Ryan Mallett - Pro Football Rumors

Belichick: Not “That Interested” In Mallett Trade

May 22nd, 2014 at 5:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Ryan Mallett has been mentioned rather frequently here on Pro Football Rumors over the past few months, but if Patriots coach Bill Belichick is to be believed, he probably won’t be going anywhere. In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter), Belichick said that trading the backup quarterback isn’t something that the team is “that interested in.”

Mallett, 26 in June, is entering the final year of his contract and some have wondered if he might be out of the Pats’ plans after the club drafted Eastern Illinois signal caller Jimmy Garappolo in the second round. However, it sounds like the Arkansas product is likely to play out the final year of his deal in New England. Depending on who you ask, the Patriots and the Texans may have discussed a Mallett swap prior to the draft, though Houston GM Rick Smith denied the report.

Mallett was listed as the No. 2 QB for the Patriots in 2013 but didn’t throw a single pass.

AFC Notes: Clary, Johnson, Archer, Pats

May 17th, 2014 at 10:08am CST by Matt Feminis

During Chargers rookie minicap, third-rounder Chris Watt was working at right guard, “the same position of Jeromey Clary, who is to make $4.55 million in total compensation in 2014,” writes ESPN’s Eric D. Williams. “Watt lining up at right guard probably is not a coincidence.”

This comes on after an ESPN Insider piece (subscription required) about veterans whose jobs are in jeopardy in which Nathan Jahnke put the magnifying glass on Clary: “Thanks to the drafting of D.J. Fluker in 2013, Clary was moved from right tackle to right guard last year. The move didn’t work out well for Clary, who had the third-lowest run-block rating for all guards per PFF. In addition, the Chargers’ running backs averaged 4.6 yards per carry when running to the left compared to 3.6 yards per carry when running to the right, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Clary had something to do with that large difference.”

Here’s a few more AFC news and notes:

Any rumors of Andre Johnson being reunited via trade with Gary Kubiak in Baltimore were quashed by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com passed along a few Patriots tidbits: The team will carry three quarterbacks (Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Mallett), but Mallett is expected to depart via free agency at year’s end; Shane Vereen could earn a contract extension with a healthy, productive season; and 2013 fourth-rounder Josh Boyce, who struggled with the “mental aspect” as a rookie, will “compete for the kickoff return job while also vying for a role as a No. 3-5 option on the depth chart.”
Free agent linebacker James Anderson, who started all 16 games for the Bears last season, tried out for the Patriots, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
On third-rounder Dri Archer, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told Post-Tribune writer Alan Robinson, “We think we got the fastest player in the draft.” The Steelers hope to take advantage of Archer’s versatility, according to Colbert, who says the rookie could be used as a kick returner, in the slot, in the backfield and maybe as an H-back.
When asked about potential surprise cuts depending on how many rookies/young players make the Jaguars, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco mentioned Tyson Alualu, Denard Robinson and Ricky Stanzi as bubble players.
With the Jets adding Daryl Richardson via waivers, Mike Goodson is not expected to be with the team, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).

AFC Notes: Bills, Texans, Mallett, Browns

May 13th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

While his contract has been surpassed by a few players signing extensions, no free agent signed a bigger deal this offseason than safety Jairus Byrd, who agreed to a $54MM pact to join the Saints. For the Bills, who lost Byrd in free agency, you’d think they’d at least have the consolation of awaiting a compensatory pick for their loss, but that may not be the case, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com explains. Although the NFL’s exact formula for computing compensatory picks isn’t known, the fact that Buffalo signed more free agents than it lost could help take the team out of the running for picks, writes Rodak.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

The Texans will not be trading for Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets definitively. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe adds (via Twitter) that a potential trade between the two teams died last week, which is consistent with reports we were hearing at the time.
Pat McManamon of ESPN.com wonders if the Browns‘ willingness to give a lucrative contract extension to Joe Haden, who has previously been suspended in his career, bodes well for Josh Gordon‘s future in Cleveland.
Although he was linked to the Bills as a potential bidder earlier in the month, New York developer Howard Milstein confirmed this week that he won’t be attempting to buy the franchise. However, Milstein believes he has some land in Niagara Falls that could be suitable for a new stadium, as Tom Precious of the Buffalo News details.

La Canfora On Draft, Browns, Jags, Easley

May 12th, 2014 at 2:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Based on what Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com was hearing during and after the draft, he believes the Browns traded down from No. 4 to No. 9 in the first round in the hopes that Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans would still be on the board. When Evans was snapped up by the Buccaneers seventh overall, Cleveland went another direction and never did address the receiver position in the draft. Here’s more from La Canfora, with a focus on draft-related what-ifs:

The Jaguars “resisted several opportunities” to move out of the No. 3 overall slot and trade down with teams who were hoping to land Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins, says La Canfora. We heard this morning that Jacksonville also considered trading with the Falcons, who were targeting Jake Matthews.
Before they traded up to No. 22, the Browns were close to making deals with the Titans at No. 11 and the Cowboys at No. 16.
If the Patriots hadn’t selected Florida’s Dominique Easley with their first-round pick, the Seahawks likely would have kept their first-rounder and used it on Easley rather than moving down. Similarly, the Cardinals would have selected Ryan Shazier if he was there at No. 20, but began attempts to trade down once he came off the board, ultimately swinging a deal with the Saints.
Offensive tackle Ju’Wuan James likely would’ve been selected by the Panthers at No. 28 if the Dolphins hadn’t drafted him 19th overall.
La Canfora continues to hear from sources that at this point rumors of a Ryan Mallett trade between the Patriots and Texans are just that — rumors.
Defensive tackle Ego Ferguson, who was selected by the Bears in the second round, has been frequently identified by evaluators as one of the draft’s biggest reaches, says La Canfora.

Ryan Mallett Rumors: Friday

May 9th, 2014 at 9:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest surrounding the Patriots’ backup QB:

Before the Patriots took Jimmy Garappolo, Texans general manager Rick Smith repeated that the team had no discussions regarding a Ryan Mallett trade, per ESPN’s Ed Werder (on Twitter).
Werder also notes on Twitter that the Texans were considering taking Garappolo themselves in the third round. Werder adds that Houston “remains adamant” in not wanting to trade for Mallett.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter agrees, tweeting that he expects Mallett to remain with the Patriots.
However, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Patriots were waiting to see if a desirable quarterback fell to them before considering dealing Mallett. With Garappolo in tow, the Pats have the leeway to move their backup QB.
If the Texans do acquire Mallett, they would sign him to a one-year extension, adds Rapoport (via Twitter). Mallett is currently signed only through the 2014 season.

Pats’ Ryan Mallett “Not Available” In Trade

May 9th, 2014 at 3:50pm CST by Zachary Links

3:50pm: Texans GM Rick Smith told reporters that he has no interaction with the Pats regarding Mallett, Werder tweets.

2:44pm: Yesterday, before the draft got underway, we heard reports that the Patriots were in talks with the Texans regarding quarterback Ryan Mallett. Now, Ed Werder of ESPN hears that Tom Brady‘s backup is “not available,” (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).

The Texans, who hold the first pick of the second round, did not land a QB last night and watched Teddy Bridgewater come off the board at No. 32 following the Vikings’ move up the ladder. While one might think this would give them additional fuel to find a QB on the trade market, that apparently won’t lead the the Arkansas product coming to Houston.

As it stands, the Texans are set to head into the 2014 season with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, and T.J. Yates on the depth chart. They could also bring a familiar surname back into the locker room if they tap Fresno State QB Derek Carr with the No. 33 overall pick tonight.

Texans Working To Acquire Ryan Mallett?

May 8th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Luke Adams

4:50pm: Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the Mallett rumors hold some weight, and confirms that a deal may be completed soon. According to Smith, a potential trade appears to have no bearing on the first overall pick. Smith also tweets that Mallett may have to agree to a contract extension before the Texans would finalize a trade.

3:57pm: A league source tells Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that “the buzz is real” about the Pats and Texans discussing Mallett (Twitter link).

3:36pm: Curran throws a bit of cold water on his own report, tweeting that a second source says there’s “nothing doing” on the Mallett talks at the moment. My guess is that if anything gets done, it will happen after tonight’s first overall pick — if the Texans trade down from No. 1, the team could still draft a quarterback. If Houston selects Jadeveon Clowney first overall, then maybe a Mallett deal becomes more probable.

3:31pm: The Texans and Patriots appear to be in discussions on a trade that could change both teams’ approaches to this week’s draft. Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com reports (via Twitter) that a deal sending backup New England quarterback Ryan Mallett to Houston “may soon be done.” In a second tweet, Curran adds that nothing’s official yet, but that “the machinations have begun.”

A report back in March suggested that the Texans had inquired on Mallett and had some interest in the former third-round pick, though at the time John McClain of the Houston Chronicle shot down the idea that Houston would acquire the Pats’ backup. Perhaps after taking a longer look at this year’s class of quarterbacks – and maybe deciding to go in a different direction with the first overall pick – the Texans are circling back to Mallett.

As for the Patriots, there have been rumblings that the team is considering drafting a quarterback this year, in part because Tom Brady probably only has a few more seasons left in him, and also because Mallett is entering a contract year. Taking a signal-caller on day two or three of this year’s draft could have provided New England with an insurance policy for Mallett’s potential departure in free agency — if the team decides to move its backup before the draft, a quarterback would become an even more significant priority.

Pauline’s Latest: Pryor, Evans, Gaines, Pats

April 11th, 2014 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s the latest draft buzz from Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net:

Sources close to the club say that Louisville safety Calvin Pryor will be a priority for the Lions if he drops to the second day of the draft. I imagine that’d be the case for most teams, considering Pryor is widely considered one of the top two or three defensive backs in the draft.
There’s a consensus that Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans will be a top-10 pick, and the team that lands him may ultimately trade up or down to do it. Pauline identifies the Rams, Eagles, and Ravens as possible landing spots for Evans. Philadelphia could also be in the mix for receivers like Brandin Cooks or Marqise Lee.
Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines had dinner with the Jaguars last month and has worked out for the Bengals and Buccaneers. Gaines also has trips lined up with the Giants, Cardinals, and Dolphins.
The Patriots recently worked out Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas and D.J. Coles, and Pauline suggests that there’s a belief New England will draft a quarterback this year, since the team expects to lose Ryan Mallett a year from now. As for Coles, the Pats had the receiver do plenty of tight end work during position drills.
Prior to tearing his ACL during a workout with the Saints, offensive lineman Brandon Thomas had official visits set up with the Raiders, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Panthers. He was also scheduled to work out for the Buccaneers and Giants. The workouts are obviously off the table now, but it’s not clear which of the visits will still happen, if any, says Pauline.
Towson running back Terrance West was impressive during his Pro Day and appeared to solidify himself as a fourth-round pick, according to Pauline.

AFC East Notes: Beckham, Martin, Jacobs

April 6th, 2014 at 10:26am CST by Rory Parks

We learned Friday that the Jets would be hosting LSU WR Odell Beckham, Jr. for a pre-draft visit later this week. According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. believes that of the three wideouts most frequently linked to the Jets–Beckham, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, and USC’s Marqise Lee–Beckham and Cooks make the most sense.

Kiper states that Beckham offers a complete skill-set as a pure receiver, and Cooks offers the explosiveness that would complement newly-signed Eric Decker nicely while allowing Jeremy Kerley to shift to the slot. Lee, meanwhile, might not have the speed that the Jets would covet at this point.

Now for some more news on the AFC East:

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald takes an extensive look at how the Dolphins might go about upgrading their offensive line in the draft. Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin is one possibility for Miami, who holds the No. 19 overall pick, as he is a technically-gifted player capable of playing both guard and right tackle at a high level. However, he would have to fall past Pittsburgh at No. 15 and Baltimore at No. 17, both of whom have needs on the offensive line and who have been linked to Martin.
We learned yesterday that the Patriots have structured their salary cap to allow for the addition of Tom Brady‘s successor. Although Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com does not state that the team believes it will land that successor in this year’s draft, he does write that, with Ryan Mallett entering his contract year, adding a third quarterback is a guarantee.
Reiss adds that there is no chance New England will trade Mallett, given that his value as a player who knows the system and who looks to be capable of serving as an adequate insurance policy for Brady is far greater than the late-round pick the team might be able to land in a trade.
Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News writes that billionaire Buffalo native and Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs would be interested in buying the Bills. Jacobs’ emergence on the scene–along with other factors that could complicate a move to a larger, more lucrative market–is another reason for Bills fans to remain optimistic that the team will stay put.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Bills, Jets

April 3rd, 2014 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Ryan Mallett hasn’t had much of an opportunity to prove himself as a starting-caliber quarterback since joining the league in 2011. Tom Brady‘s backup is entering the final season of his contract and there have been rumblings that team’s could be interested in trading for the former Razorback. If the Pats did decide to pull the trigger and trade Mallett, they aren’t likely to get much back, writes Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Reiss actually has little faith that the team would get anything of use in return, and thinks Mallett is more valuable even as an expiring-contract backup than as a trade asset.

Let’s take a look at some more rumblings from around the AFC East…

In the same article, Reiss discusses his confidence that Devin McCourty will sign an extension with the Patriots. Reiss expects to see a new contract as early as this offseason.
Reiss also addresses Ryan Wendell‘s new contract with the Patriots, stating that the new deal doesn’t guarantee that Wendell will be starting this season. Reiss sees the offensive lineman as more of a backup and believes that the team will continue to look at upgrading the position.
The Bills announced that Mary Wilson, wife of the team’s late founder and owner, will now be the controlling owner, according to a post on BuffaloBills.com. Meanwhile, a source tells Tim Graham of The Buffalo News that the team won’t “ease” into the sale process and that a deal could come as soon as October.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks has scheduled a pre-draft visit with the Jets, reports Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).