Latest On Michael Penix Jr.’s Draft Stock

April 23rd, 2024 at 8:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye have sat relatively firmly atop mock drafts throughout the pre-draft process, and it sounds like J.J. McCarthy is destined to join that trio in the first round. After those top-four quarterbacks, focus shifts to Michael Penix Jr., and it remains to be seen how early the Washington product will hear his name called.

While teams like the Patriots (No. 3) and Giants (No. 6) have recently been connected to Penix, it’s more likely those teams would only consider the quarterback in trade-back scenarios. As a result, Albert Breer of SI.com believes the earliest Penix could be selected is by the Falcons at No. 8.

This would be an unexpected move by Atlanta, considering the team’s sizable offseason commitment to Kirk Cousins. However, since Penix has generally been viewed as less NFL-ready than his positional counterparts, the Falcons could secure their QB of the future while also competing now. As Breer notes, the duo of GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris could be enticed by a “Jordan Love-like plan” at quarterback, and they’ll likely be in prime position to select the Washington signal caller with their first-round pick.

While the Raiders could be ready to pounce on Penix at No. 13, there’s been some belief in league circles that the QB could land with the Seahawks at No. 16. The organization has plenty of connections to the incoming rookie. Besides being a local prospect, Penix is also familiar with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff, who were both poached from the Huskies staff. We heard similar rumblings surrounding the Seahawks/Penix connection earlier this month.

However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautions that the Seahawks may not be a logical landing spot for the quarterback. For starters, GM John Schneider has only drafted a pair of quarterbacks in his 15 years at the helm (Russell Wilson and Alex McGough). Further, the Seahawks are high on offseason acquisition Sam Howell as a future replacement for Geno Smith. Plus, Howell is the same age as Penix and already has 18 games of NFL experience.

If Penix isn’t selected in the top half of the first round, it’s uncertain how far he could fall. Yahoo’s Charles Robinson notes that there are several teams that have a “second-round grade on him or lower.” Penix has continued to be a divisive prospect, with one NFL offensive coach previously declaring him as the No. 2 QB in the draft (behind Williams).

Part of the skepticism is naturally surrounding the player’s injury history, as Penix suffered four season-ending injuries during his time in college. The QB was also knocked for his “scattershot accuracy underneath,” although Penix seemed to alleviate some of those concerns with a strong pro day showing. The varying opinions of the signal caller will make him one of the more intriguing prospects to watch through the first two days of the draft.

Chiefs Bracing For Rashee Rice Suspension

April 23rd, 2024 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Rashee Rice was booked on eight felony charges stemming from a hit-and-run incident in Dallas in late March. As the Chiefs wide receiver navigates his legal situation, he’s also likely to face punishment from the NFL.

Albert Breer of SI.com writes that the Chiefs are “bracing for” a Rice suspension. ESPN’s Adam Schefter echoes that sentiment, writing that Rice is expected to be slapped with a “multigame suspension.” Of course, considering Roger Goodell‘s penchant for cracking down on off-the-field incidents, this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.

Both Breer and Schefter opine that Rice’s looming suspension may end up influencing the front office’s draft approach. Breer writes that wide receiver is now “higher on the list than it might’ve been a couple of months ago,” while Schefter notes that the Chiefs were seeking receiver reinforcement even before Rice’s legal issues.

The Chiefs already made one splash at the position, adding Marquise Brown to their receivers room. However, if Rice is out of the picture, the team is eyeing a similar WR corps that underwhelmed in 2023. While Brown and Travis Kelce can soak up plenty of snaps, Patrick Mahomes would still have to lean on the likes of Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Kadarius Toney (who, perhaps surprisingly, remains in the team’s plans). Rice has recently been virtually attending the Chiefs’ offseason program.

Rice was clocked driving 119 miles per hour prior to the March crash. He turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he is facing charges of aggravated assault, collision involving serious bodily injury, and collision causing injury.

In addition to the forfeited paychecks via an eventual suspension, Rice will be facing more financial repercussions. Rice and SMU’s Theodore Knox, who was also involved in the hit-and-run, are being sued for over $1MM in damages and $10MM in punitive damages by two victims in the crash (per Olivia Johnson of Fox4 in Kansas City).

49ers GM: “Wouldn’t Anticipate” Brandon Aiyuk Trade

April 23rd, 2024 at 6:53pm CST by Ben Levine

While the 49ers aren’t any closer to signing Brandon Aiyuk to an extension, the organization continues to signal that they want to retain the star wide receiver. With trade rumors rumbling, general manager John Lynch made it clear that the 49ers want Aiyuk on their roster in 2024 and beyond.

“I’ve communicated on many occasions: our wish is that he’s here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career,” Lynch said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “We’re working through that … I can say we’re having good talks, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”

When asked if there’s a chance Aiyuk could be dealt during this week’s draft, Lynch said that he “wouldn’t anticipate” making that kind of move. However, the GM did acknowledge that he’s received interest from WR-needy teams. We heard last week that the Steelers were among the teams sniffing around on the 49ers WR.

As Ari Meirov of The33rdTeam.com writes, the draft will ultimately be a “critical pressure point” in the 49ers/Aiyuk saga. This is a similar situation to how the 49ers proceeded with Deebo Samuel in 2022. The team ended up rejecting offers from interested teams (including the No. 10 pick from the Jets) before ultimately extending the receiver a few months later. If Aiyuk is on the 49ers roster through the draft, Meirov believes that will signal that the 49ers are confident in signing Aiyuk to a new contract.

Set to play the 2024 campaign on the fifth-year option, Aiyuk is seeking an extension that would make him one of the league’s highest-paid wide receivers. While the front office could temporarily afford an Aiyuk extension, the team may be hard pressed to carry the receiver’s sizable cap hits in future years.

If the 49ers aren’t willing to pay Aiyuk what he wants, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is confident that there are other teams that would willingly give the wideout a sizable pay day. Rapoport is currently leaning towards Aiyuk taking a slight discount to stick where he’s most comfortable, but the reporter also cautions that things could change quickly.

Patriots Haven’t Received Serious Offer For No. 3 Pick

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots continue to consider their options with the third-overall pick, including a scenario where they trade out of the selection. Of course, that would require a suitor to pony up the necessary assets, and the Patriots have yet to find a worthy trade partner.

According to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, the Patriots have yet to receive a “serious” offer for the No. 3 pick. While phone lines are open in New England, a source described the offers as “laughable” and “not close” to moving the needle. Another source was skeptical that the team’s desired haul will be proposed between now and the draft.

Albert Breer of SI.com says the Patriots will continue to listen to offers up until they’re officially on the clock. This would seem to indicate that the organization is more than receptive to making a trade, which is somewhat contrary to what we heard this past weekend. It’s worth noting that the Patriots and de facto GM Eliot Wolf are pursuing an “unprecedented package” (per Daniels), so while the team may be considering a trade, it’s uncertain if another organization would be willing to give up the required assets.

There was recent speculation that the Vikings coveted North Carolina QB Drake Maye, making them a natural trade partner with the Patriots. Other quarterback-needy squads like the Giants and Broncos have also been connected to Maye. Once these suitors get clarity with the top-two picks, the Patriots may be able to squeeze a worthy trade package from one of these squads.

The Patriots have made it clear that they’re seeking a rookie quarterback, so there’s a perfectly reasonable scenario where the organization selects one of the draft’s upper-echelon players at the position. With Caleb Williams expected to go first and Jayden Daniels trending towards the second-overall pick, there have been rumblings that both Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy have fans in New England.

Maye has generally been ranked higher than McCarthy throughout the pre-draft process, although Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is unconvinced that the Patriots are interested in the North Carolina prospect. As Jones notes, most pundits have “assumed” Maye would be New England’s pick, but he hasn’t heard anyone “who believes strongly” that Maye will go to the Patriots. If the Patriots aren’t sold on Maye, that would only lend credence to a potential trade. In almost 48 hours, we’ll have our answer.

Broncos Viewed As Unlikely To Stay At No. 12; Latest On Team’s QB Interest

April 23rd, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trade acquisition Zach Wilson gives the Broncos another option at quarterback, but his wildly disappointing Jets tenure would stand to make it difficult to believe the AFC West team will head into OTAs with just he and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback.

While Denver has been tied to eyeing a move up the board, increased rumblings about the team trading down have surfaced. The Broncos have made calls about moving down the board, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, and teams are viewing the Sean Payton–George Paton operation as unlikely to stay at No. 12.

Broncos discussions about moving down have indeed occurred, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, though multiple teams in the top 10 have also heard from them about moving up. The Patriots and Cardinals have received offers about their top-four picks, and while it is unknown which teams have submitted those proposals, it is not farfetched to guess the Broncos are among the interested parties.

A move down the board — a rumored scenario earlier this month — would add to Denver’s arsenal, which current lacks a second-round pick due to last year’s swap with the Saints for Payton’s rights. It is also possible the Broncos could end up with a potential starting QB if they traded down. Bo Nix-to-Denver connections are still circulating on draft week, Jones adds. Our Ely Allen wrapped up his Prospect Profile series with Nix, a QB with gaudy stats (while at Oregon, that is) but questions about his long-term outlook. Some teams view the former Auburn recruit as a Day 2 pick, and he has commonly checked in as this draft’s sixth-best QB prospect. But the Broncos have been the team coming up most frequently in connection with Nix. A February report tied Denver to both he and J.J. McCarthy, and connections have persisted.

It would be a daring move from the Broncos to pass on this year’s QB crop and pit Stidham against Wilson for the starting job. This setup would certainly generate skepticism about their contention hopes, but with the larger chunk of Russell Wilson‘s dead money on Denver’s cap sheet this year ($50MM-plus), it is not inconceivable a reset season is coming. That said, it would be a bit surprising to see a 60-year-old Payton sign off on this — perhaps with a plan to target a 2025 QB draftee — for a full season. This type of plan backfired in his 2021 Saints finale.

On that note, the player the Broncos have been trying for eight years to replace shed some light about his former team’s interests. Peyton Manning confirmed during a 104.3 The Fan appearance the Broncos are “very interested” in McCarthy.

This follows a report suggesting Payton is open to mortgaging the team’s future to land his desired QB this year. While Drake Maye could now have a lead on McCarthy with the Vikings and Giants, the Broncos are believed to like the Michigan product. If Maye goes to the Patriots at No. 3, we will find out which teams truly like McCarthy. Minnesota and New York standing down would clear a path for Denver, which could then target Arizona’s No. 4 pick.

It would take plenty of capital to go from No. 12 to No. 4. The Broncos picked up Patrick Surtain‘s fifth-year option Tuesday and are rumored to be preparing extension talks after the draft, but the All-Pro cornerback’s name has come up as a chip to help the Broncos move up for a quarterback. The Broncos trading their top player would be a risky move, but the team has certainly been without an upper-crust answer at the game’s marquee position for a while. How the Broncos go about filling this need — if they end up doing so — will be one of the draft’s top storylines.

NFC Draft Rumors: Nabers, Giants, Falcons, Bears, Cowboys, Barton, Murphy, Seahawks

April 23rd, 2024 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Giants continue to be tied to a potential trade into the top four for a quarterback, they have the likely option of staying at No. 6 and filling a years-long wide receiver need in their back pocket. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze visited the team in March. Of this trio, Nabers may the likeliest to end up a Giant. They are interested in the LSU speedster, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes, adding many in the league expect this match to come to fruition at No. 6. A wideout in Round 1 would stand to give Daniel Jones new life, whereas his Giants tenure would be on borrowed time if a QB trade-up happens.

The Giants are also high on Harrison, as should be expected, and SI.com’s Albert Breer views 6 as the floor for the two-year Ohio State standout. Breer also offers Odunze as being a cleaner prospect, character-wise, compared to Nabers, who has developed a bit of a reputation as being tougher to coach. Some teams have the Washington prospect higher on their boards. If the Giants stand down at QB, they are virtually guaranteed one of these three WRs. That presents a big opportunity to fortify a position that has not employed an impact player since Odell Beckham Jr.

Here is the latest from the draft scene:

Breer also ties the Falcons to Nabers, noting some teams have this match on their radar. Atlanta, which holds No. 8 overall, has a greater need on defense; the team has been linked to pass rushers throughout the pre-draft process. Nabers would stand to represent value, and the Falcons could plug him in alongside Drake London and Darnell Mooney at receiver. Though, Atlanta having gone TE-WR-RB in the top 10 over the past three years would invite a Matt Millen-era Lions vibe if this happens again. It would be interesting to see if GM Terry Fontenot would truly use a fourth straight top-10 pick on a skill-position player. The Falcons have also been connected to trading down, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
How the Falcons proceed will be of interest to the Bears, who have also been tied to pass-catching aid with their No. 9 choice. Chicago is poised to go either pass catcher or pass rusher at 9, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes, with Breer adding wideout may be the more likely play — if one of the top three remains available. Both Jones and Biggs mock Odunze to Chicago at 9. The Bears hosted the Washington standout on a “30” visit; Keenan Allen‘s contract expires after the 2024 season. Brock Bowers is not expected to make it out of the top 10, and the Bears also hosted the Georgia tight end recently. Holding only four picks, the Bears could also opt to trade down.
The Cowboys are believed to be interested in Duke’s Graham Barton, per Breer, who notes the O-lineman has been the player most closely connected to the team during the pre-draft process. While Barton started the past three seasons at left tackle, he is viewed as a better fit inside in the NFL. The Cowboys hosted Barton, among a number of other O-linemen, on a “30” visit recently. Dallas lost Tyler Biadasz and also must replace Tyron Smith. Tyler Smith‘s success at left tackle and left guard give Dallas options. While the team adding one of this draft’s many tackle prospects would stand to keep Tyler Smith inside, Barton would allow him to move back to LT.
The Seahawks passed on Jalen Carter last year, but they may be readier to pull the trigger on a D-tackle this week. The prospect of Seattle snagging Texas DT Byron Murphy at 16 has come up, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline noting the former Big 12 standout — who logged a Hawks “30” visit — also has an outside chance of moving into the top 10. The Falcons, who have been tied to edge rushers, are high on Murphy as well. Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson confirms some interest inside the top 10 indeed exists here. This year’s crop is light on DTs, potentially driving Murphy up the board.

Broncos Exercise CB Patrick Surtain’s Fifth-Year Option

April 23rd, 2024 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

A formality given Patrick Surtain‘s accomplishments on his rookie contract, the Broncos are extending their top player’s deal through 2025. Denver officially is picking up Surtain’s fifth-year option, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.

GM George Paton confirmed the team would go this route with Surtain in February, and as a multi-time Pro Bowler, the former top-10 pick is tied to the highest option price for a cornerback. That number checks in at $19.8MM, matching this year’s CB franchise tag tender.

The Broncos are the second team to officially exercise an option for a 2021 draftee; in extending DeVonta Smith, the Eagles picked up his option. Smith’s former teammate at Alabama, Surtain joins Micah Parsons and Ja’Marr Chase as 2021 draftees eligible for the top option price at their respective position. Players need to have made two original-ballot Pro Bowls on their rookie deal to become eligible for the franchise tag number.

Surtain, 24, has become one of the NFL’s best corners. With the Broncos cutting four-time second-team All-Pro Justin Simmons, there is little doubt Surtain enters the team’s offseason program as its top player. The second-generation NFL corner earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2022, helping keep Denver’s defense afloat during a miserable season on offense. Surtain did not quite reach that level in 2023, but the 6-foot-2 cover man earned a Pro Bowl nod.

This expected transaction does come amid a bit of uncertainty regarding Surtain’s Denver status. The Broncos have expressed obvious interest in extending the ascending defender, and the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson adds extension talks are expected to ramp up after the draft.

While Paton drafted him back in 2021, Sean Payton was still in New Orleans at that point. Granted, the Saints were rumored to be interested in Surtain then. But the Broncos need a quarterback — their Zach Wilson trade notwithstanding — and Surtain may be the chip required to vault the team up the board in Round 1. Previously mentioned as hesitant to give up Surtain in a deal that would allow them to move up from No. 12 into QB territory, the Broncos seem a bit more open to the prospect as the draft nears.

It would certainly represent risk for the Broncos to bail on this type of asset so early in his career, and such a move would then create a glaring CB need. But the Broncos have, for the most part, carried a QB need for the past eight years. As mentioned in this week’s Trade Rumors Front Office installment, Payton may view Surtain as a necessary trade chip — in an AFC flooded with high-end passers — in a quest to climb into range for J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye. Payton is believed to be high on the former, which is interesting given the buzz tying the Giants and Vikings to the latter this week.

The Broncos wanted two first-rounders to merely start a conversation about Surtain before last year’s deadline. Three teams made offers, though none were believed to be in that ballpark. As the draft nears, Surtain — used as one of the models for the Broncos’ new uniforms Monday — could be discussed further in deals. For now, he is on the Broncos’ books at $1.1MM in base salary this season. That certainly makes him an attractive trade piece, should this process rev into high gear leading up to the draft.

Eagles Looking Into Round 1 Trade-Up; CB On Radar?

April 23rd, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Howie Roseman has made several moves up the board in Round 1. The acclaimed GM has done so in four of the past five years, making deals to acquire Andre Dillard (2019), DeVonta Smith (2021), Jordan Davis (2022) and Jalen Carter (’23). It would naturally come as little surprise if the Eagles made another climb to land a preferred target.

They are looking into such a move, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicating the team has been calling around gauging what it will take to make a move up from No. 22. Many around the league believe the Eagles could target a cornerback in Round 1, per Schefter and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Philly’s 2023 plans did not produce the same kind of success 2022 brought on defense. The unit cratered as the season progressed, leading to a shocking collapse after a 10-1 start. The team replaced DC Sean Desai with Matt Patricia, a move that produced no noticeable improvement.

Cornerback age is certainly an issue for the NFC contender, and Tuesday is not the first connection to the team addressing this spot early. Darius Slay turned 33 this offseason, and James Bradberry will be 31 soon. The Eagles reached new deals with both last year. The team also circled back to Avonte Maddox, whom it cut in March. The veteran slot, who is going into his age-28 season, has battled injuries over the past two years.

The Eagles have 2023 pickup Isaiah Rodgers reinstated, giving them a younger option alongside 2023 fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo. But the team could use a true heir apparent to train behind Slay and Bradberry. The team brought in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean for a late visit, which came after a meeting with Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board lists DeJean, despite a broken fibula in 2023, as this draft’s top corner (No. 14 overall) while slotting Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (20) and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold (21) in Philly’s range.

More buzz about the Eagles making a move to fortify their O-line in the long term also is emerging, with Jones and SI.com’s Albert Breer adding tackle is an area to keep an eye on here. The Eagles have been connected to acquiring a possible Lane Johnson heir apparent for a bit. Johnson has not indicated he is on the verge of retiring, but the 12th-year RT is going into his age-34 season.

As the selections of Dillard, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have shown, the Eagles are big on making early investments to keep their O-line a top-flight unit. The team could certainly look for O-line help in Round 2, but this is a strong tackle draft that could prove tempting for a team big on this sort of move.

Cardinals Receive Two Trade Offers For No. 4

April 23rd, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals would appear to hold a strong hand entering this draft, sitting at No. 4 and rostering a quarterback they like in Kyler Murray. If this draft begins QB-QB-QB as expected, Arizona could have some good offers in hand from teams eyeing the fourth passer left on the board.

A report Monday indicated the Cardinals have engaged in conversations with three teams, with a fourth on the radar. A day later, offers are believed to have come in. Two offers featuring trade parameters come in for the Cardinals’ No. 4 selection, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Continuing to connect the Cardinals to Ohio State super-prospect Marvin Harrison Jr., Jones notes the team appears comfortable drafting the ex-Buckeyes standout at 4. The team, however, may not view a sizable gap between the values of Harrison and LSU’s Malik Nabers as prospects. Citing the Cardinals’ wide receiver connections and this narrow gap, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport does not anticipate the team trading back too far.

Moving too far down the board would slide Arizona out of the mix for a prime wideout prospect; this could conceivably impact the team’s thinking with regards to potential Vikings or Broncos offers, seeing as those teams hold the Nos. 11 and 12 picks. Conversely, the Cardinals’ interest in this draft’s wideout crop could play into the Giants’ hands. New York sits at No. 6. If the Cardinals trade down two spots with a team interested in drafting a passer at 4, they would still have either Harrison or Nabers available to them at 6.

Both players visited the Cardinals, and reports during the draft run-up have suggested some teams view Nabers — who trailed Harrison on prospect ranking lists for a while — as the better prospect. The two-year Jayden Daniels target clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash time at the LSU pro day. Despite not doing drills at this event or at the Combine, Nabers has done nothing to lower his stock going into the draft. The Cardinals have a glaring hole at wide receiver, though if the Vikings or Broncos come in with a much stronger offer compared to the Giants, that would stand to put Monti Ossenfort to the test.

Last year’s Cardinals decision to slide from No. 3 to No. 12 and then out of No. 33 showed Ossenfort is perfectly fine moving down boards. Of course, Arizona climbed back up to No. 6 (for Paris Johnson) last year. Some teams wonder if the Cardinals could both move outside the top 10 and make a similar move by climbing back up — presumably for a wideout — soon after.

While the Giants have done plenty of homework on this year’s WR class, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes that teams view them as squarely in the mix for a quarterback. The buzz as of Tuesday points to both the Giants and Vikings being higher on Drake Maye compared to J.J. McCarthy, though we are in the heat of smokescreen season. If Maye is off the board, would either New York or Minnesota be ready to pull the trigger for the Michigan alum? The Vikings are believed to be comfortable with more QBs compared to other passer-needy teams, so they could still be interested in trading up with the Cardinals.

It will be on Arizona to determine if it is comfortable risking a drop to a draft slot where the risk of losing out on Harrison, Nabers and Rome Odunze is in play. They are not expected to make a trade until going on the clock Thursday night.

NFL Reinstates Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers

April 23rd, 2024 at 12:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

A week after the NFL reinstated five gambling offenders, Isaiah Rodgers now has the green light to resume his career. Banned for the 2023 season after a gambling scandal, the veteran cornerback has since been reinstated.

Tuesday’s decision will give Rodgers the opportunity to move to the Eagles’ active roster. While the Commanders cut Shaka Toney rather than add him to their offseason roster, they have a new regime in place. The staff that signed Rodgers following his Colts release remains, providing a good indication he remains in the Eagles’ 2024 plans.

Rodgers’ reinstatement is interesting given what he was accused of doing before being popped under the gambling policy. A 2020 sixth-round pick, Rodgers is believed to have made “hundreds” of wagers; some of those were believed to be bets on Colts games. Most of the bets were worth between $25-$50, though one wager was believed to be in the four-digit range. The NFL banned a number of players for all of the ’23 season due to betting on NFL games; six-game bans came as a result of other players making non-NFL bets while on team grounds.

The Colts waived the former starting corner once news of his ban emerged in June 2023. The Eagles made what amounted to a stash addition two months later, moving Rodgers to their reserve/suspended list upon setting their 53-man roster in August. Rodgers was with Philly throughout last season, but he stands to begin practicing soon.

In an aging Eagles CB corps, Rodgers is going into his age-26 season. He joins Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox as Eagles corners with notable starting experience. Slay and Bradberry will each be north of 31 by Week 1, with the injury-prone slot player now 28. The Eagles also used a fourth-round pick on Georgia’s Kelee Ringo last year.

A UMass alum, Rodgers intercepted three passes in 2021 and returned a kick for a score in 2020. The latter skill is now more relevant, seeing as the NFL greenlit a rule experiment that will see the kickoff return make its way back to a regular sequence. Working as Indianapolis’ primary kick returner throughout his three-season stay, Rodgers started nine games at corner for the team in 2022. He showed some promise in an expanded defensive role that year, ranking (per Pro Football Focus) as the NFL’s fifth-best corner that year.

This assessment came on just 283 defensive snaps, however, and Rodgers does not profile as a player who will have a fast track toward an Eagles starting job. But he should have an opportunity to contribute soon.

Load More Posts

NFL News & NFL Rumors