HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Draft Rumors: Commanders, Chargers, Giants, Bengals, Bears

April 26th, 2023 at 10:09pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s the eve of the 2023 NFL Draft, and connections are being made left and right. Every team has hosted several prospects and done their fair share of homework. Here’s a few things we’re hearing in the hours leading up to the draft:

  • The Commanders can go in a lot of directions at the exact midpoint of the first round. They’ve been connected to offensive tackle and cornerback prospects in most situations. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, though, Washington’s executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney is a big advocate for Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The team has committed to last year’s fifth-round pick Sam Howell as their starting quarterback for 2023, as well as bringing in Jacoby Brissett as an experienced backup. Drafting Richardson would likely be a sit-and-learn situation while either Howell or Brissett man the starting spot under center.
  • The Chargers have been rumored to be looking ahead in this year’s draft towards next year’s needs, according to Breer. Even though wide receiver is clearly not a need with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer, Williams may end up as a cap casualty after this season with a pending $32.46MM cap hit in 2024. This could lead to Los Angeles getting ahead of that hole and drafting a wideout in the first round this year. Breer hears the team really likes Boston College receiver Zay Flowers.
  • Another team who could possibly be looking to cover a future contract situation, the Giants are reportedly fairly high on Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, according to Breer. With contract negotiations with veteran Saquon Barkley being reported as tenuous, it’s hard to imagine general manager Joe Schoen further stirring the pot with another first-round running back. It would provide the team with a backup option if negotiations with Barkley turn sour, though.
  • The Bengals ranked 29th in 2022 for team sacks and are reportedly looking for more pass rushing help on the interior defensive line, according to Breer. At the end of the first round, there’s only so many options. Georgia’s Jalen Carter surely won’t still be around at No. 28 overall. Clemson’s Bryan Bresee has some strong tools but is expected to need to improve his pass rushing arsenal. Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey is the only real answer here. With 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the last two years, the diminutive tackle projects as a discount Aaron Donald. If Kancey isn’t available or not what the Bengals are looking for, they could trade back or just wait for someone like Auburn’s Colby Wooden in the third or fourth round.
  • Lastly, the Bears have been frequently tied to offensive line prospect Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern. It’s unclear whether they like Skoronski as an improvement at tackle or a new starter on the inside, but if he’s available by the time the tenth pick rolls around, it’s hard to imagine Chicago passing up the nearby offensive lineman.

Draft Prospect QB Hendon Hooker Expected To Be Cleared By Week 1

April 26th, 2023 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker has been working hard to come back from an ACL tear that he sustained in mid-November of last year. With the injury occurring so late in the year, it easily could’ve affected his availability to play in 2023, but according to Pete Thamel of ESPN, that’s not expected to be the case.

Thamel reports that every NFL team received a letter from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Hooker’s orthopedic surgeon, claiming that Hooker is “on a timeline to be fully-cleared by the first weekend of the NFL season.” The injury largely wasn’t expected to affect his draft status too much. Hooker was already drawing first-round interest and has been predicted to be selected by the end of Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, even without the letter.

One of the reasons for this is that Hooker is projected to be a bit of a project on offense in the NFL. He has plenty of tools that will greatly assist him at the next level as an NFL quarterback, but some of the reasons for his success in Knoxville are things that won’t continue at the pro level.

For instance, Hooker played on an extremely quarterback-friendly offense as a Volunteer under Josh Heupel. The gameplan was conducive to offensive output at the college level but hasn’t been known to produce NFL-ready passers. Heupel’s offense is assumed to run largely off of predetermined targets. This is likely evidenced by the rate and speed at which Hooker was known to check the ball down. If Hooker’s first (and only) read wasn’t there, he would check the ball down.

One of the most difficult parts of playing quarterback in the NFL is reading pro defenses, not just before the snap but during the play, as well. Since Heupel’s offense didn’t promote the development of this tool for Hooker, many teams doing their research on the 25-year-old expect that there will be a learning curve for him at the next level.

Because of this expectation that Hooker will sit and learn, the knee injury was not a huge strike against him. Regardless, with the letter from Dr. ElAttrache, if any teams were worried about how soon he would be available, they can put that concern to rest.

Jaguars DT DaVon Hamilton Signs Three-Year Extension

April 26th, 2023 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

For the second year in a row, the Jaguars have reported another big extension just before the NFL Draft. This year’s recipient is fourth-year defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the new contract is essentially a three-year deal worth $34.5MM. He’ll get a fully guaranteed amount of $23MM and have an opportunity to push the maximum value of the contract to $36MM through incentives.

Hamilton is being rewarded for an extremely strong season after his third year in the league. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State had found starting opportunities over his first two years in the league but took over as a full-time starter in 2022. With an increased snap percentage, Hamilton recorded career-highs in total tackles (56), tackles for loss (5), sacks (2.5), quarterback hits (6), and forced fumbles (1).

Hamilton is regarded as one of the better pass rushing interior lineman in the NFL, grading out with the 20th-best pass rush grade among the position, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He graded out as the 26th-best interior defender overall for 2023.

Jacksonville has worked hard to keep last year’s defense line intact, extending starter Roy Robertson-Harris in February, re-signing rotation lineman Adam Gotsis, and signing another rotation piece, Nick Thurman, to a reserve/futures contract at the end of the season. They also return a regular contributor in Folorunso Fatukasi, who signed with the team last year.

With a three-man defensive line, the Jaguars are expected to field Hamilton in the center with Robertson-Harris and Fatukasi on the ends. They may explore some depth options at the position in the draft or free agency, but their top contributors for the next two years, at least, have been established with today’s deal.

Jets Release RB Ty Johnson

April 26th, 2023 at 6:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Just over a month after re-signing running back Ty Johnson, the Jets will be releasing the offensive depth piece with a non-football injury designation, according to Field Yates of ESPN. This leaves just three running backs on New York’s roster, not counting fullback Nick Bawden.

Johnson joined the Jets near the beginning of the 2020 season after being waived by the Lions. A 104-yard rushing performance later in the season likely established Johnson as a midseason addition that would continue earning opportunities with the team. He ended the year as the team’s second-most productive rusher behind veteran Frank Gore. The next year, he would start three games as he competed for touches with then-rookie Michael Carter and Tevin Coleman.

Over his three seasons with New York, Johnson only averaged about 15 yards per game with 652 yards in 44 contests, but he delivered strong performances here and there even as he slid down the depth chart. He also developed more and more of a role on special teams as his opportunities on offense dwindled.

There were three backs on the roster with more rushing yards than Johnson in 2022, and all three are returning next year. The Jets rushing attack is expected to be led by a newly healthy Breece Hall in his second season. The room exudes youth right now as Zonovan Knight was also a rookie last season and Carter will enter his third NFL season in 2023.

Despite the consistency in the running backs room, the Jets offense is expected to look very different this year with Aaron Rodgers under center and throwing passes to new receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. Second-year receiver Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis add to the roster consistency in 2023, but an expected step up from Wilson and Hall in their sophomore seasons could help the Jets to be quite formidable during Rodgers’s first year in town.

Cowboys Planning Medium-Term Tony Pollard Extension

April 26th, 2023 at 5:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys are not planning for this to be a “prove it” year for Tony Pollard. They are aiming to sign their franchise-tagged player to an extension. And the team is not planning to make that contract as long as Ezekiel Elliott‘s.

Although the Cowboys traditionally prefer extensions of at least five years, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via ESPN.com’s Ed Werder) the team is eyeing a three- to four-year deal for Pollard. This would essentially cover the remainder of the fifth-year veteran’s prime.

Last year, the Cowboys and Dalton Schultz could not work out an agreement. The Cowboys made offers to the tight end, but the veteran pass catcher wanted a shorter-term deal compared to what Dallas was offering. In recent offseasons, the Cowboys also gave lengthy contracts to Elliott (six years), Zack Martin (six years), Jaylon Smith (six years), DeMarcus Lawrence (five years), La’el Collins (five years), Amari Cooper (five years) and Michael Gallup (five years). Tyron Smith remains attached to the eight-year extension he signed back in 2014; that is the longest-running active NFL deal. The team bent for Dak Prescott (four years, $160MM), but that player-friendly re-up came as the quarterback held the leverage of a second franchise tag going on Dallas’ books.

Pollard upstaged Elliott last season and became the team’s backfield priority this year, leading to the $10.1MM franchise tag — which the former fourth-round pick has signed — and ensuing Elliott release. Pollard has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons; he earned Pro Bowl acclaim for his 1,378-yard, 12-touchdown slate. A three-year deal would match Nick Chubb‘s; the other backs signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts are attached to four- or five-year deals.

Pollard’s season ended with a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain. This is not expected to impact Pollard’s Week 1 availability, and the Cowboys’ second-half struggles without their top back in San Francisco helped illustrate the value the Memphis product brings. That said, the team has been linked to Texas product Bijan Robinson at No. 26 overall. It would be borderline shocking if Robinson fell that far, but the Cowboys did take CeeDee Lamb with their 2020 first-round pick despite having Cooper and Gallup rostered.

Joining Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs as backs tagged this year, Pollard differs in being under contract. His $10.1MM salary is guaranteed. The Cowboys gave Elliott a market-topping contract just before the 2019 season; Pollard, 25, should not be expected to land such a pact. But his signing the franchise tender may signal his negotiations will not be as difficult as the Barkley and Jacobs talks look set to become.

Latest On Jalen Carter, Seahawks

April 26th, 2023 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Carter met with every team holding a pick from Nos. 5-10. Despite the turmoil the Georgia-developed prospect encountered this offseason, he may still end up being a top-five draftee.

The Seahawks hold the highest pick of the teams to have met with Carter. While another team could leapfrog the NFC West franchise — or the Texans or Cardinals could provide a surprise, based on what we have heard thus far, green light on the talented defensive tackle — the Seahawks’ No. 5 slot may well be the ceiling for Carter, given the quarterbacks who could go off the board from Nos. 1-4.

Pete Carroll looks to be on board with a Carter selection, with SI.com’s Albert Breer reporting the 14th-year Seattle HC “really likes” the idea of adding the ex-Georgia game-wrecker to his team’s defensive line. Carroll believes he could make Carter a fit, despite the higher-risk profile his recent arrest created, Breer adds.

It would not be a stretch to see the Seahawks gambling on Carter’s upside. Seattle both drafted Frank Clark in the 2015 second round, despite a domestic violence arrest leading to his dismissal from the Michigan program, and acquired Sheldon Richardson via trade in 2017 — two years after the defensive tackle was pulled over for driving 143mph with a firearm in his vehicle. While the Seahawks did not extend either player, they felt confident enough each could avoid off-field trouble. Both did while in Seattle. Malik McDowell also carried off-field questions coming into the 2017 draft, when the Seahawks selected the D-lineman in Round 2. The team also signed Aldon Smith in 2021 but released him before he played a game with the team; Smith was arrested for felony DUI causing injury that offseason. Those two investments burned the Hawks. This Carter call, due to the draft capital required, brings higher stakes.

Other Seahawks power brokers may not be as convinced as Carroll, but Breer adds the Super Bowl-winning HC — after Carter’s visit — is comfortable here. The Bears and Eagles are believed to be OK with a Carter add as well, but they hold the Nos. 9 and 10 picks. The Seahawks could have first dibs on a player viewed as a top talent in this draft. Carroll has final say on Seattle’s 53-man roster, though it is unlikely Seattle would pull the trigger without GM John Schneider signing off on Carter.

The Seahawks have already added multiple interior defensive linemen — Dre’Mont Jones, Jarran Reed — and gave the former a $17MM-per-year deal. But Seattle ranked 30th in run defense last season. Adding Carter to that group would make for one of the most significant D-tackle offseasons a team has put together in some time. Carter reached a plea deal and will not serve jail time in connection with the two misdemeanor charges that emerged this winter.

Eagles Eyeing Move Up In Round 1?

April 26th, 2023 at 4:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:17pm: Indicating the Eagles are exploring a trade to move up, NFL.com’s James Palmer notes it could be for Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson. The multiyear Buckeyes starter has gained steam in the final days, and Palmer adds Johnson impressed the Eagles on his visit. The Cardinals have been connected to Johnson as well, but they are still exploring a move down to collect assets and better position themselves for an O-lineman.

2:36pm: The rare Super Bowl entrant to hold a top-10 pick in the following draft, the Eagles are widely believed to have their eye on pass-rushing help. They appear prepared to trade up from No. 10 overall to acquire it.

Philadelphia is laying groundwork for a trade higher into top 10, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline, who notes (on Twitter) the move would be for a pass rusher. The Eagles lost Javon Hargrave in free agency and have not re-signed Robert Quinn but have a fairly deep group of edge defenders. Though, all four of those players (Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett) are on veteran contracts.

Eagles connections to edge players have formed during the pre-draft process. The NFC champions are viewed as fans of Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith and are believed to be high on Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness as well. Another report, via the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, indicates the Eagles are intrigued by Van Ness.

It is certainly possible one of these rushers — if not both — will be available at No. 10. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Van Ness and Smith as the 15th- and 16th-best prospects in this year’s class. Philly has not been closely connected to the top edges in this year’s class — Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson — and a move into top three, where Houston and Arizona are open to moving down, would be costly.

The Eagles have made a trade on Day 1 of the draft in four of the past five years. Last year, they traded a first-rounder to the Saints, in a complex pre-draft swap, and moved up for Jordan Davis. Philly then used the third of its 2022 first-rounders to acquire A.J. Brown.

The team has also been viewed as perhaps the lowest floor for Jalen Carter, the consensus best defensive tackle in this year’s class and one of the top overall talents. Just ahead of the draft, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes that perception remains. Carter met with the Eagles and every other team holding a pick between Nos. 5 and 10. The Bears are also seeking a D-lineman and are believed to be OK drafting the higher-risk prospect.

Like other teams without a quarterback need, the Eagles stand to benefit by other teams pouncing on passers in the top 10. Philly does have the No. 30 overall choice as well, and both Breer and La Canfora have Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez going off the board at No. 10. With the Eagles’ starting corners — Darius Slay, James Bradberry — going into their age-32 and age-30 seasons, respectively, the Super Bowl contenders figure to strongly consider bolstering this position with one of their first-round picks.

AFC South Notes: Colts, QBs, Texans, Titans

April 26th, 2023 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Texans may be torn on a quarterback pick, the Colts are a near-lock to select a passer with their first choice. It is now possible every passer but Bryce Young will be available for Indianapolis at No. 4, which would put the retooling team to a decision. The Colts-Will Levis connection may be this draft’s second-strongest tie — after the Panthers-Young match — but Albert Breer of SI.com notes assistant GM Ed Dodds is high on C.J. Stroud. Dodds has been with Indy since 2017, becoming Chris Ballard‘s top lieutenant soon after the GM’s arrival.

Ballard, whom Breer adds was high on Levis beginning back in the fall, also is believed to place value on the increasingly popular S2 cognition test; Stroud’s low score has been leaked. Another team moving into the Texans or Cardinals’ spots could end up making the decision for the Colts, but if no trades emerge, Indy might have a fascinating Stroud-or-Levis decision on its hands. The two seem to be trending in opposite directions, but the Ohio State prospect has received higher grades — by scouting outlets and anonymous evaluators — as a prospect.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

  • With the Texans set for a complex call at No. 2 overall, not much has emerged regarding their No. 12 choice. But Houston, in the wake of the latest Brandin Cooks trade, may be targeting receiving help. Of the receivers, the Texans prefer Jaxon Smith-Njigba, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. Despite missing almost all of his junior season, Smith-Njigba has regained momentum and has the best chance to be the top wideout of the board. With the Packers (No. 13) and Jets (No. 15) connected to the one-year Buckeyes wonder, the Texans could outflank their potential competition. John Metchie is back at work for the Texans, after missing 2022 following a leukemia diagnosis, but the team dealt Cooks to the Cowboys and did not do too much — the Robert Woods pickup notwithstanding — to replace him. The Texans are also considering moving down from No. 12, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds teams are not too interested in moving to 2.
  • One of the teams lurking as a trade-up candidate to outflank the Colts, the Titans are now being linked to trading back and accumulating picks. Both La Canfora and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicate buzz has emerged tying Tennessee to a trade-down effort from No. 11. Yes, with a few exceptions, most teams are willing to move up or down in each draft. But the Titans do have a decision to make regarding their QB future. The team toured prospects’ pro days but did not exhaust “30” visit resources at the position. Stroud is believed to be the Titans’ preference — assuming Young is out of the equation — and La Canfora views Titans trade-down talk as a smokescreen effort. Tennessee is believed to have dangled Ryan Tannehill in trades.
  • Although Jeffery Simmons staged a minicamp hold-in effort last year and lobbied for a new deal, Breer writes the Titans did not consider trading the standout defensive lineman. Ownership also assured Simmons, who since-fired GM Jon Robinson drafted in the 2019 first round, he was a long-term priority despite Robinson’s ouster, TitanInsider.com’s Terry McCormick tweets. The Titans made Simmons the NFL’s second-highest-paid defensive tackle, at $23.5MM per year, and gave him the highest D-tackle guarantee. Simmons is also coming off ankle surgery; the fifth-year standout said he underwent a cleanup procedure this offseason.
  • Jimmie Ward‘s issues with a return to cornerback last season became well known, but the longtime 49ers defender — after being moved to nickel corner again in-season — said he told DeMeco Ryans he expected last season to his his San Francisco finale. But Ward said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) Ryans communicated to him he would be interested in bringing the veteran defender to his HC destination. Ryans followed through on that, with the Texans signing Ward to a two-year, $13MM deal. Ward is back at safety.
  • Jaguars fourth-year cornerback Chris Claybrooks faces misdemeanor charges of domestic assault with bodily injury and vandalism under $1,000 stemming from an arrest earlier this month in Nashville, Jacksonville.com’s Gerry Smits reports. Claybrooks allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend’s arm and threw her cellphone to the ground.

Teams Aiming For Cardinals To Pay Part Of DeAndre Hopkins’ Salary In Trade

April 26th, 2023 at 12:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

On the trade block for several weeks now, DeAndre Hopkins remains tied to the Cardinals extension he signed in 2020. Teams are not eager to pay Hopkins at full price, with Dan Graziano of ESPN.com noting suitors want the Cards to pick up part of the tab.

Hopkins is due a $19.45MM base salary in 2023 — a number both higher than his 2022 salary ($6.65MM) and his 2024 payment ($14.92MM) — and may or may not want a raise as part of a trade. Hopkins is not a great spot to ask for a raise, given his recent injuries and PED suspension, and teams do not want to add the former All-Pro even on his current deal.

[RELATED: Which Team Will Acquire Cardinals WR?]

Suitors are waiting to see if the Cardinals move to eat some of that paragraph 5 salary, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the NFC West team has not shown any inclination to do so yet. In the recent past, teams have picked up some of an outgoing player’s money to increase draft compensation in trades. The Broncos did so in their 2021 Von Miller trade; the Bears picked up much of Robert Quinn‘s remaining 2022 salary to convince the Eagles to throw in a fourth-round pick. No trade will involve a first-round pick, so the Cardinals have a bit more time to decide — if they are intent on picking up 2023 draft capital in a Hopkins swap.

Teams continue to wonder if the Cards will simply release Hopkins rather than eating more money than they would otherwise have to in a trade, Fowler adds. This previously rumored scenario would allow the Cardinals to save that $19.45MM — if they were to designate Hopkins as a post-June 1 cut. In a pre-draft trade (or any trade before June 1), the team would be hit with a $21.1MM dead-money charge. That number would go up if the Cards picked up some of Hopkins’ salary. The Cards hold just more than $20MM in cap space; that figure will change significantly once Hopkins is moved.

Rumored Hopkins suitors, the Bills and Chiefs have been connected to first-round wide receivers. The Ravens, despite their Odell Beckham Jr. agreement, have also been linked to the 11th-year veteran. The Cardinals could wait to see what dominoes fall this weekend, but the list of suitors may shrink after teams make receiver investments in the early rounds. Hopkins expressed interest in being dealt to Buffalo or Kansas City; he was less enthused about being moved to the Jets or Patriots. Then again, last year’s PED ban voided Hopkins’ no-trade clause.

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