2022 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: October 2024

Steelers To Extend K Chris Boswell

August 1st, 2022 at 4:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Boswell and the Steelers have come to terms on another agreement. The Steelers are giving their longtime kicker a four-year deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

The Steelers’ kicker since 2015, Boswell signed for four years and $20MM; the deal also comes with $12.5MM guaranteed. The $5MM-per-year average ties Boswell with Justin Tucker atop the kicker market.

The previous contract the Steelers had Boswell tied to ran through the 2022 season; it placed the former Pro Bowler ninth among kickers in average annual salary. Weeks after re-upping Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team took care of another key contract-year player. With Ben Roethlisberger and Stephon Tuitt retiring, Boswell, 31, is the Steelers’ second-longest-tenured player — behind only Cameron Heyward.

This is the second major extension the Steelers and Boswell have agreed upon. The first came, in Steelers fashion, four Augusts ago. Boswell was coming off his only Pro Bowl nod at that point, but the 2018 season — one in which he made just 65% of his field goals — was his worst as a pro. But he bounced back on that contract, making at least 90% of his FG tries in each of the past three seasons and being especially reliable from long range.

Boswell broke through on tries from beyond 50 yards in 2021. From 2018-20, Boswell had only made three field goals from beyond 50 yards. He had only attempted four. Last season, however, Mike Tomlin called for more Boswell long-range efforts; the veteran specialist delivered. The Rice alum made 8 of 9 tries from that distance range — including two in the fourth quarter of a Monday-night win over the Bears — helping him join Tucker atop the kicker salary hierarchy.

Teams Looking Into WR Will Fuller

August 1st, 2022 at 4:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a strong start to the 2020 season, Will Fuller saw a PED suspension stonewall his path toward his first 1,000-yard year. The injury-prone wide receiver then played in just three games in 2021. As a result, the former first-round pick has not been mentioned too often this offseason.

But it looks like the deep threat will have a chance somewhere soon. Multiple teams are monitoring Fuller, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, but he is unlikely to land anywhere until at least preseason games are underway. A late-preseason signing appears likelier than a deal coming together this week, Wilson adds (on Twitter).

At 28, Fuller is younger than the other big receiver names still left on the market — one that includes Emmanuel Sanders (35), Cole Beasley (33), T.Y. Hilton (32) and Odell Beckham Jr. (29). Fuller also comes with injury baggage that even predates the health troubles Beckham has experienced.

Fuller’s next 16-game season will be his first. In addition to the ACL tear Fuller suffered in 2018, he missed 14 games during his Dolphins year. A broken finger sustained in October, and a subsequent setback, led to Fuller being sidelined for most of his Dolphins time. Fuller, however, does not come with the present injury baggage Beckham brings. OBJ is not expected to be full-go until maybe November.

The Dolphins gave Fuller a one-year, $10MM deal. That pact came after Fuller’s career-best 879-yard season in 2020. Coming off another injury, Fuller should not be expected to land a deal in that neighborhood. But he has flashed talent throughout his career. Teams having a better idea of what they have at receiver during the preseason, though that would be cutting it a bit close for a wideout addition, could point to Fuller’s free agency stay ending.

The Cowboys seeing James Washington go down with what could be a Jones fracture would figure to put them on the receiver radar. The Packers, who have been connected to Fuller in the past, pursued Julio Jones. Their unusual receiver situation should at least point to reconsidering the former Texans trade candidate. The Colts have come up in receiver searches as well, though they remain more likely to reach another deal with Hilton. Another team losing a key receiver in the coming weeks, particularly a downfield target, could drive up Fuller’s market.

NFC West Notes: Carroll, Murray, Rams

August 1st, 2022 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals and Seahawks respectively announced Kyler Murray and Pete Carroll tested positive for COVID-19. While coronavirus protocols are absent to start training camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes the league in June informed teams anyone who tests positive must isolate for five days (Twitter link). Carroll, 70, is experiencing mild symptoms, according to the Seahawks, who add he will continue to participate in meetings virtually. As for Murray, he will not be required to be moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list. After two years of use, the NFL did away with the virus list this offseason. Murray will remain on the roster but away from the team.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

Murray is no longer contractually obligated to complete a certain number of film-watching hours this season, but the Cards’ issues with their recently extended quarterback’s commitment have surfaced. His off-and-on offseason participation is something the team has certainly noticed, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer, who adds questions about the former No. 1 overall pick’s leadership have lingered as well. The Chris Mortensen Super Bowl Sunday report about acrimony between Murray and the Cardinals — one that labeled the 2018 Heisman winner as a “self-centered, immature finger-pointer” — drove Murray’s camp to demand an extension this offseason. As evidenced by the since-scrapped clause, the Cards do want their franchise QB to commit more to the mental side of the game, per Breer. How the team went about ensuring that will remain one of the more notable matters in modern contract history.
Former UDFA Coleman Shelton started two games for the Rams last season, the only two starts in his three-year career, but Sean McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, on Twitter) he is in the mix to start at right guard this season. Shelton has worked as a first-team guard and center in practice. The Rams lost Austin Corbett in free agency but also used a third-round pick (which means more to the defending champions than most teams, given their perennial first-round absence) on guard Logan Bruss. The Wisconsin alum joins Shelton and 2020 seventh-rounder Tremayne Anchrum (12 career games; zero starts) in competition to replace Corbett.
Although it emerged as a point of contention this offseason, Kyle Shanahan said Deebo Samuel‘s usage as a running back did not factor into his 49ers extension talks.

Bears Discussing T Teven Jenkins In Trades

August 1st, 2022 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears taking Teven Jenkins in the 2021 second round has not led him to be a surefire answer at one of their tackle spots. With a new regime in place, the team looks to be exploring what it could get for one of the previous regime’s top investments.

Jenkins’ name has come up in trade talks, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bears have both received calls and held trade discussions on Jenkins, who has three years left on his contract.

After Jenkins went through an injury-abbreviated rookie season, he did not finish this offseason working primarily with the first unit. The Bears were using Braxton Jones, a rookie fifth-rounder, at left tackle and Larry Borom, a 2021 fifth-round choice, as their first-string tackles. Chicago has since signed Riley Reiff. The 10-year veteran has worked as a starter throughout his career, and he should be expected to be a starter at one of the Bears’ tackle spots. Reiff has played both left and right tackle as a pro.

Chosen 39th overall last year, Jenkins was ticketed to be one of the Bears’ tackle starters as a rookie. The Ryan Pace regime traded a third-round pick and its No. 52 overall selection to move up 13 spots for the Oklahoma State blocker. But a back injury suffered during last year’s training camp changed the team’s plans. Jenkins underwent surgery last August, leading the team to go with veteran Jason Peters on the edge, and did not debut until late November. Jenkins did make two starts as a rookie, but the Bears fired both Pace and Matt Nagy at season’s end. The Ryan Poles–Matt Eberflus regime does not appear as high on Jenkins.

A possible path for Jenkins at guard has also surfaced, potentially giving the 6-foot-6 blocker some additional value in trades. Should a team move to acquire Jenkins, it would have him on base salaries worth $1MM, $1.4MM and $1.8MM through 2024. The Bears would save just more than $1MM if they moved him.

Kyle Shanahan: Deebo Samuel’s RB Role Did Not Factor Into Negotiations

August 1st, 2022 at 2:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after Deebo Samuel‘s trade request surfaced, matters like the wide receiver’s desire not to be used as a running back and his rumored desire not to live in California surfaced as ancillary reasons — beyond the contractual centerpiece in play — for wishing to be dealt. But Kyle Shanahan said the role component did not factor into the proceedings.

Samuel’s backfield usage did not come into play during the 49ers’ negotiations with their top wide receiver, Shanahan said Monday, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (on Twitter). The sixth-year 49ers HC said the progress that led to a three-year, $71.55MM extension came from the key parties meeting face-to-face. Samuel also confirmed the narrative that he no longer wished to be used as a running back was false, via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman (video link).

The 49ers did include some incentives to cover potential Samuel backfield duty. The escalators could pay Samuel as much as $1.95MM over the contract’s life. If Samuel gains 380 rushing yards in any season on this deal, he would collect $650K, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). A more likely incentive to be collected is tied to rushing touchdowns. Samuel would collect $150K for each year in which he scores three rushing TDs. Samuel scored three rushing TDs as a rookie and notched eight last season.

As for more traditional contract numbers, the former second-round pick — as could be expected during a transformative offseason for the receiver position — did well for himself. The 49ers gave Samuel $41MM fully guaranteed, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, adding that, by April 1, 2023, $58.2MM of the deal will be locked in. Samuel’s salaries through 2024 will be guaranteed by April of next year; his 2025 base salary ($16.6MM) is nonguaranteed. A big chunk of Samuel’s $41MM guaranteed at signing comes from a $24MM signing bonus.

Samuel’s fully guaranteed figure comes in sixth at receiver, checking in ahead of D.K. Metcalf‘s total ($31MM). The Seahawks wideout, whose AAV tops Samuel’s, checks in with a nearly identical total-guarantee figure ($58.22MM). The 49ers used a void year in 2026 to spread out Samuel’s signing bonus and minimize his cap hits. The wideout will not carry an eight-figure cap hit until 2024, according to OverTheCap. Samuel will be tied to a $6.68MM cap number in 2022 and a $9.14MM figure in 2023. The notable jump during this contract occurs in 2024, when the All-Pro’s cap number spikes to $29MM.

The 49ers came up considerably from their initial offer, believed to be worth less than $19MM per year, but the receiver market also changed considerably since mid-April. A.J. Brown signed for four years and $100MM, with a receiver-record $56MM fully guaranteed, and both Metcalf and Terry McLaurin eclipsed $23MM per year. The 49ers now have Samuel and George Kittle signed through 2025.

Patriots’ Jonathan Jones, Jabrill Peppers Return To Practice

August 1st, 2022 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

After letting J.C. Jackson walk in free agency, a decision consistent with offseason cornerback choices in the recent past, the Patriots will have a transition to make. But the team does return some talent at the position. One of those players made a long-awaited return to work Monday.

The Patriots activated Jonathan Jones from their active/PUP list. The team’s primary slot corner, Jones was lost early during the 2021 season, going down with a shoulder injury in Week 6. Offseason safety addition Jabrill Peppers, who suffered an ACL tear days after Jones went down, is also back at practice for New England. The team also activated defensive back Myles Bryant from its active/non-football injury list.

Jones, 28, and Devin McCourty are the only secondary cogs left to have played regular roles in the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl season. A former UDFA, Jones has been a key member of the Pats’ secondary since the 2017 season. New England gave the Auburn alum a three-year, $21MM extension just before the 2019 season. Jones graded as one of the top corners in football in his most recent full season (2020), per Pro Football Focus; his deal expires after the 2022 campaign.

Peppers was linked in trades ahead of last year’s deadline, but his injury nixed any move. The Giants let the 2019 trade acquisition walk this offseason. The former first-round pick saw his role decrease in 2021, with the Giants using Xavier McKinney and ex-Patriot Logan Ryan more often on their back line, but has made 59 career starts and was the No. 25 overall pick in 2017.

This will be Peppers’ age-27 season. The Pats, who signed Peppers for just $2MM, added the Michigan product to a deep safety corps — one that has McCourty back alongside Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger.

Patriots, P Jake Bailey Agree To Extension

August 1st, 2022 at 12:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots have taken care of an important piece of business with respect to their special teams. New England is extending punter Jake Bailey on a four-year, $13.5MM contract with $6.5MM fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

Bailey, 25, was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. Now, he will be on the books through 2025, allowing the Patriots to have long-term stability at the position. The former fifth-rounder (who also handles kickoffs and is the team’s holder on field goals) earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2020, after averaging 48.7 yards per punt. That average dipped slightly last season, and a league-leading three of his punts were blocked.

Despite that, Bailey’s success from the year prior earned him a sizeable raise via the Proven Performance Escalator. As a result, he was scheduled to carry a cap hit of $4.05MM this season. Not surprisingly, then, the Stanford alum was widely thought to be due an extension at some point this offseason.

Schefter’s colleague Mike Reiss adds that this new deal will lower Bailey’s 2022 cap charge by roughly $1.85MM – a relatively nominal amount, but one which is particularly significant for the Patriots, as they entered the day with the least cap space in the league. Even with this extension, they will have less than $5MM in financial wiggle room.

The $3.375MM-per-year average of the deal moves Bailey into second in the league in terms of annual compensation at the position, behind only Seattle’s Michael Dickson. He will be in place for the foreseeable future in New England, as he looks to repeat the success he has already enjoyed in his career.

Deshaun Watson Settles Three Of Remaining Four Civil Suits

August 1st, 2022 at 11:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Before today’s announcement of the suspension Deshaun Watson will be facing (pending any potential NFL appeal), there was another important development in his legal situation. The number of civil suits he faces continues to drop, and now sits at one.

The embattled Browns QB has reached settlement agreements with three of the four women who had filed outstanding claims against him, per ESPN’s Jake Trotter. At one point, Watson faced 24 suits relating to his alleged sexual misconduct dating back to his time with the Texans, but in June, 20 of those cases were settled.

“After lengthy and intense negotiations, I can confirm that, late last night, our team resolved three of the four remaining civil cases with Deshaun Watson,” plaintiffs attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). “We will continue to discuss the remaining case with Watson’s legal team, as appropriate.” As was the case with the original 20 settlements, details of the agreements will remain confidential.

Of note is the fact that Ashley Solis – the first woman to file suit against Watson and go public with her accusations – is among the three women to reach settlement agreements, as reported (on Twitter) by Trotter’s colleague John Barr. The identity of the lone remaining accuser is unknown at this time, leaving it unclear whether or not she is the one who also sued the Texans for their alleged role in enabling Watson’s behavior.

That case, along with 29 potential others, was settled in July. As a result, the Texans are thought to be clear of any wrongdoing in association with Watson’s league (or, potentially, judicial) punishment. If the one outstanding case makes it to civil court without being settled, the trial process will not take place until after the 2022 season, per the terms of an agreement between Watson’s legal team and that of the plaintiffs.

Orlando Brown Jr. Reports To Chiefs Training Camp; Team Still Eyeing Long-Term Deal

August 1st, 2022 at 9:59am CST by Adam La Rose

With both Bengals safety Jessie Bates and Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. absent from their respective teams’ training camps, questions have been raised regarding when they would attend and sign their franchise tags. In the latter’s case, Monday has turned out to be the answer.

Brown will report to camp today, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). He, like Bates, had yet to sign his franchise tag, but will of course do so to participate in practice. Since he was not under contract during the week he missed, Brown will not be subject to any fines.

Under the tag, the 26-year-old will earn $16.7MM. The Chiefs came close to finalizing a extension which would have made Brown the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman, but it fell through in large part due to the structure of the final year of their offer in particular. The sides cannot negotiate again until the end of the 2022 season. When that window opens, though, the team is prepared to make another push for a long-term deal.

“The agency has advisors around [Brown], and we respect his decision,” GM Brett Veach said, via Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star. “And it’s not going to limit our pursuit of him next year. We’re gonna continue to try to get him locked up.”

That represents a notably different tone than what some may have expected, given recent reports of the Chiefs’ frustrations over Brown’s decision to play on the tag this year. Nevertheless, Veach added that the team was going to welcome Brown back to camp “with open arms. I’m sure that [head] coach [Andy Reid] and I will get a chance to have a good conversation with him, and we’ll certainly let him know how much we love him, appreciate him.”

Barring an agreement being reached next offseason, a second tag would cost nearly $20MM, but leave the team with a lack of long-term certainty. Especially considering the price they paid to trade for the three-time Pro Bowler, a multi-year extension would obviously be their preference. Since his immediate future is no longer in doubt, though, attention will now turn to Bates, who has been adamant that he won’t play on the tag in 2022.

Deshaun Watson Suspended Six Games

August 1st, 2022 at 8:02am CST by Adam La Rose

The outcome of the Deshaun Watson hearing has indeed been finalized. The Browns QB has been suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).

The rendering from retired judge Sue. L. Robinson does not include any fines in addition to the salary Watson will forfeit, reports Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). In a follow-up, he adds that the ruling requires Watson receive all future massages from club therapists – as opposed to the dozens of private ones he met with during his tenure with the Texans; his alleged sexual misconduct with dozens of those women sparked lengthy criminal and civil proceedings, along with a league investigation and June’s disciplinary hearing.

Robinson’s decision states that Watson’s “pattern of behavior was egregious,” but adds that his actions constituted “nonviolent sexual conduct,” per Pelissero (Twitter link). The particulars of the application of the policy under the new CBA have led to varied estimations on how long Watson would be banned; the Browns were recently reported to be anticipating an eight-game suspension, so today’s news falls much closer in line with that prediction than the NFL’s stated preference of an indefinite one lasting at least one season.

The NFL has three days to appeal this ruling, which would turn the matter to commissioner Roger Goodell or his appointee. Rapoport tweets that it is unclear whether or not the league will do so, but he confirms yesterday’s news that the NFLPA will not contest the terms of Watson’s suspension. That came as something a revelation, given previous reports that he and the union were prepared to sue the league in the event of a lengthier suspension.

After acquiring the 26-year-old from Houston, the Browns signed Watson to an extension which lowered his 2022 base salary to $1MM. As a result, this suspension will cost him $345K, compared to well over $11MM had his previous contract still been in play (Twitter link via Rapoport). The six-game absence will leave him sidelined for four contests against AFC opponents, and one of the team’s six divisional matchups.

Cleveland was thought to be in the market for added depth at the QB position if Watson were to be handed a lengthier suspension. Assuming his ban remains six weeks in length, though, they will in all likelihood hand the reins to Jacoby Brissett to begin the campaign, leaning on Joshua Dobbs or recent signing Josh Rosen in the event of injury.

For the immediate future at least, the league’s top offseason story has reached a vital checkpoint. More could still be coming soon, in the event of an appeal, but the Browns now have more clarity on when their franchise signal-caller will first be available to them.