HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

CB Marcus Peters To Visit Raiders

May 15th, 2023 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

A new deal allowing Marcus Peters to remain in Baltimore could still be in the cards. The veteran corner has other options to consider, however, including a move to the Raiders.

Peters is visiting Las Vegas today, reports Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). That news comes not long after Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Baltimore is still open to re-signing the 30-year-old at some point this offseason. The Raiders represent a logical landing spot if a new Ravens deal is not worked out, though.

Vegas saw 2022 trade acquisition Rock Ya-Sin sign with the Ravens earlier this week, giving them a potential Peters replacement. The former’s departure came after Anthony Averett‘s deal expired, leaving another vacancy at the CB spot for the Raiders; Averett remains unsigned. Both he and Ya-Sin occupied notable roles during their time with the Raiders, a team which struggled against the pass on defense last season.

That resulted in a number of free agent cornerback additions so far this offseason, including a reunion with Brandon Facyson and deals with Duke Shelley and David Long. The Raiders also used a fourth-round pick in the draft to add Jakorian Bennett, who should be in line for at least a rotational role for years to come as the team looks to rebuild on the backend. The signing of safety Marcus Epps could go a long way on that front, but a healthy Peters likely would as well.

The two-time All-Pro has remained one of the league’s top ballhawks for much of his career, notching 32 interceptions in 104 career games. He missed all of 2021 with a torn ACL, however, and struggled upon his return to the field last season with only one pick and poor performances in coverage. If he were to return to his pre-injury form, though, a short-term deal at a modest rate could prove to be worth the risk for Vegas. As the post-draft wave of free agency continues, Peters shouldn’t have to wait much longer to sign his next deal, with the Raiders or another team.

Saints’ Michael Thomas Expected To Be Healthy By Training Camp

May 15th, 2023 at 11:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Michael Thomas is assured to be in New Orleans for at least one more season, but he has work to do to return to full health in time for the 2023 season. Training camp has been named as the target for the oft-injured wideout to reach that point.

During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, head coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Thomas will not be a full participant in the Saints’ offseason program (video link). He reiterated, however, the team’s confidence in the 30-year-old’s ability to return to his All-Pro form upon return.

“Right now, he’s still going through some of the rehab process,” Allen said. “He had some hardware removed out of that foot that he had surgery on this past season. He’s doing really well… Our anticipation is that he’ll be limited throughout this offseason. But our anticipation is that when we get to training camp, he’ll be good to go.”

Thomas was limited to three games in 2022 due to the toe injury which, as Allen noted, required surgery. The two-time All-Pro last put together a healthy season in 2019, a year in which he broke the record for receptions in a season (149) and led the league in yards (1,725). New Orleans has remained optimistic in his ability to remain highly productive when healthy, but his future appeared to be headed elsewhere after a January restructure of his contract.

However, the sides agreed to a new one-year deal with a maximum value of $15MM in March. That will give Thomas another opportunity to rebuild his value on an offense now led by quarterback Derek Carr and first-round wideout Chris Olave, who had a successful rookie campaign in 2022. Questions will naturally be raised regarding Thomas’ ability to remain healthy this season, and, if so, to once again be one of the most impactful receivers in the game.

On that point, general manager Mickey Loomis echoed Allen’s confidence that Thomas can post triple-digit catches for what would be a fourth time (Twitter link via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). He also confirmed that the latter remains on schedule with his recovery, something which will be a key storyline to follow leading up to the season.

Buccaneers Sign QB John Wolford

May 15th, 2023 at 10:56am CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 15: Wolford will earn $1.01MM on this deal, the minimum for players who have been in the league for three years (Twitter link via Greg Auman of Fox Sports). That likely caps his potential at QB3 in Tampa Bay, but it will be interesting to monitor how willing the team is to carry three quarterbacks on their roster given the competition between Mayfield and Trask for the starting job.

MAY 9: Tampa Bay has added further to their post-Tom Brady quarterback room. The team announced on Tuesday that they have signed John Wolford.

The 27-year-old originally joined the Jets as a UDFA in 2018, but his only game action to date has come with the Rams. Wolford has appeared in seven games for Los Angeles across the past three years, making his debut in a must-win regular season finale in 2020 which resulted in a victory.

He played only in relief the following campaign behind Matthew Stafford, but made three starts in relief of the veteran in 2022. Wolford totaled 390 yards during that stretch, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions while compiling a passer rating of 64.6. The Wake Forest product was not given a qualifying offer this offseason, opening the door to a departure in free agency.

After the Rams elected to add a rookie passer – Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of the draft – signs pointed to Wolford needing to look elsewhere for his next opportunity. It will come in Tampa Bay, where he will compete with a familiar face in the form of Baker Mayfield for playing time.

The latter’s Rams debut came in relief of Wolford days after he was claimed off waivers from the Panthers. Mayfield parlayed his Los Angeles audition into a one-year deal with the Buccaneers, which many feel will represent his final chance to establish himself as an NFL starter. Mayfield already had competition for the No. 1 spot due to the presence of 2021 second-rounder Kyle Trask, who is expected to get a look at starting duties at least during training camp. Now, Wolford will join that pair as the Buccaneers try to establish a pecking order in their rebuilt QB room.

Latest On Vikings, Justin Jefferson

May 15th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

With much of the roster-building portion of the offseason done with, many teams are shifting attention to extensions with their top in-house players. In the Vikings’ case, that means a new deal for wideout Justin Jefferson is an obvious priority.

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has put up the most productive three-year start to a career in NFL history, meaning a second contract will no doubt be a lucrative one. Jefferson could easily command a deal placing him amongst the highest-paid receivers in the league, something which would be particularly noteworthy given the recent surge in the positions’ market.

14 wideouts average $20MM or more per season on their current contracts, while Miami’s Tyreek Hill became the league’s first ever $30MMM-per-year player at the position in 2022. Talks between the Vikings and Jefferson will likely be centered around where he fits in he receiver pecking order given not only his statistical achievements, but also his age (23) relative to the league’s other highly-paid WRs.

“I don’t know if I’d put a timeline on it,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said of a Jefferson extension, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “I just know that, you know, we very much are looking forward to having Justin play here for a really long time… I look forward to when we get that done and we can move forward knowing that Justin’s going to be here for the long term and we will get that done. Justin knows, his representation knows exactly how we feel about him.”

Those comments echo ones made by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah earlier this offseason on the topic of getting a new deal done with Jefferson this offseason, the first in which one can be signed. The LSU alum has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and Minnesota made the obvious decision of picking up his fifth-year option (worth $19.74MM) for 2024.

While that will keep Jefferson on the books for the short-term future, a mega-deal being finalized in the coming weeks or months would come as little surprise. The Vikings currently find themselves in worse cap shape than all but the Buccaneers at the moment, but clarity could emerge next offseason when quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ deal expires. By that point, Jefferson could very well find himself as the league’s highest-paid receiver.

Cowboys Sign 13 UDFAs

May 14th, 2023 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys didn’t release a statement on their undrafted free agent signings like most teams, but they did release a list of 29 rookie minicamp participants and their statuses with the organization. Removing their eight draft picks, two UDFA tryouts, and previously acquired youngsters, we were able to determine this list of undrafted signees:

Dallas addressed the tight end position in the second round this year with a bit of project in Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker. They decided to bring in a couple more options in Fant and Stephens. Fant provides a unique versatility as a potential H-back. In addition to his career 579 receiving yards and five touchdowns, Fant rushed for five more scores and threw one as a sixth-year senior. Stephens was rostered as a receiver for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but his 6-foot-6, 232-pound frame should assist him in converting to tight end at the next level.

The Cowboys barely addressed wide receiver in the draft, so they’ve nabbed a few here, as well. Durden was a monster during his time with the Argonauts. A former draft pick for the Boston Red Sox, Durden left baseball for West Florida and dominated, catching 88 passes for 1,915 yards and 23 touchdowns with only three drops in his final two years of school. Over his entire college career, he averaged nearly 20 yards per catch. He’ll need to adjust to the NFL-caliber of opponents, but his raw athleticism and special teams ability could help cement him a spot on the roster.

Moreno-Cropper had a strong final two season with the Bulldogs, as well, with 1,985 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s had a bit of trouble with surehandedness and he’s a bit undersized, but the Cowboys haven’t minded smaller receivers like Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin in recent history.

The team also added two strong depth pieces at defensive end. Johnson had a down 2021 but combined for 17.5 sacks and 38.0 tackles for loss in his 2020 and 2022 seasons. Wheat finished his three-year career with the Bulldogs with 17.0 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss. They have some strong competition for potential snaps, but they provide solid depth at the position regardless.

Buccaneers Announce 19-Man UDFA Class

May 14th, 2023 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

After selecting eight rookies in the 2023 draft, the Buccaneers added 19 undrafted rookie free agents. Here is the list:

Brown was an absolute animal for the Division-II Rams this season, piling up 1,864 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns as well as 589 receiving yards for five touchdowns on 56 receptions. He and Tucker, who scored 23 rushing touchdowns in the last two years for the Orange, are the only rookie additions to a Tampa Bay running backs room that’s looking for someone to take over.

With only six receivers on the roster following the draft, the Buccaneers added several here. Miller caught 12 touchdowns last year for the Paladins as an FCS All-American. Warner is the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.

On the offensive line, Haggard and O’Neal join as true left tackles with each starting over 20 games at their respective institutions. Dzansi provides some unique versatility having played all the guard and tackle spots on both the left and right sides of the ball for the Hokies. Murray provides some versatility, as well, having experience at both guard and center.

Banks provides some young depth at inside linebacker after having led the Volunteer defense in tackles last season. Bouyer-Randle and Mbanasor, both former Texas Tech transfers, provide some well-rounded depth at the outside linebacker spots. At safety, Merriweather was a second-team All-American after a stellar senior year with the Hawkeyes.

The Buccaneers also added some potential competition for long snapper Zach Triner, the team’s starter at the position for the past four years. Deckers served as the Blue Devils long snapper as a grad transfer after four years at UMass. He’ll battle with Triner for a starting job this summer.

Jaguars Sign T Anton Harrison, DE Tyler Lacy To Wrap Up Draft Class

May 14th, 2023 at 7:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jaguars became the latest NFL squad to wrap up the signing of their entire rookie class today after the reported signings of first-round Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison and fourth-round Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy.

Harrison was a two-year starter for the Sooners, spending all but one game at left tackle. He was coddled a bit by Oklahoma’s up-tempo, RPO scheme, but was able to show quite a bit of talent at such a young age. He has some inexperienced habits to shake and will face a bit of a learning curve in an NFL-scheme, but the upside to Harrison’s game made him an easy decision in the first round. With the departure of Jawaan Taylor and Cam Robinson‘s upcoming suspension, Harrison will probably be asked to step up right away and play a crucial role in the Jacksonville’s offense as a rookie.

Lacy is a versatile defensive lineman who faced off against Harrison in the Bedlam Series twice. The four-year starter for the Cowboys saw snaps all over the defensive line, from edge to 3-tech. Mainly a stout run defender during his time in Stillwater, Lacy plugs into gaps and can become a nuisance in the pass rush if the quarterback holds on for too long. He should be able to find some work in the rotation at end behind Roy Robertson-Harris and Folorunso Fatukasi.

With the signing of Harrison and Lacy, Jacksonville becomes the fifth team to wrap up their draft class signings. Here is the Jaguars’ 2023 draft class:

Round 1, No. 27 (from Bills): Anton Harrison, OT (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 2, No. 61 (from Panthers through 49ers and Bears): Brenton Strange, TE (Penn State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 88: Tank Bigsby, RB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 4, No. 121 (from Buccaneers): Ventrell Miller, LB (Florida) (signed)
Round 4, No. 130 (from Bills): Tyler Lacy, DE (Oklahoma State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 136 (from Bears): Yasir Abdullah, LB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 5, No. 160 (from Giants): Antonio Johnson, S (Texas A&M) (signed)
Round 6, No. 185 (from Jets): Parker Washington, WR (Penn State) (signed)
Round 6, No. 202: Christian Braswell, CB (Rutgers) (signed)
Round 6, No. 208 (from Eagles): Erick Hallett, DB (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 7, No. 226 (from Panthers): Cooper Hodges, OT (Appalachian State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 227 (from Saints): Raymond Vohasek, DT (North Carolina) (signed)
Round 7, No. 240 (from Giants through Ravens): Derek Parish, FB (Houston) (signed)

Patriots Sign Three Undrafted Free Agents

May 14th, 2023 at 7:02pm CST by Ely Allen

After selecting 12 rookies in the 2023 draft, the Patriots didn’t have much roster room to spare, leading them to signing a meager three undrafted free agent rookies. Here are the three who will attempt to defy odds for a roster spot:

Cunningham was a four-year starter for the Cardinals, helping Louisville to find its identity following the Lamar Jackson-era. After Jawon Pass failed to inspire much optimism in Cunningham’s freshman season, Cunningham took the reins and never looked back. Over five years, Cunningham threw for 9,664 yards and 70 touchdowns, adding 3,184 yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground. He can compete with Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley for backup duties behind Mac Jones and potentially provide as a scout team quarterback, especially for games against quarterbacks like Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Kyler Murray.

Lumpkin will be entering the NFL at 25 years old after spending two years at Hutchinson Community College and five years at Louisiana. He has ideal size at the tight end position and utilized it well for the Ragin’ Cajuns. While he didn’t light up the stat sheet, four of his 16 catches last year were for touchdowns.

Heilig is a surprising signing, even for New England. Drafted mostly off of potential, Heilig only had 34 total tackles in four seasons with the Mountaineers. He had actually entered his name in the transfer portal and was, reportedly, willing to move down to the FCS level, if necessary, to find more playing time. After not receiving any scholarship interest, Heilig took a job at Zaxby’s to make ends meet. Then, the Patriots called.

The presumption is that the Patriots intend to utilize Heilig as a dedicated special teams player. Yes, the Patriots do have plenty of those in players like Matthew Slater, Brenden Schooler, Cody Davis, and perhaps Chris Board, but after one of their worst special teams seasons in recent memory, New England was willing to take a flyer on Heilig. It’s really the perfect landing place for him as the Patriots lend more opportunities to specialists than any other NFL franchise.

Broncos Sign XFL QB Ben DiNucci

May 14th, 2023 at 6:12pm CST by Ely Allen

After hosting the Seattle Sea Dragons quarterback for rookie minicamp, the Broncos have officially signed Ben DiNucci to their offseason roster, according to JL Sports agency. The XFL’s passing yards leader returns to the NFL after a year in the alternative league.

DiNucci was a seventh-round pick for the Cowboys in 2020 out of James Madison, after transferring over from Pitt. He played and started in relief of Andy Dalton that year to discouraging results, completing only 53.3 percent of his passes for 219 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in three game appearances.

Garrett Gilbert, a more experienced backup passer, overcame him on the depth chart, leading to DiNucci’s release in the final roster cuts leading into the 2021 season. He remained on the team’s practice squad for that year and was finally released for good in final roster cuts leading into the 2022 season.

Being drafted by the Sea Dragons in the XFL’s draft, DiNucci joined former Bengals, Raiders, and Texans quarterback A.J. McCarron as the only XFL quarterbacks with NFL experience. He would go on to lead the fledgling league in passing yards in 2023 with 2,671 while throwing 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 10 starts.

It’s unclear where DiNucci will fit into the pecking order at quarterback after nailing his audition in Denver. Behind starter Russell Wilson, the Broncos have two relievers in Jarrett Stidham and Jarrett Guarantano. Stidham started the final two games of the season for the Raiders last year against two teams that would make conference championship games, including a three-point loss to the 49ers. In those two starts, he completed 64.29 percent of his passes for 584 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also added 84 yards on the ground on 14 rush attempts. Guarantano doesn’t have any NFL time after a disappointing end to his college career.

Likely, DiNucci will battle with Guarantano for the QB3 role, but DiNucci’s recent experience as a starter may give him a chance to push Stidham for QB2. We’ll be able to glean more once all the quarterbacks are in town for OTAs, but DiNucci should have a strong opportunity at winning a roster spot in Denver.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/23

May 14th, 2023 at 5:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves to wrap up the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: CB LJ Davis

Ray is making a long-awaited return to the NFL. When he finished out his rookie contract with the Broncos after the 2018 season and failed to make the Ravens roster for the next year, Ray was away from professional football for about a year and a half. After a long hiatus, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. The Bills will give Ray a chance to return to the NFL, reuniting him with Von Miller from their days in Denver.

Ray saw early success in Denver, racking up 12.0 sacks in his first two years. But after earning a starting job in 2017, Ray suffered a season-ending wrist injury after only eight games. In 2018, another wrist surgery would force him to miss five more games. His injury problems did not leave him in Canada, as a torn bicep would force him to miss the Argonauts’ Grey Cup victory. He’ll hope to stay healthy in his NFL return.

Load More Posts