2022 April - Pro Football Rumors

Giants Eyeing Sauce Gardner, Ikem Ekwonu?

April 28th, 2022 at 5:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Giants are still open to trading out of one of their top-10 draft slots, plans on how the team will proceed if they stay at those spots might be emerging.

Connected to tackles at No. 5 throughout the pre-draft process, the Giants are believed to have cornerback Ahmad Gardner as their most universally approved prospect, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy tweets. The Giants were connected to “Sauce” back in March and hosted the Cincinnati cover man on a visit.

As for their tackle preference, Charles Cross was the blocker most closely connected to the team in the days leading up to the draft. But Dunleavy adds Ikem Ekwonu is believed to be the team’s highest-ranked tackle — ahead of Cross and Evan Neal, respectively. The NFL smokescreen window obviously remains open, but both Gardner and Ekwonu would make sense for the Giants.

Ekwonu, who has played guard as well, has been connected to the Jaguars with the No. 1 pick. But Jacksonville is still viewed as likelier to take a defensive lineman to start the draft. The Jags and Lions going D-line would open the door to the Jets (No. 4) and Giants having corners and top-tier tackles on the board. The Giants had sizable presences at Ekwonu, Cross and Neal’s pro days.

The Texans have been the top five’s least discussed team, possessing a bevy of needs. Houston has, however, been connected to corners in the days leading up to the draft. Derek Stingley Jr. should be considered the favorite to go third, Dunleavy adds (on Twitter). This is not the first Texans-Stingley connection to surface. Since Lovie Smith‘s comments about his team’s need at corner, the Texans have been tied to the LSU and Cincinnati standouts. Stingley going third would likely leave the Jets with their pick of Gardner, the draft’s top tackles and this class’ third- and fourth-best D-linemen — generally believed to be Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jermaine Johnson.

The Giants have a need at right tackle — where Ekwonu, Cross or Neal would presumably step in as a Day 1 starter — but also are preparing to move James Bradberry‘s $21MM cap number off their books. Big Blue’s top corner for the past two seasons, Bradberry has no ties to the current regime and is going into an expensive contract year. Gardner would be an immediate replacement on a much cheaper deal. The Jets, who have also been linked to Garnder, could spoil any Giants plans here. But the NFC’s New York franchise might be OK with multiple prospects at 5.

Draft Rumors: Packers, Eagles, CBs, Chiefs, Cowboys, Williams, Giants

April 28th, 2022 at 4:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers‘ streak of not drafting a wide receiver in Round 1 has hit 20 years, but they may be prepared to snap it in a few hours. After trading Davante Adams and letting Marquez Valdes-Scantling walk in free agency, Green Bay enters the draft with a glaring need at this position. The team is exploring trade-up scenarios ahead of Round 1, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Holding the Nos. 22 and 28 picks, the Packers standing pat runs the risk of seeing the top receivers being taken ahead of them. Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams could all go off the board in the first half of Round 1. Other receivers are firmly on the first-round radar as well. The Packers have traded up in the first round under GM Brian Gutekunst, doing so for Jordan Love two years ago. That scrutinized pick prevented the Pack from landing a first-round receiver to pair with Adams, and the team’s efforts to trade up in the 2020 second round failed. Can Gutekunst and Co. pull off a deal tonight?

Hours away from the first round, here is the latest draft buzz:

Even though the Giants are looking less likely to complete an early separation from Kadarius Toney, they are shopping Darius Slay ton. The new Big Blue regime may be open to a splashy receiver addition tonight. A Giants-Williams connection has surfaced ahead of Round 1, Breer adds. Williams would seemingly be in play with the Giants’ No. 7 pick, with the team being closely tied to a tackle at No. 5. The Giants are also open to trading out of the 7 slot, with ESPN’s Dianna Russini confirming that remains the case (Twitter link). A move down could keep them in play for Williams, whose ACL tear (and expected PUP-list stay) may not dissuade a rebuilding team like the Giants from pulling the trigger.
Add the Cowboys to the list of teams trying to move up, via Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). Jerry Jones said recently he would OK a trade-up maneuver, and a Wednesday-night report indicated Dallas is interested in tackles Charles Cross and Trevor Penning, along with London. A trade for Cross or London might be unrealistic, unless the Cowboys are prepared to trade into the top 10. The Giants have been closely connected to Cross at No. 5. Penning could still be on the board by the middle of the first round, however.
Although the Eagles‘ trade-up effort may well be for Kayvon Thibodeaux, depending on how far the defensive end falls, other teams are expecting a potential Philly move to address a different defensive spot. Rivals believe an Eagles move into the top 10 would be for a cornerback, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Eagles hosted Ahmad Gardner on a “30” visit and made a play for Stephon Gilmore in free agency. Rostering Darius Slay as their top corner, the Eagles should be expected to make a notable addition at the position. A vault from No. 15 into the top 10 would almost certainly be necessary to land Gardner or Stingley, both of whom having been consistently connected to top-10 landing spots.
Rumored to be readying a trade-up, the Chiefs do not look likely to climb into the top half of the first round. They have told teams in the top 15 such a move would be too steep, Breer adds. The Chiefs have the Nos. 29 and 30 picks in the first round. Receiver is expected to be in play for the perennial AFC West champs, who have also been connected to pass-rushing help.

Saints Willing To Move Up Or Down In First Round

April 28th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The middle and later stages of tonight’s first round are expected to house most of the trade action which could take place. That makes the Saints one of the most important teams to watch. It comes as little surprise, then, that New Orleans has been calling other teams regarding moves up and down the board (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler).

After their deal with the Eagles, the Saints own the 16th and 19th overall picks. That likely puts them in range of some – if not all – of the top quarterbacks in the class. If the team does elect to add a signal-caller, it appears their preference would be either Kenny Pickett or Matt Corral. With that said, the team has already re-signed Jameis Winston and added veteran backup Andy Dalton, leading some to believe other positions could be of greater concern to them.

The two positions most referenced along those lines are offensive tackle and wide receiver. In need of a Terron Armstead replacement, Trevor Penning will likely be the top blocker still available at 16, so a move up to select a top-tier option like Charles Cross wouldn’t come as a surprise. Likewise, the team would, in all likelihood, need to move into the top 10 (or thereabouts) to be in range of wideouts such as Drake London, Jameson Williams and Garrett Wilson as they look to boost last year’s passing game.

If the top options at those positions are off the board by the middle of the round, though, a trade down would become a possibility. The strength of this class is said to be truly seen on Day 2; especially if the team chooses not to add a quarterback, then, and a run on the position occurs in the 20s, moving down could become mutually beneficial for the Saints and a QB-hungry team.

Like all Day 1 trades, the ultimate decisions teams make will become known in a matter of hours. Depending on how the top of the board shakes out, New Orleans could become one of the most active teams, and therefore one worth keeping an eye on.

Texans Still Eyeing Trade-Up From No. 13

April 28th, 2022 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Texans general manager Nick Caserio has made it clear he is more than willing to make a trade involving the team’s second first-round pick in tonight’s draft. Even if they keep the other – the third overall selection – the team is eyeing a move back into the top 10, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

As Schefter details, the Texans are “trying to position themselves” so that a move for a specific target in the latter half of the top 10 becomes feasible. That would open up the possibility of a deal with either of the New York teams (the Jets are slated to pick fourth and 10th, while the Giants own Nos. 5 and 7). The latter in particular has been named as one of multiple trade-down candidates, depending on how the top of the board shakes out.

However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer speculates that Seattle is actually the key team in this situation. He reports (on Twitter) that some in the league believe Caserio plans to take an offensive tackle third overall, then use the trade to move back in front of the Seahawks to select cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Houston has long been linked to Evan Neal at No. 3, and was recently said to have Stingley rated higher than presumed top corner Ahmad Gardner.

While it remains to be seen which team the Texans would be partnering with to pull off such a move – as well as the price they are willing to pay to do so – this is certainly a situation worth monitoring. A pair of top 10 prospects could go a long way to Houston accelerating the rebuild as they try to move forward from the Deshaun Watson era.

Eagles Aiming To Trade Into Top 10

April 28th, 2022 at 2:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles have made trades to move their first-round pick ahead of the past two drafts; they might not be done changing their Round 1 slot this year. They are trying to trade up from No. 15 overall, James Palmer of NFL.com notes (video link).

Philadelphia is aiming to move into the top 10, per Palmer, who adds the team’s pass rush may well be the focus of such a trade. More specifically, the Eagles are interested in Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end once viewed as the top overall prospect. His value has since become one of this draft’s top subplots.

Given the volatility of Thibodeaux’s stock, the Eagles will almost certainly need to wait until the draft begins to orchestrate a trade. Thibodeaux has been connected to a top-five destination and has also been mentioned as a player who could fall out of the top 10. The talented edge’s landing spot may be somewhere in between, giving the Eagles a potential target range.

After entering April with three first-round picks in the teens of this year’s draft, the Eagles parted with one of those picks and moved into the Saints’ No. 15 slot. Philly holds the Nos. 15 and 18 picks this year and has two more first-rounders next year. The Eagles have been linked to wide receivers throughout the pre-draft process, despite having selected one in each of the past two first rounds, and cornerback could loom as a position of interest as well. But the team finished 31st in sacks last season.

The Eagles re-signed 2017 first-round pick Derek Barnett and added Haason Reddick in free agency. They also extended Josh Sweat months ago. Brandon Graham, however, is coming off an Achilles tear and entering his age-34 season. Thibodeaux would further beef up this stable and give the team an interesting depth chart featuring usable edges beyond its two-deep.

Jaguars Pick Up Josh Allen’s Fifth-Year Option

April 28th, 2022 at 1:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

While there is another, more well-known NFL player with the same name, defensive end Josh Allen has established himself as worthy of a raise going into 2023 in Jacksonville’s eyes. The Jaguars announced on Thursday that they have exercised his fifth-year option.

Allen, 24, went seventh overall to Jacksonville in 2019, making him the third edge rusher off the board. He had an immediate impact as a rookie, posting 44 tackles and 10.5 sacks. That sent him to the Pro Bowl, and earned him consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year, an honor which ultimately went to second overall pick Nick Bosa.

His 2020 season was hampered by a knee injury, but Allen responded well this past year. In 16 games, he totalled a career-high 71 tackles, along with 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. His level of play certainly hasn’t stopped edge rusher from becoming the expected position of tonight’s first overall pick from Jacksonville, but it has provided a foundation for what the team hopes will be a defensive turnaround beginning in 2022.

As a result of today’s news, Allen will earn just over $16MM in 2023. As is the case with most (if not all) players whose options have been picked up in recent days, however, the possibility exists for a long-term extension to be worked out in the not-too-distant future.

Multiple Teams Offering 49ers First-Round Picks For Deebo Samuel; Jets Still In Play

April 28th, 2022 at 1:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers are still aiming to salvage their Deebo Samuel partnership, but with the draft hours away, teams are seeing what it will take to pry the All-Pro playmaker from the NFC West franchise.

Multiple teams have sent the 49ers offers, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reporting (video link) the proposals have included a first-round pick and change. San Francisco, however, has not budged just yet. Samuel requested a trade eight days ago.

It is possible the 49ers are waiting to see what teams’ final offers will be once the draft starts, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes a successful Samuel trade would also mean a new contract being negotiated and the fourth-year receiver taking a physical. Time is running out on these fronts.

The Jets remain the team most closely connected to Samuel, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes the book is not yet closed on such a swap (Twitter link). It could depend on how the draft board looks when the Jets’ No. 10 pick rolls around, Cimini adds. Due to their Trey Lance trade-up last year, the 49ers do not have a first-round pick. But the draft board suddenly looks relevant to San Francisco, given the Samuel drama.

Green Bay and Detroit have been mentioned as Samuel suitors, but a trade to New York has been the most-discussed scenario. The Jets were believed to be “all in” on acquiring the fourth-year wideout. The team was prepared to give Tyreek Hill a market-resetting extension, but the speed merchant chose Miami. The Jets would also be willing to trade No. 10 overall for D.K. Metcalf, though the Seahawks are not believed to be interested. One of the draft’s top storylines appears to be whether the 49ers are interested in the 10th pick as the centerpiece of a Samuel trade package.

Giants Decline Daniel Jones’ Fifth-Year Option, Exercise Dexter Lawrence’s

April 28th, 2022 at 1:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have become the latest team to make their decisions with respect to 2019 first rounders. Not surprisingly, they declined to pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Daniel Jones (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Judy Battista).

Jones, the sixth overall pick and second QB off the board that year, has failed to live up to expectations so far in his career. He has started all but one game during his three years with the team, compiling a 12-25 record. His completion percentage (62.8% overall) and yards per attempt average (6.6) have remained consistent throughout his tenure, representing an underwhelming level of development in his passing ability. That, coupled with a combined 49 turnovers (29 interceptions and 20 lost fumbles) make this the expected move.

Picking up the option would have given Jones a guaranteed 2023 salary of $22.4MM. Instead, he will now enter the 2022 campaign knowing his future with the team will be exclusively tied to his level of play under new head coach Brian Daboll. Ownership has publicly backed the Duke alum as the starter of the immediate future, so this news shouldn’t have an effect on the team’s draft plans.

Meanwhile, the Giants announced that they did exercise the option on defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence. He becomes the fifth player at that position to be retained through 2023 via the option. Without a Pro Bowl to his name, he will earn $10.753MM that season. The 24-year-old has started 41 of 48 career games, putting up solid, if unspectacular, numbers. Overall, he has totalled 145 tackles and nine sacks across his three seasons in the league.

As the Giants head towards a 2022 campaign in which significant improvement is expected, they now have a bit more certainty with respect to 2023 as well.

Trade Down, OL Still In Play For Jaguars At No. 1?

April 28th, 2022 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Hours away from the start of this year’s draft, pundits and fans alike find themselves surrounded by uncertainty at even the very top of the board. Many expect the decision facing Jacksonville at No. 1 to come down to their preference between Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson, but other options may still be in play.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that “the Jaguars are still hoping that they can find a path out of the top pick”. It has been known for a while that a number of teams set to pick in the top 10 – including the Jaguars – have been willing to move down, given the lack of surefire talent in this class. As Florio adds, however, they “continue to find no takers”.

Last week, it was reported that no one was calling Jacksonville regarding the top selection. This late in the game, the same appears to be true; most talk of movement within the top handful of teams relates to clubs wanting to add picks later on in the draft, rather than targeting specific prospects. Still, if the Jaguars remain split on their preference at No. 1, they would likely be amenable to any last-minute deal.

Meanwhile, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds that offensive line might be on the table for the team to consider when they are on the clock. He is “still not ruling out” a linemen (presumably Ikem Ekwonu or Evan Neal) being the team’s eventual choice. Jacksonville has been linked to the former during the run-up to the draft, but the multi-year extension just given to left tackle Cam Robinson further points towards Walker or Hutchinson.

Seven hours from now, the team’s ultimate decision will be known. Until then, speculation is likely to continue regarding the start of a highly intriguing draft year.

Latest On Jets’ George Fant

April 28th, 2022 at 10:02am CST by Adam La Rose

Left tackle George Fant was one of a few bright spots for the Jets in 2021, and he is in line for a significant role on the team this season. When speaking to the media yesterday, he provided updates on his health and contract statuses, among other things.

The 29-year-old said that he is “doing well” with respect to his recovery from offseason knee surgery (Twitter link via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano). He added that he will be recovered in time for training camp. Assuming that is the case, he will be available to continue as a starter, looking to build off his surprising level of play at left tackle last season. Between himself, Mekhi Becton and any lineman the team selects early in the upcoming draft, the Jets will have a number of options to fill out the tackle positions.

Given his high-end play in 2021 (he allowed only 18 pressures in 15 games, ranking him third in the league), Fant was reportedly in conversation with the Jets over a new contract last month. While nothing much as materialized since then, he did say his agent “has had some talks” with the team regarding a new deal. Fant has one year remaining on his current contract, with a scheduled cap hit of $11.1MM.

Further remarks Fant made, per Vacchiano, related to the current state of the Jets’ o-line. While the team lost Morgan Moses in free agency, they did add Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson. He, along with 2021 first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker, figure to give the team an improved tandem at guard. Fant acknowledged the possibility of an addition as early as Round 1 tonight along the offensive front, but expressed confidence in the unit as-is, something which may be justified if, among other things, he can replicate his 2021 success.