2022 April - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Draft Rumors: Panthers, Penning, Commanders

April 23rd, 2022 at 9:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Throughout the offseason, the Panthers have been linked to either drafting an offensive tackle or a quarterback. Carolina’s draft position is intriguing as they hold the sixth overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft and then, barring any trades, won’t make another selection until the 137th pick at the end of the fourth round.

While the options are plentiful in this year’s Draft, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports that other teams in the league are convinced that Carolina will select a quarterback this Thursday. Breer thinks the Panthers would prefer to trade down, exchanging their high pick for some draft capital to close the gap to their second pick, but points out that teams just don’t seem to be dying to trade up for any position or player this year.

Here are a few more rumors leading up to the Draft this Thursday, starting with a prospect out of Cedar Falls:

Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning visited with the Titans this week, according to Matt Miller of ESPN. Tennessee has been rumored to be looking at addressing the offensive line this upcoming Thursday. The Titans return Ben Jones at center, Nate Davis at guard, Taylor Lewan at tackle, and brought in Jamarco Jones from Seattle to fill in at the other guard position. They also return backups in Dillon Radunz, Corey Levin, and Aaron Brewer. Radunz is probably who they hope will fill in opposite Lewan at tackle, but he failed to catch on in a rookie year that presented him with plenty of opportunities. Drafting Penning will either light a fire under Radunz and kick him into gear or provide the Titans with a secondary option to start at tackle.
In the article linked above, Breer addressed the Commanders’ approach to their 11th overall pick and pointed out that Washington has diligently done their homework on the wide receivers in this year’s class. After star receiver Terry McLaurin, Washington’s top receivers were running backs J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson, followed by now free agent wide receiver Adam Humphries. Pairing another talented pass-catcher with McLaurin is a must if they want newly acquired quarterback Carson Wentz to succeed in DC. So who does Breer predict the Commanders will select to place opposite McLaurin: none other than McLaurin’s former Ohio State teammate, Chris Olave.

NFC Rumors: Toney, Packers, Hainsey, Ragnow

April 23rd, 2022 at 7:42pm CST by Ely Allen

With the news early this morning that Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney is on the trading block after only one season in New York, questions have arisen about the value Toney commands. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, interest in Toney covers the gamut across the NFL.

Howe reports that some teams have absolutely no interest, while other teams believe that giving him a chance to develop in their system will allow his talent and ability to shine. Toney showed explosive ability in college at Florida, scoring on big plays and showing elite ability after the catch. The Giants looked past several off-field concerns during his time in Gainesville when drafting Toney at 20th overall. Unfortunately for New York, Toney’s off-field issues continued into Year One of his NFL career.

Howe thinks that New York has potentially been trying to move Toney for a while now with little success. He posits that the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft will create some urgency either for receiver-needy teams looking for a young boost to their pass-catching group or for New York to accept a lesser price to get any value out of their failed first-round experiment from 2021.

Here are some other rumors from around the NFC, starting with a new name in Green Bay:

According to the Packers’ website, Green Bay finalized their staff this week with the addition of John Donovan as a senior analyst. After 19 years in college football culminating in offensive coordinator jobs at Vanderbilt and Penn State, Donovan first entered the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Jaguars. He left Jacksonville to return to college for the offensive coordinator job at the University of Washington. After two years in that role, Donovan will give the NFL another try, this time in Green Bay.
Former third-round pick Robert Hainsey played offensive tackle at Notre Dame before working through his rookie year in Tampa Bay at center. Greg Auman of The Athletic believes Hainsey could split the difference and compete for a starting job at guard this year. With Ali Marpet retiring and Alex Cappa signing in the offseason with the Bengals, the Buccaneers will need to replace both spots. They addressed one position, signing former-Patriots guard Shaq Mason to slot in at right guard. They also re-signed Aaron Stinnie who has been a reliable backup in Tampa Bay, but has only started one game in his four-year career. Expect Hainsey to get a chance to compete for the starting spot this offseason.
After suffering a season-ending toe injury in a Week 4 loss to the Bears last season, the Lions have reported that Frank Ragnow is feeling strong, healthy, and ready to return to his role as a leader in the middle of the Lions’ offensive line. The Lions will look forward to getting Ragnow back to lead an impressive-sounding group that includes Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Taylor Decker, and Penei Sewell.

No Teams Calling About No. 1 Pick

April 23rd, 2022 at 6:03pm CST by Ely Allen

For the first time since maybe 2013, there is no consensus on who will be the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft. There is such a lack of certainty on who the best available player of the 2022 NFL Draft is that Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke told the media that not one NFL team has “called directly to trade for the No.1 overall pick,” according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

2021 was “Tank for Trevor.” 2020 saw Joe Burrow set the football world on fire. There were certainly doubts, but Kyler Murray was expected to join Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona almost two months before the Draft. In 2018, everyone knew the Browns needed a quarterback and it became clearer and clearer as the Draft approached that Baker Mayfield was their man. Myles Garrett was far and away the best available according to analysts in 2017. 2016 saw the Rams and Eagles trade into the 1 & 2 spots to draft Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. The Buccaneers famously tanked in 2015 for Jameis Winston, with Marcus Mariota as the clear No. 2. Finally, Jadeveon Clowney was an easy selection for the Texans in 2014.

2013, though, had most analysts thinking the Chiefs, who desperately needed offensive tackle help, would take Texas A&M star Luke Joeckel. Instead the Chiefs went with the tackle out of Central Michigan, making Eric Fisher the first MAC player ever to be drafted No. 1 overall. Nine years ago, analysts held very little certainty of even what position the Chiefs would select, with most thinking one of the two offensive tackles, some thinking defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, some thinking linebacker Alec Ogletree, and some even entertaining the possibility that Kansas City might bring in West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith to compete with the newly acquired Alex Smith.

This is the first offseason since then that we’ve seen true cluelessness across the board less than a week out from the Draft. This Draft lacks something that all of those previous Drafts had: a clear player of need that at least one team in the NFL is willing to go all out to get. Many names have been mentioned at number one overall from Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux in the preseason to Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson post-Ohio-State-game to Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker post-Combine. The Draft’s two best offensive linemen, Alabama’s Evan Neal and NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu, both have heard rumors around their names at some point in the pre-Draft process. Baalke, himself, told the media that they were considering four players, leading to speculation that Hutchinson, Walker, Neal, and Ekwonu are the four in question.

That’s what makes this Draft so interesting. Charles Davis of NFL Network called this year’s Draft “even more unpredictable than usual.” Not only is there no team willing to pound the table and jump up to select a player they can’t live without, but even the team that is stuck at number one needs a four-sided coin to flip. The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft airs at 8 p.m. ET this upcoming Thursday, April 28th.

Giants Eyeing T Charles Cross, Receiving Calls On First-Round Picks

April 23rd, 2022 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering the draft with several needs, the Giants have the historically rare opportunity to make two picks in the top 10. But the team is open to trading down and accumulating more capital to address its bevy of deficiencies. Big Blue may have an opportunity to do so.

New Giants GM Joe Schoen said (via Pro Football Focus’ Mike Kaye, on Twitter) he has received calls on the team’s first-round picks — Nos. 5 and 7, creating an interesting decision. The Giants’ previous regime trading down last year allowed this one to hold the No. 7 overall choice. Should New York hang onto its 2022 first-rounders, the team would join only Cleveland (Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward, in 2018) and Washington (LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels, in 2000) by making two top-eight picks in a single draft this century.

The Giants have consistently been connected to tackles. And, considering the Panthers’ potential to grab a tackle at No. 6, the Giants keeping their No. 5 slot makes sense. The team’s preference may not match the consensus at this position.

The Giants have done extensive work on Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross, and ESPN.com’s Matt Miller notes the connection between these two parties continues to heat up. Cross ranks as this draft’s third-best tackle by most, though USA Today slots him first in this group. But some in the Giants’ front office view the promising pass protector as a Day 1 right tackle starter, per Miller. A sizable Giants contingent attended Cross’ pro day last month, and SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano adds the team might be prepared to select the ex-Bulldogs left tackle even if Alabama’s Evan Neal and North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu remain on the board.

The Texans are not a lock to take one of those two blockers at No. 3, and the Jets could opt to take a pass rusher or a cornerback at 4. Should the Jaguars and Lions start the draft with D-linemen, as expected, that would give the Giants their pick at tackle. A similar scenario played out in 2020, when the Giants took Andrew Thomas fourth overall. Thomas is entrenched as the team’s left tackle, and the Schoen regime signed Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano this offseason. The Giants still need a right tackle, however. It would be quite surprising if they exited Round 1 without one.

Cowboys Work Out T Sam Tevi

April 23rd, 2022 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sam Tevi spent three seasons as a Chargers starting tackle and was in the mix to become the Colts’ Eric Fisher stopgap on the left side last year. But a late-August ACL tear closed that path, leaving Tevi sidelined for the 2021 season.

The former first-string regular has progressed to the point teams are bringing him in. The Cowboys worked out Tevi on Friday, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken (on Twitter). While this meeting profiled as more of a check-in rather than an indication a deal is close, the Cowboys do have needs on their offensive line.

Dallas cut longtime right tackle La’el Collins in March, leading to a quick Bengals signing, and has seen Tyron Smith struggle to stay healthy for the past several seasons. Although Smith returned to the Pro Bowl in 2021, he played just 11 games. This came after a two-game 2020. Smith, 31, missed three games in each of the previous four seasons. The Cowboys are prepared to use Terence Steele at right tackle but would then need a swingman. They have not added a notable piece up front this offseason, and an early-round O-line addition is squarely on the radar going into draft week.

Tevi, 27, started 43 Bolts games from 2018-20, being a full-timer at left and right tackle for a few embattled Los Angeles lines. Tevi left for Indianapolis in March of last year. The former sixth-round pick figures to be an option coming out of the draft, depending on how franchises fill their tackle needs next weekend.

Eagles Moving J.J. Arcega-Whiteside To TE

April 23rd, 2022 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

As several wide receivers from the 2019 draft class are moving toward big-money extensions, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is well off that tier. The former Eagles second-round pick drifted off the radar during his first three seasons, leaving him on unsteady ground going into his fourth.

But the Eagles will experiment with an Arcega-Whiteside position change when their offseason workouts begin Monday. He is moving to tight end, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. Already a big wideout, Arcega-Whiteside has added weight to his 225-pound frame and has embraced the move.

The Eagles chose Arcega-Whiteside 57th overall three years ago. The Stanford product posted a 1,059-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2018, vaulting him onto the Day 2 radar. Despite the Eagles’ starting wideouts running into widespread injury trouble during much of Arcega-Whiteside’s career, he has not capitalized on any additional playing time. In three seasons, Arcega-Whiteside has caught just 16 passes for 290 yards and one touchdown. He underwent offseason finger surgery as well, McLane adds.

Dallas Goedert signed a lucrative extension last year, doing so shortly after the Eagles traded Zach Ertz to the Cardinals. Although Richard Rodgers remains on Philly’s roster, there is room behind Goedert. And the Eagles have tried tight end conversions in the recent past, using former college quarterback Tyree Jackson at the position and attempting to shift ex-Cardinals receiver draftee Hakeem Butler there as well. Butler played in two games as an Eagle in 2020, and Jackson suffered a torn ACL in Week 18, leaving his availability for the start of next season uncertain.

Colts Still Considering Re-Signing WR T.Y. Hilton

April 23rd, 2022 at 12:44pm CST by Ben Levine

T.Y. Hilton could be back in Indy for an 11th season. According to NFL Network’s James Palmer (via Twitter), the Colts have had discussions with Hilton about returning for the 2022 campaign.

As Palmer cautions, the receiver hasn’t made up his mind about his future. However, GM Chris Ballard believes the wideout still has something left in the tank, and the front office has been in contact with the veteran over the past week. It sounds like a deal for Hilton could be partly contingent on what the Colts do at wide receiver during the early parts of the draft.

We heard last month that Hilton still intended to play next year. The 32-year-old is coming off a forgettable season, with injuries limited the four-time Pro Bowler to just 23 catches, 331 yards, and three touchdowns — all career lows. That’s a far cry from his best work, and it’s worth noting that Hilton hasn’t posted a 1,000-yard season since 2018.

At the moment, Michael Pittman Jr. is the only starting wideout set to return from the 2021 team. Of the remaining options, Parris Campbell has shown the most potential, but injuries have been an issue in each of his three seasons. While more targets are likely for Campbell and pass-catching back Nyheim Hines, the team could still add at the position. The free agent market still includes the likes of Hilton, but also Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry and Will Fuller. As for the draft, Indianapolis doesn’t own a first-round pick as a result of last year’s Carson Wentz trade. Their top selection is presently No. 42, which should still put them within range of some of the second- and third-tier receiver prospects in what is generally viewed as a deep class at the position.

Broncos Unlikely To Move Up To First Round

April 23rd, 2022 at 11:06am CST by Ben Levine

Following their blockbuster acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos are operating without a first-round pick. Of course, GM George Paton said the trade was still more than worth it, especially after the organization dealt with a rotating cast of QBs over the past half-decade.

“It’s a blessing. We love having first-round picks. We love having the early second, but we also love having a franchise quarterback that sets the tone every day in the building,” Paton said (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith). “I come in here and he’s here working. There is a reason he’s great. It’s because of the work he puts into it … On that first day (of the draft), we’ll watch Russell Wilson highlights.”

While the Broncos may not have a first-round pick, they’re still loaded will draft capital, including nine picks overall and five selections in the first four rounds. The front office could conceivably have the ammo to move up to the first round, but Paton told reporters that he’s unlikely to move that far up, with the GM hinting at a potential move up the board during the second round (per Mike Klis of 9News on Twitter). The team’s first selection is currently at No. 64 overall.

“When we get to that second day, we’ll be on the phone calling every team. We’ll have an idea of what we want to do on that second day, especially as it starts dropping to the mid rounds,” Paton said. “Then we’ll decide do we want to move, do we want to stand pat, or do we want to move back? That kind of depends on who is there and how many players that we like are there.”

So what will the Broncos look to accomplish in the draft as they make a push toward contention?

“I think we’re in a really good spot,” Paton said. “I think there’s going to be value in those rounds where we can upgrade our team, upgrade our depth, and upgrade our speed which is everything we need to do.”

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones: “We’re Not Done Yet In Free Agency”

April 23rd, 2022 at 10:43am CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys haven’t really been a major player in free agency this year, but executive vice president Stephen Jones hinted that moves could be coming. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said the front office isn’t done adding free agents.

“We feel like we did do a good job with it in terms of re-signing, for the most part, the players that we wanted and felt like we could keep under the current salary-cap environment,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “I do think we were able to fill (our needs), for the most part. We’re not done yet in free agency. We’ll see what opportunities come up out there. But we feel like we can go into the draft pure again and pick the best players on our board.”

As Jones notes, the Cowboys have spent much of their offseason retaining their own guys. The team reached new deals with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, wide receiver Michael Gallup, safety Jayron Kearse, and defensive end Dorance Armstrong, and they also slapped tight end Dalton Schultz with the franchise tag. Of course, all of this future money has led to some roster casualties, most notably wideout Amari Cooper and offensive tackle La’el Collins.

When it comes to free agency, the team’s most notable addition was the signing of defensive end Dante Fowler. At this point of the offseason, the Cowboys will be hard pressed to find any game-changers still remaining in free agency, but the current crop of unsigned veterans could help fill in any roster holes following the draft. As Machota notes, the Cowboys could use reinforcement at guard, center, wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end, and cornerback, and there’s a good chance they won’t cross all those positions off the list during next week’s draft.

Latest On Giants WR Kadarius Toney

April 23rd, 2022 at 9:10am CST by Ben Levine

Kadarius Toney could be playing elsewhere next season. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants receiver “could be available in a trade.” Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News was first with the news yesterday and was more definitive with his report, stating that the Giants front office is actively looking to trade the former first-round pick.

There were rumblings earlier this offseason that the Giants could consider moving on from Toney, and those reports didn’t come as much of a surprise following a rocky 2021 campaign. Toney was continually in the news last season, stemming from on-the-field issues (like the time he wore the wrong cleats or time he was tossed from practice for throwing a punch) or off-the-field issues (like “a lack of playbook study” or “poor meeting behavior,” per Leonard). The receiver also missed a handful of games with injuries and COVID.

When all was said and done, the Florida product ended up getting into 10 games for the Giants, hauling in 39 receptions for 420 yards and no touchdowns. Plenty of players have rebounded following tumultuous rookie seasons, but as Leonard points out, Toney has skipped out on the team’s offseason program with new head coach Brian Daboll, leading to his spot on the trade block.

When the Giants selected Toney with the No. 20 pick in last year’s draft, they were envisioning a variety of roles for the talented wideout. Toney projected to be a slot receiver in the NFL, but his Swiss Army Knife profile offered him an even greater upside. He was expected to join a revamped receivers depth chart that also featured Kenny Golladay plus John Ross, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Dante Pettis. Alas, the Giants still put forth one of the worst offensive performances in the NFL last season.

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