2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins GM: Door Shut On Deshaun Watson

March 2nd, 2022 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The runaway leaders in last year’s Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, the Dolphins have officially bowed out. GM Chris Grier confirmed Wednesday the “door is shut” on a trade for the Texans’ star quarterback, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe tweets.

Grier endorsed Tua Tagovailoa‘s progress ahead of his third season, following new HC Mike McDaniel in that regard. With the Dolphins being the only team for which Watson waived his no-trade clause, this opens up the playing field. Watson, of course, remains embroiled in the off-field scandals that have thrown his career off course. The timetable for resolutions in Watson’s civil and criminal cases remains murky, with a lengthy NFL suspension perhaps looming.

Buzz about the Dolphins acquiring Watson amid his off-field trouble intensified ahead of the 2021 trade deadline, when they were the only team left standing. Watson did not waive his no-trade clause for the Eagles or Panthers at that point. Stephen Ross was believed to have pushed Grier and Co. for weeks to finalize a Watson deal, but the Dolphins wanted conditions attached to the draft picks exchanged in the swap. No deal came to pass, and it has now been more than a year since Watson’s trade request surfaced.

Watson was reported to be interested in the Buccaneers and Vikings as destinations, and the Panthers — who showed considerable interest before the accusations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault emerged — still loom for the ex-Clemson superstar.

The Dolphins targeted Tagovailoa for over a year and were in position to land him due to the hip injury sustained late in the southpaw’s Alabama career. Of course, the Dolphins tried to pivot to Joe Burrow, offering the Bengals three first-rounders to move up in 2020, but were rebuffed. This QB pursuit has emerged in Flores’ lawsuit, which accused Ross of offering six-figure payments for 2019 losses.

The team will aim to move past these major headlines and build around Tagovailoa, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency as a pro. The Dolphins, however, saw receiver unavailability and a bottom-tier offensive line hinder Tua’s development last season. The Watson pursuit almost certainly affected the passer as well. It seems the Dolphins will try to give their starter a legitimate chance to succeed next season.

Ravens GM: Lamar Jackson Not Actively Pursuing Extension

March 2nd, 2022 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens have become the rare team to go four seasons with a star quarterback tied to a rookie contract. Lamar Jackson played the 2021 season for $1.8MM and is going into his fifth-year option season still attached to his 2018 rookie pact.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta indicated the young quarterback has not been especially aggressive in pursuing an extension, one the team is ready to discuss.

“I think it takes two sides to actively put their heads together and get a deal worked out,” DeCosta said, via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley. “We are ready to be there for Lamar at any point when he decides that he really wants to work on it, we will be.”

Last month, DeCosta labeled these as unusual extension talks due to Jackson being without an agent. DeCosta has spoken with Jackson via text just once over the past month. The Ravens have gone from treating this extension as a formality in 2021 to being less certain here, Hensley adds, due to the lack of progress. John Harbaugh said back in January 2021 a Jackson extension would occur during the 2021 or ’22 offseasons. We are now on the back half of that timeline.

While Baker Mayfield joins Jackson as an un-extended 2018 first-round QB, Jackson resides on a different tier in terms of ability. Josh Allen landed his extension before the start of his fourth season, following many recent young QBs on that timetable.

By virtue of his accomplishments, Jackson’s cap number will spike from $3MM in 2021 to $23.1MM in 2022. The sides began negotiations in April of last year, and Jackson said last May he wanted to be a Raven for the rest of his career. He is positioned to approach Patrick Mahomes‘ $45MM-per-year accord, though this is rather an interesting negotiation due to Jackson’s skillset. Although other mobile quarterbacks have signed big-ticket extensions since Mahomes’ contract came to pass, none reside in Jackson’s league regarding run-game usage. That adds a key wrinkle here regarding the potential length of Jackson’s prime. Jackson’s 615 carries since 2018 pace the quarterback field by nearly 200 in that span, compiling that total despite not taking over as Baltimore’s starter until midway through his rookie year and missing five games in 2021.

The 2019 MVP has established himself as one of the NFL’s top QBs, though the Ravens were only able to win one playoff game during one of the best bargain periods in modern NFL history. Jackson will no longer reside as a bargain in 2022, and the Ravens will have the franchise tag at their disposal in 2023.

Bills Interested In Rob Gronkowski

March 2nd, 2022 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Long tethered to Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski has not informed the Buccaneers he is retiring just yet. Another contending team is interested to see if Gronk would continue his career now that his longtime quarterback has retired.

The Bills are interested in adding Gronkowski as a free agent, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Buffalo discussed a deal with Gronk last year, but the future Hall of Famer opted to rejoin Brady in Tampa for the Bucs’ title-defense season.

Gronkowski, 32, is a Buffalo-area native who naturally grew up a Bills fan. He has also been connected to another AFC team with a young star at quarterback. Gronk mentioned teaming up with Joe Burrow last month. The Bills have their own blossoming QB standout in Josh Allen, and pairing Gronkowski and Dawson Knox would represent a formidable tight end duo alongside the team’s Stefon Diggs-led wideout corps.

Despite missing five games due to injury, Gronkowski was more productive in his second Bucs season. The all-time great surpassed his 2020 numbers by catching 55 passes for 802 yards. Gronk made it through all 20 Bucs games in 2020 and came up big for Brady in Super Bowl LV, catching two touchdown passes in Tampa Bay’s romp. Gronk’s 15 playoff touchdown catches rank only behind Jerry Rice‘s 22 in NFL history.

The Bucs traded for Gronkowski, who unretired after missing the 2019 season, in 2020 and then re-signed him last year as part of their run-it-back effort. Gronk played on a one-year, $8MM agreement. Gronk said in late January he would say no to playing a 12th NFL season, and Bruce Arians said Tuesday it is not certain the two-year Bucs contributor wants to play again (Twitter link via Pewter Report). But Arians noted Gronk has been coming to the team’s facility twice a week for workouts. That and Gronk’s Burrow comments certainly indicate a curiosity in extending his career post-Brady.

Cardinals Shopping WR Andy Isabella

March 2nd, 2022 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being a second-round pick, Andy Isabella has been unable to carve out a consistent role with the Cardinals. The team has given the ex-Division I-FCS standout permission to seek a trade, Josina Anderson of USA Today tweets.

Isabella’s agent plans to reach out to teams in mid-March about finding his client a new home. The UMass product is going into his contract year but has not found his footing as a pro yet, which will limit the Cardinals’ return in the event a trade suitor surfaces. Merely cutting Isabella would save the Cardinals $1.1MM.

The Cards drafted Isabella 62nd overall in 2019, but he has only caught 31 passes for 426 yards in three seasons. Drafted to work in Kliff Kingsbury‘s Air Raid attack, the 5-foot-9 pass catcher joins fellow 2019 Arizona receiver picks Hakeem Butler (Round 4) and KeeSean Johnson (Round 6) in not working out with the Cardinals.

Arizona is shopping Isabella during an offseason in which a receiver need has again surfaced. The Cards’ Nos. 2 and 3 wideouts — Christian Kirk and A.J. Green — are on track for free agency. While the team figures to lean on 5-foot-7 Rondale Moore in a more prominent supporting role next season, more DeAndre Hopkins sidekicks will be needed.

Giants Cut Devontae Booker

March 2nd, 2022 at 1:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have made their second cost-cutting move of the day. Running back Devontae Booker has been cut, as reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The move will leave $1MM in dead money, while creating $2.125MM in cap space. In addition to the earlier release of Kyle Rudolph, that brings the total savings general manager Joe Schoen has now manufactured to $7.125MM. Neither of these cuts are seen as much of a surprise, and more are expected to be made, given the Giants’ cap situation.

Booker, 29, signed a two-year deal with New York last March. Thought to simply be veteran depth behind Saquon Barkley, the two put up identical rushing yards (593), and Booker actually outperformed the latter in terms of yards per carry (4.1 to 3.7). He added 268 receiving yards, scoring three combined touchdowns. Still, that level of production could likely be replaced either by a bounce-back season from Barkley, or another, cheaper addition in free agency or the draft.

A six year veteran with previous stops in Denver and Las Vegas, Booker will now look for a new home. Just like last year, he would represent a proven, experienced presence at tailback for any number of teams in need of depth at the position. As for the Giants, meanwhile, they have a long way to go to get cap compliant, so stay tuned for further moves.

Latest On CB Mike Hughes

March 2nd, 2022 at 12:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Hughes found himself in a new home last offseason, and that may be the case again soon. After a career year with the Chiefs, he is now a pending free agent. As PFF’s Doug Kyed reports, the corner has generated a healthy market for himself.

Specifically, Kyed writes that Hughes “is expected to be popular” in free agency later this month. The main reason for that, of course, is his play in Kansas City in 2021. After being traded there from Minnesota last May, he suited up for all 17 games – the first time in his four-year career he was available for a full campaign. He notched one interception, adding six pass breakups and four forced fumbles.

2021 was also Hughes’ best season with regards to coverage statistics. He allowed a completion percentage under 60% for the first time, and surrendered an average of seven yards per target. All of that added up to a PFF grade of 72.9, also a career mark. Given his age (25), and first-round pedigree, a productive season like the one he just had could earn him a number of suitors on the open market.

Of course, any team interested in Hughes will need to be aware of his injury history. A torn ACL, followed by multiple neck issues limited him to a total of 24 games played across three seasons with the Vikings. That lack of availability principally drove the team to decline his fifth year option, before they ultimately dealt him to Kansas City. Of note, Kyed adds that Hughes remining with the Chiefs is an option which is “still on the table”. While the team has more pressing offseason priorities, bringing Hughes back could prove to be a useful move in the secondary.

Cardinals Extend Kliff Kingsbury, Steve Keim

March 2nd, 2022 at 10:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have agreed to brand new deals with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Per the team’s official announcement Keim and Kingsbury are now signed through the 2027 season.

“The leadership of both Steve and Kliff have been key factors in the team’s turnaround over the last three seasons,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said. “We are all looking forward to continuing that progress and recognize these two individuals will be a big part of achieving our long-term goals as an organization.”

Under their leadership, the Cardinals reached the postseason for the first time since 2015. Of course, it wasn’t all roses in 2021 either. The Cardinals went 9-2 in the first eleven games of the season, but went on to lose five of its final seven contests, including the playoffs. For what it’s worth, Kingsbury’s collegiate and pro teams have gone a combined 42-20-1 record in the first seven games of a season, and 17-45 from Game 8 onward.

For his part, Bidwill believes that DeAndre Hopkins‘ late-season absence played a huge role in the Cardinals’ collapse.

“I think [the struggles are] a combination of things, certainly (Hopkins’) impact on the field and off the field is huge,” Bidwill said (via Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network). “And losing him from not only a football Xs and Os standpoint, but also from an emotional standpoint was big.”

Now, the Cardinals can turn their attention to other offseason matters, including the future of quarterback Kyler Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick missed three games due to a high ankle sprain and didn’t look the same afterwards. Then came the playoff game against the Rams, his worst showing of the season.

“The window has just opened for a contract extension. Certainly he’s part of our long-term plan,” Bidwill said recently. “Most of the big ones are done further down the road, I think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen were done in the summer time. Others were done in the summer time. So we’ve got time, but they’re complicated.”

Giants To Release Kyle Rudolph

March 2nd, 2022 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are parting ways with Kyle Rudolph. After just one year in New York, the G-Men are releasing the tight end, according to Rudolph himself.

“Fans, thanks for taking me and my family in this past year!,” Rudolph tweeted. “Certainly not the year any of us expected, but a year we will never forget. We’re appreciative of the Mara and Tisch families for giving us the opportunity to be [Giants]….Thanks to everyone in the building who took in and helped this old guy who needed to relearn everything about a new organization. And, finally my teammates. In my eleven years in this league, I’m not sure I’ve been around a closer group of guys!”

The veteran also said that he’s “looking forward to what’s next,” a possible indication that he’ll continue his career elsewhere. Indeed, the 32-year-old veteran is not looking to retire just yet, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The longtime Vikings starter has played 156 games over 11 seasons and has started 145 of those — including 13 with the Giants.

The Giants inked Rudolph to a two-year, $12MM deal in March of 2021. By releasing him, they’ll save $5MM in cap space while eating $2.41MM in dead money. Rudolph had 26 catches for 357 yards and one touchdown in his lone Giants season. That was roughly in line with his 2020 Vikings numbers, though he played in just 12 games that year versus 16 this past season.

While he’s never been a star, Rudolph has been a reliable option throughout much of his career. He also secured Pro Bowl selections twice, in 2012 and 2017. Despite the down years, it won’t be hard for Rudolph to find work elsewhere. The Giants, meanwhile, will evaluate their own TE group as Evan Engram inches towards free agency.

T.Y. Hilton Wants To Continue Playing

March 2nd, 2022 at 9:06am CST by Zachary Links

Despite the speculation, T.Y. Hilton isn’t thinking about retirement. In recent weeks, the veteran wide receiver informed the Colts that he wants to continue playing, according to GM Chris Ballard.

“T.Y. can still play,” Ballard said (via Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star). “One, he’s about as smart as any player I’ve ever been around. He just knows how to play the game. Even though his skillset isn’t the same as it was three or four years ago, his instincts and his level of understand what’s happening…he knows how to play.”

Hilton is coming off of a forgettable year, one that saw the Colts’ aerial game nosedive in the second half of the season. Injuries limited the four-time Pro Bowler to just 23 catches, 331 yards, and three touchdowns — all career lows. That’s a far cry from his best work, and it’s worth noting that the 32-year-old hasn’t posted a 1,000-yard season since 2018.

Now at the age of 32, Hilton is scheduled to hit the open market later this month. It’s not a given that he’ll stay in Indy, especially if teammate and friend Jack Doyle calls it quits.

“I’m just gonna take some time and talk to Jack and just go through it,” Hilton said in January when asked about the possibility of retirement. “If I want to play one more year, I could play one more year. If not, then I won’t. So [I’ll] just talk to [Doyle], see how he’s feeling and once he makes his decision, I’ll kind of know what I want to do kind of based on him.”

Packers GM: No Trade Calls On Aaron Rodgers

March 2nd, 2022 at 8:53am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers haven’t received any recent trade inquiries on Aaron Rodgers, according to GM Brian Gutekunst (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com). “Not at all,” Gutekunst said when asked if there have been any conversations with rival GMs regarding Rodgers . “Not at all. Not a single person.”

That could be because teams are waiting to hear about Rodgers’ decision. For his part, Gutekunst believes that he’ll know more by March 16th when free agency opens.

“I would hope so, yeah,” Gutekunst said. “That’s obviously the start of the new league year. There’s a lot of decisions that have to be made before that. So that would be helpful. I would think we would know something before then.”

It’s also worth noting that Gutekunst has not promised to trade Rodgers, should he push to go elsewhere. The Packers have begun discussing a potential contract with the reigning MVP, in the event that he’s willing to stay in Green Bay. Some have speculated that Rodgers wants to become the highest-paid player in the NFL with a ~$50MM/year salary. For his part, Rodgers says such chatter is “categorically false.”

In any event, a new contract is a must. As it stands, Rodgers is set to count for $46.7MM against the cap in 2022, a figure that would force out wide receiver Davante Adams and several other key veterans. Should Adams reach free agency, he’ll be greeted by top-of-the-market offers from eager suitors like the Raiders and Jaguars.