2022 April - Pro Football Rumors

Cardinals Pick Up Kyler Murray’s Fifth-Year Option

April 27th, 2022 at 5:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not that it was ever in question, murky extension status notwithstanding, the Cardinals picked up Kyler Murray‘s fifth-year option Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This ties Murray to the Cardinals through 2023 and would give the Pro Bowl quarterback a substantial raise in that fifth year. Because Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler, he is eligible for the top-tier option price. For 2019 first-round QBs, that comes in at a fully guaranteed $29.7MM.

Murray, 24, should not be expected to play for that salary; the former No. 1 overall pick has been seeking an extension for months. Murray’s camp established a goal of the Cardinals extending the newly extension-eligible passer by the draft. It does not appear the team will comply. This situation has not yet become contentious, however, with Murray sending out multiple tweets affirming his desire to stay in Arizona.

Murray’s contract now including the 2023 season gives the Cards leverage, but the threat of a holdout by the 2018 Heisman winner could significantly affect Arizona’s preparations for the coming season. The 2020 CBA made holdouts more difficult to wage, but it does not seem Murray will be willing to play next season on his rookie contract. He is set to make $965K in 2022.

Extending standout QBs before their fourth seasons has been the norm, with Lamar Jackson being the exception among recent first-rounders. The upcoming Murray talks also represent the Cards’ first major negotiation with a homegrown quarterback since they relocated to Arizona in 1988, raising the stakes a bit for a franchise that has seen outside additions — Kurt Warner, Carson Palmer — be its top modern-era passers. With the sides having yet to begin negotiations, this saga figures to last deep into the offseason.

Saints High On Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral?

April 27th, 2022 at 4:37pm CST by Ben Levine

It remains to be seen if the Saints will end up selecting a quarterback during the first round of tomorrow’s draft. However, if they do, one faction of the organization could be disappointed. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Saints front office likes Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett while the coaches seem to prefer Ole Miss’ signal caller Matt Corral.

There have been some recent rumblings that the Saints could use one of their two first-round selections on a quarterback, especially after the organization hosted Corral, Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis, and UNC passer Sam Howell on top-30 visits. The front office had made it clear that they didn’t make their trade with the Eagles with the goal of selecting a quarterback, but the move certainly set them up if one of their preferred prospects falls in their lap.

The Saints added Andy Dalton to pair with Jameis Winston, and regardless of what happens in the draft, one of the veterans will likely be under center come the start of the 2022 season. Dalton’s one-year pact and Winston’s two-year extension (which is effectively a one-year deal) certainly won’t preclude the organization from selecting a rookie QB, especially after the team made it clear that Taysom Hill will no longer be considered for the position.

Armed with No. 16 and No. 19, the Saints will have two decisions to make tomorrow night. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, sources believe the Saints are positioning themselves to get one of the draft’s top offensive tackles after losing Terron Armstead. Other sources believe the front office could be targeting a wide receiver.

Patriots Re-Sign DT Carl Davis

April 27th, 2022 at 4:12pm CST by Ben Levine

Carl Davis is returning to New England. The nose tackle is re-signing with the Patriots, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

Davis joined the Patriots during the 2021 season, and he’s seen time in 20 games over his year-plus with the organization. This includes a 2021 campaign where the defensive lineman appeared in all 17 games (four starts), finishing with 19 tackles and one sack.

Davis was originally a 2015 third-round pick by the Ravens. He lasted three years in Baltimore, and in between his stint in New England, he had gigs with the Browns, Colts, and Jaguars. In total, the 30-year-old has seen time in 56 regular season games.

Davis will be hard pressed to play a significant role on New England’s defense in 2022, especially if 2021 second-round pick Christian Barmore continues to develop. The Patriots are also rostering Davon Godchaux, who the Patriots inked to a two-year deal last offseason.

Colts Meet With DL Darius Philon

April 27th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Gus Bradley has already imported two members from his 2021 Las Vegas defense, Yannick Ngakoue and Brandon Facyson. The new Colts defensive coordinator has his eye on another ex-Raider.

Darius Philon met with the Colts on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. A Raider last season, Philon played for Bradley during the veteran defensive coordinator’s time with the Chargers as well. The Raiders also met with Philon recently.

These meetings double as medical checkups for Philon, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 18 last season. The 28-year-old interior defensive lineman was out of football during the 2019 and ’20 seasons, but he bounced back under Bradley in Vegas. The four-year Chargers contributor registered two sacks and five tackles for loss during his Raiders campaign.

The Colts could use some depth behind D-tackle starters DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, and Philon would not be a pricey addition — especially considering the severe knee injury he sustained in January. The Philon visit is also interesting due to the Colts’ recent re-signing of defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis, who suffered a patellar tendon tear in October. Patellar tendon tears represent a difficult injury to surmount, so it would obviously be notable if the Colts rostered two D-linemen traveling this comeback route.

Titans Pick Up Jeffery Simmons’ Fifth-Year Option

April 27th, 2022 at 3:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another fifth-year option is being picked up on a productive 2019 draftee. The Titans announced on Wednesday that they have exercised the option on defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons.

Despite being drafted 19th overall, Simmons was only the fifth interior d-linemen off the board in his draft class. Beside the strength of a position group which also included Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver, part of the reason he slid past the top half of the first round was a torn ACL he suffered in the lead-up to the draft. He was still able to play in nine games during his rookie campaign, though.

After a step up in production in 2020, the Mississippi State product showcased his pass-rushing potential this past season. He registered a career-high 8.5 sacks, adding 12 tackles for loss and 25 total pressures. Along with edge rusher Harold Landry, the 24-year-old played a leading role in the team’s resurgent pass rush, which finished top-10 in sacks in 2021. He earned his first career Pro Bowl as a result of his play.

As is the case with other players who have had their options picked up, this move comes as no surprise. As a member of Tier 2 with respect to the valuation of the guaranteed fifth-year contract, Simmons will earn just over $14.7MM. With that said, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports (on Twitter) that he is a player the Titans “have plans to give a lucrative long-term extension [to] down the line”. For at least the near future, he will remain in place with Tennessee.

Commanders Locked In On WR In Round 1?

April 27th, 2022 at 3:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having deployed a Terry McLaurin-dependent receiving corps for the past three years, Washington appears determined to find help for its top target in this draft.

The Commanders are “all in” on finding another receiver, per Todd McShay of ESPN.com, and this interest points to an investment with their No. 11 overall pick. This follows a report indicating the Commanders have indeed done extensive homework at the position. As to which wideout the team is targeting, it might be down to two.

USC’s Drake London and Ohio State’s Chris Olave loom as potential targets, with McShay indicating the Commanders’ preference is viewed differently by various GMs around the league. The two wideouts went through “30” visits with the Commanders during the pre-draft process. They supply differing skillsets, with the 6-foot-3 London an outside threat and the 6-foot Olave a shiftier target in the McLaurin mold. Olave, who played four seasons with the Buckeyes, was McLaurin’s teammate as a freshman in 2018.

Commanders GM Martin Mayhew has called around about first-round trades in recent days, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (on Twitter), indicating some interest exists in moving up or down. While such dialogue is expected ahead of every draft, the Commanders being locked in on one wideout may require a move up the board. Otherwise, the team would seem set to land one of this draft’s top pass catchers at 11.

A first-round receiver pick would give Washington a few notable investments alongside McLaurin. Although Curtis Samuel battled injuries last season, Washington gave him a three-year, $34.5MM deal. The team also drafted Dyami Brown in Round 3 last year. Still, a familiar statistical gap — one that featured McLaurin’s yardage total (1,053) nearly 700 north of any other Washington wideout — emerged in 2021, likely heightening the importance of the Commanders adding more help here.

Broncos To Sign CB Bless Austin

April 27th, 2022 at 2:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

After a brief tryout with the team, cornerback Blessuan Austin is joining the Broncos. 9News’ Mike Kliss reports (via Twitter) that the 25-year-old is headed to Denver.

Austin was originally a sixth round pick of the Jets in 2019. He started 16 of 18 games across his first two seasons in New York, but he totalled eight pass breakups and no interceptions during that time. After being shopped around unsuccessfully, he found himself on the wrong side of the team’s roster bubble this September, leading to the Jets cutting him.

Less than one week later, the Rutgers product found himself in Seattle. With the Seahawks, he played a much smaller role, seeing the field for only 18% of defensive snaps. Even with the team losing staring corner D.J. Reed in free agency, they were content to let Austin move on to another new NFL home.

As Klis notes, Austin tried out for the Broncos during their three-day minicamp, so the deal comes as no surprise. In Denver, he will join a CB room which hasn’t retained veterans Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan. He will add depth – and, given his age and size at six-foot-one and nearly 200 pounds, potential upside – behind the likes of Patrick Surtain, Ronald Darby and K’Waun Williams.

Panthers Eyeing Extension With Brian Burns

April 27th, 2022 at 12:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the teams with a key decision to make with respect to fifth-year options was the Panthers. Not surprisingly, they officially picked up the option on edge rusher Brian Burns yesterday, but the team is hoping to have him under contract for much more than the next two seasons.

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said during yesterday’s announcement “we have hopes of extending him beyond [2023]” (Twitter link via Joe Person of the Athletic). It had long been known, of course, that Carolina would exercise the option on Burns; likewise, it comes as little surprise that they would want to get a long-term deal done with the 24-year-old.

The 16th overall pick in 2019, Burns had an immediate impact during his rookie season. Despite playing less than half of the team’s defensive snaps, he registered 7.5 sacks. In the two seasons since then, he has taken his production a step further, with back-to-back years at 50+ tackles and nine sacks. He was named to his first career Pro Bowl in 2021.

Between those numbers and his age, getting a second contract done as soon as possible would make plenty of sense. His 2023 salary will be just over $16MM as a result of the option being picked up, which could provide a framework for a longer commitment. Burns will continue next season as an anchor of the team’s pass rush, along with the likes of Yetur Gross-Matos and the recently re-signed Frankie Luvu.

Commanders To Pick Up Montez Sweat’s Option

April 27th, 2022 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Commanders are set to exercise Montez Sweat‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via Ben Standig of The Athletic). With that, they now have the defensive end under contract through the 2023 season.

Sweat was limited to just ten games in 2021 thanks to a fractured jaw. Still, his past performance made this a pretty easy decision for Washington. Across all three years, the former first-round pick has 119 tackles and 21 sacks to his credit. He’s also registered seven forced fumbles, including three last year.

It’s also worth noting that Sweat suited up for 40 straight regular season games before the jaw injury. That helped the Commanders feel more comfortable with Sweat’s fully-guaranteed $11.5MM salary for 2023.

Sweat fell on draft day due to a misdiagnosed heart condition that tanked his stock. The Washington front office wasn’t bothered by the noise — they traded back into the first round, snagged Sweat at No. 26, and secured one of the better talents in the 2019 class.

NFL teams have until May 2 to exercise the fifth-year options for 2019 first-round draft picks. Earlier today, we learned that Bucs linebacker Devin White will have his option picked up for the 2023 season.

Bucs To Pick Up Devin White’s Option

April 27th, 2022 at 9:56am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers will pick up Devin White‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). With that, the linebacker is now set to make a fully-guaranteed $11.7MM in 2023.

White, the No. 5 overall pick in 2019, was set to enter the final year of his four-year, $29.3MM rookie deal. There was no chance that the Bucs would let him get away after his Pro Bowl season. White notched 128 stops and 3.5 sacks, helping the Bucs finish as a top-five defense in points allowed.

White has been a starter throughout his career, dating back to his 91-tackle rookie campaign. All in all, he’s got 359 tackles, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and one interception to his credit. Meanwhile, he just celebrated his 24th birthday in February. The Buccaneers will work to sign White to an even longer deal down the road. But, for now, they’ve got him locked in for another two seasons.

Teams have until May 2nd to exercise their options for 2019 first-round picks. Some decisions will be tough, now that the fifth-year option is fully-guaranteed rather than just guaranteed-for-injury. For Bucs GM Jason Licht, this one was a no-brainer.