Month: April 2024

49ers Notes: Gipson, Purdy, Yiadom, Mond

Safety became an issue for the 49ers last season, with Talanoa Hufanga suffering a season-ending injury on Thanksgiving. The team brought in Logan Ryan as an emergency pickup, and the versatile veteran ended up sliding into a key slot role down the stretch. Ryan has since retired, and another safety regular to close out San Francisco’s Super Bowl season is unsigned. Although Tashaun Gipson is going into an age-34 season, John Lynch said the team has engaged in talks about re-signing the veteran. Gipson has been a full-time starter in San Francisco over the past two seasons. However, the 49ers are looking at other experienced safeties.

The safety market took a beating,” Lynch said, via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows (subscription required). “It took years to get the guys to where they were being compensated. A bunch of them got cut, so a bunch of great players are out there. It’d be foolish of us to not take a look.”

With Hufanga on the way back, the 49ers have a host of options to consider outside of Gipson. The Broncos released four-time All-Pro Justin Simmons, while the Seahawks cut Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Eddie Jackson and Marcus Maye are also available due to roster cuts, and Micah Hyde remains unsigned as well. This many proven options available will cut into this group’s earning potential, but it represents good news for safety-needy teams. Though, the 49ers rostering 2023 third-rounder Ji’Ayir Brown may limit their interest in spending much for a veteran.

Here is the latest out of San Francisco:

  • Had the 49ers not ended the 2022 draft by selecting Brock Purdy, he would already be extension-eligible due to UDFAs only needing to play two years before being free to sign for veteran terms. The 49ers must keep the former seventh-round pick on his rookie deal through at least the 2024 season, but the Super Bowl starter did fare well via the NFL’s proven performance escalator system. Tied to an $870K base salary in 2023, Purdy nearly doubled his money via PPE earnings ($740K), ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Purdy, 24, is tied to a $985K base salary this season; 49ers owner Jed York is already discussing the prospect of a monster extension come 2025.
  • Recent signee Isaac Yiadom is set to compete for a regular job on the outside, Lynch said. Yiadom, a former Broncos third-rounder who enjoyed a quality season with the Saints after his career struggled to take off for years, will join Ambry Thomas, Darrell Luter and Samuel Womack in competing for the primary boundary job opposite Charvarius Ward. A member of that quartet impressing would allow the 49ers to move Deommodore Lenoir inside in sub-packages. Lenoir has played both outside and inside in his career; he closed last season on the outside, as Ryan patrolled the slot.
  • Former Vikings third-round pick Kellen Mond worked out for the 49ers on Wednesday, Barrows adds. The Texas A&M product has been with three teams in three years. After a Vikings cut led Mond to a third-string role with the Browns, his failure to make Cleveland’s 53-man roster last year keyed a move to the Colts’ practice squad. Mond did not see any action in 2023, and the Colts did not keep him on a reserve/futures deal. The 49ers lost Sam Darnold to the Vikings but re-signed Brandon Allen and added recent Vikings starter Joshua Dobbs. While teams regularly bring four QBs into offseason programs, Mond would not seem to have much upward mobility if he caught on with San Francisco.
  • A recent roster violation led the NFL to strip the 49ers of a 2025 fifth-round pick. Lynch said the penalty stemmed from (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) the team overpaying an unspecified player by $75K during the pandemic period. Rather than contacting the NFL about this, the 49ers’ effort to recoup the money brought on the violation.

Commanders To Meet With QB Drake Maye

In contention to become the No. 2 overall pick, Drake Maye will meet with the team holding that selection soon. The two-year North Carolina starter will head to Washington for a meeting next week.

The Commanders will use a “30” visit on Maye, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the high-end QB prospect will be in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Maye’s visit will come shortly after Jayden Daniels‘; the 2023 Heisman winner will meet with the Commanders from Monday-Tuesday.

[RELATED: Who Will Commanders Choose At No. 2?]

Washington and New England sent the largest contingents to Chapel Hill for Maye’s recent pro day. This upcoming visit with Sam Howell‘s Tar Heels successor will do plenty to determine which direction the Commanders go at No. 2. With J.J. McCarthy also potentially in the mix for that spot, Washington has a rather complex decision on its hands. That said, holding the second overall pick in this draft is quite the luxury, as a few other QB-needy teams will need to part with considerable assets to move into the top four for a passer.

Maye being Howell’s UNC backup to start his career brings an interesting wrinkle, though the coaching staff, lead front office decision-maker and owner are different from when the team committed to Howell as its starter. Though, multiple front office bastions (Martin Mayhew, Marty Hurney) are still in place from the Ron Rivera period, which produced a fifth-round Howell pick in 2022. But new FO chief Adam Peters is running the show for Josh Harris‘ team now. The Commanders traded Howell to the Seahawks last month, clearing the way for a Harris-Peters-Dan Quinn QB draftee.

A recent Giants-Maye rumor emerged recently, and new Vikings QBs coach Josh McCown mentored Maye in high school. The Patriots have certainly been closely connected to the standout ACC passer. But the Commanders can render all of this moot by choosing the 6-foot-4 QB second overall (assuming the Bears follow through on their long-expected Caleb Williams choice at 1).

Maye brings some advantages on Daniels, being more than two years younger and bringing a more prototypical QB build into the equation. Maye will turn 22 this summer, while Daniels will be 24 before his rookie season ends. Maye weighed 223 pounds at the Combine, while Daniels measured 210. Daniels, of course, dominated as a runner during his Heisman season, surpassing 1,100 yards on the ground. Maye, however, posted a 698-yard rushing season in his 2022 breakout campaign — one that included 4,321 passing yards and a 38-7 TD-INT ratio. In 12 games last season, Maye was slightly less impressive (3,608, 24-9). And the strong-armed prospect has generated criticism as more of a boom-or-bust prospect ahead of the draft.

Of course, Maye may have looked better as a prospect had he played five college seasons like Daniels did. As it stands, the Commanders will need to measure Maye’s two seasons as a primary college starter against Daniels’ four. With McCarthy also factoring in, Washington’s decision promises to be one of the most interesting QB calls in recent draft history.

Optimism Exists On Record-Setting Antoine Winfield Jr.-Buccaneers Deal

With Josh Allen becoming the seventh franchise- or transition-tagged player to sign an extension this offseason, the NFL’s annual mid-July news surge will not be as eventful. Only two tagged players — Tee Higgins and Antoine Winfield Jr. — remain.

Higgins has requested a trade, and the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase plans and record-setting Joe Burrow extension complicate their WR2’s long-term future in Cincinnati. While the Bengals may well have Higgins play on the tag, the Buccaneers may be making progress on a Winfield deal. Optimism exists an extension will be reached this offseason, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Winfield remains tied to a $17.12MM tag.

The Bucs, who have been busy retaining talent over the past several weeks, are working on a Winfield deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety, Schefter adds. This would surpass Derwin James‘ mark ($19MM per year); the Chargers and James agreed to that deal in summer 2022. Considering the hits the safety market has taken since that point, it would be interesting to see the Bucs feel comfortable handing out a deal that approaches or exceeds $20MM per year for their All-Pro safety.

This offseason has already seen two of 2023’s top five safety contracts — those given to Jamal Adams and Justin Simmons — removed from payrolls. Quandre Diggs, Eddie Jackson, Kevin Byard, Marcus Maye and Jordan Poyer received walking papers as well. This unexpected market surplus led to younger safeties like Kamren Curl and Julian Blackmon signing for lower than expected. That said, the Packers were the outlier, authorizing a $17MM-per-year deal for Xavier McKinney. Considering Winfield’s resume eclipses the four-year Giants defender’s, his camp is understandably aiming higher.

At 25, Winfield is coming into his prime. The 2020 second-round pick tallied six sacks and three interceptions while forcing an NFL-leading six fumbles last season. This included a pivotal strip of DJ Chark in the Bucs’ Week 18 win over the Panthers, which clinched them the NFC South title. While snubbed by the Pro Bowl, Winfield landed a more impressive accolade later by becoming a first-team All-Pro. Winfield did receive a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and has been an important player for the Bucs, who used him as a starter during their Super Bowl LV-winning season as well.

In an offseason that seen a bit of a market correction at the safety position, the prospect of the Bucs extending Winfield at a record rate will be a storyline to monitor. The recent cap spike has benefited several young players, though McKinney scored the only needle-moving safety deal.

Thanks to the extensions for Allen, Brian Burns, Jaylon Johnson, Justin Madubuike, L’Jarius Sneed, Michael Pittman Jr. and Kyle Dugger, this promises to be one of the least eventful tag deadlines since the NFL introduced the tag in 1993. If Winfield signs early, that would magnify the Bengals’ situation with Higgins. The Bucs, however, still have more than three months to hammer out a deal.

An agreement with Winfield would follow Bucs accords with Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield and Lavonte David. With Tristan Wirfs on track for a potential left tackle-record deal, the Bucs’ payroll may look quite different by Week 1. A second Winfield contract would continue one of the more notable roster-retention efforts in recent memory.

Latest On Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.’s Draft Stock

Throughout the pre-draft process, there’s been a general consensus that the top tier of quarterback prospects consists of USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels. While Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy has recently climbed up the draft boards, it sounds like a fifth signal caller has drawn increased attention of NFL evaluators.

Albert Breer of TheMMQB recently passed along that some NFL coaches have Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. listed above some of “the presumed top guys.” In fact, one anonymous NFL offensive coach declared Penix as his “No. 2 guy” at the position.

“I love Penix,” the coach told Breer. “He’s a stud, a born leader, calm and collected and in a genuine way. He’s a baller. He turns it loose, can throw it into tight windows. He stands in the pocket, lets plays develop, takes hits, throws it down the field. He’s just a winner.”

As Breer details, there are a handful of reasons why Penix has started to climb up the draft boards. Primarily, Penix’s rise could be attributed to coaches being inserted into the draft conversation. Scouts weren’t as high on the Washington prospect, criticizing the player’s “sometimes-scattershot accuracy underneath.” Coaches, however, have been more focused on Penix’s skills, including deep-ball accuracy that Breer describes as “off the charts.”

Penix also helped his draft stock with a strong pro day. His 4.5-second 40-yard dash time certainly warranted attention, with the unexpected speed being a nice revelation besides Penix’s lauded arm strength. In meetings with teams, the QB has come off “as humble, confident, and introspective,” per Breer, only improving coaches’ confidence in the prospect.

The quarterback’s health updates have also helped. Despite suffering four season-ending injuries during his time in college, Penix’s “medical evaluations did get a thumbs up,” per Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. Teams will surely still be wary of Penix and his health, but they now might be a bit more comfortable with improving his spot on the draft board.

Poll: What Will Commanders Do At No. 2 Overall?

When Washington last held the No. 2 overall pick, players like Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were not realistic targets. Although both have become successful in the pros, Washington had chosen Dwayne Haskins 15th overall in 2019. That tied Ron Rivera and Co. to the best non-QB available, which led to a Chase Young investment.

As another new regime takes over in Washington, the decks are clear for a quarterback. Dan Quinn effectively confirmed the team would leave this draft with one, and while the new HC did not guarantee that player would be chosen at No. 2, the Commanders have a clear opportunity — in what is believed to be a strong QB draft — to select their next starter without giving up assets to do so. The question that will form this draft’s path comes next.

Which signal-caller should the Commanders choose? Washington has been connected to three arms with the No. 2 choice. With a Caleb WilliamsKliff Kingsbury reunion obviously appealing to the NFC East team, that is almost definitely not an option. With the Bears all but set to start the draft with the USC standout, the Commanders have other options worthy of the No. 2 slot. Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and the fast-rising J.J. McCarthy have been tied to Washington. Barring something unexpected, one of them will be the team’s long-term QB hopeful.

Maye came into last season near Williams’ level, but after a statistical step backward in 2023, the North Carolina-developed talent has generated questions. Suddenly, Maye appears a high-variance prospect. Still, Sam Howell‘s Tar Heels QB1 successor dazzled as a redshirt freshman, throwing 38 touchdown passes to seven interceptions. Maye accounted for 5,019 yards (698 rushing) in 14 games in 2022. While less prolific last year (24 TDs, nine INTs, 4,057 total yards — in 12 games), the 6-foot-4, 223-pound prospect still brings plus arm strength and upside. At 21, he is also more than two years younger than the other QB most frequently mocked to the Commanders.

Daniels, who will turn 24 before year’s end, dominated as a senior to rise up prospect rankings lists. The Arizona State transfer accounted for 4,946 yards (1,134 rushing) and finished with a 40-4 TD-INT ratio in his second and final LSU season. Daniels’ frame is a slight concern, as he weighed 210 pounds at the Combine. His playing weight may well check in south of that number. Daniels played five college seasons, capitalizing on his COVID year. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board places Daniels second, while Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com rankings tab him sixth. Maye checks in sixth and fifth on those lists, respectively, adding intrigue to this Commanders call.

Prior to his Heisman offering, Daniels was not expected to be an early-first-round pick. But McCarthy made a more surprising rise. Even in the days following Michigan’s national championship win, McCarthy was viewed as maybe a mid-first-round choice. That no longer looks possible. Despite not posting numbers that rivaled Maye’s or Daniels’ offerings, the national championship-winning QB wowed evaluators at his pro day. To go along with his accuracy in a pro-like system under Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy now seems likely to be a top-six pick.

Many mocks have the 21-year-old prospect rising to the No. 4 spot via trade. A player without a 3,000-yard passing season going that high would be quite rare, though McCarthy exited several games early last year due to Wolverines dominance. He also finished his two-year starter run with a 44-9 TD-INT ratio.

McCarthy surfaced as a candidate to go No. 2 overall last month, and a recent report lent support to the Michigan product’s rise reaching this point. Neither Kiper nor Jeremiah have placed that as likely yet, though their mocks disagree on the Maye-Daniels debate. The Commanders joined the Patriots in having the largest contingent at Maye’s pro day, while Daniels is coming to Washington for a “30” visit. As of late March, Daniels was believed to be in pole position to go second to Washington, and a recent poll of NFL executives revealed a 3-2 edge to the LSU alum in the Daniels-or-May debate. Several teams will obviously have vested interests in how the Commanders proceed, with the draft taking shape based on which direction the NFC East team goes.

Washington is rebuilding. They could stockpile considerable draft capital — likely two future first-round picks — by trading down. This would likely not apply to the Giants, as they would almost definitely need to find a different gateway into the top four, but a big offer could prompt a meeting. But the Commanders have a clear path to a top QB prospect now. Waiting could introduce future hurdles into their QB equation, one that has not been stable since Kirk Cousins‘ two-franchise tag exit. And even that brought numerous headlines due to the contractual breakdown.

How will Washington proceed at 2? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this pivotal decision in the comments section.

Draft Pick Likely Required For Team Absorb Zach Wilson’s Jets Contract

Not expected to be part of the 2024 Jets, Zach Wilson has been on the trade block for more than a month. The team made it known at the Combine the former No. 2 overall pick had permission to seek a trade partner. More than five weeks later, Wilson remains a Jet.

Although Wilson is attached to a rookie contract, it is the final year of a deal that involves a No. 2 salary slot. Wilson signed a four-year, $35.15MM contract in 2021. The remaining $5.45MM owed to the three-year starter has brought a sticking point in trade talks.

[RELATED: Revisiting 2021 First-Round QB Picks]

Offers are believed to have come in for Wilson, but those evidently have not satisfied the Jets. The delay may well stem from teams wanting the Jets to pay some of Wilson’s guarantee or seeking to make this a weighted pick-swap exchange. For a trade to be completed, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes the sense around the NFL points to the Jets needing to send over a draft pick to convince a team to add all or most of Wilson’s money to their payroll.

In February, Cimini mentioned a sixth- or seventh-round pick being potential compensation for Wilson. Though, the notion of a mid-round swap came about in that piece as well. The Jets are unlikely to release Wilson, as the cut would tag them with $11.18MM in dead money. That amount would be halved for 2024 should the team designate Wilson as a post-June 1 cut.

The Jets have also seen many teams fill their QB2 posts. A few did so via trade, with the Steelers (Justin Fields), Eagles (Kenny Pickett), Jaguars (Mac Jones), Seahawks (Sam Howell) and Cardinals (Desmond Ridder) make deals to acquire recent starters and make them backups. A few other teams have signed backups. The Bills (Mitchell Trubisky), Browns (Jameis Winston), C0lts (Joe Flacco), Chiefs (Carson Wentz), Rams (Jimmy Garoppolo), Giants (Drew Lock), 49ers (Joshua Dobbs), Titans (Mason Rudolph) and Commanders (Marcus Mariota) have added clear-cut backup options. This will limit the Wilson market, and while it should be expected the BYU alum will have another chance somewhere, the Jets may need to sweeten the pot for that to happen.

The Steelers traded a fourth-round pick in a Pickett-centered deal that brought back a third from the Eagles. The Commanders attached fourth- and sixth-round picks to send Howell to the Seahawks, who supplied third- and fifth-rounders. The 49ers did not need to add any inducement in the Trey Lance swap, with that Cowboys deal being Lance for a fourth-rounder. Chosen one pick after Wilson, Lance remains on the Cowboys’ payroll at $5.31MM guaranteed.

Given Wilson’s performance and contract, the Jets should not be expected to upgrade in the middle rounds in any Wilson swap. With teams knowing the Jets would face that dead money penalty by cutting him, offers will not be particularly impressive.

Colts To Host LSU WR Malik Nabers

Malik Nabers continues to be a popular name for receiver-needy teams, and the LSU star is adding another top-30 visit to his agenda. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Nabers is expected to fly to Indy tomorrow to meet with the Colts.

[RELATED: LSU WR Malik Nabers To Visit Titans, Jets, Bears]

We previously heard that the receiver was set to meet with the Titans, Jets, and Bears, all squads that currently hold top-10 picks. The Colts are sitting with the No. 15 pick, meaning they’ll likely need a trade (and/or some luck) if they want to snag Nabers.

The Colts are hoping to surround second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson with as many weapons as possible. While the team was quick to re-sign top wideout Michael Pittman Jr., the front office has otherwise been quiet when it comes to skill players. At the moment, the team is set to return basically the same WR depth chart next season, a grouping that includes Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and D.J. Montgomery.

Nabers would surely provide the Colts with some offensive firepower. The six-foot-one receiver followed up a breakout 2022 campaign with an even better 2023 season. Nabers finished the year with 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning him a unanimous All-American nod.

Thanks to that performance, Nabers is now considered one of the draft’s top receiver prospects. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is widely considered the top player at the position, Wolfe notes that some teams actually have Naber as the top wideout in the class. The LSU product’s first-round draft stock is secure, and it seems like there’s an increasing chance that Nabers lands in the top-10.

QB Jayden Daniels To Meet With Six Teams

TODAY, 7:20pm: Daniels’ visit with the Commanders has officially been scheduled. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the quarterback will visit with the team next Monday and Tuesday.

MARCH 27, 11:00am: Jayden Daniels is going through an abbreviated pro day Wednesday. The 2023 Heisman winner is expected to throw, but NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes the LSU product is not planning to perform other drills. He will then prepare for a cross-country tour of “30” visits.

The fast-rising prospect already has six meetings scheduled, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders are planning to meet with Daniels. This sextet of teams makes sense due to QB needs or draft proximity.

The Bears not being included is notable, and the team not meeting with the dual-threat talent would only further solidify its intentions of starting the draft with a Caleb Williams pick. Considering the 2022 Heisman winner has hovered over this draft class for months, the Bears not taking a meeting with another QB prospect would not be too surprising. Then again, a Chicago meeting could emerge down the road during the pre-draft process. Ryan Poles, however, is among several prominent execs or HCs at the pro day.

As should be expected, Antonio Pierce is at LSU’s pro day. The Raiders HC has offered persistent Daniels praise, after being on Arizona State’s staff during the QB prospect’s time with the Sun Devils. Jerod Mayo, Dan Quinn, Dennis Allen, Adam Peters and Joe Hortiz are among the other HCs and execs in attendance today in Baton Rouge, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham joins his boss at the pro day, per Breer.

High-end wide receiver prospect Malik Nabers is also generating considerable attention, as should be expected. After declining to weigh in at the Combine, Daniels checked in at 210 pounds today, per Breer.

Each of the teams preparing to bring in Daniels holds a pick between Nos. 2 and 13. The Raiders are on the low end here, landing at No. 13 after they completed a sweep of the Broncos in Week 18. Although mock drafts have regularly sent Daniels to Washington or New England at No. 2 or No. 3, Las Vegas has been consistently connected to him. Daniels attended the Raiders’ regular-season finale to support Pierce, celebrating with the team in the locker room after the game. Connected to a potential trade-up, the Raiders are also believed to have brought up Daniels during their OC search.

The Vikings (No. 11) and Broncos (No. 12) reside well outside of Daniels range as well, but both are logically being tied to a trade-up maneuver. Minnesota acquired Houston’s first-round pick (No. 27), providing more ammo to climb up for a passer. Denver does not have its second-rounder, sending it to New Orleans for Sean Payton, and traded three first-round picks — for Payton and Russell Wilson — from 2022-23. Although the Broncos are planning to acquire another veteran to compete with Jarrett Stidham, they will surely be in on first-round QBs.

Washington (No. 2) and New England (No. 3) have clear needs. How the Commanders proceed will be a pivot point in this draft, with the team now tied to three passers — Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy — at No. 2. Patriots trade-down rumblings have emerged, though a previous rumor suggested some of the team’s scouts are higher on Daniels than Maye. The Pats are doing considerable recon ahead of their Daniels meeting, with Breer adding nine New England representatives are on-hand today.

If the Commanders want Daniels, trade-ups will not factor into the equation. The Giants could also be left out if they are eyeing last year’s Heisman recipient, seeing as the Commanders will be unlikely to trade them the No. 2 pick. Steadily linked to QBs despite Daniel Jones‘ employment, New York has a big-picture decision to make. The team, which holds the No. 6 pick, can easily move on from Jones by 2025. The Giants have already met with Maye and McCarthy.

Transferring to LSU in 2022, Daniels broke through with a dominant final season and became the second Tigers QB to win the Heisman in four years. Following Joe Burrow, Daniels obviously displayed a more versatile skillset than the pocket passer. Accounting for 50 TDs (40 passing) last season, Daniels paired 3,812 passing yards with 1,134 on the ground. The ex-Arizona State recruit completed 72.2% of his passes, setting himself up to go early in this year’s draft.

Giants Sign WR Miles Boykin

After spending his first five seasons in the AFC North, Miles Boykin will be looking to continue his career in the NFC. The Giants announced today that they’ve signed the veteran wide receiver.

The former third-round pick showed some promise through his first two years in the NFL. In 32 games with the Ravens between 2019 and 2020, Boykin hauled in 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns.

Things haven’t gone nearly as well over the past three seasons. Between 2021 and 2023, the receiver has only caught six passes in 41 games with the Ravens and Steelers. His offensive role has basically dried up; after averaging 485 offensive snaps per season through his first two years in the NFL, he’s only averaged 96 offensive snaps per season over the past three campaigns. Still, he’s managed to contribute on special teams, culminating in a 2023 season where he got in a career-high 316 ST snaps.

The Giants haven’t done a whole lot to address their WR situation this offseason. Prior to today’s move, the team added Isaiah McKenzie to a group of holdovers that includes Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and Isaiah Hodgins.