HEADLINES

Month: June 2022

TE Stephen Carlson Works Out For Giants

June 6th, 2022 at 7:55pm CST by Ely Allen

After tearing his ACL in a preseason game last year, former Browns tight end Stephen Carlson has officially been cleared to return to football activities, and, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Carlson worked out today for the Giants in his bid to return to the field. 

Carlson was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Browns in 2019. Injuries to tight ends David Njoku and Pharaoh Brown elevated Carlson to third-string behind Demetrius Harris and Ricky Seals-Jones during his rookie season. Carlson saw most of his action in run-blocking or special teams, but he does have six career receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, as well as a two-point conversion.

His role in the offense was reduced drastically in 2020 by the additions of free agent Austin Hooper, rookie Harrison Bryant, and the return of a healthy Njoku. After being given an exclusive-rights free agent tender by the Browns, Carlson signed a one-year deal to stay another year in Cleveland, before his ill-timed injury ended his season before it could begin.

Carlson’s attempt to join the Giants could result in a reunion with Seals-Jones. With Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins likely cemented as the top two tight ends on the roster in New York, Carlson would be competing for a TE3 or TE4 job with 2022 fourth-round pick Daniel Bellinger and fellow undrafted free agents Chris Myarick and Austin Allen.

Rams Sign 8-Man 2022 Draft Class

June 6th, 2022 at 7:24pm CST by Ely Allen

Likely overshadowed by the massive news of star defensive tackle Aaron Donald‘s raise and guaranteed return in 2022, the Rams were able to sign all eight of their selections from the 2022 NFL Draft today.

The only rookie with any expectations of starting, Logan Bruss out of Wisconsin, was their first pick in the draft, despite not hearing his name called until the third round. After the retirement of tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard Austin Corbett‘s departure to the Panthers is free agency, Los Angeles needed to address its offensive line. Veteran tackle Joseph Noteboom is expected to slide in a left tackle for Whitworth, but Bruss will compete with Bobby Evans and Tremayne Anchrum for the the right guard starting job left vacant by Corbett. The Rams ended their draft addressing the offensive line, as well, selecting Michigan State tackle AJ Arcuri with one of their three seventh-round picks.

Los Angeles made several additions to its secondary, as well, through the draft. Cornerbacks Darious Williams and Donte Deayon hit the free agent market, but the Rams were able to bring back Troy Hill via trade after a one-year vacation in Cleveland this offseason. They may not be expected to start right away, but South Carolina State’s Decobie Durant and Georgia’s Derion Kendrick will add some depth to help make up for the free agency losses. With Nick Scott, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, and Terrell Burgess all returning at safety, UCLA’s Quentin Lake and Kansas State’s Russ Yeast will try to unseat them and each other in order to earn a roster spot at the end of camps.

The Rams lost Sony Michel to the Dolphins this offseason but bring back running backs Cam Akers, who returned from a preseason tear of his Achilles tendon in the last week of the regular season last year, and Darrell Henderson. Los Angeles selected Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams in the fifth round not only for his prowess as a runner but because he showed a talent in college for receiving the ball, as well, a skill that has been missing from the Rams’ backfield since the days of prime Todd Gurley.

Lastly, if Daniel Hardy, an outside linebacker from Montana State, can nab a roster spot, he’ll serve as a depth piece in a stacked linebacker room that houses Bobby Wagner, Leonard Floyd, Ernest Jones, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, and others.

Here are the draft picks the Rams will take into camps with them this summer:

Round 3: No. 104 Logan Bruss, G (Wisconsin) (signed)
Round 4: No. 142 Decobie Durant, CB (South Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 164 Kyren Williams, RB (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 6: No. 211 Quentin Lake, S (UCLA) (signed)
Round 6: No. 212 Derion Kendrick, CB (Georgia) (signed)
Round 7: No. 235 Daniel Hardy, OLB (Montana State) (signed)
Round 7: No. 253 Russ Yeast, S (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 7: No. 261 AJ Arcuri, OT (Michigan State) (signed)

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/6/22

June 6th, 2022 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves to start the week:

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans

  • Claimed: OL Carson Green (from Houston)
  • Waived: OL Derwin Gray

Latest On Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator Duties

June 6th, 2022 at 5:43pm CST by Ely Allen

About a week and a half ago, we wrote the latest on this situation with some fairly surprising names like head coach Bill Belichick, former special teams coordinator Joe Judge, and former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia being considered for the open offensive play-calling duties left vacant when former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took the head coaching position in Las Vegas. Jeff Howe of The Athletic was able to provide a bit of an update today that shows things are trending in an unlikely direction. 

To recap, since leaving New England to be head coach of the Lions, Patricia has since returned in the role of senior football advisor. All the way back in 2004 and 2005, Patricia was on the offensive side of the ball working with the Patriots’ offensive line. It’s been presumed that he will be, once again, working with the big men on offense this season.

Judge, since leaving to be head coach of the Giants, has also returned, now in the role of offensive assistant. Despite working primarily with special teams during his tenure in New England, he did add wide receivers to his docket in his final year before going to New York. Those in league circles believe that this year he will be working directly with Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, and the other quarterbacks.

Now, Belichick has never officially held play-calling duties. While it’s generally accepted that he’s always had an influence on the Patriots’ offense, McDaniels was always granted free rein to call plays. To his credit, though, in Belichick’s first head coaching job in Cleveland, he was heavily credited for his role in the offensive play-calling, though he claimed it was a group effort.

Howe’s update tells that things are still a bit up in the air but that they’re starting to fall into place. While the three have still been sharing the duties during OTAs, there has been some speculation that, due to Patricia handling run-based sessions and Judge taking charge of pass-based sessions, they may end up with the roles of run-game coordinator and pass-game coordinator, respectively.

For now, though, while no decision has been made, both Patricia and Judge are preparing as if they’ll be given the assignment. Early reports are indicating that “Patricia’s workload this spring has suggested he’s the early favorite to handle” play-calling duties.

Another nugget from Howe’s update suggests that McDaniels’ departure has led to the revamping of an offensive system that’s been notoriously difficult for free agents and rookies to learn. McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the past 10 years in New England and for three more years in an interval before that. The familiarity and memorization involved with that level of continuity can make things difficult for newcomers from the outside. So the trio of play-calling candidates have been working, not necessarily to change the system, but to simplify the terminology to help ease the learning process.

Colts, Kenny Moore Not Progressing On Deal

June 6th, 2022 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although two years remain on Kenny Moore‘s contract, the Colts have engaged in discussions with their disgruntled slot standout. Those conversations have not moved the needle.

Moore and the Colts have not made much progress on a resolution, Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star notes. Indianapolis’ front office has continued to communicate with Moore, with the sides having understandably differing viewpoints on this situation.

Named to the Pro Bowl following a season in which he played a career-high 97% of the Colts’ defensive snaps, Moore believes he has outplayed his current contract — a four-year, $33.3MM deal that represented a high-water mark for slot corners at the time of signing (2019). Moore, 26, has operated as one of the NFL’s best slot defenders since, but in playing 1,063 snaps, the former UDFA played outside as well and logged more defensive snaps than any Colt defender save for Bobby Okereke last season.

The Colts believe this was a fair contract, Erickson adds. By paying Moore early, the Colts both authorized a lucrative deal that replaced his league-minimum pact and gave him an opportunity to enter a contract year ahead of his age-28 season. However, the team gave Stephon Gilmore a two-year, $20MM pact this offseason. Moore’s AAV now sits 27th among corners.

The Division II product showed for the first week of Colts OTAs but stayed away last week. He reported to the team’s facility for this week’s minicamp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, though it is not known if on-field participation is in the cards. The Colts are transitioning to a new defensive scheme, under DC Gus Bradley, and Moore should again be expected to play an every-down role.

Moore’s deal remains atop the salary hierarchy among pure slot corners, narrowly outflanking Taron Johnson‘s 2021 Bills extension. A broader argument can be made that slot defenders are underpaid, given the value and versatility the top-tier inside cover men provide. Moore’s camp may be making that case, but with two years left on his deal, the Colts will not give in easily.

A compromise could be reached, however. The Broncos gave Chris Harris an incentive package in the penultimate year of his second contract (2018) and handed the All-Decade slot corner a true raise in the final year of his deal. One of these solutions could be salvageable for Moore, who would only be 28 as a free agent in 2024. It will be interesting to see if the Colts hold the line here, refusing to do an extension until 2023, and if Moore would consider a hold-in measure absent a true extension by training camp.

Rams Give Aaron Donald Record-Setting Raise

June 6th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Donald will be back with the Rams in 2022 and likely into the mid-2020s. The team gave the perennial All-Pro defensive tackle a raise. While no new years were added to Donald’s through-2024 deal, he will receive considerably more cash than he would have under the terms of his 2018 extension.

Donald, who has discussed retirement for months, is now set to earn a whopping $95MM by 2024, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The 31-year-old pass rusher will collect a $40MM raise on his old deal, Rapoport tweets, and again become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the game — a title the future Hall of Famer held for a few days prior to Khalil Mack topping him four years ago.

The eight-year veteran is returning to his place anchoring the Rams’ defense. The seven-time All-Pro is set to collect $65MM over the next two years of his contract, per Rapoport. It will be interesting to see if the Rams added void years to spread out the cap hits. The Rams have announced Donald’s return; he reported to the team’s facility Monday ahead of minicamp.

As far as guarantees go, Donald will receive a $25MM signing bonus and $6.5MM in additional 2022 guarantees, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. His $13.5MM 2023 base salary shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. A $5MM roster bonus also will come Donald’s way if he is a Ram on Day 2 of the ’23 league year. Donald can collect the final $30MM if he remains a Ram on Day 5 of the 2024 league year. If Donald intends to play in 2024, the Rams would pay him a $20MM option bonus and $10MM base salary, Florio adds. No offset language is present.

This allows the team some flexibility beyond 2023, but Donald has been one of the NFL’s most durable players throughout his career. Donald would not reach free agency until the offseason ahead of his age-34 campaign. Still, the all-world defender’s through-2024 sum and his not being forced to add any new years to the deal illustrates both his value and the seriousness of his retirement threat. Donald’s previous contract carried a $23.5MM 2023 cap charge. The biggest difference of the pre- and post-raise cap hits will be a $38MM cap charge next year, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com estimates. Void years are indeed present here, per SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter).

Retirement rumors emerged shortly before Super Bowl LVI’s kickoff, and while Donald seemed to backtrack at the team’s parade, he still mentioned leaving the game after eight seasons last week. Sean McVay and Les Snead insisted throughout the offseason the team would take care of Donald, with McVay expressing confidence last week. It is fairly clear now why that was the case.

Money always hovered at the forefront here. Although no interior D-linemen passed up Donald in earnings over the course of his second NFL contract, several edge players did. T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-per-year pact topped the defender market entering the week. Tied to what amounts to a three-year, $95MM deal, Donald is the first non-quarterback to secure a contract north of $30MM per year.

Wide receivers made inroads toward the $30MM-per-year mark this offseason, but it took inflated figures in the final years of Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill‘s deals to balloon those contracts to their $28MM-AAV and $30MM-AAV marks. By not adding any new years on Donald’s contract, the Rams have moved into new territory with Monday’s deal. Given Donald’s resume and impact in the Rams’ second Super Bowl win, it is tough to argue he did not deserve a significant raise.

Since going 13th overall in the 2014 draft, Donald has become one of the greatest players in NFL history. Only Donald, J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor have won Defensive Player of the Year acclaim three times. The Pitt alum has maintained top form into his 30s, as evidenced by his Super Bowl-sealing takedown of Joe Burrow, which punctuated a dominant performance. Donald is the only active player to be named a first-team All-Pro seven times. The player with the second-most such honors among active performers, Bobby Wagner (six), will join him in L.A. this season. Donald has only missed two games in his career — both due to a 2017 holdout.

The Rams have taken care of their offensive and defensive pillars this offseason, with the Donald deal following their Matthew Stafford extension. The team remains at work on augmenting Cooper Kupp‘s contract, following his stratospheric 2021 season.

Patriots Work Out Matthew Wright, Tristan Vizcaino, John Baron

June 6th, 2022 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

After failing to secure a full-time kicker gig in the years immediately prior to his New England arrival, Nick Folk has re-established himself with the Patriots. The veteran has made at least 92% of his field goal tries in his two full seasons with the team.

The team took some time to look into a younger leg Monday, however. Matthew Wright, Tristan Vizcaino and John Baron worked out for the Pats, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus tweets. Vizcaino is busy this week; the Raiders are auditioning him Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (via Twitter).

While Vizcaino has yet to hold a full-time role for a lengthy stretch, Wright spent last season as the Jaguars’ primary kicker. The Central Florida alum made 88% of his field goal attempts, including two late 50-plus-yarders in London, giving the Jags their first victory last season. Jacksonville waived Wright, 26, last month, going with Ryan Santoso and rookie UDFA Andrew Mevis.

Vizcaino started last season with the Chargers but proved shaky on extra points, making just 10 of 15 PATs in his abbreviated Los Angeles stint. The Bolts cut bait midway through the season, capitalizing on Washington’s decision to can Dustin Hopkins. Vizcaino, 25, also kicked in a game with the 49ers as a rookie in 2020. San Diego State’s kicker from 2016-18, Baron has not kicked in the NFL previously. He was, however, part of the Bears’ much-publicized post-“double doink” kicking competition in 2019.

The Pats gave Folk a two-year, $5MM deal in March, making him the heavy favorite to enter the season as the Pats’ kicker. Folk, 37, stabilized New England’s briefly unsteady post-Stephen Gostkowski kicker spot in 2019 and finished last season going 36-for-39 — including 11-for-11 from 40-49 yards — on field goal efforts. Folk did miss five PATs (42-for-47). Folk, who did not kick in 2018 and spent part of 2019 in the Alliance of American Football, is tied to a $2.2MM cap number in 2022.

Like Folk, Daniel Carlson is signed to an extension. The Raiders have just Carlson on their roster at the position. The Raiders have the former Vikings draftee signed to a long-term deal; he made an NFL-high 40 field goals (on 43 attempts) last season and has hit at least 93% of his tries in each of his three Raider years.

Buccaneers Sign Round 2 G Luke Goedeke

June 6th, 2022 at 2:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers trotted out their Ali Marpet–Alex Cappa guard tandem for the past three seasons, seeing the duo play a steady role on the team’s Super Bowl LV journey. Both players’ offseason exits — Marpet to retirement and Cappa to Cincinnati in free agency — created a rare glaring need for the Bucs during their Tom Brady period.

After trading for Shaq Mason, the Bucs invested again at the position by drafting Luke Goedeke in the second round. The Bucs signed the Central Michigan product to his four-year rookie contract Monday. Tampa Bay traded up three spots to nab the converted tight end at No. 57.

The second of two second-round picks the Bucs made, Goedeke will move from right tackle to guard. This should be an easier transition, position-wise at least, than the one the 6-foot-5 blocker made in college. Goedeke played tight end at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He converted to right tackle at Central Michigan, playing there throughout 2019 and remaining an O-line fixture in 2021. Goedeke redshirted in 2018 and missed all of 2020 due to injury, but he finished as a first-team All-MAC blocker last season.

Mason is locked in at right guard, leaving Goedeke to vie for the other guard post with veterans. The Bucs re-signed backup Aaron Stinnie this offseason and have 2021 third-rounder Robert Hainsey representing competition as well. The losers of this battle would represent depth for the reigning NFC South champions.

Stinnie started the Bucs’ final three games in their Super Bowl-winning season, replacing an injured Cappa. Hainsey spent his final season in college at tackle and developed at center as an NFL rookie. He is now striving for a first-string guard role, though the cross-training would also stand to help him as a swing backup.

Patriots Open To Dont’a Hightower Return?

June 6th, 2022 at 1:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dont’a Hightower‘s previous free agency bid (2017) produced a bidding war, but the accomplished linebacker’s second stint on the market has been much quieter. The three-time Super Bowl champion has not been closely connected to a team in the nearly three months since his second Patriots contract expired.

But New England did not use a draft choice on a linebacker. The team appears open to another Hightower deal. The Pats would welcome back Hightower “with open arms” if he wants to play a 10th NFL season, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (subscription required). The nine-year veteran has not decided on playing again. If he does opt to, it would be his age-32 campaign.

The versatile off-ball linebacker has slowed down some, as could be expected, and played 59% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps last season — his lowest usage since his 2012 rookie year. Pro Football Focus assigned the Alabama product the lowest grade of his career. But the former first-round pick has delivered versatility and, excepting 2017, durability for the Pats, who have questions at this position.

New England re-signed linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who moved into a regular role during Hightower’s COVID-19 opt-out two years ago. The Pats were able to bring Bentley back on just a two-year, $6MM deal. Hightower played out a four-year, $35.5MM pact — one that became a five-year commitment after Hightower’s contract tolled to 2021 following the opt-out decision — but would not command as much now.

The Patriots have shown they are willing to retain aging defenders — as evidenced by Devin McCourty‘s one-year, $9MM accord — and have frequently reunited with defensive cogs at reduced rates. Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Malcolm Butler all made Foxborough returns since 2021.

Beyond Bentley, the Pats have trade acquisition Mack Wilson, 2020 third-round pick Anfernee Jennings, 2021 fifth-rounder Cameron McGrone and former Dolphins starter Raekwon McMillan. None of the latter trio played a snap in 2021, with McMillan coming off a season-nullifying ACL tear. Josh Uche figures to join Bentley as a key presence, though the former second-round pick likely stands to contribute often as an edge rusher. The Pats cut Van Noy, who joined Hightower in being an off-ball ‘backer also used as a pass rusher, earlier this year. Adding a veteran presence would not be the worst idea here.

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