HEADLINES

Month: April 2023

49ers To Re-Sign DE Kerry Hyder

April 14th, 2023 at 12:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Three of Nick Bosa‘s sidekicks left early in free agency. Samson Ebukam (Colts), Charles Omenihu (Chiefs) and Jordan Willis (Raiders) departing left some needs up front for the 49ers. But the defending NFC West champions will keep another of their supporting-cast pass rushers.

Kerry Hyder reached an agreement Friday to stay in San Francisco, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The team will make another bet on the soon-to-be 32-year-old edge defender, who has now signed three 49ers contracts in four years.

The former Lions UDFA put together one of the best seasons of his career in 2020, producing during a season when Bosa went down in Week 2. Hyder racked up 8.5 sacks that year and parlayed that into a three-year, $16.5MM Seahawks deal. Seattle ended up cutting bait after Hyder’s one-sack 2021, leading him back to the Bay Area. Although Hyder registered just one sack last season, the 49ers will bring him back.

While Hyder production has been scarce since 2020, he has been fairly durable. The 275-pound auxiliary rusher has not missed more than two games in a season since 2018. With Ebukam, Omenihu and Willis moving on, there might be more snaps available for Hyder on the Bosa- and Arik Armstead-led defensive line. After totaling 721 defensive snaps in 2020, Hyder’s San Francisco return involved just 356 in 16 games. Hyder, however, played inside more often; his return to the 49ers’ 53-man roster would provide some more flexibility for new DC Steve Wilks and well-regarded D-line coach Kris Kocurek.

San Francisco probably still could use help on the edge. Hyder and a flier on ex-Raiders top-five pick Clelin Ferrell represent the most notable D-end investments in the wake of the Ebukam and Omenihu departures. Of course, the 49ers devoted extensive funds to their defensive interior by giving Javon Hargrave a four-year, $84MM deal to work with Bosa and Armstead. The team also has 2022 second-round pick Drake Jackson in place as a potential fourth starter. Hyder, who also compiled eight sacks with the Lions in 2016, will likely vie for a backup gig.

Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell Address Potential QB Addition

April 14th, 2023 at 10:54am CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings will enter the 2023 season with stability under center, but questions regarding the future beyond the coming campaign. The uncertainty surrounding starter Kirk Cousins has led to plenty of speculation that Minnesota will draft a quarterback this month to eventually succeed the veteran.

When speaking on the subject, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah declined to confirm one way or the other if he would be targeting a signal-caller at some point in the near future. He did say, however, that it would be “ideal” for the long-term Cousins replacement to be on the roster one year before taking over. That time could very well be the fall of 2024, since the Vikings restructured (rather than extended) Cousins’ contract last month.

As a result, a number of pundits have pointed to Minnesota as a destination for one of the second- or third-tier quarterbacks in this year’s class. The top four (Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis) are widely expected to be off the board by the time the Vikings turn in their top selection, No. 23. The next group of passers, led by Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, could be a list of targets, however.

Connections have already been made between the former Volunteer and the Vikings, who could represent Hooker’s floor in terms of draft stock. The 25-year-old is recovering from a torn ACL, something which will limit his availability in his rookie campaign. His level of play before suffering the injury leaves him with notable upside, though, and landing in Minnesota could give him a relatively straight path to playing time in quick fashion.

“Ideally you would like to have that person in that role developing behind a great player like Kirk, but I don’t think you ever sacrifice it being the right player,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper, when asked about drafting a quarterback. “Regardless of the when, where, why, how, you can’t sacrifice that. You have to have ultra belief and connection on making that decision because it is such an important decision.”

Adofo-Mensah confirmed that discussions within the organization are “ongoing” with respect to adding a passer. Other options will be available after round one, of course, but waiting to add a developmental option would add to the uncertainty concerning their depth chart at the position beginning next season. Cousins, 34, is on the books at a cap hit of $20.25MM this season. Backup Nick Mullens is under contract for the next two years after re-signing last month. Whether the Vikings look to add to that group at the draft will be a storyline worth watching.

Falcons To Sign OLB Bud Dupree

April 14th, 2023 at 9:27am CST by Adam La Rose

A Bud Dupree Steelers reunion will not take place this year. The veteran pass rusher is instead set to join the Falcons on a one-year deal (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that the contract has a maximum value of $5MM.

The 30-year-old joined the Titans in 2021 with massive expectations given his production in Pittsburgh. He failed to live up to them, however, and spent only two underwhelming campaigns in Nashville. Dupree was one of several veterans the Titans have moved on from this offseason, and he has spent the past few weeks weighing his options as he looks to rebuild his value.

That process included a visit with the Steelers, something which led to the belief that a deal sending him back to Pittsburgh could be forthcoming. It was with the Steelers that Dupree spent the first six years of his career, a stretch which included his 11.5-sack campaign in 2019. Injuries were among the reasons he was unable to replicate that success in Tennessee, though, and it comes as little surprise that he is inking a prove-it deal worth far less than the five-year, $82MM accord he landed the last time he was a free agent.

Pittsburgh remained a serious contender for Dupree, Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler tweets. It was the latter’s insistence on a one (rather than two-year) pact which steered him away, however. As a result, he represents the latest significant addition made on defense by the Falcons, a team which has been busy on both the free agent and trade fronts in targeting upgrades on that side of the ball.

That has included the big-ticket signing of safety Jessie Bates and, more recently, the trade which allowed them to acquire cornerback Jeff Okudah from the Lions. Those deals will make an impact on the Falcons’ secondary, but Dupree will look to help the team’s pass rush, something which has been a significant weak spot in recent years. Atlanta recorded 21 sacks last season, the second-lowest figure in the league. Dupree’s form in Tennessee suggests he won’t make a massive impact on that total, but he will provide a noteworthy presence on the edge for the new-look defense.

Atlanta entered Friday with slightly more than $10.3MM in cap space, a figure which will drop considerably with this deal now in place. Even if it is the last notable one on the free agent front, the team is in line to take a considerable step forward on defense in particular in 2023. Dupree, meanwhile, will look to put together a healthy campaign for the first time since 2019 and earn himself a new deal next offseason in the process.

DT Gerald McCoy Retires

April 14th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

After 11 seasons and 12 years in the NFL, Gerald McCoy is stepping away from the game. An announcement from the defensive tackle on Friday confirms that he is retiring (video link).

The 35-year-old played with three franchises but will of course be best remembered for his nine-year stint as a Buccaneer. It was in Tampa Bay that he began his career, facing substantial expectations as a third overall pick. He made an immediate impact as a rookie with three sacks, and soon built off that production to become one the league’s most disruptive interior linemen.

McCoy earned a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in his career in 2012. That was the beginning of a six-year streak in which he was named an all star; during that time, he also earned one first-team and two second-team All-Pro honors given his consistent production as a pass rusher. McCoy’s best season came in 2013 when he notched 9.5 sacks and 50 tackles, but he posted no fewer than five sacks in a season through 2019.

That was the year McCoy made the move to Carolina, where he stayed for one season. His continued strong level of play earned him a three-year deal with the Cowboys, but the Oklahoma product suffered a quadriceps tear which cost him the entire 2020 season. Dallas released him before he suited up for them, leading McCoy to his final destination in Vegas. That one-year tenure included another major injury and a PED suspension, marking a forgettable ending to an otherwise decorated career.

McCoy’s 54.5 sacks with the Buccaneers rank fourth in franchise history, while his career total of 59.5 place him 25th amongst active players. He amassed just over $126MM in total earnings, meaning his career was a fruitful one in several regards. Rather than attempting one final comeback in a rotational role, he will turn his attention to the next chapter of his life.

Packers Still Seeking Jets First-Rounder In Aaron Rodgers Trade

April 13th, 2023 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Gutekunst said the eventual Aaron Rodgers trade does not need to include a first-round pick, but it seems like the Packers have not abandoned hopes of collecting one from the Jets in these long-running trade talks.

The Packers are still angling to acquire the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com said during an appearance on the Wilde and Tausch show with veteran reporter Jason Wilde and ex-Packers O-lineman Mark Tauscher. The Packers do not appear to be going after the Jets’ No. 13 pick this year, but Robinson adds they want a 2023 second-rounder and the 2024 first.

New York acquired an additional second-round pick in the Elijah Moore trade and now holds the Nos. 42 and 43 selections this year; the team is willing to give up at least a second-rounder in this deal. It should be expected one of them will be included in a Rodgers trade, and the talks could run up to Day 2 of this year’s draft. Unloading Rodgers by that point and picking up at least one high 2023 draft choice would be the best way for the Packers to give Rodgers’ successor, Jordan Love, more help after an 8-9 season. Should a trade not be completed by the draft, a number of possibilities enter the equation.

The Jets are balking at including a 2024 first-rounder in this deal, per Robinson, who said the Packers are open to including a 2025 draft choice in the swap in the event Rodgers retires after this coming season. Woody Johnson looks to be leading the holdup here, aiming to avoid a Broncos-like scenario that sees the asset struggling after the team parted with a monster trade haul. While the (post-Nathaniel Hackett) Wilson-Denver book is not closed, Seattle does hold the team’s No. 5 overall pick. It would seem Rodgers’ success in the Hackett-Matt LaFleur offense would protect the Jets against a similar combustion, but the 39-year-old QB’s annual retirement flirtations obviously have the Jets skittish about overpaying here.

At a Jets event recently, GM Joe Douglas expressed confidence Rodgers will soon be Big Apple-bound. The Packers owe Rodgers nearly $60MM, but that payment — which can be sent any time between now and Week 1 — is expected to be the Jets’ responsibility. How to restructure Rodgers’ $50.3MM-per-year contract — which runs through 2025 — represents a part of these trade talks as well.

With the Packers undoubtedly wanting no part of that near-$60MM payment, Rodgers will almost definitely be off their roster by Week 1. This process dragging past the draft would still turn up the heat a bit on the Jets, who will surely want Rodgers rostered before at least minicamp in June or training camp at the latest. The Jets standing down as Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo signed elsewhere obviously increases the pressure to acquire Rodgers, though Ryan Tannehill could conceivably become an emergency backup plan. The Jets have joined the rest of the league in not pursuing Lamar Jackson.

The Jets did not acquire Brett Favre until early August 2008, and with Rodgers spending the past four seasons running the offense Hackett will implement, assimilation is probably not a significant Jets concern. But the Jets can also attempt to wait out the Packers, as that bonus payment looms. That said, Rodgers developing chemistry with Garrett Wilson and Mecole Hardman will be important for the Jets, who gave longtime Rodgers auxiliary target Allen Lazard an $11MM-per-year deal.

It cost only a conditional third-round pick for the Jets to acquire Favre’s rights 15 years ago. Johnson was part of those negotiations, but his team will need to pay more for Favre’s successor. Day 2 of this year’s draft (April 28) will be the first major deadline in these negotiations.

Latest On Odell Beckham Jr., Lamar Jackson

April 13th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens held newly signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.‘s introductory press conference today, in which Beckham spoke for nearly 40 minutes on what brought him to Baltimore, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. During Beckham’s introduction to Charm City, the media even got a short update on the situation surrounding quarterback Lamar Jackson from both Beckham and general manager Eric DeCosta.

The biggest headline from Beckham pertained to the former MVP as Beckham confirmed that he had received no assurances that Jackson would be back at quarterback. Beckham told reporters that “the goal was to come (to Baltimore) and have that possibility to play with (Jackson).” He said he would let DeCosta take care of business but made sure to stare straight down the cameras and say, “Lamar, if you’re watching, I would love to get to work with you.”

Beckham spoke to the other factors that lured him to Baltimore, citing team owner Steve Bisciotti as having played a big role. Bisciotti reportedly reached out to Beckham and said all the right things. Between Bisciotti, his former offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and some recruitment from Jackson and other players, Beckham claims it wasn’t money that drew him to the Ravens but a true belief from both parties that he was a piece that could help them win.

Lastly, Beckham discussed perhaps the biggest item of concern for the upcoming season: his health. After sitting out all of the 2022 season due to his ACL injuries, Beckham was hesitant to commit to attending organized team activities this offseason, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. He minimized the importance of OTAs, indicating that his main focus was returning to the field on Sundays.

Pertaining to Beckham’s performance on Sundays, we finally have some details on the $3MM of incentives in his new deal. According to Florio, Beckham can earn an extra $1MM for each of three categories: receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. For receptions, the incentive progresses as follows: $250,000 for 30 receptions, $500,000 for 40, $750,000 for 50, and $1MM for 60. For receiving yards, the incentive progresses as follows: $250,000 for 250 yards, $500,000 for 500, $750,000 for 750, and $1MM for 1,000. For receiving touchdowns, the incentive progresses as follows: $250,000 for three touchdowns, $500,000 for five, $750,000 for seven, and $1MM if he catches nine scores or leads the team in receiving touchdowns.

We got some comments from DeCosta, as well, in the press conference today. The fifth-year general manager explained that the team had been in talks with Beckham since last October. The team sent assistant wide receivers coach Keith Williams to Beckham’s workout in March and talked to Beckham at the owners’ meetings in Arizona.

“This was the guy that we felt could help take us to the next level,” DeCosta told the media. “We’ve had lots of players come back from this type of injury and flourish over time.” He continued, “We went into it knowing we were the underdogs (to the Jets), and…sometimes the underdog wins.”

In reference to Jackson, DeCosta claimed that he hadn’t spoken with the quarterback since signing Beckham but has communicated with Jackson since his trade request and franchise tagging, declining to relay any details.

“Lamar’s in our plans; we love Lamar,” DeCosta said. “Our feelings about Lamar have not changed one bit since the end of the season. We’re hopeful still that we’ll get a long-term deal done. He’s the right player for this team to lead us to where we want to be. I think the locker room knows that, the organization knows that. I think the fan base knows that. So it’s ongoing. But I can’t think of a situation where we wouldn’t think that our best team is with Lamar Jackson on the team in September.”

Even past Jackson’s participation in the recruitment of Beckham to Baltimore, Jackson and Beckham further commingled after the Ravens signed Beckham on Sunday night. The two went out to dinner together in Miami before being seen at a club later that night. Many viewed Beckham’s addition to the team as a positive step towards Jackson’s return to the Ravens. While that hasn’t been guaranteed, Beckham sure hopes he has Jackson throwing passes to him in 2023.

NFL Workout Notes: Moore, Cards, 49ers

April 13th, 2023 at 9:57pm CST by Ely Allen

After a career year in Houston, wide receiver Chris Moore is seeking a new contract for 2023. The veteran looked at a division rival, visiting the Titans yesterday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Moore spent the first five years of his career with the Ravens, having his best offensive season with Baltimore in 2017 when he caught 18 balls for 248 yards and three touchdowns. His role diminished over time until he found himself contributing mostly on special teams. He returned to a role on offense with the Texans while still serving as a core special teamer. Over his two years in Houston, Moore has had two games over 100 receiving yards and several other strong contributions en route to 96 receptions for 775 yards and four touchdowns.

In Tennessee, Moore would be joining an extremely thin wide receiving corps that currently consists of Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Racey McMath, Reggie Roberson, and Mason Kinsey. He would likely slot in as a starter at WR2 or WR3 and could still provide for the Titans on special teams.

Here are a few more workouts from around the league:

Panthers Not Receiving Calls On No. 1 Pick; Team Down To Two QBs?

April 13th, 2023 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

It would be unusual for a team to acquire the No. 1 overall pick and then trade out of that slot, but the Panthers did obtain this draft pick several weeks ago. And the team was believed to be comfortable with multiple options in this year’s draft.

But nothing is pointing to Carolina moving back again. The Panthers have not received calls on the No. 1 pick, per David Newton of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Sticking at No. 1 will affect the team’s quarterback search, which still may be a Bryce Young-or-C.J. Stroud call.

Anthony Richardson was on Carolina’s “30” visit schedule, and the Florida product’s athletic profile has generated extensive buzz during the pre-draft process. A report earlier Thursday indicated Richardson remains in the mix for the Panthers at 1. But a Richardson-at-1 plan does not appear to be universally viewed as realistic. The Panthers would likely only consider Richardson if they traded down, per Newton. Given the boom-or-bust strings attached to Richardson — a one-year Florida starter who completed less than 54% of his throws during that slate — it would be a massive risk to bet on the athletic prospect’s upside at No. 1.

Stroud is still scheduled to visit the Panthers on Tuesday, and ESPN’s Matt Miller said he joins Young in having “serious support” in Carolina’s building. But Young has overtaken the two-year Ohio State starter as the favorite. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. swapped the QBs on his most recent mock draft, sliding Stroud down to Houston at No. 2. The growing Panthers-Young connection should still be viewed as an indicator of where this process will end up, Newton adds (on Twitter).

Still, NFL execs, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, view Stroud as the clear-cut second-best QB in this year’s draft who brings prototypical size (6-foot-3) compared to the 5-10 Young. The two-year Crimson Tide starter graded as the polled execs’ most pro-ready passer available. Richardson and Will Levis, who will visit Carolina along with Stroud but is not believed to be in consideration for the Panthers, reside a tier below Young and Stroud here.

The Texans were deep in discussions about moving into the No. 1 slot, and the Bears were interested in a trade that would have seen them drop from 1 to 2 to 9. Houston backed out, but the Panthers and Texans’ involvement in those talks point to the NFC South team being open to multiple QBs and the AFC South franchise clearly preferring one. How the Texans proceed at No. 2 will become more interesting after the Panthers make their choice. It should be expected Carolina is closing in on a consensus, but with the NFL preferring to keep fans in suspense, the pick’s identity may not emerge until Roger Goodell reads the card.

Houston holds intriguing draft capital to move up, having two first- and third-round picks this year and two firsts in 2024, and Carolina did part with a lot to acquire this year’s top pick. Still, dealing such a package — one that included D.J. Moore — and then being fine with the second-best QB in this year’s draft would invite unnecessary risk into the retooled team’s draft. For teams interested in moving up, the Texans may entertain trade offers. The Cardinals are already doing so, with at least six teams having spoken with Arizona about the No. 3 choice.

Devin White Seeking At Least $18MM Per Year?

April 13th, 2023 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

After C.J. Mosley reset the off-ball linebacker market in 2019, it has stabilized a bit in recent years. But Roquan Smith recently moved it to $20MM on average, signing a five-year deal worth $100MM weeks after being traded to the Ravens. This contract looks to be affecting the Buccaneers.

Devin White requested a trade this week, and while the Bucs are not entertaining offers right now, the fifth-year linebacker is believed to be “fed up” with the team’s negotiating efforts, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. White, whose production and advanced metrics grades create a foggy perception of his value, is aiming high in his second-contract ask. The former No. 5 overall pick is seeking a deal worth between $18-$20MM per year, according to Laine.

That would place White in the top five at the position. Tremaine Edmunds received $18MM per year from the Bears last month, though the former first-rounder had free agency leverage. Smith also possessed unique leverage in Baltimore, being on the cusp of free agency due to the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson situation mandating a franchise tag. Shaquille Leonard and Fred Warner are the other linebackers earning at least $18MM on average, with Mosley’s $17MM-AAV accord in fifth place at the position.

“We all have all the respect in the world for Devin,” Bucs GM Jason Licht said Thursday. “He’s done some great things for us, and we look forward to more from him in the future. … If he has the type of year we think he’s capable of, we can hopefully put this to rest and everybody’s happy.

“[The trade request] isn’t something I’m holding against Devin. I still feel he’s a tremendous person. I would never say he’s not the type of teammate we want because of this.”

The salary cap has climbed to the point White, 25, would not be out of step asking for such a contract, seeing as Mosley signed his market-disrupting Jets deal in 2019 and Warner ($19MM AAV) and Leonard ($19.7MM) signed their extensions in 2021. But White is not coming off an especially strong season, similar production notwithstanding. Pro Football Focus, long a White skeptic, ranked the LSU product near the bottom among off-ball ‘backers in both 2021 and 2022. Todd Bowles also addressed the topic of White loafing on plays last season. The rookie Bucs HC defended the linebacker and did not demote him, but while Smith and Edmunds enjoyed quality contract years, White’s fourth season — a rough Bucs slate on just about every level — left a bit to be desired.

Only one other off-ball linebacker (the Jaguars’ Foye Oluokun) earns at least $15MM on average. It is not known what the Bucs have offered, but a gap may have formed ahead of White’s trade request. White is one of the best pass-rushing ILBs in recent NFL history, accumulating 20.5 sacks as a pro, and is coming off three straight seasons with 120-plus tackles. The longtime Lavonte David apprentice played a central role in the Bucs’ defense backing the Brady-piloted Super Bowl run in 2020. But the Bucs, per Laine, want to see more from White, who has lacked consistency.

The Bucs re-signed David and Jamel Dean, doing so after giving lucrative extensions to Shaq Barrett and Carlton Davis. They also re-upped Vita Vea, making him the league’s highest-paid nose tackle. These deals also stand to complicate Bucs-White talks. Like the Bears last year, the Bucs probably do not have the franchise tag in their back pocket for White. With all linebackers grouped together on the tag, a 2024 tag will come in north of $20MM. That raises the stakes for 2023 negotiations.

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