HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Eagles To Trade S Ugo Amadi To Titans

August 24th, 2022 at 3:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the second time in less than two weeks, safety Ugo Amadi is on the move. The Eagles are sending their recent acquisition to the Titans (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that Philadelphia is including a seventh-round pick in 2024 along with Amadi, in exchange for a sixth-rounder of the same year. In terms of draft stock, that represents a stark difference to the cost the Eagles paid to acquire Amadi last week: former second-rounder J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. More than anything, of course, that deal was a reflection of the wideout’s underwhelming career to date.

Amadi, 25, was thought to be a release candidate hours before being dealt to Philadelphia. He made seven starts last season, logging a defensive snap share above 50% for the second straight season. The 2019 fourth-rounder totaled 125 tackles, 13 pass deflections and one interception across three campaigns in Seattle. He was seen as a depth addition for Philadelphia, whose situation at the safety position is rather murky. Instead, he will now look to make the Titans’ 53-man roster as an insurance policy on the backend while entering a contract year.

In related roster news, the Titans also announced that linebacker Monty Rice has been placed on the reserve/PUP list. That opens up the spot for Amadi to fill, but means that the Titans’ LB corps will be thinner for at least the first four weeks of the season. The 2021-third rounder started four of his 10 appearances last year, recording 36 tackles. His rookie campaign was cut short by an Achilles injury, which obviously won’t be fully recovered in time for September.

Browns Not Interested In Kareem Hunt Trade

August 24th, 2022 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

With their preferred starting quarterback out until December, the Browns will need another strong season from their ground attack. Kareem Hunt should be expected to be part of that effort.

The team has no intention of granting trade request Hunt made earlier this month, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot (via the Pat McAfee Show). Hunt should be expected to be with the Browns throughout the season, Cabot offers. Considering the former rushing champion’s importance to an offense suddenly featuring questions at quarterback and wide receiver, it is unsurprising the Browns plan to hold onto their high-end backup.

Browns brass has communicated to Hunt they want him in Cleveland this season, Cabot adds. Hunt is going into the final season of the two-year, $12MM extension he signed back in 2020. Since Hunt attempted to stage a hold-in measure upon requesting to be moved — an effort that lasted two days — he has since returned to full practice. Hunt aimed for a Browns extension this offseason but remains tied to a deal that has since been outpaced by several backs.

Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension certainly stands to amplify the Browns’ run game, and Hunt — as one of the best backup running backs in recent NFL history — will be one of its crucial components behind Nick Chubb. The team also has D’Ernest Johnson, whom it re-signed this offseason, crowding the backfield.

Chubb’s three-year, $36.6MM deal is in line with the new going rate for starting backs, but this price range mostly formed after Hunt signed his deal. Since September 2020, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones signed for between $12MM and $15MM per year. Christian McCaffrey tops the class and the running back market altogether ($16MM AAV). Hunt’s AAV dropped further, to 14th among running backs this offseason, when James Conner, Leonard Fournette and Chase Edmonds signed deals north of $6MM per annum.

Of course, Hunt signed his contract coming off a year in which he served an eight-game suspension in connection with multiple off-field incidents in 2018 — including a video that showed him assaulting a woman — and opted to remain Chubb’s often-used backup rather than trying to see what he could get on the 2021 market. Considering what the 2021 market became — thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a reduced salary cap — that may have been a good decision. But the contract he is currently tied to is out of step considering his talents and place as a former rushing champion.

Hunt turned 27 this month. His place alongside Chubb has allowed him to limit wear and tear compared to his Chiefs stretch. Hunt logged 325 touches as a rookie in Kansas City. His top Browns total is 236, from 2020. Last season, injuries limited the Cleveland-area native to eight games (100 touches). Hunt’s reduced mileage could still allow him do well on the 2023 market, but he will need to stay healthy to best position himself here.

Buccaneers To Sign OLB Genard Avery

August 24th, 2022 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after reuniting with Carl Nassib, the Buccaneers are adding another edge-rushing piece to their equation. They are signing Genard Avery, according to InsidetheBirds.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).

The Steelers made Avery one of their Tuesday cuts, moving their roster down to the new 80-man limit. This came as a bit of a surprise, but Avery will nevertheless have another chance to catch on as a rotational rusher somewhere.

Avery also has experience as an off-ball linebacker, with the Eagles trying the young defender in this role last season. The Eagles used Avery as a 12-game starter in 2021, though he played just 34% of the team’s defensive snaps. Avery made 43 tackles (four for loss) and registered a sack in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked Avery 56th among regular linebackers last season.

The Browns traded the former fifth-round pick to the Eagles during the 2019 season. As a rookie, Avery showed some pass-rushing chops by notching 4.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits despite starting only five games. He has not been able to replicate that production as a rusher in the years since.

Tampa Bay returns Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on the edge, having said goodbye to Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason. Nassib signed on a one-year deal worth the league minimum. Avery likely agreed to the same terms.

Colts To Sign P Matt Haack

August 24th, 2022 at 1:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Days after losing the Bills’ punting competition, Matt Haack has secured another opportunity. The Colts are signing the sixth-year veteran, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.

Haack served as the Bills’ punter last season but played out a four-year Dolphins rookie contract before his Buffalo commitment. The Colts are in need at the position; they confirmed Rigoberto Sanchez‘s Achilles tear Wednesday. The Colts held a punter workout today, leading to the Haack addition.

Fourth-round pick Matt Araiza beat out Haack for Buffalo’s punting job during camp. The Bills had signed Haack, 28, to a three-year, $5.48MM deal in 2021. The former UDFA will be in line to enjoy a friendlier punting environment, Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, this season.

Sanchez has been the Colts’ punter since his 2017 rookie season. Like Haack, he entered the offseason signed for multiple years. But the Achilles tear Sanchez sustained while running gassers at the end of the Colts’ Tuesday practice has changed Indy’s plans at this position, one that has enjoyed continuity for a lengthy stretch — from Pat McAfee (2009-16) to Sanchez.

Haack’s one season in Buffalo featured a career-low 42.9 yards per punt. The Arizona State alum’s per-boot numbers were better in Miami, where he averaged between 44.5 and 45.0 yards from 2017-20. Sanchez, however, has also served as the Colts’ kickoff specialist throughout his career. Haack has not done so, at least not primarily. He has recorded only four kickoffs during his career. Indianapolis’ kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, seems likely to handle this responsibility, having made 24 kickoffs over his two-year run. Twenty of those came in 2020, a season that featured Sanchez miss time after having a cancerous tumor surgically removed.

NFC South Notes: Panthers, Bucs, Davidson

August 24th, 2022 at 1:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Matt Corral landed on the Panthers’ IR Tuesday, ending his rookie season before it started. The Lisfranc injury the third-round pick suffered will require surgery, Matt Rhule said. The Panthers had planned to carry Corral as their third-string quarterback during what was to be a developmental year, with the team wanting him to add muscle to his 205-pound frame and obviously learn a pro-style offense, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Because of Corral’s injury, the Panthers’ roster math may change. The team may no longer be preparing to carry three quarterbacks, Person notes (subscription required). This news would pertain to P.J. Walker, the former XFL 2.0 standout who has been Carolina’s backup the past two seasons. Walker, who has won both his regular-season starts but holds a career 51.6 passer rating, struggled in the Panthers’ second preseason game. The 27-year-old passer could be stashed on the practice squad — behind starter Baker Mayfield and backup Sam Darnold — if he clears waivers in the event of a cut before next week’s deadline.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • Shifting to the division’s most famous quarterback, Tom Brady is now back with the Buccaneers. The all-time great missed nearly two weeks of training camp. Family time has circulated as the reasoning behind Brady’s absence, which coincidentally occurred while the team held joint practices against the Dolphins, and Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen spent time at an exclusive Bahamas resort. Not a bad arrangement, though not many players could swing such a mid-camp trip. Brady has not taken questions since the Dolphins scandal broke, but he is back practicing with the Bucs.
  • During Brady’s time away, the Bucs lost another potential O-line starter. Aaron Stinnie‘s ACL and MCL tears add to a lengthy list of changes to Tampa Bay’s interior O-line. Ali Marpet retired, Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals, and Ryan Jensen suffered what may be a season-ending injury. Jensen, however, may have a late-season return window. The Bucs are not planning to place their starting center on IR, with Albert Breer of SI.com noting the veteran blocker’s “complicated” injury could have him available for the playoffs. For now, the team will keep that door open. That would mean carrying Jensen onto the 53-man roster and then placing him on IR.
  • For now, the Bucs have 2021 third-round pick Robert Hainsey (31 offensive snaps last season) at center and would have either second-round rookie Luke Goedeke or former UDFA Nick Leverett (two career games; zero starts) at left guard opposite Shaq Mason. Goedeke would be the likely in-house solution, Greg Auman of The Athletic notes. Hainsey, who was working at guard earlier this offseason, is unlikely to be moved off his new center post, Auman adds. This would point to the Bucs, if they feel the need arises, looking at the guard market for a veteran. Ereck Flowers, Quinton Spain and James Carpenter are among the top options.
  • While the Bucs are not believed to be actively searching, the loss of two veteran blockers could be rather important in what could be Brady’s final season. The Ravens could be a trade option, Auman offers, holding a potential guard surplus featuring Tyre Phillips, Ben Cleveland and Ben Powers. The team is unlikely to keep all three.
  • Falcons defensive tackle Marlon Davidson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery recently, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes. The team had hoped Davidson, a 2020 second-round pick, would push Ta’Quon Graham to start opposite Grady Jarrett in the team’s 3-4 scheme. Graham, a 2021 fifth-rounder who started five games last season, is now in the lead. Despite his draft pedigree, Davidson has started just one game.

Colts P Rigoberto Sanchez Tears Achilles

August 24th, 2022 at 12:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 24: Testing confirmed the veteran punter indeed sustained an Achilles tear, according to the Colts. In all likelihood, Sanchez will miss all of the 2022 season.

AUGUST 23: On the verge of starting his sixth season as the Colts’ punter, Rigoberto Sanchez may instead need to log extensive rehab time. The veteran specialist suffered an Achilles injury in practice Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

While the Colts are waiting for official word, this is believed to be a tear for Sanchez. The former UDFA out of Hawaii has also served as Indianapolis’ kickoff man throughout his career.

Sanchez went down while running sprints at the end of practice, according to CBS4’s Mike Chappell (on Twitter). That is certainly an unusual way to lose a specialist. More testing will take place Wednesday, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson (Twitter link), but the likelihood the Colts will need a new punter appears high. Sanchez’s dual-threat contributions also stand to make him more difficult to replace for the Colts.

Taking over for Pat McAfee as a rookie in 2017, Sanchez has missed just two games. Both came in 2020, when he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Sanchez returned weeks after that procedure. Last season marked a reduction in yards per punt for the veteran, whose average came in at 44.5. The 28-year-old punter was not in danger of losing his job, however, as the Colts have him signed to a four-year, $11.6MM extension — a deal that runs through 2024.

Indianapolis, which signed Ryan Allen to replace Sanchez two years ago, will likely hold a workout to determine a fill-in option soon.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard To Return To Practice

August 24th, 2022 at 11:16am CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants did not move Sterling Shepard to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, despite sending multiple other offensive contributors (Nick Gates, Matt Peart) to the list early. That inaction will precede a return to practice for the longest-tenured Giant.

Shepard, who is coming off an Achilles tear sustained in December, will return to practice Wednesday, Brian Daboll said. This will mark a key checkpoint for Shepard, who can no longer be stashed on the team’s PUP list to start the season. It is not a lock Shepard returns for Week 1, but a re-emergence during the team’s September slate looks likely.

This Giants team features a glut of receivers, though it is unknown if each of their four notable veterans — Shepard, Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney — will be on the 53-man roster alongside second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson. Slayton has long looked like the odd man out. As for Shepard, the team reached a restructure agreement — what amounted to a pay cut — to keep him around this year. This will be Shepard’s seventh Giants season.

The only remaining holdover from the Jerry Reese GM regime, the former second-round pick signed a four-year, $41MM extension during Dave Gettleman‘s GM run. The 2019 deal has preceded modest results, with injuries — a steady theme during the talented wideout’s career — interfering regularly.

Still, having Shepard back stands to help Daniel Jones in his contract year. Shepard missed time for multiple ailments in 2021, playing only seven games for a dreadful Giants offense — one that did not have Jones for a chunk of the season. In 12 2020 games, Shepard caught 66 passes for 656 yards and three touchdowns.

Dolphins Open To Trading TE Mike Gesicki?

August 24th, 2022 at 10:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Gesicki‘s 2022 role may not feature same level of prominence compared to his place in the past two Dolphins offenses. The Dolphins added a new No. 1 wide receiver (Tyreek Hill) and signed Cedrick Wilson. Hill, Wilson and Jaylen Waddle are expected to be ahead of Gesicki in the Mike McDaniel offense’s aerial pecking order.

The Dolphins have brought up the franchise-tagged tight end’s name as a potential trade chip, according to Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed. A former second-round pick going into his fifth season, Gesicki has pieced together back-to-back 700-plus-yard receiving seasons as one of Tua Tagovailoa‘s top targets. He finished second behind only Waddle in Dolphins receiving yards (780) in 2021, but Kyed notes the Dolphins have been willing to discuss their starting tight end in deals.

Although the Dolphins tagged Gesicki, the offseason negotiations brought the lowest-key talks of any of this year’s tagged players. Gesicki, 26, signed his tender early, but notable talks are not believed to have occurred. He is attached to the same guaranteed $10.9MM salary as Dalton Schultz, but the Cowboys tight end is expected to play a major role — if not a bigger one, as Dallas is battling multiple major receiver injuries — in his team’s offense.

McDaniel’s offense will involve more blocking than Gesicki is used to, and the Palm Beach Post’s Hal Habib wonders if the Dolphins tagged the former second-round pick as a means to collect assets when the right trade offer emerges. The Dolphins left Gesicki in last week’s preseason game longer than many starters, having him play the entire first half. That could also be due to Gesicki learning what he has called a new position.

The Dolphins tagged Gesicki before signing Wilson and knowing if Hill would be available. The Hill market did not materialize until Davante Adams‘ $28MM-per-year Raiders extension came to pass March 18. Miami acquired the Kansas City star March 23. Miami also has veteran Durham Smythe and 2021 third-round pick Hunter Long on its roster. Neither has shown nearly as much as Gesicki in the passing game, however, and dealing away one of Tagovailoa’s favorite targets in what could be a make-or-break season for the starting quarterback would be a gamble.

If Gesicki truly is available, this would be an interesting use of the tag, which has kept an eight-figure cap hold on the Dolphins’ payroll for five-plus months. A season in which Gesicki sees fewer targets could also depress his value, though his 2020 and ’21 outings would still point to the young pass catcher being coveted next year in free agency. This could be an interesting subplot to follow ahead of Week 1 and perhaps up to the midseason trade deadline.

LB Shaquem Griffin Announces Retirement

August 24th, 2022 at 9:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Shaquem Griffin defied considerable odds by becoming a Central Florida standout and NFL regular, forging a football path despite losing his left hand at the age of 4. The 2018 fifth-round pick played three seasons with the Seahawks and spent time on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

The inspirational linebacker, however, announced Wednesday (via The Players’ Tribune) he will retire rather than pursue a fifth NFL season. The twin brother of Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin, Shaquem said he aimed to catch on with the Jags last year — one featuring a few opportunities elsewhere — but after that did not materialize, he began moving toward leaving the game.

“All this traveling around, working out for teams, trying to catch on somewhere, trying to hang on — it wasn’t what I wanted. Football had already given me so much, and the only thing I still really wanted from the game was to play with my brother again,” Griffin said. “So I told my agent, Buddy Baker, thank you for grinding and bringing me these opportunities. But unless it’s Jacksonville, I’m good.”

Griffin spent the early part of last season on Miami’s taxi squad and worked out for the Cardinals, Titans and Jets. The Bills, Cowboys and Falcons also expressed interest, Griffin said, and he participated in the Broncos’ 2021 minicamp. But after the Dolphins released him from their practice squad in October, the St. Petersburg, Fla., native passed on offers that did not come from the Jags. Jacksonville signed Shaquill Griffin in March 2021, separating the twin brothers after they had played three seasons in Seattle.

For his career, Shaquem Griffin played mostly on special teams. He made 25 tackles with the Seahawks, who drafted him ahead of Shaquill’s second season. Shaquem notched 18.5 sacks over his final two college seasons and helped Central Florida finish the 2017 campaign at 13-0. He tallied one NFL sack, doing so after working his way back onto Seattle’s active roster following a September cut. Shaquem, who played with his brother for four seasons at Central Florida and three with the Seahawks, added a sack on Aaron Rodgers in Seattle’s 2019 divisional-round game.

Dolphins To Work Out DE Trey Flowers

August 24th, 2022 at 9:29am CST by Sam Robinson

Trey Flowers may have an opportunity to be an AFC East pass rusher again. The Dolphins are working out the former Patriots and Lions edge defender, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

This marks Flowers’ first known audition since the Lions made him a cap casualty in March. Flowers spent the past three years in Detroit, following former New England DC Matt Patricia to the Lions. While the big-ticket contract Flowers signed in 2019 did not end up producing big results, the seven-year veteran remains one of the top players available.

The former Patriots standout, who turned 29 last week, struggled with injuries with the Lions. He played in just seven games in each of the past two seasons. He finished his final two Lions seasons on IR, totaling just 3.5 sacks in that span. With the Patriots, however, Flowers played a major role in helping the team to three straight Super Bowls. He will be looking for a bounce-back opportunity in 2022.

Flowers signed a five-year, $90MM Lions pact in 2019, coming to Michigan after being New England’s top edge for multiple seasons. The former fourth-round pick became a reliable cog for the Pats following their 2016 Chandler Jones trade. Flowers recorded 21 sacks and 59 quarterback hits from 2016-18, forcing five fumbles in that span. He added 5.5 sacks in the playoffs, including a 2.5-sack showing in Super Bowl LI. While Flowers showed some of that form in Detroit, tallying seven sacks and 21 QB hits in 2019, injuries derailed his run on that monster contract.

When at full strength, the Dolphins are fairly well-situated on the edge. They re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah in March and added Melvin Ingram shortly after the draft. The team also has 2021 first-round pick Jaelan Phillips under long-term contract. A Flowers addition would seemingly be a move to add a rotational rusher.

Although Brian Flores is no longer with the Dolphins, the defensive coordinator he brought over — Josh Boyer — remains with the team. Boyer was in New England during Flowers’ stay, working as the Pats’ cornerbacks coach during that time.

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