2022 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Packers Restructure Aaron Jones’ Contract

February 24th, 2022 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers have taken another step towards cap compliance. As first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates and confirmed by Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (on Twitter), the team has converted $3.75MM of the money owed to Aaron Jones in 2022 into a signing bonus, while tacking on two void years to his deal.

The move creates just over $3MM in cap space for Green Bay, bringing the total number of savings the team has manufactured in the past two days to roughly $14MM. There is still plenty of work to be done, though, to get under the cap in time for the beginning of the new league year in March. It was reported yesterday that edge rusher Za’Darius Smith will not be brought back at his currently-scheduled cap hit of $27.7MM.

Jones, 27, signed a four-year, $48MM extension last March to keep him in Green Bay through the prime of his career. He was coming off of his first Pro Bowl nomination, following a third season averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and a second straight scoring double-digit touchdowns. In his first year on the new deal, he recorded 1,190 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Things won’t get easier for the Packers down the road when it comes to Jones and his contract. His cap hits are set to jump up to $19.25MM and $15.25MM in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Between that, and the commitments which would be required if the team is able to keep both Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams this season and beyond, the Packers will likely be facing cap gymnastics for years to come.

Commanders Want To Extend Terry McLaurin, Daron Payne

February 23rd, 2022 at 10:31pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of notable Commanders are up for extensions, and it sounds like coach Ron Rivera wants to keep them around. In a conversation with Ben Standig of The Athletic, Rivera said he’s very interested in locking in wideout Terry McLaurin and defensive tackle Daron Payne for the foreseeable future.

“We have a tremendous amount of interest in making sure these guys are with us going forward,” Rivera said.

Despite being selected in the third round of the 2019 draft, it didn’t take McLaurin very long to make a name for himself. He finished that campaign with PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after compiling 919 receiving yards. The receiver kept it up during his sophomore and junior campaigns, combining for 164 receptions, 2,171 yards, and nine touchdowns between the 2020 and 2021 seasons (despite some inconsistent play from the quarterback position).

Payne had a bit more fanfare heading into the NFL after being selected with the 13th-overall pick in 2018. The 6-foor-3, 320-pound defensive lineman has started 58 of his 64 career games, including all 33 over the past two seasons. Payne finished the 2021 campaign with career-highs in tackles (61) and QB hits (15) to go along with 4.5 sacks.

Payne had his fifth-year option picked up last April, locking him in to a $8.529MM salary for 2022. McLaurin, meanwhile, is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and has a cap number of $3.04MM in 2022.

Rams OL Andrew Whitworth “Leaning Towards” Retirement

February 23rd, 2022 at 8:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Prior to his Super Bowl victory, Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth hinted that he was considering retirement. Now armed with a championship ring, the veteran admitted today that he’s leaning toward hanging up his cleats.

“There’s a lot that goes into that,” Whitworth said during an appearance on NFL Total Access (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “Obviously, the family’s involved. Me making sure that my commitment level to being the kind of player that I expect myself to be each and every Sunday is a part of that. So, that’s something I’m just gonna give it another couple of weeks and make sure I’m pretty confident what I want to do.

“I definitely think, I’m definitely leaning towards probably being done. I think that that’s probably best for me at this time in my career. There’s obviously days I’m waking up right now that I don’t know if I want to do that. It’s battling that a little bit. I’ll come to a conclusion here soon to give the Rams a chance to make the moves they need to one way or another. But man, what an awesome ride it’s been if this is the end.”

Whitworth had previously stated that he wants to keep playing for as long as possible, but he cautioned before the Super Bowl that a championship win would be “an unreal way to walk off.” Whitworth is under contract through the 2022 season, when his cap hit rises from its current figure of $5.67MM to $14.67MM.

A Bengals second-round pick in 2006, Whitworth played in Cincinnati for the first 11 years of his career. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro has been with the Rams since 2017 and has consistently been one of the league’s pass protectors.

Packers Unlikely To Take Trade Calls On Jordan Love

February 23rd, 2022 at 7:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

A big day of Packers developments continues. The team still has not heard from Aaron Rodgers on his 2022 preference, though GM Brian Gutekunst set the stage for an interesting situation by indicating he did not necessarily agree to trade Rodgers if the MVP requested it.

All this leaves Jordan Love staring at two disparate paths. The 2020 first-round pick could enter the season as Green Bay’s starter, or he could become an afterthought if Rodgers signs another Packers extension. In the event Rodgers returns, Gutekunst plans to hang onto Love. The fifth-year GM said Wednesday it is “very doubtful” he would take trade calls on his current backup, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman (on Twitter).

“I think obviously during an NFL season, it’s tough as a backup quarterback, with the way we do things nowadays, to develop,” Gutekunst said, via Schneidman (subscription required). “But at the same time, I thought he made some really good strides. I’m really excited to see where he goes from here.”

It obviously makes sense for the Packers to sit tight at present, given Rodgers’ murky status. And Love’s value has taken a bit of a hit since the Packers traded up to draft him two years ago. Although Love received the first-team reps during the Packers’ offseason program, he did not play well in his surprise start against the Chiefs. That said, this quarterback draft is not viewed especially high regard, and the QB trade market may not be robust — depending on how certain teams act in the coming weeks. Love could be intriguing to a team that does not land one of the top options coming out of free agency.

A third option exists of Rodgers coming back for one more year and walking in free agency in 2023. That certainly would make additional Love development valuable. However, if Rodgers signs an extension, which the Packers are prepared to authorize, it would make sense for the team to listen on Love.

Green Bay is in uncharted territory regarding a first-round quarterback. Since the 2011 CBA introduced the revamped rookie wage scale, no team has kept a first-round QB as its primary backup for two full seasons. Of course, the Packers stood as an outlier during the 2000s as well by sitting Rodgers for three years behind Brett Favre. A Rodgers extension, however, opens the door to Love sitting throughout his rookie deal. There is no modern comp for that. The team’s fifth-year option call on Love is due in May 2023.

Paxton Lynch Moving From CFL To USFL

February 23rd, 2022 at 6:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Paxton Lynch has not attempted a regular-season NFL pass since his final Broncos start, in Week 17 of the 2017 season. The former first-round pick is about to try another league.

Lynch requested his release from the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, with his agent noting the well-traveled QB eyed a path to the new USFL (Twitter links). Canada’s stricter COVID-19 regulations played a role in this exit, and Lynch will receive another opportunity as a pro.

The Michigan Panthers selected Lynch in the 12th round of the USFL draft Tuesday night. Lynch, the 26th overall pick in 2016, was one of a host of familiar names taken by the latest upstart league. Michigan selected Lynch, 28, in the second round designated for quarterbacks. He did not play in any games with the Roughriders, with that stay following non-game-action runs with the Seahawks and Steelers.

The USFL event started with a QB round, during which Michigan selected ex-Wolverines QB Shea Patterson first overall. In Round 1, recent Patterson Chiefs teammate Jordan Ta’amu — also an XFL veteran — along with ex-Giants draftee Kyle Lauletta and ex-Vikings backup Kyle Sloter were selected.

The New Jersey Generals chose cornerback De’Vante Bausby in the eighth round. Bausby has considerable NFL experience, compared to most of the other players drafted over the past two days, having played for four teams from 2016-20. Bausby enjoyed two stints with the Broncos, making 20 tackles in 10 Denver games in 2020. He finished the 2021 season on the Patriots’ practice squad.

Ex-Packer wideout draftee J’Mon Moore landed with the Generals as well, and former Titans third-round pick Taywan Taylor went to the New Orleans Breakers today. The Breakers also drafted ex-Washington supplemental draftee Adonis Alexander, a defensive back. Fellow NFL supplemental draftee Isaiah Battle, a tackle, went to the Pittsburgh Maulers on Tuesday night. The Tampa Bay Bandits also selected ex-Raiders second-round safety Obi Melifonwu.

The USFL’s second effort, after a memorable mid-1980s run, is set to begin play April 16. All games will be played in Birmingham. The championship game is scheduled for July 3, in Canton. Should the USFL’s second effort reach the championship game, it would surpass 2019’s Alliance of American Football and 2020’s second XFL iteration. Both recent spring startups folded before their seasons ended, though a retooled XFL is set to return in 2023 and secured a formal partnership with the NFL.

Washington Offered Brandon Scherff Top Guard Salary; Sides Likely To Part Ways?

February 23rd, 2022 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Scherff became the second Washington player in five years to go through two franchise-tagged seasons, following Kirk Cousins. Like the former Washington starting quarterback, the team’s Pro Bowl guard appears headed elsewhere in free agency.

No significant movement between the Commanders and Scherff has taken place toward a long-term extension, John Keim of ESPN.com notes, adding the signs point to Scherff leaving soon. A third tag is not feasible for Washington, given that it would be a 44% markup from Scherff’s already-lofty $18MM salary last season.

Washington did try to lock down Scherff last year, however, with Keim adding the team made the veteran blocker an offer to become the league’s highest-paid guard. Scherff instead opted to play the 2021 season on the tag. Particulars of Washington’s proposal are not known, only that the deal would have pushed Scherff past Joe Thuney‘s $16MM-AAV guard pact. Thuney and Joel Bitonio are the NFL’s highest-paid guards, each earning $16MM on average. Scherff can expect to top that in free agency, with the salary cap set to return after its COVID-19-induced reduction.

When healthy, Scherff remains one of the NFL’s top guards. The former top-five pick has made the Pro Bowl in five of the past six seasons and earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2020. Of course, he has run into considerable injury trouble in recent years. The Iowa product has missed 23 games since the 2016 season, including five last year. An MCL sprain and a stay on the COVID list shelved Scherff in 2021.

This year’s guard market features some interesting talent. Although Scherff is the biggest name expected to be available, Laken Tomlinson, James Daniels, Mark Glowinski and Connor Williams are each on track for free agency. Scherff’s age (30) may impact the length of his deal, but he should be expected to finally cash in on a long-term accord after playing out his five-year rookie contract and being tagged twice.

Panthers Still Interested In Deshaun Watson; Eagles Did Extensive Work On QB

February 23rd, 2022 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

A still-muddled legal situation has left Deshaun Watson‘s NFL career in limbo, but the quarterback continues to generate interest. While the Dolphins have moved out of the picture, the other team closely connected to the three-time Pro Bowler remains interested.

The Panthers still have Watson on their radar, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. The Panthers were prepared to make a major push for Watson last year, and after initially backing off after the off-field trouble surfaced, they were believed to have made the Texans an offer. Carolina re-emerging as a serious suitor could be a significant offseason development, though any trade talk obviously takes a backseat to the lawsuits ensnaring Watson.

Carolina’s quarterback situation moved Matt Rhule to the edge of a hot seat last year, and the team has not had stability at the position since Cam Newton‘s injuries began to pile up. The Panthers still have Sam Darnold‘s fully guaranteed $18.8MM salary on their payroll, but for a player like Watson, the QB-desperate team likely would not view that as a hindrance.

Watson holds a no-trade clause, and he is not believed to have waived it for anyone but the Dolphins last year. Still, his past at Clemson and the now-Mike McDaniel-led Dolphins exiting the pursuit — despite Stephen Ross‘ extensive interest prior to the 2021 trade deadline — certainly makes the Panthers a team to watch here.

Watson refusing to waive his no-trade clause for the Eagles did not stop them from doing plenty of work on the embattled QB. GM Howie Roseman “intensely” researched Watson’s situation, and the Eagles sent an investigator to Houston last year to gather more intel on this complex off-field matter, Wilson adds. With both Roseman and Jeffery Lurie being on this at various points, the door should not be viewed as closed on the Eagles’ end. They have three first-round picks in the 2022 draft — all in the teens — and could present the Texans with a compelling offer. Houston has sought a five- to seven-asset package for Watson, and want three first-rounders included in a proposal.

As for Watson’s criminal and civil cases, the holding pattern remains. Some of Watson’s accusers in the civil suit have yet to be deposed, and Wilson notes a judge ruled this week such depositions can be pushed back until at least April 1. Six of the 22 women accusing Watson of sexual assault or sexual misconduct have yet to be deposed. Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, still expects a resolution on Watson’s criminal case, which has seen 10 women come forward with complaints. The Houston Police Department has not yet charged Watson with a crime.

These investigations moving into April would put the teams still interested to decisions at quarterback, with the new league year opening March 16. With quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins‘ true availabilities unknown as of late February, Watson being dropped into the trade mix late would add another complexity to this equation. A potential NFL suspension clouds this process as well.

Latest On Saints’ Coaching Staff

February 23rd, 2022 at 3:06pm CST by Ben Levine

WEDNESDAY: Both will indeed become co-DCs for the Saints. Nielsen agreed to a two-year contract as New Orleans’ co-DC, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman tweets, while NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes Richard is ticketed to stay on as Saints secondary coach with the co-DC title added (Twitter link). Nielsen will remain the Saints’ D-line coach, and Pelissero adds special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is now an assistant head coach with the team.

The Saints also announced quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry is now the team’s passing-game coordinator. Curry has been with the Saints for seven years. Doug Marrone is on track to be the Saints’ offensive line coach, a role he held from 2006-08, when he was also New Orleans’ OC.

MONDAY: Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard are getting promotions in New Orleans. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter), the pair of Saints defensive assistants are taking on new roles. The duo could be promoted to co-defensive coordinators, although the reporter cautions that nothing has been set.

Richard made a name for himself with the Seahawks, working his way up from an assistant to defensive coordinator. The coach ended up spending three years in that role before getting canned following the 2017 campaign. Since that time, the 42-year-old has worked as the Cowboys defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, and he joined the Saints as their defensive backs coach in 2021. Richard met with both the Ravens and Steelers about their DC vacancies last month

Nielsen has been with the Saints organization since 2017, and he earned a promotion to assistant head coach in 2021. Prior to his stint in New Orleans, the coach was in the collegiate ranks, including a stint as defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois. We heard recently that Nielsen was a candidate for the DC gig.

The Saints have met with multiple outside candidates, including Michael Wilhoite and Aubrey Pleasant. Meanwhile, Pete Carmichael will be sticking around as offensive coordinator on Dennis Allen’s staff.

Packers Will Not Keep Za’Darius Smith At Current Price

February 23rd, 2022 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kenny Clark‘s restructure moved the Packers down to roughly $40MM over the expected 2022 cap, and Brian Gutekunst identified another way the team plans to continue its crusade toward cap compliance.

Za’Darius Smith will not be brought back on his current deal, which calls for a $27.7MM cap number next season. The Packers have not ruled out keeping the former Pro Bowl edge rusher, but Rob Demovsky notes (via Twitter) the team will not do so at that figure. Smith is coming off a season in which he played in just two games — Week 1 and Green Bay’s divisional-round loss — and one year remains on his contract.

The Packers signed Smith to a four-year, $66MM deal in 2019. The ex-Ravens edge defender delivered on the deal over its first two seasons, going to two Pro Bowls and combining for 26 sacks. Last year changed Smith’s course. He and the Packers did not see eye to eye regarding a restructure, one that ballooned his 2022 cap figure to this place, and the surgery-inducing back issue Smith encountered stalled his on-field momentum.

Void years would be necessary to lower Smith’s cap number, if he is to stay on his current deal. An extension would be another solution. Smith, 29, is not in the best position to command top dollar on a new deal. It will be interesting to see how the Packers play this, though Gutekunst did (via the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood, on Twitter) did indicate he has a good relationship with the veteran pass rusher.

Green Bay has Preston Smith attached to a reworked contract, one that expires after 2022 as well, and Rashan Gary emerged as a starter while replacing Za’Darius Smith last season. Preston Smith‘s cap number ($19.7MM) also makes him vulnerable; he also has been the Packers’ less productive edge-rushing Smith when both players are healthy. The Packers have Gary’s fifth-year option decision to make by May; exercising it would keep him under contract through 2023. A midseason pickup, Whitney Mercilus is on track for free agency.

Packers GM Did Not Promise To Grant Aaron Rodgers Trade Request

February 23rd, 2022 at 2:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the football world awaits Aaron Rodgers‘ decision about his Packers future, Green Bay’s GM offered a clarification that could inject some 2021-style turbulence into this situation.

Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday his agreement with Rodgers last year was to “sit down and work it out, one way or another,” via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). Gutekunst added he never promised he would trade Rodgers if a request surfaced. Rodgers’ kind words about 2021 adversaries Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy notwithstanding, the Packers being ready for another standoff — if Rodgers wants a trade — would set up an unexpected sequel to last year’s drama.

“That was not something I told him,” Gutekunst said of a potential trade promise, via Demovsky. “Again, I think the whole conversation with Aaron last season before he came back was that, regardless, at the end of this past season, that we would sit down as a group and we would work it out one way or another.”

To get Rodgers to report to the Packers last year, the team took the 2023 season off the MVP’s contract and made 2022 a walk year. While Rodgers would be a free agent in 2023, that would come when he is 39. With his prime waning, the four-time MVP would be a more attractive option to teams in 2022 than he would a year from now. That said, Rodgers would surely be coveted on next year’s market — should this process get there. After reworking Rodgers’ contract, the Packers cannot use their franchise tag on him in 2023.

Rodgers and Davante Adams‘ Wisconsin futures are up in the air. Gutekunst said Wednesday a non-zero chance of Adams departing in free agency exists. While the Packers have not used their franchise tag since 2010, Adams should be expected to be tagged by the time the window closes March 8. Gutekunst called the tag a “last resort” for Adams. But the sides have not discussed an extension since the season ended and had broken off talks ahead of training camp last year. That points to a tag on the horizon.

Rodgers’ status clouds Adams’, however. It will be interesting to see how the outspoken quarterback responds to Gutekunst, in the event he does not wish to return for an 18th Packers season.

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