HEADLINES

Month: April 2017

Saints Still In On Adrian Peterson

April 24th, 2017 at 11:16am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are still very much involved with Adrian Peterson, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter). The two sides still talking about a short-term deal to bring him to New Orleans. Adrian Peterson

[RELATED: Giants Monitoring Adrian Peterson, LeGarrette Blount]

Peterson is reportedly willing to play for $5MM or less in the “right situation” and the Saints could be one of the clubs that fits the bill for him. Although they’re coming off of a down year, the Saints have the pieces in place to contend as well as a winning culture. They have significant holes to fill on defense, but they would be in solid shape offensively with the addition of Peterson.

Peterson met with the Saints earlier in April and reportedly looked explosive during a workout session with the Patriots. The Giants, meanwhile, are still monitoring No. 28. We know that there’s at least a couple of teams with interest in Peterson, but it’s not clear if any club is willing to commit to him in advance of this week’s draft. With younger and cheaper talent readily available, Peterson will likely have to wait until at least May to find his next NFL home.

If Peterson does sign with the Saints, his first regular season game will come against the Vikings in Week 1.

Latest On Cowboys’ Jaylon Smith

April 24th, 2017 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys and Jaylon Smith have received some good news. The linebacker’s damaged nerve is regenerating, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He has a long way to go, but he can now lift is foot and is getting back muscle control.Jaylon Smith (vertical)

Earlier this offseason, word was that Smith’s nerve would not be coming back to life and that he would be forced to play football with drop foot. The plan was for the Notre Dame product to play the season with a brace that would stabilize his leg, making him the first NFL player to ever attempt to take the field with the condition. However, the latest developments are a positive sign for Smith and may allow him to play at 100% – or something close to it.

Over the weekend, word emerged that Smith could be ready in time for team OTAs. This could be wishful/premature thinking, but there’s certainly reason for hope now in Dallas.

In his final season at Notre Dame, Smith compiled 115 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. Prior to his unfortunate injury, Smith was widely projected as a top 10 pick in the 2016 draft. Instead, he fell to the Cowboys in the second round. If he’s able to make a recovery, Dallas’ risk could pay major dividends in 2017.

Patriots’ Butler, Rams’ Johnson Staying Put

April 24th, 2017 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

Two of the league’s top cornerbacks have been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but it sounds like both players will be staying put for 2017. The Patriots are unlikely to move Malcolm Butler and the Rams are unlikely to trade Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Malcolm Butler (Vertical)

[RELATED: Saints Cooling On Malcolm Butler Pursuit]

The Saints and Butler have agreed to terms on multi-year deal in the event that a trade can be completed, but the two teams are too far apart on compensation to get a trade done. Realistically, any trade would have to come together before this week’s draft since the Patriots do not want to deal the cornerback for 2018 draft compensation. The Saints, meanwhile, are very high on the talent in this year’s class and want to hold on to their first three picks. The clock is ticking and things have not progressed enough over the last six weeks for a deal to come together, so it sounds like the Butler drama will be put on hold until March of next year.

The Rams, meanwhile, have pivoted away from trade talks and are now mulling the possibility of an extension for Johnson. Johnson, 27, is now scheduled to earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $16.742MM after being hit with a second consecutive franchise tender. An extension would allow Los Angeles to smooth out that cap hit over the next few years. The Rams were discussing Johnson with “multiple teams” when free agency started, but the Browns are the only club to really get linked to him.

Peter King On Butler, Saints, Mixon, Giants

April 24th, 2017 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

Someone familiar with the Saints‘ thinking believes they are leaning towards keeping their first three picks rather than using them to acquire Malcolm Butler from the Patriots, Peter King of The MMQB writes. The team remains interested in the cornerback, but they believe that there are a number of players ranked between No. 25 and 75 on their board that can contribute immediately. The thought of trading one or more picks for Butler in addition to giving him a high-priced deal is not as attractive as it once was for New Orleans. The Saints presently own five picks in the first three rounds: Nos. 11, 32, 42, 76, and 103.

Here’s more from King:

  • Joe Mixon has garnered the most interest from the Bengals, Vikings, Packers, and Jaguars, King hears. King personally wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bengals take the controversial running back with the No. 41 overall pick given the team’s past willingness to gamble on a checkered history.
  • King wouldn’t be surprised if the Giants move up from No. 23 or if the Texans move up from No. 25 to get a pick in the teens. The Giants are looking for a tackle and the Texans are in need of a quarterback. The Ravens (No. 16) and Titans (No. 18) “would be happy to move down,” King writes.
  • Many of the top players in this year’s draft come with serious medical concerns. One GM told King that he has never ‘been part of a draft with so many medical red flags.”

NFL Draft Rumors: Mixon, Raiders, Eagles

April 24th, 2017 at 8:39am CST by Zachary Links

Is Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon the most talented player in this year’s draft? One nameless personnel executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he believes that to be the case. The other execs surveyed, naturally, went in different directions. Texas A&M star Myles Garrett got 11 votes, LSU safety Jamal Adams got two, and there was one vote cast for Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster and Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Unlike the others, Mixon doesn’t necessarily seem likely to go in the first round.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:

49ers Considering QB At No. 2

April 24th, 2017 at 7:33am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers are giving strong consideration to taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Niners already have free agent pickups Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley on the roster, so this news comes as something of a surprise. Mitch Trubisky (vertical)

Of course, every piece of news must be taken with a grain of salt on draft week. The Niners could be giving real thought to Mitch Trubisky and other top QBs, but they might also be trying to send a message to teams that are interested in taking a top signal caller. The Browns, for example, have an affinity for Trubisky (or, at least, some Browns execs do), and the Niners could be scaring them into trading up to the No. 2 pick. Rapoport hears that the Browns are one of several teams considering a move up to No. 2, so this could be a clever smokescreen on the part of SF brass.

Assuming Myles Garrett goes No. 1 overall, taking a QB at No. 2 would mean bypassing several intriguing talents like Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. The pick might also rule out a pursuit of Kirk Cousins after the 2017 season, but it’s too early to know that for certain. What we do know is that San Francisco standing pat and taking a QB at No. 2 would cause a surprising domino effect that would radically alter the rest of the first round.

Extra Points: Pats, Ravens, Lockett, Dansby

April 23rd, 2017 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

If a Malcolm Butler trade is going to occur, it will likely take place this week and come down to whether the Saints are ready to surrender their No. 32 overall pick or submit a proposal of a package involving their second-rounder (No. 42), Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes. Butler signed his $3.91MM RFA tender earlier this week to pave the way for a trade and Saints/Patriots talks continue, but it’s uncertain if the Saints want to unload a high draft pick and pay the 27-year-old Butler like a top-tier cornerback. Reiss gets the feeling the Patriots won’t have an issue with Butler playing on the RFA tender this season, as they would be able to fetch a compensatory pick after the season if/when Butler departs as a UFA in that scenario.

Here’s the latest from New England and the rest of the league as we enter draft week.

  • Aaron Hernandez‘s death closed all cases against him and could open the door to more issues between the NFL and NFLPA regarding the former Patriots tight end’s salary. The league and NFLPA agreed to table any grievance-related discussions until all criminal prosecution of Hernandez concluded, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That having happened reopens those unresolved issues. Hernandez’s side was demanding $3.25MM in unpaid money from his 2012 signing bonus, and the NFLPA filed a grievance for the former tight end’s 2013 and 2014 guaranteed salaries (in addition to a 2014 guaranteed workout bonus). The NFL and the Patriots’ grievance sought repayment of all money given to Hernandez prior to the 2012 contract extension.
  • While initial reports indicated Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst had signed his restricted free agent tender, that doesn’t appear to be the case, tweets salary cap guru Ian Whetstone. Instead, Hurst looks to have agreed to a reduced one-year contract, similar to Baltimore RFA wide receiver Michael Campanaro. Under the terms of his original-round RFA tender, Hurst would have earned $1.797MM in 2017. But he will now will presumably take in a lesser total. Hurst, 25, started three games for the Ravens last season and played on roughly a quarter of the club’s offensive snaps.
  • Tyler Lockett expects to be ready for training camp, but the rehabbing Seahawks wideout has an uncertain timetable until then, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. Lockett broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg in Week 16 of last year and had surgery on Christmas Eve. Lockett told media, including Condotta, he’s aiming to be ready by camp but is viewing any earlier participation as a bonus.
  • The Cardinals did not view Karlos Dansby as a backup plan despite his age, contacting the 14th-year linebacker in the opening minutes of free agency, Kent Somers of AZCentral.com reports. Signed to a one-year, $2MM deal, the 35-year-old Dansby is expected to take Kevin Minter‘s place alongside Deone Bucannon at inside linebacker. The Cards allowed Minter to walk, and he signed a one-year, $4MM deal with the Bengals.
  • Two personnel men surveyed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn regarding the 2017 draft said Ryan Ramczyk would profile as a second-round pick if this were a more traditional year for offensive line prospects. But with the prognosis grim for this year’s class, the Wisconsin blocker likely will vault into the first round. An AFC team’s staffer said this class of linemen was the worst he’s seen in 10 years.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this report.

Jimmy Garoppolo Trade “Not Happening”

April 23rd, 2017 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The trade speculation around Jimmy Garoppolo has cooled in the months leading up to the draft. After the Patriots’ backup quarterback was viewed as a high-end trade chip to start this offseason, it appears going into the draft the door has slammed shut.

A draft-weekend trade involving Garoppolo is “not happening,” according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Schefter maintains the franchise hasn’t changed its stance since February on unloading the fourth-year passer.

Garoppolo is entering his contract year and would stand to be one of the most interesting free agents of 2018 if he were to get there, but for 2017, Bill Belichick wants him to return as Tom Brady‘s backup, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. So, if the Patriots are going to pry a first-round pick from a team for a player next weekend, it would likely have to come from a Malcolm Butler deal.

Tom Curran of CSNNE.com said during an appearance on PFT Live it would take two first-round picks for the Patirots to consider parting with the 25-year-old passer. Florio points out that this doesn’t mean the Patriots were never going to trade Garoppolo, but they never received an offer they couldn’t refuse. The Browns were far and away the team that was most associated with Garoppolo interest, but they are not going to trade the No. 1 overall pick for him.

This stands to protect the Patriots against a Brady injury or decline during his age-40 season. The team made impact trades in March to fortify its 2017 roster, acquiring Brandin Cooks, Dwayne Allen and Kony Ealy, while sacrificing its first- and second-round draft picks. But New England looks set to keep Garoppolo as insurance rather than making a similar deal to add an impact player at another position.

The Browns were eyeing Garoppolo as recently as late March, with the organization believed to be gearing up for another run at the fourth-year player. But word came out of Cleveland earlier this week the team was unlikely to swing another deal for a veteran quarterback.

Retaining Garoppolo for 2017 would put the Patriots to a decision next year. The Patriots would, as of now, stand to have Brady set for his age-41 season — and virtually venturing into uncharted waters regarding top-caliber quarterback production at that age — and a 26-year-old backup whom they clearly believe can excel despite limited game work (94 pass attempts). Florio notes the franchise tag could be in order, or the tag-and-trade setup the team used to send Matt Cassel to the Chiefs in 2009. It cost nearly $22MM to use a tag on a quarterback this year, although the Redskins are paying more to Kirk Cousins after previously tagging him, and that number will go up in 2018.

A scenario could exist where both Garoppolo and Cousins are free agents next year, which would be a sharp deviation from the lower-level UFAs populating the quarterback market in recent years. But for now, it appears a fourth year of a Brady-Garoppolo depth chart will take shape in New England.

Draft Notes: Bills, Kizer, Howard, Davis

April 23rd, 2017 at 6:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills may not like their current position in this draft. A day after we heard the franchise is looking to move down from its No. 10 overall perch, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes (via Twitter) the team is also gauging what it would take to move up further into the top 10.

Buffalo looms as one of the more intriguing spots because of its tenuous relationship with Tyrod Taylor, whom the team retained but on a similar prove-it basis. The Bills are thought to be high on Deshaun Watson, while another report pegged the team as being higher on Mitch Trubisky. The latter has gained steam on going No. 1 overall, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted he was unlikely to get past the Jets at No. 6 in the event the Browns didn’t use their top pick on him. The Jaguars are now also a threat to take a first-round quarterback, further complicating the Bills’ possible ambitions regarding this position.

Moving up, as the Bills did three years ago to acquire Sammy Watkins, would strengthen their ability to land Trubisky or Watson. But if both of them go early, moving down would obviously allow the team to collect assets and regroup.

Here’s more from the draft, continuing with some quarterback buzz.

  • DeShone Kizer has not been shy about expressing belief in his abilities, but league execs are increasingly skeptical of the former Notre Dame quarterback’s NFL potential. “He’s not as good as he should be because he’s not committed to the game,” an AFC executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s committed to building a brand. He wants all the things that come with being a starting quarterback but doesn’t want to put in the work.” An AFC exec referred to the 6-foot-4 passer as a “prima donna,” while another NFC exec was concerned about the Fighting Irish benching him at one point and that his second year as a starter generated a 4-8 record. Nine of the 16 NFL staffers the Journal Sentinel surveyed rated Kizer as the most likely bust in this class of QBs.
  • While at least three wide receivers are likely set to go in the first round, an NFC executive told McGinn this is the “It’s the worst wide receiver draft at the top I’ve seen in a long time.” Of the throng of personnel people polled, more of them preferred Corey Davis as the No. 1 wideout prospect. Behind the top three — Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross — personnel staffers and scouts placed East Carolina’s Zay Jones at No. 4. The Seahawks are reportedly doing work on Jones as a possible second-round pick.
  • However, this group is bullish on the tight end class. One AFC personnel man called O.J. Howard and David Njoku future NFL difference-makers because of their ability to block and do the expected work in the passing game. That exec added that as many as 10 tight ends could go in the first four rounds. Only five went in Rounds 1-4 last year, with 11 being selected in total. Howard earned praise as the runaway winner of the Journal Sentinel poll on tight ends, with an AFC exec saying the Alabama product is “as good as Greg Olsen.”

5 Key Stories: 4/16/17 – 4/23/17

April 23rd, 2017 at 4:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots have a busy week. Bill Belichick & Co. were very active during the past seven days, and their most notable move was signing Bills restricted free agent Mike Gillislee to an offer sheet with the intention of adding him to an already crowded backfield. Buffalo has until Monday to match the Patriots’ terms. Meanwhile, fellow RFA Malcolm Butler officially signed his tender, meaning he can now be traded (the Pats may want to wrap up any swap by draft day). Elsewhere on the roster, New England extended running back James White, had wide receiver Danny Amendola take a paycut, and waived guard Tre’ Jackson.Mitch Trubisky Instagram

Browns still thinking at No. 1. While most observers expect Cleveland to use the first overall pick on Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett, the Browns are reportedly open to spending the No. 1 selection on UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. That could be due to franchise owner Jimmy Haslam, who is apparently pressing the team’s decision-makers to land a signal-caller. Another option for the Browns could include trading up from the No. 12 pick into the No. 5 or No. 6 range with the hope of landing Trubisky. Cleveland doesn’t expect to trade for a veteran quarterback such as Jimmy Garoppolo or A.J. McCarron, however.

Reuben Foster fails drug test. Once expected to be a surefire top-10 pick, Foster has had a nightmare of a predaft process. During the combine, Foster got into a dust-up with a hospital worker, though his camp has brushed it off as little more than a miscommunication. There are also question marks about the Alabama linebacker’s surgically-repaired shoulder and his upbringing. Finally, Foster failed a drug test at the combine, but has chalked up the failure to a diluted sample. Based on talent alone, Foster should still be an early draft choice, but numerous issues could push him down the board.Marshawn Lynch (vertical)

Veteran backs nearing resolutions? The Raiders want to complete a Marshawn Lynch trade before the draft begins on Thursday, but the two sides need to agree on a restructured contact before any deal will be consummated. Lynch is due $9MM in 2017, but Oakland waits him to play for roughly a third of that total. Free agent Adrian Peterson, meanwhile, is reportedly willing to play for $5MM or less in the “right situation.” The Giants are among the clubs keeping tabs on both Peterson and fellow FA LeGarrette Blount.

Panthers extend Kawann Short. Carolina locked up Short, one of its more talented defenders, to a five-year, $80MM deal that makes him the fifth-highest-paid interior defender in the league on an annual basis. Short, 28, will reportedly secure $35MM in full guarantees which includes a $20MM signing bonus. In 2016, Short played on nearly three-quarters of the Panthers’ defensive snaps, posting six sacks and grading as the league’s No. 3 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.

Photos courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

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