2022 April - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Texans’ Draft Plans

April 22nd, 2022 at 10:07am CST by Adam La Rose

Unlike last year, when the team had to wait until the third round to make its first selection, the Texans will be busy on Day 1 of next week’s draft. As detailed by Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, Houston is expected to keep their top pick, but their other first rounder could be in play.

“The reality is probably very few teams are going to want to come up to [No.] 3, just being honest, that’s okay” said general manager Nick Caserio yesterday. It has been well documented that the top of this year’s class is lacking in bluechip prospects; even the Jaguars may prefer to trade down from the first-overall pick.

Assuming they do use the third selection, the Texans are likely to have a free choice of the top offensive linemen, Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu. While one (or, quite possibly, two) edge rushers will be off the board by that point, others like Kayvon Thibodeaux should also be available. With that said, it came out earlier this week that top cornerback Ahmad Gardner could be the team’s ultimate choice.

With respect to the 13th overall pick, acquired through the Deshaun Watson trade, Caserio acknowledged the greater likelihood of a move. “Some teams are just set” he said. “Some teams only want to move down… I think it’s important just to be open-minded and be flexible.”

That second first-rounder will likely put the team in range of the second tier of corners and o-linemen, along with most available receivers. Houston’s commitment to Davis Mills as their starting quarterback could help them accommodate another team’s attempt to move up to select a signal-caller. Overall, as Caserio laid out, the Texans should be well-positioned to make multiple significant additions in the draft as they look to take a step forward from last year’s 4-13 season.

Earl Thomas Eyeing NFL Return

April 22nd, 2022 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

After two years out of the league, veteran safety Earl Thomas wants to resume his career. In a conversation with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he communicated his intention to return to the league (Twitter link).

“I’m ready” the 32-year-old texted Schefter. “I’m in shape. My timing is on point – I’m proud of that.”

The three-time All-Pro has one of the most decorated resumes of any defensive back. In nine years with the Seahawks, he totalled 664 tackles, 28 interceptions and 67 pass deflections. A key member of the ‘Legion of Boom’, it was with Seattle that he made two straight Super Bowl appearances, including a title in 2013.

Things didn’t end well for Thomas in the Emerald City, however. A contract dispute, coupled with a broken leg, marked the conclusion of his final campaign with the Seahawks. He signed a four-year, $55MM deal with the Ravens in 2019, leading to big expectations for himself personally and the team in general.

In what ended up being his lone campaign in Baltimore, the 2010s All-Decade member put up respectable, if unspectacular, numbers. He recorded a pair of interceptions and allowed a passer rating of just 24.2, leading to his seventh Pro Bowl nod. His overall understanding of the playbook and interaction with teammates, however, weighed those statistics down.

Not long before the start of the subsequent season, Thomas was involved in an altercation with fellow safety Chuck Clark. Shortly thereafter, he was released by the Ravens. Speculation heated up regarding where his next destination would be, including, most notably, the Cowboys. No team came close to signing him, however, and he has remained on the sidelines for the past two seasons.

Now, he has at least declared himself capable of a return. How much interest he generates amongst teams looking to add to their secondary will be a storyline worth watching throughout the remainder of the offseason.

WR DeSean Jackson Considering Retirement

April 21st, 2022 at 10:31pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s been quiet on the DeSean Jackson front this offseason, and the veteran wideout may be considering retirement. During an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Ashley Nicole Moss, Jackson admitted that he might hang up his cleats.

“I’m not really sure if I’m going to play next year or not,” Jackson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I know I announced and said I was going to play. It’s just really at this point where I’m at in my life, it’s gotta be the right fit.”

Jackson was also asked what would qualify as “the right fit,: with the receiver noting that any suitor would need to feature a “great quarterback.” Jackson even mentioned a potential reunion with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who coached Jackson when the two were in Philly.

“Chiefs may be one,” said Jackson. “The Browns. Russell Wilson in Denver. Green Bay … we’ll see for sure.”

The three-time Pro Bowler joined the Rams last offseason. However, after hauling in only eight catches in seven games, Jackson asked for and was granted his release. He later caught on with the Raiders, and while his receptions-per-game average slightly increased, he still put up similar yardage per game. He ultimately saw time in nine games (four starts) for Las Vegas, hauling in 12 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown. He also had a single 26-yard reception in the postseason.

DE Cameron Malveaux Announces Retirement

April 21st, 2022 at 9:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Cameron Malveaux is calling it a career. The veteran defensive end announced on Twitter that he’s retiring.

“For many years I have dedicated my life solely to the game of football,” Malveaux wrote (h/t to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “I am grateful for every single opportunity I was given from God to compete and make my childhood dreams come true. Through all of the many ups and downs football has changed my life for the better. After much time and consideration, I have decided it is time to step away from this game. As hard of a decision it was to make, I know it’s time to move on.”

Despite going undrafted out of Houston in 2017, Malveaux managed to stick around the NFL for five seasons. He had stints with the Dolphins, Cardinals, Chiefs, Washington, 49ers, Browns, and Eagles. He saw time in 18 total games, collecting a pair of sacks.

The 27-year-old joined the Eagles practice squad in September. He ended up getting into three games for Philly, collecting three tackles and two QB hits. In those three games, he saw time in 33 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Bears To Sign Julién Davenport

April 21st, 2022 at 8:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Julién Davenport is heading to Chicago. The veteran offensive tackle is signing with the Bears, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

The 2017 fourth-round pick out of Bucknell spent the first two seasons of his career with the Texans, including a 2018 campaign where he started 15 games. He was included in the Dolphins/Texans Laremy Tunsil trade in 2019, and he started eight games during his first season in Miami. However, despite dressing for every game, he was limited to only five percent of his team’s offensive snaps in 2020.

The lineman spent the 2021 season in Indy, and he started four of his nine games for the Colts. The 27-year-old also had a part-time role on special teams.

2021 second-round Teven Jenkins currently sits atop the Bears depth chart at left tackle, and he’ll likely get the first shot at the starting gig. Davenport will provide some veteran competition, with 2020 seventh-round pick Lachavious Simmons also vying for a role.

Bears Sign WR David Moore

April 21st, 2022 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears have added players on both sides of the ball. The team announced that they’ve added receiver David Moore and cornerback Greg Stroman on one-year contracts.

Moore is a notable name, having appeared in 50 games in time with the Seahawks, Broncos, and Packers. He had a productive stint in Seattle, collecting 1,254 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns between the 2018 and 2020 seasons. He split the 2021 season between Denver and Green Bay, seeing time in only three games.

In Chicago, Moore will likely continue to see a role on special teams. He’ll be joining a receivers room that features Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Byron Pringle, Isaiah Coulter, Nsimba Webster, and Dazz Newsome.

Stroman was a seventh-round pick by Washington in 2018, and he saw time in 15 games as a rookie. Since that season, the defensive back has only seen the field for five games. He split the 2021 campaign on the Bears and Rams practice squads, and he didn’t end up appearing in a game.

Jaguars Hoping To Trade No. 1 Pick?

April 21st, 2022 at 5:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Picking first overall for a second straight year, the Jaguars have been linked to a few players in a draft that does not appear to feature a surefire top talent. The perception around the league points the Jags to a trade, but no needle-moving offer may materialize.

An NFL scouting director informed SI.com’s Albert Breer “everyone knows” Jaguars GM Trent Baalke would prefer to trade down. Connected to either Aidan Hutchinson or fast-rising prospect Travon Walker at No. 1, the Jags still enter this draft as a team with several needs — despite their free agency binge. A move down the board would enable the rebuilding team to add more picks to address them.

However, a sufficient offer has not yet arrived. And a report earlier this offseason indicated teams have not shown much interest in moving up to No. 1. This draft may feature the least desirable top pick since 2013, a draft that saw one quarterback taken in Round 1 and the top 10 produce several busts. This may lead to Jacksonville sticking at No. 1. Breer and ESPN.com’s Todd McShay have Hutchinson going first overall, while NFL.com’s Peter Schrager mocks Walker to the Jags.

A Georgia defensive end capable of playing inside as well, Walker has been connected to the Jags at multiple junctures this offseason. Though, Hutchinson — the second-place Heisman finisher after a dominant senior season at Michigan — is viewed as the safer choice, with Walker’s production not in the same realm as the ex-Wolverine’s. Baalke is sensitive to the Jags’ current reputation, per Breer, who adds this may influence the veteran exec to play it safer at 1.

The team has also done extensive work on this draft’s top offensive tackles, despite having franchise-tagged Cam Robinson, Breer notes. It would surprise if the Jags tagged Robinson and still chose a tackle, but they have used first-round picks on defensive linemen in four of the past seven drafts. Regardless of how Jacksonville proceeds, this draft looks set to begin with more uncertainty than the drafts of the past several years.

Jets To Sign S Marcell Harris

April 21st, 2022 at 4:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are adding another contributor to their safety corps and another defensive back familiar with Robert Saleh‘s system. Former 49ers safety Marcell Harris is joining the Jets, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Harris visited the Jets on Thursday. He will follow D.J. Reed as ex-49ers DBs to join Saleh in New York this offseason. The Jets also added former Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead, shortly before losing Marcus Maye to the Saints, in March. Harris, 27, figures to add depth or potentially give the Jets another starter option alongside Whitehead.

A former San Francisco sixth-round pick, Harris saw extensive action on defense. Although the ex-Florida Gator backed up Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, injuries to the 49ers’ starters opened the door to playing time throughout Harris’ Bay Area run. Harris started 20 games with the 49ers, including a career-high seven last season. Some of those starts came at linebacker, when Harris filled in for an injured Dre Greenlaw at points last season.

Harris also improved in coverage last season, seeing his passer rating as the nearest defender plummet considerably — to 75.8 — after those numbers hovered well above 100 during his first three seasons. The 215-pound defender made 155 tackles (including a career-high 44 last season) over his four-year run. The Jets return C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams on their defensive second level. They figure to add help on all three levels in the draft, given the team’s last-place defensive rankings in Saleh’s debut.

Kyler Murray Not Seeking Trade

April 21st, 2022 at 3:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Kyler Murray camp’s draft deadline for an extension approaches, the Cardinals continue to sit tight. The team has the Pro Bowl quarterback under contract through 2023, via the fifth-year option that will be exercised, and does not plan to let this saga devolve into an early divorce.

Steve Keim said Thursday a “zero percent” chance exists Murray will be traded, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). This is fine by Murray, who soon added he wants to “win Super Bowls with the Cardinals” and indicated (via Twitter) he does not wish to be traded. While the situation could become contentious at some point, we do not appear to be there yet. Michael Bidwill soon tripled down here.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Bidwill said of a Murray trade (via the Arizona Republic’s Kent Somers, on Twitter). “There’s just too much outside noise that people listen to. We understand that’s just part of what goes on these days with social media. It’s just not the case.”

Murray’s camp has pushed for an extension ahead of the draft, after which other teams will make high-profile quarterback investments and close off potential trade routes. But Murray’s Thursday tweet downplays any interest the two-time Pro Bowler has of landing his eventual extension elsewhere. Keim added that quarterback extensions are often done after the draft (via Urban, on Twitter).

Recent extensions for quarterbacks seeking second contracts on normal trajectories — as opposed to Dak Prescott‘s re-up at the 2021 franchise tag deadline — have occurred after the draft. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff signed their initial extensions in the summer. The Cardinals may well be planning to follow suit. The team is not certain to extend Murray this year, potentially viewing the season as a proving ground for a talented player whose performance has tailed off in each of his Pro Bowl campaigns. Wentz and Goff’s extensions backfiring on the Eagles and Rams, respectively, may well impact the Cardinals’ timetable. But Murray’s camp will surely attempt to force the issue before training camp.

A report last week indicated the Cardinals had yet to make an offer, and Murray may be realizing no extension will be finalized before the draft. He is staying away from Arizona’s offseason program for the time being, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting this has been the plan for a bit now (Twitter link). Murray would face fines if he stayed away from the team’s minicamp or training camp, but skipping mandatory activities would be his top leverage play, as it would significantly affect the team’s preparation. But other teams have also received the message the Cards have no interest in trading Murray, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

Latest On 49ers, Deebo Samuel

April 21st, 2022 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although John Lynch said the 49ers had a Deebo Samuel extension budgeted, the team’s initial offer appears to be a key reason why the fourth-year wide receiver requested a trade.

Other factors are in play for Samuel, but ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline reports the 49ers opened talks with an offer worth less than $19MM per year. Believed to be targeting a deal in the $25MM AAV range, Samuel soon removed all things 49ers from his social media accounts. Then, his trade request became public.

Following the market-shifting Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill deals, 11 wide receivers earn more than $19MM annually now. Brandin Cooks just signed an extension worth more than $19MM per year. Given Samuel’s age and importance to a San Francisco offense that is likely to feature a new starting quarterback soon, it is understandable his camp has set a much higher baseline.

The 49ers are expected to exhaust every non-trade solution here, but Samuel’s desire to play closer to home is now surfacing as well. The South Carolina native and ex-Gamecock no longer wants to play in California, according to NBC Sports’ Chris Simms and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (video link). This certainly could also be a negotiating tactic from Samuel’s side, though the longstanding draft system that disperses prospects throughout the country certainly causes major adjustments for young players. Of course, this setup is not going away anytime soon.

Samuel, A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin are staying away from their respective teams’ offseason programs, as they strive for new contracts and/or trades. Some around the league do not expect Samuel’s next deal to match Brown’s, Pauline adds, though of this talented 2019 receiver class, only Samuel has earned an All-Pro nod. That came partially due to Samuel’s rushing production from his wideout position last season. That atypical workload has emerged as a reason for Samuel’s trade request, creating one of the more interesting situations in recent receiver history.