2020 March - Pro Football Rumors

Lions’ Tavon Wilson Would Be “Happy” To Return

March 8th, 2020 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

Lions safety Tavon Wilson would be “happy coming back to Detroit” (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein). Still, he says he’s excited to going through the free agent process and survey his options.

Wilson, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on March 19, is coming off of one of the best seasons of his NFL career, so he’ll want to hear what other clubs have to offer him. In 2019, Wilson started in 13 games and notched 98 stops, five passes defensed, two fumbled recoveries, and one sack. The advanced metrics were also fond of his work. He graded out as the No. 26 ranked qualified safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, with a 71.8 overall score. That figure was his best showing since 2016, his first campaign with the Lions.

As Rothstein notes, Wilson is a good fit for Matt Patricia‘s scheme, so the Lions would ideally like to hang on to him. Meanwhile, they’ve got other areas of need to address – with mystery surrounding Darius Slay‘s status, the Lions could embark on a cornerback search including players like longtime Broncos star Chris Harris or Cowboys CB Byron Jones.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions recently re-upped veteran receiver Danny Amendola.

This Date In Transactions History: Jaguars Sign Calais Campbell

March 8th, 2020 at 11:12am CST by Zachary Links

Three years ago today, the Jaguars landed one of the top defensive free agents on the market. Defensive end Calais Campbell agreed to a four-year, $60MM deal with the club, bringing even more power to the Jaguars’ potent front seven.

Campbell was thought to be on the radar for a number of clubs in this cycle, including the Titans, Broncos, Colts, Bears, and Redskins (the reported runners-up). The Cardinals, ideally, would have liked to keep him, but the numbers crunch of the offseason made that nearly impossible. Besides, they traded for Chandler Jones one year prior, making Campbell something of a luxury rather than a must-keep player.

Campbell may have been motivated by the Jones acquisition – in his walk year, the 6’8″, 300-pound force tallied eight sacks en route to his second career Pro Bowl appearance. He also entered the market with a proven record of getting to the quarterback: He registered 56.5 sacks over the course of nine seasons in Arizona, a total that’s even more impressive when you consider that he had zero sacks as a rookie in 2008.

This Jaguars front office was not shy about spending on the defensive front and they did it again with Campbell, even though he was entering his age-31 campaign. Presumably, they placed the high bid on the veteran, and it paid off. Campbell logged a career-high 14.5 sacks in his first season with the Jaguars and earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the first time. In the last two seasons, he’s been a Pro Bowler with a combined 17 sacks in that stretch.

Now, the Jaguars have some decisions to make. This year, he’s entering his age-34 season with a projected cap hit of $17.5MM. The Jaguars could save upwards of $15MM by cutting ties, though it would be in their best interest to hammer out an extension that would smooth out his cap hit. With a new deal, the Jaguars can free some some extra dollars to be spent later this month and potentially lock down Campbell for the rest of his career.

Jets Interested In Byron Jones

March 8th, 2020 at 9:47am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets’ need for cornerback help could lead to big spending in that area. The Jets are showing interest in pending Cowboys free agent Byron Jones, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

Cimini cautions that GM Joe Douglas might not want to reset the cornerback market with Jones or fellow top FA CB James Bradberry, but it’s a major hole for the Jets and they might not be able to resist the chance to land a top-tier corner. Solid cornerbacks rarely become available, so they tend to get overpaid. Those deals have yielded mixed results – Cimini notes that the Patriots’ big spend on Stephon Gilmore panned out, though others have not.

Jones is only 27 and many expect him to land a deal worth at least $15MM/year. The Eagles, Giants, and Lions, are a few of the teams that could make a play for him, and the list goes on from there. The Broncos, once thought to be a suitor, will probably put their attention elsewhere after landing A.J. Bouye, who will take over for longtime standout Chris Harris.

The cornerback market hasn’t moved much as of late. When the Dolphins re-upped Xavien Howard and made him the highest paid CB in the NFL, his $15.1MM AAV barely edged Josh Norman‘s 2016 deal. Jones could change that: he’s the belle of the ball, and it might take $16MM, or $17MM, per annum to land him.

Texans’ Laremy Tunsil Undergoes Surgery, Fires Agent

March 7th, 2020 at 9:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is looking for a new contract, and he’s also recovering from a significant injury. Tunsil recently underwent shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, sources told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

We heard last week that Tunsil and the Texans had begun preliminary talks on an extension at the combine, and that he was seeking around $20MM annually. Sources also told Wilson that Tunsil fired his agents at CAA, and is now weighing his options. He’s apparently considering operating as his own agent like fellow left tackle Russell Okung has, and also is considering signing with the NFL division of NBA super-agent Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports.

The meeting at the combine came with CAA people before Tunsil fired his agents Wilson reports, so it sounds like things are back to square one. If Tunsil gets what he’s seeking, he’ll become the league’s highest-paid offensive linemen. He made the Pro Bowl last year, and the Texans want him blocking Deshaun Watson‘s blind side for the foreseeable future. Wilson notes that he’s expected to be ready to return to action by training camp, although he’ll presumably miss a good chunk of the offseason program.

Houston gave up a huge bounty to land Tunsil in a trade with the Dolphins last year, so they are going to be under a ton of pressure to get a deal done. They gave up two first-round picks and a second-rounder for the Ole Miss product, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

Titans Were Interested In Texans DC Anthony Weaver

March 7th, 2020 at 7:50pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Texans made a move at defensive coordinator this offseason, sidelining longtime veteran coach Romeo Crennel in favor of Anthony Weaver. Now we have more context on that decision, via Sarah Bishop of ESPN.com.

According to Bishop the move was made at least partially out of necessity, as the Titans were showing interest in Weaver for their defensive coordinator vacancy. Tennessee’s defensive coordinator Dean Pees retired after the season. Houston later announced that they’d keep Crennel on staff, but his title was given to Weaver to help prevent him from getting poached. This isn’t the first time the Texans have gone through this exact situation, and funnily enough it happened with current Titans coach Mike Vrabel just a few years ago.

Vrabel was an assistant in Houston under Bill O’Brien when the team had Crennel step down to make room for Vrabel to become defensive coordinator in 2017. After Vrabel was then hired away by Tennessee the following season, Crennel was given his old job back. Weaver spent a handful of years in the NFL in the early 2000’s after entering the league as a second-round pick in 2002. He’s spent the past four years as O’Brien’s defensive line coach.

Redskins Want Ereck Flowers Back

March 7th, 2020 at 6:35pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ereck Flowers has had a bumpy journey in the pros, but it looks like he might’ve found a permanent home. The Redskins want to bring back the impending free agent, new head coach Ron Rivera told Larry Michael on Redskins Nation, via JP Finlay of NBC Sports.

We heard recently that the ‘Skins were planning on franchise-tagging right guard Brandon Scherff, and Rivera confirmed that he wants both of the guards back. The Giants drafted Flowers ninth overall back in 2015, and it wasn’t long before he was labeled a bust. After starting at least 15 games in each of his first three seasons with very poor results at both tackle positions, Flowers was released midway through his fourth.

He latched on with the Jaguars and started seven games with them in 2018, again struggling mightily. Then he signed a one-year deal with Washington last offseason, and the team moved him to guard during training camp. He thrived in the new position, and started all 16 games.

As for what it will take to re-sign Flowers, Finlay writes that it will probably be more than double the $3.25MM he earned last season. Rivera seemed to be pretty confident about a deal getting worked out and the state of his offensive line, saying “once we get that situation figured out, we will have four of the five (starters) that we know what’s going to happen” with. The one question mark in that scenario, of course, would be left tackle Trent Williams, who was recently given permission to pursue a trade.

Bills, Titans To Pursue D.J. Reader?

March 7th, 2020 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a strong contract year, D.J. Reader appears set to have a strong market. In addition to the Broncos being interested in the four-year Texans defensive lineman, the Bills and Titans are expected to be in on this pursuit as well, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes.

Reader is expected to command a deal that pays at least $11MM annually, per Wilson, who adds that the Texans initially offered the former third-round pick a $6MM-per-year deal. That offer, however, came during the 2019 offseason — before Reader’s quality season thrust him onto the radar for a big second contract.

Reader graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 overall interior defender last season, operating as one of the league’s top run stoppers. He will turn 26 in July. The Texans have made multiple offers to their breakout interior defender, but Wilson adds that Reader is not expected to return to Houston next season. That will create an interesting marketplace for teams in need of inside help.

Buffalo may lose Jordan Phillips in free agency but used a first-round pick on Ed Oliver last year and has promising 2018 third-rounder Harrison Phillips coming back from ACL surgery. While both Oliver and the younger Phillips are on rookie contracts, run-stuffing defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is attached to a $10MM-AAV deal. The Bills, who will also likely be interested in edge rushers given Shaq Lawson‘s free agent status and Trent Murphy‘s underwhelming Buffalo run so far, are set to hold more than $82MM in cap space. That figure sits third in the league.

Tennessee used a first-rounder on Jeffery Simmons last year and has Jurrell Casey signed through 2022 on a $15MM-per-year pact. Reader would certainly make the Titans a well-invested team on the defensive front. They are also rumored to submit a big offer to Jadeveon Clowney. It is, however, difficult to project how the Titans will proceed. They hold just more than $50MM in cap space but have Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and Jack Conklin as UFAs-to-be. The Titans’ Tom Brady interest only further clouds their picture.

Latest On Tom Brady: Kraft, Bolts, Titans

March 7th, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

We still have more than a week remaining until the legal tampering period opens. That means the Tom Brady rumors still have plenty of news cycles to fill. Here is the latest from the Brady free agency front:

Robert Kraft‘s potential intervention in the Patriots‘ effort to retain Brady has loomed over the franchise’s process, to some degree, and NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran helped set some parameters for the owner’s role here. If the financial gap between Brady and the Pats is considerable, Curran notes Kraft will not intervene and force Bill Belichick to retain the 20-year veteran quarterback. However, if a small gap exists between Brady and Belichick, Curran adds that Kraft will encourage both to bridge it and keep the future Hall of Famer in New England. Brady and Belichick spoke recently, and with nine days remaining until the tampering period opens, the size of the chasm between the two parties should be known by now.
While the Titans seem to have emerged as the most serious threat to the Patriots for Brady, one NFL source does not believe they would cast off Ryan Tannehill after he piloted Tennessee’s 2019 iteration to the AFC title game. “They’re not going to do Ryan Tannehill like that,” a source close to the Titans’ coaching staff told the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. The Titans have been discussing a deal with Tannehill for months but are now plotting a Brady plan as well, and the team may be quite confident in said plan.
The Chargers have gone quiet on the Brady front, but Volin notes a source indicated the 42-year-old passer’s only realistic option outside of the Patriots would be going to Los Angeles. That is an interesting description of Brady’s market, pointing to some of these suitors not being as high on the legendary quarterback as other reports would indicate. The Bolts’ lack of history regarding these types of moves in free agency, however, leads the Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer to question how serious the Chargers’ pursuit of Brady will be.
In case you missed the latest team to move into the Brady rumors, the 49ers are now connected to the Bay Area native.

East Rumors: Williams, Jets, Giants, Bills

March 7th, 2020 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are in the mix for Trent Williams and are willing to negotiate a new deal with the Redskins’ disgruntled tackle, were they to pull the trigger on a trade, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Thus far in the latest round of Williams trade rumors, the Jets and Browns have expressed interest. And the Redskins may well be willing to reduce their asking price. Washington is serious about unloading Williams this time, per Vacchiano, who adds that several around the league believe the franchise will not ask for a first-round pick this time around. The Redskins asked for a first-rounder last year, and Williams predictably remained with the team after the deadline. Both the Browns and Jets hold a second-round pick and two thirds this year.

Shifting away from a Williams deal, here is the latest from the East divisions:

Quinnen Williams has an upcoming court date, stemming from his Thursday arrest at LaGuardia Airport, but some updates on this situation have emerged. The Jets defensive lineman was not carrying ammunition for his Glock 19 pistol with him, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Additionally, the weapon was stored in Williams’ checked baggage, not his carry-on, Darryl Slater of NJ.com reports. Williams was arrested because he did not possess a New York permit for the weapon, only an Alabama permit. Had ammunition been present with the gun, Williams would be facing a much stiffer penalty due to New York’s strict gun laws. The 22-year-old defender will be arraigned March 25 in Queens County criminal court.
The Giants have not traded down in Round 1 since 2006; Dave Gettleman has somehow never traded down in any round in seven drafts as a GM. The team famously did not discuss moving down from its No. 2 spot in 2018, when it chose Saquon Barkley, and then surprised the football world by taking Daniel Jones at No. 6 last year. Faced with a bevy of needs, however, the Giants will end up trading down this year, Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com predicts (via Twitter). Big Blue features needs at tackle, perhaps every linebacker spot and across the secondary.
Eight-year NFL veteran Ryan Wendell is entering his second season on the Bills‘ staff, and the former center received a promotion. He will move from offensive assistant to assistant offensive line coach, the Bills announced. This is the former Patriots starter’s first coaching gig. The Bills also promoted three other assistants this week. They moved Shea Tierney to assistant quarterbacks coach, bumped Marc Lubick up to the assistant wideouts coach role and made Jimmy Salgado their nickel coach. All previously resided at lower-level assistant or quality control level.

CB Mackensie Alexander Cleared For Football Activities

March 7th, 2020 at 12:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Mackensie Alexander overcame a major hurdle just as he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the cornerback was “recently cleared to resume football activities.” The 26-year-old had had his meniscus trimmed back in January.

The Vikings slot cornerback was having another productive campaign in 2019, compiling 38 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and five passes defended in 13 games (four starts). The knee injury ultimately landed him on the injured reserve, forcing him to miss the Vikings two playoff games.

In total, the former second-rounder has appeared in 55 games during his four-year career, collecting 103 tackles, two interceptions, and 21 passes defended.

As we detailed earlier today, the Vikings cornerbacks corps could look a whole lot different next season. Besides Alexander, cornerback Trae Waynes is also set to hit the open market. The organization could also choose to move on from veteran Xavier Rhodes.