2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Browns’ Baker Mayfield Trade Talks, Deshaun Watson Deal

March 23rd, 2022 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The flurry of quarterback moves has left the Browns with few options regarding their previous starter. The team is not planning to hold onto Baker Mayfield in hopes of an injury changing the marketplace, preferring to give him a fresh start immediately.

Cleveland hopes to unload Mayfield soon, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes in an expansive piece, but the team should not be expected to receive a great return. In addition to the reduced market, the Browns are not interested in paying part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary ($18.9MM) to facilitate a trade, Cabot adds. Mayfield requested a trade shortly before the Browns made their historic offer to Deshaun Watson.

Despite Sam Darnold fetching three draft choices — including a 2022 second-rounder — from the Panthers last year, the Browns have limited options for their more proven starter. Darnold’s disappointing season notwithstanding, the Panthers are not believed to be interested in Mayfield. The Seahawks do still appear on the radar, with Cabot indicating they have inquired on the disgruntled QB and may become more open to a deal at a certain price point. The Browns are not expecting a first-round pick here; they would need to explore another avenue to recoup one of the first-rounders they lost by trading for Watson.

While this saga is not at the point where the Browns are considering releasing Mayfield, Cabot adds if that were to happen the Steelers would be interested (video link). Pittsburgh gave Mitchell Trubisky a two-year contract, but his barely $7MM-per-year salary leaves the team open to exploring other options or drafting a passer early.

Although the Watson-to-Cleveland buzz picked up after the Combine, Cabot reports the Browns informed Mayfield’s camp in Indianapolis they would only attempt to replace him with an elite QB like Watson or Russell Wilson. After the Browns informed him they would aim to accommodate Mayfield in a trade, the QB did not list the Lions, Panthers or Texans as desirable spots and was instead intrigued by the Colts. Indy discussed Mayfield with Cleveland but made a deal to acquire Matt Ryan.

Additionally, Cabot reports Mayfield’s trade request did not spur the Browns to make their monster offer for Watson, who is now signed to a $230MM fully guaranteed contract. Watson did narrow his list to the Falcons and Saints, but his camp is believed to have brought the Browns back into the mix. Cleveland’s fully guaranteed proposal partially surfaced to convince Watson to play in a cold-weather city.

That process — and the subsequent QB decisions from Indy, Atlanta and New Orleans — has left Mayfield and with few options. Jimmy Garoppolo‘s status further complicates the Mayfield matter, as does the surgery Mayfield underwent on his non-throwing shoulder. The coming days could determine how much the Seahawks truly like Drew Lock, as they have indicated at every turn since acquiring him, or if they are willing to part with modest draft capital for a more experienced option.

Bears Sign OL Dakota Dozier

March 23rd, 2022 at 6:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Dakota Dozier is switching NFC North teams. The Bears are signing the offensive lineman, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter).

Dozier spent the past three seasons with the Vikings, including a 2020 campaign where he started all 16 games without missing an offensive snap. Despite his role, he was cut following the 2021 preseason. He ended up spending the majority of last season on Minnesota’s practice squad, with his six appearances all coming on special teams. The Vikings told the lineman after the season that they wouldn’t be re-signing him, per Tomasson.

The former fourth-round pick spent the beginning of his career with the Jets, starting seven of his 38 games in four years with the organization.

In Chicago, Dozier will likely compete for a backup role on the offensive line. Chicago added fellow lineman Lucas Patrick on a two-year deal last week.

Seahawks Sign CB Justin Coleman

March 23rd, 2022 at 5:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Justin Coleman is back in Seattle. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have agreed to terms with the free agent cornerback. Coleman is signing a one-year deal.

Coleman had two previous stints with the Seahawks. He spent time on their practice squad as a rookie, and he returned to the organization via trade in 2017. Coleman ended up spending two seasons with the organization, seeing time in all 32 games (10 starts). Coleman had three interceptions and two sacks during his two years in Seattle.

Since leaving Seattle, Coleman has had stints with the Lions and Dolphins. He made his NFL debut with the Patriots, and he earned a Super Bowl ring during the 2016 season.

The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with Miami last offseason. He got into 16 games (four starts) for the Dolphins, collecting 27 tackles, three passes defended, and two interceptions while appearing in 35 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Cowboys Re-Sign DT Carlos Watkins

March 23rd, 2022 at 5:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys are re-signing players from both sides of the ball. According to Clarence Hill Jr. (on Twitter), Dallas has re-signed defensive tackle Carlos Watkins and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.

After spending the first four seasons of his career in Houston, Watkins joined the Cowboys last offseason. He ended up starting 14 of his 15 games last year, collecting 32 tackles, one sack, and one highlight-worthy pick-six.

In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 57 career games, collecting five sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

Sprinkle also joined the Cowboys last offseason following four seasons with Washington. The tight end ended up starting four of his 17 games, hauling in three receptions for 31 yards. Sprinkle also had a consistent role on special teams. His best offensive season came in 2019 when he hauled in 26 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown.

Giants Sign DT Justin Ellis

March 23rd, 2022 at 5:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Justin Ellis is heading to the NFC. The defensive tackle is signing with the Giants, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Ellis is inking a one-year deal.

The 2014 fourth-round pick spent the first five-plus seasons of his career with the Raiders, earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2014. Ellis found himself in and out of the starting lineup during his stint with the Raiders, as he started 42 of his 66 games. This included a 2017 campaign where he started 14 of his 16 games and finished with 48 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Ellis joined the Ravens in 2019 and ended up inking three separate contracts with the team. During his three seasons in Baltimore, the defensive lineman compiled 41 tackles while starting eight of his 34 games.

He’ll already have some familiarity with New York’s defensive system. Ellis played under current Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale when the two were in Baltimore.

Panthers Re-Sign DB Rashaan Melvin

March 23rd, 2022 at 5:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Rashaan Melvin will be back in Carolina next season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the defensive back is re-signing with the Panthers.

Melvin had transformed into a true NFL journeyman, and a two-year stint with a team is a rarity. The 32-year-old will have a chance to make it two-straight years with the Panthers following a 2021 campaign where he collected 16 tackles in 10 games (two starts).

Since going undrafted out of Northern Illinois in 2013, the linebacker has also had stints with Buccaneers, Dolphins (two stints), Ravens, Patriots, Colts, Raiders, Lions, and Jaguars. Melvin started a pair of playoff games for Baltimore in 2014.

The defensive back sat out the 2020 campaign, but he actually had a career year as recently as 2019. Melvin finished that season with 12 starts in 13 games, collecting a career-high 68 tackles to go along with 11 passes defended.

Texans Sign FB Andy Janovich

March 23rd, 2022 at 4:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Andy Janovich is off to Houston. The Texans are signing the veteran fullback, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Janovich is inking a one-year deal.

Janovich has appeared in 77 career games for the Broncos and Browns over the last six years. This year, he just missed the cut as a Pro Bowler, winding up as an alternate for the game. With his 29th birthday just around the bend in May, Janovich is regarded as one of the league’s best fullbacks.

However, in an attempt to save some extra cash, the Browns declined the 28-year-old’s option. The move made Janovich a free agent. This is the first known interest in Janovich, but it can be assumed that multiple teams reached out on the fullback.

With some NFL teams shying away from utilizing traditional fullbacks, it will be interesting to see what kind of deal Janovich commands. The fullback inked a three-year, $5.7MM extension with the Broncos in 2019 before getting traded to Cleveland five months later.

49ers Re-Sign RB Jeff Wilson

March 23rd, 2022 at 4:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Jeff Wilson is sticking around San Francisco for at least another season. The running back announced on Instagram that he’s re-signing with the 49ers.

“We got business to handle,” Wilson wrote. “When you got something to prove it hit different! Last year was honestly the toughest time of life but through those times it has built and molded me to what you’ll see! Ready to slide with my guys.”

Following a breakout 2020 campaign that saw him finish with 733 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, Wilson had a delayed start to the 2021 season after suffering a summer foot injury. The running back returned to the field in November and ended up seeing time in nine games (four starts) for the 49ers, collecting 325 yards from scrimmage and two scores. He didn’t get a touch in two playoff games.

Elijah Mitchell exploded as a rookie in 2021, and he’ll likely lead the depth chart heading into his sophomore season. The 49ers are also rostering fellow 2021 draft pick Trey Sermon along with JaMycal Hasty.

Chiefs Host WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, RB Ronald Jones

March 23rd, 2022 at 4:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the sudden trade of Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs are eyeing some offensive reinforcement. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Chiefs hosted wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The reporter cautions that a deal is not imminent.

Meanwhile, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com writes that running back Ronald Jones also visited Kansas City today.

Valdes-Scantling was a fifth-round pick by the Packers in 2018, and he didn’t miss a single regular season game during his first three seasons in the NFL, culminating in a 2020 campaign where he finished with a career-high 703 yards from scrimmage and a league-leading 20.9 yards per reception. The receiver had a stint on the IR in 2021 that limited him to only 11 games, and he finished the season with 430 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Jones was also a 2018 draft pick, with the second-round RB getting selected by the Buccaneers. Jones saw an inconsistent role during his first four seasons in the NFL; he had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 2019 and 2020, but he was limited to only 492 yards from scrimmage in 2021 while playing second fiddle to Leonard Fournette.

LB Bobby Wagner Visiting Rams

March 23rd, 2022 at 4:21pm CST by Ben Levine

The Super Bowl champs are eyeing one of the best remaining free agents. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that linebacker Bobby Wagner is visiting with the Rams. There is “mutual interest” in a deal.

It was only yesterday that GM Les Snead admitted that the Rams “talked about” adding the veteran linebacker, and the executive met with his defensive coaching staff to determine if Wagner was a fit. That wasn’t the first time we’ve heard the Rams connected to Wagner; all of the NFC West teams were mentioned as suitors after the linebacker was let go by the Seahawks. The Broncos and Cowboys have also been connected to the 31-year-old.

Wagner started all three playoff games during the Seahawks Super Bowl-winning 2013 campaign, and he then proceeded to go on an eight-year run of Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. During that stretch, Wagner averaged 145 tackles per season, and he left the organization as the Seahawks’ all-time leader in tackles. The 31-year-old was still productive in 2021, compiling a career-high 170 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss and three QB hits.

Wagner would be a huge get for a Rams defense that recently lost a pass rusher in Von Miller. Wagner wouldn’t necessarily play the same role, but he’d surely provide an upgrade over Ernest Jones, Travin Howard, and Christian Rozeboom at inside linebacker.