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Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/22

July 26th, 2022 at 7:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions, including a handful of notable names landing on the physically unable to perform list and the non-football injury list as teams open up camp:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Released with NFI designation: WR Cody Core

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Browns To Consider Extension For LB Sione Takitaki?

July 24th, 2022 at 1:54pm CST by Rory Parks

Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes the Browns could consider a new deal. Takitaki’s place in Cleveland beyond 2022 is not known just yet, but the former third-round pick has been a regular on the past two Browns defenses. 

Cleveland’s most frequent alignment is a 4-2-5 look, with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Anthony Walker entrenched as the primary linebackers in the middle of the unit. But when the team deploys a strong-side ‘backer, it calls upon Takitaki, a hard-hitting run-stopper whose 67.5 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2021 would have been a top-20 mark if he had enough snaps to qualify.

Indeed, the BYU product appeared in just 28% of the Browns’ defensive snaps least season after posting a 43% number the year before. Much of that decrease was due to the arrivals of Owusu-Koramoah and Walker, who established themselves as high-level performers and relegated Takitaki to more of a marginal role.

Still, the advanced metrics were similarly fond of Takitaki in 2020, when he posted a career-best PFF grade of 71.2. Even if he is slated for rotational duties moving forward, the 27-year-old has been productive when given the opportunity to stay on the field, and should be relatively affordable on a short- or medium-term extension.

As many have pointed out amidst Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson-induced QB uncertainty, the Browns are currently in a league of their own in terms of 2022 cap space. Much of that will likely be used to roll over into next year, which will see a substantial spike in cap figures for the likes of Watson, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, and Denzel Ward. An extension would therefore have to be relatively modest for Takitaki, though there is little reason to believe anything other than that would be the Browns’ goal.

As Cleveland looks to retain as many members of what it feels is a Super Bowl-caliber roster, keeping Takitaki in the fold would likely be a worthwhile investment. How aggressively they pursue an extension, however, remains to be seen. Of course, as Cabot notes, the team could simply wait to consider a new contract until next offseason.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/22

July 22nd, 2022 at 7:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions:

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Browns Sign Round 4 DT Perrion Winfrey, Finalize Draft Class

July 22nd, 2022 at 12:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The final member of the Browns’ 2022 draft class is officially on the books. Cleveland signed defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey to his rookie contract, per a team announcement. 

Winfrey had a brief but productive career at Oklahoma. He flashed his ability as a disruptor in the run game with 5.5 tackles for loss in 2020. He then took a step forward with 23 stops, along with 11 TFLs, in 2021. With 5.5 sacks, he also showcased his ability as a pass-rusher, an element which has become increasingly valuable in recent years.

With a jump in PFF grades from 59.7 to 71.3, many have projected significant growth in the next few years for the six-foot-four, 292-pounder. As a result, some felt that Winfrey would have to wait no longer than Day 2 of the draft to hear his name called. Instead, he could end up representing a value find in the fourth round for the Browns, who continue to add youth to the interior of their defensive front.

Winfrey will join the likes of recent mid-round draftees Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai as intriguing prospects in the middle of Cleveland’s d-line. His relative weakness defending the run will, in all likelihood, limit his playing time early on in his career, but he could make an impact on passing downs relatively quickly.

With Winfrey under contract for four years, here is the final breakdown of the Browns’ class:

Round 3: No. 68 (from Texans) Martin Emerson, CB (Mississippi State) (signed)
Round 3: No. 78 Alex Wright, DE (UAB) (signed)
Round 3: No. 99 David Bell, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 4: No. 108 (from Texans) Perrion Winfrey, DT (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 4: No. 124 (from Eagles through Texans) Cade York, K (LSU) (signed)
Round 5: No. 156 (from Vikings through Ravens) Jerome Ford, RB (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 6: No. 202 (from Cowboys) Mike Woods, WR (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 7: No. 223 (from Lions) Isaiah Thomas, DE (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 7: No. 246 (from Bills) Dawson Deaton, C (Texas Tech) (signed)

Browns To Sign QB Josh Rosen

July 21st, 2022 at 5:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Josh Rosen is heading to Cleveland. After working out for the Browns earlier today, the quarterback will sign with the team, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It will be a one-year deal for Rosen. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland (on Twitter), the quarterback will sign his contract tomorrow.

[RELATED: Browns Work Out QBs Josh Rosen, A.J. McCarron]

With Deshaun Watson facing a potential suspension, the Browns have reportedly been on the lookout for some reinforcement at the quarterback position. Rosen auditioned for the team earlier today, with A.J. McCarron also getting a work out. Cleveland has also been lightly connected to 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Browns reportedly did some research on Garrett Gilbert, who spent time with the organization in 2019. Rosen ultimately won out, and he’ll now join a depth chart that includes Watson, presumed Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett, and free agent signing Josh Dobbs.

It’s only been four seasons since Rosen was selected by the Cardinals with the 10th-overall pick in the 2018 draft. He only got one season in Arizona before the organization pivoted to Kyler Murray, and he didn’t show a whole lot when he was on the field. In 13 starts as a rookie, Rosen guided the Cardinals to a 3-10 record while completing 55.2 percent of his passes for 2,278 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

He was traded to the Dolphins in 2019, but he only got into six games (three starts) for his new squad, tossing one touchdown vs. five interceptions. He was waived prior to the 2020 campaign, and since that time, he’s had brief stints with the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Falcons. He ended up getting into four games for Atlanta last season, completing only two of his 11 pass attempts.

Temporarily, Rosen will mostly serve as depth at the position; Cabot writes that Rosen was signed to be a backup to Brissett (vs. competing with Brissett to serve as the temporary QB1). More significantly, it seems pretty clear that the Browns are preparing to be without Watson for at least a solid chunk of the upcoming campaign.

Browns Work Out QBs Josh Rosen, A.J. McCarron

July 21st, 2022 at 12:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

With a suspension looming for Deshaun Watson, the Browns remain on the lookout for a short-term QB addition. Two new candidates the team is looking at have emerged. 

Cleveland is holding workouts with Josh Rosen and A.J. McCarron, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). He adds that the Browns are eyeing a training camp roster including four signal-callers: Watson, presumed Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett, free agent signing Josh Dobbs, and another passer capable of acting as insurance during Watson’s absence.

Rosen and McCarron were connected last offseason as well, though under different circumstances. It was the latter’s preseason ACL tear that left the Falcons in need of a late addition at QB. Rosen was made available when he was waived by the 49ers at the start of their training camp, and signed in August. The move increased the number of teams the 2018 first-rounder had joined to four since his one-year stint with the Cardinals during his rookie season.

Rosen dressed for four games last season, attempting just 11 passes. Since his inaugural campaign, the former top-10 pick has suited up for 10 total contests. McCarron, whom the Browns nearly traded for in 2017, is now three years removed from his last start, which came with the Texans. Neither QB would therefore be seen as a threat to Brissett’s status as the team’s top option for however long Watson is sidelined.

Given their cap situation, Cleveland has been named as a potential suitor for Jimmy Garoppolo in the event of Watson being banned for the entire 2022 campaign. The 49ers veteran was officially given permission to seek a trade yesterday, and would represent the most accomplished passer sill available this late in the offseason. However, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports that the team is “not expected” to pursue a trade for the 30-year-old, nor have the Browns shown interest in free agent Cam Newton.

Instead, she adds, Cleveland has “inquired about” Garrett Gilbert. The journeyman spent the 2019 season with the Browns, and is a free agent again after his brief 2022 Raiders tenure ended. He could provide competition to Rosen and McCarron as the Browns look for serviceable QB depth.

Browns Anticipating Eight-Game Watson Suspension?

July 20th, 2022 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Deshaun Watson saga is still crawling along, but updates on the Browns related to their embattled QB continue to be provided. Included among them is the expectation the team currently has for the length of Watson’s pending suspension. 

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that the Browns “privately are bracing for an eight-game suspension” being handed down to Watson. That would constitute the high end of the two- to eight-game range which Florio reported yesterday was the most likely conclusion to the league’s disciplinary process. A ban of any length could, of course, be appealed, meaning that a decision being rendered by former judge Sue Robinson won’t bring immediate closure to the situation.

In the event Watson is sidelined for the first two months of the season, attention will naturally turn to Cleveland’s subsequent QB move(s). The Browns will target a backup to Jacoby Brissett as insurance in the short-term, something made possible in no small part by the league-leading cap space they currently have, a figure which exceeds $48MM. To that point, Florio notes “chatter about the possibility of the Browns adding Cam Newton.” The 33-year-old rejoined the Panthers last season, starting five winless games. Their addition of Mayfield will push him to find a new home, as he did in 2020.

Another stopgap option consistently floated around is Jimmy Garoppolo. It was reported last week that Cleveland making a significant push to trade for the 49ers signal-caller would be considered surprising. On the other hand, PFF’s Doug Kyed reports that the Browns “did their homework” on Garoppolo during the spring (Twitter link). They are the only team currently capable of absorbing the 30-year-old’s $24.2MM salary in 2022, the final year of his contract, in full.

Nothing will be known with more certainty until Robinson’s decision is handed down, and any resulting appeals process plays out. As a team aiming for a Super Bowl run, and facing a conference full of talent-rich opponents, the Browns could ill-afford to stumble, or likely even tread water, in the early portion of the season. How they react to Watson’s discipline will therefore remain a hugely relevant storyline in the build-up to the campaign.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo “Progressing Well” From Shoulder Surgery

July 19th, 2022 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Jimmy Garoppolo continues to take positive steps forward as he recovers from his shoulder surgery. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the quarterback recently got a thumbs up from Dr. Neal ElAttrache during a checkup, and it seems like the veteran is “progressing well.”

[RELATED: Browns Unlikely To Pursue Jimmy Garoppolo?]

Per Rapoport, the 49ers are thrilled with where Garoppolo is from a physical standpoint. The expectation continues to be that the QB will be able to make his return to the field in mid-August, and Rapoport hints that the player’s return could quickly lead to a trade out of San Francisco.

We heard recently that Garoppolo had resumed throwing, and Rapoport provided some details on his rehab process. The QB’s focus isn’t on “making one deep” pass attempt; instead, Garoppolo is focused on “making many [passes] in a row” as he attempts to build up for actual game action. Per Rapoport, the belief is that the player’s cuff will end up stronger than it was before the injury. Garoppolo originally injured his shoulder during the team’s Divisional Round win over the Cowboys. The surgery ultimately kept him out of mandatory minicamp.

It sounds like the 49ers are not counting on Garoppolo to be ready for the start of training camp. That means 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance won’t have to look over his shoulder as he guides the first-team offense through the early parts of camp. It sounds like Garoppolo won’t even get a legitimate look from the 49ers before he’s shipped out via trade, but at the very least, the veteran’s current status eliminates any semblance of a QB competition.

Still, a Garoppolo trade is easier said than done, especially with the majority of his potential suitors now out of the picture. The Browns and Seahawks have most recently been connected to the 30-year-old, but if those squads have legitimate interest, they’d likely wait out their chances and see if Garoppolo ends up hitting free agency. The player’s shoulder somewhat complicates a potential release, but no matter the end result, his return to practice will mark the beginning of the end for Garoppolo in San Francisco.

Browns Not Interested In Ndamukong Suh, Could Have Interest In Sheldon Richardson

July 19th, 2022 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

A report from last week hinted that the Browns could have some interest in Ndamukong Suh. That doesn’t appear to be the case, but the organization could still have interest in adding a defensive lineman. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, reports connecting Suh to Cleveland are “unfounded,” and “there doesn’t seem to be much interest” in adding the veteran. However, if the team does add a defensive tackle, Sheldon Richardson could be an option.

[RELATED: Browns Interested In DT Ndamukong Suh?]

Richardson spent two seasons in Cleveland, collecting 126 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 32 games with the organization. Richardson originally inked a three-year deal with the Browns in 2019, but after he refused to take a pay cut following the 2020 campaign, he was let go. He ended up catching on with the Vikings for the 2021 season, starting seven of his 17 games while collecting 39 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

As Cabot notes, the 31-year-old defensive tackle is still well liked from his time in Cleveland, with the reporter citing Richardson’s ability to help “patch things up” between Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield following the former’s suspension in 2019. Beyond his locker room presence, Richardson could also provide some guidance to the Browns’ younger defensive lineman, although Cabot hints that the organization may be content rolling with their current grouping.

The team is high on fourth-round rookie Perrion Winfrey, and they also want to see what they’ve got from third-year pro Jordan Elliott and free agent addition Taven Bryan. However, there’s always a chance a spot could open up, and if the Browns decide they need some reinforcement at defensive tackle, there’s a good chance Richardson will get a call.

One name that apparently won’t be called is Suh. The veteran’s run of Pro Bowls stopped in 2016, but Suh became a key piece for Rams and Bucs Super Bowl-bound teams in the years that followed. Last season, he registered six regular-season sacks and added four hits on Matthew Stafford in Tampa Bay’s narrow divisional-round loss.

Deshaun Watson Rumors: Tuesday

July 19th, 2022 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s defining offseason story continues to head toward its conclusion, though disciplinary officer Sue Robinson’s decision should be expected to be the first of a few involving Deshaun Watson. Appeals and a potential legal fight may well be up next to determine the punishment for the Browns quarterback. Here is the latest on the Watson front:

  • Robinson’s decision is not expected to emerge this week, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. The post-hearing briefs were not due until July 12, and while an announcement this week would clear the way for this saga’s next chapter to begin before the Browns break for training camp, the retired judge has been expected to take her time and issue a detailed report. This delay opens the door to the Browns not knowing how long Watson will be suspended until well after camp begins. Appeals could push this process close to Week 1, while a court fight would likely drag the matter into the regular season. Recent NFL suspensions that went to court led to Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott playing after receiving injunctions, but both players eventually served their original-length bans.
  • The NFL has made its push for a full-season suspension clear, with three sources informing USA Today’s Mike Jones the league’s long-rumored intent did, in fact, come to light during the three-day June hearing.
  • Continuing the roundabout news cycles associated with potential Watson punishment, Robinson’s ruling could put Roger Goodell and NFL brass to the test. A two- to eight-game ban stands to be the most likely outcome, a source informed Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. This verdict would likely require the NFL standing down regarding an appeal. While overturning an independent arbitrator’s decision in this disciplinary process’ first go-round would further damage the NFL’s relationship with the NFLPA, the league would run into more bad PR if a two- or four-game ban came to pass. This is, however, the second report this week to predict the 26-year-old QB playing in 2022.
  • Part of the reason for Watson’s side to hope for lighter punishment: the NFL’s case. Anderson adds the NFL focused on four accusers’ accounts (Twitter link) — based on what has been uncovered during the league’s lengthy investigation — instead of the previously reported five during the hearing. Multiple women still suing Watson accused him of sexual assault, but Jones notes the NFL’s presentation did not include examples of sexual assault, force or violence. The attorney for the accusers, Tony Buzbee, was unsurprised by this, indicating the majority of Watson’s accusers allege the quarterback committed “indecent exposure and assault; that is, touching without consent.” The CBA calls for a baseline suspension of six games for “sexual assault involving physical force,” pushing Watson’s alleged misconduct into a gray area with regards to league punishment.
  • The NFLPA indeed referenced minimal or no punishment given to owners Dan Snyder, Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones during the hearing. The NFL, in its post-hearing brief, countered that by indicating the union’s issues with owner discipline (or lack thereof) are irrelevant to the Watson matter, Anderson adds (on Twitter).
  • If Watson ends up receiving a suspension that covers much of 2022, the Browns plan to sign a backup quarterback. They are not expected to pursue a starter-caliber passer, with the team confidence Jacoby Brissett can handle those responsibilities during Watson’s absence.
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