WR Notes: Diggs, Decker, Doctson, Broncos
The Vikings now have three of their four major offseason extension candidates signed long-term, with Anthony Barr being the only member of the contract-year quartet (Barr/Stefon Diggs/Eric Kendricks/Danielle Hunter) still attached to a rookie contract. Diggs was the latest to sign, and some details of that five-year, $72MM extension have emerged. Of the $40MM in guarantees, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (on Twitter) that only Diggs’ $15MM signing bonus and $1.9MM 2018 base salary are fully guaranteed at signing. The remainder of the wide receiver’s guaranteed money will depend on his roster status.
If Diggs is on the Vikings’ roster by the third day of the 2019 league year, all of his $8.9MM 2019 base becomes guaranteed. The same structure exists for the 2020 and ’21 league years, with Goessling reporting Diggs’ 2020 base of $10.9MM becomes fully guaranteed on Day 3 of that league year and $3.3MM of his $10.9MM 2021 salary will be guaranteed if he’s with the Vikes on Day 3 of that league year.
Here’s the latest from some teams’ pass-catching situations, shifting to more contract talk.
- Eric Decker‘s one-year Patriots agreement comes in at just shy of $2MM. The former Broncos, Jets and Titans wideout signed for $1.9MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). He has a chance to earn up to $2.5MM, per Rapoport, via incentives tied to his reception count. Decker suited up in Patriots gear for the first time Saturday. Now 31, Decker is entering his ninth season.
- While Emmanuel Sanders has yet to relinquish his status as the Broncos’ No. 2 wide receiver — a role he inherited from Decker in 2014 — the team looks to have found a No. 3 target at long last. Having failed to find a capable cog for that job since Wes Welker‘s exit, the Broncos appear to be zeroing in on Courtland Sutton as their No. 3 receiver, Lindsay Jones of USA Today writes. The SMU product’s drawn rave reviews throughout Broncos camp, and Jones notes the second-rounder’s all but locked up the WR3 job going into preseason play. Fourth-round pick DaeSean Hamilton, viewed as a superior route-runner than the 6-foot-3 Sutton, is expected to play a role as well. But Sutton will likely start out as Denver’s third option. The rookies’ work will be interesting, given the non-guaranteed contract-year salaries for the Broncos’ longtime starting wideouts in 2019.
- Josh Doctson has suffered another injury, a shoulder setback, but contrary to a previous assessment, the Redskins target won’t be out too long. NBC Sports Washington’s Brian Mitchell, a longtime Redskins return man, said Doctson also needed to have his heel drained earlier this week. Jay Gruden, though, refuted that. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a heel being drained,” Gruden said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “So I don’t know where that came from. That is not true, but he’s going to do a little something out here today. We’ll see. I’d be surprised if he went full-go, but he did not have his heel drained.” Doctson has struggled to stay healthy during his NFL career. The 2016 first-rounder missed all of his rookie year because of Achilles trouble and encountered hamstring issues last year.
Sony Michel May Miss Regular-Season Time
The Patriots saw the second of their first-round picks suffer a knee injury this week. Although it’s not viewed as a severe malady, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets Sony Michel could be out until early in the regular season.
Michel left Wednesday’s practice, and the exit left the team “concerned,” per Howe (on Twitter). This setback requires a corrective procedure, per Howe, and one that is expected to at the very least shelve the Georgia-developed running back for the preseason. Howe adds Michel’s recovery time might extend into the regular season.
This procedure already took place, with Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reporting (Twitter link) more optimistic news as a result. Michel will be out at least 10 days, which will almost certainly sideline him for at least two Pats preseason games but possibly having him ready to return later this month.
New England allowed Dion Lewis to defect to Tennessee this offseason but added Michel at No. 31. Michel can be expected to play a big role for the two-time defending AFC champions this season, but his acclimation process took a hit this week. The Pats still have James White and Rex Burkhead, and the Mike Gillislee–Jeremy Hill roster battle becomes more interesting as well. The former Bengals back likely has the edge here, per NESN’s Doug Kyed (on Twitter).
Knee issues affected Michel during the lead-up to the draft, with The Ringer’s Michael Lombardi indicating some concern among teams existed because of a bone-on-bone condition in Michel’s left knee. Michel also has a torn ACL in his past, though that injury occurred back in high school.
The Patriots were obviously satisfied with Michel’s medical reports to take him in Round 1, the first time New England’s used a first-rounder on a running back since Laurence Maroney in 2006.
Irsay: Colts Unlikely To Trade Jacoby Brissett For First-Round Pick
Andrew Luck has not experienced any setbacks in a long-awaited recovery thus far during Colts camp, but his 2017 absence allowed for a one-time third-string quarterback to see nearly a full season’s worth of starts.
And Jim Irsay doesn’t want to part with Jacoby Brissett, regardless of Luck’s status. The Colts rebuffed trade offers during the spring for their current backup quarterback, but it’s unclear what teams proposed. However, the outspoken owner said he has no plans to trade Brissett — even for a first-round pick.
“All of a sudden, we have the best backup quarterback in football,” Irsay said, via Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. “I don’t think we’d accept a (first-round pick in a trade) for him, we think he’s that good.”
That would seem like a lofty asking price for a former third-round pick, but the Colts obviously have a strong reason to employ a quality backup. Despite being a preseason trade acquisition, Brissett started 15 games last season. While his 39.6 Total QBR ranked 27th last season, the former N.C. State passer did not have an offseason to acclimate to his new offense.
Brissett is under contract through the 2019 season and doesn’t have any $1MM-plus base salaries on his rookie deal. While it would be surprising if the Colts legitimately turned down a first-round pick in this case, teams have been protective in the recent past regarding backups — the Bengals with A.J. McCarron coming to mind. Though, the 49ers acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo — stationed in front of Brissett in 2016 — for a second-rounder may make Irsay’s first-round pledge moot.
Brad Kaaya and Temple-produced UDFA Phillip Walker are the other QBs on the Colts’ roster.
Irsay went on to express confidence in Luck’s health, indicating he has “no doubt” about his starter’s arm strength despite the immense layoff. Irsay admitted Luck’s inability to return to action last season surprised him, but now the Colts have a remarkably better signal-caller situation than they did a year ago at this time.
Marshal Yanda Comes Off PUP List
Marshal Yanda‘s dealt with multiple injuries since last playing in a regular-season game, but the All-Pro guard is working his way back to action.
The Ravens removed Yanda from their PUP list on Saturday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Ravens’ focus will be to have Yanda ready in time for Week 1, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
John Harbaugh doesn’t expect Yanda to play in Baltimore’s preseason opener next week. But the top Ravens lineman’s return to practice, with more than a month to spare before the regular season begins, is a good sign for the team.
Yanda suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the Ravens’ 2017 slate, playing in just two games, but a shoulder problem induced the PUP stay to start this training camp. This will be the 33-year-old interior blocker’s 12th season with the Ravens.
Workout Notes: Saints, Titans, Giants
The Seahawks will be busy this weekend, as they’re reportedly hosting four different defenders on work outs. We learned earlier this morning that they’d be auditioning cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and he heard later that the Seahawks are also eyeing linebacker Lamarr Houston, linebacker Erik Walden, and defensive end Damontre Moore.
Naturally, Seattle won’t be the only team considering additions to their rosters. Below, we’ve compiled the latest workout notes from around the NFL…
- With several of their tight ends battling injuries, the Saints will be bringing in a familiar face for a workout. Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune reports (via Twitter) that veteran John Phillips is working out for the team today. The 31-year-old has spent parts of the past two seasons with the organization. While he only appeared in one game this past years, he appeared in eight games (four starts) back in 2016, hauling in five receptions for 32 yards. Known more for his blocking prowess, Phillips’ has 55 career receptions in eight NFL seasons. If Phillips does join the Saints, he’d still be hard pressed to establish a role on a crowded depth chart that includes Ben Watson, Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, and Garrett Griffin.
- Former Panthers defensive tackle Drew Iddings will work out for the Titans today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The six-foot-six, 265-pound lineman has yet to appear in an NFL game. However, he’s managed to garner preseason and practice squad gigs since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota in 2016. The Titans could use some depth on the defensive line, as they’re currently only rostering three reserves in David King, Julius Warmsley, and Austin Johnson.
- The Giants auditioned a number of cornerbacks yesterday, including Alterraun Verner, Zack Sanchez, and Leonard Johnson (the team ultimately signed Johnson). Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com reports (via Twitter) that the team also hosted veteran Sterling Moore. The 28-year-old has managed to put together a seven-year career despite going undrafted out of Southern Methodist in 2011. The cornerback bounced on and off the Saints roster in 2017, compiling five tackles and two passes defended in six games. However, he was plenty productive with New Orleans in 2016, finishing with a career-high 56 tackles, 13 passes defended, and two interceptions.
Seahawks Work Out Three Defenders
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie isn’t the only defender the Seahawks will be hosting for a workout. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the organization will also be auditioning linebacker Lamarr Houston and defensive end Damontre Moore. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Seahawks will also work out linebacker Erik Walden.
Houston, 31, will be looking to catch on with his fourth NFL team. He split last season between the Bears and Texans, compiling 17 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble in 10 games (one start). While the veteran has clearly lost a step, he could still provide the Seahawks with some leadership and depth. The former second-rounder previously met with the Jets and Raiders.
Walden has managed to put together 10-year NFL career despite being selected in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. After serving as a starter with the Colts for four seasons (including a 2016 campaign where he compiled 11 sacks), the 32-year-old spent last season as a backup with the Titans. He finished the year with 36 tackles and four sacks in 16 games (two starts).
If Houston or Walden catch on with Seattle, they’d presumably compete with Shaquem Griffin, D.J. Alexander, and Jake Martin for backup outside linebacker reps.
Moore, 25, has bounced around the NFL since breaking out with the Giants in 2014. After serving a two-game suspension, Moore played in three games for the Cowboys last season, compiling five tackles. His last notable contribution came in 2015 with New York, when he finished with 23 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. Moore would compete with Rasheem Green, Marcus Smith, Branden Jackson, and Quinton Jefferson for backup snaps at defensive end.
Titans Sign Kenny Vaccaro
The Titans have found their starting safety. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed veteran defensive back Kenny Vaccaro. The Titans had been hunting for a safety since Johnathan Cyprien was placed on the injured reserve earlier this week.
We heard the other day that the 27-year-old was set to meet with Tennessee, although it sounded like the front office had other options on their radar. Those reports indicated that the organization was also eyeing safety Eric Reid. However, as Rapoport tweets, multiple flight cancellations prevented Reid from visiting his suitor. With Vaccaro generating interest from other teams, the Titans decided they had to make a move. Vaccaro had already had visits with the Jets, Dolphins, and Colts.
The 2013 first-round pick should immediately contribute to the Titans secondary. While Vaccaro hasn’t been able to put together a healthy season since 2015, he was still plenty productive last year. In 12 starts with the Saints, the safety finished with 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven passes defended, and three interceptions. Due to those numbers, the veteran earned a spot on our list of the best remaining free agents.
With Cyprien out for the season with an ACL injury, the Titans were trying to figure out who to start opposite fellow safety Kevin Byard. Veteran Kendrick Lewis was currently slotted in as the starting strong safety, although the Titans also could have eyed one of Brynden Trawick or Dane Cruikshank for the gig.
Bears Sign OL Kaleb Johnson
The Bears have swapped one offensive lineman for another. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed guard/center Kaleb Johnson. To make room on the roster, the Bears have waived center Jack Allen.
It’s a bit surprising that the Bears have parted ways with Allen, especially since they added the 25-year-old just last week. Despite just a week of practice, the former undrafted free agent out of Michigan State was one of the team’s standouts during their preseason opener. With Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, and Hroniss Grasu sitting out, Allen went on to play 48 snaps for the Bears.
Head coach Matt Nagy even lauded Allen’s contributions following the game.
‘‘For him to come in on short notice and for him to come in and play center, it’s hard,’’ Nagy said (via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times).
Taking Allen’s spot on the team is Johnson, who will ultimately provide Chicago with a bit more versatility. The 25-year-old has yet to play in a regular-season NFL game since going undrafted out of Rutgers in 2015, but he’s managed to catch on with several teams’ practice squads. Johnson has had stints with the Ravens, Browns, Cardinals, and Chiefs.
Raiders To Waive Giorgio Tavecchio, Sign Mike Nugent
The Raiders are going to be moving in a different direction at kicker. Giorgio Tavecchio won’t be a part of Oakland’s kicking competition any longer, with Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting (on Twitter) the second-year kicker will be waived.
Oakland, though, won’t automatically give rookie Eddy Pineiro the job. Mike Nugent will join the team, per Gehlken.
Tavecchio served as the Raiders’ kicker throughout last season, having replaced Sebastian Janikowski. Tavecchio made 16 of his 21 field goal attempts with the Raiders in 2017 and converted 33 of his 34 PAT tries. But Jon Gruden has orchestrated a string of shakeups this offseason, and Tavecchio’s trip to the waiver wire serves as the latest.
The 28-year-old Italian endured a rough Friday at Raiders camp, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Raiders, though, gave Pineiro a $25K signing bonus to compete with the incumbent as a UDFA.
If the 36-year-old Nugent beats out the rookie, the Raiders will be his seventh team. He last kicked for the Bears and Cowboys (four games apiece) in 2017. He served as the Bengals’ kicker for six years prior to that. However, Tafur adds (on Twitter) Nugent will be viewed as more of a mentor than full-fledged competition for Pineiro. He may be insurance in case the Florida product, who made 17 of his 18 field goal tries last season, has a rough preseason.
Two right-footed kickers are now vying for the Raiders’ job, with the winner set to become the first non-lefty to serve as the Oakland kicker since Brad Daluiso 17 years ago.
Bryan Bulaga Cleared To Return To Practice
Sidelined since tearing an ACL midway through last season, Bryan Bulaga received clearance to return to practice, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
The Packers took Bulaga off the PUP list Friday, though Mike McCarthy said the 29-year-old tackle will be taking part in limited practices in the near future. But this week’s brought some pleasant news for the longtime Packer blocker.
Green Bay’s ninth-year right tackle has impressed the team during his recovery, and his roster spot is no longer considered to be in doubt. McCarthy is optimistic Bulaga, who suffered his most recent injury in early November of last year, will be ready to go by Week 1. This came after an uncertain offseason.
Jason Spriggs, Byron Bell and Kyle Murphy have split time at right tackle during Bulaga’s absence.
Bulaga’s suffered multiple severe injuries as a pro — the other coming when he tore an ACL during camp in 2013 — but has started 81 games for the Packers since his 2010 rookie year. He’s in the fourth season of a five-year, $33.75MM contract and denied a rumor the Packers approached him about a pay cut this offseason, Demovsky adds.