HEADLINES

Month: July 2016

East Notes: Jets, Wilkerson, Garoppolo, Giants

July 21st, 2016 at 11:14am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC and NFC East:

  • After inking a new multi-year deal with the Jets, defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson says that he’ll be ready for the Jets’ season opener against the Bengals on September 11th, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini writes. “Rehab is going well,” he said. “I’m running four times a week and just taking it day by day. I’m focusing on my leg and rehabbing each and every day. When the coaches feel it is time for me to get out there on the field and I am ready to go, I will be out there.” On Friday, Wilkerson shocked everyone when he inked a five-year deal worth $86MM, good for a $17.2MM AAV. The deal also calls for $54MM to go to the defensive lineman over the next three years.
  • When Jimmy Garoppolo lines up under center for the Patriots in September, rival teams will be keeping an eye on him as a possible trade target, as Albert Breer of The MMQB writes. Not much is known about Tom Brady‘s fill-in just yet, but evaluators are optimistic about what they might see. “He’s looked sharp when he’s had the opportunity,” said one NFC personnel exec who got a long look at him. “I also really liked him during the draft, so some of that was ‘leftover’ evaluation. … Strong arm, quick arm, accurate, can move in the pocket, mobile, all the things you like to see in a young developmental QB.”
  • Will the Giants sign a veteran safety? Given that no safety currently on the roster has more than three years of NFL experience, it could make some sense for the Giants, NJ.com’s James Kratch writes. However, Kratch doesn’t feel that available veterans like Bacarri Rambo, Donte Whitner, or Antrel Rolle would necessarily bring much more to the table. Rolle is on record as saying that he would like to return to the Giants. Whitner, ranked as the league’s No. 24 safety among 89 qualifiers in 2015 by Pro Football Focus, would make sense for a number of teams. Safety James Ihedigbo is also on the open market and waiting for the right opportunity.

Offseason In Review: San Diego Chargers

July 21st, 2016 at 11:00am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers bottomed out in 2015, posting their worst record since 2003 and securing their first top-five draft pick since the club selected Philip Rivers. But with that top draft choice, and a lot of money coming off the books, San Diego had a chance to remake its roster this offseason while also attempting to deal with relocation concerns.

Notable signings:

The Chargers’ offensive line in 2015 was, in a word, messy. Injuries sapped any potential the unit might have exhibited prior to the season, leaving tackle Joe Barksdale as the only starter who appeared in all 16 games. King Dunlap, Orlando Franklin, Chris Watt, and D.J. Fluker — a group that earned more than $21MM in cash in 2015 — missed a combined 30 games, leaving subpar options such Trevor Robinson, Kenny Wiggins, and Chris Hairston to fill in. In fact, nine San Diego offensive linemen played more than 100 snaps, and the club fielded 24 different line combinations, fourth-most in the NFL (latter stat courtesy of Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com).

And while the Chargers’ front office is banking on improved health to ameliorate an offensive line that ranked 31st in adjusted line yards, the club didn’t simply rest of its laurels. San Diego’s first move was to re-sign Barksdale, locking up its right tackle Joe Barksdalethrough the 2019 season. Barksdale, 28, is a fine player — he ranked as the No. 21 tackle in the league last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and graded among the top-50 at his position in 2014.

But Barksdale sat on the 2015 open market until the end of May before agreeing to a one-year, minimum salary pact with the Chargers. His new contract, on the other hand, makes Barksdale the eighth-highest paid right tackle in terms of annual value, and his $10.5MM in guarantees is fourth-largest among non-rookie contracts at his position. Perhaps San Diego feels some sort of debt towards Barksdale after he was the only part of its offensive line that didn’t end up in tatters last season. But the Chargers re-signed Barksdale before he reached free agency this spring, meaning the club didn’t let him test his market. Handing a right tackle who struggled to find a job a year prior a contract of this magnitude seems like a misstep and an overpay.

San Diego also re-signed swing tackle Hairston to a two-year deal (and are surely hoping he isn’t required to play as much as he did last year), and then inked veteran Matt Slauson after he was released by the Bears. The 30-year-old Slauson spent his entire career at guard until injuries in Chicago forced him to move to the pivot in 2015. He was effective at both spots, and his release came as a surprise, but the Chargers now have a solid veteran in the middle of their offensive line at an affordable price. San Diego drafted center Max Tuerk in third round of this year’s draft, but Slauson is fully expected to start in the middle.

Aside from the offensive line, the other area targeted by the Chargers during the free agent period was the secondary, which makes sense given that the club ranked 19th in opposing passer rating, 18th in passing yards allowed, and 21st in passing defense DVOA. While Jason Verrett remains one of the best corners in the NFL, veteran Brandon Flowers struggled with conditioning and admittedly grew complacent after landing a large deal last spring. Flowers was moved inside last season, but he’ll move back out after San Diego agreed to terms with slot cornerback Casey Hayward.

Hayward is proof that either NFL teams are especially wary of injury history, or that clubs still aren’t paying for slot corners despite the propagation of three wide receiver sets. While secondary options such as Josh Norman, Janoris Jenkins, and Sean Smith all signed for at least $9.5MM annually, Hayward will average only $5.1MM per season with the Chargers despiteCasey Hayward grading out as the 16th-best corner in the league per PFF.

Admittedly, Hayward’s health concerns may have lowered his price tag, as a hamstring injury wiped out most of his 2013 campaign. But he’s been on the field for every game during the past two seasons, and even began to play on the outside in 2015. It’s conceivable that Hayward will start opposite Verrett in San Diego’s base package before moving inside in the nickel, but either way, the Chargers scored a free agent steal with the 26-year-old.

Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, San Diego brought in veteran safety Dwight Lowery, inking the 30-year-old to a three-year pact. Lowery has bounced around the league since joining the Jets as a fourth-round pick in 2008, spending time with the Jaguars, Falcons, and most recently, the Colts. He’s been up-and-down throughout his career, and is probably a replacement-level safety at this point, but Lowery will help solidify a secondary that is now without franchise mainstay Eric Weddle.

Speaking of organizational icons, the Chargers agreed to a two-year deal to retain tight end Antonio Gates, who is entering his 14th season with the team. Gates, who turned 36 years old last month, is a surefire future Hall of Famer, as only Tony Gonzalez posted more approximate value among tight ends. And while Gates has no speed left which to speak of, he can still play, as evidenced by his 56 receptions and five touchdowns in only 11 games last season.Antonio Gates

But San Diego re-signed Gates at the expense of fellow tight Ladarius Green, who is not only a full decade younger than Gates, but proved he could post similar results during the first four games of the year when Gates was suspended. Additionally, Green actually signed for cheaper than Gates in terms of annual value and guarantees. Yes, Green’s total contract is worth more, but he’ll earn less over the next two seasons than Gates, and will likely produce more, as well.

Jeff Cumberland, meanwhile, is likely wishing he would’ve waited until after the draft before signing with a new club, as his role as the Chargers’ second tight end role has been usurped by second-round draft pick Hunter Henry. Bolts tight end coach John McNulty said last month that Cumberland is “still carving out” his role, which figures to entail a lot of special teams work, given that Henry is an excellent blocker and doesn’t figure to come off the field much, especially since San Diego uses a lot of two tight end sets.

Aside from the two tight ends, the Chargers’ only other notable skill position signing was that of former Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who also drew interest from the Texans and Chiefs before agreeing to aTravis Benjamin (vertical) four-year deal. Benjamin, 26, ranks 15th in yards per reception among receivers with at least 100 catches since 2012 (the year Benjamin was drafted), so he’ll be an eerily similar replacement for Malcom Floyd, who regularly averaged more than 17 yards per reception.

Still, it’s fair to wonder how productive Benajmin will be in San Diego given that offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt has returned to town, bringing his quick-passing offense with him. During Whisenhunt’s previous stint as OC (2013), Floyd missed almost the entire season with injury, so it’s difficult to visualize how a deep threat will be used in Whisenhunt’s scheme. In a system that relies on getting the ball out swiftly in order to alleviate any offensive line concerns, and focuses more on receptions from running backs, tight ends, and possession receivers like Keenan Allen, Benjamin might struggle to live up to his contract.

Finally, the Chargers added a stout presence to the interior of a defensive line that struggled against the run last season (31st in rushing defense DVOA, 27th in rushing yards allowed), luring defensive tackle Brandon Mebane away from the Seahawks with a three-year contract. Like Barksdale on the offensive side of the ball, Mebane is a fine defender, but this deal strikes as an overpay.

Mebane, 31, won’t be doing much more than acting as a run-stuffer in San Diego, and younger players with better skillsets got paid less on the open market this spring. Jaye Howard scored a very similar contract with the Chiefs, but he’s four years younger than Mebane and a superior defender. Ian Williams is only 26, and while injury concerns killed his market, the Chargers could’ve taken a risk on someone like the 49ers defensive tackle. Former Lions/Titans defender Sammie Lee Hill offers similar production to Mebane, and he’s still sitting on the free agent market, meaning he’ll likely have to settle for a minimum salary deal. San Diego had other ways to spend this money — and address their defensive line — making the Mebane contract ill-advised.

Continue reading about the Chargers’ offseason…

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Impact Rookies: Cleveland Browns

July 21st, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Today, we continue PFR’s Impact Rookie series with his insight on the Cleveland Browns’ draft class:

Whether the formula works, or not, Cleveland came out of the draft after making a flurry of trades with fourteen youngsters to vie for roster spots. By trading down from the second overall spot, the Browns definitely added quantity, but you can see that they still have a primary need – quarterback. The Eagles packaged a deal with the Browns and went home happy with their quarterback catch in North Dakota’s Carson Wentz. Meanwhile, Cleveland invested $15MM in a quarterback who could go down as one of the biggest draft day mistakes ever, Washington castoff Robert Griffin III.

For a sum of $15,072,000 in 2016, Cleveland enters training camp with a quarterback stable that includes Griffin (7.5 mil), Josh McCown (4.7 mil), Austin Davis ($2.025 mil) and Cody Kessler (847K). While the coaches are saying all nice things about Griffin coming out of mini camp, one has to wonder if they’re not sold on him since they also kept McCown.

By the time the team was able to pick in the first round, they were not in love with the quarterback left behind (Paxton Lynch) and went after filling their second-biggest need at wide receiver, bringing in the electrifying Corey Coleman. The Browns stepped away from the usual “best available athlete” draft mode used by most teams, as they went for needs with their first four selections. Checking off the big need at receiver with Coleman, UCLA’s Jordan Payton and Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, the team turned their attention to the defensive line that featured one of the worst sack units in the league.

In fact, they doubled down at the defensive end position, first, taking Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah in the second round, followed by Penn State sack artist Carl Nassib in the next phase. There is talk of turning Ogbah into an outside linebacker, rather than playing him on the front wall, but the team should look back at their recent draft history to see how they utterly failed in their attempts to convert Barkevious Mingo, the team’s first pick in the 2013 draft, into a stand-up second level performer.

That plan could change by training camp, as recent pectoral muscle surgery by Desmond Bryant will sideline the starting left end for four-to-six months. That could give both their second and third round selections great opportunities to join the first unit. Early money says it will be Nassib, who rocked the backfield to the tune of 15.5 sacks during his breakout 2015 season. Ogbah chipped in with thirteen sacks and nineteen quarterback pressures. Last year, Cleveland finished with 29 sacks, which ranked 28th in the NFL.

When you look at the Browns’ entire draft picture, unless the first four players contribute immediately, if could be a head scratcher by the end of the season and yet another front office blow up. They invested a fourth round pick in Princeton tight end Seth DeValve, who was rated no better than the 47th-best tight end in the draft on most war room boards. He enters camp listed fourth on the depth chart and will battle five other tight ends for what will likely be three spots on the roster. The rest of their draft picks might be the perfect formula to put an insomniac to sleep.

There are plenty of question marks in this group, but these players could put exclamation points on their frosh seasons in the NFL:

First Round – Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor University, No. 15 overall)

Whether it is a fellow former Baylor Bear at quarterback or the aging veteran (perhaps the rookie from USC can make some noise later in the year, if all else fails), the Browns knew they could not go into the season with their obvious lack of depth at the wide receiver position. Knowing they needed a playmaker who could replace the 68 receptions recorded by Travis Benjamin, who left via free agency, their logical choice was Coleman, preferring the little speedster over other blue chip first round talent like Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, and Laquon Treadwell. Corey Coleman

Sports hernia surgery prevented the Bears prospect from playing past the 2015 regular season schedule, but despite missing bowl action, he pulled in 74-of-127 targeted passes (58.27%), as he had twelve passes batted away from him and dropped four others. Even though Baylor quarterbacks often misfired (37 targeted passes to Coleman failed to reach him), his 74 grabs rank fifth on the school season-record list. He finished ninth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks with 1,363 receiving yards and he led the nation with a school-record 20 touchdown catches, shattering the previous mark of fourteen by Kendall Wright in 2011.

Among Coleman’s 74 receptions, he recorded 47 first downs (63.51%), converting 9-of-17 third-down opportunities. He gained at least ten yards on 38 grabs, including going distances of 20 yards or longer on 20 of those receptions. In addition to his 20 touchdowns, he had key catches to set up five other touchdown drives.

[RELATED: Browns Have No Plans To Cut Isaiah Crowell]

After he generated 216 yards behind eleven receptions in the Kansas State contest, Coleman started to feel the effects from a nagging groin injury. During the course of his next four appearances, he failed to reach the end zone and averaged 46.25 yards per game on a total of sixteen catches. The sports hernia discovery would keep him out of action vs. North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Soon after, Coleman announced that he would not be returning to school in 2016 and had entered the draft.

Coleman’s best asset is his timed speed, as he has more than enough quickness to elude in the open field, with adequate strength to fight for the ball in a crowd. He is the type of player that teams covet – one with the rare playing speed to stretch the defense, showing the burst needed to beat angles. He demonstrates excellent athleticism for his position, as few opposing defenders can mirror him on deep routes due to his speed. He not only has the speed to threaten the deep secondary – he also has the body control, lateral quickness, and change of direction agility to make the underneath catches.

The former Baylor star he has good eyes for locating the soft areas to settle in and shows good awareness for the comebacks. He is quick to recognize coverage and adjust to what the secondary gives him. He also is alert enough to know when he has to work back to the ball, especially when dealing with an erratic quarterback. Coleman is a classic deep threat, used mostly to stretch the field. He gives good effort working underneath, but there are still times when he will short arm when going for the ball over the middle or when facing the quarterback.

He can make some noise in 2016, particularly if Gordon is not reinstated.

Continue reading about the Browns’ rookie class..

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Eugene Monroe To Retire

July 21st, 2016 at 8:11am CST by Zachary Links

8:11am: Monroe has formally announced his retirement via The Players’ Tribune.

“Today, I am making my exit from the game of football. I’m leaving the sport I love — the sport that has consumed my existence for the last 18 years — to start a new life. I’m nervous, but I feel like I’m ready for whatever comes next. I have three beautiful children and an amazing wife, and they will be with me as I take these next steps,” Monroe writes.

Monroe goes on to explain that he is fearful of CTE and the long-term ramifications of playing professional football:

“I’m only 29 and I still have the physical ability to play at a very high level, so I know that my decision to retire may be puzzling to some. But I am thinking of my family first right now — and my health and my future. The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Has the damage to my brain already been done? Do I have CTE? I hope I don’t, but over 90% of the brains of former NFL players that have been examined showed signs of the disease. I am terrified.”

7:42am: Last month, Eugene Monroe became an intriguing late addition to the crop of offensive linemen on the free agent market when he was cut loose by the Ravens. Now, he’s planning to retire, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Eugene Monroe (vertical)

[RELATED: Follow Pro Football Rumors On Instagram]

Monroe, who has 90 starts and 93 appearances under his belt during his seven-year career, recently said that he was taking his time in free agency in order to find the best fit for him and his family.

“I don’t feel like I have to jump on one of the first opportunities that come up. I’m just trying to be patient, wait on the right opportunity, and also just decide what’s going to be the best move for my family,” he said. “I have a wife and three children. There’s a lot more at stake than simply just jumping on a deal.”

Soon after the Ravens cut Monroe loose, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ran down a handful of other clubs that could have potentially had interest. Some of those teams – like the Giants, 49ers, and Seahawks – reached out to Monroe’s camp to express interest. In the case of the Giants, Monroe probably would have been asked to switch from left tackle to right tackle. It’s not clear if the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder would have been willing to make that change.

The Jaguars selected Monroe with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2009 draft. Midway through the 2013 season, he was traded to the Ravens in exchange for Baltimore’s fourth- and fifth-round selections. After a solid season, Monroe inked a five-year, $37.5MM with the Ravens that could have taken him through the 2018 season. However, the Ravens cut Monroe loose last month, leaving them with $2.2MM in dead money but also with $6.5MM in cap savings. Some speculated that Monroe’s advocacy for medical marijuana led to his release, but the Ravens have said that the move was strictly a football decision.

Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.

North Notes: Lions, Browns, Packers, Bears

July 20th, 2016 at 9:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions finished 27th in rushing DVOA last season and still have uncertainty along their offensive line, meaning their running game is a question mark as the club heads into the 2016 campaign, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Free agent Arian Foster was scheduled to work out for Detroit this week, but the team never got a chance to take a look at the veteran running back before he signed with the Dolphins. Ameer Abdullah and Stevan Ridley both are dealing with injury issues, while Zach Zenner doesn’t have much of a track record. Theo Riddick is probably the surest bet on the roster, but he’s been deployed primarily as a receiving back. Still, Rothstein doesn’t expect the Lions to add an outside option to the position group.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:

  • Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant was ruled out for the season after tearing a pectoral muscle last week, but the 30-year-old isn’t yet ruling himself done for the year. “Absolutely, I’m hopeful that I can (come back this season),” Bryant told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “The timetable for rehab is four-to-six months, so it’s possible. I’ll do everything I can to get back as soon as I can.” Clearly, Bryant is using the most optimistic timeline in his projection, and it’s ultimately up to the Cleveland front office whether or not it puts Bryant injured reserve. But given the new IR rules, the Browns could conceivably place Bryant on IR and decide to bring him back later in the season if he progresses well enough.
  • After posting his worst statistical season in some time, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hoping for a bounceback year, and he’s taken steps to move in that direction, as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes. Rodgers has lost weight, slimming down to 215 pounds, and also underwent surgery after Green Bay’s postseason run in order to clean up a knee injury. The former MVP produced a career-worst passer rating of 92.7 in 2016, but quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt is certain Rodgers will rebound. “Not up to his standards,” Van Pelt said of Rodgers’ campaign. “Obviously, we’ve targeted improvement areas, and he’s on board.”
  • Although he was absent from mandatory minicamp, Bears offensive lineman Ted Larsen is simply experiencing leg soreness and will be fine, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). There was some thought that Larsen may have been seriously injured given that Chicago signed fellow guard Amini Silatolu earlier today, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case. Larsen and Silatolu figure to compete for the top reserve role along the interior, backing up starters Kyle Long, Hroniss Grasu, and Cody Whitehair.
  • The Packers worked out former Texas A&M punter Taylor Symmank today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Symmank was apparently close to an agreement with the division rival Vikings earlier this year, but no word of an official signing was ever reported. Green Bay appears to be updating its specialist emergency list, as the club auditioned kicker Brent Wahle yesterday.

Latest On Safety James Ihedigbo

July 20th, 2016 at 8:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety James Ihedigbo has been sitting on the open market since his contract expired this spring. And while he hasn’t yet taken any known free agent visits, Ihedigbo expressed confidence to SiriusXM NFL Radio that he’ll find a landing spot before the regular season begins.James Ihedigbo (Vertical)

[RELATED: Updated Detroit Lions depth chart]

“The thing about this part of the game and just the business aspect of it, teams are going to want to see if their young guys got it — they want to see guys that they drafted two years ago, if they can play at a high level, if they can handle the mental aspect of the game more than special teams, of playing offense and defense,” said Ihedigbo. “And then you have to account for the injury rate. It happens every year, the first week of training camp, guys go down or guys aren’t performing up to management’s expectation, and that’s when guys like myself get that phone call.

“Yeah, could my agent possibly get me a league-minimum deal with somebody right now? Yeah. But at the other end of it, you increase your value if you were to just patiently wait for that opportunity, which tends to happen every year.”

Ihedigo did say that he has received inquiries from clubs, with teams wondering if he’s staying in shape in the hopes of earning a roster spot. But Ihedigbo is probably correct in that he’ll have to wait for an injury before he garners any serious interest. That’s partly due to his age (32), and partly due to his production in 2015, when he lost his starting job to Isa Abdul-Quddus down the stretch and ultimately ranked as the No. 64 safety among 89 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, grading much better against the run than the pass. As recently as 2014, however, Ihedigbo posted the best season of his career, so he’s not far removed from above-average play.

Ihedigbo said in May that he’d like to play for his hometown Texans, and that’s a match that might make sense on paper. Ihedigbo is a similar player to fellow free agent safety Donte Whitner, for whom I recently listed eight potential landing spots, so many of the fits I outlined could be logical for Ihedigbo, as well.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Garoppolo, Pats, Jets, Dolphins

July 20th, 2016 at 6:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If Jimmy Garoppolo performs well during Tom Brady‘s four-game suspension, the Patriots would reap benefits not only during the 2016 season, but beyond, especially if they can use Garoppolo as a trade chip, writes Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. New England could view Garoppolo as its quarterback of the future, but given that he’s only signed through 2017, he might be more valuable to other clubs than to the Pats. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could show interest if he lands a head-coaching job next offseason, while Robinson also tosses out the 49ers, Saints, Redskins, and Browns as clubs that might be willing to trade for Garoppolo.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Now that Muhammad Wilkerson is under contract for the foreseeable future, the Jets could have a valuable trade asset in fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson — but don’t expect Richardson to be dealt any time soon, opines Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Richardson can be controlled though 2017 via his fifth-year option, and New York could then franchise him in 2018. The club doesn’t figure to engage in extension talks right now, especially given that Richardson is set to be suspended for one game due to a personal conduct violation. But if he proves he’s reliable, Richardson could be the next Jet in line for a long-term contract, or he could be bandied about in trade discussions.
  • The Dolphins invested in their defensive line over the spring, signing Mario Williams, Andre Branch, and Jason Jones, but another option might come internally, as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald hears (Twitter link) that former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan looks “brand new.” Yesterday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that there’s been no status update on Jordan, who applied for reinstatement in April. Jordan is thought to be dealing with shoulder issues, but if reports are to be believed, it looks he’ll be a full-go for camp, if and when he’s eligible.
  • Miami also spent capital on the offensive trenches, and James Walker of ESPN.com (video link) examines whether the Dolphins‘ offensive line can come together as a unit to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill. With No. 13 overall pick Laremy Tunsil scheduled to start at left guard, the Fins will have four former first-rounders among their front five. And the club has also stockpiled depth, adding veteran options like Jermon Bushrod and Sam Young to handle backup roles.
  • Jace Amaro has a decent chance at opening the season as the Jets‘ starting tight end, but the third-year pro needs to work on his blocking, both in the run and pass game, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Amaro missed his sophomore campaign with a shoulder injury, allowing Kellen Davis to step in and start nine games last year. As Roster Resource shows, Gang Green also boasts Wes Saxton, Zach Sudfeld, and Brandon Bostick at tight end.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/20/16

July 20th, 2016 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Lions signed defensive end/outside linebacker Quanterus Smith, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Smith inked a reserve/futures deal with Jacksonville in January but was waived by the team last month. The Western Kentucky product saw time in 15 games for the Broncos in 2014.
  • The Bengals have waived cornerback Corey Tindal, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets. Tindal, who joined the Bengals as a UDFA, was the victim of an armed robbery earlier this month. With Tindal out of the picture, the Bengals currently have an open spot on their 90-man roster.
  • The Bears have waived quarterback Dalyn Williams, as Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets. With Williams out of the picture, the Bears are now down to four quarterbacks, as shown on their Roster Resource page.
  • The Packers have reached the 90-man roster limit by signing cornerback Warren Gatewood of Alcorn State, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Texans have waived/injured cornerback Richard Leonard, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Houston need to open a roster spot for defensive tackle Ra’Zahn Howard, the supplemental draft entry whom the club officially signed today.

Possible Legal Trouble For Cardinals’ Clemons

July 20th, 2016 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Scottsdale Police Department is recommending that prosecutors charge Cardinals safety Chris Clemons for an alleged assault in May, Yihyun Jeong of The Arizona Republic writes. On May 8th, police say Clemons assaulted a 25-year-old woman outside a downtown Scottsdale nightclub. Chris Clemons (vertical)

[RELATED: Cardinals Want To Extend Calais Campbell]

The alleged victim was knocked unconscious outside of the nightclub, though authorities received varying accounts of what happened from witnesses. The local police department is pushing for Clemons, 30, to be charged with assault with reckless injury and disorderly conduct. For his part, Clemons repeatedly denied that he assaulted the victim when talking to police.

Clemons hasn’t seen much playing time since joining the Cardinals in 2014, but he was re-signed by the team in February to a non-guaranteed deal. As the Cardinals’ page on Roster Resource shows, Clemons is battling Tony Jefferson, rookie Marqui Christian, and Durell Eskridge for a spot behind starters Tyrann Mathieu and D.J. Swearinger. If these allegations prove to have merit, Clemons may not get to take the field for a third season in Arizona.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Shawn Oakman Indicted For Sexual Assault

July 20th, 2016 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Once considered to be a top NFL prospect, Shawn Oakman now has larger matters on his plate than a career in football. The former Baylor star has been indicted on sexual assault charges by a Waco, Texas grand jury, as Rissa Shaw of KCEN writes. Shawn Oakman (vertical)

Oakman was arrested in April for allegedly raping a female Baylor student. The incident happened just a couple of weeks before the NFL Draft, leading all 32 teams to steer clear of the defensive end. Oakman maintains that his contact with the accuser was consensual.

Even before the alleged assault, Oakman’s draft stock wasn’t terribly high. Oakman turned heads in 2014 when he led Baylor with 11 sacks (a school record) and recorded 19.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. However, he only racked up 4.5 sacks in 2015 as a senior and started his year off with a suspension. When the news broke, Oakman went from being a late Day 2/Day 3 prospect to off-the-board for most teams. It also didn’t help that a police report from 2013 emerged in which an ex-girlfriend alleged that she was physically abused during an argument.

The muscle-bound 6-foot-8, 287-pound defensive end was named a third-team All-American in 2015, despite his so-so season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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