2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles, Falcons Nearly Completed Calvin Ridley Trade

March 10th, 2022 at 3:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Calvin Ridley‘s gambling suspension, which comes after his extended 2021 hiatus, has thrown his career off course. But the former first-round pick had generated trade interest prior to the ban.

The Eagles discussed Ridley with the Falcons, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, who notes the sides nearly completed a deal (Twitter link). The Falcons backed out of the talks, with Glazer adding the NFC South team did not say why. The looming suspension, which became known this week, almost certainly played a role in scuttling the trade. Indeed, the Falcons learning of this significant Ridley hurdle factored into the trade not happening, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, noting the Eagles were in the lead among Ridley suitors this offseason.

While the Eagles have used first-round picks on wide receivers in each of the past two years, they can still be considered needy at the position. DeVonta Smith has fared far better than Jalen Reagor, and despite the NFL expanding its season to 17 games, Philly only saw one wideout (Smith) surpass 650 receiving yards in 2021. The Eagles also appear to have whiffed with their 2019 second-round pick of J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. It is safe to say the Eagles will add a notable name here this offseason, potentially with one of their three first-round picks. But Ridley is certainly off the radar for the foreseeable future.

Ridley joined Hall of Famers Paul Hornung and Alex Karras, former Colts first-round quarterback Art Schlichter and cornerback Josh Shaw as NFL players suspended for gambling. Ridley’s fifth-year option will toll to 2023, keeping him tied to the Falcons. Though, it is far from certain if he will ever play with Atlanta again. Ridley will be 28 when next eligible to play.

After surpassing 800 yards in each of his first two seasons, Ridley broke out for 1,374 and nine touchdown catches in 2020, a season in which Julio Jones struggled with a hamstring injury. Ridley landed on the Falcons’ Non-Football Injury list last year, stepping away from the team because of a mental health issue. Trade rumblings regarding Ridley surfaced in January, and the Eagles were one of the teams to pursue a swap. But the Alabama alum’s stock has undoubtedly taken a hit this week, leaving the Falcons shorthanded at receiver. Russell Gage is set to hit free agency next week.

Falcons Want To Re-Sign Foyesade Oluokun

March 10th, 2022 at 3:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the Falcons let De’Vondre Campbell walk in 2020, Foyesade Oluokun moved into his role as a three-down linebacker alongside Deion Jones. Oluokun has produced consistently throughout the past two seasons and is poised to generate interest as a first-time free agent next week.

The Falcons want to retain Oluokun, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, but his market may reach the eight-figure-per-year level. The NFL’s reigning tackles leader will “most likely” surpass the $10MM AAV mark, Pelissero notes.

Not missing any time last season, Oluokun racked up 192 tackles — the NFL’s highest single-season total since the 1990s. The 17th game being implemented in 2021 helped various stat totals last season, and linebackers are judged on more than their tackle production. Pro Football Focus did not grade Oluokun particularly well in 2021. Still, that is an eye-popping tackle number for a player who is a former sixth-round pick out of Yale. The speedy off-ball ‘backer has also totaled five interceptions — one of which a game-winning INT against the Lions late last season — and five sacks since taking over as a starter in 2020.

Atlanta already has Jones tied to a high-end linebacker deal and currently has Matt Ryan set to carry the largest cap hit in NFL history ($48.7MM). As of Thursday, the Falcons hold barely $4MM in cap space. Oluokun and other off-ball linebackers will benefit from the position’s market growing last year, via the extensions for Darius Leonard and Fred Warner, and the cap rising by nearly $26MM. Oluokun, 26, will be one of the top young linebacker options on this year’s market, which will also include Campbell, who is coming off an All-Pro season.

Christian Kirk In Line For Sizeable Free Agent Deal?

March 10th, 2022 at 2:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals have been a topic of conversation largely due to the Kyler Murray situation. They have a number of other pressing matters on their roster, though, including some key decisions in the wide receiver room. NFL Network’s Tom Pelisseo lists Christian Kirk as someone who could fetch a large offer on the open market if he leaves Arizona.

Specifically, Rapoport states that “it wouldn’t be a shock” if Kirk, 25, were to land a contract of $15MM per year or more. That figure far outweighs the cap space Arizona currently has (just under $5.5MM), which – coupled with the other moves the team figures to make in the coming days and weeks – points to Kirk hitting the open market.

A second round pick in 2018, Kirk put up solid complimentary numbers in his first three seasons in the desert. His best campaign of that stretch came in 2019, when he posted 69 catches for 709 yards. He took a step forward in 2021, however, notching career-highs in receptions (77) and yards (982) while finding the endzone five times. This season was the first in which Kirk played a full campaign.

While the Cardinals may be inclined to let Kirk walk if he received sizeable offers from other teams, doing so could leave them surprisingly short on pass catchers. Behind DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore, the next wideout under contract for 2022 (assuming Andy Isabella is traded) is Antoine Wesley. Veteran A.J. Green, along with tight end Zach Ertz are both pending free agents, though they could each conceivably be brought back considering their production last year.

If Kirk does sign a lucrative contract as Pelissero suggests, it would be one of the most notable deals within a free agent class which has, in recent days, shrunk in size to include the likes of Allen Robinson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and DJ Chark. It would also likely leave the Cardinals in search of a less expensive complementary piece to maintain one of the league’s most potent passing attacks.

The MLB Lockout Is Over

March 10th, 2022 at 2:46pm CST by Darragh McDonald

The MLB lockout is finally over! That means we’re about to experience an unprecedented free agent and trade frenzy leading up to Opening Day on April 7. Head on over to MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors on Twitter) to keep up with all of the action!

There are still many big-name free agents who will have to sign new contracts soon, from Carlos Correa to Freddie Freeman to Kris Bryant and many more.

The trade market will be active too! Matt Olson of the A’s is the top name expected to be on the move. The A’s, Reds, and Mets will likely be in the thick of it.

Check out MLB Trade Rumors for all of the latest hot stove action! Just before the lockout began, it was one of the wildest flurries of offseason activity in recent memory, and the post-lockout frenzy might take it up a notch! Follow the action on Facebook and Twitter.

Saints Re-Sign Carl Granderson

March 10th, 2022 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints easily could have kept Carl Granderson on a low-cost, one-year deal. Instead, they’ve re-signed the exclusive rights free agent to a brand new two-year pact worth upwards of $5MM (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).

The first half of the pact will pay Granderson $965K, the same as his would-be ERFA salary. But, after that, the defensive end will earn $4.3MM in 2023. That’s roughly in line with what the second-round restricted free agent tender should be next offseason.

The deal, which also includes a $240K signing bonus, shows how much the Saints value the young edge rusher. Still only 25 (26 in December), Granderson has managed eight sacks between the last two seasons, despite playing mostly as a reserve.

The Wyoming product went undrafted in 2019 following criminal charges. Recognizing his talent, the Saints rolled the dice and signed him to their expanded 90-man roster. So far, that’s all paid off as Granderson has played a key role in the edge rotation. That role may expand even further now — even after today’s cap magic, the Saints are still $30MM+ over the cap, which means that some high-priced defenders will have to be traded or released.

Cowboys Discussing La’el Collins Trade

March 10th, 2022 at 1:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are engaged in active trade talks involving tackle La’el Collins (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Collins, who is due $10MM in 2022, has drawn interest from multiple teams, RapSheet hears.

Pro Football Focus graded Collins as one of the NFL’s best right tackles in 2019. After that, he missed 21 of his next 22 possible games. First came the hip injury which wiped out his 2020 season. Then, in 2021, Collins missed time with a neck injury and a five-game suspension. According to the NFL, Collins attempted to bribe a drug test official last year.

Collins came back in the fall, first as a left guard before moving back to the outside. From a football perspective, Collins’ contract is a bargain — he’s locked in through 2024 at $10MM/year. The going rate for tackles of his caliber and age group (29) is significantly higher.

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys are hoping that DeMarcus Lawrence will agree to a pay cut. Currently, the edge rusher is scheduled to earn $17MM in base salary for 2022. If they drop the rest of his five-year, $100MM+ extension and use the post-June 1 designation, they can carve out $19MM in cap room for the coming year.

Latest On Rams’ Pending Free Agents

March 10th, 2022 at 1:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

If the Rams hope to repeat as Super Bowl champions, they face a number of key decisions in the coming days. They have money still to be shed, but a number of free agents left to re-sign.

The biggest names amongst said free agents are Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. The former made an impact on the Rams’ defense after being traded for mid-season. He registered five sacks in eight regular season games in L.A., adding another four in the playoffs. The 32-year-old earned himself a hefty payday, regardless of where he ends up.

According to Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic (subscription required), the Rams may be able to keep both in the fold. She writes that the team is “confident” their offer to Miller “will be enough to convince him to stay”. She adds that said proposal is thought to be worth between $14MM and $16MM per year over a span of “perhaps” two years, though that salary figure “doesn’t seem to have a hard ceiling”. The three-time All Pro has expressed an interest in staying, but he also plans to at least test the open market, which could very well include a return to Denver.

As for Beckham, Rodrigue notes that the team is staying flexible with respect to contract offers, though it does seem inevitable he will remain there, as was previously reported. She names center Brian Allen as one more significant pending free agent the Rams could try to find the money to retain.

On the other hand, there are noteworthy players who seemed destined to land deals elsewhere, in no small part as a result of the team’s preference to keep Miller and Beckham. Among those Rodrigue predicts will find new homes is defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. The 26-year-old played a career-high 69% of snaps this year, notching three sacks. Another is cornerback Darious Williams, whom she reports could land a deal valued at upwards of $10MM per season despite a down year in 2021.

Projected to be more than $20MM over the cap at this point, the Rams clearly have work to do. If all goes according to plan, however, they could still field one of the most talented teams in the NFL next year.

Lions To Release Trey Flowers

March 10th, 2022 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions are set to release outside linebacker Trey Flowers, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). The Lions first tried to trade the veteran (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), but they ultimately weren’t able to find a suitable deal.

With his outright release, Flowers will be a full-fledged unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team. However, that won’t become official until the first day of the league year (next week), as noted by Birkett. In theory, Flowers could still be traded between now and then, though his contract will probably be a blocker.

Flowers came up with the Patriots, where he missed all but one game in his rookie year. After that, he tallied 21 sacks and 25 tackles for loss across three full seasons. The Lions snagged him in the 2019 offseason, inking the edge rusher to a five-year, $90MM deal. His first year went well with seven sacks and eight total tackles for loss. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered him the last two years — he suited up in just 14 total games between 2020 and 2021.

By releasing the edge rusher, the Lions can save $10.4MM against $12.85MM in dead money. They can also spread out that dead money hit with the post-June 1 designation, which would kick roughly half of it to the 2023 books.

Flowers, 29 in August, had just 1.5 sacks in his partial season. Still, he has youth on his side, ample starting experience, and a career tally of 31.5 sacks.

49ers, Rams, Cards Interested In Bobby Wagner

March 10th, 2022 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like Bobby Wagner won’t be out of work for long. The 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals are interested in the longtime Seahawks linebacker, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

Those NFC West teams are already familiar with what Wagner brings to the table, especially since they’ve each faced him twice per regular season. Of course, they still have to consider the finances. In the case of the star-studded Rams, there’s no room to give Wagner the type of deal he was playing under before. They won’t approach his old $16MM/year contract, but Jourdan Rodrigue of TheAthletic.com hears that they are willing to go into the $4MM-$5MM range. That may or may not work for Wagner, who would also have to cede snaps to youngster Ernest Jones.

Wagner, 32 in June, spent his entire career in Seattle, up until yesterday’s release. The 2012 second-round pick was a pillar of the Seahawks’ D from the jump, starting 15 games as a rookie and 150 games to date. His tenure also saw 16 playoff starts, including the post-2013 campaign which ended in a Super Bowl.

All together, Wagner leaves the Seahawks as an eight-time All Pro and the franchise’s’ all-time leader in total tackles. Now, the Seahawks could be on the verge of seeing him at least twice in 2022.

Dolphins Set To Be Aggressive In Upgrading Offense

March 10th, 2022 at 11:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Changes to the Dolphins’ offense have already begun on the sidelines, principally with the hiring of Mike McDaniel as head coach. On the field, the team is preparing to add significant pieces to the unit, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (video link).

In 2021, the team ranked 22nd in the league in points and 26th in yards, so there is certainly room for improvement in addition to developing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Wolfe names Amari Cooper as someone the team is “watching closely” in the event he is cut from the Cowboys. Given the lack of teams interested in trading for the four-time Pro Bowler – and taking on the weighty cap hit his contract carries as a result – it seems likely he will be released.

If that happens, Miami will certainly have competition to land such an accomplished wideout. With more than $50MM of unused space, however, the team will certainly have the spending power to offer Cooper a deal that would at least be close to what he would have made with the Cowboys. In any event, Wolfe notes that the Dolphins are looking to add a third impact piece to their pass-catching corps, in addition to Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki.

With that said, Wolfe names the offensive line as the team’s “top priority”. With the potential for upgrades existing across the front, the team is looking at free agents at each position. Chief among those is tackle Terron Armstead; perhaps the top free agent of any kind this year, the Dolphins would, like with Cooper, need to win a bidding war for his services. Interior options they are watching reportedly include guard Laken Tomlinson and center Ryan Jensen, other established veterans who would help in both run blocking and pass protection.

Whether along the offensive line or amongst skill-position options, the Dolphins are set up to make at least one notable signing next week. Who that will be – and what further moves the team makes – will certainly be worth keeping an eye on in the coming days.