2017 April - Pro Football Rumors

Texans Exercise Jadeveon Clowney’s Fifth-Year Option

April 14th, 2017 at 2:18pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Texans have exercised defensive end Jadeveon Clowney‘s fifth-year option, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26. Clowney is now in position to stay in Houston through at least the 2018 season.

Potentially keeping Clowney in the fold for an extra year was undoubtedly an easy call for the Texans, who originally chose the ex-South Carolina star first overall in the 2014 draft. Clowney missed 12 games as a rookie and failed to make much of an impact when on the field, but he has progressed significantly since then.

The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder has totaled 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including six in 2016, and started all 14 of his appearances last year. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod and a second-team All-Pro selection as an integral part of one of the NFL’s top defenses. Pro Football Focus was also impressed, ranking Clowney ninth among 109 qualified edge defenders.

The fifth-year option for Clowney is guaranteed for injury only, and he’s currently due to make a meager $690K salary in 2017 as he closes out a four-year deal worth upward of $22MM. However, odds are the Texans will look to extend the 24-year-old, who figures to become one of the league’s highest-paid defenders in the near future. The Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson paces all 3-4 DEs in both annual salary ($17.2MM) and guarantees ($36.75MM), while Clowney’s teammate, superstar J.J. Watt, leads the way in total contract value ($100MM).

Jets’ Nick Marshall Suspended Four Games

April 14th, 2017 at 2:06pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The NFL has suspended Jets cornerback Nick Marshall four games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs, reports Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Nick Marshall is the third Jet to earn a ban this offseason, joining wide receiver Jalin Marshall and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The league also hit Jalin Marshall with a four-game PED suspension, while Seferian-Jenkins will sit for two games on account of a substance abuse violation.

The 24-year-old Nick Marshall, who went undrafted out of Auburn in 2015, is coming off his second NFL season and first with the Jets. While the former Jaguar appeared in eight games last year with Gang Green, he didn’t see any playing time defensively. He instead worked on special teams, totaling 106 snaps and returning a combined 18 kicks and punts.

Roddy White Retires

April 14th, 2017 at 1:11pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Longtime Falcons wide receiver Roddy White indicated in February that his NFL career had ended. The 35-year-old made it official Friday, announcing on Twitter that he has retired. White also thanked the Falcons “for a great 11 years.”

The 2015 season will go down as the last for White, who didn’t sign with another team last year after the Falcons released him in March. White wanted to continue his career in 2016, and he nearly inked a deal with the Patriots, who went on to knock off the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. However, they opted to sign Nate Washington instead.

White will go down as a rare long-tenured veteran who spent his entire career with one team. The former Alabama-Birmingham standout proved to be a steal for the Falcons, who chose him 27th overall in the 2005 draft. White now holds franchise records in catches (808), receiving yards (10,863) and receiving touchdowns (63). The 6-foot-1, 201-pounder posted seven 80-catch seasons and earned four Pro Bowl nods, including during his best year – 2010 – in which he amassed 115 receptions, 1,389 yards and 10 scores.

Thanks to his consistently stellar output, White currently ranks 33rd on the all-time receptions list, in company with notables like Steve Largent, Shannon Sharpe, Keyshawn Johnson, Henry Ellard, Chad Johnson, James Lofton, Charlie Joiner and Michael Irvin. As he begins his post-NFL life, White will join the coaching staff at Johns Creek High School in Georgia, where he’ll focus on developing receivers.

Miller’s Latest: Trubisky, Mahomes

April 14th, 2017 at 1:05pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

We took a look at some fresh draft rumors earlier Friday. Here are several more, courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

While Browns head coach Hue Jackson wants the team to select Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett first overall, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, that doesn’t mean he’s against taking North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Jackson “likes Trubisky a lot,” writes Miller, who notes there’s a chance the signal-caller will still be on the board when the Browns make their second first-round selection at No. 12 (assuming Garrett’s their initial pick, of course).
The Jets have met with Trubisky on multiple occasions, but Miller’s not quite buying their interest. They “would love” if someone traded ahead of them at No. 6 and chose Trubisky, Miller contends.
Both the Cardinals and Chiefs “really like” Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, two sources have told Miller. The Cardinals are reportedly interested in trading up from No. 13 for Trubisky, but they could perhaps stay where they are and grab Mahomes. As for the Chiefs, who own the 27th pick, Mahomes visited them last month.
The Titans are likely to draft Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore if he’s still available at No. 5, according to Miller; in the event he’s gone by then, Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams will garner consideration. The club met with Lattimore earlier this month, and it subsequently created a need at corner when it released Jason McCourty on Thursday. Tennessee hosted Williams on Tuesday, and has done its homework on the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder.
Lattimore may well end up with the Bears at No. 3 overall. Whether it’s him or someone else, one executive is “99 percent sure” the Bears will wind up with a defensive back in Round 1.
The Saints “would love” to select Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster at No. 11, per Miller. Otherwise, New Orleans is a possible destination for one of Foster’s college teammates, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, as are the Titans and Ravens.
Ohio State running back/wide receiver/return man Curtis Samuel might come off the board before Florida State RB Dalvin Cook, a scout told Miller. Samuel’s ability to impact games in all of those areas is improving his stock, with teams mindful of the damage Kansas City’s jack-of-all-trades weapon, Tyreek Hill, did last season.
Like Samuel, Michigan defensive lineman Chris Wormley is a candidate to go earlier than expected. Miller pegs Wormley as a Day 1 starter in a 3-4 defense, adding that he’s unlikely to last beyond the top 50 picks.

Draft Rumors: Cook, Eagles, Conley, Panthers, Fins, Bengals, Texans

April 14th, 2017 at 12:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook‘s stock is reportedly slipping as the draft approaches, but the Eagles seem undeterred. The club has “heavy interest” in Cook, the runner revealed Wednesday in an interview with Philadelphia-based radio station 94WIP (via Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com). The feeling is mutual, with Cook adding that he “loved the city” when he visited. “It’s a great organization, great people,” he continued. “I think the program is on the rise, just need a couple more guys to fill in and help the program. I like the organization overall and the people that’s in the building.” Should the Eagles pass on Cook at 14th overall, their next opportunity to take him would be at No. 43, though he could certainly be gone by then.

More of the latest on the draft:

The Panthers, Browns, Eagles, Bengals, Lions, Titans, Saints and Jets are among the teams with the most interest in Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Conley should go somewhere between ninth and 18th overall, per La Canfora, whom one NFL decision-maker told: “Conley has always been a first-round corner, and I understand why he is the top guy on some boards. He may not be as flashy as some of the other corners, and maybe the upside isn’t quite as high, but neither is the risk. This is a clean player who started for two years and who made big plays in big games. There is a lot to like.”
Though they’re interested in Conley, the Panthers hosted another cornerback – Florida’s Teez Tabor – on Thursday, and both Tennessee edge defender Derek Barnett and LSU corner Tre’Davious White are visiting Charlotte on Friday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Barnett (13th) and White (18th) are each top 20 prospects, according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who places Tabor 48th.
Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles is currently visiting the Bengals, relays Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Cincinnati lost starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth to free agency, potentially creating a major need, but it’s only two years removed from using first- and second-round picks on OTs Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. Bolles would require yet another sizable investment via the draft in the position. The Bengals are set to pick ninth overall, in the neighborhood of where Bolles could slide off the board.
The Dolphins are hosting Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu on Friday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. This isn’t the first connection between Miami and Melifonwu – the two sides spent “significant” time together last week. Given their interest in Melifonwu, the defender might be a target for the Dolphins at No. 22 overall.
Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin has met with Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, a source told Wilson. PFR’s Dallas Robinson currently has Houston selecting Ramczyk with the 25th pick in the draft, noting he’d give the team a much-needed upgrade at right tackle.

Hue Jackson Wants Browns To Draft Myles Garrett

April 14th, 2017 at 10:51am CST by Connor J. Byrne

While some members of the Browns organization want the team to select North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the first pick in the draft, head coach Hue Jackson isn’t among them. Jackson has thrown his support behind Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Considering both Jackson’s offensive background and the Browns’ lack of ideal quarterback options, it perhaps speaks volumes that he’d rather grab a defender No. 1 overall. He’s hardly alone in preferring Garrett over Trubisky, though, with one NFL personnel executive telling Cabot that “it’s not even close between Garrett and Trubisky.” However, Trubisky isn’t without his supporters – another personnel man informed Cabot he has more upside than Eagles signal-caller Carson Wentz, who went second overall last year after the Browns traded out of that spot.

The Browns have a second first-rounder, No. 12 overall, though it’s doubtful Trubisky will still be available when the time comes for them to make that pick. That means their bigwigs are going to have to make a choice between Garrett or Trubisky, which could be a problem. There’s “some discord” among the team’s decision-makers, with a clash potentially occurring between the old- and new-school members of the organization, multiple sources have told Cabot. Led by general manager Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer/former baseball executive Paul DePodesta, the Browns’ front office heavily emphasizes analytics. It doesn’t seem that everyone in Cleveland is on board with that, which bears watching for a club with a franchise-altering call to make in two weeks.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Raiders, Marshawn Lynch In Negotiations

April 14th, 2017 at 10:09am CST by Connor J. Byrne

If the Seahawks are going to trade temporarily retired running back Marshawn Lynch to the Raiders, he’s first going to have to negotiate a new contract with Oakland. That process is underway, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder, who reports that Lynch and the Raiders are attempting to hammer out a “short-term, heavily incentivized” pact.

It would behoove Lynch, whose one-year hiatus from the NFL will soon end, to reach a new deal and avoid earning his release from the Seahawks. If Seattle cuts the 30-year-old, it would ask Lynch to pay back his $2.5MM signing bonus from last season, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Lynch, unsurprisingly, doesn’t want to do that. The Raiders, meanwhile, want no part of the $9MM Lynch would make on the contract he left behind when he stepped away from football last offseason.

Ultimately, it’s likely Lynch and the Raiders will work out a more palatable contract, thus leading to a trade. The Oakland native wants to play for the Raiders, and they’re in need of help at running back after losing Latavius Murray in free agency. With the Raiders’ time in Oakland winding down, the soon-to-be Las Vegas-based franchise could also use a public relations boost in the Bay Area, which Lynch would perhaps provide.

If Lynch and the Raiders do indeed find common ground, the general managers involved are unlikely to encounter much difficulty in trade talks. The Raiders’ Reggie McKenzie and the Seahawks’ John Schneider have a friendly relationship stemming from their time together in Green Bay’s front office, notes Tafur. Given his closeness with McKenzie, Schneider told 710 ESPN Radio last week that Lynch-related discussions between the teams should “go in a smooth manner.”

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Three Teams Interested In Jared Odrick

April 14th, 2017 at 9:32am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Giants are in need of help at defensive tackle after losing Johnathan Hankins to the Colts on Thursday. Aid could come in the form of the best interior defender left on the market, Jared Odrick, whom the Giants are interested in, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported last month that Odrick would be a possibility for a Hankins-less Giants team.

Hankins had to wait awhile for a deal to come together, which has also been the case with Odrick. The 29-year-old has been on the market since Feb. 20, when the Jaguars released him only two seasons into a five-year, $42.5MM contract. Odrick earned that deal after compiling 64 appearances, 40 starts and 16.5 sacks with the Dolphins from 2011-14. He continued to serve as a durable pass-rushing threat in his first year in Jacksonville, logging 16 starts and 5.5 sacks, before an injury-shortened 2016 in which he missed 10 games. Odrick passed a physical with the Patriots in late February, though, indicating he’s healthy.

The Seahawks and Eagles also have Odrick on their respective radars, per Raanan, who notes he’s likely to join the third team of his career after the draft. Thanks to Hankins’ departure, the Giants seem to need Odrick more than both Seattle and Philadelphia. Aside from Damon Harrison, Big Blue is lacking along the interior line. The Seahawks have Jarran Reed and Ahtyba Rubin, though both players underwhelmed last season, while the Eagles are in fine shape with Fletcher Cox and the newly acquired Timmy Jernigan.

AFC Notes: Colts, Browns, Steelers, Fins

April 14th, 2017 at 9:05am CST by Connor J. Byrne

It took over a month for defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to land a contract in free agency, but the newest member of the Colts told reporters Friday that he “knew something good would eventually come through.” It did Thursday, in the form of a three-year, $30MM deal featuring $15.9MM in guarantees. While there’s a belief around the NFL that the former Giant is only a two-down player, he insists being “a three-down guy” hasn’t been a problem. The 25-year-old added that he’ll go forth as a nose tackle and 3-technique, which will give him an opportunity to rush the passer (Twitter links via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post and Mike Chappell of FOX59. Hankins posted a career-high seven sacks in 2014, but he has combined for just three since.

Draft Rumors: Bears, Kizer, Kamara, Bolles

April 13th, 2017 at 9:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears worked out Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer today, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Chicago has already met with Kizer on at least one other occasion, but today’s visit was deemed a local workout given Notre Dame’s proximity to the Windy City. Although the Bears signed veteran Mike Glennon to a three-year contract last month, that’s not expected to preclude them from drafting a quarterback this year. Kizer won’t be in play at pick No. 3, but Chicago could consider him if he falls to the top of the second round.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft:

The Eagles, Bears, and Panthers will all host Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). 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. He’s also been linked to New Orleans and Minnesota.
North Carolina State safety Josh Jones recently completed a visit with the Dolphins, and will next meet with the Panthers, Jets, and Redskins, reports Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter link). Jones is considered a Round 2 prospect, but he’s been hosted by a significant number of NFL clubs during the predraft process, and there’s a chance he could sneak into Day 1. In 2016, Jones put up 109 tackles, three interceptions, and one sack.
USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has met with the Titans and Browns, and has visits scheduled with the Eagles and Texans, as he tells SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Jackson could help a club on the defensive side of the ball, but he’d also add immediate value as a dynamic special teams maven. In 2016, Jackson averaged 29.5 yards on kick returns and scored two touchdowns, and posted 15.8 yards per punt return (and scored twice more).
The Bills are hosting Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). One of the fastest rising players in the draft, Bolles is now considered the top offensive lineman available, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets pushed into the top-10 based on the dearth of tackles in the 2017 class. Buffalo, though, already has a long-term option on the left side in Cordy Glenn, while right tackle is spoken for by Cyrus Kouandjio.
Wisconsin tackle Ryan Ramczyk met with the Giants earlier this week, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Despite drafting Ereck Flowers ninth overall just two years ago, New York has made no promises that Flowers is their left tackle of the future. New York didn’t add any tackles during the free agent period, however, so if the club wants to upgrade its line, it will have to do so during the draft. Ramczyk was named a first-team All-American in 2016.