HEADLINES

Month: June 2023

Jimmy Garoppolo Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp

June 6th, 2023 at 10:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

When it became known Jimmy Garoppolo underwent foot surgery, Josh McDaniels did not reveal a return timetable. The second-year Raiders HC has remained comfortable with this situation, which encountered a bit of turbulence in March.

The Raiders believe they will be past the rough waters regarding Garoppolo’s foot trouble by training camp. Garoppolo is expected to be fully recovered by camp, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the veteran quarterback should be ready to go weeks before that point (video link). Garoppolo initially suffered the foot fracture in December, and while he had attempted non-surgical rehab for a potential January or February return, the ex-49ers passer ended up needing to go under the knife shortly after signing with the Raiders.

[RELATED: Tom Brady Insists He Will Stay Retired]

Although Garoppolo agreed to a three-year, $72.75MM deal with more than $33MM fully guaranteed, the Raiders included an injury waiver before the 10th-year vet signed the deal. Garoppolo now must pass a physical before seeing his guaranteed money. But an early separation would make neither party look particularly good. As it stands now, the Raiders are committed to moving forward with Garoppolo as their starter.

Garoppolo, 31, has attended OTAs thus far but has not taken part. He will be returning to a McDaniels-led offense for the first time since the 2017 season. Garoppolo spent four years in McDaniels’ offense in New England, but an October 2017 trade split up the pair — as Tom Brady‘s endless prime continued into the late 2010s. The Raiders ditched Derek Carr, who had missed two regular-season games due to injury in his career, for Garoppolo. While familiarity with McDaniels will certainly help, Las Vegas is obviously taking a considerable risk here. Garoppolo has missed 33 games due to injury since his September 2018 ACL tear and has only finished two of the past five seasons.

Until Garoppolo is recovered, the Raiders will have off-and-on Patriot Brian Hoyer, who signed with the team this offseason, taking snaps. Hoyer, who spent most of last season on the Patriots’ IR list, is going into his age-38 season. Fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell and former UDFA Chase Garbers are the other QBs on the Raiders’ roster. Rather than an emergency Carson Wentz or Teddy Bridgewater escape hatch, the Raiders remain tethered to Garoppolo. Barring a setback, the expected Vegas starter will be on the field come training camp.

Durability concerns should be tied to Garoppolo once he recovers from the foot surgery, but regarding this particular injury, the Raiders expect June to be the recovery homestretch.

Falcons Sign OL Matthew Bergeron, Finish Rookie Signings

June 6th, 2023 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons announced that they’ve signed second-round offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron to his rookie contract. Bergeron was the team’s final draft pick to sign his rookie deal.

The lineman spent four years at Syracuse, culminating in a 2022 campaign where he earned second-team All-ACC honors and a Senior Bowl invite. Scouts lauded his run-blocking ability and versatility, and the Falcons ended up selecting him with the 38th-overall pick in the draft.

While Bergeron exclusively played offensive tackle in college, the Falcons are planning on switching him to offensive guard, where many scouts believed he’d excel. While the rookie has never played the position, the Falcons are confident that he’ll be capable of making the change.

“It’s the way he is built,” head coach Arthur Smith said (via Tori McElhaney of the team’s website). “Everybody has different philosophies in what they’re looking for in offensive linemen. And some people get so rigid on schemes or whatever it is, their cup of tea that they’re looking for with o-linemen. But when a guy is as smart as Matt and the way he has played, really for us (it’s) the vision of the way he is built.”

The Falcons will return much of the same offensive line next season, but it sounds like Bergeron is the front runner for the starting left guard gig.

The team got most of their draft picks signed before OTAs, a group that includes:

Bills S Damar Hamlin Participates In Team Drills

June 6th, 2023 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Bills safety Damar Hamlin participated in team drills today, the first time he’s seen the field during OTAs and five months after his on-field cardiac incident. The team tweeted a photo of Hamlin, noting that the player was a full participant at practice.

Per NFL.com, Hamlin previously took part in individual drills and stretching exercises. Today, he was seen wearing a helmet and serving as a punt protector during the special teams portion of practice. ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg tweets that Hamlin briefly left the field to deal with a arm/shoulder injury but soon returned.

“Really proud of him to take that next step,” general manager Brandon Beane told reporters (including Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News). “Obviously, you guys have seen him out here working out. … Just so proud of him and thrilled for where he’s at in his journey.

“We’re just upping or building his reps up. He’s great. He’s mentally ready to go. He knows the defense. It’s Year 3 into it. The next thing is going to be we’ve got to put pads on, and it’ll be at training camp. But I thought it was really important for him if he could and felt he was ready. You know, this is a two-way communication. This is not us saying, `You’ve got to do this.’ … He’s worked really hard on the mental side of this. Physically, he’s all cleared. But this is a real deal from a mental standpoint after you’ve been to where he was.”

Hamlin has continually stated his desire to continue his NFL career. He was cleared to resume playing back in April, and since then, he’s been spending time at the Bills facility preparing for the upcoming season. As Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes, the Bills haven’t given any indication that they plan to use “any reserve listing” for Hamlin, a small hint that the player should be good to go come training camp.

The 25-year-old was thrust into a starting role last year while filling in for Micah Hyde, who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Hamlin ended up finishing the campaign with 91 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 15 games (13 starts), with Pro Football Focus grading him as one of the league’s top pass-rushing safeties. With Hyde back and Jordan Poyer signed to a new deal, the Bills have the luxury of bringing Hamlin along slowly.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/6/23

June 6th, 2023 at 7:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Waived: QB Nolan Henderson

Buffalo Bills

Nolan Henderson joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware. He finished his 2022 season with a UD single-season record 32 touchdowns, and there’s some hope he can stick around the NFL. However, he had limited opportunities for practice reps in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Anthony Brown, and Josh Johnson ahead of him.

Isaiah Bowser, a Central Florida product, joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent last month. The running back had more than 1,500 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons.

49ers Sign DL Darryl Johnson

June 6th, 2023 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers have added a veteran defensive lineman. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that Darryl Johnson has signed a one-year deal with the 49ers. To make room on the roster, the team waived wideout Shae Wyatt.

Johnson, a former seventh-round pick out of North Carolina A&T, got into 31 games with the Bills through his first two seasons in the NFL. He was traded to the Panthers prior to the 2021 campaign, but a hamstring injury limited him to only three games.

He was snagged off waivers by the Seahawks at the end of the 2022 preseason. He collected four tackles in four games (one start) for Seattle before a foot injury ended his season early.

The 49ers have been busy adding to the defensive line this offseason. They selected USC defensive end Drake Jackson in the second round, and they gave veteran Javon Hargrave a four-year, $84MM contract. Despite adding top-end depth to a defensive line that already includes Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead, the 49ers could still keep Johnson around as a back-of-the-depth-chart option and special teamer.

Wyatt went undrafted before signing with the 49ers back in May. The receiver had a standout season at Tulane in 2022, finishing with 35 receptions for 692 yards and seven touchdowns.

Vikings Sign RB DeWayne McBride, Complete Draft Pick Signings

June 6th, 2023 at 5:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings have officially signed their entire draft class. The team announced that they’ve inked seventh-round running back DeWayne McBride to his four-year rookie pact.

McBride spent three years at UAB, including a 2022 campaign where he earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Year honors after collecting 1,723 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns. This performance followed a breakout 2021 season where he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

His fumbling issues and lack of pass-catching ability led to him slipping to the seventh round of the draft. Fortunately for the rookie, he could have a chance to contribute with Dalvin Cook potentially out the door. Alexander Mattison would likely get the starting role if/when Cook is gone, but McBride could compete with 2022 fifth-round pick Ty Chandler for backup reps.

The Vikings finished the draft having selected six rookies, and each of those first-year players have now been signed to contracts. That grouping includes:

Seahawks Sign Round 2 LB Derick Hall

June 6th, 2023 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks now have two of their top three draft picks under contract. Edge rusher Derick Hall joined Jaxon Smith-Njigba in signing his four-year rookie deal. While the Smith-Njigba deal will not end up affecting others drafted in the same neighborhood, Hall’s will likely play a bigger role in rookies’ negotiations this year.

Hall’s through-2026 pact comes with three years fully guaranteed and $100K guaranteed in the fourth year, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The deal will also pay 85% of Hall’s signing bonus before training camp, which Pelissero notes is a first for a second-rounder. This agreement leaves only No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon and second-round running back Zach Charbonnet as Seattle’s only unsigned draftees.

Chosen 37th overall, Hall is the highest second-round pick to sign this year. This marks the second straight year in which the No. 37 overall pick stands to influence other teams’ structures for second-round contracts. The Texans gave last year’s No. 37 pick, safety Jalen Pitre, three years fully guaranteed, marking an improvement after the 2021 draft saw the No. 34 overall pick represent the cutoff line for such terms. While rookie contracts are less complicated compared to the days before the landscape-reshaping 2011 CBA, second-rounders’ negotiations present some wiggle room.

Hall’s deal figures to influence the structures of the players taken before him in Round 2 — Joey Porter Jr., Will Levis, Sam LaPorta, Michael Mayer, Steve Avila — and agents representing the players chosen shortly after the Seahawks edge rusher will undoubtedly take notice as well. The cutoff line for three fully guaranteed years should be expected to move closer toward the middle of this year’s second round.

Hall wrapped the five-pick haul the Seahawks obtained from the Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade. The four first- or second-round picks from that deal wound up consisting of Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Witherspoon and Hall. The Seahawks have made a concerted effort to bolster their pass rush over the past two years, selecting Maye and Hall after signing Uchenna Nwosu. They also signed ex-Broncos interior D-lineman Dre’Mont Jones to add punch to their interior rush.

An Auburn alum, Hall totaled nine sacks as a junior and 6.5 as a senior. In that time, he compiled 24 tackles for loss. Scouts Inc. viewed Hall as a considerable reach for Seattle, ranking the 254-pound edge-rushing prospect 66th overall. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah also did not have Hall as a top-50 prospect. The Seahawks have consistently made early-round picks not in line with pre-draft boards, as the Rashaad Penny, L.J. Collier and Jordyn Brooks picks illustrate. They did so again with Hall, who should at least provide rotational rush support as a rookie.

Tristan Wirfs Confirms Move To Left Tackle

June 6th, 2023 at 3:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers are following through with the long-rumored plan to move Tristan Wirfs from right to left tackle. The All-Pro blocker confirmed as much Tuesday.

In Todd Bowles‘ exit meeting with Wirfs conducted a day after the 2022 season ended, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes the second-year Bucs HC said the team would probably go through with the position switch. This, of course, came when eight-year left tackle starter Donovan Smith remained on the Bucs’ roster. Tampa Bay released Smith in March, and the veteran blocker is now expected to become Kansas City’s left tackle starter.

This move comes after Wirfs proved himself to be an elite NFL right tackle. The Bucs traded up one spot for Wirfs in 2020, taking him 13th overall. The Iowa product proved a quick study, helping keep Tom Brady upright during a season that ended with Wirfs playing well in Super Bowl LV. The following year, Wirfs earned first-team All-Pro acclaim at his now-former position. Wirfs received a Pro Bowl nod last year, despite missing four games.

While college left tackles regularly move to other positions as pros, Wirfs spent most of his Big Ten career on the right side. Wirfs began his starter foray at that spot as a freshman in 2017, started all 12 Iowa games there as a sophomore in 2018 and continued that run for nine 2019 games. Wirfs did start three games at left tackle for the 2019 Iowa squad, earning All-American acclaim for his two-position season. That short stint at left tackle suddenly becomes relevant again.

Smith allowed seven sacks last season and led the team in penalties. Pro Football Focus rated Smith outside the top 65 among tackles last season, and the Bucs created some cap space by cutting him. With Wirfs sliding over to the highest-profile O-line post, 2022 second-round pick Luke Goedeke is ticketed to be the Bucs’ first option on the right side. The Bucs attempted to move Goedeke, primarily a college right tackle, to guard last season. They will now try the Central Michigan alum at his more natural spot.

Wirfs, 24, will also have a chance to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen soon. While Wirfs is eligible for an extension now, the Bucs picking up his fifth-year option in April points to the team waiting until 2024 to complete a deal. This move may lead to the Bucs paying a bit more compared to negotiations on a top-tier right tackle extension.

The Chiefs and Eagles raised the right tackle market past $20MM per year in March, via Kansas City’s Jawaan Taylor pickup and Philly’s latest Lane Johnson extension, but left tackles ballooned past that point back in 2020. Although only three LTs (Laremy Tunsil, Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari) are tied to deals north of $20MM AAV, all three earn at least $23MM per annum. Wirfs transitioning smoothly to his new role will put him on track to command a contract in the Tunsil neighborhood ($25MM per year).

With Smith gone, the Bucs only have one higher-end O-lineman pact — the $13MM-per-year accord given to center Ryan Jensen — on their payroll. Wirfs may play the 2023 season on a rookie salary, but the chances of him playing the ’24 slate on the fifth-year option are slim. It will be interesting to see how Wirfs fares on the left side this year, as he may soon be on track to push for a potential record-breaking O-line deal.

Cardinals Re-Sign LS Aaron Brewer

June 6th, 2023 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite an offseason regime change, the Cardinals look to have firm plans of Aaron Brewer coming back for an eighth season as their long snapper.

The veteran specialist re-signed with Arizona on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals waived long snapper Joe Fortunato. Brewer, an 11-year veteran who has been with the Cards since 2016, will still be expected to compete with rookie UDFA Matt Hembrough. But he is on track to continue his run with the NFC West franchise.

A pectoral injury ended Brewer’s 2022 season early, leading to an IR placement ahead of Arizona’s Week 17 game. Brewer has recovered from that ailment, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com notes. He will join Matt Prater among Cardinals specialists coming back under the Monti Ossenfort–Jonathan Gannon regime. Prater re-signed with the team in March.

This is Brewer’s fourth contract with the Cardinals. After being the long snapper for a Super Bowl-winning Broncos team in 2015, he signed a two-year Cardinals deal. Arizona later gave him a four-year pact. In 2022, Brewer signed a one-year deal. It should not be expected Brewer will see much more money on this agreement, as long snappers’ earnings are capped near the league minimum, but the Cardinals are offering the veteran snapper a chance to continue his career.

Only 2015 first-rounder D.J. Humphries has been with the Cardinals longer than Brewer, who joined the team in September 2016. The former Denver UDFA has snapped in 98 games with Arizona. Fortunato, who has one regular-season game (with the 2021 Packers) on his resume, signed a reserve/futures contract with the Cardinals in January. The team added Hembrough in May.

J.K. Dobbins Extension On Ravens’ Radar

June 6th, 2023 at 1:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries have defined J.K. Dobbins‘ rookie-contract years. The August 2021 ACL, LCL and meniscus tears the Ravens running back suffered stopped the momentum he had built as a rookie, and the fallout reduced his 2022 participation as well.

Despite the injury troubles the Ravens have experienced at running back over the past two seasons, they have not made a notable addition at the position this year. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill remain Baltimore’s top three backs. Both Dobbins and Edwards are due for free agency in 2024, the former because his rookie contract is set to expire. But the Ravens appear interested in exploring the possibility of keeping the 2020 second-round pick around beyond this season.

[RELATED: Patrick Queen Eyeing Ravens Extension]

John Harbaugh confirmed that is the case Tuesday, indicating (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the Ravens want Dobbins back for the 2024 season. Although the 16th-year Ravens HC provided a “but nobody knows the future” caveat, it is interesting plans for another Dobbins deal are being considered at this point.

This offseason revealed more hesitancy on teams’ part regarding second contracts for running backs coming off healthy seasons, let alone players who have seen two years hijacked. Dobbins has missed 26 games since the 2021 knee injury. The recovery period delayed his start to the 2022 slate, and another knee issue forced an in-season surgery and IR stint. The ex-Buckeyes back did not look like his rookie-year version upon return from IR in December, but he did rip off two 100-plus-yard games — one of which helped the Ravens to a win without Lamar Jackson.

The injuries to Dobbins and Edwards have forced the Ravens to bring in numerous veteran stopgap options. Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, Mike Davis and Kenyan Drake stopped through Maryland over the past two seasons. But none of the outside investments remain on Baltimore’s roster. The likes of Kareem Hunt, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Darrell Henderson and Mark Ingram are among the best-known backs available. Ingram was part of Baltimore’s backfield before Dobbins’ injury.

The 2023 season will obviously serve as a pivotal year for Dobbins, who went from averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie — during an 805-yard, nine-touchdown season — to a player with substantial health red flags. Barring another backfield addition, Baltimore will count on Dobbins being healthy and leading their first Todd Monken-directed ground attack. While Dobbins is eligible for an extension now, the Ravens will surely want to see how he looks this season before making strong considerations about a second contract.

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