HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Chiefs Interested In Trading For James Bradberry?

March 29th, 2022 at 12:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the plethora of cost-cutting moves the Giants have made in Joe Schoen‘s first year as general manager, the biggest question surrounding the team remains the future of cornerback James Bradberry. According to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the Chiefs have emerged as an interested party trying to trade for him. 

[RELATED: Giants Could Keep Bradberry Past The Draft]

Wilson reports that there are “ongoing trade discussions” between New York and Kansas City. He is quick to add, though, that “varying degrees of confidence” exist on “if and when a deal is ultimately struck”, and that nothing is imminent at this time.

The news comes one day after Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reported that the Giants were looking to have a trade consummated “before the end of the NFL draft”. He also named the Chiefs as a potential destination, along with the Colts and Texans. The Giants’ asking price had reportedly included a third-round pick, but that may no longer be the case.

Vacchiano states that the Giants “are willing to pick up some of Bradberry’s $13.4MM salary” to help facilitate a trade. Moving on from the 28-year-old – either through a trade or release – would save the Giants eight figures in cap space. Knowing that, most other teams are said to waiting to sign him as a free agent, rather than paying with draft compensation. The Chiefs, Wilson notes however, are “extremely interested” in trading for the Pro Bowler with a deal which could include “swapping picks in the middle rounds”.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll referred to Bradberry’s circumstances as “a fluid situation”. Depending on how trade negotiations go, that situation could have a resolution sooner rather than later.

Saints To Sign Andy Dalton

March 29th, 2022 at 11:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Andy Dalton has found his next home in the NFL. The veteran is signing with the Saints on a one-year contract worth up to $6MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The deal includes $3MM in guaranteed money. 

[RELATED: Bears Sign QB Siemian]

The 34-year-old has settled into life as a backup after nine years as the starter in Cincinnati. He held the No. 2 job in Dallas in 2020, though he made nine starts as a result of injuries to Dak Prescott. He went 4-5 in that stretch, tossing 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That was followed by another one-year contract, this time in Chicago.

Dalton was named the starter for the Bears last April, though the team drafted Justin Fields later that month. The former ended up making six starts in the Windy City, putting up almost identical passing stats to his time the year before. With Fields having taken over as the QB of the present and future by the end of the year, though, it became clear Dalton would be on his way out.

In New Orleans, the TCU alum will replace Trevor Siemian, who recently joined the Bears. The Saints have re-signed Jameis Winston as their starter, but his injury history could open the door to playing time for Dalton. If that ends up happening, it would continue his recent streak of getting notable snaps despite spending long stretches as a backup. At a minimum, the three-time Pro Bowler is in line to extend his career for one more season.

Latest On Seahawks’ QB Situation, D.K. Metcalf

March 29th, 2022 at 11:00am CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks feel as though they have their next starting quarterback in Drew Lock, but they are one of few remaining teams expected to make another move of some kind at the position. It comes as no surprise, then, that head coach Pete Carroll says the team is “still in the quarterback business” as noted by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. 

Which veteran the team would prefer to bring in isn’t a mystery, either. Carroll confirmed they are still trying to re-sign Geno Smith, who has been with Seattle for the past two seasons. The former Jet, Giant and Charger started three games in Russell Wilson‘s absence last year, throwing for 702 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception.

“It just hasn’t happened” Carroll said of Smith. “It’s a negotiation.” It became clear even before the Wilson trade that Seattle wanted to retain the 31-year-old, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January. As Condotta notes (on Twitter), Smith is likely trying to leverage a more lucrative deal from Seattle “knowing they plan for him to compete to start and not just be a backup”.

Meanwhile, Carroll also addressed the contract status of receiver D.K. Metcalf. “We intend for him to be with us”, he said (Twitter link). The former second-rounder’s rookie contract expires at the end of the 2022 campaign, making him eligible for an extension – which would keep Metcalf in Seattle, something he expressed a desire for towards the end of the season.

While Carroll stated that “we have not gotten to that topic yet”, he added that “there’s no way I could imagine playing without him”. Included in some trade rumors, especially after the departures of Wilson and Bobby Wagner, Metcalf being signed long-term would provide some significant stability on an offense facing questions at the game’s most important position. In his three seasons, the Ole Miss alum has averaged 72 catches, 1,057 yards and just under 10 touchdowns per year.

Browns To Sign C Ethan Pocic

March 29th, 2022 at 9:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after parting ways with J.C. Tretter, the Browns are set to add to the interior of their offensive line. The team is signing center Ethan Pocic, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz (on Twitter). 

[RELATED: Browns To Cut Tretter]

Pocic, 26, played five seasons in Seattle after being drafted in the second round by the Seahawks in 2017. Over that time, he played at both guard and center. In total, he registered 57 appearances and 40 starts with the team.

Pocic’s heaviest workloads in terms of snaps percentage have come in the past two campaigns. In 2020, he was on the field for every offensive play in the 14 contests he suited up for, and last season, that figure was 79%. The 2021 campaign was the first in which the LSU alum didn’t commit any accepted penalties. That helped him earn a PFF grade of 67.3, the highest of his career.

Pocic’s days in Seattle were likely numbered when the team signed Austin Blythe at the start of free agency. The former Ram returned to the NFC West after one season as a backup in Kansas City. Given the absence of Tretter in Cleveland, though, Pocic has an opportunity to compete for the starting center job with Nick Harris. The latter has played sparingly in two seasons with the Browns.

With Pocic, the Browns have gotten younger in the middle of their offensive front while adding accomplished depth at a minimum. If the deal is similar in value to his career earnings, it also shouldn’t use up too much of the Browns’ roughly $21MM in cap space.

Cam Newton Drawing Interest In Free Agency

March 29th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

After all the movement that has gone on with regards to quarterbacks this offseason, most teams are set at the position. That has left a few notable names in a complicated situation, such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield. Another one who has mostly gone unmentioned over the past few weeks is Cam Newton. 

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Newton is “drawing interest” as a free agent (Twitter link). Not surprisingly, though, he adds that the 32-year-old is “remaining patient” given the near (if not total) lack of available starting roles at this time.

“I have teams that are interested in signing me” Newton texted to Schefter. “I am waiting on the best fit as it pertains to winning a championship and getting a fair chance to play.” Newton rejoined the Panthers midway through the 2021 season after his one-year stint in New England. He lost all five of his starts in Sam Darnold‘s absence, completing less than 55% of his passes.

Schefter’s colleague David Newton adds that the Panthers would be willing to extend the former MVP’s second stint in Carolina. As general manager Scott Fitterer said, “the door is open” for Newton, though he stressed the team remains committed to Darnold at the top of the depth chart. In nine seasons in Charlotte from 2011 to 2019, Newton earned two Pro Bowls and led the team to a Super Bowl after a 15-1 campaign in 2015. His production has tailed off considerably since then, however.

As the QB market cools down, Newton’s list of potential suitors would, presumably, shrink with each passing move. If he has generated interest from multiple teams, though, he could find his next NFL home in the near future.

Latest On 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo

March 28th, 2022 at 10:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Many pundits believed Jimmy Garoppolo would be on a different team by now, but the quarterback remains on the 49ers. When speaking with reporters today (including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), GM John Lynch revealed some details about trade negotiations, noting that the 49ers were discussing a deal in late February that ended up being derailed by Garoppolo’s surgery.

Now, with the quarterback carousel mostly complete, Lynch admitted that the front office is holding still on the Garoppolo front until a trade materializes. The GM even noted that Garappolo could enter the season on the 49ers roster, and he rejected the notion that the organization would release the veteran QB.

“I don’t foresee that,” Lynch said. “He’s too good a player. I think Jimmy will be playing for us or will be playing for someone else. He’s too good of a player not tyear’s draft. o be.”

Naturally, this wasn’t the intended plan after the 49ers gave up a boatload of picks to draft Trey Lance during last year’s draft. Lynch admitted as much when speaking with reporters.

“We value strength at that position,” Lynch said. “To be completely forthright, though, when you make a trade of that magnitude (for Lance), most of our options did not include Jimmy on our books (in 2022)…But you always have to adapt and a series of events happened that it didn’t work out. But that’s not a bad thing, though. We feel positive with it. And we’ll make it work.”

Albert Breer of SI.com provides some more insight into the QB situation, noting that Garoppolo’s shoulder has been the biggest factor in the 49ers’ trade difficulties. The plan was to trade the veteran after the “big quarterback dominoes fell,” but the injury changed things.

Vikings Sign CB Nate Hairston

March 28th, 2022 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings made a handful of roster moves today, including the signing of a veteran cornerback. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Nate Hairston. The Vikings also announced the signing of offensive lineman Jesse Davis, and the team announced that they have re-signed cornerback Tye Smith.

[RELATED: Vikings Sign OL Jesse Davis]

Hairston was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2017, and he spent the first two seasons of his career with Indy, starting 11 of his 27 games. He spent the 2019 campaign with the Jets before splitting the 2020 season between New York and Denver.

In total, Hairston has seen time in 59 career games, collecting 104 tackles and a pair of interceptions. That includes a 2021 campaign with the Broncos where he complied nine tackles and four passes defended in 16 games (one start). The 27-year-old played the majority of his snaps on special teams last year.

Smith, a former fifth-round pick, joined the Vikings last offseason, and he collected six tackles in five games with the organization. Per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter), Smith is signing a one-year minimum contract worth $1.035MM.

49ers Re-Sign TE Ross Dwelley

March 28th, 2022 at 8:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers are bringing back their backup tight end. The 49ers announced that they have re-signed tight end Ross Dwelley. It’s a one-year deal for the 27-year-old.

Dwelley joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego in 2018. He’s spent his entire four-year career in San Francisco, seeing time in 60 games (17 starts). In addition to having a part-time job on offense, Dwelley has also had a consistent role on special teams.

2020 was Dwelley’s best offensive season as he filled in for George Kittle. Dwelley finished that season with 19 receptions for 245 yards and one score in 16 games (nine starts). He settled back into a backup role in 2021, hauling in only four catches for 51 yards and one score in 17 games (two starts).

Dwelley will slide behind Kittle on the depth chart in 2021. The 49ers are also rostering Charlie Woerner, Tanner Hudson, and former wideout Jordan Matthews at the position.

 

Colts GM: Matt Ryan To Start For At Least Two Seasons

March 28th, 2022 at 7:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will soon be one of the few teams in NFL history to deploy a different Week 1 starting quarterback in six straight seasons, but Chris Ballard communicated with his new starter he will be the one to stop the merry-go-round.

Indianapolis’ sixth-year GM told Matt Ryan he will be the Colts’ starting quarterback for at least two seasons, before the team determines its next path. Ryan’s 2018 extension agreement runs through 2023.

“I wanted to make sure Matt knew that there’s no doubt it’s going to be two years,” Ballard said, via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. “And I think we’ll go from there. I think we’ll know. I think both parties will know as we move forward.”

Ryan, 37 in May, has not indicated retirement resides on his near-future radar. The Colts acquired Ryan’s Falcons contract last week, and after the 15th-year passer entered March with what would have been an NFL-record $48.7MM cap number, his 2022 Indy figure comes in at just $18.7MM. The Falcons absorbed a league-record $40MM dead-money hit, and Erickson tweets the Colts converted some of Ryan’s money to a $12MM signing bonus. Ryan’s 2023 cap figure, thanks to a $10MM roster bonus currently guaranteed for injury, checks in at $35.2MM.

The Colts began the past five seasons with Scott Tolzien, Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz, respectively, at quarterback. Brissett logged the most snaps, replacing Tolzien early in 2017, but the team has not started the same passer in back-to-back seasons under Ballard. The Colts traded Wentz shortly after the Combine, where they did some legwork on Ryan at the Indy-stationed gathering. The Falcons discussed Ryan’s trade value at the Combine, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. They were told Ryan’s contract made anything more than a fourth-rounder difficult, and when the Colts-Falcons trade talks commenced in earnest, Ballard said that was the best he could do. The Falcons talked the Colts up to a third-rounder (No. 82 overall).

Atlanta’s Deshaun Watson investigation process began last season, when the team heard the disgruntled Texans quarterback had interest in playing for his hometown team. The Falcons did not communicate their Watson interest to Ryan until the former was cleared by the first of the two grand juries involved in this saga, Breer adds, noting that the Colts as a Ryan trade suitor before Watson had made his decision. Shortly after Watson chose the Browns, Arthur Smith asked Ryan if he would be interested in the Colts. Ryan soon confirmed he was, leading to the teams’ March 21 deal.

Indianapolis does not have a first-round pick this year, but the team could be back on the radar for a Round 1 QB prospect in 2023. But the Colts and Ryan are hopeful he can play beyond that point.

“If we decided to make a move on a quarterback, that’s definitely a conversation we would have,” Ballard said, via Erickson, of keeping Ryan informed on his potential successor. “In the world that I’ve been living in since Andrew retired, the whole organization, it’d be nice to get some stability where we have a guy for two, three, four years that can play and give us some continuity.”

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