2021 June - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins’ Emmanuel Ogbah To Report To Camp

June 15th, 2021 at 8:56am CST by Zachary Links

Emmanuel Ogbah kept his distance during the voluntary period, but he’ll be on hand for the Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed his clients plans this week (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald), but also noted the edge rusher’s standing desire for a new deal.

“We would like to get an extension done,” Rosenhaus said. “We’ve approached the Dolphins about that. That’s as much as I can say.”

Ogbah joined the Dolphins on a two-year deal, $15MM deal last year with $7.5MM fully guaranteed. At the time, it was a player-friendly deal — Ogbah lost much of his 2019 season to a torn pectoral muscle. But, based on the strength of his partial season and 5.5 sacks, the Dolphins rolled the dice.

So far, that deal has paid off in a major way. In 2020, the defensive end notched 42 stops, nine sacks, 21 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Naturally, Ogbah wants a new contract to reflect his performance, especially after Rosenhaus just scored a three-year, $39MM re-up for linebacker Jerome Baker.

Vikings, Danielle Hunter Rework Deal

June 15th, 2021 at 8:47am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings and Danielle Hunter have agreed to a restructured contract, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. With that, they’ve avoided a potential standoff with the defensive end.

Hunter has been pushing for a new deal, but he told the team he’d still report to minicamp this week. Now, Hunter will get to see more of his money sooner while the Vikings will actually eke out some room for the present year.

The 26-year-old will get $5.6MM of his 2021 base salary in the form of a signing bonus. Meanwhile, in 2022, he’ll collect an $18MM roster bonus if he’s on the team by the fifth day of the league year. If they decide to keep him next March, he’ll be on the books for $20MM with that $18MM portion guaranteed. Or, they can choose to part ways with a modest dead cap hit.

Previously, Hunter was scheduled to make $12.15MM in base pay with another $5.6MM in bonuses for 2022. In effect, Hunter is betting on himself after neck surgery. The Vikings were happy to oblige, because they now have a more reasonable escape hatch if things don’t pan out. Meanwhile, Hunter’s 2023 season appears to be in tact — that year, he’s slated to carry a $14.75MM cap hit with just $2MM locked in.

Hunter missed all of last year with a neck injury and, in the process, underscored his value to the Vikings. Without him, they totaled just 23 sacks. In the previous two years, Hunter personally notched 14.5 sacks.

DB Rumors: Mills, Panthers, Seahawks, Colts

June 14th, 2021 at 9:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles moved Jalen Mills from cornerback to safety ahead of the 2020 offseason, when they re-signed him to a one-year contract. Mills began his first Patriots offseason at safety, but his new team has shuttled him back to his old job. Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips‘ early OTAs absences prompted the Pats to use Mills alongside Kyle Dugger at safety. But he spent the team’s final week of OTAs back at corner, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes. With Stephon Gilmore holding out, Mills played opposite J.C. Jackson at corner Monday, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required). Thirty-four of Mills’ 49 NFL starts have come at corner, including 15 in the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl-winning season. Gilmore and the Pats are not believed to be close on an extension, clouding his future with the team and complicating New England’s cornerback outlook.

Here are some additional updates from NFL secondaries:

A.J. Bouye broke out as an outside corner with the Texans and made the Pro Bowl as a boundary defender with the Jaguars. The Broncos used Bouye on the outside as well last season. The Panthers have a different plan. Carolina DC Phil Snow told Bouye the team needs him in the slot, Joe Person of The Athletic notes (subscription required). After signing Bouye to a two-year, $7MM deal, the Panthers picked Jaycee Horn eighth overall. Horn and Donte Jackson are on track to be Carolina’s outside corners this season.
Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn underwent surgery for an injury that has bothered him since college. The second-year defender had what Matt Rhule described as a minor knee operation this offseason, but Carolina’s HC said the injury Chinn dealt with in 2020 had bothered him dating back to his Southern Illinois days (Twitter links via Person). Despite the injury, Chinn proved to be one of the NFL’s top rookies last season.
Richard Sherman surfaced on the Seahawks‘ radar recently, but he is taking his time on deciding his next team. The three-year 49ers corner did advise ex-teammate Ahkello Witherspoon to move to Seattle, however. The former Legion of Boom member told Witherspoon he would fit in well with the Seahawks, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic notes. Witherspoon signed a one-year, $4MM contract with the Seahawks in March. A third-round 49ers pick in 2017, Witherspoon made a 30 visit to Seattle ahead of the draft four years ago.
The Cowboys did not use Reggie Robinson on defense in his rookie season, but they moved the 2020 fourth-round pick from cornerback to safety during training camp last year. While that change did not end up mattering during regular-season games, Robinson is now back at corner, Jon Machota of The Athletic notes.
Marvell Tell opted out of the 2020 season, but the former fifth-round pick is back at work with the Colts. Tell has joined the run of secondary position changes this offseason; the Colts have moved him from safety to corner, Stephen Holder of The Athletic writes. As a safety in 2019, Tell played 252 snaps and started one game. The Colts have crowded their cornerback contingent this offseason, re-signing both Xavier Rhodes and T.J. Carrie. Both veterans are on one-year contracts. Tell’s rookie deal tolled from the COVID-19 opt-out; he is under contract through 2023.

Jaguars Notes: Lawrence, Chaisson, Tebow

June 14th, 2021 at 8:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trevor Lawrence made his way back from offseason shoulder surgery and progressed to working out with his Jaguars teammates during OTAs. The No. 1 overall pick, however, has run into injury trouble on a new front. Lawrence battled left hamstring tightness last week, and after attempting to return to work during the first day of Jacksonville’s minicamp Monday, he aggravated the injury, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com notes. Urban Meyer said Lawrence will likely sit out team drills Tuesday, and it certainly would not surprise if the franchise’s QB1 is done with seven-on-seven or 11-on-11 activity until training camp. C.J. Beathard and the now-mullet-less Gardner Minshew split the reps in Lawrence’s absence.

Here is the latest out of Jacksonville:

K’Lavon Chaisson will miss all of Jacksonville’s minicamp due to a positive COVID-19 test, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The second-year defensive end attended Von Miller‘s annual pass rush summit in Las Vegas over the weekend. The event had coronavirus testing, per Chaisson (on Twitter).
The Jags have used a 4-3 defense as their primary look throughout their 26-season history, but new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen will switch to a 3-4 alignment. Meyer confirmed as such Monday, via News4Jax.com’s Jamal St. Cyr. Dating back to their Marcus Stroud–John Henderson D-tackle duo through the “Sacksonville” period, the Jags preferred a 4-3 look. While the distinction means less nowadays, given teams’ sub-package reliance, it is notable the Jags will make this switch.
Tim Tebow has bulked up to 255 pounds, up nearly 20 from his quarterback days, and will be attempting to make a rare transition. Washington tight end Logan Thomas, who is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, provides a reasonable example of a quarterback-to-tight end switch working, DiRocco writes. Thomas, however, first worked out as a tight end in 2016 and said it took him two years to feel comfortable at the position. The former Virginia Tech quarterback made the transition in his mid-20s; Tebow will attempt to do so at 33. Thomas noted blocking will be Tebow’s most difficult task, but the Jags may not have a pure tight end role in mind for the former Heisman winner. The prospect of using him as a wildcat quarterback has surfaced.

Vikings’ Danielle Hunter To Report To Minicamp

June 14th, 2021 at 7:47pm CST by Zachary Links

7:47pm: The Pro Bowl defensive end completed a medical checkup at the Vikings’ facility Monday, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling (on Twitter), clearing the way for participation at the team’s minicamp.

11:40am: Danielle Hunter will join the Vikings for the start of mandatory minicamp (Twitter link via James Jones of NTAF). Hunter has been hoping for a new deal, but it sounds like he’ll be a good sport and dodge the potential fines for skipping.

Last year, we heard that Hunter would demand a trade if the Vikings didn’t give him a fresh contract. It’s not clear where things stand, but the defensive end wouldn’t necessarily be negotiating from a position of strength. Hunter had 14.5 sacks in both 2018 and 2019. But, last year, he didn’t play at all due to a herniated disk in his neck. At last check, GM Rick Spielman said his rehab was going well and expected him to be on track for the start of the season.

Before the injury, Hunter graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7-ranked edge rusher in the league, ahead of Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Demarcus Lawrence, and a host of other big names. As it stands, the Vikings have him locked up through 2023, thanks to the five-year, $72MM extension he inked a few years back.

That deal gives him $12.15MM in base salary for each of the next three years, plus ~$14MM in potential bonuses. Hunter’s an elite pass rusher when he’s healthy, so he wants a better deal to match.

Stephon Gilmore, Patriots Not Progressing On Extension

June 14th, 2021 at 6:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Vacillating between trade and extension candidacies, Stephon Gilmore is now a holdout. The All-Pro cornerback did not show for the start of Patriots minicamp, restoring his status as a front-burner offseason item.

As could be expected after Gilmore began a holdout, he and the Patriots do not appear to be close on a new deal. Progress toward a Gilmore extension has proven elusive this offseason, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Gilmore is entering the final season of a five-year, $65MM deal, but because the Pats moved $5MM of his 2021 salary to a 2020 pay bump, he is due just $7MM in base pay this year. The Pats planned to discuss his contract months ago, but those talks have not produced a solution.

Gilmore’s camp may have identified workable terms, with Howe adding that Darius Slay‘s three-year, $50MM Eagles deal has come up as a comparable contract. The Eagles gave Slay that extension upon trading for him last year. While the per-year average falls below the new cornerback ceiling — raised to $20MM by Jalen Ramsey, with Tre’Davious White and Marlon Humphrey also driving a stagnant market north of $17MM per year — Gilmore is much older than the recently paid group of corners who changed the market.

Slay’s third NFL contract provides a closer comp to Gilmore’s current situation. The former Defensive Player of the Year is going into his age-31 season. Slay, whose resume is less decorated, was 29 when he signed his third NFL contract. The Eagles possessed a greater need at the position when they acquired and extended Slay, while the Patriots have been stingier with big-ticket contracts under Bill Belichick.

The Patriots have continually replaced impact corners without sacrificing much in the way of coverage capabilities, letting Darrelle Revis walk after his age-29 season and opting against paying Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler big cash as free agents. Of course, New England has altered its usual financial blueprint this year by loading up on veteran talent in free agency. Gilmore’s presence would help the Pats’ quest to return to the playoffs considerably. He is, however, coming off an injury-shortened season. Gilmore suffered a partially torn quad in December.

New England has discussed Gilmore in trades on a few occasions over the past year and change. The Pats wanted a first-round pick for him at the 2020 deadline but did not come especially close to a trade. The prospect of a high-level Gilmore extension likely played into those trade talks. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots can bring the All-Pro cover man back into the fold with another one-season pay raise or if Gilmore is willing to push harder for an extension. Taking the latter route will be difficult, with the 2020 CBA making training camp holdouts tougher to wage.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/14/21

June 14th, 2021 at 5:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Reverted to IR: CB Stephen Guidry

Houston Texans

Signed: LS Mitchell Fraboni

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed: OL Wyatt Miller

San Francisco 49ers

Reverted to IR: OL Justin Skule

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: CB Will Sunderland

Bears Work Out LB Brandon Marshall

June 14th, 2021 at 5:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL lost its Brandon Marshall base in 2019, following the wide receiver’s 13th season and the linebacker being unable to stick with a team after his seventh. But the latter continues to make inroads to a comeback.

After working out for the 49ers recently, Marshall auditioned for the Bears on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The 31-year-old linebacker has spent the offseason training in hopes of resuming his career, and he may be on the verge of receiving an opportunity.

A Super Bowl starter alongside current Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan with the 2015 Broncos, Marshall signed a subsequent extension to stay in Denver. He lasted three more seasons with the team, but injuries restricted him over the life of that contract. The Broncos cut bait in 2019. Although Marshall signed with the Raiders later that year, injuries again impeded him. The Raiders cut him ahead of the ’19 season.

Marshall has 63 starts on his resume, working his way from fifth-round pick to key cog on one of this era’s premier defenses. In an effort to ignite his comeback bid, Marshall attended a late-May showcase for NFL scouts in San Diego. That effort appears to have worked, but Marshall’s return to the league will hinge on his health. He missed five games in both the 2016 and ’18 seasons.

The former Jaguars draftee, however, has three 100-tackle seasons on his resume. And the Bears have seen both their starting inside ‘backers — Trevathan and Roquan Smith — battle injuries during their time as a duo. Chicago still has Christian Jones in place as a backup but has not addressed the position in the draft since 2018.

Vikings, Sheldon Richardson Discussing Deal

June 14th, 2021 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

After spurning a potential return to the Browns, Sheldon Richardson is considering another reunion. The Vikings have the defensive tackle on their radar and have entered discussions to bring him back.

Richardson, who played the 2018 season in Minnesota, is on the cusp of re-signing there, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. KFAN’s Jack Day was the first to report a Richardson-Vikings reunion was on the radar (Twitter link). Richardson spent the past two seasons with the Browns but has opted not to accept a reduced offer to return for a third season. The Browns released Richardson in April.

The Vikings have already devoted considerable resources to their defensive tackle position. Last year, they poached Michael Pierce from the Ravens in free agency. Pierce, however, opted out in 2020. In March, the Vikes added ex-Giants starter Dalvin Tomlinson. Richardson returning would give Minnesota one of the best D-tackle groups in the NFL.

Minnesota’s defense ranked fourth in yardage yielded during Richardson’s Twin Cities season, but a much younger group dropped to 27th in 2020. Mike Zimmer‘s first bad Vikings defense was without Danielle Hunter for all of last season and missed Anthony Barr for most of it. The Vikings now have Hunter back in the fold, after adjusting his contract earlier Monday, and are clearly serious about bolstering their D-line.

A veteran of four teams, Richardson has started 118 games in his career. The former first-round pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year started 16 games with Minnesota three years ago and remained a quality starter during his Cleveland stay. The 30-year-old defender has 31 career sacks and 58 tackles for loss in eight seasons.

Sheldon Richardson Declines Browns Offer, Plans To Sign Elsewhere

June 14th, 2021 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite making Sheldon Richardson a cap casualty earlier this year, the Browns wanted to bring him back. However, it looks like the two-year Cleveland contributor will not return to northeast Ohio.

They made the defensive tackle veteran an offer to return, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets, but Richardson is planning to continue his career elsewhere.

Richardson, 30, bid farewell to the Browns earlier this year. That made sense, considering the team released him in mid-April. That move saved the Browns around $12MM in cap space, but Cleveland kept Richardson on its radar and wanted to retain him at a lower price. The longtime D-line starter who entered the offseason with one season remaining on a three-year, $37MM Browns accord remains in search of a new team.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year certainly could have helped the Browns, who have devoted most of their offseason resources to retooling their defense. At D-tackle, however, the team has lost talent. Prior to Richardson’s release, four-year starter Larry Ogunjobi signed with the Bengals. The team regrouped and signed Malik Jackson but then cut Richardson. The Browns do have former Bengals starter Andrew Billings back; Billings opted out in 2020.

Richardson graded as a top-40 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus, last season. The Mizzou alum registered 4.5 sacks and 64 tackles in his second Browns campaign. He has started 118 career games and missed more than one game in a season just once. The former Jets, Seahawks, Vikings and Browns starter likely will have a new team ahead of training camp.