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Van Jefferson

Steelers Monitoring WR Market?

September 28th, 2024 at 9:46pm CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers struck out in their offseason pursuit of a top-end wide receiver, and it sounds like the team continues to explore the trade market at the position. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Steelers are expected to monitor the WR market ahead of the trade deadline.

The organization subtracted from their wide receiver corps when they traded Diontae Johnson during the offseason. The team didn’t do a whole lot to replenish their depth, adding Van Jefferson and rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson to a receivers room that included the likes of George Pickens and Calvin Austin. The Steelers showed they were considering reinforcement when they were deeply involved in the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes, but the 49ers WR ended up rejecting the Steelers to sign an extension with San Francisco.

Pickens has averaged 57 yards per game through the first three weeks of the season, but the only other Steelers pass catchers to average more than 30 yards are Austin (36) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (33). With Justin Fields (or potentially Russell Wilson) guiding the offense, the receiving numbers will naturally be capped, but the organization’s lack of top-end depth makes them a natural suitor for a WR.

Graziano points to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk as potential trade targets depending on how the next few weeks go. The team’s QB play will also likely determine the team’s trade-deadline strategy, but as long as the Steelers remain competitive, there’s no doubt the front office will be looking to improve any spot on the roster.

49ers Have ‘Slight Edge’ On Steelers For Brandon Aiyuk

August 17th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

A future in which the Steelers employ George Pickens and Brandon Aiyuk for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields — and then potentially a near-future heir apparent — to target remains in play, but as of Saturday morning, it is not the expected scenario.

The Steelers remain on standby here as a fallback option, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who notes this situation has shifted from being a coin flip between Pittsburgh and San Francisco back to a place in which the 49ers have a slight edge to end up extending the wide receiver. Since a Tuesday report confirmed the teams have trade parameters in place, this storyline has trended in this direction.

Indeed, Fowler adds execs around the league expect this drawn-out process to conclude with the 49ers extending Aiyuk. Since the trade framework came out — though, it is not known what the Steelers are prepared to trade — 49ers efforts to wrap this extension saga have headlined the latest chapters in an endless news cycle. Aiyuk has been at 49ers meetings and been seen talking to teammates at practice during his hold-in. John Lynch said Friday the aim remains for the 49ers to extend the second-team All-Pro.

The 49ers let Aiyuk’s camp talk terms with other teams, which led to Patriots and Browns proposals. Both AFC teams and the Commanders, who were also interested at one point (as they now roster former Aiyuk college QB Jayden Daniels), are not believed to be in the picture any longer. A 49ers-or-Steelers option has loomed regarding Aiyuk’s long-term future for a bit now, but San Francisco still needs to check some key boxes to finalize a long-sought-after deal.

Aiyuk has not yet been compelled to sign, as Fowler points out certain contractual demands remain unfulfilled. Guarantees and/or when those guarantees vest may well be part of this delay; Aiyuk targeted A.J. Brown‘s $84MM guarantee number weeks ago, and the Bears giving D.J. Moore $82.6MM in total guarantees gives the Bay Area resident more ammo here.

That said, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds the 49ers and Aiyuk have agreed on the contract’s central parts, indicating there is an issue with the final year of the team’s proposal. It is unknown how long of a deal the 49ers proposed, but the subject of phony final years — which are present in Davante Adams‘ Raiders deal and were in Tyreek Hill‘s first Dolphins contract — may be part of these negotiations. The 49ers used a lofty final-year salary to prop up Trent Williams‘ AAV — on a six-year contract — back in 2021. But Aiyuk and the team having agreed on the deal’s key points suggests a resolution is in sight. The 49ers made their most recent offer around a week ago, per Garafolo.

The fifth-year receiver has been connected to wanting an AAV in the $30MM range, while the 49ers were tied to a $26-$27MM-per-year offer earlier this summer. The 49ers have upped their offer, and Fowler does float the $30MM number — or a figure slightly less — as the likely endgame here. The Steelers were believed to have offered Aiyuk around $28MM per year.

Continued 49ers interest in avoiding a trade puts the Steelers in strange territory. As their Aiyuk trade effort suddenly looks shaky, the Steelers may need to come up with a backup plan to complement Pickens. As it stands, Van Jefferson — he of one 400-plus-yard season in four tries — is ticketed as the team’s top in-house WR2 option, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo notes (subscription required). It has trended this way since Pittsburgh’s offseason program. Third-rounder Roman Wilson looms, but he has missed time during camp due to injury.

It will be interesting to see if the Steelers become connected to another receiver as a safety option — in the now-likelier event the 49ers finally extend Aiyuk.

Van Jefferson Leading Steelers’ WR2 Competition?

July 9th, 2024 at 10:32am CST by Adam La Rose

Much has been made this offseason about the Steelers’ receiving corps. Few (if any) known commodities are in place behind George Pickens on the depth chart, leading to the expectation Pittsburgh would pursue a high-profile trade.

Such a move has not yet taken place, though, and as a result the team’s internal options are on track to compete for playing time during training camp and the preseason. Pickens will handle the No. 1 role in 2024, his first season without Diontae Johnson in the fold. The latter was traded to the Panthers, creating a vacancy on the perimeter. Likewise, Allen Robinson‘s release opened up a starting spot in the slot.

Quez Watkins joined the Steelers this offseason in part due to the opportunity he would have to earn a first-team role, but a different free agent signing appears to have the inside track for the WR2 gig. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes Van Jefferson is currently “in pole position” for a starting spot (subscription required). The latter spent three-plus years with the Rams before being traded to the Falcons ahead of the 2023 deadline.

That move allowed Jefferson, 27, to spend time playing under Arthur Smith. The ex-Falcons head coach is now in place as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, and that familiarity could translate to a role in Pittsburgh. Jefferson had a strong second season in Los Angeles (50 catches, 802 yards, six touchdowns), but he has not managed to repeat that production since. The former second-rounder signed with the Steelers on a league minimum deal, an indication of his market value and his tenuous hold on a roster spot entering training camp.

Pittsburgh has the likes of third-round rookie Roman Wilson and 2022 fourth-rounder Calvin Austin in the mix for signficant playing time in the slot in particular. The latter is on track for an increased workload compared to last year, but the spot opposite Pickens will be one to monitor during the summer. Jefferson, Watkins and Scotty Miller are among the names to watch on that front. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson delivers a strong showing in camp and the preseason or if one of the other contenders surpasses him in the receiver pecking order.

Steelers To Sign WR Van Jefferson

March 15th, 2024 at 5:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Making a major switch at quarterback — a matter that cleared up today via the Kenny Pickett trade — the Steelers are in need at wide receiver after moving Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson off the roster. An ex-Robinson teammate will be part of the plan.

The team is bringing in Van Jefferson, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Giving Jefferson a one-year deal, Pittsburgh is eyeing the former second-round Rams draftee as a depth piece.

A second-generation NFL receiver, Jefferson is changing teams for the second time in six months. The Rams moved Jefferson’s rookie contract to the Falcons early last season; the deal did not move the needle for an Atlanta team that struggled to find a reliable complement for Drake London at the position. Jefferson, 27, only caught 20 passes for 209 yards between his Rams and Falcons stints last year.

Jefferson’s most notable NFL work came back in 2021, when he helped a Rams team that changed WR2s midseason. Odell Beckham Jr. effectively replaced Robert Woods, with the latter suffering an ACL tear days after the OBJ addition. Jefferson stayed the course and totaled 802 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He added nine receptions for 102 yards in the playoffs, collecting a Super Bowl ring soon after. A knee surgery kept the Florida alum on the shelf for much of 2022. He totaled 369 yards in 11 2022 games — snagging the game-winner in Baker Mayfield‘s memorable debut — for a disappointing Rams team.

The Johnson trade solidifies George Pickens as their top wide receiver. While his long-range work would stand to benefit new QB1 Russell Wilson, the Steelers will add more pieces here. Only slot player Calvin Austin resides as a notable auxiliary option beyond Jefferson. Considering the franchise’s success adding at this position in the draft, that should be considered a mortal lock given this class’ depth.

Rams Unlikely To Pursue Deadline Upgrades; Latest On Van Jefferson Trade

October 12th, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

If the Broncos have been the premier deadline sellers of this period, the Rams are probably the most memorable buyers. Previously unwavering in its commitment to load up the roster, Los Angeles swung a few splashy deals during Sean McVay‘s tenure.

The team traded two first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey in 2019, sent second- and third-rounders for Von Miller in 2021, dealt third- and fifth-rounders for Dante Fowler in 2018 and acquired three-year guard starter Austin Corbett on the day of the Ramsey swap. The Rams attempted to venture into deep waters again last year, but the Panthers turned down a two-first-rounder offer for Brian Burns. L.A. is expected to proceed more cautiously this year.

The Rams, who also battled the 49ers for Christian McCaffrey last October, stripped their roster of several Super Bowl LVI starters this offseason. As could be expected, McVay is not expecting his team to operate like it has at past deadlines.

“No, we don’t really have the availability,” McVay said. “I don’t know; you kind of have to have some resources and different things like that for those to be options. So, I don’t know that those conversations will be as prevalent as maybe in years past.”

Although the Rams are 2-3, they have played the unbeaten Eagles and 49ers close and dropped another one-score game to the Bengals. Widely expected to go through a rebuilding year, McVay’s squad should not exactly be considered out of the wild-card chase. Though, it is still obviously early.

The Rams are also on track to enter a draft with a first-round pick for the first time in McVay’s tenure. They most recently held a first-rounder in 2016, when the Jared Goff trade-up commenced in Jeff Fisher‘s final year as HC. The trades for Goff, Brandin Cooks, Ramsey and Matthew Stafford — along with a 2019 move out of Round 1 — led to the Rams’ streak of draft Thursdays off.

Los Angeles has made two seller trades to start the season, sending Cam Akers to Minnesota and Van Jefferson to Atlanta. Both Super Bowl LVI starters had seen their roles decrease. Jefferson played just two snaps in Week 5. The emergences of Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell changed the equation for the Rams, with The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue indicating the team rebuffed Jefferson trade inquiries this spring. With Nacua on a historic rookie-year pace an Atwell showing promise after displaying little through two seasons, the Rams began to line up a Jefferson trade weeks ago, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds.

With Jefferson gone, the Rams still have Ben Skowronek, Demarcus Robinson and third-year UDFA Austin Trammell on the 53-man roster as backups. But after Jefferson started the team’s first four games, which came with Cooper Kupp on IR, no doubt exists about the team’s top three going forward.

Rams To Send WR Van Jefferson To Falcons

October 10th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams moved fast with Van Jefferson. Shortly after sending out a last call of sorts Tuesday, the Rams are moving on from one of their ancillary pass catchers.

The Falcons have agreed to acquire Jefferson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who notes the teams will swap 2025 seventh-round picks. Following Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Allen Robinson out of Los Angeles via trade, Jefferson’s price tag is more in line with those the Rams collected for Robinson and Woods.

Atlanta will send the Rams a 2025 sixth-rounder in exchange for Jefferson and a seventh, per Rapoport. While Jefferson has seen Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell change his role with the Rams, he has still started four games this season. The Falcons will bet on him in a contract year. Jefferson has an 800-plus-yard season on his resume, getting there for the Super Bowl-winning Rams iteration two years ago.

Jefferson’s availability came up shortly before this trade commenced, and although the Rams found a quick taker, it is clear not much of a market formed for the fourth-year receiver. The son of former NFL wideout and current Panthers receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, Van has produced for a Super Bowl champion. But his work since has not moved the needle too far. The Falcons will still take what amounts to a flier on a former second-round pick. Shawn Jefferson played for the Falcons during Michael Vick‘s early years, suiting up for the team from 2000-02.

A knee injury stalled Jefferson last season, and Nacua and Atwell’s promise affected his standing this year. In 2021, however, Jefferson delivered for a Rams team that suddenly needed him. The Rams won the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes in November 2021. Days after forming a Beckham-Woods-Cooper Kupp trio, however, Woods’ ACL tear kept Jefferson as a regular. The Florida alum delivered, finishing out a 50-catch, 802-yard, six-touchdown season. He added nine receptions for 102 yards in Los Angeles’ four postseason games.

While a knee injury cost Jefferson six games last season, he has not been an injury-prone player. Those six absences are the only games Jefferson has missed as a pro. After coming back from knee surgery midway through last season, Jefferson kept his yards-per-catch average north of 15 by hauling in 24 passes for 369 yards and three scores. One of those came to close out a shocking Rams comeback win over the Raiders, as that game came on Baker Mayfield‘s third day with the team.

This season, however, Jefferson has only eight receptions for 108 yards and no TDs — for a Rams team that has seen Nacua deliver a historic start. Nacua’s 46 catches lead the league, and he has totaled 572 yards — an NFL record for a player’s first five games. After Atwell did not catch a pass as a rookie and amassed 298 yards throughout an inconsistent second season, the diminutive Louisville alum is at 279 through five games this year. With Kupp back, the Rams booted Jefferson from their starting lineup in Week 5.

Jefferson will head to a Falcons team rostering Drake London atop its receiving corps. Behind London, however, the team is low on surefire options. Only one other Atlanta wideout — Mack Hollins — has surpassed 50 receiving yards this year. Hollins is at 143 through five games. The Falcons do not have a reliable passing attack just yet, with Desmond Ridder offering an inconsistent start to his run as a full-fledged starter. But the second-year passer posted his best game as a pro in Week 5, totaling 329 yards in a narrow win over the Texans.

The Falcons signed KhaDarel Hodge and Scotty Miller this offseason; neither have been factors for the team just yet. Jefferson presents a better option, with his 2021 season the best a current Falcons London sidekick has offered as a pro. The Falcons are now responsible for the remainder of Jefferson’s rookie salary; they will owe the former No. 50 overall pick just more than $800K for the season’s remainder.

The Rams received a 2024 second-round pick for Woods, whom they sent to the Titans in May 2022. The player the Rams signed to replace Woods — Robinson — ended up being costly to move, with the team paying much of his 2023 salary to secure a seventh-round pick swap with the Steelers in March. This Falcons-Rams exchange matches the compensation the Bears and Dolphins agreed to in last week’s Chase Claypool trade.

Rams Shopping WR Van Jefferson

October 10th, 2023 at 12:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

A key auxiliary target for Matthew Stafford during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI-winning season, Van Jefferson has seen younger wideouts vault past him in the current team’s aerial pecking order. The second-generation NFL wide receiver may not be in Los Angeles much longer.

The Rams are shopping the contract-year wideout, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. A former second-round pick, Jefferson is now behind Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. With Cooper Kupp back, the Rams have a fairly established top three at the position. Nacua and Atwell becoming promising Kupp sidekicks is a welcome development for the Rams, who saw both Kupp and Jefferson battle injuries last season.

Jefferson sustained a knee injury early during the Rams’ 2022 training camp, undergoing surgery to repair the issue. The Rams had held out hope the operation would allow Jefferson to return at some point last September, but the team delayed the Florida alum’s return by placing him on IR after multiple weeks went by. Although Jefferson came back and played in 11 games during his third season, he only caught 24 passes for 369 yards. While one of those was a touchdown to complete a stunning Baker Mayfield-piloted 98-yard drive to cap a comeback over the Raiders, Jefferson’s stock has dipped since he served as the team’s No. 3 option behind Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. two seasons ago.

After teetering on bust status, Atwell has belatedly emerged in the Rams’ WR3 role. The undersized pass catcher — a 2021 second-round pick — has caught 24 passes for 279 yards. Kupp’s injury did not end up accelerating a Jefferson contract-year breakthrough; the former No. 50 overall selection has eight receptions for 108 yards and no touchdowns. This comes as Nacua continued his historic start in Week 5. Despite Kupp’s return, Nacua’s first-month surge persisted; the fifth-round rookie now has an NFL-high 46 catches for 572 yards.

The Bears were able to send the underperforming Chase Claypool to the Dolphins, but the 2020 second-rounder only brought a pick-swap trade with the Dolphins. Although Jefferson caught six touchdown passes during his promising second season — a 50-catch, 802-yard year in which he helped the Rams cover for Robert Woods‘ ACL tear — his performance since will likely not inspire a team to give up more than a late-round pick.

Sean McVay’s team has some recent history dealing wideouts as well. Since April 2020, they have dealt three starters at the position, revamping Kupp’s supporting cast. The third team to trade Brandin Cooks, the Rams collected a second-rounder in a deal in which they sent the Texans Cooks and a fourth. The other two Rams receiver trades are probably more relevant here. The team sent Woods to the Titans for a 2024 seventh-round pick and paid part of Allen Robinson‘s salary to move up 17 spots in this year’s seventh round. Jefferson can probably fetch L.A. a bit more than the Woods and Robinson swaps did, as he is on a $1.37MM base salary to close out a rookie contract.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/22

October 29th, 2022 at 5:51pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves leading into Sunday’s slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Rams To Activate Van Jefferson, Troy Hill From IR

October 28th, 2022 at 2:29pm CST by Ely Allen

OCTOBER 28: Both Jefferson and Hill will be activated ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Week 8 deadline, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Sean McVay said he expected to have several players back from injury after the team’s bye. Roster designations will be used on Jefferson and Hill, who each went on IR earlier this year. The Rams came into the week having not used any of their injury activations. After these moves, they will have six remaining this season.

OCTOBER 24: The Rams announced on Twitter today that they have designated three players for return from injured reserve. The three players that could potentially come back this year are cornerback Troy Hill, linebacker Travin Howard, and wide receiver Van Jefferson.

Hill is a longtime cornerback for Los Angeles that took a brief hiatus during its Super Bowl season last year. Hill signed as a free agent with the Browns for the 2021 season but was traded back to the Rams during this year’s draft. Hill had earned a starting role in Los Angeles before signing with the Browns and was in line to return to that role before a groin injury in a Week 2 win over the Falcons sent him to injured reserve.

Howard has been with Los Angeles since 2018 in some capacity, spending lots of time on reserve lists over the years. Most recently, Howard was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in July after suffering a groin tear that would eventually require surgery. While he had opportunities to make an impact last year, even making the game-sealing interception in last year’s NFC Championship Game to send the Rams to the Super Bowl, this year’s linebacking corps in Los Angeles is much more talented. If he returns from the NFI list, Howard will only add some depth to the linebacker unit and likely contribute on special teams.

Jefferson is attempting to make his season debut after undergoing knee surgery this offseason. The Rams have badly missed the third-year receiver who served as the team’s second receiving option behind Cooper Kupp last season. Los Angeles has attempted to replace Jefferson’s production with Ben Skowronek and Allen Robinson, but getting Jefferson back could be a huge addition to the Rams’ passing game.

Designating Hill, Howard, and Jefferson opens up the three-week practice period for each player. If, at the end of the three-week period, the Rams have not activated any individual player, that player will have the designation for return removed and will have to remain out for the remainder of the season.

NFC West Notes: Cards, 49ers, Van, Hawks

October 3rd, 2022 at 6:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the Chiefs’ lead, the Cardinals used a position player as their emergency kicker Sunday. Backup running back Eno Benjamin logged a kickoff for the Cardinals against the Panthers on Sunday. That arrangement, similar to the Chiefs’ usage of safety Justin Reid against the Cards in Week 1, will not persist past Week 4. With Matt Prater battling a right hip injury, the Cardinals worked out multiple kickers Monday.

Rodrigo Blankenship, Matt Ammendola — the Chiefs’ first post-Reid solution to fill in for Harrison Butker — Jose Borregales and Jonathan Garibay auditioned for the Cardinals, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Blankenship, whom the Colts turned to in their first full season without Adam Vinatieri, missed much of last year with an injury and was removed from his gig after struggling in Week 1 this year. Blankenship worked out for the Jaguars last week. Ammendola lasted two games as the Chiefs’ Butker fill-in, being cut after struggling in Week 3, while Garibay was part of the Cowboys’ kicking competition. The rookie UDFA did not make it out of training camp.

Ahead of Monday’s Rams-49ers matchup, here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • Although the 49ers turned to Jaylon Moore to replace Trent Williams in Week 3, Colton McKivitz will start against the Rams on Monday night. An ankle injury prevented McKivitz from replacing Williams against the Broncos, who pounced after the All-Pro’s exit, but he was the team’s swing tackle throughout the summer. With Williams facing a four- to six-week recovery timetable, McKivitz may have the blindside gig for a bit. The 49ers let 2021 swing tackle Tom Compton sign with the Broncos, but McKivitz — who filled in for Williams in a do-or-die Week 18 tilt in Los Angeles — has been with the team since arriving as a 2020 firth-rounder.
  • The 49ers have made a few changes at the slot cornerback spot over the past several weeks. After Darqueze Dennard entered camp with the job, rookie Samuel Womack supplanted him and led to the 49ers releasing the veteran. Deommodore Lenoir has since replaced Womack, with Kyle Shanahan indicating the 2021 fifth-rounder played ahead of the 2022 fifth-rounder due to superior practice work recently, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Lenoir played 29% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps last season but likely does not have a firm grip on the job over Womack, who impressed during training camp, just yet.
  • Staying on the subject of 49ers corners, Shanahan expressed optimism Jason Verrett would practice this week. Verrett’s practice window opens ahead of Week 5, with the 49ers carrying the injury-prone vet on their reserve/PUP list. Should Verrett prove recovered from his September 2021 ACL tear, Barrows notes a starting job should not be ruled out. Verrett played well as a 49ers starter in 2020, showing form that enticed the team to re-sign him in 2021 and this year. Emmanuel Moseley‘s past in the slot could allow for a transition, forming a Verrett-Mosley-Charvarius Ward trio, if Verrett is healthy.
  • Sean McVay did not seem to expect Van Jefferson to miss a third of the season, but that will happen. The Rams placed Jefferson on IR ahead of their Week 3 game, but McVay is adamant the third-year wideout did not suffer a setback upon returning from arthroscopic knee surgery, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com tweets. Jefferson’s IR move was more about roster construction, and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue adds (via Twitter) the Rams expect their WR3 to be back when first eligible in Week 8 (following the team’s Week 7 bye).
  • Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown will not be ready to return when first eligible to come off the team’s PUP list. Pete Carroll confirmed the third-year corner remains a few weeks away, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson (on Twitter). Brown missed last season’s first five games and was down for their final seven, with a Nov. 21 knee injury leading to the latter hiatus. Seattle’s cornerback room has changed considerably since Brown last played; it will be interesting to see what role the 2021 fourth-rounder will play upon returning.
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