HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

49ers Sign Trey Lance

July 28th, 2021 at 10:06am CST by Zachary Links

It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, No. 3 overall draft pick Trey Lance formally inked his rookie contract with the 49ers. 

Per the terms of his slot, the quarterback will earn $34.1MM over the next four years. And, as a first-rounder, the Niners will reserve the right to tack on an additional season via the fifth-year option. Lance’s deal — completed just before the 49ers’ Wednesday morning practice — leaves Jets’ No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson as the last unsigned first-round pick.

The future is bright for Lance, but he’ll open the year on the bench. Earlier this week, Kyle Shanahan made it clear that Jimmy Garoppolo is still his QB1.

“Trey’s had seven practices with us, and I haven’t seen him in 40 days, so I’m not thinking about that right now,” Shanahan said. “There’s no open competition right now in terms of equal reps with the same group…Jimmy is coming in as the one, and Trey is coming in as the two.”

Of course, that’ll likely be Lance’s job come 2022. Niners GM John Lynch is saying all the right things, but he didn’t mortgage all that draft ammo for a professional clipboard holder.

Dolphins, Benardrick McKinney Rework Contract

July 28th, 2021 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

Benardrick McKinney has agreed to revise his existing contract, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The veteran linebacker is now on course for free agency in the spring of 2022, rather than 2024. He was originally set to make $27.5MM over the next three years, including a $7.75M salary in 2021. Now, he’ll make $3MM this year plus $200K in playtime incentives. 

The Dolphins acquired McKinney from the Texans earlier this year in exchange for edge rusher Shaq Lawson. In cap terms, the deal was pretty much a wash. But, from a football perspective, the Dolphins preferred McKinney’s run-stuffing ability.

When McKinney was at his best, he formed one of the league’s best run-stuffing tandems with Zach Cunningham. Now, McKinney is set to start alongside Jerome Baker, and the Miami duo could be even better, if McKinney can match Baker’s strides in pass coverage.

McKinney earned Pro Bowl nod in 2018 and racked up 100+ tackles again in 2019. Last year, however, a shoulder injury limited him to just four games.

Deshaun Watson Reports To Texans’ Practice

July 28th, 2021 at 9:43am CST by Zachary Links

Deshaun Watson joined the Texans for practice on Wednesday morning (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Watson will be able to participate in training camp the rest of the way. The NFL issued a statement this week suggesting that Watson could still be placed on paid leave, pending the outcome of their investigation.

“The NFL’s review of the serious allegations against Deshaun Watson remains ongoing and active,” the NFL said. “We are working cooperatively with the Houston Police Department and ensuring that the NFL’s inquiry does not interfere with their investigation. As we continue to gather additional information and monitor law enforcement developments, we will make appropriate decisions consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Personal Conduct Policy. At this time there are no restrictions on Watson’s participation in club activities.”

Off the field, Watson is embroiled in civil litigation with lawsuits from 22 different women. Even without criminal charges, Watson could still face league discipline.

Meanwhile, Watson still wants to be traded. But, by reporting to work, he’ll avoid $50K in daily fines. For now, new head coach David Culley will try to navigate things as best he can. Even with Watson on the field, the Texans are probably more focused on getting newcomer Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills up to speed.

Colts Sign Braden Smith To $72MM Extension

July 28th, 2021 at 9:10am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts announced that they have signed offensive tackle Braden Smith to a contract extension. His deal is a four-year, $70MM add-on worth up to $72.4MM with $42MM guaranteed (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). That’s a big step up for Smith, who had one year and $2.43MM to go on his rookie deal.

The right tackle market moved in late June, with Ryan Ramczyk scoring a $19.2MM-per-year deal, topping Lane Johnson‘s $18MM AAV figure. Now, Smith stands as the third-highest paid RT in the NFL, slotting ahead of the Panthers’ Taylor Moton.

Smith played right guard at Auburn before transitioning to right tackle as a pro. The former No. 37 overall pick has emerged as one of the league’s top young tackles and has helped the Colts form a top-tier offensive line. Pro Football Focus has graded Smith (43 career starts) as a top-20 tackle in each of the past two seasons.

The Colts already have Ryan Kelly tied to high-end center money ($12.4MM on average) and Quenton Nelson could soon become the NFL’s highest-paid guard. Nelson is 3-for-3 in first-team All-Pro appearances and has not missed a game. Fortunately, the Colts have some time to work out Nelson’s deal — he’s inked through 2022, via the fifth-year option. But, because Smith was drafted a round later, he beat his higher-profile line mate to a big-ticket extension.

Patriots Cut WR Devin Smith

July 27th, 2021 at 10:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Bill Belichick has had some previous success with former-Jets reclamation projects, but Devin Smith apparently won’t be one of them. The Patriots announced today that they’ve released the wide receiver.

Smith joined the NFL as a second-round pick (No. 37) in 2015, but he didn’t show much during his first two seasons in the NFL. In two years with the Jets, the wideout collected only 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (three starts). To be fair, a torn ACL derailed his rookie campaign, and another ACL tear in 2017 forced him to miss the entire season. The receiver was ultimately waived by the team in 2018 and ended up sitting out that entire season, as well.

He got another chance in 2019 with the Cowboys, finishing with five receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown in four games (two starts). He was released by Dallas prior to last season, and he spent most of the 2020 campaign on the Texans and Patriots practice squad.

New England held on to him for the entire offseason but ultimately decided to move on. Smith would have been an interesting piece for the Patriots, but the organization already has plenty of their own projects behind Jakobi Meyers and free agent additions Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.

Latest On Trey Lance, 49ers QB “Competition”

July 27th, 2021 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

There isn’t a QB competition in San Francisco. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said there is no open competition for the starting gig, as veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is the definitive starter while rookie Trey Lance will serve as the backup (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo via Twitter).

“Trey’s had seven practices with us, and I haven’t seen him in 40 days, so I’m not thinking about that right now,” Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “There’s no open competition right now in terms of equal reps with the same group…Jimmy is coming in as the one, and Trey is coming in as the two.”

This isn’t the first time the organization has expressed this sentiment. In fact, we heard earlier this year that the team was willing to roll with Garoppolo for the next two years before inevitably turning to Lance, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. To the 49ers credit, they seem to be sticking to their story, but it remains to be seen if they’ll stick with the game plan.

Few first-round quarterbacks since the Packers’ Brett Favre-to-Aaron Rodgers transition have failed to take over starting jobs as rookies, let alone second-year passers. In every non-Rodgers case, a first-round pick having failed to seize the job by Year 2 signaled a bust. Garoppolo sat for three-plus seasons behind Tom Brady, but the Patriots selected him in the 2014 second round. Garoppolo piloted the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV, throwing 27 touchdown passes in 2019, but has been unreliable from a health standpoint since coming to San Francisco. This led to the team trading up for Lance.

Meanwhile, Lance has yet to ink his rookie contract, but GM John Lynch believes a deal will be completed sooner than later.

“We’ve never had a holdout but it always seems to go down to the wire,” Lynch said (via Garafolo on Twitter). “It’s important he is here.”

Latest On Jets QB Zach Wilson, Unsigned Rookie Contract

July 27th, 2021 at 7:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Zach Wilson is one of two unsigned first-round picks, and we’re now learning why the Jets franchise quarterback has yet to ink his rookie contract. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the No. 2 pick and the organization are in a staring contest over “cash flow and offset language.”

Specifically, the front office is hoping to “defer millions in signing bonus money” to 2022. Normally, top-two picks get all their signing bonus money up front; Florio cites Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Washington defensive end Chase Young as recent examples who received their signing bonuses within 30 days of inking their respective rookie deals.

In fact, the Jets organization paid 2018 No. 3 pick Sam Darnold his entire signing bonus 15 days after his signing (Twitter link). Of course, as Florio notes, Joe Douglas can simply argue that it was Mike Maccagnan‘s regime that agreed to that arrangement.

Surely, one of the sides will blink. Presumably, it will be the Jets, who wouldn’t want to do anything to upset their franchise cornerstone before he’s even stepped on the field. Further, Wilson wouldn’t be in training camp without a deal, meaning the organization will be forced to move forward with James Morgan and Mike White as their top options. Assuming the organization wants to take a step forward in 2021, that scenario presumably wouldn’t sit right with anyone.

The Chargers inked first-round pick Rashawn Slater earlier today, leaving Wilson and 49ers quarterback Trey Lance as the only unsigned first-round picks.

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard Requests Trade

July 27th, 2021 at 7:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Xavien Howard wants out of Miami. The All-Pro cornerback revealed on Instagram this evening that he’s requested a trade from the Dolphins (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter).

This trade demand follows Howard’s previous decision to skip mandatory minicamp in pursuit of a new contract. We recently heard that the defensive back was “dug in” on the contract issue, and it was anticipated that he’d stay away from the organization until the situation was resolved. Instead, the apparent standoff has evolved into a full-blown trade request.

In his statement, Howard said the “business side of the NFL proves organizations don’t always have a player’s best interest at heart,” citing the extension that he didn’t “feel comfortable” signing a few years ago. Howard also noted that he’ll continue to attend training camp to avoid any fines.

“We wanted things to work out with the Dolphins, and brought solutions to the table – like guaranteeing more money – that we felt were win-wins for both sides,” Howard continued. “These were proposal of adjustments that wouldn’t just make me feel more respected, but were also cap friendly. But the Dolphins refused everything we proposed.

“That is why I don’t feel the organization has dealt with me in good faith. I don’t feel valued or respect by the Dolphins. Just like they can take a business-first approach, so can I…That’s why I want to make it clear that I’m not happy and have requested a trade.”

Howard is coming off a tremendous season, intercepting a league-leading 10 passes (the second time in three seasons he has paced the NFL in INTs), and grading out as the second-best CB in the league per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. Though the five-year, $75MM pact Howard signed with the Dolphins in 2019 made him the highest-paid corner in the league at the time, his $15MM AAV is now the sixth-highest mark in football (one spot behind teammate Byron Jones, who is not as good as Howard but who was lucky enough to sign his free agent contract one year later). We learned late last month that Howard was seeking a deal that would at least exceed his teammate’s contract.

Howard’s situation is different than standard contract standoffs considering he has four years remaining on his contract. Whereas a player with one or two years left on his deal would be an easy candidate for a renegotiated pact, a player with Howard’s term would be eyeing a practically unprecedented reworking. Head coach Brian Flores seemed to hint at that “unique situation” back in June.

“After one year, it’s honestly something that hasn’t been done before,” Flores said of Howard’s then-request for a new contract. “Not saying we’re drawing a line in the sand, but different players set the market every year.”

While the Dolphins would surely rather have Howard in uniform, not all is lost, as teams would surely be willing to trade for a player of his caliber. We’ve already heard that the Saints could be a potential landing spot, and Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets that the Cowboys previously reached out about the cornerback.

Texans Release WR Donte Moncrief

July 27th, 2021 at 6:00pm CST by Ben Levine

With the Texans set to begin camp tomorrow, the team is already making some roster changes. The team released wideout Donte Moncrief with a non-football injury designation, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

Moncrief spent the first four seasons of his career with the Colts, including a 2015 campaign where he hauled in a career-high 733 yards. Since leaving for the Jaguars in 2018, the veteran has spent time with five different organizations (including Houston).

He joined the Jets right before the start of the 2020 season, but he was released in October without having appeared in a game with the team. He ended up getting picked up by the Patriots, and he proceeded to appear in six games for New England, compiling 19 yards from scrimmage.

Moncrief was signed by the Texans back in March, and it was believed he’d add another veteran presence to the receivers room. However, even with the impending trade of Randall Cobb, Moncrief may have found himself squeezed off the roster by recent acquisition Anthony Miller. The team is also rostering the likes of Brandin Cooks, Keke Coutee, Isaiah Coulter, Andre Roberts, and rookie Nico Collins.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/21

July 27th, 2021 at 5:42pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve collected today’s minor moves below:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Football Team

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