HEADLINES

Month: April 2022

Latest On Jaguars’ Draft Plans

April 8th, 2022 at 12:53am CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars hold the first-overall pick for the second-straight draft, and there’s little chance the pick is dealt elsewhere. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Jaguars’ phone has “not really been ringing” regarding pick No. 1. There really hasn’t been any trade interest in the selection, and the Jaguars are expected to keep the pick.

In a standard year, suitors would be lining up to trade for the top-overall pick in pursuit of the top quarterback prospect, and in this hypothetical, the Jaguars would surely listen after taking Trevor Lawrence with the top pick last season. However, as Rapoport notes, the lack of trade interest isn’t a reflection of the draft class…rather, it’s a reflection of the quarterback quality. While there could be three or four signal-callers selected in the first round of the draft, none of them would be considered for one of the top-overall selections.

Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson and NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu met with the Jaguars this week. Both players are candidates to go first overall, with Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker joining them.

Jacksonville using its franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson seemingly decreases the likelihood of a tackle pick. The team has used four first-round choices on defensive linemen since 2015 (Dante Fowler, Taven Bryan, Josh Allen, K’Lavon Chaisson), but the AFC South squad’s free agency spending spree did not include any edge rusher additions.

Broncos Re-Sign S Kareem Jackson

April 7th, 2022 at 6:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Kareem Jackson will be back in Denver next season. Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post reports (via Twitter) that the veteran safety is re-signing with the Broncos. The 33-year-old is inking a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (on Twitter).

[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Broncos, Kareem Jackson]

The 2010 first-round pick spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Texans before inking a three-year, $33MM deal with the Broncos in 2019. The Broncos declined his option last offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent, but he ended up reupping with the organization on a one-year, $5MM deal.

In three seasons in Denver, Jackson has started all 44 of his appearances, collecting 248 tackles, four interceptions, and 16 passes defended. He had another 16 interceptions in 132 games with the Texans.

While Broncos GM George Paton believes in 2021 fifth-round pick Caden Sterns, the organization understands that they couldn’t rely on the sophomore as they look to make a playoff run. As Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets, the Broncos believe Jackson has set a high bar on defense, and his leadership and physicality will continue to be relied on throughout the 2022 season.

Texans Extend WR Brandin Cooks

April 7th, 2022 at 6:06pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Brandin Cooks will be sticking in Houston. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the receiver has inked a two-year extension with the Texans.

[RELATED: Texans Seeking Second-Round Pick For Brandin Cooks]

A report from earlier this week suggested that the wideout was on the trade block. However, Schefter notes that Cooks “is off the trade market,” while NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Cooks is “not going anywhere.”

With the Texans in the midst of a rebuild, it only made sense that the wideout was included in trade rumors. However, Rapoport tweets that the Texans declined to deal the receiver at last year’s deadline, and the front office made it clear that they wanted the veteran to stick around Houston for the foreseeable future.

Of course, an extension doesn’t necessarily preclude a trade. We heard yesterday that the Browns considered a trade for Cooks but were wary of the player’s pending free agency in 2023. The Texans were reportedly seeking a second-round pick for the receiver, and you could make an argument that the extension now makes Cooks more valuable in a potential trade (pending terms). However, based on the sentiment from reporters, it sounds like Cooks will indeed be staying put.

Cooks was set to earn $12.5MM in base salary this season, the final year of a five-year, $81MM ($50.5MM) extension he signed with the Rams back in 2018. He was traded to the Texans two years later, and Cooks has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his two seasons in Houston. Cooks is still only 28, and while that might not necessarily mesh with the rest of the roster (including 23-year-old QB Davis Mills), the receiver should provide the offense with some veteran savviness as they navigate through their rebuild.

Jets, Ravens Eyeing Tackles In Draft

April 7th, 2022 at 5:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joining the Giants in the historically exclusive club of holding two top-10 picks in a draft, the Jets appear to be targeting the same position as their Big Apple rivals. The Giants have done extensive work on this year’s tackle crop; the Jets are interested in bolstering that position as well.

Despite the Jets having chosen Mekhi Becton in the 2020 first round, Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com reports they are zeroing in on this position entering this draft. Jets brass has informed several players the plan is to select a tackle early. Although it is not certain the Jets will use one of their first-rounders (Nos. 4 and 10) on the position, Joe Douglas is a fan of a tackle who figures to be on the board at No. 10.

Douglas has been high on Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning since the Senior Bowl, Pauline adds. The 6-foot-7 Division I-FCS product slots behind Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal and Charles Cross on most tackle prospect rankings. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Penning 25th, while NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slots him 22nd. It is unlikely Penning drops that far.

The Ravens are also interested in Penning, per Pauline, who adds they scheduled a visit and are aiming to exit this draft with a potential future tackle starter. Baltimore’s No. 14 overall pick should represent Penning’s floor, Pauline notes. Baltimore has Ronnie Stanley coming off another significant injury and signed ex-Jet Morgan Moses in March. Moses’ three-year, $15MM deal includes $5.5MM in guarantees, giving the Ravens flexibility after 2022.

This is not the first report to indicate the Jets using one of their first-round picks on a tackle is in play. New York is eyeing an extension with George Fant, who moved to left tackle to replace the injured Becton last year. The 363-pound lineman’s stock has nosedived since his promising rookie year. Becton’s weight has been a consistent problem, and he reported to camp out of shape last year. Becton suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and did not play again in 2021. While the Jets may try the mammoth blocker at right tackle, their patience is wearing thin. A first- or second-round tackle would crowd this position group.

49ers, WR Marcus Johnson Agree To Deal

April 7th, 2022 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers hosted a pair of wide receivers on visits this week and agreed to terms with one of them. Marcus Johnson is signing with San Francisco, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

This will end a lengthy AFC South stay for Johnson, who spent last season with the Titans and the previous three with the Colts. Johnson, 27, is on track for his sixth NFL season. He and Malik Turner visited the 49ers earlier this week.

Part of an Eagles-Colts trade in 2018, the former UDFA is coming off a season in which he was placed on IR twice. In between those stints, Johnson made a notable contribution for a Tennessee team playing without A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. Johnson’s five-catch, 100-yard day helped the Titans to a narrow win over the Saints, a victory that ended up mattering significantly in the AFC South champions’ pursuit of the conference’s No. 1 seed. Johnson landed on season-ending IR shortly after that performance.

A Texas alum, Johnson served as a part-time contributor with the Colts during Jacoby Brissett‘s second starter season and Philip Rivers‘ Indianapolis one-off. Between the 2019 and ’20 slates, the 6-foot-1 target combined for 31 receptions, 532 yards and three touchdowns.

San Francisco has a low-cost receiver room, at the moment, and is set to return its top pass catchers from 2021. Deebo Samuel‘s status figures to change that, with the team planning an extension — one that may now be more costly, given the receiver market’s early-offseason explosion — for its versatile star. The 49ers have Brandon Aiyuk under contract through at least 2023, and emerging complementary performer Jauan Jennings is attached to an ERFA tender — one he has not yet signed.

Vikings To Sign DT Jullian Taylor

April 7th, 2022 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jullian Taylor has missed the past two seasons, having seen an injury during his second 49ers campaign throw his career off course. But the former seventh-round pick will have another chance soon.

The Vikings agreed to a one-year deal with Taylor on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. While Taylor has not been out of football altogether since his December 2019 ACL tear, he has not seen the field since that setback. This signing comes under new Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was with the 49ers when they drafted Taylor in 2018.

San Francisco drafted Taylor out of Temple and used him as a rotational backup in six games in 2018 and ’19. Taylor played roughly a quarter of the 49ers’ defensive snaps when active, recovering a fumble and making four tackles for loss for the Super Bowl LIV-bound San Francisco squad in 2019. The Titans signed Taylor on June 3 of last year but cut him a day later.

Minnesota added Harrison Phillips from Buffalo in free agency this year and has Dalvin Tomlinson under contract. The Vikings are switching to primarily a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. They will give Taylor, 27, a shot to revive his career.

Eagles Meet With S Tyrann Mathieu

April 7th, 2022 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyrann Mathieu‘s previous free agency bid led to a position-record offer from the Chiefs not long after the market opened. The All-Pro’s latest unattached stretch has lasted much longer, but teams are monitoring the nine-year veteran.

Mathieu visited the Saints this week, and Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football notes the Eagles are believed to be interested as well (Twitter link). Mathieu went through a virtual meeting with the Eagles recently, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Eagles have re-signed Anthony Harris but have an opening alongside him at safety, a positioned Rodney McLeod manned for the past six years.

While the Eagles may have interest in bringing back McLeod, he is a free agent. Philadelphia saved on its second Harris contract, giving the ex-Vikings franchise player a one-year deal worth $2.5MM. While Mathieu will not set a safety AAV record with his latest free agency accord, he will cost considerably more than what it took for the Eagles to re-up Harris.

Joining the Chiefs after their woeful 2018 defensive season, Mathieu did plenty to reignite Kansas City’s defense under Steve Spagnuolo. The versatile defensive back earned All-Pro acclaim in two of his three Kansas City seasons. Set to turn 30 next month, the Honey Badger would certainly give the Eagles or Saints a considerable back-line upgrade. The Saints are looking to replace ex-Eagle Malcolm Jenkins, who retired last month. Other teams will likely be connected to the three-time All-Pro as well, which would stand to up his price.

Brian Flores Amends Lawsuit, Adds Accusations Against Texans

April 7th, 2022 at 1:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

While Steve Wilks and Ray Horton have joined Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit, Flores himself has amended his original complaint. It adds the Texans to the list of teams against which specific allegations are made (the others being the Dolphins, Broncos, Giants and, now, the Cardinals and Titans). 

[RELATED: Wilks, Horton Join Flores’ Suit]

As detailed by ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg, Flores alleges that Houston “retaliated” against him during their recent head coaching search as a result of his decision to file the lawsuit. His amended complaint notes how the team pivoted towards Lovie Smith – whom they ultimately hired – immediately after their decision appeared to be narrowed down to either Flores or former quarterback Josh McCown. As it reads, “the Texans were rightfully concerned that if it hired Mr. McCown over Mr. Flores, it would bolster Mr. Flores’ allegations of systemic discrimination against Black candidates”.

In a statement, the Texans have responded to the accusations. “Brian Flores was among the first candidates we held a formal interview with for the position and he remained a candidate until the very end” it says in part. “It was a very fluid process… we are proud of our decision and will vigorously defend [it].”

Alterations have also been made to Flores’ allegations against the Dolphins. Included among those is a memorandum he wrote in December 2019 to multiple members of the team’s front office, including general manager Chris Grier, related to the “alarming demands to lose games” made by owner Stephen Ross (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). In it, Flores “detailed the toxicity which existed within the organization and explained the unreasonable position he was being placed in”. PFT’s Mike Florio reports that said memo was provided to the league one week ago.

As well, the amended suit accuses the Dolphins of “asserting baseless claims” (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). One of those is the demand for Flores to repay wages paid by the team because they were given “on the condition that he wouldn’t sue the Dolphins”. Flores denies any such agreement was made during his departure from the team.

Flores initially sued the NFL generally, and the Dolphins, Broncos and Giants specifically in February. He has since been hired by the Steelers as the team’s linebackers coach, but made it clear at the time that he would not drop the suit. Today’s developments confirm that this matter is far from being resolved.

Steve Wilks, Ray Horton Join Brian Flores’ Lawsuit; Allegations Made Against Cardinals, Titans

April 7th, 2022 at 12:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two additions have been made to the class-action lawsuit filed by Brian Flores. Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks and former NFL staffer Ray Horton have joined the suit, making allegations against the league, but also the Cardinals and Titans, respectively. 

As first reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Wilks’ allegations stem from his time as head coach of the Cardinals. The 52-year-old held that title for one year, the 2018 season. As the new complaint details, Wilks “was hired as a ‘bridge coach’ and was not given any meaningful chance to succeed” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). It adds that Wilks “was unfairly and discriminatorily” fired after the team went 3-13.

Central to that point is the fact that general manager Steve Keim was away from the team during the preseason leading up to that campaign as a result of a DUI, and has since been given a contract extension. As Florio notes, Wilks also preferred the team trade up to draft Josh Allen that year; it was with the Cardinals’ ultimate selection, Josh Rosen, that Arizona and Wilks had that losing season. The allegation details how his replacement, Kliff Kingsbury, “has been given a much longer leash” during his tenure alongside Kyler Murray, despite the former’s lack of NFL experience and college success.

Horton, 61, alleges that in 2016 he participated in a “sham interview” for the Titans’ head coaching position. He had previously been the defensive coordinator of the team for two seasons, but they hired Mike Mularkey. As noted by the complaint, the latter had already been told he would be hired before the “fake” process of interviews (including with Horton, to satisfy the Rooney Rule) began, and stated as much in a recent podcast interview (audio link via Pro Football Focus’ Ari Meirov). Horton most recently coached in Washington in 2019.

In the aftermath of these developments, Flores (who has himself made changes to his complaint), Wilks and Horton have made brief statements (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). Both the Cardinals and Titans have rebuffed the assertion that their respective decisions were discriminatory.

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