2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Month: March 2022

Patriots, Panthers Discuss Robby Anderson

March 5th, 2022 at 2:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Patriots completed a decent bounce-back effort last season, they did not equip Mac Jones with much help at the wide receiver position. New England might address that need with a veteran.

The Pats contacted the Panthers on Robby Anderson, per The Athletic’s Joe Person and Jeff Howe (Twitter link). No deal is imminent, Person tweets, but after Anderson regressed last year, the team is “more than willing” to listen. The Panthers gave Anderson a two-year, $29.5MM extension before last season.

While Carolina’s quarterback situation was not exactly conducive to wideout production, D.J. Moore still surpassed 1,100 yards. Anderson slid from 1,096 with Teddy Bridgewater in 2020 to a career-worst 519 during the Panthers’ chaotic QB season. The Patriots are certainly familiar with Anderson’s work, from his four Jets seasons. Anderson, who will turn 29 in May, is due $10MM and $8.8MM base salaries over the next two years.

No Pats receiver topped 900 yards last season, and ex-UDFA Jakobi Meyers has led the team in receiving in each of the two post-Tom Brady years. Meyers can be kept in 2022 via RFA tender, while the Pats have 2021 additions Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne under contract. Bourne is signed through 2023, with Agholor’s deal up after the ’22 slate. Agholor finished with just 473 yards last season — fourth-most on the team — despite signing a two-year, $26MM accord. His cap number is set to spike from $6.9MM last year to $14.9MM in 2022. N’Keal Harry remains a Patriot, but the former first-rounder has never factored in prominently in this offense.

New England has not been shy about trading for wideouts in recent years. Brandin Cooks, Mohamed Sanu, Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett came to Foxborough via trade since 2017. It will be interesting to see if other names pop up beyond Anderson for the wideout-needy team.

Latest On Aaron Rodgers’ Future

March 5th, 2022 at 12:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The biggest domino yet to fall in the quarterback market remains Aaron Rodgers. What he decides regarding his playing future – and where he will next be suiting up, most importantly – will be the top storyline in the league, and will have course have a dramatic impact on the rest of the offseason.

Despite the start of the new league year getting closer by the day, the reigning MVP is still “truly torn on where he wants to play in 2022” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). He adds that while staying in Green Bay is a distinct possibility, Rodgers is “going back and forth on what he wants”. Rapoport lists Denver as “the other spot he’d want to be“, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the degree to which the Broncos were linked to him especially after the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as head coach.

On that point, Mike Florio of Pro Football talk has reported that the Broncos are among multiple AFC teams which “have trade compensation lined up with the Packers”. He names the Titans and Steelers as other “viable possibilities”, noting that each club, as would be expected, is likely to have a new contract for Rodgers which would “fall into place quickly”. CBS’ Jason La Canfora also reports (via Twitter) that Green Bay has been contacted by those teams, adding that the Packers would ask for a “massive return” if they do trade him.

However, Adam Schefter of ESPN tweets that the Packers are not currently engaged in trade talks of any kind, given that Rodgers still hasn’t made a firm commitment yet. Still, he is quick to add that a deal “will be easy enough” to get done if and when Rodgers asks to be moved.

Earlier this week, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst stated the team has “not at all” been in discussion with interested teams regarding his quarterback. Not long before that, it was reported that the two sides were working on a short-term extension to keep him in Green Bay, while making him the highest-paid player in the league.

If Rodgers sticks to his original intention of making a final decision before the new league year begins on March 16th, a resolution to this situation will be coming sooner rather than later. Regardless of what happens, the ripples of that decision will be felt throughout the league for this season and likely beyond.

Cardinals Want Both James Conner And Chase Edmonds Back

March 5th, 2022 at 10:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Regardless of how the Cardinals handle quarterback Kyler Murray‘s contract situation, they have big decisions to make at a number of other positions. One of those is running back, where the possibility exists for both James Conner and Chase Edmonds to leave in free agency. If he has his way, though, general manager Steve Keim would bring back the pair.

When speaking to the media, Keim said “it’s no secret, having James and Chase, in a perfect world, we’d want them both back”. He was quick to add, however, that “it’s a business and we’ll see what happens”. Conner has indicated a willingness to stay with the Cardinals, something that the team should make a high priority, given his success last year.

After getting a second chance to be a starter, the former Steeler put up 752 yards on the ground, along with 375 yards in the passing game. More notably, he scored 18 total touchdowns, ranking him second in the league behind only Jonathan Taylor. That makes him the likelier tailback to be given a new deal, one which would probably be worth more than the $1.75MM he played for in 2021.

As for Edmonds, he posted a career-high 903 scrimmage yards in 2021, despite missing five games. Injuries limited the amount of time both he and Conner were available simultaneously, but the tandem would have plenty of potential if both were to be re-signed. With Eno Benjamin on the roster, though, the Cardinals may already have Edmonds’ successor in place.

Ultimately, Keim reiterated his desire to keep the known commodities at the position, adding “I understand that analytically, it tells you that the best backs come as a whole in rounds three through six, but at the same time, when you have one that is a difference-maker or you think is special or brings something to the table like leadership and toughness, it’s hard to put a price on those guys”.

Saints, Marcus Williams Eyeing Long-Term Deal

March 5th, 2022 at 9:57am CST by Adam La Rose

With the deadline for teams to apply franchise tags approaching, more and more news is coming out regarding which way teams are leaning with their key free agents. In the case of New Orleans and safety Marcus Williams, a second tag is not likely, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link).

Williams, 25, played on the tag last season after attempts to reach a long-term agreement came up short. As a result, Fowler notes, he “does not expect” to be tagged a second time. Instead, the Saints’ preference would once again be to get a long-term extension done. Williams has started all 76 games he’s played in during his five seasons in New Orleans, including another productive campaign in 2021.

In 16 contests, Williams recorded a career-high 74 tackles, along with two interceptions and eight pass breakups; he also had his best season in terms of coverage statistics, allowing a completion percentage under 50% for the first time. For his career, he has totalled 15 picks and 38 pass deflections, making the former second rounder a key member of the Saints’ secondary. Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano notes that a second tag would cost $12.73MM in 2022, if the Saints were to ultimately go that route (Twitter link).

In related news, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic tweets that a tag is also not expected for left tackle Terron Armstead. If the three time Pro Bowler were to hit the open market, he would be among the most sought-after offensive linemen in free agency. With plenty of work done just to get under the cap, then, the Saints face a tough road to keep two key pieces of their team under contract for the foreseeable future.

NFC Coaching Notes: 49ers, Rams, Vikings, Giants

March 5th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Kyle Shanahan has had to deal with quite a bit of turnover on his coaching staff this offseason. One of the most notable additions was made last night, however. According to his (now former) ESPN colleague Adam Schefter, San Francisco has brought in Brian Griese to become the team’s new quarterbacks coach (Twitter link).

This marks the first time the 46-year-old will hold a coaching role at the college or NFL level. He had followed in his father’s footsteps in terms of transitioning from a playing career to the broadcast booth. He initially joined ESPN’s college crew, before being brought on to the Monday Night Football broadcast team in 2020. That followed an 11-year career in the NFL, including five seasons with the Broncos where he won a Super Bowl as John Elway’ s backup.

The former Rose Bowl MVP will replace Rich Scangarello, who left the Bay Area to become the offensive coordinator at Kentucky. His first season on the sidelines will be an important one, with the team expected to transition to Trey Lance as their new starting QB. How quickly he meshes with Shanahan – who was on the Bucs’ staff when Griese played in Tampa – will be critical to the team’s success in 2022.

Here are some other notes from the NFC:

Before hiring Griese, San Francisco interviewed ex-Bears QBs coach John Defilippo “and a few others”, according to Sirius XM’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). In related 49ers’ news, running backs coach Bobby Turner will take this season off to rehab from two surgeries. However, the 72-year-old intends to return in 2023, tweets David Lombardi of The Athletic.
Staying in the NFC West, Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown will transition from coaching running backs to tight ends, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic (Twitter link). He will be a valuable staffer for Sean McVay, who has also lost a number of assistants in 2022; Brown will hire his replacement.
The Vikings have announced several additions to their staff, as noted by Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter). Among them are Tony Sorrentino as an assistant WRs coach, Derron Montgomery as an offensive quality control coach and Ryan Cordell as a passing game specialist. On the defense side of the ball, the Vikings are bringing in A’Lique Terry to assist on the defensive line, as well as Steve Donatell – the son of new DC Ed Donatell – as a defensive quality control coach.
The Giants have hired Angela Baker to be an offensive quality control coach, per a team announcement. She is the first recipient of the Rosie Brown Minority Coaching Fellowship, and joins Laura Young as the other woman on the team’s staff.

Kayvon Thibodeaux Could Fall In The Draft

March 4th, 2022 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

When the college season began, many felt Kayvon Thibodeaux was a lock for a top-five pick, if not to go first overall in this April’s draft. Now, however, other prospects have emerged to the point where questions are being asked about his safety at the top of the board. As Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network writes, many within scouting circles are raising red flags about him.

Pauline notes that concerns related to Thibodeaux’s work rate on a play-to-play basis popped up within team members at Oregon this past season. He adds, “that same criticism has been expressed here at the Combine by scouts”. While playing through an ankle injury, he points out, Thibodeaux added to his impressive production, notching seven sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Over his three years in Eugene, those totals sit at 19 and 35.5, respectively.

Between those those statistics and his frame – six-foot-five, 258 pounds – Thibodeaux is still seen as having an extremely high ceiling. However, more emphasis than usual is being placed on his team interviews, according to Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports. He notes that concerns are being raised regarding “his effort on the field and whether his big personality will be a perfect fit with every locker room”.

For his part, Thibodeaux responded to questions about his intensity level by saying: “I feel like when you talk about fire, fire is kind of correlated to what someone has in the heart. And I don’t feel like anyone else can dictate what a person has in the heart. So I don’t really look into it. I know it’s entertainment, I know everybody has a job to do. But I do feel like the Combine is going to be a place where I can put all of the questions to rest”.

During the interview process, he has listed Jadeveon Clowney as a comparable: “I mean, he’s a guy who was great, but he didn’t have all the skills and the tools as far as… pass-rush skills and things like that… I feel like I’m kind of a build off of him. I’m like Jadeveon 2.0″. The fact that questions are already being asked if Thibodeaux could be the next physically-gifted edge rusher who doesn’t live up to the hype makes that comparison a striking one.

Thibodeaux will have the chance – along with other highly-touted edge rushers, including Aidan Hutchinson – to showcase himself further at the Combine on Saturday.

“Multiple Teams” Interested In Derek Carr

March 4th, 2022 at 8:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

With plenty of questions surrounding the biggest names who may or may not be on the quarterback market, other signal callers have generated buzz. One of those is Derek Carr, whose future has been thought to be in doubt given his contract status and the arrival of a new regime in Las Vegas. Not surprisingly, then, Vincent Bonsignore of The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (via Twitter) that there could be a trade market developing for him.

Specifically, Bonsignore states that “multiple teams have expressed interest” in Carr. Again, that doesn’t come as a surprise, given that he only has one year remaining on his current deal. At a cap hit under $20MM, he would be an appealing acquisition for a number of teams looking for at least a bridge QB in the short- to medium-term. However, new head coach Josh McDaniels said earlier this week there was “no doubt” Carr would remain the Raiders’ starter in 2022.

Once it had been announced that McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were being hired, there was a reported “mutual admiration” between Carr – who will be 31 by the beginning of next season – and the new men in charge. He set a career high in passing yards last year with 4,804, adding 23 touchdowns while completing over 68% of his passes. Most importantly, he made his playoff debut in his eighth season, all with the Raiders.

While all signs point to Carr remaining in Vegas, Bonsignore adds that outside interest should “continue to heat up” as long as Carr’s future beyond 2022 remains up in the air. Between contract talks, and other QB dominoes falling in the coming days and weeks, more clarity on this situation could be coming soon.

Chargers Willing To Use Franchise Tag On Mike Williams

March 4th, 2022 at 7:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

If he were to hit free agency, Mike Williams would be in line for a lucrative new contract, either with the Chargers of another club. It appears that won’t be the case, however. Tyler Dragon of USA Today reports that “the Chargers are prepared to franchise tag” him in the absence of a long-term deal (Twitter link).

The former top-ten pick played out his fifth year option in 2021 without inking a new deal at any point. That didn’t come as a surprise, as it was reported before the beginning of the season that both sides seemed content to wait until this offseason. That decision likely earned the 27-year-old a notable payday.

Williams posted career highs in catches (76) and yards (1,146) this campaign, adding nine touchdowns, the second-most times he’s found the endzone in a season. It was the second time he eclipsed 1,000 yards, and the first since the Bolts drafted quarterback Justin Herbert. He helped the Chargers rank second in the league in passing yards, and fifth overall in scoring.

In 2022, the cost of a franchise tag is set to be $19.1MM for receivers. That would be a sizeable increase from the $15.7MM Williams earned playing out the option last season; perhaps more notably, it would also outpace the money due to No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen in each of the next two seasons. Still, a longer deal somewhere around that figure is a possibility, even if the team tags Williams next week to buy more time for negotiations.

Either on the tag, or as the beginning of a lengthier second contract, the Chargers can certainly afford to keep their dynamic receiver tandem intact. They are currently scheduled to have more than $56MM in cap space, with Allen under contract until 2025 and Herbert still on his rookie deal. Williams’ absence from the free agent market would be noteworthy, though it would still leave the likes of Davante Adams, Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson potentially in line for new homes.

If for some reason Williams should hit the open market, the division-rival Chiefs would be prepared to pounce. Per Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network, Kansas City is among the teams that have done their due diligence on Williams, and KC would love the chance to pair Williams’ size and big-play ability with Tyreek Hill, which would certainly keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night. That seems like an unlikely scenario, but it’s worth nothing nonetheless, as it suggests that the Chiefs could be in the market for other FA receivers as well.

Beasley adds that a long-term accord between Williams and the Chargers is not imminent at this point, so it looks like the franchise tag will be forthcoming.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Packers Nearing New Deal With Preston Smith?

March 4th, 2022 at 6:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers have plenty of work to do as they try to get under the salary cap for the 2022 season. One step they can take towards compliance – not to mention keep a key piece to their defense in Green Bay – is giving edge rusher Preston Smith a new contract.

According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, that could be exactly what happens in the near future. He reports that “things seem to be moving quickly and smoothly” with respect to a new deal. Smith, 29, has one year remaining on his current pact. In part as a result of a 2021 restructure, however, both his salary and cap number are set to spike significantly. He is currently slated to count for just under $20MM against the cap next season.

For that reason, Pauline predicts that any new pact would include “more upfront money” this season as a means of spreading that cap hit over future years. Arriving at a value for said contract could be difficult for the Packers, however. Putting aside their current complicated financial situation, Smith’s 2021 season fell in between his best and worst in Green Bay in terms of production. In 16 games, he totalled 38 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles – better than the previous campaign, but short of his career year in 2019.

Of course, money could be easier to come by for the Packers if they hold true to previous reports that fellow edge rusher Za’Darius Smith won’t be brought back at his current cap figure. Reducing that number (currently set to be $27.6MM) could open the door not only to keeping that Smith in Green Bay, but Preston as well. In any case, Pauline expects a new contract for the latter to be finalized “sooner rather than later”.

Assuming a new deal can be reached, the Packers would be guaranteed at least two-thirds of the pass rush triumvirate consisting of both Smiths and Rashan Gary being in place for 2022. Especially if it were to lower his cap hit, a renegotiated contract would of course also help the team keep as many key pieces in place as they can, in an attempt to keep their Super Bowl window open as long as possible.

Panthers Restructure Taylor Moton’s Contract

March 4th, 2022 at 5:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers continue to make key decisions on their own roster in the lead-up to free agency. Today, that consisted not of an extension for one of their players, but another move which nevertheless frees up cap space. Per a team announcement, they have re-worked the contract of right tackle Taylor Moton.

As a simple restructure, Moton’s compensation ($16MM) will stay the same for 2022. However, by prorating part of the deal over the remainder of its length, the team has pushed some of his cap hit down the road. Joe Person of The Athletic tweets that the move has created $11MM in cap space for this season.

Less than one year ago, Moton signed a four-year, $72MM contract after Carolina placed the franchise tag on him. At just under $18MM per year on average, it placed him amongst the highest-paid right tackles in the league, and one of the best compensated offensive linemen in general. The commitment came after Moton, 27, established himself as one of not only the NFL’s most talented, but also most durable linemen. That trend continued in 2021, where he appeared in all 17 games, playing over 1,000 snaps for the fourth straight campaign. PFF credits him with just one sack allowed, and five penalties committed.

Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network adds that, as a result of the move, $3.7MM in cap charges will be added to each of the remaining years on the contract, beginning in 2023. Moton’s base salaries are scheduled to be under that original $18MM average, with sizeable roster bonuses due on the third day of each new league year until 2026.

This grants the Panthers more flexibility for the coming weeks. They have already gotten new deals done with some of their pending free agents, most notably tight end Ian Thomas and linebacker Frankie Luvu. They still have 19 UFAs though, and, with mounting pressure on head coach Matt Rhule to start winning, could be at least targeted spenders on the open market.

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