2018 April - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos LB Shaq Barrett To Sign Tender

April 20th, 2018 at 3:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett will sign his restricted tender on Monday, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (on Twitter). Barrett will earn $2.914MM in 2018, per the terms of the tender.

The Broncos now effectively have all of their RFAs in the fold after center Matt Paradis inked his tender on Friday morning. League-wide, there are now only three restricted free agents who have yet to sign their tenders: Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen, Chargers receiver Tyrell Williams and Chiefs defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Barrett has been a key rotational player for Denver over the last three seasons. He has performed well against the run and the Broncos did not want to risk losing him by using the low-level tender on him this offseason, which would have been cheaper, but only would have granted the team the first right of refusal.

In the coming months, the Broncos may look to extend Barrett before he begins his contract year.

East Rumors: Giants, Bryant, Patriots, Brady

April 20th, 2018 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Dez Bryant took to Instagram to post a video of him working out with Giants star Odell Beckham Jr., fueling speculation that he could land with the Giants. Bryant has been vocal about his desire to sign with the G-Men, but it’s not clear if that interest is being reciprocated by GM Dave Gettleman.

Earlier this week, Brandon Marshall posted – then deleted – a post of his own on Instagram in which he informed Bryant that there was “no room” for him in the Giants’ locker room. Days later, the Giants released Marshall, so there could be room for the three-time Pro Bowler in New York after all.

Here’s more from the East divisions:

Was Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ever considering retirement? At least two of his teammates aren’t buying it. Two Pats players tell Mike Giardi of NBC Sports Boston (on Twitter) that they’ve spoken to him this offseason, including discussions about the upcoming season, and he’s never indicated he wasn’t playing/retiring. Brady is also continuing his normal workout regimen/diet, even while in Qatar, according to the players. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com hear that Brady will indeed play in 2018, though he would like a new contract.
Meanwhile, Brady already has made arrangements to get together with some of his Patriots teammates between the end of the offseason program and the start of training camp, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of PFT.
Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas wonders if it will be tougher for the team to land quality undrafted free agents this year because of perception that it will be tough to make the final cut on a deep roster (Twitter link via NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks).
In speaking with reporters, Douglas also noted that there have been many running backs from all parts drafts that have contributed right off of the bat with their teams (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks). That could give some insight into the Eagles’ plans heading into next week’s draft.

AFC South Rumors: Colts, Texans, Draft

April 20th, 2018 at 2:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Could the Colts move back yet again in the first round? Colts GM Chris Ballard won’t rule out trading the No. 6 pick.

“We will be open to moving back if we think it is the right thing for us to do and there’s enough players on the board, depending on how far we have to move back, that we feel comfortable taking,” the GM said (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

The Colts already have extra ammo in the draft thanks to their swap with the Jets. In exchange for moving down from No. 3 to No. 6, the Colts now own three picks in the second round – their original selection at No. 36, plus picks at No. 37 and No. 49.

Here’s more from the AFC South:

The Texans haven’t ruled out trading up in this year’s draft, but GM Brian Gaine says there are more inclined to move down (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle). The Texans do not have a selection until No. 68 this year and Gaine is looking to get “more at-bats,” if possible.
The Titans made the no-brainer decision to exercise Marcus Mariota‘s fifth-year option for 2019. Mariota is slated to earn $20.922MM in ’19, though the additional year can be pulled for non-injury reasons.
Former Jaguars wide receiver Tyler Gaffney is leaving football to try his hand at a different sport.

NFL Suspends Vikings LB Kentrell Brothers

April 20th, 2018 at 2:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Bad news for Vikings linebacker Kentrell Brothers. The former fifth-round pick has been suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season for violating the performance enhancing drug policy, per a league announcement.

Brothers has appeared in 26 games over the last two seasons for Minnesota. In that time, he has recorded 22 tackles, primarily as a special teamer. Per league rules, he’ll be able to practice with the team and play in the preseason, but will be sidelined for Weeks 1-4.

In other Vikings news, offensive lineman Nick Easton inked his RFA tender this week. The Vikings also finalized a mammoth extension with linebacker Eric Kendricks.

WR Tyler Gaffney Returns To Baseball

April 20th, 2018 at 2:14pm CST by Zachary Links

You won’t be seeing Tyler Gaffney on the pages of Pro Football Rumors, but you may find him on MLB Trade Rumors in time. The former Panthers, Patriots, and Jaguars wide receiver is going back to baseball, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes.

“My dream has been the big leagues my whole life,” Gaffney said. “I think I’ve been tasting that every time I was hurt. You have time to think about things like that. So now I’m here, putting in my work. Now I’m here, five years later. I think the last couple years took their toll on my body. The heart wanted it. The body didn’t. I’m finally able to come back to baseball, the sport I love.”

Gaffney was drafted by the Pirates in 2012 and played in their minor league system for a summer before returning to Stanford to play football. He is now returning to the Pirates to pursue his MLB dreams, starting with the Bradenton Pirates of the Florida State League.

Gaffney held promise as a sixth-round pick with the Panthers, but injuries prevented him from doing much on the field. Although he never recorded an official statistic, he does own two Super Bowl rings thanks to his time with the Pats.

Steelers LB Anthony Chickillo Signs Tender

April 20th, 2018 at 2:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo is officially back in the fold. The 25-year-old has inked his restricted tender, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter).

Chickillo, a 2015 sixth-round pick, appeared in seven games for the Steelers as a rookie but primarily contributed on special teams. In his sophomore year, he stepped into a larger role with the team. Chickillo has appeared in all but one of the club’s regular season games over the past two years and has tallied 38 total tackles and 5.5 sacks in that span.

In other Steelers news, running back Le’Veon Bell was a no-show (as expected) for the start of the team’s offseason program.

Broncos’ Matt Paradis Signs RFA Tender

April 20th, 2018 at 2:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Broncos center Matt Paradis has signed his restricted free agent tender, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (on Twitter). Paradis will earn $2.9MM in 2018.

Paradis carried a modest $615K cap hit for Denver last year, so this marks a significant pay bump for the former sixth-round pick. The new deal also provides some financial security for a player who has had operations on both hips. Despite his injuries, Paladis has not missed a snap since taking over in the middle in 2015.

The 28-year-old (29 in October) will be eligible to hit the open market without restrictions next offseason. The Broncos may address Paradis’ contract between now and then, but cornerback Bradley Roby will be more of a priority.

Lions Draft Rumors: Trade Down, RB, OL

April 20th, 2018 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like the Lions will be looking for opportunities to trade down from No. 20.

“I think we’re going to kind of take it as it comes in the first round and see what’s there in the teens and evaluate what our options are,” GM Bob Quinn said, via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. “I’m always in the business of getting more draft picks, if I can. … I think that’s just good for business. The more you get, the more you hit on. “So if we can acquire more picks, that would be something I look forward to. If there’s a player I really like at [No. 20 overall], I’m going to have to go ahead and take the pick.”

Fifth-Year Option Salaries Revealed

April 20th, 2018 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

We now have the numbers on the fifth-year option salaries of players taken in the 2015 draft, courtesy of CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry:

Position	First 10 picks	Picks 11-32
Cornerback	$12,353,000	$9,069,000
Defensive end	$14,200,000	$9,046,000
Defensive tackle	$11,407,000	$7,154,000
Linebacker	$12,810,000	$9,232,000
Offensive line	$12,525,000	$9,625,000
Punter/kicker	$4,493,000	$3,384,000
Quarterback	$20,922,000	$14,114,000
Running back	$9,630,000	$5,605,000
Safety	$9,536,000	$6,266,000
Tight end	$8,428,000	$5,398,000
Wide receiver	$13,924,000	$9,387,000

Roughly 70% of players taken in the first round from 2011 through 2014 have had their options picked up. Some players from the ’15 class, like quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, have already had their options triggered. Other first-round picks from that year remain in limbo. Teams have until May 3 to make the call.

For a full rundown of players who have had their options picked up, check out PFR’s 2019 Fifth-Year Option Decision Tracker, which has now been updated to reflect the reported values of the additional year for each player.

NFL Draft Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Jackson

April 20th, 2018 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Is the stock of Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick slipping? That’s the sense Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter) gets. Mortensen, personally, feels that Fitzpatrick is one of the three or four best overall talents in this year’s draft and one “proven evaluator not picking in the top 10” tells Mort that Fitzpatrick, Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, and Saquon Barkley made up this year’s top four.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:

Several NFL sources tell Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that they really like Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and Raanan expects there to be five QBs off the board in the top 20. Jackson is one of the more fascinating players in this year’s draft as some evaluators have written him off as an NFL QB, despite his tremendous athleticism.
On Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported that LSU stars Arden Key and Derrius Guice could slip in the draft due to off-field concerns. Within the same piece, Pelissero touches on UCF cornerback Mike Hughes and Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway. Hughes left the UNC football program two years ago when he was accused of sexual assault, but he maintains his innocence and teams believe his version of events, Pelissero hears. Callaway, meanwhile, has a host of red flags that figure to tank his stock. Callaway was cleared of a sexual assault allegation, but he argued in his Title IX hearing that he was too “stoned” to have intercourse, which is troubling considering a past citation for marijuana. He was also charged with two third-degree felonies for his role in a credit card scam. Callaway might be one of the the most talented WRs in this year’s class, but he could fall late in the draft due to all of his issues. It also doesn’t help that Callaway didn’t impress at his pro day.