2022 April - Pro Football Rumors

Month: April 2022

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on DL, OLB Needs: “We’re Not Done Yet”

April 10th, 2022 at 12:39pm CST by Rory Parks

The Ravens thought they had brought pass rusher Za’Darius Smith back into the fold in March, only to see him back out of his deal and then sign with the Vikings. Baltimore also made a strong offer for linebacker Bobby Wagner, who chose to sign with the Rams instead.

While the team mitigated those disappointments to some degree by agreeing to terms with Calais Campbell and Josh Bynes this week, GM Eric DeCosta is not kidding himself about the team’s front seven. In discussing his OLB and DL needs, DeCosta said, “we’re not done yet” (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic).

DeCosta made that comment prior to the Campbell signing, which gives him a defensive front comprised of Michael Pierce, Derek Wolfe, and Campbell, a group that features age and injury concerns. 2020 draftees Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington offer more youthful support, but Madubuike did not take the step forward last season that many expected, and Pro Football Focus’ metrics did not think highly of either player. As such, even after re-upping Campbell, another DL might be in the cards. Longtime Raven Brandon Williams is still a free agent, and the team recently met with Eddie Goldman, a six-year starter for the Bears.

At this point, the pass rush is a bigger concern. 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh showed promise in his rookie campaign, but aside from him and Tyus Bowser — who is more of a jack-of-all-trades player than a true pass rusher — the cupboard is largely bare. Smith would have represented an ideal bookend to Oweh, and now the FA market includes players like Justin Houston (who played reasonably well in his first Ravens season last year), Jadeveon Clowney, Trey Flowers, Carlos Dunlap, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Jerry Hughes. Not all of those players are perfect scheme fits for Baltimore, and they all come with age, injury, and/or injury issues.

The Ravens could still elect to sign a member of that group, and the club is always on the lookout for cap casualties from other organizations. DeCosta has also shown a willingness to be aggressive on the trade market. Before making any move for a veteran player, however, Baltimore may first see what materializes in the draft. The team is interested in Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux, who could fall to the team’s No. 14 overall selection, and it will be interesting to see if DeCosta prioritizes his potential need for an offensive tackle over his need for a pass rusher.

Eagles Notes: Cox, Lurie, Kirk

April 10th, 2022 at 11:38am CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles released longtime DT Fletcher Cox last month to avoid having $18MM of what he was due under his prior contract becoming fully-guaranteed. The club then re-signed him to a one-year, $14MM contract several days later, which, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, is “real” (meaning that Cox will actually earn that money and that the $14MM figure is not inflated by incentives). However, the deal does include two void years to flatten the cap charge, which was especially important since the release already created considerable dead money on the Eagles’ books for the 2022-23 seasons.

Even though Cox is coming off a season in which his play showed noticeable signs of decline and in which he publicly complained about the club’s defensive scheme, his $14MM payout is still $4MM more than what any other free agent interior D-lineman received on a per-year basis this offseason. That has led to plenty of questions about why the Eagles authorized such a contract, but owner Jeffrey Lurie suggested other clubs were willing to pony up for the six-time Pro Bowler, thereby necessitating the financial outlay.

McLane reports that the Eagles did call at least three teams in March to discuss a Cox trade, but just like their in-season trade talks in 2021, the more recent discussions were undermined by Cox’s prior contract and GM Howie Roseman‘s high asking price.

Now for more out of Philadelphia:

In the same piece linked above, McLane details the growing role of Lurie’s son, Julian Lurie, within the organization. Now 26, the younger Lurie participated in the NFL’s two-year program for prospective executives upon his graduation from Harvard, he took part in the Eagles’ head coaching interviews in 2021 — ultimately advising his father as the team transitioned from Doug Pederson to Nick Sirianni — and even spearheaded the interviews for the team’s analytics department. Assuming he wants to take up the mantle, it seems that Julian Lurie will someday succeed his 70-year-old father at the top of the franchise.
In a piece exploring whether Jeffrey Lurie is too involved in his team’s personnel decisions, which will be of particular interest to Eagles fans, McLane reports that, in 2018, the team was prepared to select one of two receivers in the second round: Ohio State’s Parris Campbell or Stanford’s JJ Arcega-Whiteside. Roseman and then-VP of player personnel Joe Douglas wanted Campbell, but Lurie preferred Arcega-Whiteside, and after Lurie successfully curried Pederson’s support, Roseman and Douglas felt compelled to go along with their wishes. That has led to broader questions about whether Lurie really values Roseman as a GM as much as he says he does, or if he simply likes that he can use Roseman as a “conduit” to the team.
The Eagles have not yet acquired a cornerback this offseason, and while Sirianni hyped the unproven contingent of players behind CB1 Darius Slay on the current depth chart — a group that includes Zech McPhearson and Tay Gowan — McLane says the team will almost certainly add a CB or two at some point. The Eagles will hold a “30” visit with top CB prospect Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, and while Gardner may be off the board by the time Philadelphia is on the clock with its No. 15 overall pick, a player like Washington’s Trent McDuffie or LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. could be an option should Roseman decide to select a first-round corner for the first time in his history as a GM.
The Eagles have taken some swings at high-profile FA targets this offseason but have mostly come up short (with all due apologies to Haason Reddick and Zach Pascal). In addition to his pursuit of receivers like Allen Robinson and Robert Woods, Roseman also made an offer to former Cardinals wideout Christian Kirk, as McLane writes in a separate article. Kirk, though, received a four-year, $72MM deal from the Jaguars, a move that many have decried as more desperate spending on the part of Jacksonville. Though Kirk would doubtlessly have been an asset to Philadelphia’s WR corps, his $18MM AAV presently looks like an overpay.

Kayvon Thibodeaux Still In The Mix For Lions’ No. 2 Pick

April 10th, 2022 at 10:00am CST by Rory Parks

Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, once considered a surefire top-5 pick in this month’s draft, is reportedly in danger of falling out of the top-10. That is largely due to concerns not about his physical abilities, but about his effort and coachability. As Justin Rogers of the Detroit News writes, Thibodeaux said at this year’s scouting combine, “I tell a coach that there’s nothing he can tell me that I don’t already know, right? It’s because I’m honest with myself and I watch the tape. So if you’re a student of the game you know what you can get better at.”

However, the Lions could save Thibodeaux from his rumored tumble down draft boards. According to Rogers, Thibodeaux is still “very much in the conversation” for Detroit’s No. 2 overall pick.

The Lions have a clear need for a pass rusher, which is why they have been connected to Thibodeaux and Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson throughout the predraft process. Thibodeaux’s collegiate production — which includes three sacks in seven games in 2020 and seven sacks in 10 games in 2021 — has not been enough to offset the questions about his intangibles, but it should be noted that, last season, he posted those seven sacks and 12 total tackles for loss while playing through an ankle injury.

His size (6-5, 250), and impressive combine performance are further evidence of his high ceiling, and the Lions have thoroughly evaluated him. The club met with him at the combine, had GM Brad Holmes and others in attendance at his pro day, and will bring him in for a top-30 visit this week. Head coach Dan Campbell said of Thibodeaux, “[h]ey, listen, he’s an explosive athlete. He’s a playmaker. He’s got a good, quick first step. I mean, he’s something else. He’s pretty special on tape.”

The Lions are willing to trade down from the No. 2 pick, but if they keep it, Campbell is looking for a player who can contribute from Day 1 (in other words, probably not a QB prospect from a 2022 class whose shortcomings have been one of this year’s most-discussed draft topics). “That’s really what you’re trying to acquire, a guy that you can feel like can come in and he’s going to be able to have solid production for you,” Campbell recently said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I mean, that’s kind of the idea. We need to feel like, all right, this guy comes in, it may take just a little bit, but you’d like to believe by the time you hit your first game that this player’s starting for you and is going to be able to produce.”

Though Campbell did not rule out the possibility of selecting a quarterback with the No. 2 pick if the team falls in love with a passer, he also suggested that having an elite QB is not necessarily a prerequisite for long-term success. When combined with his desire to nab an immediate contributor with his top draft choice, Campbell’s sentiments leave the door open for a Thibodeaux selection, though there are plenty of other non-quarterback prospects who figure to make an impact right away.

Latest On Dolphins’ Pursuit Of Tom Brady, Sean Payton

April 10th, 2022 at 8:41am CST by Rory Parks

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk continues to beat the Tom Brady-to-Miami drum. In January 2020, just weeks before Brady was set to hit free agency and perhaps join an organization other than the Patriots for the first time in his two-decade career, Florio wrote that the Dolphins were the team that was generating the most buzz with respect to a Brady signing. Even then, the PFT creator reported that there was talk of Brady also becoming a minority owner of the ‘Fins.

In February 2022, Florio wrote that Miami hoped to hire former Saints head coach Sean Payton as its new HC this year, and that the club also planned to go after Brady and install him as the starting quarterback. Then, Brian Flores, who was fired as the Dolphins’ head coach in January, filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the team, also naming the Giants and Broncos as defendants. According to Florio, the suit forced the Dolphins to scrap the Payton/Brady plan, and Brady announced his retirement on the same day the suit was filed.

Several days ago, Florio reported that Brady was indeed “very close” to joining the Dolphins, and that he would have first done so as a minority owner (other reporters have echoed the sentiment that Brady may want to own a part of the franchise). At that point, the Dolphins would have acquired Payton’s rights from the Saints and Brady’s rights from the Buccaneers and would have had the enviable HC-QB tandem they were seeking all along. Of course, it may not have been so simple; Florio acknowledged in his February 2022 piece that New Orleans declined Miami’s request to talk to Payton, even after Payton elected to step away from the Saints. Dolphins GM Chris Grier confirmed as much, and Payton himself said he would probably not have been interested in the Miami gig.

If Florio is accurate, however, this could all resurface in 2023. When discussing the ownership component of these rumors, Florio continues to emphasize Brady’s close relationship with Bruce Beal, who is Dolphins owner Stephen Ross‘ right-hand man. As far as Brady the player is concerned, it’s worth noting that one of Flores’ allegations in his suit is that Ross wanted Flores to recruit a “prominent quarterback” — generally believed to be Brady — at the end of the 2019 season, which would have contravened the league’s tampering rules.

So, if Brady wants to continue his playing career next year but wants to leave the Bucs — Florio remains adamant that Brady’s “retirement” was simply an attempt to leave Tampa and that he only circled back to the team after it became clear he would not be able to join the Dolphins or 49ers — then perhaps Ross will throw his hat in the ring again, depending on how Tua Tagovailoa performs in 2022. And, regardless of whether Brady ever plays his home games in South Beach, it at least seems like a strong possibility that he could one day own a piece of the Dolphins.

With Mike McDaniel having just been hired as Miami’s HC, it is perhaps less likely that Ross & Co. will seek to woo Payton next year, but given Ross’ history of seeking high-profile candidates for his head coaching post, such a pursuit probably should not be ruled out.

Chargers To Sign LB Troy Reeder

April 9th, 2022 at 9:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

Troy Reeder is changing teams, but not locations. Pro Football Network’s Mike Kaye reports that the linebacker is signing a one-year deal with the Chargers.

Reeder, 27, joined the Rams as a UDFA in 2019. In three seasons there, he started 25 of 49 games, taking on a greater role with each passing year. The 2021 campaign saw him make a career-high 91 tackles and add two sacks, as well as a pair of interceptions. He was not tendered as an RFA, though, leaving him open to sign elsewhere.

That became a much greater possibility, of course, when the Rams signed Bobby Wagner. The longtime Seahawk represents a sizeable addition to what was seen as one of the few weak spots on the reigning champions’ roster. Now, Reeder will join a revamped Chargers defense looking to improve on its 30th overall ranking against the run last season.

To that end, the Chargers have already signed former Ram Sebastian Joseph-Day. Reeder now represents another face which will be familiar to head coach Brandon Staley, who was previously the Rams’ defensive coordinator. He will join a linebacking corps which also includes 2020 first rounder Kenneth Murray, another player known for his size and aggression.

Reeder should see significant playing time, either as a starter or key backup in the middle of the Chargers’ defense. If the team’s other additions on that side of the ball (most notably Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson) play to their potential, he could find himself playing in a second straight Super Bowl.

Saints Going All-In For 2022?

April 9th, 2022 at 8:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints were involved in the latest noteworthy trade this offseason, acquiring an extra first-round pick from the Eagles. While many feel that was the precursor to a move for the team’s next long-term quarterback, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports that at least some executives around the league don’t see it that way.

As he writes, there are multiple general managers “who believe this trade is more about going all-in right now… than it is about finding their QB of the future or beating someone to the punch for that”. As a result of the trade, New Orleans now owns picks No. 16 and 19; that could put them within range of a signal-caller, or give them a means of trading up ahead of another quarterback-needy team.

Instead, that extra pick could be used to bolster the team’s current roster. If they keep both selections, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the team tries to upgrade its offense. After the re-signing of Jameis Winston, left tackle and wide receiver stand out as sizeable roster holes. The Saints need to replace Terron Armstead, who left in free agency, and compliment Michael Thomas, whose health (and, therefore, ability to return to his All-Pro form) remains in question.

As one general manager said, the Saints could be “looking around at the NFC, and thinking they have as good a shot as anyone, especially if they land two impact players with these picks”. Instead of a rebuilding year in the absence of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton and a short-term deal in place with Winston, 2022 could instead turn out to be a season in which the Saints look to return to playoff contention.

Ravens Unsure About Ronnie Stanley’s Recovery

April 9th, 2022 at 6:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the Ravens’ offense is already in place before this month’s draft, but offensive tackle remains an area of concern. When speaking to the media earlier this week, general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the biggest question mark surrounding the health of blindside blocker Ronnie Stanley.

“We’re not sure how Ronnie is going to rebound“, DeCosta said (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). He was quick to add, however, that the team remains “optimistic” Stanley will be able to return to his previous All-Pro form. The 28-year-old expressed a similar sentiment when it was announced he would undergo a second consecutive season-ending ankle surgery.

“This is the best decision not only for my health, but also for the team long term.” he said in October. “I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”

Baltimore’s sixth-overall pick in 2016, Stanley has been the team’s starting left tackle since his rookie campaign. He has improved throughout his tenure, though he has yet to play a full season. The Ravens turned to veteran Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle in 2021, but he retired at the end of the year. The team re-signed Patrick Mekari (who has primarily spent time at center and right tackle) and added Morgan Moses this offseason. Those two, along with Ja’Wuan James – around whom there are also health-related questions – and Stanley comprise the Ravens’ options at either tackle spot.

Given the current state of the depth chart at the position, DeCosta has made it clear Baltimore is eyeing depth in the draft. The earliest they could add a rookie might be with the 14th overall pick, though the Ravens currently own nine other selections. Even is Stanley is on track to return in time for the 2022 season, then, the team is likely to have more options behind him in case he isn’t able to.

Latest On Derwin James Extension Talks

April 9th, 2022 at 5:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers have made multiple large additions to their defense this offseason, but there is still important business to be taken care of with one of the unit’s homegrown players. Safety Derwin James is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but there is reason to believe he will have a new deal by the start of next season.

USA Today’s Tyler Dragon reports (on Twitter) that both James and the team are “cautiously optimistic” a new contract will be negotiated in the near future. It was reported last month that each party was looking to get a long-term deal done, so a lack of friction on the matter (at least for now) doesn’t come as a surprise.

James, 25, has demonstrated the potential he was touted with coming out of college in 2018. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in a highly productive rookie season. While he was limited to just five games the following year, he still graded out well in terms of PFF rating. He bounced back from missing the entire 2020 campaign, starting all 15 contests he played in last season.

While dollar figures on a new contract may be hard to speculate on, given the Florida State product’s varied usages and positional versatility, there is cause for optimism that James could join Mike Williams as a key piece to the roster being retained for the long-term future. If that happens, defensive additions such as Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson could help vault the Chargers into true AFC contention.

Draft Rumors: Giants, Jets, Eagles, Lions, Seahawks, Cowboys, Browns

April 9th, 2022 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants used a top-five pick on an offensive lineman in 2020, and Andrew Thomas now anchors their line. But the team entered the offseason with needs everywhere else up front. Even after adding multiple likely interior O-line starters in March, Big Blue has a vacancy at right tackle. This has led the Giants to do extensive prep on this draft’s top tackles, including Alabama’s Evan Neal, NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross, SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano notes. Other teams are penciling the Giants in to take a tackle at No. 5 or No. 7, a rival exec said, via Vacchiano. The Giants brought sizable contingents to the three top tackles’ pro days and have been previously linked to Cross, who rates behind Neal and Ekwonu.

With two picks in the top seven, it would surprise if one of the top three tackles remained on the board after the Giants’ second pick — assuming it is not traded. The Panthers, who hold the No. 6 pick, have eyed Ekwonu and Cross as well. That could put the Giants to the test with the first of their Round 1 choices, with other teams in front of them — namely the Texans and Jets — strong candidates to draft tackles as well. The Giants could exit the first round with a right tackle to join offseason additions Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano as part of their latest up-front overhaul.

Here is the latest from the draft realm:

Another candidate to join the Giants, Ahmad Gardner will pay them a visit and meet with several other teams ahead of the draft. The Cincinnati standout has emerged as the favorite to be the first cornerback taken, and ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson notes the Jets, Eagles, Lions and Seahawks join the Giants in scheduling “30” visits. The Giants and Jets are believed to have strong interest in Gardner, who seems unlikely to make it out of the top 10. The Jets hold the Nos. 4 and 10 picks.
The Cowboys brought in a few first-round prospects this week. Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd and Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green visited the Cowboys this week, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (all Twitter links). Lloyd and Davis rate as top-12 prospects, per NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. Barring freefalls or Dallas trading up from No. 24, they will be out of range. Green is viewed by Jeremiah and ESPN.com as the top guard available, being slotted just outside the top 25 by each. The Cowboys, who lost Connor Williams in free agency, are targeting O-linemen early.
One of this draft’s top wide receivers, Treylon Burks has met with a few teams already. In addition to Cowboys and Buccaneers summits, the Arkansas product spent time with the Browns and Jets this week, Wilson tweets. The Texans are up next. The Browns are an unrealistic Burks suitor, having traded their first-round pick (No. 13) to the Texans, who would loom as a potential destination thanks to one of the choices they acquired in the Deshaun Watson deal. The Jets have made their wide receiver interest fairly well known this offseason.
Although they do not have a first-round pick until 2025, the Browns still hold their second-rounder (No. 44) this year. In addition to their Friday Burks meeting, the Browns brought in North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. ESPN and Jeremiah slot the Division I-FCS product 45th. The 6-foot-4 pass catcher played with Trey Lance as a sophomore in 2019 and earned All-American acclaim in 2021.

Browns, Chiefs, Colts Pursued DL Calais Campbell

April 9th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Calais Campbell will play his age-36 season in 2022, the Ravens needed to fend off a few suitors to re-sign the accomplished defensive lineman.

The Browns, Chiefs and Colts showed interest in Campbell, according to USA Today’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). Campbell elected to re-sign with the Ravens on a two-year deal that guarantees $6MM and could pay up to $16.5MM.

A six-time Pro Bowler, Campbell has thrived with three teams and in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. The trio of clubs pursuing Campbell use 4-3 alignments, though that distinction matters less in the sub-package-ruled modern game, but each team joins the Ravens as contenders in what has become a deep AFC.

Kansas City certainly has a need for pass-rushing help. Frank Clark has largely not delivered on the monster extension the Chiefs gave him and faces a suspension. The team lost interior pass rusher Jarran Reed in free agency and has yet to re-sign Melvin Ingram. The Chiefs’ 31 sacks last season ranked 29th. Cleveland has yet to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney and has needs at defensive tackle as well, with Malik Jackson hitting free agency and Malik McDowell nontendered as an RFA following an offseason arrest. The Colts added two-time Campbell teammate Yannick Ngakoue via trade and feature highly drafted youngsters Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo alongside DeForest Buckner up front.

The Ravens expressed interest in D-linemen this offseason, and Campbell fills a short-term need. Interior linemen Brandon Williams is a free agent, joining edge rusher Justin Houston. Both are going into their age-33 seasons. Derek Wolfe is considering retirement after injuries kept him off the field last year. Baltimore did bring back nose tackle Michael Pierce, whom the Vikings released last month. The team’s deal with Za’Darius Smith fell through at the 11th hour, with the Vikings eventually adding the Pro Bowl edge.

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