Vikings WR Olabisi Johnson Tears ACL
Tough news out of Minnesota. Vikings receiver Olabisi Johnson tore an ACL during practice on Friday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Also known as ‘Bisi,’ Johnson was drafted in the seventh-round in 2019, and he’s made pretty solid contributions for a 247th overall pick. He started six games as a rookie, finishing with 31 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns. This past year he made three starts, racking up 14 catches for 189 yards. Needless to say, the Colorado State product will now spend his entire third season on injured reserve.
It’s awful news for the 24-year-old, and for a Vikings offense that doesn’t have a ton of receiver depth. Minnesota will now be extra glad that they decided to sign Dede Westbrook last week. They obviously Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson at the top, but things are pretty thin beyond them and Westbrook.
Chad Beebe could stand to get some extra looks as a result of the injury. Here’s to hoping Johnson makes a full and smooth recovery in time for the 2022 season, which will be the last of his rookie deal.
Giants To Sign Joe Looney
Joe Looney and Jason Garrett are getting back together. The Giants are signing the veteran offensive lineman, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Garrett, now the Giants’ offensive coordinator, was Looney’s head coach for several years in Dallas. As Garafolo points out, Looney almost signed with New York last offseason before he ended up back with the Cowboys on a one-year deal. He ended up starting 12 games in Dallas last season. Originally a fourth-round pick of the 49ers in 2012, Looney spent his first three seasons in San Francisco.
Cut before 2015 he latched on with the Titans before signing with the Cowboys in 2016, with whom he would spend the next five years. He was a reserve in 2016 and 2017, then a 16-game starter in 2018, then hit the bench again in 2019.
It’s unclear what exact role the Giants envision for him. New York currently has Nick Gates slated to start at center, although Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets that he thinks it’s possible the team could switch Gates to guard if they think Looney will give them a better starting five in the trenches. Looney also has played a lot of guard in the past. Either way, it’s a decent depth signing this late in the process as Looney has a good amount of starting experience and familiarity with Garrett’s offense.
Browns, Nick Chubb Agree On $36MM Extension
We’ve heard a lot about a potential Nick Chubb extension this offseason, and now it’s officially happening. The Browns and the running back have agreed to terms on an extension, a source told Mike Jones of USA Today (Twitter link).
Jones said four years, but it’s actually a three-year extension worth $36MM with $20MM guaranteed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson was first to tweet that a deal was close. It had always been up in the air whether something would get done before the season started, but they managed to get it done with plenty of time to spare.
As a second-round pick in 2018, Chubb was previously set to enter the final year of his rookie deal. He’s been one of the best running backs in the NFL since entering the league, and has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons.
The Georgia product led the league in rushing in 2019 and led the league in rushing touchdowns last year with 12 despite playing only 12 games. Impressively, Chubb has averaged at least five yards per carry in each of his three pro seasons.
Chubb is now one of the league’s highest-paid running backs, and he should have at least another opportunity to break the bank. As a result of this relatively short-term deal, Chubb will get to re-enter free agency in the spring of 2025 when he’ll still only be 29.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski loves to run the ball, and he wasn’t about to let the engine of his offense go anywhere. The deal will keep Chubb tied to the Browns through the 2024 campaign. Cleveland also has Kareem Hunt in their backfield, but that didn’t appear to make them at all hesitant about paying Chubb.
Saints To Sign Devonta Freeman
Devonta Freeman will have multiple chances to stick it to his old team in 2021. The veteran running back and former Falcons star has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Saints, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Financial terms weren’t immediately available, although it’s fairly safe to assume it was pretty cheap. The Florida State product became a starter for the Falcons in 2015, earning second-team All-Pro honors that year. In both 2015 and 2016 he made the Pro Bowl while having at least 1,500 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. It wasn’t too long ago that he was considered one of the league’s best backs, and a legit weapon in both the ground and passing games.
Multiple injuries limited him to only two contests in 2018, and despite regaining his starting job in 2019 he was cut the following offseason. He signed a $3MM deal with the Giants for 2020, but injuries limited him to five games for New York before he was cut in January. He was then added to Buffalo’s practice squad for their playoff run.
This was the first known interest he’d received this cycle. The 2014 fourth-rounder will now slot in as the third back on a running back depth chart that already features Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray in New Orleans. It’ll likely take a injury to one of those guys for the 29-year-old to get significant playing time.
Jamal Adams, Seahawks Not ‘Close At All’ On Extension, Adams Expected To Report To Camp
Just a few days ago, we heard that while the Seahawks were expected to give Jamal Adams a deal that would make him the highest-paid safety in the game (eclipsing Justin Simmons‘ $15.25MM AAV), they didn’t want to go north of Bobby Wagner‘s $18MM AAV.
That seemed to create an estimated range for Adams’ new contract, but that doesn’t mean the star safety is on board with that. The two sides are in fact not “close at all” on extension terms, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Reporting from earlier this offseason indicated that Adams doesn’t view himself as only a safety, and as such doesn’t want to be confined by the current safety market.
Instead, he wants to be categorized in a unique hybrid market of his own, given his unique positional flexibility. With the historic pass-rushing numbers he’s put up for a defensive back, his feelings are understandable. Adams is viewed as having most of the leverage here due to the fact that Seattle gave up two first-round picks to acquire him from the Jets.
On the other hand he’s due a modest $9.86MM this season, and the Seahawks could always franchise tag him next offseason. Accordingly, an extension still seems likely in the near future. It doesn’t sound like the slow pace of negotiations has created a toxic relationship, as Rapoport said that he doesn’t “expect any issues at all with Adams showing up” to training camp.
The expectation is that Adams will show up for camp on time regardless of the status of contract talks, Rapoport reports. Rapsheet also adds that he still expects a deal to get done one way or the other. “Eventually, this will be a deal that I think both sides will be happy with and Jamal Adams will likely be a very, very rich man.”
Ravens To Sign Chris Smith
Chris Smith is making another stop on his AFC North tour. The free agent defensive end has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Ravens, his agent Drew Rosenhaus announced.
Smith has previously spent time with the Bengals and Browns over the past few years. Baltimore worked out a group of pass-rushers Monday, which also included former third overall pick Dion Jordan and Shilique Calhoun, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Smith apparently won that competition. The Arkansas product originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2014.
He played sparingly in Jacksonville, then was traded to Cincy before the 2017 season. He played solid in a rotational role, notching three sacks, four tackles for loss, and two passes defended. That earned him a three-year contract from the Browns, although he was cut after a season and a half.
He latched on with the Raiders last year, and bounced between their practice squad and active roster. Smith turned 29 back in February. Baltimore doesn’t have a ton at defensive end right now beyond Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Smith ends up making the team.
Cardinals To Sign Daryl Worley
On the eve of training camp, the Cardinals are adding some depth to their secondary. Arizona is expected to sign free agent cornerback Daryl Worley, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
Worley worked out for the team on Monday, and they apparently liked what they saw. Worley bounced around a bit last season, and started his career as a third-round pick of the Panthers back in 2016. He started 11 games as a rookie in Carolina, and then 14 the following year. Traded to the Eagles the next offseason in exchange for Torrey Smith, he was then released by Philly after getting arrested.
He quickly signed with the Raiders, and after serving a four-game suspension became a starter for them. Worley started 15 games for the Raiders in 2019, which earned him a $3MM contract from the Cowboys last offseason. He appeared in seven games with Dallas and started four, but was cut in October along with a couple other members of their struggling defense.
He then had short stints with the Bills and Raiders again to close the season. Although he seemingly has a fair amount of tread on his tires, the West Virginia product only turned 26 earlier this year.
It can never hurt to have too much experience, and Worley has 54 NFL starts under his belt. The Cardinals’ cornerbacks room received a big makeover this offseason, as the team let Patrick Peterson walk while adding Malcolm Butler and Darqueze Dennard.
Davante Adams, Packers To Restart Extension Talks?
Things are moving quickly in Green Bay. News about Aaron Rodgers has been flying in all afternoon, and now we have an update on another one of their star offensive players.
Just a few days ago we heard that Davante Adams had ended extension talks with the team, but with Rodgers back in the fold Adams is once again “open to a deal,” Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Adams “now is willing to listen to any contract discussions the team would like to have,” sources told Schefter.
Rodgers’ agreement with the Packers will apparently give them some extra cap space for this season, potentially making it easier to iron something out with Adams. Just a few days ago NFL Network was saying things were “now in a bad place” between Adams and the franchise.
Apparently news of Rodgers’ impending return has changed those circumstances, even though it seems like Rodgers could still be on his way out the door in 2022. Either way, it’s another welcome development for Packers fans.
Arguably the top receiver in the game, Adams will turn 29 in December and is undoubtedly looking for one last mega-payday as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
The Fresno State product will be seeking, and will almost certainly get, a record-shattering contract when the time comes. In a follow-up tweet, Schefter confirmed that the newly found cap space from the Rodgers agreement will be used to make another run at an Adams extension. Adams was a first-team All-Pro last year and has made the Pro Bowl four straight seasons.
Saints To Sign Chris Hogan
Chris Hogan‘s professional lacrosse aspirations will have to go on hold. The free agent receiver apparently impressed in his workout with the Saints today, because New Orleans is signing him to a contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets.
Hogan, of course, was a star lacrosse player in college and had been chasing an old dream in the Premier Lacrosse League this summer before the Saints decided to pluck him away. Hogan began his NFL career as an unheralded undrafted player, and was able to eventually carve out a heck of a career for himself. After spending his first couple years on practice squads he broke through with the Bills, and ended up becoming a big part of the Patriots’ recent success.
He won two Super Bowls while playing in New England from 2016-18, then signed with the Panthers for 2019. Injuries limited him to seven games that year, and additional injuries limited him to only five with the Jets in 2020. We hadn’t heard of any other known NFL interest before he suddenly resurfaced today.
In those five games with the Jets, he had 14 catches for 118 yards. He’ll turn 33 in October, and will be a depth piece for a Saints offense that is expected to be without star Michael Thomas to begin the year.
Packers, Aaron Rodgers Nearing Agreement To Play 2021 Season, Potentially Part Ways In 2022
It appears an unprecedented agreement is on the horizon. Just a couple of hours ago we heard that Aaron Rodgers was telling those close to him that he planned to play for the Packers in 2021, and now we know why.
The two sides are “close to an agreement” that would ensure Rodgers plays this season for the team, but would “help set up” his “departure from Green Bay after this season,” sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Packers have offered “concessions” to Rodgers to get him to agree to play, but the new agreement will not include any additional money, Schefter tweets.
In return, Rodgers will “abandon plans he had to skip training camp and instead return for it.” The 2023 year, the last one on Rodgers’ current contract, would void as a result of this agreement, Schefter tweets. The Packers would then “agree to review” Rodgers’ “situation at the end of this season” (Twitter link).
Schefter additionally reported that Rodgers’ contract will be adjusted to keep him with the same income but increase Green Bay’s cap space, and that “mechanisms will be put in place to address Rodgers’ issues with the team.” It sounds like this is setting up an incredible ‘Last Dance’-esque situation, where Rodgers is playing for the Packers but everybody acknowledges his days are numbered.
Under this agreement, Rodgers would become a free agent after the 2022 season with the year getting voided. However, Schefter writes in a full piece for ESPN.com that Green Bay’s agreement to “review” the situation next offseason “implies that the team will trade Rodgers if he still feels the way he has about the Packers’ culture and decision-making.” Schefter later confirmed in a tweet that the truce will in fact give Rodgers the “freedom to decide where he wants to play in 2022.”
As such, it sounds like Rodgers will be allowed to leave after this season if he still wants to. It’s bizarre and unusual all around, but perhaps also the only fitting conclusion to what has been a wild ride all offseason. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear more.