The initial waves of free agency, as well as the draft, have come and gone but there are still teams looking to add at the receiver position. One of those teams, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is the Packers.
When speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Rapoport predicted that “the Packers are going to be involved in this [receiver] market” (video link). Brand-name players such as Odell Beckham Jr., Julio Jonesand Jarvis Landryare all still available as post-draft free agents, but attention should increasingly be turned towards them in the coming days and weeks. On that point, the latter has recently been named as a target of the Ravens.
Green Bay was able to keep a number of core pieces in place on both sides of the ball this offseason. Two of their most notable departures, though, were of course Davante Adamsand Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While they did signSammy Watkinsin the build-up to the draft, many expected Green Bay to be aggressive in adding further to the position. With the top options off the board by the time of their pair of first-round picks, however, they bolstered their front seven, waiting until Day 2 to trade up forChristian Watson. The following day, Romeo Doubswas selected as well.
Those three join returnees Allen Lazard, Randall Cobband Amari Rodgers. Sitting towards the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, Green Bay likely wouldn’t be able to win a bidding war for any of the top remaining options; as Rapoport notes, however, the team would represent an attractive destination on a short-term, incentive-laden deal. As they try to keep their Super Bowl window open as long as possible, then, the Packers will likely still remain a team worth watching at the position.
The Bears will host Keith Kirkwood on a visit today, according to a source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). If all goes well, the wide receiver could join Chicago’s 90-man offseason roster with a chance of making the final cut towards the end of the summer.
Kirkwood has previously spent time with the Saints and Panthers. He appeared in nine games for the Saints between 2018 and 2019 and suited up for another four contests with the Panthers in 2020 and 2021. All together, he’s got 17 catches for 239 yards and two scores to his credit.
Still, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy recently told reporters that he’s fairly comfortable with the current group.
“Of course everybody wants Davante Adams,” Getsy said (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). “But Davante wasn’t Davante until he became Davante. I think the system will enable some of these guys to play at their potential. We’ll give them an opportunity to show what they’ve got.“
Getsy went on to explain that quarterback Justin Fields is getting “much more comfortable” with his receivers, but Bears fans would still like to see a proven veteran added to the mix. Kirkwood doesn’t quite fit the bill, but the Bears could have some new options to explore once teams begin their summer roster shuffle.
DeMarcus Walker is starting to generate some interest around the NFL. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter), the veteran defensive lineman visited the Colts today and will meet with the Titans tomorrow.
Walker was a second-round pick by the Broncos back in 2017, but he mostly disappointed during his four years in Denver. To his credit, he improved a bit following rookie and sophomore seasons where he collected only 11 tackles and two sacks in 13 games. Between 2019 and 2020, Walker got into 23 games (five starts), collecting 40 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
That two-year stretch earned him a contract from the Texans last offseason. During his lone season in Houston, the 27-year-old collected a career-high 31 tackles to go along with two sacks, seven QB hits, and one forced fumble in 13 games (two starts). He had a stint on injured reserve in December while recovering from a hamstring injury.
Walker has spent some time at outside linebacker, but he’s done his best work as a 3-4 defensive end. That versatility probably played a role in him getting a pair of auditions this week.
Ty’Son Williamsis now a free agent. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Ravens have withdrawn the tender on the running back, meaning he’s now free to sign with any team.
Williams was hit with an exclusive rights free agent tender at the beginning of the offseason, but the RB never inked his one-year deal. The Ravens weren’t locked in to their tender, so they withdrew the offer after adding a number of running backs.
Williams went undrafted out of BYU in 2020, but he ended up spending much of his rookie campaign on Baltimore’s practice squad. Following a long list of RB injuries heading into the 2021 season, the 25-year-old found himself atop the depth chart. Williams collected 187 yards from scrimmage through his first two games, but he managed only 82 more yards for the rest of the season.
After adding Tyler Badiein the sixth round of the draft and Ricky Person Jr. as an undrafted free agent, the Ravens signed veteran running back Mike Davis earlier today. The trio will join J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill, with each of those holdovers still recovering from season-ending injuries in 2021. The Ravens are also rostering veteran running back Nate McCrary.
Three of the draft’s top six picks have agreed to their rookie deals. The Panthers announced Tuesday night they came to terms with Ikem Ekwonu, the No. 6 overall choice. This signing follows the Lions and Jets getting their top picks (Aidan Hutchinson and Sauce Gardner) under contract.
The slot deal is worth $27.6MM, fully guaranteed, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Panthers will enjoy at least three years of their new left tackle being attached to a rookie contract — one that can run through 2026, via the fifth-year option.
Ekwonu panning out would fill one of the NFL’s longest-standing needs. The Panthers have started a different primary left tackle in each of the past nine seasons, seeing the position fall into disarray after Jordan Gross‘ 2014 retirement. Although Carolina made this setup work at points during this run, venturing to playoff brackets and Super Bowl 50, it has been one of the NFL’s least steady positions.
The Giants taking Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5 meant the Panthers would have their pick of the draft’s top tackles, and they went with the North Carolina State blocker. Ekwonu has experience at tackle and guard. He earned second-team All-ACC acclaim as a sophomore and first-team all-conference accolades last season. The in-state prospect, who is also a Charlotte native, is the top new addition to a Carolina line that is set to feature new starters in Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett. Ekwonu will attempt to carve out a long-term role opposite longtime right tackle starter Taylor Moton.
Although longtime Broncos executive Matt Russell was previously headed toward stepping away from football, the Eagles are luring him back. Russell will join Howie Roseman‘s front office staff, Bo Wulf of The Athletic reports (subscription required).
Philadelphia’s Russell addition comes shortly after Tom Donahoe‘s exit, and Wulf notes Russell will serve in the same senior personnel exec-type role Donahoe had. The Eagles have lost a host of high-ranking front office staffers this offseason — from Donahoe to Brandon Brown to Ian Cunningham to Catherine Raiche, with the latter trio each moving into second-in-command roles elsewhere — but will add Russell, who spent several years as a right-hand man in Denver.
Elway promoted Russell to director of player personnel in 2012. Elway and Russell rebuilt a Broncos team that had drifted off the contention radar for a while, adding a host of free agents, productive late-round picks and UDFAs to supplement their Peyton Manning-led squad. This resulted in the team earning four straight playoff byes during Manning’s tenure, voyaging to two Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl 50.
When Elway vacated his role atop Denver’s front office after the 2020 season, Russell left as well. He spent 2021 out of football. Roseman is still filling out his staff but will turn to Russell, 48, as a key personnel man going forward. This will be Russell’s second stint with the Eagles. He worked in Philly as a scout from 2006-08, when Roseman was rising through the team’s front office to his eventual GM role. Russell became the Broncos’ college scouting director in 2009.
The Eagles also have Colts scouting director Morocco Brown on their radar. They are set to interview Brown this week, according to InsidetheBirds.com’s Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Brown interviewed for the Steelers’ GM job earlier this offseason but has not received a second interview yet. The Eagles will interview Brown for a “high-ranking position” and are considering Steelers scouting director Brandon Hunt and Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. The team interviewed Hunt over the weekend, per Caplan and Mosher.
Nearly two months have passed since Baker Mayfield made his trade request. The Browns engaged in trade talks with the Panthers during the draft, but the sides did not come particularly close to a deal. As the team begins its Deshaun Watson era, its previous starter waits to learn his next NFL destination.
The Browns wanted to wanted to trade their four-year starter quickly, but the quarterback market soon featured few potential takers. It became clear a low-level return was to be expected, and to even recoup that, the Browns will have to eat a chunk of Mayfield’s $18.9MM fifth-year option salary. This has caused Cleveland to hold tight, and The Athletic’s Zac Jackson notes the Browns are prepared to ride this out to potentially wait to see if an injury forces a team to reconsider Mayfield in an emergency circumstance (subscription required). The Browns will excuse Mayfield from their June minicamp, if necessary, allowing the QB to satisfy his attendance requirements toward his 2022 salary.
Cutting Mayfield now would benefit him. He is locked into that $18.9MM salary, which would become Browns dead money, and have his pick of teams — perhaps as a chance to prove himself ahead of an intriguing 2023 free agency bid — from which to choose. The longer this impasse goes, the more Mayfield will be limited regarding assimilation with his next team. If the Browns are truly intent on waiting for a training camp injury to change the equation — a la Teddy Bridgewater in 2016 or Ryan Tannehill in 2017 — that will not go over well with Mayfield’s camp.
The Panthers have a fifth-year option salary on their quarterback depth chart, in Sam Darnold, but Mayfield has outperformed his draft classmate. Carolina would probably pounce if Mayfield hit free agency, but the team wanted Cleveland to pick up most of Mayfield’s salary to facilitate a trade. The Panthers then traded up for Matt Corral in Round 3. Mayfield, who led the Browns to their first playoff win since 1994, would undoubtedly give the 2022 Panthers a better chance to win compared to Darnold or Corral — Robby Anderson‘s thoughts on the matter notwithstanding — and USA Today’s Josina Anderson tweets the Panthers have not closed the book here. Carolina also holds the league’s most cap space, at $29MM-plus.
Mentioned as a Mayfield suitor earlier this offseason, the Seahawks are holding a Drew Lock–Geno Smith competition. Seattle, which also resisted selecting a QB in the draft, is not planning to trade for a passer. This is also a team that would certainly take a hard look at Mayfield in free agency, but if Pete Carroll‘s persistent Lock praise is to be believed, the Seahawks’ post-Russell Wilson plan is to let two 2021 backups vie for the job.
The Texans loom as Mayfield monitors. They did not draft a quarterback and have 2021 third-rounder Davis Mills positioned to start. While Watson’s ex-employer was not interested in taking Mayfield as part of that trade, the prospect of the Browns eating much of his 2022 salary changed the equation. Mayfield’s arrival would throw a wrench into Mills’ development, and Houston does not appear prepared to compete for a playoff spot in a stacked AFC. But the disgruntled vet, once healthy, would represent an upgrade opportunity. Of course, so would fellow trade-block resident Jimmy Garoppolo, who has close ties to GM Nick Caserio from their New England days.
The rebuilding Falcons used a third-round pick on Desmond Ridder but have only Marcus Mariota as a placeholder. If Daniel Jones fails to impress the new Giants regime this offseason, would they look into Mayfield? Barring injuries, are there other teams that would make sense? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
After seeing assistant general manager Joe Schoen become the Giants’ GM, the Bills recently lost exec Dennis Hickeyto the Giants as well. Amid the subtractions, Buffalo added to its front office this week.
The Bills are hiring Texans co-assistant director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). Bazirgan spent four years with the Texans; he will join the Bills as a senior personnel exec. He will reunite with ex-Texans GM Brian Gaine, who has worked on Brandon Beane‘s Bills staff since 2019.
A Jets exec for nearly 15 years, Bazirgan joined the Texans’ front office shortly after the 2018 draft. This move came ahead of a turbulent period for the Texans, who soon pivoted to a Bill O’Brien– and Jack Easterby-led operation. The Texans fired Gaine barely a year into his GM tenure, and while Bazirgan stayed on under current GM Nick Caserio for over a year, he will rejoin his former boss in Buffalo.
Bazirgan, who interviewed for the Texans’ GM job late in 2020, worked as Gaine’s right-hand man during the latter’s short GM tenure and also provided a leadership presence with the team’s college and pro scouting departments. He worked with the Jets for 14 years and rose to a college scouting director post with the AFC East franchise.
The Ravens used their top draft choice on Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, doing so a few weeks after signing Marcus Williams to a big-ticket free agent deal. That has invited speculation on Chuck Clark‘s status.
Although John Harbaugh has said he plans on Clark remaining a Raven, teams reached out about trade interest. Following Baltimore’s Hamilton selection, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the team received calls about Clark’s availability. Multiple teams inquired. Given an extension in February 2020, Clark is under contract for two more years — on just $2.75MM and $3.29MM base salaries.
Clark’s experience and low-cost contract would make him an attractive trade piece, and Fowler adds the veteran starter would be open to a move. The sixth-year veteran has not requested a trade but obviously would prefer to remain a regular contributor. The arrivals of Williams and Hamilton stand to cut into Clark’s playing time, even if the Ravens intend to deploy more three-safety looks.
A former sixth-round pick, Clark moved into the Ravens’ starting lineup full-time in 2019. The Virginia Tech alum is going into his age-27 season. During Clark’s time in Baltimore, the team has devoted significant resources to the safety spot. Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson and Earl Thomas played on higher-end free agency accords in recent years, but the Ravens’ recent commitment to the position sets this offseason apart.
