2022 May - Pro Football Rumors

Morocco Brown Out Of Contention For Eagles’ Assistant GM Job?

May 20th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the many positions in the Eagles’ front office which needs to be filled is that of assistant general manager. It appears that Morocco Brown is no longer a candidate to fill that role, reports Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link).

That news is surprising, as Brown, the college scouting director of the Colts, was described as being “on track for the position as a ‘no-brainer’ hire”, per Anderson. Brown has been with Indianapolis in his current capacity for the past five seasons, earning a reputation around the league for his scouting prowess. He also has experience in Cleveland, Washington and Chicago.

His standing amongst various front offices led to interest from multiple teams this offseason apart from the Eagles, who were reported to be interviewing him earlier this month. He was a candidate to become the Bears’ general manager, in no small part due to his seven years previously spent in Chicago as assistant director of pro personnel. In the end, the Bears went in the direction of Ryan Poles to fill the spot.

Brown has also been involved in the Steelers’ ongoing GM search. He was among the many candidates to receive one interview with the team, though he is not presently on the shortlist of finalists whom Pittsburgh has met with a second time. That fact seemed to point him even more towards Philadelphia, but he will now likely remain with the Colts for at least one more season.

Drew Brees Underwent Shoulder Surgery

May 19th, 2022 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Drew Brees‘ potential return to the field already seemed very, very unlikely. But for those holding out hope, a recent operation will likely end any of the discussions. According to Peter King of Football Morning in America, the legendary QB recently underwent surgery on his left shoulder.

After having been out of football for more than a year, the operation (and rehab) would likely shut the door on a Brees return in 2022. If the quarterback was considering a return, the shoulder surgery means he wouldn’t be able to play football until at least September or October, per Ed Werder (on Twitter).

Brees unintentionally flamed the fire earlier this week when he announced that he was leaving his broadcasting gig with NBC Sports. While the 43-year-old didn’t explicitly state that he was considering a return to the NFL, he did acknowledge that a comeback was one of many potential paths as he decides what to do next.

“Despite speculation from the media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided,” Brees said. He continued, “I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know.”

Ever since Brees decided to walk away following the 2020 campaign, there has been plenty of speculation regarding a potential return. When Brees’ replacement for the 2021 season, Jameis Winston, went down with a season-ending injury, Brees joked that he had no plans to return and save the Saints’ season. When Winston’s backups, Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian, both found themselves on the COVID-19 list, the Saints’ reportedly asked Brees to come out of retirement. Brees’ response was once again in jest, as he replied with a picture of himself golfing, hinting that he was content in his post-football activities.

Brees would be the second-oldest player in the NFL (behind Tom Brady) if he played in 2022. Considering he last played 18 months ago, it’s questionable if Brees could even be productive under center. That seems to be the sentiment among those close to Brees, with one source telling King that the quarterback is “not playing football” again.

Giants Make Handful Of Roster Moves

May 19th, 2022 at 8:40pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants made some minor moves to shake up their defense today. The organization signed defensive back Michael Jacquet and waived defensive tackle Antonio Valentino (via Dan Salomone of the team’s website on Twitter).

Jacquet went undrafted out of Louisiana in 2020 before catching on with the Eagle. He ended up seeing time in seven games (two starts) as a rookie, finishing with 18 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He started the 2021 campaign on Philly’s practice squad before earning his walking papers. He later joined the Jaguars and ended up getting into one game for Jacksonville.

Valentino recently joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent. The defensive tackle saw time in 10 games as a senior at Florida, finishing with 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack.

Meanwhile, Jordan Mosley reverted to injured reserve after recently being waived-injured, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). The Maryland product has had an eventful week after only joining the organization on Saturday. Mosley started all 13 games in 2021, leading Maryland with 83 tackles. He previously participated in the Jets rookie minicamp.

Latest On Seahawks QB Competition

May 19th, 2022 at 6:57pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks may be having an open competition for their starting QB spot. However, veteran Geno Smith‘s familiarity with the offense gives him the early lead over newcomer Drew Lock. During a recent radio appearance, Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron admitted that Smith is the current front runner for the starting gig.

“Right now, Geno has done such a good job of carrying over (the offensive principles from 2021). He already had a head start over Drew right there,” Waldron (h/t to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “We have a long time to go. We are just in T-shirts and shorts right now, going against air. We have a long way to go to see where this competition (goes).”

The Seahawks were apart of the quarterback carousel when they dealt Russell Wilson to Denver, but they surprisingly haven’t been on the receiving end of the continuous turnover. The team has seemingly distanced themselves from available QBs like Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo, and they’re prepared to navigate this post-Wilson era with either Smith, who spent the last three seasons as Seattle’s backup, or Lock, a former second-round pick acquired in the Broncos trade.

It’s obviously in the organization’s best interest to develop the 25-year-old Lock vs. the 31-year-old Smith, although Lock’s impending free agency certainly adds some uncertainty to the situation. Lock has largely struggled as a starter, and while the ex-Mizzou prospect did play in two offensive systems in his first two years, Teddy Bridgewater beat him out for Denver’s QB1 job last year and held him off throughout the Broncos’ time in playoff contention. This came after the strong-armed passer tied for the 2020 interception lead, with 15, despite missing three-plus games. Smith has made five starts over the past seven seasons. Three of those came last season, with the former second-round pick did show some promise, completing 68% of his passes on 7.4 yards per attempt — numbers superior to his Jets-era work, albeit in a small sample size — and finishing with a 5-to-1 TD-INT ratio.

Seahawks Work Out S George Iloka

May 19th, 2022 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time since he suffered a torn ACL in a 2020 practice, George Iloka has surfaced on the NFL radar. The former Bengals and Vikings safety worked out for the Seahawks on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Iloka, 32, has an interesting career timeline. The former Cincinnati fifth-round pick did not play in 2019 or 2021. His 2020 ACL tear, sustained during an October practice with the Vikings, interrupted his chance at re-establishing himself in the league. But the Seahawks may give him a chance to vie for a roster spot soon.

The Seahawks also may not view safety as Iloka’s role any longer. They have a “coverage linebacker”-type role in mind, per Garafolo. Iloka was a regular Bengals starter from 2013-17, signing a five-year, $30MM extension to stay in Ohio during that time. The Bengals released him just before the 2018 season, shortly after they drafted future cornerstone safety Jessie Bates. Iloka signed with the Vikings in 2018 and ’20, with a stopover in Dallas — one that did not lead to any playing time — in between.

Seattle said goodbye to the best linebacker in team history, Bobby Wagner, and has Cody Barton poised to join Jordyn Brooks as a full-timer. The team, which does not have solidified depth at safety behind Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, did not draft an off-ball linebacker this year. The Seahawks did sign former Bears linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe earlier this offseason, however, with Nick Bellore and converted safety Tanner Muse also on Seattle’s linebacker depth chart.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/19/22

May 19th, 2022 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest mid- and late-round draft picks to sign their four-year rookie contracts:

Cincinnati Bengals

S Tycen Anderson (fifth round, Toledo)

New York Giants

CB Cor’Dale Flott (third round, LSU)

Tennessee Titans

T Nicholas Petit-Frere (third round, Ohio State)

Freddie Kitchens Joins South Carolina Staff

May 19th, 2022 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

An NFL staffer since 2006, Freddie Kitchens is heading back to the college ranks. South Carolina announced the former Browns head coach will work as a senior football analyst on Shane Beamer’s staff.

Kitchens worked with Beamer at Mississippi State in the 2000s but has been on an NFL sideline in each of the past 16 years. He spent the past two years on Joe Judge‘s Giants staff, finishing the 2021 campaign as Big Blue’s offensive coordinator.

A few current NFL head coaches have used stopovers in the college ranks as a springboard back to high-profile pro gigs. Brian Daboll spent the 2017 season at Alabama; Zac Taylor was the Cincinnati Bearcats’ OC in 2016; Lovie Smith spent five years as Illinois’ HC. Bill O’Brien is currently Alabama’s OC. Kitchens’ work on the HC/OC level may not lead to him receiving another such opportunity, but at 47, the longtime NFL staffer should have some time to craft a rebound effort.

The Browns made Kitchens a one-and-done after a disappointing 2019 season, one in which Baker Mayfield regressed after a promising rookie year under Kitchens, and the Giants ended the Judge regime after two seasons. Kitchens succeeded Jason Garrett as Giants OC in November but mostly oversaw an offense featuring backup quarterbacks. Following Daniel Jones‘ injury, Big Blue’s 2021 offense bottomed out and finished 31st in both points and yards. Judge has resurfaced with the Patriots, being set to play a prominent role in Mac Jones‘ second season.

Ravens P Sam Koch Announces Retirement

May 19th, 2022 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sam Koch punted for the Ravens for the past 16 seasons, but the team’s longest-tenured player will not stay on in that role. The soon-to-be 40-year-old specialist announced his retirement Thursday (video link).

A former sixth-round pick out of Nebraska, Koch has been with the Ravens since Brian Billick‘s tenure. He punted in 256 games with the team, suiting up more times as a Raven than anyone in franchise history. Aaron Rodgers is the only active player to have been with his team longer than Koch.

The Ravens used one of their six fourth-round picks on a punter, Penn State’s Jordan Stout. He is poised to take over alongside Justin Tucker. Koch and Tucker formed one of the league’s top special teams duos for the past 10 seasons. While Tucker is on a smooth track to the Hall of Fame, Koch made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and holds the franchise record for games played by a significant margin.

Although Ray Lewis played 17 seasons, multiple injury-marred campaigns limited the Hall of Fame linebacker to 228 games — third in team history. Koch passed Terrell Suggs for the most games played as a Raven in 2020. Koch signed six contracts as a Raven, his most recent — a two-year, $4.95MM pact — that year. One season remained on the veteran’s deal.

Koch will spend what was to be his age-40 season as a kicking consultant with the team, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets. Much of his time will go to mentoring his successor.

NFC North Notes: Vikings Front Office Hire, Hundley, Jones, Alexander

May 19th, 2022 at 1:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

New Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a noteworthy addition to his staff earlier this week. The team announced the hiring of Demitrius Washington as their new vice president of football operations.

Washington had spent seven years with the 49ers, a stretch which overlapped with Adofo-Mensah’s time in that organization. For the past two seasons, Washington served as San Francisco’s director of research and development, the same title Adofo-Mensah held with the Browns prior to his hire. The pair will now reunite and, along with new head coach Kevin O’Connell, oversee the franchise’s transition from the previous Rick Spielman-Mike Zimmer regime.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC North, starting with one more from Minnesota:

The Vikings brought in veteran backup quarterback Brett Hundley as a tryout during rookie minicamp, but they made it clear they would not be signing him, as noted by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. The 28-year-old hasn’t made a regular season appearance since 2019, most recently spending time with the Colts. Minnesota’s QB room currently consists of Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, Sean Mannion and Nate Stanley.
The Bears used one of their 11 picks in last month’s draft to add to its receiving corps, selecting Velus Jones in the third round. The team is high on his speed and versatility, leading to the new coaching staff having “big plans” for the 25-year-old. “Let’s start out at receiver and then let’s see what he can do, moving him around to different spots and getting him the ball, because he is an explosive athlete” head coach Matt Eberflus said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. After transferring from USC to Tennessee, Jones produced both on offense and special teams, recording 807 receiving yards and leading the SEC in both punt and kick return yardage in 2021.
An interesting note came out in the aftermath of Jaire Alexander‘s record-breaking extension with the Packers. USA Today’s Josina Anderson reports (on Twitter) that the Pro Bowler specifically wanted a four-year (rather than five-year) deal. He got just that, helping him to break the record briefly held by Denzel Ward for the highest annual average amongst cornerbacks at $21MM per season, and keeping him under contract through 2026.

Latest On Antonio Brown

May 19th, 2022 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Free agent wideout Antonio Brown made headlines once again this offseason with an unexpected message related to his playing career. Earlier this week, he tweeted his desire to retire as a member of the Steelers.

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, however, that message wasn’t meant as a request to sign with Pittsburgh now or in the future. The 33-year-old has remained on the open market since his infamous departure from the Buccaneers. Among the reasons for the team cutting him was the status of his injured ankle, which remains an impediment to him being available for the 2022 campaign.

“I need to get my ankle fixed, but I just want to make sure I got an obligation or a commitment from a team”, Brown said in March. “It’s a lot for a guy to go do surgery without an idea of where you gonna work, or who you going to work for.”

As Florio notes, there has been “no talk about any team signing Brown” throughout the offseason, even with the initial waves of free agency and the draft having taken place. The four-time All-Pro produced during his time in Tampa Bay, leaving open the possibility that a receiver-needy team could take a flier on him, but the new-look Steelers offense already features a number of notable pass catchers.

Pittsburgh saw wideouts JuJu Smith -Schuster and James Washington depart in free agency, but added George Pickens during the draft. He will join starters Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool as the Steelers transition into the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. While there would seem to be no interest on the Steelers’ part in a reunion with Brown anyway, then, this situation will remain worth watching if he continues to go unsigned and ultimately decides to end his career.