2021 June - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Sign T Jermaine Eluemunor

June 14th, 2021 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Patriots offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor will migrate to another AFC East team. The Dolphins agreed to terms with the veteran tackle Monday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. They waived tackle Timon Parris to clear a roster spot.

Eluemunor spent the past two seasons in New England but was not with the team during Brian Flores‘ Foxborough tenure. The Pats used Eluemunor as a starter in 2020 but made other moves at the position this offseason. Eluemunor was part of the veteran contingent to visit the Broncos after Ja’Wuan James‘ injury, but he did not land the gig. The 26-year-old blocker will instead try to make the Dolphins’ 53-man roster.

New England deployed Eluemunor as a first-stringer in eight games last season. Marcus Cannon‘s opt-out and Isaiah Wynn‘s latest injury trouble depleted the Pats at tackle, and Eluemunor also saw action inside. The Pats, however, picked up Wynn’s fifth-year option and reacquired Trent Brown via trade. Brown is set to play right tackle in his second New England stay.

The Dolphins have a slightly younger tackle group. Austin Jackson is set to return as Miami’s top left tackle, and the team drafted Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg in the second round. The Dolphins are moving 2020 right tackle Robert Hunt to guard. Eluemunor, Jesse Davis and D.J. Fluker represent veteran options for an O-line that could be one of the NFL’s youngest.

JuJu Smith-Schuster Changes Agents

June 14th, 2021 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

JuJu Smith-Schuster essentially tabled his free agency until 2022, re-signing with the Steelers on a one-year deal. He will have a new agency negotiating his next contract.

The fifth-year wide receiver will move from Roc Nation Sports to the Wasserman agency (Twitter link). Roc Nation had represented Smith-Schuster for years. Going into a second straight contract year, however, the Pro Bowl wideout changed his strategy.

A reduced salary cap depressed the market for most players, and Smith-Schuster was no exception. Although the Ravens are believed to have offered more, with the Chiefs entering the mix as well, Smith-Schuster opted to re-sign with the Steelers on a one-year, $8MM deal. Several marquee UFAs agreed to one-year pacts, but the cap is expected to balloon north of $200MM in 2022. Teams look set to have more money to spend next year, and more long-term contracts will likely be offered.

The Steelers will have exclusive negotiating rights with Smith-Schuster until next year’s legal tampering period, which will take place two days before the start of the 2022 league year. It will be difficult to see Smith-Schuster signing a long-term extension before retesting the market. The 24-year-old receiver was not expected to be back with the Steelers in 2021, however. Pittsburgh has both Smith-Schuster and James Washington going into walk years, with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool signed beyond 2021.

Allen Robinson To Show For Bears’ Minicamp

June 14th, 2021 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears have a month to sign Allen Robinson to a long-term extension, and while his future in Chicago is murky, the franchise-tagged wide receiver will resurface at team headquarters this week.

Robinson intends to report to the Bears’ minicamp, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times notes, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the eighth-year pass catcher has arrived at Halas Hall (Twitter link). This certainly represents a positive sign for the Bears, with franchise-tagged players often skipping all offseason workouts and then staying away into training camp.

Nothing much has transpired on the Robinson extension front. The sides have not been close to the same page on terms since negotiations began nearly a year ago, and Lieser adds they have made no progress toward a deal.

Like many players this offseason, Robinson stayed away from voluntary workouts. He was quick to sign his $17.9MM franchise tender, however, doing so amid rumors the Bears were pursuing Kenny Golladay. The ex-Lions weapon visited the Bears but ended up signing with the Giants. Robinson resides as the Bears’ clear-cut No. 1 target for a fourth straight year.

The Bears will count on Robinson to help first-round pick Justin Fields assimilate, even though it appears Andy Dalton will begin the season as Chicago’s QB1. Robinson, 27, has cleared 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. The Bears gave the ex-Jaguar a $14MM-per-year deal in 2018 but upset him during extension talks. His reporting for minicamp should be considered a good sign, but how the parties proceed at the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign extensions will be more telling about their prospects for a long-term partnership.

Vikings Adjust Danielle Hunter’s Contract

June 14th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Danielle Hunter reported to Vikings minicamp and soon received some additional cash. The Vikings, who signed Hunter to a team-friendly extension in 2018, adjusted their top pass rusher’s deal Monday.

The team converted $5.6MM of the veteran defensive end’s contract to a signing bonus, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will give the seventh-year veteran a nice cash influx and also put the Vikings to a decision next year. While Hunter is still signed through the 2023 season, this contract adjustment may change that.

Hunter’s deal now includes an $18MM roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2022 league year, Rapoport tweets. This will put the Vikings to a decision on their Pro Bowl sack artist. Hunter being part of the Vikings in 2022 will likely depend on his health. He missed all of last season due to a herniated disk in his neck, placing the 26-year-old defender in a less-than-ideal negotiating position.

Hunter’s injury, however, greatly impacted the Vikings. They sported a porous defense for the first time in Mike Zimmer‘s tenure, with a younger group battling other injuries and lacking for reliable pressure threats. Bringing Hunter back into the fold stands to be significant for a Vikings team that devoted key offseason resources to upgrading its defense.

When Hunter signed his five-year, $72MM deal three summers ago, a consensus emerged that the Vikings scored a big win. Hunter then made the next two Pro Bowls with 14.5-sack seasons in 2018 and ’19. Less accomplished pass rushers then cashed in. Going into the 2021 season, Hunter is the NFL’s 17th-highest-paid edge defender. The Vikings, however, have given him a path to change that status.

Marcus Maye To Join Jets’ Minicamp

June 14th, 2021 at 11:58am CST by Zachary Links

Marcus Maye will be on hand for the start of the Jets’ three-day minicamp (Twitter link via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano). It’s a promising sign for Gang Green and their star safety, who is pushing for a new deal.

The Jets cuffed Maye earlier this year with a franchise tender worth $10.61MM. Meanwhile, he wants an extension (and a sizable pay bump). There’s mutual interest there, but there’s been little news on that front in recent months. Even though Maye might be frustrated with the progress, he won’t hold out during the mandatory period.

The Jets drafted two safeties — Auburn’s Jamien Sherwood in Round 5 and Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen in Round 6 — in April. Meanwhile, there’s also 2020 third-round pick Ashtyn Davis and veteran Lamarcus Joyner, who is shifting from cornerback back to safety. The Jets needed the depth, but they’re also bracing themselves for the possibility of life without Maye.

Maye’s asking price jumped this year when the Broncos made Justin Simmons the NFL’s first $15MM-per-year safety. Several other safeties are also signed to deals worth $14MM+ per year. Maye has yet to make a Pro Bowl, but he graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 safety last season. He also has youth on his side, having just turned 28.

Maye, a four-year starter for the Jets, finished last year with 88 stops, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Broncos Audition Shaquem Griffin

June 14th, 2021 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

Shaquem Griffin will audition for the Broncos’ during their minicamp this week (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News). Griffin has reportedly drawn interest from multiple teams this offseason, but this marks his first known tryout.

Griffin, the twin brother of cornerback Shaquill Griffin, has been one of the NFL’s most inspiring stories. Despite losing his left hand at the age of 4, he earned first-team all-American Athletic Conference at Central Florida. Then, he heard his name called in 2018 when the Seahawks drafted him in the fifth round.

Griffin has spent most of his career as a special teamer with some time as a true linebacker. Now, he’s hoping to transition to a full-time edge rusher. He’s suited up for a total of 46 games for the Seahawks across three seasons with one start — against the Broncos in the 2018 season opener. All in all, he’s notched 25 total tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.

Laquon Treadwell Visits Jaguars

June 14th, 2021 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

Laquon Treadwell will participate in the Jaguars’ minicamp as a tryout player, per a club announcement. He’ll be joined by a handful of other roster hopefuls, including cornerbacks Simenon Thomas and KeiVarae Russell and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins.

Treadwell, who just turned 26 today, came into the league as the No. 23 overall pick in the 2016 draft. That didn’t pan out for the Vikings. He caught just one pass as a rookie, and never topped 302 yards during his four years in Minnesota. The Vikes declined his fifth-year option, leading him to the Falcons last year. He was used sparingly in Atlanta, recording just six grabs for 49 yards in five games. On the plus side, two of those catches were for touchdowns.

The Jaguars’ WR depth chart is headlined by D.J. Chark, veteran Marvin Jones, and Laviska Shenault. Currently, the Jaguars count 12 receivers on their 90-man roster, including notable names like Phillip Dorsett and return man Pharoh Cooper. No one’s expecting the Ole Miss product to fulfill his draft day expectations, but he could have a chance to make a dent with Urban Meyer & Co.

Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore Skips Mandatory Minicamp

June 14th, 2021 at 10:30am CST by Zachary Links

Stephon Gilmore is holding out. The cornerback skipped the start of the Patriots’ minicamp and he’ll be keeping his distance for the full three-day period (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).

Gilmore is rehabbing from a partially torn quad, but that’s only part of the story. Gilmore wants a new contract — he’s currently slated to make $7MM in base salary, which puts him outside of the top 20 for his position. Meanwhile, his $16.265MM cap figure is the highest of any corner, thanks to the Patriots’ previous adjustments to his deal. When the two sides were in a similar spot last year, the Pats agreed to accelerate $4.5MM of his pay.

The Pats inked Gilmore to a five-year, $65MM deal in 2017. That was a whopping contract at the time for the historically stingy Patriots, but it’s proven to be one of the best values in the entire league. Gilmore was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Meanwhile, Jalen Ramsey, Marlon Humphrey, and Tre’Davious White have all moved the market with $17MM+/year extensions.

Eagles Sign Nick Mullens

June 14th, 2021 at 10:22am CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles have signed Nick Mullens, per a club announcement. The quarterback will join Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco on the depth chart to compete for a backup job.

Mullens, 26, started out as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers in 2017. Since then, he’s made 16 total starts with a 25-22 TD-INT ratio and thrown for upwards of 4,440 yards. On the flipside, he has a 7.9 career yards-per-attempt figure. The 49ers chose to go in a different direction this offseason, choosing not to tender Mullens for $2.1MM. Jimmy Garoppolo will return as the likely starter — despite all the speculation to the contrary — with first-round pick Trey Lance waiting in the wings.

The Eagles, meanwhile, had a QB spot open after cutting undrafted free agent Jamie Newman. If the Eagles carry three QBs, Mullens could slot in as the QB3. There’s also the possibility that he outperforms Flacco, or even Hurts — new head coach Nick Sirianni says he’ll hold an open competition for the top job this summer.

Panthers To Work Out Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

June 14th, 2021 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will try out for the Panthers during their minicamp this week (Twitter link via PFT). The veteran safety missed all of 2020, but he could be an interesting addition to Carolina’s secondary.

Clinton-Dix is best known for his time with the Packers. The 2014 first-round pick earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2016 with 80 tackles, five interceptions, and seven passes defended. Midway through 2018, he was traded to Washington where he didn’t make a ton of noise in his nine starts. In 2019, he joined up with the Bears, starting in all 16 games and notching 78 tackles with two interceptions.

Last year, was set to play for the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.75MM deal. However, after earning more than $2MM in guaranteed money, the safety missed the final cut. Since then, Clinton-Dix has been working out on his own and waiting for his next opportunity. His May audition for the Texans didn’t produce a contract, but this week’s workout with the Panthers could be his ticket back to the field.