Chargers To Re-Sign TE Jeff Cumberland
The Chargers are expected to re-sign veteran tight end Jeff Cumberland, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Cumberland is looking to get back on track after missing the entire 2016 season to injury. 
Cumberland, 30 in May, signed a one-year, minimum deal with the Chargers last offseason. Unfortunately, the ex-Jet suffered a torn Achilles in August, ending his season before it could begin.
Always viewed as more of a blocker than a receiving threat, Cumberland caught a total of 78 passes for the Jets from 2012 to 2014, starting 38 games for the team during that stretch and recording 10 touchdowns. However, he saw his number called a whole lot less in 2015, as Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t use his tight ends much. Cumberland had just five receptions on 14 targets in that season.
The kind of role the Bolts have in mind for Cumberland remains to be seen. Already, the Chargers have young standout Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates atop the TE depth chart with 6’5″ athletes Sean McGrath and Asante Cleveland in support. Cumberland’s deal might not include any guaranteed cash, so his spot on the 53-man roster is far form a certainty.
Draft Rumors: Jets, Mahomes, Foster
It’s not a guarantee that the Jets will select a quarterback at No. 6 overall, but they’re certainly doing their homework in that area. Today, the Jets are meeting yet again with Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Earlier this month, Mahomes did a private workout with Gang Green and he apparently did well enough to warrant further consideration. After the college season, Mahomes looked to be a second or third-round type of player. Now, all signs are pointing towards him going in the first round. It’s even possible that he could be the second QB off the board.
Here’s more NFL Draft news:
- The Saints are still evaluating linebackers and expected to have Reuben Foster in for a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Foster has already met with a number of clubs and has a busy schedule still ahead of him between now and the draft. He won’t be on the board for long and Dallas Robinson’s mock draft 1.0 has him going inside of the top ten.
- 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback coach Rich Scangarello flew to Chapel Hill, North Carolina last Thursday to work out Mitch Trubisky, a league source tells Schefter (on Twitter). If the latest rumors are to be believed, Trubisky might not be available when SF picks at No. 2.
- Cal quarterback Davis Webb is visiting the Seahawks today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Many believe he’s a first-round QB, Rapoport adds.
- The Jaguars are still doing their quarterback homework and they have scheduled a private workout next week with Pitt QB Nathan Peterman, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter).
- The Raiders have scheduled cornerback Kevin King for a visit today (Wednesday). King is an Oakland-area native.
Rams To Decline Greg Robinson’s Option
The Rams are exercising the fifth-year option for Aaron Donald, but they won’t be doing the same for another 2014 first-round pick. Offensive tackle Greg Robinson, taken No. 2 overall that year, will not have his 2018 option picked up, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times tweets. The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only, but that’s not a risk the Rams are willing to take. 
Robinson entered the league with huge promise, but so far he has been a massive bust. Last season, he was assigned a dreadful 38.0 overall score by the metrics at Pro Football Focus, ranking him as one of the seven worst qualified offensive tackles in the NFL. He had roughly similar showings in his previous two campaigns.
This year, the Rams are moving Robinson to the inside with the hope that he can finally produce. Free agent pickup Andrew Whitworth will hold down the left tackle spot while Robinson will have to fight for playing time behind projected starters Rodger Saffold and Cody Wichmann.
Just as the decision to trigger Donald’s option was a no-brainer, the same goes for the decision to decline Robinson’s option.
Tony Romo Hasn’t Filed Retirement Papers
Tony Romo has yet to officially file retirement paperwork with the NFL, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer writes. As Archer notes, the paperwork would be filed to the league and not the Cowboys since the team released him earlier this month. Regardless, whether or not Romo fills out those forms doesn’t mean a whole lot. 
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Even if Romo were to officially file for retirement tomorrow, it’s a quick and easy process to come out of retirement. If the quarterback filed his paperwork and changed his mind, all he would have to do is send a letter to Roger Goodell informing him of his decision. And, as a free agent, Romo is contractually unencumbered and could sign with any NFL team.
Romo, of course, is taking over for Phil Simms as CBS’ lead color analyst. That won’t do much to silence speculation about a potential return and the belief is that he has an easy out in his network contract if he chooses to return to football. He also didn’t do much to stop the chatter when he indicated that he isn’t 100% retired.
“Yeah, it was tough,” Romo said last week. “I think one of the hardest things was just not really knowing what direction — I mean right after the season I was playing football. That was a no-brainer for me at the time. And then I just, I feel like I do with all big decisions I’ve made in my life, you don’t want to make them emotional or quick, you want to kind of just soak in it, think about it and take your time and things start to reveal themselves I feel like. And you pray about it, go talk to your close family and people you trust, then you make the call and it feels right. It really does.”
Six Teams To Meet With Mo Alie-Cox
The jump from basketball to football may not be easy, but Mo Alie-Cox has plenty of believers in the NFL. The former Virginia Commonwealth University forward is already slated to visit the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Jets, Colts, Seahawks, and Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. More teams could request to meet with the 6’7″ athlete, Rapoport adds. 
Alie-Cox held an open audition for NFL teams recently and it seems like more than half the league had scouts in attendance. In addition to the aforementioned clubs, reps from the Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Vikings, 49ers, Browns, Patriots, Redskins, and Steelers were in the house (via Lane Casadonte of WTVR on Twitter).
Despite his lack of gridiron experience, teams are intrigued by Alie-Cox’s combination of size and athleticism. He is looking to play tight end and follow in the footsteps of Tony Gonzalez, Julius Thomas, Jimmy Graham, Antonio Gates, and other TE standouts with basketball backgrounds. At the same time, he is open to playing other positions and he took requests from scouts to perform drills that were suited for different roles.
What really sets Alie-Cox apart from other young NFL hopefuls is that he is not draft eligible and, therefore, can be signed as a free agent. A team that is really high on the hoopster could see this as an opportunity to effectively acquire a late-round draft pick for nothing.
Rams Exercise Aaron Donald’s Option
The Rams have exercised Aaron Donald‘s fifth-year option for the 2018 season, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The option is worth $6.892MM and is guaranteed for injury. The move was an absolute no-brainer for Los Angeles. 
Donald has been playing at an elite level in each of his three NFL seasons. Last year, Donald finished out as Pro Football Focus’ top ranked interior defender with a score of 95.8. Even Calais Campbell‘s career year (90.4) didn’t come close to taking the No. 1 spot from the Rams star. Remarkably, Donald had an even stronger showing in 2015 when he had a 96.6 score.
Donald, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is slated to play out 2017 at a $3.225MM cap figure. He’s on the books for roughly $6.9MM in 2018, but it’s more likely that the two sides will hammer out an extension between now and then.
A new deal for Donald should reset the market for defensive tackles. Currently, Ndamukong Suh has the top deal at six years and $114.4MM with $60MM guaranteed. Unlike Suh, Donald will not be negotiating his deal on the open market. However, a new pact this year would make him two years younger than Suh at the time of signing and the salary cap has increased significantly since Suh’s deal in 2015. There’s also this: Donald is arguably an even better player than Suh was in his prime.
While the Rams will be switching from a 4-3 to a hybrid 3-4 under Wade Phillips, the scheme change likely won’t impact Donald’s role in the defense or his ability to stifle opponents.
No Deal Yet Between Saints, Adrian Peterson
The Saints’ meeting with free agent running back Adrian Peterson has concluded, and while no contract has yet been reached, the two parties plan to keep in contact, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds the visit “went well.”
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New Orleans is the third club to host Peterson this offseason, joining the Seahawks and the Patriots, but the veteran back still hasn’t landed a new contract. Peterson, 32, is one of only four PFR Top 50 free agents that remains unsigned, and he’s the best running back left on the market. It’s unclear if price point is the key factor in Peterson’s unending availability, but Peterson himself has rejected the notion that he’s seeking $8MM per year.
The Saints, at first glance, don’t stand out as a logical suitor for Peterson. Quarterback Drew Brees leads a wide-open offense that finished second in the NFL in pass attempts last season, while Peterson’s main demerits remain his pass protection skills, his receiving ability, and his capacity to play in the shotgun.
At present, New Orleans has four running backs on it roster: Mark Ingram, Travaris Cadet, Daniel Lasco, and Marcus Murphy.
Browns Considering Mitch Trubisky At No. 1
Conventional wisdom has the Browns selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, but Cleveland has not yet made a final decision. Some in the Cleveland organization prefer UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds the Browns’ personnel team is split between Trubisky and Garrett.
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The possibility of a Trubisky selection isn’t completely out of left field, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last month that the Browns were strongly considering taking Trubisky first overall. The Browns — clearly — need help at the quarterback position, and while they own another pick in the first round, there’s no guarantee Trubisky will be available when Cleveland comes on the clock at No. 12.
By selecting Trubisky at No. 1, the Browns would secure a long-term option under center and still have the chance to draft a pass-rusher later in the first round. Solomon Thomas, Derek Barnett, Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley, and others may be on the board at pick No. 12, giving Cleveland a wide selection of prospects. Plus, the Browns own five of the top 65 picks, ensuring the club plenty of chances to fill in its roster after it lands a quarterback.
Passing on Garrett isn’t a cut-and-dry decision, however. He’s viewed as a the best overall player in the 2017 class, and the Browns reportedly have an “astronomical grade” on him. Additionally, Cleveland was “blown away” by Garrett’s combine performance, which included a 4.64 40-yard dash and 33 bench press reps.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
NFC Notes: Redskins, Cousins, Cook, Bears
Despite all the trade rumors that surrounded Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason, the veteran signal-caller expects to spend the 2017 campaign in Washington. “I haven’t heard anything,” Cousins said today on ESPN’s NFL Live (link via John Keim of ESPN.com). “I’m not expecting anything to happen. And I’m looking forward to getting back to work with my teammates.” The Redskins are reportedly offering Cousins a five-year deal worth $20MM annually, but if a deal isn’t struck, Cousins will play out the season on his second consecutive franchise tag (at a cost of nearly $24MM). Cousins has already signed the tender, fully guaranteeing himself that salary for 2017.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Redskins hosted Florida State running back Dalvin Cook today, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Scouts are reportedly cooling on Cook due to character issues, and he didn’t post impressive numbers at the combine. But the production is there on film, and Cook is still expected to come off the board on Day 1. Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson formed a “thunder and lightning” attack for Washington in 2016, while Matt Jones and Mack Brown are also on the roster.
- Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles visited the Bears today, a source tells Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Bolles, though slightly older than the typical NFL draft prospect (he’ll be 25 when the season begins), is now viewed as a top-20 selection and could even find his way into the top 10. Chicago isn’t in dire need of an offensive tackle, and Bolles almost certainly won’t be in consideration at pick No. 3. Charles Leno and Bobby Massie are set to man tackle for the Bears in 2017.
- The Redskins are meeting with Washington safety Budda Baker today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Baker will subsequently meet with the Falcons later in the week. Although he’s small in stature (195 pounds), Baker “screams off the edge as a blitzer,” says Lance Zeirlein of NFL.com, who compares Baker to former NFL defensive MVP Bob Sanders. Baker will likely be a late first-round or early second-round pick.
Draft Rumors: Reddick, Foster, Jones, Titans
The Titans hosted Temple linebacker Haason Reddick on Monday, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Reddick, something of a swiss-army knife who can play either inside or outside ‘backer, would become yet another piece on a rapidly improving Tennessee front seven. The Titans already boast Wesley Woodyard, Avery Williamson, Brian Orakpo, and Derrick Morgan in the second level. Reddick probably won’t be in consideration for the Titans at pick No. 5, but could be in play at No. 18. The Saints have also expressed interest in Reddick, tweets Miller, and the club “likes him a lot.” New Orleans feels Reddick would be a solid fit in their 4-3 scheme.
Here’s more on the 2017 draft:
- Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster has set up a busy predraft schedule, as he’s scheduled to meet with the Colts, Bengals, Lions, Titans, and Ravens, according to Josh Norris of Rotoworld (Twitter link). Foster has already met with a number of clubs, and his packed itinerary is unsurprising given that he’s considered the top off-ball linebacker in the 2017 draft. He will combine medical re-checks this week following shoulder surgery, but has already shown full range of motion, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- Like Foster, fellow Alabama alum Cam Robinson has visited a number of clubs already in the draft process, and he has a meeting planned with the Giants, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. New York already has Ereck Flowers at left tackle, but the team has made no promises that Flowers is their long-term blindside protector. I sent Robinson to the Giants at No. 23 in PFR’s first 2017 mock draft. The Ravens have also hosted Robinson, per Wilson.
- North Carolina State safety Josh Jones is drawing the interest of multiple teams, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Clubs are digging deep: the Rams have visited Jones’ high school, while the Colts and Cardinals both contacted the high school to ask about Jones. Thus far, Jones has also been linked to Baltimore, Miami, Tennessee, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.
- Alabama edge rusher Tim Williams visited the Steelers on Tuesday, according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Based on pure talent alone, Williams could be a top-10 talent after posting 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons in Tuscaloosa. But some scouts wouldn’t be surprised if he falls out of the first round due to his off-field baggage, which include failed drug tests and September gun charge. The Steelers are looking for another young pass presence given that James Harrison is entering his age-39 campaign.