HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

AFC Notes: Raiders, Bills, Titans, Steelers

May 21st, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Last year, the Raiders offensive line was viewed as a major weakness, forcing Las Vegas to shuffle the depth chart until they found a workable solution. Oddly enough, though, by the end of the season, the team found a reliable starting five and some dependable reserves that didn’t blow anybody away but routinely got the job done. With the position no longer a weakness, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal posits that the Raiders may not have much urgency in addressing the position before next season.

Returning a likely starting five of Kolton Miller at left tackle, Dylan Parham at left guard, Andre James at center, Alex Bars at right guard, and Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, the Raiders don’t necessarily have any holes in the offensive line. Bonsignore asserts that the team still may look for potential upgrades from younger reserve linemen pushing for playing time or potential outside additions, if they present themselves, but right now, the team’s roster may be set after the recent additions of free agent Greg Van Roten and undrafted rookies McClendon Curtis and Dalton Wagner.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC:

  • The Bills made a number of moves within their scouting department this offseason. Formerly the team’s pro personnel director, Malik Boyd has been named senior personnel advisor in Buffalo. The former Vikings defensive back and veteran scout with personnel experience for the Colts and Cardinals will work as an executive scout in both pro and college mediums. Additionally, Chris Marrow and Curtis Rukavina have both been named co-directors of pro scouting. The two remain entwined after joining the team as pro scouts in 2017 and both working as assistant directors of pro scouting until their recent promotions.
  • With a new general manager in Ran Carthon, the Titans, too, have begun to make some front office adjustments, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Max Curtis has been named as the team’s new player personnel coordinator, being from promoted from dual roles last year as coordinator of football administration and executive assistant to the executive vice president and general manager. Bryce Wasserman will now be the Titans’ director of team strategy after serving last year as staff counsel. Lastly, a football development coordinator last year, John Streicher will now be in the role of director of football administration.
  • Finally, the Steelers have poached a scout from the in-state Eagles, according to Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh. After five years as an area scout for Philadelphia, Jim Ward will cross the state to serve a similar role in Pittsburgh.

Saints Rumors: Miller, Moreau, Saldiveri

May 21st, 2023 at 9:07pm CST by Ely Allen

One of three star offensive players for the Horned Frogs last year, new Saints rookie running back Kendre Miller was unable to finish the season with his fellow stars, quarterback Max Duggan and wide receiver Quentin Johnston, after suffering a knee injury in the team’s semifinal win over Michigan. Despite needing surgery to correct the knee injury, Miller expects to be 100 percent healthy by camp, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Miller was dominant during his final season in Fort Worth, racking up 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. The game against the Wolverines that saw him leave early was the only contest of the season in which he failed to cross the goal line. His absence in TCU’s season finale against Georgia likely contributed to the team’s embarrassing championship loss.

Miller’s MCL was only injured and not torn, but the knee requiring surgery was a note of concern as it held him out of any pre-draft workouts. Luckily, it appears that the ailment won’t preclude him from getting some preseason work with his teammates in New Orleans. It’s not as if it matters too much, though, since Miller is set to join a loaded Saints running backs room.

Miller won’t be required to be an immediate contributor as Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams put New Orleans in a stellar situation to start the year. With Kamara and Williams both under contract through 2025, the Saints have an embarrassment of riches and will have plenty of time to allow Miller to develop without working too much tread off of his tires.

Here are a few more rumors coming out of NOLA:

  • Nearly two weeks ago, the Saints added former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau, rejoining him with quarterback Derek Carr in New Orleans. Thanks to ESPN’s Field Yates, we now have a few more details on the new deal. The three-year, $12.23MM contract has a guaranteed amount of $8.02MM consisting of a $3.5MM signing bonus, Moreau’s 2023 base salary of $1.1MM, and his 2024 base salary of $3.42MM. Thanks to two void years tacked on to the end of the deal, Moreau’s cap hit in 2023 will only be $1.8MM. In the final two years of the deal, Moreau will receive a per game active roster bonus of $16,470 for a potential season total of $280K. The team also built in a potential out after the 2024 season that will allow them to avoid $8.3MM in cap hit while taking on no dead cap.
  • The Saints were able to sign fourth-round offensive tackle Nick Saldiveri to his four-year rookie contract a little over a week ago. An interesting detail about the signing is apparent in the deal’s value. As the top pick of the fourth round, Saldiveri already was set for an impressive contract. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, though, the team ended up giving him a deal worth $63K more than the amount designated for that draft slot.
  • New Orleans made an addition to its player personnel staff this week, promoting Tosan Eyetsemitan to the role of pro scout, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Eyetsemitan served previously in the role of football administration associate. This will be his third year with the Saints after four years in Cleveland.

Patriots G Michael Onwenu Slow To Return After Ankle Surgery

May 21st, 2023 at 7:42pm CST by Ely Allen

Patriots starting right guard Michael Onwenu is hoping to avoid a continuation of the rollercoaster start to his career. As a reflection of that goal, following an offseason ankle surgery, Onwenu is not “expected to be on the field” for organized team activities, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.

As a rookie, Onwenu excelled as a sixth-man for the Patriots, starting games as a sixth, stacked lineman, a right tackle, and both guard positions depending on what the injuries to the team’s starters necessitated. He finished the year ranked as the league’s eighth-best offensive guard, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

In 2021, Onwenu was asked to shift and stay at left guard. Despite a PFF grade that ranked him as the league’s third-best offensive guard that year, Onwenu struggled on the field and was benched, with Ted Karras taking his place. He would finish out the season in his rookie-year role of sixth man.

Last year was widely viewed as a bounce-back season for Onwenu. He regained a starting role, now as a right guard with rookie Cole Strange filling the position on the left side of the line. Onwenu not only started every game of the season but, until very late in the season, was on track to play every single snap of New England’s season on offense. Not only was his durability on display but so too was his playing ability as he once again ranked among the league’s best as the fourth-ranked guard, according to PFF.

He fell short of 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ final game of the regular season, when Bills defensive lineman DaQuan Jones landed on the back of his legs. Onwenu had already been playing through an ankle injury, and the added impact led to him missing the final six snaps of the season.

Missing OTAs isn’t the end of the world as the workouts are voluntary for players to begin with. It also sounds like he’ll still be in the building, he’s just not expected to be on the field, so that’s a positive, as well. We don’t yet have an idea of when Onwenu will be full-go on the field, but we can see that the Patriots are being cautious with his return.

5 Key Stories: 5/14/23 – 5/21/23

May 21st, 2023 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the offseason roles along, teams continue to make important decisions shaping their rosters, while other storylines take shape as well. Here’s a quick recap of the top headlines from the past week:

  • Brown Dies At 87: The NFL said goodbye to one of its greatest players when it was learned that Jim Brown passed away peacefully at the age of 87. The former Browns running back was one of the league’s first superstars, and his immense success remains well-known to this day. A three-time MVP, Brown led the league in rushing yards during eight of his nine seasons, and is still the only back to average over 100 rushing yards per game over the course of his career. Aside from his on-field brilliance at both the pro and college levels, his legacy includes acting and social activism during his post-playing days. It also, on the other hand, involves multiple arrests for violence against women. Overall, Brown will be remembered as an iconic figure regarding his impact on the NFL as it moved toward the Super Bowl era, along with a number of other positive and negative developments following his sudden retirement at the age of 30.
  • Ryan To Step Into Broadcast Booth: While he is leaving the door open to a new deal as a player, quarterback Matt Ryan appears set to begin the next phase of his football career. The 37-year-old will work as an analyst for CBS in 2023, absent an offer from a team to suit up for one more campaign. Ryan’s 14-year tenure with the Falcons ended last offseason, and expectations were relatively high for him upon his arrival in Indianapolis. His time with the Colts was forgettable to say the least, however, and his new team made the expected decision to release him in March. Ryan, the NFL’s MVP in 2016, will earn $12MM from the Colts this season while transitioning to the broadcast booth.
  • Saints Negotiating Final Jordan Deal? Cam Jordan has one year remaining on his current contract, but another extension keeping him in New Orleans could be hammered out in the near future. The 33-year-old has established himself as one of the top players in franchise history, but he indicated his next contract will likely be his last with the team. Jordan is the all-time Saints sack leader, and remains in line for a pivotal role on their defense for at least the short-term future. The eight-time Pro Bowler’s ability to add further to his individual accolades will be dictated by the outcome of contract talks, and attention could increasingly turn to his pursuit of a Super Bowl ring if his upcoming extension does indeed mark the beginning of the end of his career.
  • Steelers Maintain QB Depth Chart: Kenny Pickett is in place as the Steelers’ starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, but many expected at least one change to be made to the team’s depth chart at the position this offseason. Instead, Pittsburgh will once again have Mitch Trubisky as its backup, after agreeing to a new extension which will keep him under contract through 2025. Trubisky will earn $8MM in guranteed money this season, but incentives could push the contract’s total value to $33MM. Meanwhile, third-stringer Mason Rudolph declined the opportunity to seek out a new environment (and with it, a better chance at playing time) by inking to a new deal of his own. For at least one more season, the Steelers’ QBs room will look identical to its 2022 iteration.
  • Harris Continues To Wait For Ratification Of Commanders Bid: Given the timing of Josh Harris‘ signed deal with Dan Snyder to purchase the Commanders, few expected the agreement to be formally ratified during the upcoming league meetings. Indeed, no timeline currently exists for a vote to take place regarding the sale, which carries a record-shattering price of $6.05 billion. Issues have arisen regarding the structure of Harris’ proposed agreement, but the widespread belief remains that it will be approved by the summer largely due to the desire on the part of other owners to put an end to Snyder’s tenure at the helm of the franchise. The vetting process of investors supporting Harris will go a long way in bringing the sale across the finish line.

CB Kevin King Suffers Torn Achilles

May 21st, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kevin King is one of several veteran corners seeking out their next NFL gig. King will likely have to wait longer than most others to make his next appearance, however, given the nature of his latest injury setback.

The 28-year-old recently revealed that he suffered a torn Achilles while working out privately (video link). That marks a major blow to his attempt at returning to the NFL in 2023, given the lengthy recovery time required to rehab the injury.

King followed through on his previously-detailed plan to skip the 2022 season altogether while he recovered from a long list of injuries suffered during his time with the Packers. Hip, knee and shoulder injuries, along with a concussion, helped limit the former second-rounder to 11 total games played in 2021. Other ailments in his first two campaigns also fueled his desire to take an extended period to return to full health.

“After my fifth year with the Packers I was actually pretty healthy,” King said. “It was a time when I felt pretty good for the first time in a while. My first four years I had surgery after every year so I didn’t have much of a chance to have an offseason. They don’t really talk about the wear and tear on you mentally that it does, dealing with injuries.”

The Washington alum’s most productive season came in 2019, when he notched five interceptions, 15 pass deflections and 66 tackles. His snap share rose the following campaign before dropping to 48% in 2021, as the Packers continued to invest heavily at the CB spot. King likely would have been heading elsewhere in 2023 on a new deal, one which no doubt would be a short-term, relatively modest one given his missed time.

Now, his attention will once again have to turn to rehab for the foreseeable future. With King off the market for, in all likelihood, the entire 2023 season, other veteran corners like Marcus Peters, William Jackson and Casey Hayward could see a slight uptick in their value while searching for a spot ahead of training camp.

Jadeveon Clowney Interested In Reunion With Texans

May 21st, 2023 at 2:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

A number of veteran edge rushers remain on the open market well into the offseason. One of them is Jadeveon Clowney, who, as expected, has not re-signed with the Browns this year. His next destination could still be a familiar one, however.

In an interview with Mark Berman of Fox 26, the former No. 1 pick indicated that he would welcome a deal reuniting him with the Texans (video link). Clowney, 30, lives and trains in Houston, the city in which he spent the first five years of his career. It was also with the Texans that he earned each of his three Pro Bowl nods, though his production has never fully matched his expectations at any stop in his career.

Clowney followed his tenure in Houston with single campaigns in Seattle and Tennessee, then a two-year stint with the Browns. He proved to be a productive compliment to Myles Garrett in 2021 with nine sacks, but things took a markedly different turn last season. Clowney was limited to a pair of sacks and saw his snap share drop to 63% – the lowest mark in his career since his rookie campaign.

By the end of the season – during which the South Carolina alum had been benched for his public remarks regarding his playing time and usage in the team’s defense – it was obvious that Clowney’s future would not be in Cleveland. He was released in March, leaving him on the open market once again. That puts him among the likes of Frank Clark, Justin Houston and Leonard Floyd as pass rushers seeking a new opportunity.

Clowney expressed praise for new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who comes to Houston with a reputation as one of the league’s top defensive minds. The rebuilding team has made a few moves already along the edge, including trading up to the No. 3 pick in the draft to select Will Anderson Jr, along with the signing of Chase Winovich and a reunion with Jacob Martin. That could create an uncertain path to a starting role for Clowney, but his optimism for Houston’s future could produce conversations beyond the initial one his agent had with the organization earlier this offseason.

It remains to be seen, however, if Clowney’s desire for a return is matched by the Texans. No timeline is currently in place for a deal in Houston or elsewhere to come to fruition, but it would certainly be notable if the next phase of his career took place where it began.

Latest On Seahawks S Jamal Adams

May 20th, 2023 at 10:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Jamal Adams continues to recover from a torn quad that limited him to only one game in 2022. While the Seahawks sound hopeful that he’ll be good to go for the regular season, general manager John Schneider cautioned that the safety may not be ready for training camp.

“He’s working his tail off,” Schneider said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (via Twitter). “We want to be really careful with this. It’s been two years in a row where he’s been banged up now. … We want to be really careful with his progression. So training camp, I’m just not sure. We’ll see where he is when he comes into the OTAs.”

Adams has dealt with a number of injuries since the Seahawks acquired him from the Jets back in 2020. He still earned a second-team All-Pro nod during his first season in Seattle despite missing four games. His 2021 season then ended early when he suffered a torn labrum, and his 2022 campaign was wiped out thanks to the torn quad.

As a result, it’s not too surprising that both Adams and the organization are proceeding with caution. Adams still has three years remaining on the record-breaking four-year, $72MM deal he signed with the Seahawks in 2021, although the front office does have some flexibility to get out of the deal next offseason.

As a result of that hefty commitment, Adams’ continued injuries, and the organization’s acquisition of Julian Love, there were some pundits who wondered if Seattle could look to move on from the star defensive back. However, Pete Carroll was quick to dismiss the notion that Adams, Love, and Quandre Diggs couldn’t coexist.

“I know there’s some conversation that what we did with Julian, does that have some impact on Jamal or Quandre — it doesn’t,” Carroll said back in March (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “We have a clear thought of what we’re going to do with our guys and how we want to play them and we feel very fortunate to have all our guys.”

Release Candidate: CB Noah Igbinoghene

May 20th, 2023 at 10:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins’ cornerbacks room could end up looking fairly different in 2023 than it did in 2022. That’s partially because of injuries that kept players like Noah Igbinoghene, Byron Jones, and Nik Needham off the field for large portions of the year. It’s also due to the acquisition of star defender Jalen Ramsey and the use of their top draft pick on South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.

With all the adjustments, there’s a chance that Miami may have worked themselves into a situation in which a former first-round pick doesn’t make the 53-man roster at the end of the summer. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, barring injury to his teammates, Igbinoghene may find himself to be the odd man out come final roster cuts.

Ramsey and Xavien Howard are no-brainers to make the roster, as is the rookie top pick, Smith, likely. Ramsey comes in as a three-time first-team All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler. Over his seven-year career, Ramsey has started in every game in which he’s made an appearance but one, and that one was his debut with the Rams five days after being traded from Jacksonville. Howard is a former first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, as well. He’s twice led the league in interceptions over his seven-year career.

Smith was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks and had experience outside and in the slot in Columbia. According to another report by Jackson, the Dolphins currently have Smith focusing on playing on the outside while trying to cut down on penalties. His versatility and ability to play in the slot, though, is a point against Igbinoghene, who was drafted to start in the slot.

After that, Kader Kohou and Keion Crossen may have earned their spots after stepping up in replacement of the injured Igbinoghene and Needham last year. As an undrafted rookie last year out of Texas A&M – Commerce, Kohou ended the season as Miami’s top-ranked cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He started 13 games for the Dolphins, appearing just over half the time in the slot. Crossen was a reliable injury replacement who contributes strongly on special teams, as well.

Of the returning injured pair, Needham has shown more in his healthy time than Igbinoghene and has had more healthy time. Needham recorded two interceptions in each of his first three seasons in the league before missing 11 games due to injury last year. He was tabbed as the starter opposite Howard when Jones was expected to be out for the year. Miami re-signed him to a one-year deal this offseason after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him.

Igbinoghene struggled to stay healthy in his sophomore season, as well, missing 10 games. It wouldn’t reward the Dolphins much financially to waive the fourth-year player, whose fifth-year option was declined earlier this month. According to OvertheCap.com, the Dolphins would only gain about $536K in cap space while leaving about $3.04MM on the table in dead money, no matter when they waive him.

Many were a bit surprised by the use of a first-round pick on Igbinoghene to begin with. Three years later, and he hasn’t done much to inspire confidence in playing up to his draft stock. Only appearing in 32 games out of a possible 50, and making five starts, Igbinoghene has a career 29 total tackles, five passes defensed, and one interception. His injury history has contributed to the lack of production, but Igbinoghene has struggled to make the most of the opportunities he’s been given.

Regardless, the Dolphins have a logjam forming at the cornerback position. Special teams contributions will help Crossen and veteran special teamer Justin Bethel hold on to roster spots, while Ramsey, Howard, Smith, Kohou, and Needham are all expected to stay on the team. That alone would be seven roster spots dedicated to the cornerback position. Igbinoghene will need to have a strong offseason in order to prove he’s still worthy of a roster spot come August.

Packers Eyeing Starting Role For S Rudy Ford?

May 20th, 2023 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers are set at the top of their cornerback depth chart heading into 2023, but their situation at the safety position is different. A competition for a starting safety spot will take place through the summer, but an early contender is in place amongst the team’s in-house options.

“I like where our safety room is in terms of the competition right now,” Packers safeties coach Ryan Downard said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “There’s an opening there, and there’s only one guy in the room who’s played a ton of snaps for us… So it’s full competition when we go on the practice field.”

The player Downard is referring to, of course, is Rudy Ford. The latter joined Green Bay after being released by the Jaguars on the final day of roster cuts in August, leading to tempered expectations in his new home. Ford had started only six games in his career at that point, and had also spent time in Arizona and Philadelphia before his one-year stint in Jacksonville.

The former sixth-rounder played a career-high 442 snaps on defense in 2022, though, making him a key member of Green Bay’s secondary. Ford notched three interceptions and 44 total stops while logging a 43% snap share, which could put him in line for a step forward in playing time this season. Wood notes that Ford is the “top internal candidate” to replace Adrian Amos as a safety starter. The latter remains unsigned, and while a reunion could still be on the table, he has drawn interest from the Ravens as well.

That could leave Green Bay to rely on Ford in a tandem with 2019 first-rounder Darnell Savage, whose play at safety in particular has drawn signficant criticism. Depth at slot corner will bring Savage back to the safety spot, making identifying Amos’ replacement a top priority for the Packers if they are to take a forward step on defense this year.

Wood lists free agent signings Tarvarius Moore and Jonathan Owens as the other top competitors for the spot. Each has considerable experience at the NFL level, but also a track record of heavy usage on special teams rather than defense for much of their careers. It is also in the third phase that most (if not all) of seventh-round rookie Anthony Johnson‘s playing time will come in 2023. Those factors should leave Ford in pole position for a first-team role, though much remains to be determined in the coming months.

Latest On CB William Jackson

May 20th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deep into the post-draft wave of free agency, many veterans still on the market are facing a shrinking number of suitors as they look for their best fit ahead of training camp. Cornerback William Jackson falls into that category, but his wait to land a new opportunity may not last much longer.

Jackson is at full health in anticipation of summer offseason programs, as noted (on Twitter) by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Wilson adds that Jackson has received interest from “multiple teams,” and that he is evaluating his options with the aim of finding the right fit to continue his career. The 30-year-old played in four games with the Commanders last season.

Jackson finished the season in Pittsburgh, though, after they traded for him at the deadline. That move came after his tenure in Washington ended in unspectacular fashion, especially given the lucrative deal (three-years, $40.5MM) he had been playing on. The Steelers’ willingness to trade for him prevented a release, but Jackson never ended up seeing any game time in Pittsburgh due to an injury.

Facing the possibility of saving $12.75MM in cap space, the Steelers made the expected move of releasing the former first-rounder in March. Cornerback was a position of need for Pittsburgh this offseason, but their lack of interest in signing Jackson to a prove-it type deal makes it little surprise that he still finds himself on the open market. At full health, though, he could prove to be an effective pickup this late into the roster-building part of the calendar.

Jackson has started 64 of 74 career games, and he recorded a career-best 45 tackles along with 11 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions in 2020, his fourth and final season with the Bengals. A first-team role likely wouldn’t await him on a new team given the recent deals dished out by CB-needy teams to the likes of Rock Ya-Sin and Shaquill Griffin. Jackson may have to compete with fellow veteran Marcus Peters to be the next notable corner to sign a contract, but the lack of other available options could help his market value as he looks to get his career back on track in a new setting.

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