2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens Re-Sign Patrick Ricard

March 21st, 2022 at 10:23am CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens are keeping one of their most unique and important players on offense. The team announced the re-signing of Patrick Ricard to a three-year deal.

Ricard, 27, has worn a number of hats during his time in Baltimore. He joined the team as a UDFA in 2017, where he established himself as an increasingly rare two-way player. The six-foot-three, 310-pounder spent time as a rotational defensive linemen, in addition to his now-familiar fullback role.

That trend of playing part-time on both sides of the ball began to change in 2019, when Ricard’s effectiveness as a fullback became more apparent. That was the first of three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances for him at the position, as his role in the team’s offense has progressively increased. In 2021, the Maine product played more than 50% of the Ravens’ offense snaps for the first time, playing exclusively with that unit for the second straight season.

Ricard has also been aligned as a tight end with more regularity in recent years. In addition to his blocking prowess, he has registered 25 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns over the past three campaigns. Together with traditional TE Nick Boyle, Ricard has played a key role in Baltimore’s rushing success. Given the former’s injury concerns, keeping Ricard in the fold was one of the Ravens’ top offseason priorities.

Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports (on Twitter) that the contract is expected to average roughly $4MM per season. That figure would rank Ricard second in the league amongst fullbacks, behind only Kyle Juszczyk. Regardless of the exact compensation level, ‘Project Pat’ is set to remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.

Latest On Matt Ryan

March 21st, 2022 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

After being one of the runners-up to land Deshaun Watson, the Falcons face an important decision with their current quarterback. The team has “fielded trade calls” on Matt Ryan in the past few days, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

Today represents an important, if artificial, deadline, as Ryan has a $7.5MM roster bonus due at 4:00 PM Eastern time. The Falcons pushed that date back last week, as a means of making a trade for Watson more viable. With the Georgia native off to Cleveland, however, they now need to commit to their course of action with the franchise signal-caller.

Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds that the process of trade discussions pre-date Atlanta’s inclusion in the pursuit of Watson, and has continued throughout the weekend. As he notes, the largest hurdle to be cleared for any move to be possible is Ryan’s contract situation. The 36-year-old has two years remaining on his deal, with $51.7MM owed over that time, and cap hits of over $40MM in both seasons. The team was thought to have restructured his pact last week, but they have yet to officially process that move.

The Colts have been named as a potential landing spot for the former league MVP. As one of the only remaining teams with a vacant starting spot at the position – not to mention one willing to bring in accomplished but ageing veterans such as Philip Rivers – a trade to Indianapolis wouldn’t come as a surprise. On the other hand, they are said to be the preferred destination of Baker Mayfield, whose team has more reason to execute a trade. Between that, and the fact Mayfield is ten years younger and his contract is far less expensive, Ryan won’t be the only consideration for Indianapolis.

Ultimately, this situation could be resolved in the coming hours. If a deal doesn’t happen, it would point to Ryan remaining with the only franchise he’s been with. If it does, another QB domino will have fallen, and the Falcons’ succession plan at the position will begin.

Patriots To Re-Sign Trent Brown

March 21st, 2022 at 8:41am CST by Adam La Rose

Trent Brown will be continuing his second stint in New England. The veteran offensive tackle is signing a two-year deal with the Patriots, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). Brown signed a two-year, $11.5MM deal that offers an additional $10.5MM via incentives. The lineman will receive $4MM in guaranteed money, per Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter).

Brown, who will be 29 at the beginning of next season, returned to New England one year ago when he was traded from the Raiders. That ended a two-year stint in Oakland/Vegas, including the 2019 campaign in which he earned his only Pro Bowl nod.

That time was preceded by a single year spent with the Patriots, where he served as the team’s left tackle all season. Prior to that, he was the starting right tackle for the 49ers, who drafted him in 2015. The six-foot-eight, 380 pounder’s performances have fluctuated over the years, but he has generated notable interest for himself during his career. That was especially true after the 2021 campaign, in which he earned a PFF grade of 78.7.

It was reported last week that the Seahawks were interested in the former seventh-rounder. However, Brown himself made it clear he was still open to staying in New England. With this new deal, he is in line to remain a Patriot for multiple years, unlike his first go-round with the team. His deal is also a reaction to La’el Collins signing with Cincinnati; Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo reports (on Twitter) that New England was among the teams “making a push” for the former Cowboy.

The Patriots have seen two significant losses to their offensive front recently. They lost Ted Karras to the Bengals in free agency, and traded Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers. With Brown under contract, however, they have a familiar face in place to provide some continuity along the o-line.

Contract Details: Jackson, Muhammad, Nwosu

March 20th, 2022 at 10:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Rounding up a few contract details from recent deals:

Donte Jackson, CB (Panthers): Three-year, $35.18MM. The contract, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, has a guaranteed amount of $16.76MM consisting of an $11MM signing bonus and the first two years’ base salary of $1.04MM in 2022 and $4.72MM in 2023. On the third league day of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Jackson would be due $4MM roster bonuses. The deal also includes a per game active bonus of $100,000 that can earn him up to $1.7MM per season.
Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE (Bears): Two-year, $8MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $3.3MM consisting of a $1MM signing bonus, the first year’s base salary of $1.5MM, and the first year’s roster bonus of $800,000. Muhammad would be due an identical roster bonus on the third league day of 2023. He also has a per game active bonus of $35,294 for a potential season total of $600,000.
Uchenna Nwosu, DE (Seahawks): Two-year, $19.06MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $10.54MM consisting of a signing bonus of $9.5MM and the first year’s base salary of $1.04 MM. The second year’s base salary jumps to $7.5MM. The deal includes a per game active bonus of $30,000 for a potential season total of $510,000.

Keanu Neal Switching Back To Safety

March 20th, 2022 at 9:51pm CST by Ely Allen

Last offseason, when former-Falcons’ safety Keanu Neal followed his head coach to Dallas, the Cowboys announced they would move the former-Pro Bowler to linebacker. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, one year later, the now free agent is making the switch back to the secondary.

Neal spent five seasons in Atlanta as a safety, with three of those years being healthy. In all three of those healthy seasons, Neal topped 100 tackles, collecting 15.0 tackles for loss combined in those seasons, as well. So the position move initiated by Dallas made sense based on his tackling prowess.

In his lone year as a linebacker, Neal was third on the team in playing time and tackles among the linebackers behind Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and former-Pro Bowler Leighton Vander Esch. Parsons and Vander Esch functioned as the teams two starters with Neal playing a significant role as the first linebacker off the bench.

Now hitting the free agent market, and likely seeing the lack of movement for linebackers in free agency, Neal is prepared to make the move back to safety. Neal never quite got to his goal linebacker weight of 222 lb., so he should have no issue getting into safety-shape. Whatever position he signs as, his role on any new team will likely remain similar as a tackling machine with coverage ability.

Inside Linebacker Market

March 20th, 2022 at 8:52pm CST by Ely Allen

There are many inside linebackers waiting patiently on the open market. A wild first week of free agency has come and gone with other positions seeing record deals and big names moving. The market for inside linebackers, however, has been quiet and less than lucrative.

In years past, we’ve seen monster deals to players like C.J. Mosley, whose contract has an average annual value of $17MM and guaranteed him $43MM at signing, and Darius Leonard, whose contract has an average annual value of $19.7MM and guaranteed him $33MM at signing. The largest payout we’ve seen this offseason to an inside linebacker was when the Packers kept De’Vondre Campbell from entering free agency with a five-year, $50MM deal, with a guaranteed $15MM. It’s certainly an impressive deal, and one the esteemed linebacker deserves, but no other deals have come close.

After being cut by the Jaguars, Myles Jack signed a two-year, $16MM deal to become a Steeler. Josey Jewell remained with the Broncos after signing a two-year, $11MM deal. Minnesota’s new inside linebacker, Jordan Hicks, joined the Vikings on a two-year, $10MM contract. Christian Kirksey signed a similar deal to remain with the Texans. We’ve seen a few other small deals like Zaire Franklin signing a three-year, $10MM deal to remain in Indianapolis and Alex Anzalone signing a one-year, $2.25MM contract to play another year with the Lions.

While that may sound pretty active, there are many big names who have yet to find deals. The biggest of these names is Bobby Wagner. Cut after ten outstanding years in Seattle, Wagner was expected to be a highly sought after free agent. While there have been many teams who’ve voiced interest in the eight-time All-Pro, there has been no word of negotiations. Any deal Wagner signs will likely top the numbers posed by Campbell and the Packers, but the fact that he has yet to find a home may hint at the fact that the money he’s looking for isn’t being offered.

There are many other impact names on the open market: Kwon Alexander, Jayon Brown, Jarrad Davis, Dont’a Hightower, Anthony Hitchens, Nick Kwiatkoski, Reggie Ragland, Joe Schobert, and Danny Trevathan.

Due to the low spending we’ve seen thus far and the plethora of names available, these players will likely have to search for the right fit and accept a decent deal if offered. They may end up having to wait until injuries provide an opportunity for them to fill in on a roster. The exception, of course, is Wagner, who can afford to be patient. Wagner will have the luxury of being able to wait and see how rosters form throughout the league, biding his time until he’s sure he’s joining a contender. Look for the others to give up on looking for a lucrative payday and settle for decent deals from teams with schemes they like.

Panthers Sign Cory Littleton

March 20th, 2022 at 7:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cory Littleton has found his third NFL home. The Panthers announced on Sunday that they have signed the veteran linebacker. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds (on Twitter) that the deal is for one year and $2.6MM, with $2MM guaranteed.

Littleton, 28, started his career with the Rams in 2016. After two seasons playing primarily as a special-teamer, he took on a starting role the following year. Given the new opportunity, he put together two highly productive campaigns, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2018. In his final two years in Los Angeles, the former UDFA totalled 259 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

That production earned the former Washington Huskie a three-year contract worth over $35MM with the Raiders in 2020. However, his deal was re-worked three times during his two seasons with the team. As a result of the complicated financial situation that created – along with his solid, but unspectacular production – Littleton was released earlier this month.

In Carolina, Littleton will reunite with former college teammate Shaq Thompson and provide a veteran presence to an otherwise relatively young defense. Looking to rebuild his value closer to the level it was at two years ago, the short-term deal could give him an opportunity to do just that as the Panthers look to improve a unit which ranked second in the league in terms of yards per game allowed, but just 21st in scoring defense.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/22

March 20th, 2022 at 7:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves in the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Re-Signed: S DeAndre Houston-Carson

Chiefs Re-Sign DT Derrick Nnadi

March 20th, 2022 at 7:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs are bringing back another piece of their defensive front. As his agency announced (on Twitter), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi is re-signing in Kansas City.

Nnadi, who will be 26 by the beginning of next season, was a third round pick of the Chiefs in 2018. In the four seasons spent on his rookie contract, he has started 52 of 64 games, establishing himself as an important piece to the teams’ defensive line. Playing between 448 and 599 defensive snaps each campaign, he has carved out a consistent role on the team.

In 2021, Nnadi recorded 38 tackles and a career-high three sacks. In his career, he has only missed one game, meaning a new deal with the Chiefs should come as no surprise. While his PFF grades have fluctuated greatly during his career, his consistency in terms of availability, workload and production has certainly rubbed off on the Chiefs.

With Nnadi under contract, along with the two biggest pieces of the front seven in Chris Jones and Frank Clark, Kansas City’s defense looks to be capable of replicating its performance as a top-ten scoring unit from last season. For Nnadi personally, he will continue his stay playing a notable role on a team with which he already has a Super Bowl ring.

Chargers To Sign Gerald Everett

March 20th, 2022 at 6:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers have added another piece to their offense. The team is signing tight end Gerald Everett, as first reported by his agency and ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that the veteran is getting a two-year, $12MM contract.

Rapoport further details that the deal includes $8MM in guarantees, and can reach a maximum value of $13.5MM. The move marks a return to Los Angeles, as Everett was drafted by the Rams in 2017. He spent four seasons there, making incremental progress in terms of production each year.

Everett’s consistency earned him another deal in the NFC West. He inked a one-year, $6MM contract with the Seahawks last offseason. He responded by posting career highs in receptions (48), yards (478) and touchdowns (four). That made him a useful secondary piece to the Seahawks’ passing game, and earned him a similarly-valued pact that’s twice as long.

With Everett in place, he will take over from Jared Cook, who posted almost identical numbers to Everett in his lone season with the Chargers last year. While Everett will be slightly more expensive, he should fit in as an effective compliment to wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in Los Angeles’ highly productive passing attack.