2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

NFC South Notes: Njoku, Bucs, Saints, Te’o

March 22nd, 2017 at 6:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Buccaneers met with Miami tight end David Njoku earlier this week, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Njoku, who registered 43 receptions and eight touchdowns last season, is expected to be one of two first-round picks at tight end, joining Alabama’s O.J. Howard. The Giants, who sit at pick No. 23 (four spots behind Tampa Bay) are also said to be “very high” on Njoku.

Here’s more from the NFC South:

Prior to re-signing with the Saints, defensive back Sterling Moore came close to joining another — as yet unidentified — club, as he detailed to SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). A career journeyman prior to 2016, Moore started 12 games for New Orleans last season. As Moore explains, the Saints circled back to him with an offer after he’d been negotiating with another team, allowing him the return he’d always preferred. Moore, 27, earned $760K last year.
Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara is expected to meet with the Saints on Wednesday, tweets Sean Fazende of WVUE FOX 8. Kamara, who recently fired his agent, could sneak into Round 1 despite being viewed as a Day 2 prospect for most of last year. A committee back with the Volunteers, Kamara managed less than 1,300 yards rushing during two years in Tennessee, but also averaged more than six yards per carry during that time.
The second year of Buccaneers center Joe Hawley‘s two-year deal is an option year, Caplan tweets. As previously reported, the full two-year pact is worth $5.5MM with $1MM fully guaranteed. If Tampa Bay opts to pick up his 2018 option, Hawley will receive a $250K option bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Manti Te’o‘s two-year deal with the Saints is worth $5MM with $600K guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Te’o can earn $500K annually in per-game roster bonuses, according to Rapoport, and can rake in another $1MM per year in incentives, tweets Wilson.

Davis Webb A Potential First-Round Pick?

March 22nd, 2017 at 5:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

California quarterback Davis Webb is a candidate to be selected in the first round of next month’s draft, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), who cites a “growing sense” Webb may be chosen on Day 1.

The Jets, Chiefs, and Chargers have all set up interviews with Webb, per Cole, while the Ravens and Buccaneers have also expressed interest in the 6’5″ signal-caller. A club could trade back into the first round with an eye towards drafting Webb, reports Cole, and such a move would enable a team to hold a fifth-year option on Webb. That option — for the 2021 campaign — would allow a club to retain Webb for a fifth season at a cheap rate.

While Webb has generally been considered a Day 2 pick to this point, the overall demand for quarterbacks could conceivably force him into the back end of Round 1. At present, Todd McShay of ESPN.com ranks Webb as the draft’s No. 7 QB, behind Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky, DeShone Kizer, Patrick Mahomes, Nathan Peterman, and Joshua Dobbs.

Webb, 22, transferred to Cal from Texas Tech after losing out on the Red Raiders’ starting job to Mahomes. In his only season with the Bears, Webb completed 61.6% of his passes for 4,295 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Packers Re-Sign Christine Michael

March 22nd, 2017 at 5:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Packers have re-signed running back Christine Michael, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Green Bay claimed Michael off waivers from the Seahawks last fall, and the former-second round pick proceeded to handle 31 carries for the Packers down the stretch. Michael, 26, spent seven weeks as Seattle’s clear-cut No. 1 running back, and posted two multi-score games during that run.

Michael’s role soon dwindled, however, and while he also didn’t manage much of a role with the Packers, Michael ranks as PFR’s No. 8 free agent back. He’ll give Green Bay another option in a backfield that currently only includes Ty Montgomery and Don Jackson. The Packers lost Eddie Lacy earlier this month when he signed a one-year deal with Seattle.

Michael visited the Packers earlier today along with free agent offensive lineman Byron Bell.

Chiefs Re-Sign Jarvis Jenkins

March 22nd, 2017 at 5:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chiefs have re-signed defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins, according to his agents at SportsTrust (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Jenkins, 28, signed a two-year, $6MM deal that contained $3MM guaranteed with the Jets last spring, but he was waived in early November after appearing in only nine games with the club. Because he was cut before Week 10, Jenkins didn’t factor into the compensatory pick formula, and therefore allowed Gang Green to land a third-round comp pick to account for the loss of defensive tackle Damon Harrison.

After working out for the Patriots, Jenkins quickly landed a deal with the Chiefs, with whom he spent the rest of the 2016 campaign. On 132 defensive snaps, Jenkins posted five tackles and put up a half-sack in Kansas City’s postseason game against the Steelers. On the season, Jenkins graded as the league’s No. 67 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus, which handed better marks for his run defense than his play against the pass.

Now back with the Chiefs for another season, Jenkins will continue to serve as a reserve on a defensive line that also includes Jaye Howard, Chris Jones, Bennie Logan, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and Allen Bailey.

Vikings, Four Others Interested In Rod Streater

March 22nd, 2017 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings looking at free agent wide receiver Rod Streater, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. The Colts, Seahawks, Browns, and incumbent 49ers are also in the mix, but Tomasson says that no deal imminent.

Streater, 29, is ranked as one of our top fifteen wide receivers left on the open market. Once upon a time, Streater appeared to be on the verge of big things with the Raiders. Unfortunately, after catching 60 passes for 888 yards in 2013, he was derailed by injuries. After appearing in just four games for Oakland between 2014 and 2015, he wound up with the Niners on a one-year deal. He had 18 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns for San Francisco while appearing in all 16 regular season games.

The Vikings have Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Jarius Wright, and Laquon Treadwell at receiver but Streater could be brought in to compete with Isaac Fruechte at the WR5 spot. The Niners technically have ten receivers under contract, including free agent additions Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Aldrick Robinson, and DeAndre Carter.

Jaguars To Sign TE Mychal Rivera

March 22nd, 2017 at 3:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have agreed to terms with tight end Mychal Rivera, Jeff Darlington of ESPN tweets. It’s a two-year deal with a max value of $6.75MM, but year two is a team option, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com adds (on Twitter).

Rivera started 13 games for the Raiders between the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The ’14 campaign was a career year as he logged 58 receptions, 534 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. In 2016, Clive Walford surpassed him on the depth chart. It has been long known that the Raiders were likely to move on from him.

Rivera now joins Marcedes Lewis atop the tight end depth chart. Lesser known tight ends Ben Koyack, Neal Sterling, and Alex Ellis are also on the roster for the time being. The Jaguars have been on the lookout for TE help ever since trading Julius Thomas to the Dolphins in February. The intra-state swap sent Thomas to Miami in exchange for a 2017 seventh-round pick. Then, in a separate deal, left tackle Branden Albert came to Jacksonville for a 2018 seventh-round selection.

Packers Host RB Christine Michael On Visit

March 22nd, 2017 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers hosted running back Christine Michael on a visit Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The team also hosted offensive tackle Byron Bell.

Michael, who has bounced around a bit, finished out the 2016 season with Green Bay. In six games with the Packers, he had 31 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown. Between his time with the Seahawks and Packers last season, C-Mike averaged a so-so 3.9 yards per carry. The Packers could be open to a reunion given their lack of depth at running back. As it stands, Ty Montgomery is their top RB with with former UDFAs Don Jackson and John Crockett in reserve.

I have Michael listed as the eighth-best tailback left on the open market. Adrian Peterson, LeGarrette Blount, Jamaal Charles, ballroom dancing enthusiast Rashad Jennings, Tim Hightower, DeAngelo Williams, and Chris Johnson are all ahead of him on my list.

Bell did not play last season after dislocating his ankle during Titans OTAs. In the previous year, however, he started 16 games at three different spots: eight at right tackle, seven at left guard, and one at left tackle. I have him down as one of the ten best tackle options left in free agency.

Titans To Sign OL Tim Lelito

March 22nd, 2017 at 3:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans are signing former Saints guard Tim Lelito, according to his agents at Element Sports Group (Twitter link). Terms of the deal are not yet known. The Lions were among the teams with interest in the lineman.

Heading into Wednesday, I had Lelito ranked as the third-best interior lineman still available. The 27-year-old (28 in June) appeared in all 16 games last season and has only missed one regular season contest in his four years with New Orleans. He graded out No. 49 guard in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF gave him a solid mark for his pass blocking with a less impressive score on running plays.

The Titans project to start Quinton Spain and Josh Kline at the guard positions and they’re hoping for a repeat of their 2016 production. Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Spain as the NFL’s 18th best guard while Kline placed 26th. Lelito might not start, but he’ll at least see a good amount of snaps as a rotational piece. Guards Sebastian Tretola and Josue Matias are also on the bench.

With Lelito gone, Niners free agent Andrew Tiller stands as our top-ranked guard.

PFR Live Chat With Zach Links

March 22nd, 2017 at 2:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Click here to read the transcript from today’s live chat with PFR’s Zach Links.

Redskins Host RB Tim Hightower On Visit

March 22nd, 2017 at 1:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are hosting Tim Hightower on a free agent visit, a source tells Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter). This marks the second known trip for the Saints free agent this month. He previously met with the 49ers.

Hightower was with the Redskins in 2011 but played in only five games due to a torn ACL. After that, he was out of the NFL for several years until re-emerging with the Saints in 2015. Last year, he finished out with 548 yards off of 133 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He also added 22 catches for 200 yards.

The Redskins already have four running backs under contract in Robert Kelley, Keith Marshall, Matt Jones, and Mack Brown. Many also expect the Redskins to consider a running back with their No. 17 overall pick in this year’s draft.