2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Re-Sign Taiwan Jones

March 24th, 2022 at 5:10pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills are re-signing their special teams captain. Veteran Taiwan Jones is re-signing with Buffalo, agent Doug Hendrickson announced on Twitter.

The 33-year-old has spent the past two seasons in Buffalo, seeing time in 30 total games. He’s had very brief cameos on offense but has played a major role on special teams, collecting 12 tackles over the past two years. Jones also had a key fumble recovery during the 2020 postseason. The veteran had a previous stint with the organization, getting into 14 games between 2017 and 2018.

Since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2011, Jones has held a variety of different roles. Jones switched from cornerback to running back in college, but after getting selected by the Raiders, he was asked to switch back to defensive back…which didn’t end up working out. Other than a brief defensive stint during his rookie season, the player has exclusively played special teams with a sprinkling of offense.

In 121 games with the Raiders, Bills, and Texans, Jones has collected 74 tackles. He’s also generated 72 touches on offense, collecting 483 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. He’s even seen time in the return game, returning 83 kickoffs throughout his career.

Chiefs To Meet With DE Arden Key

March 24th, 2022 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Raiders and 49ers defensive end Arden Key has generated extensive interest this offseason. He is set to make the Chiefs his latest visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

The Chiefs and Key will huddle up Friday. Kansas City has a need opposite Frank Clark, who has not lived up to expectations since the Chiefs’ 2019 trade, and the team might face the prospect of its top defensive end being suspended in connection with his two gun-related arrests last year.

Once a first-round prospect, Key fell to Round 3 in 2018 and did not produce consistently for the Raiders. With the 49ers, however, the LSU product delivered an interesting contract year. He finished with 6.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits — far and away career-high marks — and that has led to offseason interest. The Lions, Ravens and Jaguars have met with Key since free agency opened last week. The 49ers brought back Kerry Hyder, who played a similar role to Key for their 2020 team, providing an indication Key will soon commit to another team.

Kansas City traded for Melvin Ingram and saw the ex-Charger Pro Bowler do well to stabilize its pass rush, allowing the team to end its misbegotten Chris Jones-at-defensive end experiment. Ingram’s supplementary impact aside, the Chiefs still ranked 29th in sacks last season. Ingram is a free agent. Given Clark’s inconsistency and potential availability issues, the team certainly needs help on the edge.

Cowboys Add Brian Schottenheimer To Staff

March 24th, 2022 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

After spending a season in Jacksonville with Urban Meyer, Brian Schottenheimer will resurface in Dallas. The Cowboys hired the veteran offensive coordinator as a consultant Thursday.

This will be Schottenheimer’s first run with the Cowboys and first time coaching under Mike McCarthy, who is entering his third season as Dallas’ HC. Schottenheimer is expected to help on both sides of the ball.

Schottenheimer, 48, ended last season as the Jaguars’ play-caller, taking over for interim HC Darrell Bevell. Schottenheimer and Bevell were Meyer’s top offensive assistants, but they took on more responsibility after the Jags fired Meyer in mid-December. The Cowboys will be Schottenheimer’s ninth NFL team.

An NFL staffer going back to 1997, the second-generation coach has been an OC for three teams. He will join McCarthy and OC Kellen Moore among Cowboys offensive decision-makers. Ben McAdoo served as a Cowboys consultant last season, helping both the team’s offensive and defensive staffs make weekly preparations. McAdoo left recently to become Carolina’s offensive coordinator. Formerly an OC with the Jets, Rams and Seahawks, Schottenheimer worked as the Jags’ QBs coach for most of last season.

Falcons Host OL Germain Ifedi

March 24th, 2022 at 4:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Germain Ifedi is still looking for his next home, and the veteran offensive lineman may have a chance to continue his career in Atlanta. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the Falcons hosted the offensive lineman on a visit today.

Ifedi spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he was originally recruited by former Bears GM (and current Falcons executive) Ryan Pace. The lineman started 23 of his 25 games during his time with the Bears, spending time at guard in 2020 before shifting to right tackle in 2021 following the release of Bobby Massie.

Ifedi missed a chunk of the 2021 season with a knee injury, and after starting the first two games following his return, he was demoted to special teams for Chicago’s final two contests.

The offensive lineman was a first-round pick by the Seahawks in 2016, and he ended up starting all 60 of his games during his four seasons with the team. His fifth-year option was ultimately declined, leading to him inking a one-year deal with Chicago in 2020.

Second Texas Grand Jury Does Not Charge Browns QB Deshaun Watson

March 24th, 2022 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Brazoria County, Texas, grand jury did not charge Deshaun Watson in connection with a sexual assault allegation, the Houston Chronicle’s Brooks Kubena reports.

A separate grand jury from the Harris County, Texas, contingent was empaneled because of a 10th criminal complaint against the Browns quarterback. Although this accusation was separated from the nine criminal complaints that prompted a Harris County grand jury to convene, the Browns were aware of it upon trading for Watson, per the QB’s attorney. The previous grand jury also did not indict Watson.

The woman who made this accusation in April 2021 said Watson sexually assaulted and harassed her during a massage therapy session. This incident allegedly occurred in 2020, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. This closes the book on Watson criminal charges, but the complainant is one of the 22 women who have filed civil lawsuits against the 26-year-old quarterback.

The civil matters have yet to play out in full. The attorney for the 22 accusers who have filed civil suits, Tony Buzbee, said 17 additional Watson depositions are still on the docket, Sarah Barshop and Jake Trotter of ESPN.com report. Buzbee added four more women are expected to join the civil suit against Watson, which would up the total number of accusers to 28 (two of Watson’s initial accusers did not file suit).

The NFL is investigating the recently traded passer as well, but the developments in the civil trial will go a long way toward determining how the league will proceed regarding a suspension. Watson is expected to be suspended for at least six games, though that is not certain. The former Texans Pro Bowler could face a longer ban.

Texans Sign CB Isaac Yiadom

March 24th, 2022 at 4:12pm CST by Ben Levine

After visiting the team almost two weeks ago, Isaac Yiadom has finally inked a contract with Houston. The Texans have signed the cornerback, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

The Boston College product was a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2018. He lasted two seasons in Denver before he was shipped to the Giants for a future seventh-round pick in 2020. He spent one season in New York before he was traded again, this time to the Packers for cornerback Josh Jackson. Ultimately, his tenure in Green Bay only lasted one season, but at least this time, Yiadom had some say in where he landed next.

During his four seasons in the NFL, Yiadom has only missed four games. He got some extended run on defense with the Broncos and Giants in 2019 and 2020, but he reverted back to a special teams role with the Packers this past season. The 26-year-old saw time in 75 percent of Green Bay’s special teams snaps vs. only nine percent of their defensive snaps in 2021.

Yiadom has seen time in 61 career games (20 starts). That includes a 2021 campaign where he collected 10 tackles in 16 games (one start).

Tyreek Hill Didn’t Consider Jets As Viable Destination

March 24th, 2022 at 3:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

It came out in the wake of the Tyreek Hill trade that the finalists to land the All-Pro wideout were the Jets and his eventual landing spot, the Dolphins. Since both teams had similarly-valued trade packages lined up, Hill’s destination became his own choice. It appears New York was never truly a serious consideration for him to continue his career in, however.

When asked about the trade, Hill responded, “How close was I? Who? The Jets?… I knew I was going to pick Miami no matter what because I’m basically from here, I’m here all the time. This is home for me, for us” (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo).

The Douglas, Georgia native’s first opportunity to sign an extension actually would have come from New York, Garafolo adds (Twitter link). The Jets had a trade in place with Kansas City, then “went to work on a contract with Hill”. Once Miami became involved with their respective offer, however, Garafolo describes it as being “only a matter of time” before Hill became a Dolphin.

As ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweets, the Jets “knew it was a long shot” to land Hill, but they were eliminated from contention once Miami became an option for Hill to sign with. Part of the reason he did so – other than his personal connection to the city – may have to do with his on-field role. Garafolo’s colleague Cameron Wolfe reports (on Twitter) that new head coach Mike McDaniel may try to use him in a way that is “similar” to what he and Kyle Shanahan did with Deebo Samuel in San Francisco.

Overall, there were 12 teams with which “serious talks” took place regarding Hill (Twitter link via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald). In the end, though, the league’s highest-paid wideout was able to secure not only a new contract, but also join his preferred new team in the process. The Jets, meanwhile, will move forward with the knowledge they were ultimately an also-ran in the process.

Rob Gronkowski Undecided On 2022 Return

March 24th, 2022 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Brady‘s unretirement made Rob Gronkowski extending his own unretirement to a third year expected, but the future Hall of Fame tight end is not a lock to return.

Gronkowski is undecided on playing in 2022, agent Drew Rosenhaus said (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe, on Twitter). The Buccaneers remain interested in keeping the decorated tight end, and Rosenhaus was in discussions with the team Wednesday. But Gronk remains on the fence, for the time being.

It would surprise if Gronk did not return. Not only has the soon-to-be 33-year-old pass catcher been tied to Brady throughout his career, he offered effusive praise for Joe Burrow, hinting at possible interest in joining the Bengals as a free agent. Those comments came before Brady re-emerged. Should Gronk play in 2022, he is widely expected to do so in Tampa.

The Bucs are giving the five-time All-Pro time to make his decision and are steadily reassembling their Super Bowl-winning crew. Ryan Jensen, Carlton Davis, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette are back in the fold, and Ndamukong Suh has discussed the prospect of playing a fourth Bucs season with the team’s coaching staff.

Although Gronkowski’s 2020 unretirement preceded a season in which he played all 20 Bucs games and helped the team win Super Bowl LV, he battled injuries again in 2021. The former injury-prone Patriots dynamo missed five games last season due to broken ribs. Gronk still managed six touchdown catches and topped his 2020 receiving output by posting 802 yards — his most since his 2017 All-Pro season — for the NFC South champions.

Gronk signed a one-year, $8MM deal to return in 2021, doing so on March 15 of last year. The Bucs now have Russell Gage in the fold but have lost O.J. Howard in free agency. Gronk can certainly demand similar money for 2022, but the Bucs continue to wait on his decision.

Eagles To Re-Sign DE Derek Barnett

March 24th, 2022 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Derek Barnett is staying in Philly. The Eagles reached a two-year agreement to retain the veteran defensive end Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The team has since announced the move.

This will ensure the Eagles again have a deep stable of edge rushers. The team extended Josh Sweat last year and signed Haason Reddick last week. Brandon Graham remains under contract as well.

Howie Roseman said at the Combine he would be “surprised” if the Eagles did not devote offseason assets to addressing their defensive end position, but a previous report indicated Barnett was likely on the way out. While Barnett’s contract will certainly check in below Reddick’s on the payroll, the former first-round pick’s return will bolster a Philadelphia edge corps that played shorthanded last season.

Graham is coming off an Achilles tear and will turn 34 next week. Barnett will be 26 when the Eagles begin the 2022 season. He joins Sweat as a homegrown D-end given a second contract. The Eagles signed Sweat to a three-year, $40MM extension and gave Reddick a three-year, $45MM pact. Graham is attached to a $9.25MM-per-year deal. Barnett’s contract gives the Eagles four veteran deals at defensive end, making for a rather unusual setup.

While Barnett has not delivered on the promise he came with as the 2017 No. 14 overall pick, the Tennessee alum represents a complementary piece. Barnett has 21.5 career sacks, with 12 of those coming between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Barnett posted 22 QB hits during the 2019 campaign. However, he slumped during his contract year, which ended with just two sacks. The 6-foot-3 edge plays the run effectively and does have the biggest fumble recovery in Eagles history on his resume, having pounced on Graham’s sack-strip of Tom Brady late in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win.

Chiefs Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

March 24th, 2022 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Barely a day after they traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, the Chiefs will sign one of the top wide receivers remaining on the market. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is committing to Kansas City on a three-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Chiefs have since announced the move.

The former Packers deep threat agreed to terms on a three-year pact worth $30MM. The Packers still had hopes of re-signing MVS, but the four-year veteran will head to Missouri. Valdes-Scantling will receive $18MM guaranteed on a deal that can be worth up to $36MM. The Chiefs will save quite a bit of money with this receiver commitment, compared to what they would have paid Hill.

Kansas City offered Hill a contract that would have made him one of the league’s highest-paid receivers, but the sides did not progress. The difference in the Chiefs and Dolphins’ offers was notable, Drew Rosenhaus said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, on Twitter). The Dolphins gave Hill a four-year, $120MM extension, one that is closer to three-year, $75MM deal.

Valdes-Scantling visited Kansas City on Wednesday, shortly after the news broke Hill was being granted permission to seek a trade. The former fifth-round pick will join a reconstructed Chiefs receiving corps, which houses JuJu Smith-Schuster as well. The Chiefs still have Mecole Hardman under contract but have dealt Hill and seen Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson find new teams in free agency.

The Packers hoped they could convince MVS to stay, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes, but multiple suitors emerged. As a result, Valdes-Scantling will shift to another MVP quarterback. Despite entering the league two years later, Valdes-Scantling is only a few months younger than Hill. The 27-year-old wideout also struggled with drops during his time in Wisconsin, but he showed considerable deep capabilities with Aaron Rodgers. It is fairly easy to see why the Chiefs targeted him, given Hill’s long-range importance in their Patrick Mahomes-keyed attack.

Valdes-Scantling led the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch in 2020, catching six touchdown passes that season. Last year, a hamstring injury and a COVID-19 contraction led to the South Florida alum missing seven games. He finished the season with just 26 receptions for 430 yards. Valdes-Scantling does not have a 1,000-yard season on his resume at the pro or college level, but the Chiefs are confident he will fill part of the void created by Hill’s sudden departure. The Packers, meanwhile, will continue to search for difference-makers for a receiving corps that looks like one of the NFL’s thinnest post-Davante Adams.