2022 October - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Jets, Dolphins Eyeing Bradley Chubb

October 31st, 2022 at 9:09am CST by Adam La Rose

With less than 48 hours remaining until the trade deadline, the interest shown in some of the top available players continues to heat up. A pair of serious suitors has been identified in the case of one big-name pass rusher.

A league GM informs NBC Sports’ Peter King that the Jets and Dolphins are “interested” in acquiring Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb. He adds that both teams could be willing to part ways with a first-round pick to land the 26-year-old, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

While that fact has made Chubb a prime trade candidate amidst the Broncos’ unexpected struggles, it also makes a Day 1 selection a steep price to pay for a midseason rental. For that reason, King adds, a deal involving a first-rounder would only be consummated if an extension were to be in place. It was reported last week that second- and third-round picks were likely to end up being the price for the former No. 5 pick – just as they were last season for Von Miller.

From a financial standpoint, both Miami and New York would need to undertake in some financial maneuvering to land Chubb. The Dolphins and Jets rank mid-pack in terms of current cap space, and neither has the room to fully absorb the $7.1MM remaining in Chubb’s 2022 compensation. Small extensions and/or restructures could open the door to a deal being possible, though.

Chubb has enjoyed a resurgent 2022 season, one in which Denver’s defense has played as one of the league’s elite units. He has 5.5 sacks, a welcomed sight after he was held without one last season. Ankle surgery limited him to seven games played in 2021, adding further to his injury troubles (resulting in 24 missed games across his first four NFL seasons).

Yesterday’s win over the Jaguars may have eased concerns about the Broncos’ offense and head coach Nathaniel Hackett‘s job status slightly, but at 3-5 the team could still very well find themselves in selling mode over the next two days. Denver is reportedly willing to move a number of players, a list which could include not only Chubb but also wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, running back Melvin Gordon and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. Regardless of the market for those players, however, an enticing offer for Chubb could be coming soon.

Cowboys Looking Out For Wide Receivers At Trade Deadline

October 30th, 2022 at 11:19pm CST by Ely Allen

After trading Amari Cooper and letting Cedrick Wilson walk in free agency, the Cowboys needed big seasons from Michael Gallup and Noah Brown. Brown has stepped up his game but isn’t quite having a big season and Gallup has slowly been working his way back from last season’s late ACL tear. The results have led the Cowboys to keep one eye open for possible acquisitions at wide receiver as the trade deadline approaches, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

Through the first seven weeks of the season, the Cowboys’ receivers have been led by CeeDee Lamb (37 receptions, 479 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Brown (25 receptions, 339 yards, 1 touchdown). The team hasn’t been getting much help from its tight ends, though Dalton Schultz is third on the team with 14 receptions and 129 receiving yards. Running back Tony Pollard is just behind him with 11 receptions and 105 receiving yards. Gallup has recently made a return from his ACL recovery, but, through four games this season, he hasn’t shown the production he’s proven he’s capable of over the past few years.

The Cowboys signed free agent wide receiver James Washington in the offseason, but an offseason foot fracture has left him on injured reserve for these opening weeks of the NFL season. Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones told reporters that Washington is “real close” to returning. They hope Washington will add to the receiving group but diminishing returns over his past two seasons may still leave more to be desired.

Jones also told reporters only a week ago that he didn’t expect the team to make any trades. His quotes today seem to backtrack a little. On the topic of acquiring a new wide receiver in the trade market, Jones said, “We’ll just see.” He continued, “My point is: we don’t have to do anything. But if it raises its head, and it’s right, then we’ll do something.”

It’s unclear who the “right” wide receiver would be. The Panthers made it known they would like to hold on to wide receiver D.J. Moore. There are some underutilized names out there like Denzel Mims, KJ Hamler, Kendrick Bourne, and the former Cowboy Wilson (now with the Dolphins). Besides that approach, Jerry Jeudy, Brandin Cooks, and Chase Claypool are the biggest names that are rumored to be available. Jeudy or Claypool would add to the youth in the receiving corps, making it formidable for years to come. Bringing Cooks in would resupply Dallas with the veteran leadership at the position that it traded away in Cooper.

Until we find out what the “right” situation is, it’s hard to speculate that Jones and the Cowboys will make any moves. As the clock continues to tick towards the deadline, though, names like Jeudy, Claypool, and Cooks may start sounding more and more “right.”

NFC Contract Restructures: Harty, Jackson

October 30th, 2022 at 10:57pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are two recent contract restructures from around the NFC:

Deonte Harty, WR (Saints): Harty recently restructured his one-year, $3.99MM contract with New Orleans to open up about $1.74MM in cap space, according to Field Yates of ESPN. The restructured deal contains four voidable years, a now common trait in Saints’ contracts meant to assist with cap space. Harty, who changed his surname from Harris in 2021 to honor his stepfather, has been with the Saints since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019. As a rookie, Harty carved out a role for himself in the return game and led the NFL in punt return yardage. He was named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler that year and went on the serve as the Saints’ primary return man for the next two seasons while also adding growing contributions on offense. Unfortunately, this year, Harty has been bitten by a turf toe injury that has landed him on injured reserve. Reports have indicated that the injury could potentially keep Harty out for the rest of the season, leading to the agreement to restructure. In his absence, another undrafted rookie, Rashid Shaheed, has taken over Harty’s role on offense and special teams.
Gabe Jackson, G (Seahawks): Jackson and the Seahawks recently agreed to a restructured deal that clears up $1.5MM of cap space, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. The longtime Raider was traded to the Seahawks last year where he signed a three-year, $22.58MM extension. Jackson’s restructure likely has nothing to do with injury, though he did miss two games with a hip flexor injury before returning this week against the Giants. It’s likely just a team-friendly move to clear up some cap space. Jackson was one of only six players on the Seahawks with a base salary higher than $2.5MM and three of the other players are in a contract year, which limited Seattle’s restructuring options. In the end, the team converted $3.5MM of Jackson’s 2022 salary into a signing bonus that will be prorated over the remainder of his contract. The move frees up a little space for Seattle ahead of the trade deadline, but, likely, it’s just a move to help cover practice squad elevations and injuries for the remainder of the year.

Buccaneers Not Looking To Make Any Moves Before Trade Deadline

October 30th, 2022 at 7:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite being in the midst of a three-game skid, and losing five of their last six games, the Buccaneers are not expected to make any big moves to acquire players before the trade deadline, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. General manager Jason Licht has been known to be willing to make moves that could improve the team’s standing for a playoff run, but, right now, the team seems to be fine with where they’re at.

The Buccaneers don’t seem to have a ton of holes in their roster. They haven’t been very successful running the ball, ranking 31st in the NFL for rushing yards. They likely don’t feel the need to trade for a big name running back. Despite veteran pass-catching back Giovani Bernard spending the last six games on injured reserve, Tampa Bay still has Leonard Fournette. The team has also spent two third-round picks in the last three drafts on Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Rachaad White.

A more likely reason for their rushing struggles is the offensive line losses they’ve dealt with this year. The retirement of last year’s starting guard Ali Marpet, the loss of their other starting guard, Alex Cappa, to free agency, and the long-term injury suffered by starting center Ryan Jensen have forced the Buccaneers to piece together a new configuration. Last year’s Buccaneers weren’t one of the league’s better rushing offenses and, with these setbacks, they’ve turned into one of the league’s worst.

Fans may also be looking for the team to make a move on defense, where the team ranks last in the league in rushing yards allowed. The Buccaneers don’t necessarily think a change in personnel is in order from an outside source, as they have several players who have missed time due to injury set to make comebacks soon. Tampa Bay hopes to get defensive lineman Akiem Hicks back soon, which should be a huge help. They’re also looking for cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting to make returns soon. Unfortunately, the loss of outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett hurts the defense’s chances for improvement a bit.

If any changes were to be made, it’s looking more and more likely that it will come on the coaching end and not on the players’ end, according to Armando Salguero of OutKick.com. With an offense that has been deemed as “under-performing” there is speculation that the team could have retired head coach and current consultant Bruce Arians or offensive consultant Tom Moore pair up with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich to bring the offense back up to par.

Currently, head coach Todd Bowles says the coaching staff and their duties will remain intact, but, if the team continues to flail in what could easily be the last season for quarterback Tom Brady, look for the team to get creative with their use of the coaching staff.

Eagles’ First-Round Rookie DT Jordan Davis Sprains Ankle

October 30th, 2022 at 6:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Not much has gone wrong for the Eagles this year as they’ve cruised their way to an undefeated 7-0 start to the season. Injuries affect every team, though, and one showed up in Philadelphia today as rookie first-round defensive tackle Jordan Davis left today’s game with a high ankle sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 13th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft has been a rotational contributor this year for the NFC East leaders. Despite becoming a consistent starter since Week 3 of the season, Davis has yet to play more than half of the team’s defensive snaps in a single game. Still, he’s been impressive in his limited time grading out as the league’s 9th best defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), thanks to a really good run defense grade and a better than average pass rush grade.

Through seven games this year, Davis has recorded 12 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and 1 pass defensed. Obviously, as a defensive tackle, Davis isn’t lighting up the stat sheet, but he’s been an impactful rookie, making his presence felt in other ways.

If the Eagles are forced to miss Davis for an extended period, they’ll likely roll forward with a top-two of Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. Back up linemen Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipulotu have been rotating in like Davis, but, with Davis out, they will likely be asked to step up for a few more snaps each game.

High ankle sprains typically have a recovery period of four to six weeks. The severity of Davis’s injury has yet to be determined, but he is expected to undergo an MRI tomorrow morning.

Kliff Kingsbury Envisions Cardinals Making Another Trade

October 30th, 2022 at 4:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals have already been involved in the player movement taking place around the league in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline. As head coach Kliff Kingsbury indicated earlier this week, though, the team may not be done making moves.

When asked about the potential of another trade being on the table, Kingsbury said, “It wouldn’t surprise me. There’s a lot of really good players out there and I’ll bet there’s a ton of movement over the next few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got in on something” (Twitter link via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic).

Arizona traded for wideout Robbie Anderson, marking the end of his Carolina tenure following his midgame dismissal from the sidelines. That added a vertical element to the team’s passing game, something made particularly relevant given the foot injury suffered by Marquise Brown which has landed him on IR.

The latter was, of course, a trade acquisition as well during the draft. Spending a first-round pick to add the former Raven shows general manager Steve Keim‘s willingness to execute notable moves. Another one came last October, when Arizona landed tight end Zach Ertz from the Eagles. That move gave the three-time Pro Bowler the chance to remain a starter, which he has done in 2022 after choosing to stay in the desert this offseason.

The team’s offense has received plenty of attention during an underwhelming 2022, to the point where Kingsbury recently admitted he could cede play-calling duties. The defense, on the other hand, entered Sunday’s action ranking toward the bottom of the league in almost every major category. That would lend itself to an addition being a possibility, but the team’s loss to the Vikings this afternoon dropped Arizona to 3-5 on the campaign, placing them last in the NFC West.

The Cardinals also sit in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, with less than $5MM to work with. Given Kingsbury’s remarks, though, Arizona could be a team to watch over the next two days as the trade market continues to heat up.

Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf Suffers Knee Injury

October 30th, 2022 at 3:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 30: Metcalf was able to practice for the first time on Friday, and the team announced earlier today that he will play against the Giants. The same is true of Lockett, meaning that Seattle will surprisingly have each of the top wideouts available when they host New York.

OCTOBER 24: The Seahawks’ win over the Chargers on Sunday appeared to come at a significant cost, as receiver D.K. Metcalf was carted off the field with a knee injury. Subsequent testing has revealed that the worst-case scenario has been avoided, however.

X-Rays came back negative immediately following the game, as confirmed by head coach Pete Carroll. Another update came on Monday, when an MRI revealed that Metcalf suffered a patellar tendon injury. That represents a positive development, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that surgery will not be required at this time.

Metcalf will instead attempt to rehab the injury. While the 24-year-old stated an intention of returning to practice on Wednesday, Carroll quickly downplayed the chances of that happening. Pelissero adds that there is no timetable in place regarding Metcalf’s recovery. More testing is likely to come.

While this news is generally positive, any absence from Metcalf would be detrimental to Seattle’s passing attack. Despite transitioning from Russell Wilson to Geno Smith at quarterback, the one-time Pro Bowler has averaged 59.7 receiving yards per game in 2022. That figure ranks second in his career, and slightly ahead of his 967-yard, 12-touchdown campaign last year.

On the back of his three years of production, the Ole Miss product staged a hold-in during the summer. The move fell in line with that of a number of other extension-eligible players, and resulted in a three-year, $72MM deal which includes more than $58MM guaranteed. Overall, Metcalf ranks second on the Seahawks with 418 receiving yards this season.

The former second-rounder has yet to miss a game in his NFL career, something which is very likely to change in the coming days. An extended stay on the sidelines would deal a considerable blow to the Seahawks’ 15th-ranked passing game, and place a larger burden on leading receiver Tyler Lockett and tight ends Will Dissly and Noah Fant. Marquise Goodwin would likely step into a starter’s role in place of Metcalf.

Cam Akers To Return To Rams Barring Trade

October 30th, 2022 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cam Akers has gone from the Rams’ top running back to one the team is actively looking to trade away in a surprisingly short period of time. If he does not find himself being moved by Tuesday’s deadline, though, Akers is expected to return to the team, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 23-year-old was inactive in Week 6, as a result of reported football-related and philosophical differences between he and head coach Sean McVay. Very quickly, it became evident that Akers’ tenure with the Rams may very well have come to an end.

Just under two weeks ago, McVay confirmed that the Rams are looking to find a trade partner for the Florida State product. Akers was limited to five total games last season due to an Achilles tear. He was expected to take on workhorse duties after a spring and summer of recovery, but he has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry this season, scoring one touchdown along the way – figures which no doubt limit his trade value.

Personal reasons have once again been listed as the cause for Akers’ absence today against the 49ers, per Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. As they and Schefter note, though, the team remains open to the possibility that a trade is not finalized in the next two days, and thus that Akers would again have some role to play in the backfield.

Still, a deal sending him away would take place “in a perfect world,” per Schefter. Unfortunately for both sides, the NFL Network report indicates that interest from around the league has not reached the point where a trade is imminent. Darrell Henderson will remain the lead back for the Rams after they finished as the runners-up in trading for Christian McCaffrey.

When they take on the latter this afternoon, Los Angeles will look to improve on their 31st-ranked running game. How much of a role (if any) Akers will play in doing so starting next week will be worth watching over the next 48 hours.

49ers’ Deebo Samuel Out For Week 8; Kyle Juszczyk Undergoes Surgery

October 30th, 2022 at 1:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the second game during which the 49ers will have their new No. 1 running back available, they will be shorthanded in their receiving corps. The team ruled out Deebo Samuel for their Week 8 game against the Rams, as a result of a hamstring injury.

This will be Samuel’s first missed contest of the year, one in which expectations were sky-high. His All-Pro performance in 2021 – during which he posted 1,405 receiving yards and eight rushing touchdowns – led to a dramatic spike in his perceived free agent value. Extension eligible for the first time this offseason, a lack of traction in contract talks led the 26-year-old to request a trade in April.

The situation ultimately resulted in a deal being struck at the end of July, though, with Samuel set to average nearly $24MM per season. So far in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract, the South Carolina product has once again been featured both in the air and on the ground. Samuel ranks second on the team in receiving (387) and rushing (138) yards.

Another key member of the 49ers’ offense will be absent today. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had surgery to repair a broken finger earlier this week, as noted (on Twitter) by Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. The 31-year-old had played in every contest so far this year, after having done the same in 2020 and 2021. Those campaigns extended his Pro Bowl streak to six years, meaning his absence will be felt as the team tries to further implement trade acquisition Christian McCaffrey into their offense.

Among the notable defensive players who will be sidelined is Dre Greenlaw. He, too will miss his first contest of the season – ending a welcomed run of availability after he was limited to just three games last season. He is dealing with a calf injury, something which will leave San Francisco’s linebacking corps shorthanded. Greenlaw had played every defensive snap in five games this season, cementing his status as a key member of the unit after agreeing to a two-year extension last month.

The 3-4 49ers will look to rebound from last week’s loss to the Chiefs and attempt to gain ground in the wide-open NFC West against the defending champions.

Saints Unlikely To Trade RB Alvin Kamara; Bills’ Overtures “Rebuffed”

October 30th, 2022 at 12:56pm CST by Rory Parks

As we are just two days away from the trade deadline, plenty of fans and pundits are looking at the rosters of teams that profile as potential sellers and are speculating as to what notable players on those teams could be on the move. If one looks at record alone, the 2-5 Saints certainly appear to be more likely sellers than buyers.

However, New Orleans is just one game out of first place in the woeful NFC South, and Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football says that the club is “focused on making the playoffs,” which would seem to preclude any seller-type moves. With respect to recent speculation that RB Alvin Kamara is generating trade interest, Underhill suggests that the Saints are not inclined to trade the five-time Pro Bowler.

That doesn’t mean that teams have not contacted GM Mickey Loomis to check in on Kamara’s availability. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported on Sunday that the Bills called the Saints about a potential Kamara trade, only to be rebuffed (video link). It’s unclear whether New Orleans simply declined to engage in discussions, or if Buffalo’s proposal was not appealing enough.

The Bills were reportedly interested in former Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey before Carolina dealt him to the 49ers, though Buffalo brass did not actually make an offer for CMC. In a piece that was published Sunday morning, NFL.com reporters Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo noted that, in exchange for Kamara, the Saints would want a package on par with the one that the Panthers received from the Niners, which was comprised of San Francisco’s second-, third- and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-round 2024 selection. The Kamara-related portion of the NFL.com report was subsequently deleted.

Clearly, the Super Bowl contender Bills want to upgrade their RB room, and Kamara would be an attractive fit for any number of clubs. He is playing out the current season on a $1.035MM salary, and he is due reasonable payouts of $9.4MM in 2023 and $10.2MM in 2024. He is scheduled to earn $22.4MM in 2025, but he will be 30 by that point, and his contract is easily escapable at any time between now and then (at least for a team that acquires him via trade). $1MM of his 2023 salary is guaranteed, and other than that, there is no guaranteed money remaining on his deal.

Of course, the expectation is that Kamara will be hit with a six-game suspension due to his pending felony battery charge, and it presently appears as if he will end up serving that ban in 2023. That obviously hurts his trade value, though his on-field performance has been consistent with the elite level he established over his first few years in the league. Despite dealing with a rib injury that has kept him out of two games this season, Kamara managed 77 carries for 351 yards entering Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders. That amounts to a 4.6 YPC rate, which is in line with his career average and represents a nice bounce-back from a disappointing 2021 campaign that saw him post a career-low 3.7 YPC mark.

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