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RB David Johnson Retires

May 19th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

David Johnson was out of the NFL in 2023, and he will not attempt a return this coming season. The veteran running back announced his retirement on Sunday.

Johnson spent his first five seasons with the Cardinals, enjoying his most productive campaigns in the desert. His career was highlighted by the 2016 season in which he led the league in offensive touches (373), scrimmage yards (2,118) and total touchdowns (20). Those figures helped him earn Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors for the first and only time during his NFL tenure.

The Northern Iowa product suffered a wrist injury the following season, and it limited him to just one contest. Johnson bounced back in 2018, though, producing 1,386 total yards and again scoring double-digit total touchdowns. After seeing a dip in playing time during his final Cardinals campaign, the former third-rounder was included in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. That set up a two-year Texans stint.

Johnson served as a full-time starter in 2020, but he took on a rotational role the following year. Upon the expiration of his Houston pact, he had a lengthy stay on the open market which ultimately ended in a Saints practice squad agreement. Johnson played five games with New Orleans in 2022, but he has not found a deal since. Rather than pursuing a tryout with teams eyeing veteran backfield depth this summer, he will hang up his cleats.

The 32-year-old will end his career with 92 regular season games to his name. Having spent much of his career on rebuilding teams, his only two playoff contests came during his rookie season. Thanks in large part to his 2018 Cardinals extension, Johnson amassed roughly $38.6MM in career earnings.

“I’m looking forward to my next career path in life,” his announcement reads in part. “I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did!” 

NFC Rumors: Cowboys, Tepper, Greenlaw

May 19th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys hit on quite a few of their picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, with first-rounder Tyler Smith reaching second-team All-Pro status last year, fourth-rounder Jake Ferguson earning the starting tight job halfway through his rookie season, and fifth-rounder DaRon Bland leading the NFL in interceptions, interception return yards, and pick sixes last season. Their second- and third-round picks from that draft, though, are still struggling to make a similar impact two years in. That may be changing soon.

Former second-round edge rusher Sam Williams found his name getting called fourth on the depth chart last year, behind Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Dorance Armstrong. It’s hard to imagine being disappointed with a fourth-place finish in that situation, considering Parsons has become a perennial DPOY candidate, Lawrence is a four-time Pro Bowler, and Armstrong is a veteran with 21.0 sacks in the last three years. Still, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Williams wants to play more, and director of player personnel Stephen Jones claims that, thanks to Armstrong’s departure in free agency to Washington, those opportunities will come this year, though he will be competing now with this year’s second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland.

Likewise, third-round wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has seen limited production behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup. With Brown gone last year, Tolbert stepped his role up a little bit. After the team released Gallup, Tolbert is, once again, expected to step his game up in 2024. With Lamb and Cooks returning, Tolbert will now be given a larger opportunity to step in as WR3, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Here are a few other rumors from around the NFC:

  • Many have looked at the Panthers‘ decision to draft Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft as a gigantic misstep, given the vast difference in success each team saw last year. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, some in the Panthers organization point to the S2 cognitive test as the main reasoning for the decision. Per Person, team owner David Tepper, a hedge-fund billionaire and a proponent of analytics, took the S2 test results very heavily into consideration when helping the team to make their decision. The test of processing speed and reaction time has been looked at as a potential indicator of future success at the quarterback position. Young scored extremely well (in the 98th percentile), while Stroud did not (18th percentile).
  • 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw notoriously missed a good mount of the team’s Super Bowl loss after tearing his Achilles tendon in the big game. According to a report from Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Greenlaw told the media that he had been experiencing some soreness in his Achilles for about a month or so before the game. He recently was able to shed his walking boot as he continues in recovery.
  • It’s been over a year since Steve Keim stepped down as general manager of the Cardinals following an indefinite leave of absence due to “an undisclosed health-related matter.” According to a recent interview Keim did with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Cardinals administration advised Keim to check into a rehab while he was still general manager of the team. Of course, the situation eventually resulted in the two sides parting ways, but Keim continues to work on himself following the conclusion of his NFL career.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/15/24

May 15th, 2024 at 8:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL’s midweek draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Cardinals Sign Round 2 CB Max Melton

May 14th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The current CBA has largely removed holdout-driven drama from the NFL offseason, but the wiggle room regarding second-round picks does add some intrigue to the rookie signing process. The Cardinals’ Tuesday signing will help influence this year’s guarantee structures.

Arizona agreed to terms with its second-round pick — Rutgers cornerback Max Melton — Tuesday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the deal includes three fully guaranteed years and part of the DB’s 2027 salary being locked in at signing. The Cardinals are guaranteeing $50K of the No. 43 overall pick’s 2027 salary.

This follows the Rams’ Braden Fiske deal, which Wilson reported guarantees 15% of the Florida State defensive lineman’s 2027 base salary. Fiske went No. 39. The Rams and Cardinals’ deals show more progress being made by second-rounders. Last year’s class did not see its No. 39 overall pick (Jonathan Mingo) secure any Year 4 guarantees. The Cards giving Melton three fully guaranteed years and some 2027 guarantees will mandate this year’s Nos. 40-42 picks (cornerbacks Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Kamari Lassiter) receive some contract-year security.

Last year’s guarantee arc did not require the Jets to guarantee all of No. 43 overall pick Joe Tippmann‘s Year 3 salary, and No. 42 overall choice Luke Musgrave also did not receive three full years guaranteed. The Cardinals’ Melton agreement will continue to move the baseline for second-round guarantees, and the former Big Ten corner will get to work in attempting to carve out a significant role as a rookie in Arizona.

Checking in 50th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Melton is viewed as a player who could be a fit outside or in the slot. He intercepted eight passes over the past three seasons at Rutgers, returning one for a score. Melton also notched 10 passes defensed as a junior in 2022. The 5-foot-11 cover man added to his draft profile by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Arizona has been in need at corner for years, with Byron Murphy‘s 2023 exit for Minnesota amplifying the issue. The team’s group at the position will look different in 2024, as three CBs — Melton, third-rounder Elijah Jones and seventh-rounder Jaden Davis — join free agency addition Sean Murphy-Bunting as new faces here. The Cardinals did improve in pass defense last season, ranking 13th in Jonathan Gannon‘s debut; they will aim to make more gains with their new pieces this year.

The Cardinals also agreed to terms with third-rounder Isaiah Adams, a guard out of Illinois. Adams was part of a four-third-rounder haul for Arizona this year.

Cardinals To Sign WR Zay Jones

May 10th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

A four-visit week did well to show Zay Jones commanded extensive interest following his Jaguars release. The veteran wide receiver will end up in Arizona, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting the Cardinals have a deal in place.

Jones also met with the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs this week, setting up an interesting mid-offseason derby for a player who worked as a two-season starter in Jacksonville. Jones will now team with Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona. Jones’ deal will be worth up to $4.25MM, Rapoport adds.

The Cardinals received the second visit on a Jones tour that effectively showcased both his value and the state of the WR free agent market. The Titans appeared to take themselves out of the running early, reaching a deal with Tyler Boyd. Of the remaining three teams, the Cardinals appeared to feature the biggest need. Although Harrison is set to anchor Arizona’s receiving corps in Kyler Murray‘s sixth season, Jones will bring considerable experience to an equation that features questions behind the No. 4 overall pick.

A few veteran wide receivers have departed Arizona in recent years. A.J. Green retired after the 2022 season; soon after, the Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins. This offseason, the Cards let Marquise Brown walk (to the Chiefs) in free agency and traded slot target Rondale Moore to the Falcons. The Brown and Moore exits left the likes of Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as the top Cards holdover receivers. The past few weeks have changed that outlook.

The Jaguars released Jones shortly after their WR plan came to fruition during the draft’s first night. Nineteen picks after Harrison became this year’s first wideout drafted, Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth. The LSU product being ticketed for Jacksonville led to the team removing Jones’ $8MM-per-year deal from its payroll. Jones, 29, will soon begin work for a fourth NFL team. The Bills drafted Jones in the 2017 second round but traded him to the Raiders during the 2019 season. The Jags signed both Jones and Christian Kirk during the 2022 offseason.

Jones’ Jags tenure featured a good start and an underwhelming second chapter. The 6-foot- 2 target proved some skeptics wrong by amassing a career-high 823 receiving yards to go with five touchdowns in 2022, helping the Jags to the playoffs. He became Trevor Lawrence‘s leading target in the postseason, totaling 13 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. This included a 39-yard score in the Jaguars’ 27-point comeback win over the Chargers and 83 yards in a narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs. Last season, however, Jones battled PCL and femur injuries, missing eight games and totaling 321 yards.

Working as an outside receiver in Jacksonville’s offense, Jones did boost Calvin Ridley, whose three 100-yard receiving efforts came with the 200-pound starter on the field. The East Carolina alum’s down 2023 also included a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in November. That will put Jones at risk of a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Cardinals clearly feel comfortable with Jones’ status to complete this signing.

Rebuffing trade interest for the No. 4 slot, the Cardinals were intent on upgrading Murray’s receiving corps. They will see if Jones can become a reliable supporting-caster to start Harrison’s career.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday’s rush of rookie signings continued today. Here are Friday’s draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • K Will Reichard (sixth round, Alabama)
  • C Michael Jurgens (seventh round, Wake Forest)
  • DT Levi Drake Rodriguez (seventh round, Texas A&M-Commerce)

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • G Mason McCormick (fourth round, South Dakota State)
  • DT Logan Lee (sixth round, Iowa)

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/24

May 9th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As a number of teams prepare for rookie minicamps this weekend, Thursday has represented a signing day of sorts for rookie draftees. Here is the latest batch of mid- and late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie deals:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • T Travis Clayton (seventh round, England)

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

  • QB Spencer Rattler (fifth round, South Carolina)
  • WR Bub Means (fifth round, Pittsburgh)
  • LB Jaylan Ford (fifth round, Texas)
  • DT Khristian Boyd (sixth round, Northern Iowa)
  • T Josiah Ezirim (seventh round, Eastern Kentucky)

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

NFL Workouts: Jones, Ward, Summers, Tagovailoa

May 8th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Veteran wide receiver Zay Jones continues to make the rounds after getting released by the Jaguars last week. Since then, the 29-year-old pass catcher has taken visits with the Titans, Cardinals, and Cowboys. The newest report has Jones scheduling a visit with the Chiefs tomorrow, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

An impressive 2022 campaign that saw Jones catch 82 balls for 823 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs except for the touchdowns, was virtually erased by a disappointing 2023 campaign in which the receiver missed eight games due to a PCL issue and femur damage. The Jaguars opted not to finish out Jones’ final season of a three-year contract, for which Jones would have represented a $6.57MM cap charge.

In Kansas City, Jones could be a part of a completely new-look wide receiving corps for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have added Marquise Brown in free agency and Texas first-round rookie Xavier Worthy in the draft. They also return Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Noah Gray from last year, but Rice could be facing some legal trouble, and if healthy, Jones would be an improvement over the other three while playing alongside Brown and Worthy.

Here are a few other workouts happening around the NFL:

  • Career depth running back Jonathan Ward is participating in the Steelers rookie minicamp, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Over four years with the Cardinals and Titans, Ward only has 69 career rushing yards on 17 carries. He’s proven to be an active special teams contributor during that time, though.
  • The Broncos took a look at veteran linebacker Ty Summers at their rookie minicamp this past weekend, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Summers only has one career start over five years with the Packers, Jaguars, and Saints but has appeared in 71 games over that span. A linebacker with some speed, Summers is a productive special teamer, as well.
  • After agreeing to participate in the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp, undrafted Maryland quarterback, and brother of the Dolphins’ starting passer, Taulia Tagovailoa will attend the Cardinals‘ rookie minicamp this week, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The rookie will audition to join last year’s fifth-round pick Clayton Tune and 2022’s third-round pick for Atlanta Desmond Ridder as potential backup arms for Kyler Murray in 2024.
  • An undrafted linebacker who graduated from Harvard before playing as a graduate transfer at Villanova, Daniel Abraham has been invited to minicamps for both the Falcons and the Seahawks, per Wilson. The speedy linebacker obviously poses some interest due to both his athleticism and his intellect.

Cardinals To Sign LB Markus Bailey

May 7th, 2024 at 7:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Columbus native who attended Purdue before being drafted by the Bengals, Markus Bailey will soon take up residence outside the Midwest. Winter clothing will be far less relevant for the veteran special-teamer.

The Cardinals are adding the linebacker/ST presence, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Agreeing to a one-year deal with the NFC West club Tuesday, Bailey will head to the desert as a likely second-string presence and soon-to-be regular for Arizona’s specialty units.

For the most part, Bengals DC Lou Anarumo pointed Bailey’s focus toward special teams. The former seventh-round pick only passed the 100-snap barrier on defense in one of his rookie-contract seasons. On special teams, Bailey exceeded 275 snaps in each of the past two seasons. He topped out at 309 ST plays last year.

A 2021 Logan Wilson injury did lead to the Bengals using Bailey as a fill-in starter. Bailey made three starts during the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI-qualifying season. He ended up playing 26 snaps against the Rams in that season’s decider.

Arizona was not especially aggressive at linebacker this offseason, but the team still has some pieces from 2023. Kyzir White remains under contract, as does Krys Barnes. The Cards added Mack Wilson last month as well, and fifth-rounder Owen Pappoe is going into his second season. Bailey, 27, will mix in with this group, likely set to work as a backup and ST regular for a second team.

WR Zay Jones To Visit Titans, Cardinals

May 7th, 2024 at 11:20am CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 7: Interest in Jones is not limited to Tennessee. The Cardinals will host him today, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher report. Arizona lost Marquise Brown in free agency, replacing him in part with the trade acquisition of Rondale Moore along with the signings of Mack Wilson and Chris Moore. Of course, the Cardinals also made a major draft investment at the WR spot by selecting Marvin Harrison Jr. fourth overall.

Jones could aim to play at least a depth role with the Cardinals if his Titans summit does not produce a favorable offer. As Schultz adds, however, “a few other teams” could have Jones on their radar. His market will be interesting to monitor in the coming days.

MAY 6: Zay Jones was let go by the Jaguars last week, but he could remain in the AFC South for the 2024 campaign. The veteran wideout is set to visit the Titans later today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

[RELATED: Titans To Host WR Tyler Boyd]

Jones spent the past two seasons in Jacksonville following his stints with the Bills and Raiders. The 29-year-old had the most productive campaign of his career in terms of receptions and yards in 2021, posting an 82-823-5 statline. His production saw a notable drop-off during the 2023 season, though, one in which injuries limited him to only nine games.

With new additions being made at the receiver spot both in free agency and the draft, it came as little surprise when the Jags moved on from Jones. He is now free to sign with any interested team, and plenty of movement has taken place at the receiver position in recent days. Michael Gallup, DJ Chark and Odell Beckham Jr. have each signed one-year deals, thinning out the remaining options amongst veteran pass-catchers.

Tennessee hired Nick Holz as offensive coordinator this offseason, a move which followed his one-year stint with the Jaguars. Holz served as Jacksonville’s passing game coordinator in 2023, so he would be a familiar face for Jones. The latter inked a three-year, $24MM pact during his last trip to free agency, but a much less lucrative pact no doubt awaits him on his next team.

The Titans were the beneficiary of Calvin Ridley not re-signing with the Jaguars as many expected. The former first-rounder landed a four-year, $92MM deal including nearly $47MM guaranteed at signing to head to Nashville. Ridley will join DeAndre Hopkins and the likes of Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as key members of Tennessee’s passing game this season. Jones could look to carve out a roster spot during the summer if today’s visit produces an agreement.

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