Dallas Robinson | Pro Football Rumors

49ers Host WR Donte Moncrief

August 13th, 2020 at 4:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Tavon Austin isn’t the only free agent wide receiver working out for the 49ers. San Francisco also hosted veteran pass-catchers Donte Moncrief and J.J. Nelson, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

While the 49ers still have ample receiver depth, including first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk, Dante Pettis, and Trent Taylor, the club has lost several options during the offseason. 2019 breakout star Deebo Samuel could miss time after breaking his foot earlier this year, veteran Marquise Goodwin was traded to the Eagles, and Travis Benjamin opted out of the season due to COVID-19.

Moncrief was once a budding star in Indianapolis, and while he’s still only 27 years old, his stock has fallen considerably over the past few years. He inked a two-year deal with the Steelers in advance of the 2019 campaign, but was released midway through the season after posting just four catches. Moncrief latched on with the Panthers for three games, but didn’t record any statistics.

Nelson, meanwhile, put up consecutive 500+-yard seasons with the Cardinals in 2016-17, but his offensive role has dwindled since then. In 2019, the former fifth-round selection appeared in 15 games for the Raiders but managed only four receptions.

Filling The Voids Left By Key NFL Opt Outs

August 6th, 2020 at 6:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

67 NFL players have decided to opt out from the 2020 NFL campaign due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly every team was affected, as only the Steelers, Chargers, and Falcons didn’t have a player who elected to sit out.

Some players’ absences will be felt more than others. Teams that are losing starters or other key pieces of their roster will feel an outsized impact during the upcoming campaign. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most important players who are opting out in 2020, and how their respective clubs could look to replace them for the season ahead.

Buffalo Bills

Opted out: DT Star Lotulelei
Filling the void: Aside from possibly Jerry Hughes, the Bills don’t necessarily have a star along their defensive line, but general manager Brandon Beane has built one of the deepest front fours in the NFL. On the interior specifically, Buffalo will turn to Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler, Harrison Phillips, and Vincent Taylor to play more snaps opposite 2019 first-round pick Ed Oliver. Jefferson, who inked a two-year, $13.8MM deal to leave the Seahawks, is a top-notch run-stuffer but also notched 39 pressures in just 589 snaps a year ago. He is the favorite to soak up the majority of Lotulelei’s projected playing time.

Chicago Bears

Opted out: DT Eddie Goldman
Filling the void: Goldman is something of a relic, a true 3-4 nose tackle in a league that no longer prioritizes that potion. The Bears thought of enough of Goldman’s recent efforts to reward him with a four-year, $42MM extension in 2018, but they’ll have to go without him for the 2020 campaign. Chicago will likely first look internally to replace Goldman, and John Jenkins is an underrated player who could surprise in extended action. But if the Bears go to the free agent market, Damon Harrison could be of interest, as the 31-year-old has indicated he’s open to continuing his career.

Green Bay Packers

Opted out: WR Devin Funchess
Filling the void: To many, it was nearly inconceivable the Packers didn’t use a single draft pick on a wide receiver, and it could be even more unthinkable if Green Bay doesn’t acquire another pass-catcher now that Funchess has opted out. Taylor Gabriel is probably the best free agent wideout left on the market, but a trade could make even more sense for the Packers. Veterans like Kenny Stills (Texans) and Keelan Cole (Jaguars) may be available, but a more intriguing option may be Broncos second-year WR DaeSean Hamilton, who could be without a role after Denver drafted both Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler earlier this year.

Kansas City Chiefs

Opted out: G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, RB Damien Williams
Filling the void: The defending champions have already made one low-cost move in an attempt to replace Duvernay-Tardif, inking former All-Pro Kelechi Osemele to a one-year pact reportedly worth up to $2MM. Osemele is now 31 years old and hasn’t been fully healthy in a few years, but he’s as good a guard as a club is going to find on the open market at this point in the summer. The loss of Williams will sting as well, but Kansas City spent its first-round pick on fellow running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who now figures to take the lion’s share of the Chiefs’ backfield action.

Miami Dolphins

Opted out: WR Allen Hurns, WR Albert Wilson
Filling the void: Not only are both Hurns and Wilson opting out for 2020, but it’s unclear if 2019 breakout Preston Williams will be available for the start of the season after tearing his ACL in November. The Dolphins are already working to burnish their wide receiver corps, meeting with both Ricardo Louis and Chester Rogers earlier today. But if Miami wants to take a chance on an option with more upside, it could contact the Steelers about 2018 second-rounder James Washington, who could see a reduced role in 2020 behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool.

Minnesota Vikings

Opted out: DT Michael Pierce
Filling the void: The Vikings lured Pierce away from the Ravens on a three-year, $27MM deal with the hope that he’d replace Linval Joseph, who defected to the Chargers. Now, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, and Jalyn Holmes are the top-three options to start at defneisve tackle. Minnesota will likely turn to the free agent market to add another body, and former No. 3 overall selection Marcell Dareus could make for a solid Pierce replacement. Dareus missed most of last season with an injury and doesn’t offer much a pass-rusher, but he could fill Pierce’s projected role as a run-stuffer.

New England Patriots

Opted out: T Marcus Cannon, S Patrick Chung, LB Dont’a Hightower
Filling the void: The Patriots were hit harder by opt outs than any other team, and the losses of Cannon, Chung, and Hightower will all be felt. There aren’t a ton of right tackle options available, so New England might look at a reunion with LaAdrian Waddle or give the starting job to internal options Korey Cunningham or Yodny Cajuste. The Patriots may be fine at safety even after losing Chung, as Adrian Phillips and second-round rookie Kyle Duggar can slot in opposite Devin McCourty. At linebacker, New England could take a chance on a player that gets cut later this offseason such as Haason Reddick or Denzel Perryman.

New York Giants

Opted out: T Nate Solder
Filling the void: The Giants have a ready-made replacement for Solder in first-round pick Andrew Thomas, whom New York made the first offensive lineman to be chosen within the top-four overall selections since 2014. Thomas should step in immediately on Daniel Jones‘ blindside, leaving right tackle as the biggest question on the Giants’ offensive line. Fellow rookie Matt Peart is now projected to take over on the right side, and he’s probably the best option for Big Blue unless they want to invest in an older free agent like Cordy Glenn.

New York Jets

Opted out: LB C.J. Mosley
Filling the void: Not only is Mosley out for the 2020 season, but fellow veteran linebacker Avery Williamson could be traded or released. Perhaps the Jets will be more amenable to retaining Williamson now that Mosley has opted out, but either way, it probably doesn’t make sense for general manager Joe Douglas to use draft capital or cap space to bring in another ‘backer. The Jets don’t look like 2020 contenders, and after trading safety Jamal Adams, the club is looking towards the future. New York should see what 2019 fifth-rounder Blake Cashman can do with more playing time rather than acquiring a veteran.

Philadelphia Eagles

Opted out: WR Marquise Goodwin
Filling the void: The Eagles spent all offseason acquiring weapons for Carson Wentz, spending three draft picks on wideouts (including first-rounder Jalen Reagor) while also trading for Goodwin, who had fallen out of favor in San Francisco. Clearly, Philadelphia was looking for more speed in picking up Goodwin, but another trade candidate could offer the same sort of game-breaking ability. Robert Foster posted 541 yards for the Bills in 2018, but wasn’t a part of Buffalo’s offense last season and certainly won’t be in 2020 after the club added Stefon Diggs. The Eagles could likely pick him up for a late-round draft selection.

Purdue WR Rondale Moore Opts Out

August 6th, 2020 at 5:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore will opt out of the 2020 collegiate football season, as he announced via his Twitter account.

It’s still unclear whether a college football season will even take place this fall, but we’ve already seen a number of prospective stars decide that taking the field isn’t worth the risk. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s entirely reasonable to assume that more NCAA stars will join Moore, Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman in sitting out the year.

Moore was a breakout star during his freshman year in 2018, posting 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns while also adding value in the rushing game and on special teams. Dane Brugler of The Athletic currently ranks Moore as the third-best wideout in the 2020 class, noting the ex-Boilermaker has accrued an amazing two-thirds of his yardage after the catch.

Buccaneers Waive CB M.J. Stewart

August 6th, 2020 at 4:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Buccaneers are parting ways with a recent high draft choice. Tampa Bay is waiving cornerback M.J. Stewart, whom the club selected with the 53rd overall pick in the 2018 draft, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Stewart was named second-team All-ACC during his final season at North Carolina, and he was expected to be a valuable long-term contributor to a Tampa Bay secondary that desperately needed reinforcements. But injuries continually kept Stewart off the field — a foot problem cost him six games during his rookie campaign, and he missed five more games in 2019 while dealing with a knee issue.

Still, Stewart is still only 25 years old and has played 614 snaps over the past two seasons. Thanks to his second-round pedigree and his rookie contract, it’s entirely possible Stewart could be claimed off waivers, or if not, at least find a new club in the near future.

Falcons Expected To Re-Sign J.J. Wilcox

August 6th, 2020 at 4:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons are expected to re-sign free agent safety J.J. Wilcox, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). It will be a one-year deal, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Wilcox will first need to pass both a physical and a COVID-19 test.

Wilcox, 29, originally signed with Atlanta last spring, but a torn ACL prematurely ended his season in July. Presumably, he’s know healthy enough to resume play in 2020. A third-round pick in the 2013 draft, Wilcox began his career with the Cowboys (appearing in 58 games over four years), but has since bounced around the league, spending time with the Buccaneers, Steelers, Jets, and Colts.

Atlanta is already three-deep at safety with Ricardo Allen, Keanu Neal, and Damontae Kazee, so Wilcox will likely be viewed as depth. However, he boasts enough experience that he could be called into action due to injuries on the Falcons’ depth chart.

NFC North Notes: Packers, Rodgers, Vikings

August 5th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a quick spin around the NFC North:

Appearing on a recent episode of “10 Questions with Kyle Brandt,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed he was surprised Green Bay didn’t select a wide receiver in the 2020 draft, and also admitted he’s likely to be traded in the future due to the Packers’ addition of first-round signal-caller Jordan Love (Twitter link via Kevin Clark of The Ringer). The entire clip is well-worth a watch, as Rodgers doesn’t indicate any anger at the Love pick — instead, he comes off as pragmatic and realistic regarding his future in Green Bay. The Packers could most likely move on from Rodgers — whether via trade or release — after the 2021 season.
Incumbent Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff is likely to stay put on the blindside, so second-round pick Ezra Cleveland has been working at guard, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak told reporters, including Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cleveland, who played tackle at Boise State, hasn’t seen much action at guard, but it’s possible he could compete with Pat Elflein and Dru Samia for a starting role at either left or right guard. Minnesota ranked in the top-half of the league in Football Outsiders‘ offensive line metrics in 2019.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby and tight end Jace Sternberger, as well as Bears defensive tackle John Jenkins, were among the NFL players recently placed on the COVID reserve list, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/5/20

August 5th, 2020 at 6:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Waived: LB Ahmad Thomas

New England Patriots

Signed: WR Isaiah Zuber

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: WR Marcus Green

Seattle Seahawks

Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): DB D.J. Reed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens

Cardinals Sign Kentrell Brice, Two Others

August 5th, 2020 at 5:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals are expected to sign safety Kentrell Brice to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Brice needs to pass a physical and a COVID-19 test before officially signing a pact.

Brice joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and appeared in 36 games over the next three seasons, including 10 starts in 2018. Since then, the 25-year-old has struggled to find playing time, but he’s been with the Buccaneers, Bears, and even had a short stint with the XFL’s Seattle Dragons.

The Cardinals already boast Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, and Deionte Thompson atop their safety depth chart, so Brice will likely compete with fellow veteran Chris Banjo for special teams/reserve duty. Brice played nearly 300 special teams snaps back in 2016.

Arizona is also signing wide receiver Andre Patton and guard Koda Martin, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), respectively.

Lions’ Russell Bodine Opts Out

August 5th, 2020 at 4:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Lions center Russell Bodine has become the 60th NFL player to opt out of the 2020 campaign, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Bodine, 28, signed a futures deal with Detroit during the offseason and could have competed for a reserve interior line spot behind starters Joe Dahl, Frank Ragnow, and Jonah Jackson. Instead, he’ll sit out the season due to COVID-19.

If Bodine has an existing condition that places him in a high-risk category, he’ll receive a $350K stipend that won’t need to be returned. If he’s simply opting out voluntarily, Bodine will get a $150K advance that would be recouped in 2021.

A fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2014, Bodine started 64 consecutive games for Cincinnati before entering free agency in 2018. He appeared in 10 games for the Bills in 2018, but didn’t play an NFL snap last year.

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

July 9th, 2020 at 7:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the NFL and NFLPA are reportedly close to agreeing to a set of gameday protocols that would nominally attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the two sides still haven’t officially worked out an accord regarding a training camp and preseason schedule. Let’s take a look at the latest as the league and the union work through a variety of health-related issues:

NFLPA president J.C. Tretter recently outlined the union’s stance on a number of items, including support for a NFL/NFLPA Joint Committee of doctors-recommended 48-day training camp schedule and the elimination of the preseason (the league prefers to keep two exhibition games in place). While the NFL didn’t publicly comment on Tretter’s piece, one source called the post “very disappointing and contrary to the sense of collaboration going back to the early days of mid-March,” tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
The timing of training camp and the length of the preseason remain key issues. The NFL wanted players to report for camp earlier than the CBA allows in order to fit in a longer schedule, but the union has declined to do so, per Pelissero (Twitter link).
The aforementioned Joint Committee recommended one-to-two preseason games, but the league is still standing firm on zero exhibition games, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Appearing on WEEI, NFLPA senior director of player affairs Don Davis questioned why two preseason games would be any safer than four. A source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that preseason contests are likely to be used a bargaining chip.
Amidst the ongoing pandemic, a number of clubs have proactively announced that games will feature limited capacity seating. Of course, those teams are assuming that fans will be allowed to attend contests at all, which is far from a given at this point. So far, the Packers, Chiefs, and Ravens have each announced plans for reduced capacities.