and added a pair of rookies, including third-rounder Trey Sermon and sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell. The team will also return Raheem Mostert, who started eight games in 2020.