Jonathon Brooks

Giants Factored Into Panthers’ Trade-Up Move For RB Jonathon Brooks

June 19th, 2024 at 10:15am CST by Sam Robinson

Three years ago, Giants connections to DeVonta Smith prompted the Eagles to trade up (via the Cowboys) to outflank their rivals for the Heisman-winning wide receiver. A middle-class version of that situation looks to have played out during this year’s draft.

Not making a strong effort to retain Saquon Barkley in free agency, the Giants pivoted to ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge Devin Singletary at a lower rate. They did add another running back in the draft, addressing the position (Tyrone Tracy Jr.) in the fifth round for the second straight year. The Panthers made a move to ensure the Giants’ investment at the position did not come sooner.

Citing the Giants bringing in Jonathon Brooks for a “30” visit, Panthers GM Dan Morgan advocated to David Tepper the team should trade up to move ahead of the NFC East club for the Texas RB at No. 46. Morgan said he knew of other teams viewing Brooks as this draft’s top running back. Considering Brooks was chosen 20 picks before the second RB went off the board, it seems like a safe assumption other clubs shared Carolina’s view of the ex-Longhorns ball-carrier.

The Panthers traded down from No. 39, allowing the Rams to move up for Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske — a deal that gave Carolina a 2025 second-rounder. They sent the Colts two fifths to climb from 52 to 46, with the Giants sitting at 47. New York eventually took Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, marking the second straight year the Giants went with a Golden Gophers prospect (following center John Michael Schmitz) in Round 2.

“We knew that if we traded [No. 39] there would be a player that we would miss out on. We were comfortable with that because we really wanted Brooks, and to be able to get the two next year, we said, OK, once our guys start going, then we’re going have to move back up,” Morgan said, via Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt. “It’s not like we did anything that was so smart or great or whatever; we were just willing to take a larger risk to get that outcome of the trade. It’s like, let’s not get cute here. Let’s just get our guy.”

Morgan and Giants GM Joe Schoen worked together for a stretch in Buffalo, helping give the new Panthers front office boss some insight on how his former coworker could be handling Round 2 in this year’s draft. Morgan also called Schoen about moving up, Gantt adds, while new Panthers exec Brandt Tilis contacted ex-Chiefs coworker Chris Ballard — a conversation that led to the Day 2 swap with the Colts.

Brooks fell to No. 46 in part because of a November ACL tear. He had still amassed 1,139 rushing yards (6.1 per tote) and 10 touchdowns in 11 games last year. With Chuba Hubbard going into a contract year, the Panthers made the move to add a successor early. While Brooks is not yet cleared for full work, he is expected to be back for training camp. He looks set to be eased into action, however, with The Athletic’s Joe Person indicating Hubbard is the “clear leader” on the depth chart going into camp (subscription required).

Hubbard usurped free agent signing Miles Sanders, who received last year’s top UFA RB contract (four years, $25.4MM), during Carolina’s dismal season. The former fourth-round pick totaled 902 rushing yards behind an injury-plagued O-line, averaging only 3.8 per carry, and scored five touchdowns. Sanders also suffered a heel injury while working out on his own, and the malady worsened during OTAs, Person adds.

Considering the Panthers also added Rashaad Penny — who overlapped with Dave Canales in Seattle — and it would not be shocking to see them move on from Sanders despite the dead money hit that would come. Though, it would cost Carolina more than $7MM to drop Sanders; the team would also carry 2025 dead money from that transaction.

As for the Giants, they have been linked to adding another veteran RB to the mix. Singletary is in place as the projected starter, with Tracy and Eric Gray behind him. The team has not re-signed multiyear backup Matt Breida. New York did add UFL rushing leader Jacob Saylors on Tuesday, but its backfield obviously does not appear as imposing as it did when Barkley resided atop the depth chart.

With costs rising on Big Blue’s payroll, the team opted not to re-sign the two-time Pro Bowler. It is not known if the Giants truly would have taken Brooks as a Barkley successor in Round 2, but the Panthers took that option off the table to be safe.

Panthers Sign Entire 2024 Draft Class

May 9th, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thursday’s frenzy of draft-slot deals continues, and the Panthers are knocking this task off in one session. Carolina agreed to terms with its entire 2024 draft class tonight, locking in seven rookie contracts.

Xavier Legette headlines the list. Although the Panthers did not hold a first-round pick coming into the draft (thanks to the Bryce Young trade), they will have a fifth-year option on Legette’s contract by virtue of trading up one spot to No. 32 for the South Carolina prospect. The wide receiver’s rookie deal will be fully guaranteed.

The Panthers and Patriots both sent the Bills offers for No. 32, after Buffalo had traded down from 28, and Legette is believed to have been New England’s target as well. Buffalo chose Carolina’s offer, which included the Panthers sending over a fifth-round pick to climb from No. 33 to No. 32. Legette will join 2023 second-round wideout Jonathan Mingo, with the Panthers using two picks in the 30s — Mingo went 39th last year — to supplement veterans Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. With Thielen’s guarantees done after 2024 and Johnson’s Steelers-constructed extension expiring after this season, Legette and Mingo profile as the Panthers’ long-term Young targets.

Catching teams’ eye partially because he clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 227 pounds, Legette was not on the first-round radar for much of his Gamecocks career. While lauded for his blocking, Legette did not eclipse 200 receiving yards in any of his first four South Carolina seasons. Teaming with Spencer Rattler once again in 2023, Legette broke through for 1,255 yards and seven TD receptions. He and Mingo will give Young two big-bodied targets, with the latter checking in at 220 pounds.

Carolina traded second-round picks in the 2023 and ’25 drafts to obtain Young, but the team came into this draft with two picks in Round 2 thanks to the Brian Burns trade. That gave the Panthers the No. 39 pick in this draft. GM Dan Morgan accepted a Rams offer to move down to No. 52, picking up a fifth-round pick and a 2025 second-rounder in the process. Carolina then packaged that fifth-rounder (along with another 2024 fifth) to Indianapolis to climb to No. 46, making Jonathon Brooks this year’s first running back selected.

Joining a backfield housing Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard, Brooks comes to Charlotte after a November 2023 ACL tear. The Bijan Robinson Longhorns RB1 successor is expected to be cleared by training camp, but his 2023 injury undoubtedly affected his draft stock. This draft did not offer the type of RB prospects last year’s did, but another new Panthers regime dived in by making Brooks the only back chosen in the first or second round. Robinson’s former backup totaled 1,139 rushing yards (6.1 per tote) and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.

The Panthers did not see their Sanders investment pay off last year, and they benched the ex-Super Bowl starter for Hubbard. Sanders’ guarantees wrap after 2024, and Hubbard’s rookie deal expires after this season. This points to Brooks having a route to being Carolina’s unquestioned RB1 by 2025, should he prove healthy following this rehab process. This year, however, may feature a committee approach in Carolina.

It will be interesting to learn how well Brooks’ side did regarding guarantees, as second-round slot deals are producing the most wiggle room as of late. With the rookie contracts done, here are the drafted rookies set to develop under the Panthers’ coaching staff this offseason:

Round 1, No. 32 (from Chiefs through Bills): Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina) (signed)
Round 2, No. 46 (from Colts): Jonathon Brooks (RB, Texas) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Jets): Trevin Wallace (LB, Kentucky) (signed)
Round 4, No. 101: Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157 (from Browns through Vikings): Chau Smith-Wade (CB, Washington State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 200 (from Cowboys through Texans and Bills): Jaden Crumedy (DT, Mississippi State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 240 (from Steelers): Michael Barrett (LB, Michigan) (signed)

Cowboys Close To Re-Signing Ezekiel Elliott?

April 28th, 2024 at 9:48am CST by Sam Robinson

SUNDAY, 9:48am: The Cowboys did not add a running back on Day 3 of this weekend’s draft either. As Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram relays, Jerry Jones believes that Elliott still has RB1 abilities, and while executive vice president Stephen Jones conceded in his post-draft presser that the team would have considered an RB if the right player had been available, the running back need never aligned with value in the front office’s estimation (via Moore).

Interestingly, last year’s Trey Lance trade is a primary reason for Dallas’ inability to select a Day 3 RB prospect. The Cowboys sent a fourth-round choice, which ultimately became 2024’s No. 124 overall pick, to the 49ers in exchange for Lance in August. After the Niners used that pick on safety Malik Mustapha, five of the next 10 players off the board were running backs. Four of those — Bucky Irving, Ray Davis, Isaac Guerendo, and Braelon Allen — were intriguing to Dallas, which did not have a selection between pick nos. 87 and 174.

While Stephen Jones did not mention Elliott by name when speaking to reporters after the draft was over, Moore says “it was understood” the EVP was talking about Elliott when he said, “we’ll have opportunities throughout to address this running back situation and feel like we’ll get that done.”

SATURDAY, 7:10am: Jones continues to hint that a reunion with Elliott could be coming. When asked why the Cowboys didn’t add to the RB position through the first two days of the draft, the team’s owner pointed back to their former star.

“First of all, the draft’s not over and that’s a thought,” Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “And it was a long time before a running back was taken in today’s draft. But we also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.”

FRIDAY, 4:45pm: A deal with Elliott remains “increasingly imminent” at this point, something which would remain the case even with Brooks or another rookie being selected tonight, per Moore’s colleague Michael Gehlken. It will be interesting to see if further progress on a Dallas agreement produces a response from the other interested party Jones mentioned, or if a reunion officially comes together in the near future.

12:21pm: The Cowboys separated from Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-year, $90MM extension in 2023, but a reality in which the running back is tied to two Dallas contracts on this year’s payroll appears firmly in play.

Rumblings about an Elliott-Cowboys reunion have surfaced at multiple points this offseason, and the team met with the two-time rushing champion Wednesday. Elliott and his agent met were seen with Cowboys brass at multiple locations Wednesday, and Jerry Jones confirmed (via the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore) team brass “spent a lot of time with Zeke” this week.

Jones also said if (when?) the Cowboys draft a running back Friday night it would not have any bearing on how they approach an Elliott reunion. At least one other known suitor exists, per Jones, but Moore points to this reunion coming to pass. Jones said he thought Elliott played “very well” late last season with the Patriots.

This reunion was believed to be on the radar months after the team made the former star a cap casualty, but Elliott confirmed it did not gain much traction. That is no longer the case. Jones also said the $6MM — stemming from signing bonus proration on Elliott’s 2019 extension — that remains on the team’s payroll will not affect how the team proceeds with Elliott now.

“Not even a consideration,’’ Jones said. “He’s earned that $6 million. We’ve already spent it. You have to pay that whether he’s here or not. It won’t affect one thing with how he would help our team this year.’’

Elliott, 28, played last season on a one-year, $3MM deal. Another suitor being in the mix will likely lead to Elliott commanding more than the league minimum on a Cowboys reunion. While Elliott only averaged 3.5 yards per carry (a career-low number), he was tied to a 4-13 Patriots team that ran into injury issues up front — to say nothing of a woeful passing attack. Elliott started the final five Pats games, due to a Rhamondre Stevenson IR move, producing two 50-plus-yard rushing performances to close a 642-yard season in what amounted to a committee role.

Jones has offered effusive praise for Elliott in the past, even as Tony Pollard overtook him as the most productive Cowboys back. With Pollard in Nashville now, the Cowboys are likely to draft a replacement. Elliott returning would put him in position as a complementary option. Though, Dallas’ RB situation does not feature strong in-house solutions; journeyman Royce Freeman joins 2023 backup Rico Dowdle and sixth-round Deuce Vaughn, who goes 5-foot-6.

Additionally, Jones confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) Texas running back Jonathon Brooks is “high, high, high, high” on the team’s draft board ahead of Day 2. Jones went so far as to call his interview with Brooks the best he has conducted in 30 years. Playing behind Bijan Robinson in 2022, Brooks played well as a junior last season, accumulating 1,139 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots Brooks as the second-best option — in what is viewed as an unremarkable RB class — despite the ex-Longhorn having suffered a torn ACL last year. With the Cowboys passing on Derrick Henry and others in March, they figure to be prepared to add here soon this weekend.

Colts Send No. 46 To Panthers

April 26th, 2024 at 7:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers are the latest team to trade up in the second round. Carolina has acquired pick No. 46 from the Colts, sending Nos. 52, 142 and 155 to Indianapolis.

With their second pick in the draft, the Panthers have added Texas running back Jonathon Brooks. As a result, he is the first tailback to come off the board as part of a class not lauded for its star power in the backfield. Still, Brooks will be able to contribute right away in Carolina.

Needing to wait his turn to take over starting duties, Brooks saw only 51 carries in his first two seasons with the Longhorns. In 2023, however, he ascended to the RB1 spot and delivered in a notable fashion. In 11 contests, he posted 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Brooks added 286 yards on 25 receptions.

An ACL tear ended the season prematurely, though, something which hurt his draft stock. Still, it comes as little surprise that Brooks has been the first running back selected. Connections were frequently made — including earlier today — to the RB-needy Cowboys, but he has come off the board well before Dallas’ next selection. Given Carolina’s decision to trade up for him, Brooks will likely be counted on as a rookie.

The 6-0, 216-pounder intends to be healthy in time for training camp, and in that case he would be able to compete for snaps early in his career. The Panthers did not receive the desired return on investment after signing Miles Sanders in free agency last year, and Chuba Hubbard finished the 2023 campaign atop the depth chart. As both of those backs look to improve on their showings from a poor offensive year, Brooks will give Carolina a new, intriguing two-way option in the backfield.

NFL Draft Notes: Harrison, LSU, Texas, DeJean, Bowers

March 2nd, 2024 at 4:06pm CST by Ely Allen

We truly are starting to see a new era of pre-draft football in the NFL. On a day in which we saw every quarterback in the first group of passers except for Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman opt out of running the 40-yard dash, we continue to report on prospects who are seeing the NFL’s scouting combine as less and less of a priority.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, star Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will not be participating in any of the testing at the combine. It doesn’t stop there, though, as Harrison has made the decision to not even train for those types of drills in the runup to the draft. Harrison will continue to work on pure football drills, allowing his tape to do the talking.

Players like Harrison have the luxury of this approach. For the last two years, Harrison has widely been considered the top wide receiver prospect in this year’s crop. He only solidified that status with a second straight stellar season with the Buckeyes. He has a fairly good idea of where he’s going to fall in the draft, so he doesn’t feel the need to display his full set of abilities in an attempt to up his draft stock. Instead, he will focus on team interviews and preparing for the more practical aspects of NFL readiness. Breer also informs us that Harrison will head to the league without an agent, joining another recent trend.

The combine and pro days remain a crucial part of the pre-draft process for many of the mid- to late-round prospects, but for top players, workouts like these are beginning to become more and more superfluous.

Here are a few other draft rumors as the combine continues:

On the topic of non-participants, LSU Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and his wide receiver Malik Nabers have both opted out of their workouts in Indianapolis, choosing to work out at their pro day, instead. Today we found out that both players are also skipping the measurements portion of the combine, as well, per ESPN’s Field Yates. The two Tigers will submit to measurements at their pro day before workouts.
One name that’s been climbing draft boards of late is Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy. Murphy’s versatility across the line has scouts excited and makes him a fit for pretty much every squad. Reflecting this, Murphy reportedly had 25 official interviews set up at the combine, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda. Pauline also reports that the Raiders, Colts, Seahawks, and Vikings have all scheduled to bring him in for an official-30 visit. The list of suitors for the Longhorn defender likely won’t stop there.
Another top Texas prospect, running back Jonathon Brooks continues to make his way back from ACL surgery that ended his final season in Austin. The top rusher on both ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s and Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s boards, Brooks is reportedly “healing well and as expected,” per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. While he obviously won’t be participating in any pre-draft workouts, he’s expected to be cleared for training camp.
Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean‘s leg injury continues to hold him out of football activities in the leadup to the draft. After already learning that he wouldn’t be available to workout at the combine, Greg Auman of FOX Sports informs us that DeJean will also not participate in physical activities at Iowa’s pro day. DeJean claims to be fully cleared from the fracture in his lower leg and that he will work out at some point before the draft, but it looks like scouts will have to make personal trips out to Iowa City in order to workout DeJean.
Finally, one more top draft prospect made the decision not to workout at the combine this year. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, the top prospect at his position per both Kiper and Brugler and a likely top-10 pick, will not work out in Indianapolis. Scouts interested in seeing this Bulldog in action will have to make their way out to Georgia’s pro day.