Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Texans Likely To Draft DE At No. 2 Overall; Latest On C.J. Stroud

April 27th, 2023 at 10:00am CST by Sam Robinson

The Davis Mills-to-Jordan Akins fourth-and-20 touchdown connection may go down as one of the more impactful plays in Texans history. That Week 18 sequence, which led to the Texans falling out of the No. 1 draft slot, ended up allowing the Panthers access to Bryce Young, a player by most accounts Houston would have taken if given the opportunity.

While the Texans attempted to trade up to No. 1 with the Bears, the team settling on a second-best quarterback option continues to look unlikely at No. 2. Houston going with either Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson is the more likely scenario compared to the team selecting C.J. Stroud at that spot, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes.

The team brought Stroud in for a pre-draft visit, attended the Ohio State prospect’s pro day, interviewed him at the Combine and, per Wilson, has spent time considering how it would obtain a quarterback after passing on one at No. 2. But the Texans drafting Stroud would be a “major surprise” at this point, according to Wilson.

Momentum has headed in this direction for weeks, with Stroud falling from potential Panthers pick at No. 1 to a player with an uncertain destination. The Texans obviously have a quarterback need, and while Wilson adds the team’s past with David Mulugheta — Deshaun Watson‘s agent and Stroud’s representative — will not determine the team’s stance on Stroud, the ex-Buckeyes starter appears likely to remain on the board at No. 3 overall. As should be expected, GM Nick Caserio (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) doubled down on Stroud’s agent not being part of the team’s decision-making.

Regarding Stroud’s potential landing spot, Wilson adds the Titans — via a trade-up with the Cardinals at No. 3 — are rumored to be exploring a move up to select him. Peter Schrager’s NFL.com mock draft projects the Titans to make that move as well.

The Titans have been viewed as Stroud fans for a bit now, and Schrager cites Mike Vrabel‘s relationship with Ohio State HC Ryan Day as one that helps Justin Fields‘ Buckeyes successor here. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds is also believed to back Stroud, which could well lead to the Cardinals having a taker for a trade-up, as Indianapolis holds the No. 4 overall pick tonight. The Titans were mentioned weeks ago as having explored a trade into the No. 3 position; this appears to be a realistic scenario. Though, it probably will not take place until the Texans make their choice at 2.

The Texans are not expected to select Will Levis or Anthony Richardson at 2; the Texans did not host the Florida prospect on a visit. The team does have high opinion of Hendon Hooker, per Wilson, but the Tennessee prospect does not appear to be in the team’s first-round plans at either No. 2 or No. 12. The Vikings, who hold the No. 23 overall pick, have been mentioned as a potential Hooker destination. The two-year Volunteers starter, who suffered an ACL tear in November, expects to be cleared by Week 1.

An Anderson-or-Wilson decision looks to be where Houston’s process concludes. Mentioned as being open to trading down, the Texans are not expected to do so, Aaron Wilson adds. Questions about Anderson’s ceiling remain a factor here, per Aaron Wilson, who lends more credence to Tyree Wilson as being a higher-ceiling player (and a prospect who, at 271 pounds, would better fit DeMeco Ryans‘ 4-3 scheme compared to Anderson, at 253). The Texans are believed to have cleared the Texas Tech prospect, who suffered a Lisfranc fracture late in the Red Raiders’ season. Schrager mocks Anderson, whom a GM calls the “safest pick in the draft,” to Houston.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cardinals Continue To Explore Trade-Down Move, Eyeing First-Round O-Linemen

April 25th, 2023 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Even if the Texans follow through with a much-rumored effort to take a non-quarterback at No. 2 overall, one of the top two edge rushers — either Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson — would still be on the board for the Cardinals at 3. The team has front-seven holes, and mock drafts have often placed a top-flight edge prospect in this slot.

But the Cardinals continue to explore avenues to move down the board. Offensive line appears to be the top Cards concern heading into the draft, Todd McShay of ESPN.com notes. While a previous report indicated the Cardinals may be prepared to address this issue at No. 3 — by taking Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson — McShay adds the team is “borderline desperate” to move down.

Sliding down the board would seemingly better match Arizona with this year’s top O-linemen while providing the rebuilding team with additional assets. The Johnson rumors aside, McShay connects the team to having interest in Northwestern tackle/guard Peter Skoronski. The former Big Ten standout rates as Scouts Inc.’s No. 9 overall prospect, with Johnson sitting 12th. Kyler Murray has spoken highly of Johnson, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, with SI.com’s Albert Breer also indicating the team is quite taken with the two-year Buckeyes starter. Johnson visited the Cardinals as well.

Though, some teams are believed to place a higher value on Johnson, who is projected to stay at tackle. Skoronski is viewed by many as a player who will make a Brandon Scherff-like transition by going early in the first round but being shifted from tackle to guard before his first NFL game. Teams are generally reluctant to draft a guard especially early, though the Scherff (No. 5, 2015) and Quenton Nelson (No. 6, 2018) choices panned out. The Cardinals’ connections to the Big Ten blockers may lead to the team setting a floor regarding how low it is willing to drop in a trade.

The Cardinals have their tackle tandem of the past three years — D.J. Humphries–Kelvin Beachum — under contract, though Humphries missed much of last season and Beachum is going into his age-34 campaign. The team did lose guard Justin Pugh to an ACL tear and has not re-signed him. Guard Will Hernandez did re-sign, however. It is worth wondering if the Cardinals taking an O-lineman in the top 10 would affect one of the veterans’ statuses.

The team, which has needed a cornerback since Patrick Peterson‘s 2021 free agency departure, is also interested in Devon Witherspoon, per Breer. With Witherspoon a candidate to go midway through the top 10, the Cardinals would need to take a measured approach with a trade-down effort. If the team cannot find a trade partner, Wilson may be in play. The team passed the Texas Tech edge rusher on a pre-draft physical, Breer adds.

A few teams have been mentioned as candidates to trade up for a quarterback. The Titans (No. 11), Falcons (No. 8) and Raiders (No. 7) are among them. The Cardinals are believed to have spoken with at least six teams about a potential trade. The Texans passing on C.J. Stroud — assuming the Panthers indeed take Bryce Young — would stand to help the Cardinals find a trade partner, and Will Levis‘ late rise may as well.

With a need at quarterback, the Texans have the more interesting decision to make Thursday. The Cardinals having Murray lowers the stakes for their pick, but new GM Monti Ossenfort may have a complex process to navigate during his first draft night.

Latest On Potential Cardinals Trade-Down From No. 3

April 23rd, 2023 at 1:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 23: Following up on Saturday’s tweet, Pauline has identified the O-lineman being targeted at No. 3 as Johnson. The true junior only spent one season on the blindside with the Buckeyes, holding the LT spot in 2022 (after playing at right guard the previous season). He did so to great effect, however, earning an overall PFF grade of 83 and excelling in both pass protection and run blocking. Especially if Skoronski is viewed as a guard at the NFL level, Johnson could find himself as the top tackle on many teams’ boards. Whether a trade for the third pick materializes or not, he won’t have to wait long to hear his name called on Day 1.

APRIL 22: Arizona has long been named as a team to watch for a potential move down the board in next week’s draft. The Cardinals are currently set to pick third overall, but they could benefit from a trade allowing them to gain extra draft capital.

A report emerged earlier this month that no fewer than six teams have called Arizona about the No. 3 selection. Teams moving up to such a premium spot would presumably do so to land a quarterback (especially if the Texans decline to draft a signal-caller with the second overall pick). In the event the Cardinals agreed to a swap, however, that may not be the case.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reports that teams looking to trade up to the third slot are looking to do so to select an offensive lineman (Twitter link). That comes as a surprise, considering the way the top of the board is ranked across most of the scouting community. A number of offensive tackles are considered locks to go in the first round, but few (if any) are expected to hear their names called in the top 5 or 10 on draft night.

The identity of the blocker who would be the target at No. 3 would likely depend on which team was moving up. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is seen by many as the top o-lineman in the 2023 class, though signs are pointing to him playing at guard at the NFL level. Prospects expected to primarily play at tackle include Paris Johnson Jr., (Ohio State) Broderick Jones (Georgia) and Darnell Wright (Tennessee).

Each of those players have received strong evaluations in the lead-in to the draft, but defenders Will Anderson and Jalen Carter are generally seen as the best non-QBs in the class. Arizona moving down the board for a team to avoid either of those two would certainly be noteworthy, though it could keep open the possibility of the Cardinals still being able to select one of them, depending on where they landed in the order.

Given Arizona’s status as likely entering a rebuild, trading down would yield obvious benefits. With the 2023 class believed to be short on bluechip prospects, though, the list of candidates willing to move up has remained rather short. The Raiders and Titans have been reported as open to trading up from seventh and 11th, respectively, though quarterback is thought to be the position such a move would be built upon. The question of whether any of the class’ top tackles begin to gain steam in the coming days will be one worth answering as the draft approaches.

Cardinals Remain In Discussions With S Budda Baker

April 21st, 2023 at 8:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals’ goal of re-tooling one of the league’s thinnest rosters met an obstacle last week when Budda Baker requested a trade. More details have recently come out regarding the veteran safety’s thought process on asking to be moved (or given a sizeable raise) and the team’s handling of the situation.

Baker let the team know in February that he was eyeing either a new contract making him the league’s highest-paid safety of a trade sending him out of Arizona. The 27-year-old has spent his entire six-year career with the Cardinals, collecting five Pro Bowl nods and a pair of All-Pro honors. 2022 marked another highly productive campaign for him despite the team’s overall struggles defensively.

Finances are at the heart of Baker’s trade request; two years remain on his deal, an extension signed in 2020 which has salaries of $13.1MM and $14.2MM in 2023 and ’24. Another factor which is driving his desire to be moved concerns the sidelines. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes that the former second-rounder was “wary” of heading into the 2023 season with a new coaching staff in place. The Cardinals replaced Kliff Kingsbury with Jonathon Gannon, who has installed a new staff of coordinators and position coaches.

As Breer adds, Baker had a different head coach in each of his first three seasons in the league. With the Cardinals likely headed for a rebuild under Gannon and new general manager Monti Ossenfort, being moved to a contending team would have obvious appeal. Negotiations for a re-worked deal allowing him to continue in the desert appear to be ongoing, however.

“We have had a lot of conversations with Budda and his representation, a lot of productive conversations,” Ossenfort said Friday, via team reporter Darren Urban. “Those continue to happen. I’d say the conversations that I’ve had with Budda, I want those to remain between Budda and I… I think I’ve been clear how I feel about Budda as a person and as a player, and nothing about that has changed.”

Ossenfort’s praise of Baker makes clear his intention of trying to find a path to nullify the need for a trade to take place. If talks prove fruitless, though, a strong market would likely emerge for the latter given his production. As Arizona weighs its options with the third overall pick in next week’s draft, how they proceed with Baker will remain a storyline to watch.

Poll: Who Will Acquire DeAndre Hopkins?

April 21st, 2023 at 5:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

A second DeAndre Hopkins trade could transpire soon — perhaps by next week’s draft — and while the Cardinals wide receiver is a bit past his peak, he could impact the Super Bowl LVIII chase if sent to a contender. Will a team come through with a trade?

Hopkins, 31 in June, has loomed as a departure candidate for nearly a year; he is believed to want to land with a contender. The Cardinals have not ruled out retaining the accomplished wideout, but that does not appear the likely conclusion. This does not appear to be an acrimonious split.

“I’ve had a lot of interaction with Hop. He’s been great. Good discussions back and forth,” Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort said (h/t GoPHNX.com). “Hop’s proven to be a good player in this league, and he’s obviously a very talented player. Productive conversations with Hop, but going to keep those between us.”

Hopkins’ second Texans contract ran (five years, $81MM) ran through the 2022 season. While the Cardinals scrapped that deal upon acquiring the former All-Pro in 2020, the extension the sides agreed to tacked on two extra years to Hopkins’ contract. The Cards gave Hopkins $42.75MM fully guaranteed, and the two-year, $54.5MM bump ended up impacting the receiver market in 2022. Now, that contract calls for a $19.5MM base salary. Hopkins’ cap number sits at $29.9MM on Arizona’s payroll.

Although Hopkins previously said he would be open to adjusting his contract to facilitate a trade, the Cardinals have not received big offers. Some teams believe they Arizona be forced to release the 11th-year veteran, and a few have been connected as a destination for the Clemson alum.

A potential AFC duel probably should be mentioned first. The Chiefs have been connected to the big-bodied wideout for several weeks now, being tied to both he and Odell Beckham Jr. Now that OBJ is a Raven, the Chiefs — who lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman — are running short on options. Kansas City has Marquez Valdes-Scantling in place as its most reliable receiver, though Kadarius Toney provides more upside (and considerably more risk). Andy Reid‘s team bowing out of a Smith-Schuster sweepstakes that ended in an $8.5MM-per-year Patriots deal points to the Chiefs waiting out a Hopkins release. If Hopkins were available in free agency, the Chiefs’ Reid-Patrick Mahomes setup presents receivers a compelling pitch.

The other team Hopkins sounded receptive to playing for, the Bills already roster a high-variance boundary wideout (Gabe Davis) and can use Stefon Diggs across the formation. But they were mentioned as an early suitor. The Bills’ Von Miller move showed the urgency Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott are operating with, and while Diggs’ $24MM-AAV contract would be a complication regarding a Hopkins acquisition, the Bills certainly make sense as a free agency suitor — as acquiring a five-time Pro Bowler would stand to bolster their receiving corps and impede a Chiefs upgrade.

While the Cardinals look to be working with Hopkins’ camp here, his PED suspension voided the no-trade clause in his contract. That would open the door to more options, depending on the compensation offered. The Ravens just outbid the Jets and Giants for Beckham, and a report from ex-GM Michael Lombardi (Twitter link) indicated Lamar Jackson wanted the team to add OBJ and Hopkins. The Ravens have chased receivers for years. Their run-heavy offense has steered some — including Smith-Schuster — away, but they convinced Beckham to sign up to reunite with OC Todd Monken. The team does not have another notable receiver contract on its payroll, though Jackson’s $32.4MM franchise tag poses a problem.

The Giants lurked in the Beckham pursuit, offering an incentive-laden deal, and have either re-signed or added a host of slot receivers this offseason. New York has also done extensive homework on this draft’s receivers, being closely connected to adding one of the first-round-caliber targets. The team did pursue Jerry Jeudy and Brandin Cooks previously. Jets interest probably does not need to be explained much. Expected Jets QB Aaron Rodgers placed Beckham on his wish list, and the team has already added Hardman and Allen Lazard. If the Jets were willing to add Beckham, they are probably open to Hopkins.

Hopkins’ most recent podcast appearance pointed to less interest in being dealt to the Jets or Patriots compared to a Bills or Chiefs landing, and Bill O’Brien — who traded Hopkins when working as the Texans’ GM — coming to New England certainly would create an awkward fit. But if Matt Patricia and Darius Slay can work together again, just about any NFL relationship is salvageable. The Pats discussed Hopkins with the Cards earlier this offseason.

While the Cardinals having shopped Hopkins and discussed him in trades for months, it sounds like the rebuilding team will move on. If the team — which would eat $21.1MM in a pre-June 1 trade, without any contract adjustments — does not receive the offer it wants, is an unexpected reunion completely off the table? Aside from the aforementioned suitors, is there another team who could make a play here?

Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

OL Rumors: Taylor, Jags, 49ers, Cardinals

April 21st, 2023 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs‘ previous left tackle blueprint centered around giving up significant assets to move a right tackle to the left side. Andy Reid has confirmed the team’s plans to complete a similar project. After a March report indicated the Chiefs were planning to move Jawaan Taylor to left tackle to replace Orlando Brown Jr., the 11th-year Chiefs HC said the ex-Jaguars blocker will indeed begin his Kansas City run as Patrick Mahomes‘ blindside protector.

“Even though he was on the right side I think he can transfer over to the left side. He’s really a good athlete and I think he’s excited about that,” Reid said (h/t Chiefs Wire’s Charles Goldman) of Taylor. “Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t play the right side. If we got another left tackle, he could play the right side. He gives you flexibility. He could probably jump in at guard. He’s smart. He could probably play center.”

Taylor signed a monster contract — four years, $80MM, with $60MM guaranteed by March 2024 — to join the Super Bowl champions. If the four-year Jaguars right tackle starter stayed at that position, he would be the NFL’s second-highest-paid right-sider. Taylor primarily played right tackle at Florida as well. The Chiefs following through with their Taylor position switch gives them a need at Andrew Wylie‘s former spot; Kansas City’s 2022 right tackle is now in Washington.

Here is the latest O-line news from around the league:

Taylor’s former team has its top tackle coming off a season-ending injury. The Jaguars faced the Chiefs in January without left tackle Cam Robinson, who suffered a meniscus tear in December. As expected, the Jags have Robinson on track to be ready by training camp, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. Robinson will be readying for his seventh season as the Jags’ primary right tackle.
Rather than move Taylor to left tackle last year, the Jags plugged in 2021 second-rounder Walker Little to replace Robinson. While Little would be poised to start opposite Robinson, seeing as he picked up some starts after losing a training camp battle to Taylor last year, Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork.com pegs the Jags as being most likely to pick an O-lineman or cornerback in Round 1. Caplan mocks Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright to Jacksonville.
Colton McKivitz is the not only the clubhouse leader to replace Mike McGlinchey as the 49ers‘ starting right tackle, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes the team views the career backup as having a chance to provide a pass-blocking upgrade (subscription required). McGlinchey steadily received more praise for his run-blocking chops compared to his pass-pro work, though McKivitz has made five career starts. Then again, the 49ers got by with three interior O-linemen — Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford — that brought little experience to the mix. Second-year blocker Jaylon Moore should not be considered out of the mix, per Barrows, who ranks right tackle as the 49ers’ top position of need. But the recently re-signed McKivitz is the favorite. McGlinchey signed a five-year deal with the Broncos during the legal tampering period’s early hours.
While Jonathan Gannon did not seem to view center as a must-augment position, via ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter), the Cardinals seem likely to add an outside snapper after releasing Rodney Hudson. Arizona will add a center to the mix, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Billy Price started 11 games for the Cardinals last season; the ex-first-rounder-turned-journeyman is no longer on the roster. The Cardinals do feature some continuity up front; they re-signed Will Hernandez and have starters D.J. Humphries, Kelvin Beachum and Josh Jones back ahead of OC Drew Petzing‘s first season at the helm.

Contract Details: Hurts, Robinson, Ward, Perryman, Anderson

April 19th, 2023 at 10:06pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on deals signed recently around the NFL:

Jalen Hurts, QB (Eagles): Five years, $255MM. We had received some broad numbers from the deal, and some details still elude us, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some cap numbers recently. Hurts will represent a $6.15MM cap hit in 2023, $13.56MM in 2024, $21.77MM in 2025, and $31.77MM in 2026.
Allen Robinson, WR (Steelers): Three years, $46.5MM. We covered some details, like how the Rams will pay most of Robinson’s 2023 salary in a nearly two-to-one split. According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the Rams will additionally take on $21.45MM of dead money for Robinson moving forward, pushing them up to about $74MM of dead cap in 2023.
Jimmie Ward, S (Texans): Two years, $13MM. The deal, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, has a guaranteed amount of $8.5MM consisting of a $4MM signing bonus, Ward’s 2023 base salary of $2.5MM, and $2MM of his 2024 base salary (worth $5.5MM total). Ward will receive a per game active roster bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000. The contract also includes an annual playing time incentive. If Ward plays 60% of the team’s defensive snaps, he’ll receive an additional $250,000. He’ll get two more $250,000 bonuses for reaching both the 70% and 80% snap share totals, as well.
Denzel Perryman, LB (Texans): One year, $2.6MM. We were aware that Perryman could push the value of his deal to $3.5MM with incentives, but thanks to Wilson, we now know how he can do that. The additional $900,000 is based on playing time. Perryman can earn $300,000 bonuses for reaching each of the 60%, 70% and 80% thresholds of defensive snap shares for the Texans.
Eric Rowe, S (Panthers): One year, $1.32MM. The deal, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $852,500 consisting of a $152,500 signing bonus and $700,000 of Rowe’s base salary (worth a total of $1.17MM).
Kris Boyd, CB (Cardinals): One year, $1.23MM. The contract, according to Wilson, has a signing bonus of $152,500 and a base salary of $1.08MM.
Dante Pettis, WR (Bears): One year, $1.23MM. The deal, according to Wilson, includes a signing bonus of $152,500 and a base salary of $1.08MM.
Troy Reeder, LB (Vikings): One year, $1.23MM. The contract, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $100,000 consisting partially of a $25,000 signing bonus. Reeder’s base salary will be $1.08MM, and he can receive an additional workout bonus $25,000 and a roster bonus of $102,500 if he’s active Week 1. The deal includes a per game active roster bonus of $6,029 for a potential season total of $102,500.
Drew Sample, TE (Bengals): One year, $1.23MM. The contract, according to Wilson, has a signing bonus of $52,500 and a base salary of $1.08MM. Sample will also receive a roster bonus of $75,000 and a workout bonus of $25,000.
Armon Watts, DT (Steelers): One year, $1.23MM. The contract, according to Wilson, has a signing bonus of $152,500 and a base salary of $1.08MM.
Elijah Wilkinson, OL (Cardinals): One year, $1.23MM. The deal, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $1.09MM consisting of a $152,500 signing bonus and $940,000 of Wilkinson’s base salary (worth a total of $1.08MM).
Khadarel Hodge, WR (Falcons): One year, $1.2MM. The contract, according to Wilson, has a base salary of $1.08 and a roster bonus of $120,000 if he is active for Atlanta’s first game of the season. The deal also includes a per game active roster bonus of $7,500 for a potential season total of $127,500.
Chosen Anderson, WR (Dolphins): One year, $1.17MM. The deal, according to Wilson, includes a signing bonus of $152,500.
John Penisini, DL (Panthers): One year, $940,000, according to Wilson.
Kevin Jarvis, OL (Bills): One year, $750,000, according to Wilson.

DL Notes: Reed, Donald, Colts, Steelers, Cards, Jags, Jets, Bucs, Panthers, Texans

April 19th, 2023 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jarran Reed‘s initial Seahawks tenure ended strangely, with the team’s attempt at a restructure leading to a communication breakdown that ended with the defensive tackle’s release. After Reed sought a Seahawks extension during the offseason in which the COVID-19 pandemic led to a salary cap reduction, he ended up signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs. That preceded a 2022 Packers pact. Reed is now back in Seattle, having signed a two-year, $9MM deal.

The veteran D-lineman said, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, neither side wanted to part ways in 2021 and that he remained interested in a potential return while away. The Seahawks called Reed early in free agency, and the sides agreed to terms on what is a less lucrative contract compared to the one the team removed from its payroll two years ago (two years, $23MM). Reed, 30, will join Dre’Mont Jones as Seattle D-tackle additions.

Here is the latest from the D-line scene:

The Cardinals met with Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith on Wednesday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), squeezing in a final visit before the deadline. They also recently brought in Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding the Jaguars also met with the former Big 12 dynamo for a late visit (Twitter link). The Cardinals hold the No. 3 overall pick. While Arizona has dangled it in trades, the team not receiving a viable offer opens the door to a best-defender-available pick. Wilson would qualify as an option at 3, though Smith — No. 17 on ESPN’s big board; No. 18 on Daniel Jeremiah’s — would seemingly enter Arizona’s equation after a trade-down maneuver.
BJ Ojulari resides as a possible option for a team late in the first round or in the early second, and a few teams brought in the LSU alum recently. The Jets, Buccaneers, Panthers and Texans met with Ojulari, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). The younger brother of Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, BJ profiles as a speed rusher. He combined for 12.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons with the Tigers, declaring for the draft after his junior year. Azeez Ojulari went 50th overall in 2020.
Both the Colts and Steelers have met with Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, per Rapoport and ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor (Twitter links). Bresee is in Indianapolis today. A former top-five recruit, Bresee is not a candidate to go in the top five of this draft. But the multiyear Clemson starter joins Myles Murphy as Tiger D-linemen on the Round 1 radar. The Steelers came up regarding Bresee last month, and while the team recently re-signed Larry Ogunjobi, Cam Heyward is going into his age-34 season. The Colts, who added former first-rounder Taven Bryan in free agency, have DeForest Buckner signed for two more seasons.
Buckner recently revealed he played all of last season with a UCL tear in his left elbow. Indicating he’s “not a quarterback or a pitcher,” Buckner said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson) his injury will not require surgery. Buckner finished with eight sacks and a career-high 74 tackles in 2022. Although the Colts are at a crossroads after a wildly disappointing season, Erickson adds the team still views Buckner as a cornerstone. The former 49ers first-rounder is going into his age-29 season.
Aaron Donald saw an injury sideline him for the first time as a pro. A high ankle sprain led the Rams superstar out of action, and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes the all-time great underwent a tightrope procedure to repair the injury (Twitter link). This is not an uncommon procedure; Tony Pollard underwent the same surgery in January. Donald, 32 next month, has also returned to full strength, per Rodrigue. Two years remain on Donald’s record-setting contract.

Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr. Meeting With Eagles, Jets

April 18th, 2023 at 5:18pm CST by Ben Levine

One of the draft’s top offensive tackles will have a busy week meeting with potential suitors. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was in Philadelphia today for a pre-draft visit with the Eagles.

The Ohio State product is also set to meet with the Jets tonight and tomorrow. These meetings follow a trip out west, where Johnson met with the Cardinals last week. As Garafolo points out, there are a “lot of possible fits” for the lineman in the top-15, so these surely won’t be the prospect’s only official visits.

After playing sparingly through his first two collegiate seasons, Johnson took on a larger role in 2022, appearing in 13 games for Ohio State. The 6-6, 315-pound blocker was charged with only a pair of sacks this past season, and Pro Football Focus gave him one of the highest grades (88 overall) at his position. As a result of his performance, Johnson earned a consensus All-American nod after the season.

Johnson has climbed NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s rankings of the top-50 draft prospects, landing at No. 16 in the latest update. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is still the favorite to be the first offensive tackle off the board, but a team could end up selecting Johnson and banking on his size and temperament.

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