HEADLINES

Month: June 2022

Kyle Shanahan: Aaron Banks Was Ready To Start Late Last Season

June 3rd, 2022 at 5:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Alex Mack retiring, the 49ers have now lost three of their 2021 offensive line starters. After five years in San Francisco, Laken Tomlinson joined the Jets in free agency. Although Tom Compton worked as a Mike McGlinchey fill-in, he played well; San Francisco’s primary 2021 right tackle is now in Denver.

These exits magnify this position group, which still returns McGlinchey, Trent Williams and Daniel Brunskill. The 49ers are aiming for 2021 second-round pick Aaron Banks to take over for Tomlinson at left guard, with Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noting the Notre Dame product is the heavy favorite to start at that position. The 49ers considered making a late-season change at right guard last year, citing Banks’ development.

Kyle Shanahan said Banks had progressed to the point he could have replaced Brunskill in the lineup late last season. While the 49ers held off on making a change due to their second-half surge that ended in the NFC championship game, Shanahan certainly seems to have confidence Banks can man one of the team’s guard spots this year. Without Tomlinson and Mack, Banks’ progress becomes more important in Year 2.

A preseason shoulder injury stonewalled Banks’ potential path to the starting lineup, and the team did not pull his de facto redshirt henceforth. Banks played just five offensive snaps as a rookie. The 49ers ended up giving their first- and second-round picks from 2021 developmental seasons, with Trey Lance not threatening an injury-riddled Jimmy Garoppolo‘s job security. Lance detailed his own 2021 injury struggles recently and is still on track to replace Garoppolo in September. While that is not a lock, the 49ers are planning for Lance and Banks promotions to become official soon.

McGlinchey’s former college teammate, Banks would have played left tackle had he stayed for his 2021 senior season. He finished his junior year as an All-American guard. With Brunskill going into a contract year, Banks has a clear path to succeeding Tomlinson as San Francisco’s long-term guard option. The 49ers will count on 2021’s 48th overall pick shaking off his rookie-year no-show, or else they will need to start over on their interior O-line.

Eagles Announce Front Office Changes; Rod Streater, Ben Ijalana Join Scouting Staff

June 3rd, 2022 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

After seeing one of the more offseason significant brain drains in recent memory take place, the Eagles announced how they will move forward without the front office talent they lost.

Philadelphia saw four executives become assistant general managers elsewhere — Ian Cunningham (Bears), Brandon Brown (Giants), Catherine Raiche (Browns) and Andy Weidl (Steelers) — and have moved forward without former GM Tom Donahoe and director of scouting operations Casey Weidl. Had the Steelers not hired Andy Weidl as their assistant GM, the Eagles would have aimed to retain him — despite his brother’s firing — according to The Athletic’s Zach Berman (subscription required). But the team announced Friday its revamped front office.

Jon Ferrari and Alec Halaby are indeed Howie Roseman‘s assistant GMs. The Eagles have not used that title in recent years, but offering it certainly aids in retaining key staffers. The team hired longtime Steelers pro scouting director Brandon Hunt to accompany the in-house risers as a top Roseman lieutenant. Joining Andy Weidl, Omar Khan and others as a finalist for the Pittsburgh GM job, Hunt is now Philadelphia’s director of scouting. The Eagles were interested in adding Hunt back in 2016, and the veteran Steelers staffer will now play a key role in the NFC East franchise’s reconstructed front office.

Connor Barwin, who joined the Eagles during the 2020 offseason, will be the team’s player development director. Fellow recent retirees are among Philly’s new hires. Former Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater will join the Eagles as their northeast area scout. Streater, who played in the NFL from 2012-18, went to college in Philadelphia (Temple). Streater, 34, spent time as a Browns scout, working under former Eagles exec Andrew Berry, since retiring. The Eagles also hired ex-Jets and Colts tackle Ben Ijalana, 32, as a scouting assistant. Ijalana, who also went to college in Philly (Villanova), played from 2011-19.

Fellow recent hires Matt Russell and Jordan Dizon will serve as a senior personnel advisor and a national scout, respectively. The Eagles also hired Jeremy Gray as their assistant director of pro personnel. Gray previously worked at the University of Arizona. He is the son of longtime NFL assistant Jerry Gray. Let go from Washington’s staff last year, Jeff Scott also received a promotion with the Eagles; he is now their director of football operations. Scott was with Washington for nine years.

The Eagles also promoted Alan Wolking from college scouting director to director of player personnel and gave former Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell a more official title. Caldwell, who joined Roseman’s staff last year, will now serve as a senior personnel director and an advisor to the GM. Previously, Caldwell simply carried a “personnel executive” title. Max Gruder will rise from assistant pro scouting director to the top of that department, while Ryan Myers will move from an area-scout gig to the assistant scouting director post. An eight-year Eagles staffer, Phil Bhaya will climb from the area-scout level to the team’s director of draft management.

QB Notes: Brady, Lamar, Rudolph, Falcons

June 3rd, 2022 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although it has been more than two months since Tom Brady‘s unretirement, the Buccaneers were connected to other quarterback options for a fairly lengthy stretch this winter. Brady retired on Feb. 1 and decided to come back March 13, the Sunday ahead of the 2022 league year’s outset. Shortly after Brady recommitted, the Bucs re-signed Ryan Jensen and Carlton Davis. Chris Godwin agreed to an extension, and Leonard Fournette returned to the fold. Outside additions like Russell Gage, Logan Ryan and Akiem Hicks have joined up as well, separating this offseason from 2021’s historic talent-retention effort. It is safe to say Tampa Bay’s free agency plan would have been different without Brady, who announced a return on that date despite being on the fence about playing again.

“You know at this stage, it’s like 55% yes and 45% no,” Brady said during an interview with TNT’s Ernie Johnson (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud) of his mid-March stance on playing a 23rd season. “That’s just the reality. It’s not that I’m not 100% committed; it’s just as soon as I make the commitment to do it, it’s like ‘Ugh. All right, here we go.’ It’s like running a marathon. You can’t decide two weeks before the marathon, ‘Hey, I’m going to start running.’

“We got right to free agency and I felt some pressure to do it and talked to the team and organization, and it all worked out.”

Brady’s decision almost certainly had an impact on the Bucs’ ensuing coaching change, and the 44-year-old passer has since signed a restructure agreement to help the Bucs add more talent this offseason. Here is the latest from the quarterback scene:

  • Lamar Jackson‘s second offseason of extension eligibility has been quieter than his first, and although the consensus thus far appears to be the Ravens quarterback will exit 2022 without a new deal, Albert Breer of SI.com envisions the parties coming to an agreement. Noting the trust between Jackson and the team remains strong, despite the QB’s OTAs absence and the three Ravens power brokers confirming the former MVP has not shown extension interest, Breer points to this and the fifth-year veteran’s desire to stay a Raven as reasons a deal will happen. Deshaun Watson‘s fully guaranteed deal undoubtedly complicates matters for the Ravens, who have Jackson on a $23MM cap number in his fifth-year option season.
  • With the Steelers likely to choose between Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett after the preseason, Mason Rudolph resides as an atypical third-string option. That points to the Steelers looking into trading their longtime backup, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic offers (subscription required). Unless Pickett proves unready to the point the Steelers need Rudolph as Trubisky’s backup, a trade before the team finalizes its 53-man roster could make sense. Rudolph signed a Steelers extension last year, before Trubisky and Pickett entered the equation. The Steelers would save $3MM by trading Rudolph, who is due for free agency in 2023.
  • The Falcons worked out multiyear Ball State starter Drew Plitt this week, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Plitt worked as the Mid-American Conference program’s primary starter from 2019-21, piecing together a 59-19 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio in that time. The Falcons have 2021 UDFA Feleipe Franks as their third QB currently, alongside Marcus Mariota and third-rounder Desmond Ridder.

Buccaneers Sign DL Akiem Hicks

June 3rd, 2022 at 1:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 3: Details on Hicks’ Buccaneers salary emerged Friday. While the former Bears standout will not make close to the money he was tied to on his second Chicago pact, Greg Auman of The Athletic notes the 11th-year veteran did secure a base value of $6.5MM (subscription required). Another $1.5MM will be available via per-game roster bonuses.

As they have done during their Tom Brady period, the Bucs attached void years to lower Hicks’ 2022 cap figure. Because four void years are included here, Hicks will count just $2.39MM on the Bucs’ cap sheet this year, Auman adds. If Hicks does not agree to an extension before the start of the 2023 league year, Tampa Bay will be tagged with at least $4.9MM in dead money.

MAY 31: After Akiem Hicks‘ free agency market generated little buzz for months, the former Bears All-Pro will land with a high-profile team. The Buccaneers agreed to terms with the veteran defensive lineman Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Hicks and the Bucs agreed to a one-year deal that can max out at $10MM, per Schefter. Hicks spent the past six seasons in Chicago, but with the Bears shedding many veteran contracts from their previously experienced front seven, the talented interior D-lineman no longer appeared a fit.

This move essentially signals the Bucs will separate from Ndamukong Suh after three years. This appeared to be the direction the Bucs were heading, despite Suh having had conversations with Tampa Bay coaches earlier this offseason. Hicks, 32, is two years younger than Suh. While Hicks’ resume is not as decorated as the All-Decade D-tackle’s, he should have an opportunity to work as a key contributor on a defensive front that houses Vita Vea and Shaq Barrett. Second-round pick Logan Hall and the recently re-signed William Gholston also reside on a now-deeper Bucs front.

The signing represents a bit of a gamble by the Bucs; a durability disparity also exists between Suh and Hicks. The former has been one of the NFL’s most reliable performers, having never missed a game due to injury. Hicks missed eight games last season and 11 in 2019. Still, Pro Football Focus gave Hicks a solid 72.3 grade last season — albeit on only 304 defensive snaps. That mark was well north of Suh’s in 2021.

The Bucs newcomer joined Suh in being one of the top free agents still available, and he has extensive experience in a 3-4 scheme. Operating as a 3-4 end that played inside on four-man fronts, Hicks joined Khalil Mack in catalyzing the Bears’ defensive rise under Vic Fangio. Hicks’ best work came under Fangio, peaking with a 2018 Pro Bowl nod, with injuries largely limiting him during Chuck Pagano and Sean Desai‘s defensive coordinator years.

A 2012 Saints third-round pick, Hicks finished his rookie contract with the Patriots (after an in-season trade) in 2015. The Bears landed a bargain deal with Hicks in free agency in 2016 and later extended him — on a four-year, $48MM deal — a year later. Hicks recorded 23 sacks and 38 tackles for loss during Fangio’s final three Chicago seasons. While the 335-pound lineman did produce a career-high 21 quarterback hits in 2020, he has just eight sacks over the past three years.

Tampa Bay filling its Suh slot also creates intrigue for the 12-year veteran. Suh, 34, has played for four teams — the Lions, Dolphins, Rams and Bucs — and has appeared in two Super Bowls. He notched six sacks in each of the past two seasons and helped the Bucs erase a 24-point deficit against the Rams in the teams’ January divisional-round meeting. Despite Suh’s advanced age, he has been effective in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes and should have options to play a 13th season.

OC Shane Steichen To Call Eagles’ Plays

June 3rd, 2022 at 1:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Eagles hired an offense-oriented head coach in Nick Sirianni, he will work in a sideline CEO-type role next season. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen will call Philadelphia’s plays in 2022, he said Friday (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, on Twitter).

This will not necessarily represent a change. Sirianni began his Eagles debut season calling plays, but he handed the reins to Steichen midway through the campaign. That resulted in a shift for the team, which used a more run-centric offense down the stretch to craft a surprise playoff route.

Steichen’s role in the offense does make Sirianni’s stand out. The former Colts offensive coordinator did not call plays while in that post, with Frank Reich doing so. Most of the league’s head coaches with offensive backgrounds call their teams’ plays. Sirianni’s approach resembles Mike McCarthy‘s in Dallas, where OC Kellen Moore holds that responsibility.

“I think last year, we were a new staff and we were evolving as an offense. And so as the season got going on, I ended up taking over more of the play-calling midseason,” Steichen said, via Eagles Wire’s Glenn Irby. “And then, again, Nick has a stamp on every single thing we do. So in the meeting rooms, he has a stamp on everything we do. Every play that’s on that call sheet, he makes sure it’s justified and we’re good to go.”

Steichen’s previous position was as a play-caller for a team with an offense-geared HC (Anthony Lynn). The Chargers promoted Steichen to OC during the 2019 season, and he continued to call plays in 2020, playing a central role in Justin Herbert‘s Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. Steichen’s encore in this role illustrated a willingness to play to a team’s strengths. The Eagles became the first team since the 1985 Bears to rush for at least 175 yards in seven straight games. Philly finished the season as the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack.

Steichen, 37, may need to adjust again given the personnel change that occurred on the draft’s first night. The team’s key ball-carrying principals — Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jalen Hurts — return, but Philly’s offense figures to change now that A.J. Brown is on the team. Brown comes from a Titans team that also centered its offense around the ground game, but the Eagles authorized a wide receiver-record $56MM fully guaranteed upon trading for the fourth-year playmaker. That will require an increased aerial focus, something that should help the team determine Hurts’ long-term viability.

Eagles Promote Alec Halaby To Assistant GM

June 3rd, 2022 at 11:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The re-working of the Eagles’ front office continues. Not long after it was reported one longtime staffer was being promoted to the role of assistant general manager, another has been given the same title. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports (on Twitter) that Alec Halaby is Philadelphia’s newest AGM.

[RELATED: Eagles To Promote Jon Ferrari To Assistant GM]

Halaby will join Jon Ferrari in making the transition from vice president of football operations to this elevated role. The former held his previous title – VP of football operations and strategy – since 2016. Prior to that, he worked as a special assistant to general manager Howie Roseman.

Overall, Halaby’s time with the Eagles dates back to 2007, and includes a two-year stint as a player personnel analyst not long after he joined the team. His ascension up the ranks in Philadelphia’s front office has been marked by work across a number of departments and the inclusion of analytics in decision-making. Interestingly, his promotion comes after many believed Steelers executive Brandon Hunt – who interviewed with the Eagles and was a serious candidate for Pittsburgh’s GM job – would be in line for a cross-state move.

The decision to promote Ferrari and Halaby also comes after the Eagles suffered a number of key executive losses. Catherine Raiche, Brandon Brown, Ian Cunningham and Andy Weidl have all departed this offseason to take AGM roles elsewhere. A number of other front office personnel have been let go, leaving several further moves to be made by Roseman in the coming days and weeks. Regardless of what decisions he makes in that regard for the remainder of the offseason, he will have two new, yet familiar, faces serving as lieutenants.

Jaguars’ Jamal Agnew In Danger Of Missing Week 1

June 3rd, 2022 at 10:05am CST by Adam La Rose

OTAs are generally a good barometer for the recovery schedules regarding injured players. Especially at this point in the offseason, reports tend to be optimistic with respect to recovery timetables, but the opposite is true in the case of Jamal Agnew. 

The Jaguars are currently “unsure” if Agnew will be healthy in time for the start of the season, reports John Reid of the Florida Times Union (Twitter link). The 27-year-old’s season ended in November as a result of a hip injury, and the uncertainty surrounding his availability in the fall points to a stalled recovery.

In a year where little went right on offense for the Jaguars, Agnew was a relative bright spot. He made 24 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown, adding 111 yards and another score on the ground. He was of course most involved in the return game, though. The San Diego alum totalled 525 yards on kick returns, including a 102-yarder. He also recorded a record-breaking score running back a missed field goal in Week 3.

Those abilities on special teams earned Agnew a three-year deal with Jacksonville last offseason. The contract followed four seasons with the Lions, including his rookie campaign in which he was named a First-Team All-Pro for his production returning punts in particular. By the end of his tenure in the Motor City, Agnew had converted from cornerback to receiver, but it was in Jacksonville that he played a significant number of offensive snaps for the first time.

Reid notes that in Agnew’s absence, the Jaguars have used several other players as punt returners so far at OTAs. Among those is Christian Kirk, whom the team added on a four-year, $72MM deal in free agency. The former Cardinal will be leaned on heavily as a receiver, but he has 51 punt returns to his name as well. Only one of those came last season, however, so the team’s preference would surely be for Agnew to recover in time for the season. For now, though, it is in doubt whether or not that will happen.

Latest On Lions’ Jeff Okudah

June 3rd, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions’ defense has made a significant addition this offseason with the selection of Aidan Hutchinson in the draft. The return to full strength of another recent highly-touted pick could provide another boost to the unit. 

Cornerback Jeff Okudah is currently with the Lions during the team’s OTAs as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles. While progress is being made on that front, the team is eyeing training camp as the point at which he is able to resume a full workload, per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury in Week 1, ending his second NFL season essentially before it started. He was also limited to nine games as a rookie, so he has had a limited opportunity to showcase the skillset which made him the No. 3 pick in 2020. Head coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism that Okudah will be able to recover in full by July.

“We’re not worried about Jeff’s movement skills” he said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “You watch him, with his footwork and the things that he’s doing, he can do all that… When the time’s right, to go full-speed when we get him in camp, he’ll be ready.”

With concerns lingering about the Ohio State product’s mobility after the injury, where Okudah lines up upon his return remains an important question. On that point, Rogers reports that neither a position change to nickel corner or safety “is being immediately considered” right now. That would leave Okudah on the outside, pairing him with 2021 standout performer Amani Oruwariye as the team’s top corners.

Okudah is currently limited to participating in walkthroughs with the team. While he has yet to set a firm date by which he is hoping to be back to full strength, he echoed Campbell’s optimism with respect to availability in the near future.

“Best way to describe it, I’m going to be ready when it’s time to be ready” he said. “I’m confident in that.”

Texans Finish Signing 2022 Draft Class

June 2nd, 2022 at 10:34pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans wrapped up their nine-man draft class today when they were able to reach an agreement with third-round pick Christian Harris. The Power Five-heavy class includes a plethora of Day 1 and 2 picks and brings home three Houston-natives in guard Kenyon Green, safety Jalen Pitre, and offensive lineman Austin Deculus. 

The Texans started their haul with four selections in the 2022 NFL Draft’s first 44 picks. Their first addition was cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who will immediately improve a group that currently includes Steven Nelson, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Desmond King II. The Texans’ secondary struggled greatly at times last year, and defensive-coordinator-turned-head-coach Lovie Smith decided that addressing that weakness was a top priority. Their addition of Pitre in the second round further addresses that need. While listed as a safety, Pitre spent the majority of his career with the Bears in the slot. Whether at safety or slot cornerback, Pitre is a strong addition alongside Stingley to a struggling defense.

Green was the next selection, midway through the first round, and his ability to play on the inside of the line should allow Houston to establish Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard at the tackle positions. The later addition of the swing tackle, Deculus, continued the Texans’ efforts at improving the protection in front of second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

In terms of weapons for Mills, after extending leading receiver Brandin Cooks, Houston added another weapon in slot receiver John Metchie III. The Alabama alum tore his ACL in December, but is assumed to be ready to return to the field sometime this summer.

From there, Houston added linebacker Christian Harris, who is a menace in opposing teams’ backfields. They followed that by addressing a league-worst 3.4 yards per rush and 8 rushing touchdowns by bringing in Gator running back Dameon Pierce. Thomas Booker adds some depth to the defensive line. Teagan Quitoriano will compete to back up second-year tight end Brevin Jordan with Pharaoh Brown and Antony Auclair.

Here are the draft picks the Texans will take into camps this summer:

Round 1: No. 3 Derek Stingley Jr., CB (LSU) (signed)
Round 1: No. 15 Kenyon Green, G (Texas A&M) (signed)
Round 2: No. 37 Jalen Pitre, S (Baylor) (signed)
Round 2: No. 44 John Metchie III, WR (Alabama) (signed)
Round 3: No. 75 Christian Harris, LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4: No. 107 Dameon Pierce, RB (Florida) (signed)
Round 5: No. 150 Thomas Booker, DT (Stanford) (signed)
Round 5: No. 170 Teagan Quitoriano, TE (Oregon State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 205 Austin Deculus, OL (LSU) (signed)

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