HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

DB Notes: Baker, Gordon, Lions, Chinn

June 15th, 2023 at 12:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Budda Baker issued a trade request in February, though it did not become public until mid-April. The Pro Bowl safety remains with the Cardinals and attended the team’s minicamp this week. But the disgruntled defender did not participate in on-field work, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. This hold-in effort did involve some degree of participation, with Jonathan Gannon indicating Baker has texted with him regarding film and has been in contact with coaches.

“It was good to have him in the building today,” Gannon said (via Weinfuss), calling Baker’s situation “the business side of it.” “Smile on his face. He was asking a bunch of questions. I told the coaches, you better be on your toes cause he’s going to ask good questions. The dialogue has been great, and I’m ready to get [No.] 3 back out there.”

With the Cardinals rebuilding and unlikely to have Kyler Murray available to start the season, it would be interesting to see if they listened to offers for Baker. It also is understandable for Gannon to want the decorated safety back in the mix, given the talent the Cardinals lost on defense this offseason (J.J. Watt, Zach Allen, Byron Murphy, Markus Golden). Two years remain on Baker’s $14.75MM-per-year contract, which has paid out its guarantees.

Here is the latest DB news from around the NFL:

  • The Bears now have three second-round cornerbacks on their roster, adding Tyrique Stevenson to a mix that includes Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. A 2022 Round 2 choice, Gordon is now ticketed for a full-time slot role, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Washington product played both inside and outside last season, logging a 97% snap rate in the 14 games he played. Gordon intercepted three passes and forced a fumble as a rookie, though Pro Football Focus did not view his coverage work especially fondly, ranking the 6-foot defender 108th among qualified corners.
  • Will Harris moved from safety to slot corner with the Lions last year, but the team’s secondary overhaul included the additions of two hybrid players — C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch. Both safeties have extensive slot experience, and Gardner-Johnson — despite leading the NFL with six interceptions last season as an Eagles safety — is expected to play plenty in the slot with the Lions. Harris should be expected to be a backup in 2023, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, who notes the fifth-year defender should work as the top reserve on the outside and in the slot. A former third-round pick who re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason, Harris started 10 games last year.
  • Used as a linebacker and a safety over his first three seasons, Jeremy Chinn is set to stay on a versatile track in Carolina. The former Panthers second-rounder has worked as a nickel presence throughout the offseason, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. New Panthers secondary coach Jonathan Cooley said the staff has not fully pinned down Chinn’s role, which will make this run-up to a contract year interesting. The Panthers held off on trading Chinn last year, keeping him as part of a young defensive core.
  • Texans cornerback Steven Nelson hired a new agent recently, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes David Mulugheta is now representing the ninth-year defender. Nelson signed a two-year, $9MM deal with the Texans in 2022, but started all 15 games he played. Going into his age-30 season, the former Chiefs, Steelers and Eagles corner is running out of time to make another financial splash.
  • The Cardinals made tiny splashes in the secondary recently, adding corners Dylan Mabin and Bobby Price. Both will be on league-minimum deals, with GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer tweeting Price will earn $1.01MM (the minimum for a fourth-year player) while Mabin is at $870K (the basement for a player with one year of experience). With neither assured of a roster spot, no money here is guaranteed.

Buccaneers To Sign K Rodrigo Blankenship

June 15th, 2023 at 11:02am CST by Sam Robinson

Going into training camp, the Buccaneers’ 2023 kicker room will have a Colts-y vibe. After bringing in Rodrigo Blankenship for a minicamp tryout, Tampa Bay is signing the young specialist, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Blankenship spent part of three seasons with the Colts, being the team’s first non-Adam Vinatieri Week 1 leg since 2005, but was waived last year. The player who both replaced Vinatieri late in the 2019 season and took over for Blankenship in September 2022, Chase McLaughlin, is already on the Bucs’ 90-man roster.

McLaughlin kicked in 16 games for the Colts last season, replacing Blankenship after the latter’s rough day during a Week 1 tie with the Texans. Tampa Bay gave the fifth-year kicker a one-year, $1.13MM deal this offseason. That pact came with just $100K guaranteed, giving the Bucs flexibility. With Blankenship representing competition, the two recent Indianapolis kickers will vie to replace Ryan Succop in Tampa.

This will mark a rematch between McLaughlin and Blankenship, who squared off in a kicking battle in 2020. The Colts had signed McLaughlin, who kicked in four games for the team in 2019, to a reserve/futures deal in 2020. But they went with Blankenship, a 2020 UDFA out of Georgia, to be Vinatieri’s full-time successor. That move, however, only produced one full season of work. A 2021 injury and the struggles in Houston last September led Blankenship out of Indiana. The Colts paid up for ex-Rams standout Matt Gay in March.

The former Lou Groza award winner, Blankenship made 32 of 37 field goals as a rookie but suffered a hip injury during a pivotal 2021 Monday night in Baltimore. Blankenship’s efforts to kick through the injury resulted in a missed extra point and two missed field goals, opening the door to a 19-point Ravens comeback that dealt the Colts what would be a crushing blow — since the team finished one win shy of the playoffs that season. Blankenship booted two kickoffs out of bounds and missed a 42-yard field goal in overtime during his comeback game against the Texans in Week 1 of last season. He later caught on with the Cardinals, making both his field goal tries in two games.

Tampa Bay had gone through numerous kickers during the 2010s, shuffling through a new option annually, but Succop gave the team some sought-after stability. Encountering cap issues this offseason, the Bucs released Succop in March. The 13-year veteran remains a free agent.

Bengals Not Planning To Try La’el Collins At Guard

June 15th, 2023 at 10:29am CST by Sam Robinson

With Orlando Brown Jr. now locked in at left tackle, a Bengals team that saw offensive line injuries sink its effort to book back-to-back Super Bowl berths is suddenly deep on the right side. Displaced blindside bastion Jonah Williams joins La’el Collins and Jackson Carman in a right tackle battle that is sure to garner attention from other teams.

Although Williams looks to have backed off his trade request, a trade involving one of the competitors could conceivably be in play. But the Bengals are not planning to try a potential “best five” scenario up front. A lineup in which Brown, Williams and Collins play together — with Collins sliding to guard — could be logical, as Collins has guard experience. But that is not expected to be a path the team considers, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic notes (subscription required).

The Bengals return Alex Cappa at right guard and are not entertaining a potential demotion of Cordell Volson at left guard, Dehner adds, noting the team views the 2022 fourth-round pick as an ascending player. Brown is placing a priority on forming a rapport with Volson on the left side, and the latter was one of just two Cincinnati O-line starters — joining center Ted Karras — to remain on the field when the season ended in Kansas City.

Collins has a past at guard, coming into the NFL at the position. Falling out of the draft due to an off-field issue in 2015, Collins made his way into the Cowboys’ starting lineup at left guard during his rookie season. Dallas then began the 2016 campaign with the overqualified UDFA opposite Zack Martin. But a toe injury shut down Collins three games into the 2016 slate. That malady ended his guard run; the Cowboys moved the LSU product to right tackle in 2017. Collins stayed at that position in Dallas through the 2021 season, signing two extensions with the team. Following a 2022 release, Collins signed a three-year, $21MM Bengals deal.

This contract carries a $9.4MM 2023 cap number, and the Bengals can move on — via trade or release — for less than $2MM in dead money. The team was not thrilled with Collins’ debut, helping lead to the Brown pursuit, but the veteran has made 86 career starts. Collins, 30 in July, would seemingly be of interest to a tackle-needy team, should his recovery from December ACL and MCL tears go according to plan. Carman’s contract runs through 2024, making him a more cost-efficient backup to Williams. A 2021 second-rounder whom Volson beat out for the left guard gig, Carman finished last season as Williams’ replacement at left tackle.

Volson’s rookie deal runs through 2025, and he stands to make a logical left-sider next to Brown, who is tied to the most lucrative O-line accord in Bengals history. Pro Football Focus graded Volson outside the top 60 at guard last season, leaving some work ahead for the North Dakota State alum. But he remains the unquestioned Bengals starter at left guard, with Collins only a potential option in the event of an injury.

McDermott: Stefon Diggs Issue Resolved

June 14th, 2023 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

After beginning their minicamp with Stefon Diggs drama stemming from unknown issues, the Bills look to be on better footing with their top wide receiver.

Diggs practiced during the team’s Wednesday minicamp session, though not during team drills, and Sean McDermott offered a more definitive tone regarding the situation after expressing concern Tuesday. McDermott said the Bills are in a good spot with Diggs and considers the matter resolved, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com tweets.

Diggs left the Bills’ Tuesday minicamp session after not participating, doing so after not attending the team’s voluntary OTAs. McDermott, however, said Diggs’ absence Tuesday qualifies as excused, per the Buffalo News’ Katherine Fitzgerald (on Twitter). Although McDermott described he and Diggs’ conversation Tuesday as “great,” the seventh-year Bills HC said the veteran wideout needed a break from said conversation and was dismissed.

Conversations between Diggs and GM Brandon Beane and wide receivers coach Adam Henry, a new hire, also took place, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (video link). Regarding his concern about Diggs’ status Tuesday, McDermott attempted to clarify by indicating he was merely concerned by a missed practice.

“There’s a lot things out there that aren’t accurate. Let me be clear — Stef did everything he was asked to do,” McDermott said, via SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter). “He was here Monday, executed his physical on time. … We got to a point yesterday where we felt like we all needed a break and some space.”

Josh Allen classified the Diggs matter as non-football-related, and it presumably does not pertain to his contract, which was signed last year. Diggs, 29, signed a four-year, $96MM deal that included $47.99MM guaranteed. Rapoport confirmed Diggs’ contract is not the issue.

The Bills acquired Diggs in March 2020, doing so after the former Vikings draftee went through a turbulent 2019 season that involved a dustup with the team. The sides mended fences, and Diggs finished the ’19 season by helping the Vikes to the divisional round. But multiple tweets depicting dissatisfaction came out the following March. The Vikings dealt Diggs to the Bills for a package headlined by a first-round pick, and he has become one of the NFL’s best receivers while in Buffalo.

Allen calling Diggs an essential part of the Bills’ blueprint is accurate, given the explosive pass catcher’s production. Diggs led the NFL with 1,535 receiving yards in 2020 and topped 1,200 yards in 2021 and ’22. At the conclusion of the Bills’ divisional-round loss to the Bengals in January, however, Diggs stormed out of the locker room before some coaches had arrived and needed to be brought back. While McDermott expressing confidence the parties will move past this summer disagreement is noteworthy, Diggs’ views on the matter will be needed before this chapter concludes.

Leonard Williams Open To Giants Extension

June 14th, 2023 at 9:46pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants have already addressed their defensive line plenty this offseason with the extension of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and the free agent additions of defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Now, the next logical thing to address is the future of defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who is set to play out 2023 on the final year of his current contract.

According to Ed Valentine of SB Nation, Williams has expressed interest in staying with the Giants beyond this year. However, it doesn’t seem that there has been much discussion in the direction of an extension. Williams, originally a top-ten draft pick for the Jets in 2015, went across the street to the Giants as a part of a midseason trade in 2019 and performed at a high level for New York in the first two full seasons with his new team. A nagging neck injury throughout the 2022 season led to a down year for Williams as he struggled to return to form throughout the season.

Williams already restructured the second year of his three-year contract last year to help create some cap space, so he’s shown a willingness to be flexible in an effort to help with team finances. He’s set for a massive $32.26MM cap hit in 2023, so it would likely behoove New York to work something out with Williams. We reported days ago, though, that the Giants may be willing to shoulder that financial burden into the year.

That report is bolstered by this new one of little discussion towards the goal of a new deal. The new information, though, tells us that Williams is “open to staying” with the Giants. It may not be up to him if he can’t get back to form in 2023, though. Another down year and he may have trouble convincing the G-Men to extend another contract offer.

Colts S Daniel Scott Out For Season

June 14th, 2023 at 9:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Colts depth at safety took a bit of a hit on the last play of last week’s OTAs when rookie fifth-round safety Daniel Scott tore his ACL, ending his rookie season before it had even begun. Scott will be out for the season and Indianapolis has moved him to injured reserve as a result, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Scott was only a two-year starter at Cal, but he made the most of his time in the lineup, leading his team in interceptions in both of those years and earning the Team Captain moniker for his final college season. He’s a rangy defensive back that the Golden Bears trusted back in coverage or defending the run. He didn’t have the most consistent film in Berkeley, but Scott had attractive traits for an NFL safety and tested out of the gym at the scouting combine.

Scott wasn’t likely to start for the Colts as a rookie, but behind projected starters Rodney Thomas II and Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis lacks experienced depth. Last year’s third-round pick, Nick Cross, returns for his sophomore season, as do undrafted signings from last year Trevor Denbow and Marcel Dabo. The only other safeties on the roster are also previously undrafted free agents: Henry Black, signed by the Packers in 2020, and undrafted rookie out of Campbell Aaron Maddox.

So, while Scott wasn’t expected to start games, his loss hurts the two-deep in Indianapolis. With his diverse skill-set and rotational ability, Scott could’ve earned a strong snap count if he could’ve adjusted quickly to the speed of the NFL. He also likely would’ve been a strong contributor on special teams. Instead, he’ll spend the 2023 season on IR, rehabilitating his injury and hopefully learning as much as he can soak in in the meantime.

Raiders Sign Second-Round TE Michael Mayer

June 14th, 2023 at 7:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The Raiders came one step closer to completing the signing of their 2023 rookie class today, announcing the signing of former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, whom they drafted in the second round of this year’s draft.

After being named a Freshman All-American in 2020, Mayer followed his first college season up with two more stellar performances. In his final year with the Fighting Irish, Mayer was named a first-team All-American after leading all FBS tight ends with nine touchdown catches. He was the only FBS tight end to eclipse 800 receiving yards in each of the past two years, as well.

For much of the pre-draft process, Mayer was considered the top tight end on the board. While others may have projected higher as a large pass catcher, Mayer was easily viewed as the most well-rounded tight end prospect. Instead, he slid slightly down the board into the second round as the third tight end drafted, following Utah’s Dalton Kincaid (1st round, 25th pick by Buffalo) and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta (2nd round, 34th pick by Detroit).

Over his three years in South Bend, Mayer set program records for a tight end in receptions (180), receiving yards (2,099), and receiving touchdowns (18). With such recent successes as Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, Cole Kmet, and several others coming out of Notre Dame, that’s no small feat. Mayer is set to add to a tight end alumni group that rivals the success of schools like Iowa and Miami (FL).

In Las Vegas, Mayer should have a bit of time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. The Raiders currently roster two experienced veterans in Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard, whom, together, can easily hold down the position until Mayer is NFL-ready. That’s if he needs any time at all. Given how quickly Mayer adjusted and became a major contributor at the college level, Mayer may be pushing for snaps by the season opener.

With Mayer’s contract in the books, the Raiders have signed eight of their nine draft selections. Only fourth-round Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett remains unsigned in Las Vegas’s rookie class.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/23

June 14th, 2023 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor roster moves across the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • Placed on IR: TE Zach Davidson

 

It’s unfortunate news for Davidson, who was hoping to make a push for a roster spot this offseason after signing a futures deal with the Bills after their postseason elimination last season. He won’t be eligible to be activated off of injured reserve for this season, either. He would have to be released with an injury settlement in order to be eligible to play this year.

Davenport started games for three different teams over the first five years of his career but hasn’t appeared in a game since 2021. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the veteran tackle is already drawing interest around the league.

Do Patriots Need To Pursue An Upgrade At Tackle?

June 14th, 2023 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

As second-stint Patriots OC Bill O’Brien installs his offense, the team has seen improved form — in June, that is — from Mac Jones. Following a strange season that featured a career defensive coach given the play-calling reins on offense, New England looks to be in better shape on the whole on that side of the ball.

The team also has a strong interior offensive line contingent, being set to use the Cole Strange–David Andrews–Michael Onwenu trio it played inside last season. But New England may have an issue at tackle. Trent Brown missed the start of the team’s minicamp this week and could not finish practice Tuesday, per NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran, who notes the mammoth left tackle needed to be relocated to a side field for conditioning work.

Brown signed a two-year, $13MM deal to stay with the Patriots in 2022 and was moved to the left side — where he played in 2018 to set up a monster Raiders payday — last summer. But the veteran blocker has struggled to stay on the field for many years. Brown did play all 17 games last season but missed eight in 2021, 11 in 2020, five in 2019 and six in 2017.

The Patriots have included weight bonuses in Brown’s latest contract. They indicate a preference against Brown playing above 365 pounds, with the bonuses — totaling $750K — rewarding the 6-foot-8 tackle for moving down below that weight over the offseason. Brown carries the Pats’ third-highest cap figure this year ($12.25MM), though only $3MM is guaranteed ahead of Week 1. The former 49ers draft pick worked out on his own this offseason, skipping OTAs. Releasing Brown would create $8MM in cap space for the Pats, though that might be premature given his talent when available.

New England was linked to potentially diving into the robust right tackle market in March. But the top options (Mike McGlinchey, Jawaan Taylor, Kaleb McGary) landed elsewhere. It is not exactly uncharacteristic — 2021 notwithstanding — for the Patriots to stand down in free agency, but their O-line does not include a player earning more than $6.5MM on average. Rather than move into the deep waters at right tackle, the Pats added 12th-year veteran Riley Reiff on a one-year, $5MM deal. That contract features more guaranteed money ($4.15MM) than the Pats gave Brown on his two-year pact, but Reiff entered last season as a Bears backup and missed the second half of the 2021 campaign due to injury.

Reiff did emerge as the Bears’ right tackle starter midway through the season, and Pro Football Focus tabbed him as a middle-of-the-road starter (51st, eight spots behind Brown). But he will turn 35 later this year and, per MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian, spent time with the backups during minicamp. The team added ex-Broncos swing tackle Calvin Anderson and re-signed Conor McDermott, whom it initially plucked off the Jets’ practice squad last season. Fourth-round pick Sidy Sow, a six-year Eastern Michigan cog, is also converting from guard to tackle ahead of his rookie year.

Regarding free agents, three-year Jets starter George Fant (60 career starts) may be the best available. Multi-stint Patriot Marcus Cannon is also unattached, but the Pats look to have their swing spots covered. The Titans released former Pro Bowler Taylor Lewan in February, but knee trouble is threatening to cut the former first-rounder’s career short.

The Bengals’ deep right tackle competition, which is pitting Jonah Williams against La’el Collins and Jackson Carman, is worth monitoring for every team with a shaky tackle situation. Collins’ status, in particular, will be notable once he recovers from the ACL tear he sustained in December. The rebuilding Cardinals now have a healthy D.J. Humphries and a re-signed Kelvin Beachum joining first-rounder Paris Johnson and primary Humphries 2022 fill-in Josh Jones.

New England has a recent history obtaining a starting tackle via offseason trade, nabbing Brown from San Francisco in April 2018 and then reacquiring him in March 2021. Brown’s performance — during his age-25 season — helped the Patriots to their sixth Super Bowl win and earned him a then-tackle-record deal in 2019. Isaiah Wynn, who succeeded Brown in 2019, did not pan out as a Patriot, despite effective stretches, and signed with the Dolphins this offseason.

The Pats passed on the opportunity to draft Broderick Jones in Round 1 this year, trading out of No. 14 to give the Steelers that opening, indicating relative confidence their tackle plan will hold up. But Brown’s health and fitness level again looms as crucial to a team attempting to develop a first-round quarterback. After the Matt Patricia–Joe Judge experiment led to a Jones step back last year, the team is exiting minicamp with a potentially glaring issue on its offensive front.

Buccaneers Sign Round 1 DT Calijah Kancey

June 14th, 2023 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

This afternoon has brought movement in first-round signings. Both the Buccaneers and Ravens have agreed to terms with their top draft choices. In addition to Zay Flowers signing his rookie deal, Calijah Kancey is now locked down.

The Bucs announced Kancey signed his contract, which runs through 2026 and would allow the Bucs — if they choose — to keep him through 2027 via the fifth-year option. The interior pass rusher will be expected to play a key role for Todd Bowles‘ defense as a rookie.

Chosen 19th overall out of Pittsburgh, Kancey checked out as a clean prospect. No team brought the ACC standout in for a pre-draft visit. The Bucs will bet on the player from Aaron Donald‘s alma mater and a prospect who drew some probably unfair comparisons to the all-time defensive tackle great.

Kancey will fill in up front alongside 2022 second-round pick Logan Hall and Vita Vea, the latter of whom annually making things a bit easier for three-techniques. The Bucs also signed ex-Rams D-tackle Greg Gaines this offseason. The Bucs have not re-signed Akiem Hicks or William Gholston up front, but the team needed to work its way down from a $50MM-plus cap deficit, as Tom Brady’s void-years bill came due.

Kancey totaled 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Standing 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, Kancey blazed to a 4.67-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He earned first-team All-American acclaim last season, becoming the Panthers’ first unanimous All-American since Donald did so in 2013. Kancey received a first-team All-ACC nod in 2021.

Tampa Bay also agreed to terms with third-round edge rusher Yaya Diaby, who starred at Louisville. After the Bucs agreed to terms with five draftees last week, only second-round O-lineman Cody Mauch is unsigned.

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