HEADLINES

Month: June 2021

Raiders Re-Sign Sam Young

June 3rd, 2021 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

Sam Young will return to the Raiders (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). On Thursday, the two sides reached agreement on a new one-year deal, giving him a chance to slot into the team’s offensive tackle rotation.

Kolton Miller will start at left tackle with unexpected first-round pick Alex Leatherwood likely to man the right side. Young could operate as one of the first tackles off of the bench behind both players, or an insurance policy for Leatherwood if he’s still a bit green. But, based on the reviews Leatherwood has been getting out of practice, the reserve role seems more likely for Young.

“Yeah, he’s a big body,” veteran guard Richie Incognito said last week (via The Athletic). “He comes from a storied program at Alabama, and he’s done a ton of winning — a couple national championships under his belt. He’s a quiet kid … he’s a hard worker. He’s picking up on what (offensive line) coach (Tom) Cable is laying down, and I expect him to have a big year.”

Young isn’t exactly an elite tackle, but he does offer lots of experience, including eleven games (seven starts) for the Raiders last year. On the whole, he’s got 103 appearances to his credit across eleven pro seasons.

NFC North Notes: Gurley, Lions, Packers

June 3rd, 2021 at 9:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have shown some interest in signing two-time All-Pro running back Todd Gurley. It’s not clear if he’s still on the radar after their meeting last week, but Georgia alum D’Andre Swift would be happy to welcome him to Detroit’s backfield.

“Knowledge. Experience,” Swift said when asked how he would benefit from playing with Gurley (via USA Today). “I’d be happy if he come here as well. I just want to compete with these guys. Just to have him in the building, that’d be good.”

Aside from their college connection, Gurley also has familiarity with the Lions’ new GM. Gurley’s best years in L.A. overlapped with Brad Holmes‘ Rams tenure, including 2,500+ rushing yards between 2017 and 2018. He’s been slowed by knee trouble ever since, but he could be an interesting partner for Swift now that Kerryon Johnson and Adrian Peterson are out of the picture.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

  • Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is ahead of schedule as he returns from last year’s season-ending ACL tear (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “He’s really working hard. I think he came back and he’s in excellent shape. We’re just going to take it one day at a time,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think he’s a little bit ahead of schedule but then again there’s a long way to the start of the season. We’ll see where he’s at when it comes to that time.” Pro Football Focus ranked Bakhtiari as the league’s No. 2 tackle last year before his December injury. So, regardless of which quarterback he’s protecting, the Packers are counting on his presence.
  • Speaking of which, Packers running back Aaron Jones says he didn’t chat with Aaron Rodgers about the QB’s plans before inking his extension (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “This is home,” Jones said. “This is where I love to be.”

Jaguars Sign WR Pharoh Cooper

June 3rd, 2021 at 8:47am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have agreed to sign wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s likely a low-cost one-year deal given Cooper’s recent track record. 

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Cooper, 26, put himself on the map in 2017 when he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 as a return man. That year, he handled 66 combined kick and punt returns and led the NFL in yards per kickoff return (27.4). His 2018 encore wasn’t as impressive — he spent much of the year on IR, got waived by the Rams in December, and picked up by the Cardinals. Since then, he’s bounced around a bit, spending time with the Bengals and Panthers.

Cooper is now a few years removed from his best work and he hasn’t done much offensively, save for that ’17 season when he managed 32 catches for 399 yards. But, with the Jags, he’ll have a chance to reassert himself and compete with incumbent punt returner Chris Claybrooks.

Ravens “Done” With Julio Jones Trade Talks

June 2nd, 2021 at 10:29pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like we can cross another Julio Jones suitor off the list. During an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Kimberley A. Martin reported that the Ravens are “done” with negotiations and are not in the market for the wide receiver (via Twitter). Martin offered a similar sentiment about the Rams, confirming a report from earlier this week.

The Ravens have been connected to a host of big-name receivers this offseason, so they were naturally connected to Jones when he publicly landed on the trade block. In fact, it was only the other day that we learned that the organization was willing to get involved in negotiations with the Falcons if the price was right.

There’s no denying the Ravens could use another top wideout. While quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s game doesn’t necessarily revolve around his arm, there’s no denying that his numbers took a step back in 2020. After throwing for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns during his MVP campaign in 2019, the 24-year-old threw for only 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns (along with a career-high nine interceptions) this past season.

To the front office’s credit, they did do some work to improve their receiving corps this offseason. They drafted Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman in the first round, pairing him with 2019 first-rounder Marquise Brown atop the depth chart. The organization also signed veteran Sammy Watkins, and he’ll provide some experienced depth in front of the likes of Miles Boykin, James Proche, and Devin Duvernay. While the depth chart has obviously been improved, a player of Jones’ caliber could still take the team to new levels.

Meanwhile in Atlanta, reporters had a chance to ask Falcons coach Arthur Smith about Jones’ trade request (and his anticipated absence from mandatory minicamp).

“We have conversations all the time with all our players,” Smith said (via Adam Maya of NFL.com). “There’s good communication going back and forth through multiple avenues, so we’ll see what happens next week, where we’re at, you know? I can answer that for you next week.”

Raiders Sign TE Alex Ellis

June 2nd, 2021 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Journeyman Alex Ellis is joining his seventh organization. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the veteran tight end is signing with the Raiders.

The 2016 undrafted free agent out of Tennessee has bounced around the NFL over the past four-plus years, spending time with the Titans, Jaguars, Saints, Chiefs, Eagles, and (phew) Patriots. The tight end saw time on a career-high 124 snaps with Jacksonville in 2016, a season in which he started three games.

The 28-year-old’s last appearance in a regular season game was in 2019, when he saw time in three games for Philly. He caught on with the Patriots last August but was let go before the regular season.

Ellis will be joining a crowded depth chart is Las Vegas. Behind starter Darren Waller, the team is also rostering tight ends Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier, Nick Bowers, Matt Bushman, and Carson Williams. While Ellis has more NFL experience than a handful of those players, it’s no guarantee he ends up making the roster.

Lions Waive DT John Atkins

June 2nd, 2021 at 6:59pm CST by Ben Levine

John Atkins‘ stint with the Lions has come to an end. The team announced this evening (on Twitter) that they’ve waived the defensive tackle.

The former Georgia standout went undrafted in 2018, and after getting picked up by the Patriots, he was dumped at the end of the preseason. He ended up catching on with the Lions, and he spent much of his rookie campaign on Detroit’s practice squad.

He saw a much larger role in 2019, appearing in 12 games (six starts). He got into 36-percent of his team’s defensive snaps that season, finishing with 20 tackles. The six-foot-three, 320-pound lineman ended up sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID concerns.

Atkins’ spot on the roster seemed to be in risk following Detroit’s offseason moves. The team added Michael Brockers via trade and Nick Williams via a two-year pact, and they drafted a pair of defensive tackles in second-rounder Levi Onwuzurike and third-rounder Alim McNeill.

Bears Sign Four More Draft Picks

June 2nd, 2021 at 5:12pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears have inked the majority of their draft class to contracts. The team announced that they’ve signed fifth-round tackle Larry Borom, sixth-round running back Khalil Herbert, sixth-round receiver Dazz Newsome, and sixth-round cornerback Thomas Graham Jr.. We passed along the signing of seventh-round nose tackle Khyiris Tonga earlier today.

Borom is the most notable name on the list, as the Missouri product started 19 of his 33 games over the past three seasons. He’ll likely serve as a backup to Elijah Wilkinson on the right side, although he has the versatility to play all over the offensive line. Herbert was also a notable pick after collecting 2,918 rushing yards in 46 college games, including 1,183 yards in 11 games for Virginia Tech last year. He’ll compete for a spot as backup to David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen.

While Newsome got his first NFL contract today, it’s not all good news for the rookie. We learned earlier today that the rookie wideout broke his collarbone in practice on Tuesday. Fortunately, it was a clean break for the sixth-rounder, meaning Newsome should be good to go by the start of training camp.

With the signing, the Bears now only have a pair of unsigned draft picks: first-round quarterback Justin Fields and second-round tackle Teven Jenkins.

49ers Sign TE MyCole Pruitt

June 2nd, 2021 at 4:59pm CST by Ben Levine

MyCole Pruitt has found his next gig. The veteran tight end is joining the 49ers, per National Sports Agency (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter).

The 49ers had been busy hunting for tight ends recently, and the signing of Pruitt would presumably take the team out of the running for veteran Delanie Walker, who auditioned for the team yesterday. In San Francisco, Ross Dwelley was the main backup behind George Kittle, with 2020 sixth-round Charlie Woerner and undrafted free agent Josh Pederson rounding out the depth chart. Pruitt has a good chance to supplant that trio of backups, especially when the team relies on the run.

After bouncing around the league a bit, Pruitt found a home in Tennessee in 2018. While the former fifth-rounder never put up big numbers during his stint with the Titans (20 receptions for 241 yards and one score), he had a consistent role as a blocking tight end, appearing in 42 games (15 starts) in three years. Pruitt also saw time in five playoff games for Tennessee, hauling in six receptions.

Since hitting free agency, Pruitt has also generated interest from the Ravens and Vikings.

Vikings To Sign CB Tye Smith

June 2nd, 2021 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings are adding another veteran to their cornerback room. They agreed to a deal with Tye Smith on Wednesday, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson (on Twitter).

A former fifth-round Seahawks pick, Smith has played for the Titans since 2017. Tennessee re-signed the veteran backup to one-year deals in 2019 and ’20. Smith’s Vikings pact is a minimum-salary agreement, Anderson notes.

The Titans deployed Smith as a part-timer on defense, using him just under 20% of their defensive plays in each of his active seasons (2017, ’19 and ’20). Last season, he logged 125 defensive snaps. Smith, 27, has experience on special teams but only saw action on 15% of Tennessee’s special teams snaps in 2020. The Division I-FCS product started three games in 2019 as well and forced two fumbles that season.

Minnesota has been active at cornerback this offseason. Mike Zimmer‘s team reunited with sixth-year veteran Mackensie Alexander; he will join All-Decade corner Patrick Peterson, who is entering his 11th season. They agreed to one-year deals in March. The Vikings used first- and third-round picks on corners in 2020, but an offseason arrest has injected uncertainty into first-rounder Jeff Gladney‘s career. Minnesota traded 2018 first-rounder Mike Hughes to Kansas City a few weeks back.

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