2022 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: October 2024

Bears Still Open To Trading OL Teven Jenkins?

August 29th, 2022 at 2:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Teven Jenkins hasn’t had the start to his NFL career that he or the Bears had hoped for. His name been included in trade talk recently as a result, leaving open the possibility that his second pro season would take place elsewhere.

The 2021 second-rounder was seen as a long-term solution at one of the team’s tackle spots by former GM Ryan Pace. Instead, his struggles on the edge left him practicing with the second-team offense during the spring. Failing to impress the new front office, led by Ryan Poles, the 24-year-old quickly found himself on the roster bubble.

The Bears entertained trade calls on the Oklahoma State alum earlier this month, a telling sign given his age and draft status. Nothing sufficiently tempting materialized, given his continued presence on the roster, but that could change. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that a deal sending Jenkins elsewhere is still “certainly possible” (video link).

Aside from factors like his affordability on a rookie deal for three more years, Chicago could hold on to Jenkins if he performs well at right guard, where he was recently deployed. He has an opportunity to win a starting role on the inside, with recent signee Riley Reiff the likely candidate at RT. According to his new offensive coordinator, Jenkins has embraced the opportunity to establish a first-team spot at the less glamorous position.

“Teven’s done a great job of accepting that challenge at right guard,” Luke Getsy said (Twitter link via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times). If he impresses at that position, a release would become even less likely than it already is. A trade, likewise, would also be less of a consideration from the Bears’ perspective as roster cuts are finalized and the team looks to take a much-needed step forward on offense.

AFC East Notes: Williams, Bills, Sauce, Jets

August 29th, 2022 at 2:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mentioned as dangling Preston Williams in trades earlier this month, the Dolphins have not ruled out adding an asset for the young wide receiver. Williams is generating some trade interest, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets, but this looks like a situation that will either produce a deal for a late-round pick or Williams being waived before rosters are finalized Tuesday. Teams have until 3pm CT tomorrow to cut to 53. The Dolphins made some adjustments at receiver this offseason, trading for Tyreek Hill and adding Cedrick Wilson Jr. The team already cut Mohamed Sanu on Monday, however, potentially keeping the door open for Williams to stick as a backup. Williams emerged as a key target for the skeleton-crew 2019 Dolphins edition, but his rookie-year ACL tear threw his career off course. He has just 359 receiving yards over the past two seasons.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

In the wake of the Bills jettisoning embattled punter Matt Araiza, they have gotten to work on finding his replacement. Michael Palardy, Ty Long, Tyler Newsome and Joseph Charlton worked out for the team, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. None have been signed. Two of these punters, as it often goes with the Bills, have Panthers histories. Though, Palardy — a Carolina punter from 2016-19 — is the only one with ties to Buffalo’s Brandon Beane–Sean McDermott duo. Charlton was Carolina’s punter in 2020, long after the Bills had hired Beane and McDermott. These workouts also came before two veteran punters — Brett Kern and Sam Martin — were informed of their respective releases by the Titans and Broncos. The Colts signed the punter the Bills recently waived (Matt Haack) last week.
Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins created some cap space for his team recently, restructuring his contract. Dawkins’ reworking created more than $5.6MM in space for the Bills, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Bills moved Dawkins’ 2022 base salary down to $1MM and added two void years to spread out his cap hits, per OverTheCap. Dawkins remains signed through 2024; the Bills hold just more than $11MM in cap space.
The Jets will not spend any regular-season time developing Sauce Gardner as a backup. The No. 4 overall pick will be a Week 1 starter, Robert Saleh said. Gardner’s expected ascent will move Bryce Hall to a backup role, with the Jets also having signed D.J. Reed in free agency.
Isaiah Wynn looks to remain available in trades for a Patriots team that has moved him to right tackle. Additionally, when Trent Brown re-signed with New England, he was not made aware the organization was planning to move him back to the left side.

Latest On Najee Harris

August 29th, 2022 at 1:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

There are plenty of unknowns with respect to the passing game in the Steelers’ passing offense, but their running game is set to once again be predicated on 2021 first-rounder Najee Harris.

The Alabama product has been limited throughout the summer, however, due to a foot injury. Providing more context on the matter, Harris revealed that the ailment (suffered during the team’s first full practice at the start of training camp) was a Lisfranc sprain.

“I never did just get my foot stepped on,” he said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “That is why I was out the majority of camp.” Harris added that the prognosis called for a four-to-six week recovery timetable, leaving him with a very light preseason workload. His only August action came yesterday, where he played with the offensive starters and totalled seven touches and 21 scrimmage yards.

Not surprisingly, the 24-year-old admitted that he is “just now getting over it.” More importantly, his ability to play yesterday points to him being fully recovered in time for the regular season. That will be a welcomed sight for the Steelers, of course; Harris ran for exactly 1,300 yards as a rookie, adding 467 yards in the passing game and scoring 10 total touchdowns. He was named a Pro Bowler as a result, and figures to be the focal point of the team’s offense again in 2022.

After he led the NFL in touches, though, Pittsburgh was reported to be in the market for a more proven depth option. Not long after, they signed former Titan Jeremy McNichols to compete with Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland Jr. Harris still faces one of the heaviest workloads in the league, however, so his continued recovery in the build-up to Week 1 will be crucial to Pittsburgh’s success transitioning to an offense featuring many new faces.

Raiders, TE Darren Waller Discussing Record-Setting Extension?

August 29th, 2022 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not much has come out regarding Darren Waller‘s extension talks with the Raiders. From the team hoping to table contract talks to 2023 to the new regime still viewing Waller as an essential piece, the situation stood in a holding pattern throughout the offseason. But Waller’s agency change may make this a front-burner matter soon.

With Waller expected to add Drew Rosenhaus as his agent this week, the matter of his below-market contract will come up. The Pro Bowl pass catcher has already discussed a lucrative deal with the Raiders, however, with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson noting (via Twitter) a contract that would make Waller the league’s highest-paid tight end has come up.

The deal would be in the $16MM-per-year range, per Anderson, though specifics remain light. And Waller’s agency change does not seem to indicate anything was close. George Kittle‘s $15MM-per-year contract continues to top the market, though the wide receiver market’s boom now makes tight ends collectively –particularly those on the Kittle-Waller-Travis Kelce–Mark Andrews tier — look underpaid.

Las Vegas has changed regimes, but the Dave Ziegler–Josh McDaniels pairing has taken care of Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow this offseason. The team also traded for Davante Adams and extended him at $28MM per year. Renfrow is also tied to a deal worth more than double Waller’s $7.6MM-per-year figure. It is unsurprising the accomplished tight end may be trying to force the issue, given his age (30 in September), importance to recent Raider teams and the contracts the new team brass has handed out.

Waller’s contract ranks 17th among tight ends for AAV, with the likes of Will Dissly and C.J. Uzomah moving past him this offseason. Waller is one of a handful of tight ends in NFL history to post two 1,100-yard seasons. However, he is coming off a year in which an ankle injury sidelined him for much of the Raiders’ stretch run.

For now, Waller is attempting to move past a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss time during training camp. All parties have pointed to that as a minor ailment, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. This three-week absence emerging as the contract matter unfolds may or may not be a coincidence. For now, Waller is tied to a $6.25MM base salary that becomes guaranteed in Week 1.

Jaguars To Release WR Laquon Treadwell

August 29th, 2022 at 12:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

A notable name has surfaced with respect to the Jaguars’ final roster cuts. The team is moving on from receiver Laquon Treadwell, as detailed by a ProFootballNetwork.com report.

The 2016 first-rounder never lived up to his draft stock with the Vikings; his most productive campaign came in 2018, when he made 35 catches for 302 yards. Given his underwhelming numbers, it came as little surprise when he moved on to Atlanta in free agency the following offseason. That led to an equally underwhelming year, however, leaving expectations low for his inaugural Jacksonville season.

Matching his career high in starts (seven), the Ole Miss alum also set a new personal mark with 434 yards on 33 receptions, leading to an impressive 13.2 yard average. That represented one of the few bright spots for the Jaguars last season, and earned Treadwell a one-year deal in March. He lost out a camp/preseason battle for the team’s last receiver spots, however, leading to his release.

Jacksonville actively made additions to their pass-catching corps this offseason, including free agent deals to Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. They, along with returnees Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault, are in line to form the receiver nucleus for QB Trevor Lawrence. While that group has led (in part) to the optimism now surrounding the team, Treadwell will now need to find a new home as roster cuts continue. He could carry slightly more upside than other free agents given his age (27), but he will be hard-pressed to land anything more than a ‘prove-it’ contract at this point.

Vikings Open To Trading Alexander Mattison

August 29th, 2022 at 12:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Dalvin Cook signed to a lucrative extension, his veteran backup may not be in the Vikings’ post-2022 plans. Alexander Mattison might not be in Minnesota’s plans for this season, with the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson noting the team is open to trading him (Twitter link).

At least 12 teams have called on the fourth-year running back, Tomasson adds (via Twitter). That would create value here, but the Vikings also like the 215-pound back as their primary backup behind Cook. While it may not be easy to pry Mattison away, this is now a situation to monitor.

No extension talks between Mattison and the Vikings have taken place. Considering the money tied to Cook ($12.6MM AAV), it is unsurprising a regime that did not draft Mattison would view him as replaceable long-term. Making just $965K in 2022, Mattison is going into a contract year.

Cook’s backup is interested in becoming a starter, per Tomasson. While a trade is not certain, Mattison leaving as a 2023 free agent in an effort to forge a clearer pathway to a starting gig would make sense for the former third-round pick. Mattison, 24, has spelled the oft-injured Cook at points during each of the Vikings’ past three seasons and accounted himself fairly well during that span.

Mattison has surpassed 400 rushing yards in each of his three NFL slates; he averaged more than 4.5 yards per carry in 2019 and ’20 and scored a career-high four touchdowns in 2021. The Boise State product has three 100-yard games on his resume over the past two years.

Running back value has obviously nosedived over the past several years, but it would be interesting to see how Mattison would fare away from Cook’s shadow. The Vikings may also prioritize the insurance Mattison provides, however, making a deal tougher to complete.

Despite Minnesota hiring a new GM-HC combo (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell), the team’s offense did not change much, personnel-wise, this offseason. The Vikings should be in the mix to vie for a playoff spot, and Mattison — considering Cook’s history with minor injuries — has proven to help past Minnesota editions. The team does roster second-year back Kene Nwangwu (13 carries, 61 yards as a rookie) and used a fifth-rounder this year on Ty Chandler.

Dolphins To Release Mohamed Sanu

August 29th, 2022 at 12:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mohamed Sanu‘s tenure in Miami has come to an end already. The Dolphins are releasing the veteran receiver, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The 33-year-old signed with the team last month, looking to catch on as an experienced rotational player in the their new-look WR corps. The deal kept in line with his recent status as a journeyman; since being traded by the Falcons in 2019, Sanu has suited up for three different teams. He will need to add another name to that list, as he is back on the open market.

Sanu’s production has dropped off in recent years, though he has started 10 of the 26 games he appeared in since the end of his Falcons tenure. Nevertheless, he was destined for a backup job given Miami’s depth chart being topped by Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson.

By releasing Sanu, the Dolphins are also paving a way to notable playing time for fourth-round rookie Erik Ezukanma. The team still faces some other interesting decisions at the position, however; the talent at the top of the roster – along with the presence of tight end Mike Gesicki – might leave room for only one more wideout to survive final roster cuts. As a result, names like Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. were reported as being shopped for whatever trade return the team could get.

Neither Williams nor Bowden could be considered locks given this news, so they could soon join Sanu in free agency as well. The latter will now look to catch on elsewhere, as teams navigate their own bubble players, as well as those let go of elsewhere during this period.

Darius Slayton Generating Trade Interest

August 29th, 2022 at 11:53am CST by Sam Robinson

Darius Slayton‘s Giants stock has dropped considerably this offseason. The team’s new regime has not appeared to view the fourth-year wide receiver in the same light compared to the one that drafted him. An exit looks to be in the cards for the former Giants leading receiver.

Trade inquiries have come in, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Slayton is due a $2.54MM base salary in 2022, and while the Auburn alum has not had a particularly good offseason, he has been a Giants regular in each of his three seasons. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to finalize their 53-man rosters.

New York has been connected to parting ways with Slayton for months. The team shopped the former fifth-round pick before the draft. Slayton then did not impress during Brian Daboll‘s first offseason in charge, failing to be a first-team regular despite injuries to most of the Giants’ other top wideouts this summer.

With the likes of Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney back, and Sterling Shepard progressing toward a return, Slayton’s spot remains tenuous. A hamstring injury also slowed Slayton during training camp, but Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes he is back at full strength (Twitter link).

The Giants drafting Wan’Dale Robinson in Round 2, doing so after reaching a pay-cut agreement to retain Shepard, made Slayton vulnerable. Golladay’s guarantees essentially ensure him being part of Daboll’s first Giants squad, despite the ex-Lion’s woes since signing his big-ticket free agency deal last year, while the Toney trade talk that cropped up briefly this year has cooled. The team is ready to see what it has in the 2021 first-rounder.

New York does have roster injury-prone wideouts, in Shepard and Toney, and has seen Slayton post two 700-plus-yard seasons (in 2019 and ’20, both outings leading those Giants teams in receiving yards). He finished with just 339 yards last season, though no Giants pass catcher excelled on a miserable 2021 offense. Barring a trade, we may be a day away from Slayton hitting the waiver wire.

Eagles To Release S Jaquiski Tartt

August 29th, 2022 at 11:31am CST by Sam Robinson

Jaquiski Tartt will not make the Eagles’ 53-man roster. The Eagles are moving on from their mid-offseason addition, Adam Caplan of InsidetheBirds.com tweets.

A longtime 49ers starting safety, Tartt had struggled to make an impression with the Eagles. Philadelphia is moving forward with Marcus Epps as its top safety, though a move to add another starter at the position may not be out of the question.

Although Tartt’s dropped interception in the NFC championship game proved pivotal in the 49ers’ loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams, he had started 64 games with the team from 2015-21. The 49ers chose him in the 2015 second round and, despite several injuries during his run alongside Jimmie Ward, kept him around.

Tartt, 30, signed a two-year, $13MM 49ers extension, but after a seven-game 2020 season, the Samford alum was brought back last year on a league-minimum deal last year. Tartt did spend three games on IR in 2021, but he returned to start the rest of the way in a 14-game season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Tartt outside its top 70 at safety for the season, leading to a tepid market.

Philly re-signed Anthony Harris this offseason as well and has a few young safeties in the mix with Epps as well. The team will save $620K by making this move.

Broncos To Release P Sam Martin

August 29th, 2022 at 11:18am CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos will bail on Sam Martin‘s contract after two seasons. They are releasing the veteran punter Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Martin had been competing with Corliss Waitman for Denver’s punting gig. Money looks to have motivated this transaction, however.

Martin’s three-year contract carried a $2.25MM base salary for 2022. The Broncos will pocket that amount by cutting their incumbent punter, who had no guarantees remaining in his three-year, $7.05MM deal. That money was behind this release, per 9News’ Mike Klis, who notes the team was informed Sunday that Martin would not accept a pay cut (Twitter link).

Martin’s 46.0-per-punt average ranked just 18th in the NFL last season, despite playing in Denver’s friendlier punting confines. The former Lions punter, who is going into his age-32 season, should still generate interest on the market.

This move also comes after the Titans released former Broncos punter Brett Kern, putting two veteran punters in free agency. Both were vested veterans, passing them through waivers.

Waitman, 27, has just two games’ worth of NFL experience. Both came in 2021 for the Steelers. Pittsburgh waived Waitman in January, leading to a Denver claim. It could well lead to the South Alabama alum being the Broncos’ Week 1 punter. Waitman is only set to make $825K this season.

Load More Posts