Patriots Re-Sign DT Carl Davis
Carl Davis is returning to New England. The nose tackle is re-signing with the Patriots, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
Davis joined the Patriots during the 2021 season, and he’s seen time in 20 games over his year-plus with the organization. This includes a 2021 campaign where the defensive lineman appeared in all 17 games (four starts), finishing with 19 tackles and one sack.
Davis was originally a 2015 third-round pick by the Ravens. He lasted three years in Baltimore, and in between his stint in New England, he had gigs with the Browns, Colts, and Jaguars. In total, the 30-year-old has seen time in 56 regular season games.
Davis will be hard pressed to play a significant role on New England’s defense in 2022, especially if 2021 second-round pick Christian Barmore continues to develop. The Patriots are also rostering Davon Godchaux, who the Patriots inked to a two-year deal last offseason.
Broncos Re-Sign RB Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon is sticking around Denver. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the veteran running back is re-signing with the Broncos. It’s a one-year deal. Jordan Schultz was first with the news that the RB was re-signing with the organization.
Earlier this evening, Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reported (on Twitter) that the Broncos were “in discussions” about bringing back the veteran running back for another season. Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post was first to tweet that the two sides were discussing a new one-year deal. Per Klis (on Twitter), the deal is worth $2.5MM, with Gordon having the chance to earn up to $4MM.
As Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets, Broncos GM George Paton has kept an open dialogue with the veteran RB throughout the offseason, and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett has also shown interest in having a pair of trusted running backs on his roster. Now, the Broncos can roll forward with their successful 2021 tandem, with Gordon joining 2021 second-rounder Javonte Williams in Denver’s backfield.
Following five years with the Chargers, Gordon inked a two-year, $16MM deal with the Broncos in 2020. The 29-year-old couldn’t expect as much this time around; a report from earlier this offseason indicated that the RB could expect a one-year, $2.5MM deal. The veteran eventually changed agents, going from Fletcher Smith and Damarius Bilbo to Brian Murphy and Joe Panos of Athletes First, and the move apparently garnered him some extra cash.
Gordon stood as one of the best free agent RBs remaining on the market, especially since he’s posted more than 1,100 all-purpose yards in each of his last two seasons. He’s also scored exactly ten touchdowns in each of those Broncos campaigns. Gordon also generated interest from the Ravens before landing back in Denver.
NFC Draft Notes: Giants, Lions, Falcons, Vikings, Eagles
We took a look at draft notes out of the AFC earlier this evening. In anticipation of Thursday’s draft, let’s pivot to the NFC:
- The Giants are currently sitting with picks No. 5 and No. 7, but there’s a chance they move back in the first round. If they end up finding a trade partner, Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes the organization could be targeting Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum later in the first round. Staying in New York, Peter King of Football Morning in America writes that the Giants could select Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 7. Some recent reports indicated the Giants front office was down on the prospect, but King says the team has “done a ton of work on him since his Pro Day.” The Giants are also “extremely interested” in Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II and Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com.
- Speaking of Thibodeaux, there’s a chance the edge jumps all the way to No. 2. While King has the Lions selecting Michigan edge Aidan Hutchinson with the second-overall pick, the reporter cautions that Detroit is “smitten” with the Oregon defender and could shake up the draft board by selecting him earlier than expected. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Todd McShay doesn’t see Thibodeaux falling pass the Falcons at No. 8.
- Wrapping up King’s notes, the reporter writes that the Falcons like Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. King has Atlanta trading up to select the signal-caller at No. 32, but there’s a chance Corral ends up falling to them anyway at their current selection at No. 43. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much buzz connecting the Falcons to a quarterback at No. 8, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
- The Vikings are eyeing cornerbacks at No. 12, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. The reporter hints that a team outside of the top-12 could look to jump the Vikings in pursuit of one of the draft’s top cornerbacks.
- McShay had a handful of notable tidbits about some NFC squads. The Seahawks are taking a “hard look” at Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis at No. 9, and the front office is also intrigued by LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.. Meanwhile, the Eagles “preference” at No. 15 could be Alabama wideout Jameson Williams, and there’s little chance the receiver falls past the Saints at No. 16. Albert Breer of SI.com shares a similar sentiment about the Eagles, with sources telling him that the Eagles are seeking a pass rusher.
- Continuing in Philly, the Eagles may not end up even selecting at No. 15. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggests (on Twitter) that the Eagles could be a candidate to move up in the first round. The reporter suggests that the front office could be targeting a cornerback or edge rusher.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/26/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Claimed off waivers (from Texans): LB Ron’Dell Carter
Detroit Lions
- Signed ERFA tender: K Riley Patterson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Will Clapp
New York Jets
- Waived with failed physical designation: OL Cameron Clark (story)
AFC Draft Notes: Chiefs, Jaguars, Texans, Steelers
We’re only two days away from the NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at some assorted draft notes out of the AFC:
- The Chiefs are armed with 12 selections in the upcoming draft, including picks No. 29 and No. 30. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Kansas City’s front office has started to call teams in the 20s about trading up. Breer opines that a potential deal could precede a second trade up the draft board.. Breer speculates that the Chiefs could be eyeing one of the league’s top receivers, but he also cautions that the front office could make “an aggressive move” for a cornerback or pass-rusher.
- We can add two more teams to the list of Trevor Penning suitors. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, the Titans and Chiefs are among the teams being mentioned as landing spots for the Northern Iowa left tackle. Kansas City would likely have to trade up in order to acquire the lineman. The Ravens, Titans, and Panthers have previously been linked to Penning.
- Four prospects are believed to be in play for the Jaguars at No. 1 overall, but ESPN’s Todd McShay is hearing a lot of buzz around Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker. Sources believe the Jaguars prefer Walker’s “upside and traits” over Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson‘s “proven production, motor, and leadership.”
- The Texans are high on Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, according to McShay. However, the Texans won’t take the wideout at No. 3, and they’d probably have to trade up from No. 13 in order to select Wilson. If that ends up being an unrealistic path, McShay could also envision the Texans trading out of the No. 13 spot.
- The first QB off the board could end up going to the Steelers at No. 20, according to McShay. Pittsburgh is apparently eyeing Liberty’s Malik Willis, and the signal-caller could end up falling in their lap. However, the reporter seems to be cautioning that the Steelers may not be able to pull off “a Bill Belichick” (referring to last year’s Mac Jones pick), meaning the front office may have to trade up if they want Willis.
Lions Pick Up TE T.J. Hockenson’s Fifth-Year Option
As expected, the Lions have locked in tight end T.J. Hockenson through the 2023 season. Tim Twentyman of the team’s website tweets that the Lions have picked up Hockenson‘s fifth-year option. The move will attach the tight end to a $9.39MM salary for the 2023 campaign.
This seemed to be the expected move after the two sides didn’t agree to an extension. We learned earlier this month that the Lions were expected to pick up the fifth-year option, but only as a placeholder as they looked to extend the Pro Bowler.
The eight-overall pick in the 2019 draft has emerged as one of Detroit’s top targets. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after hauling in 67 receptions for 723 yards and six touchdowns, and he followed that up with 583 yards and four scores in 12 games in 2021. Thumb surgery ultimately shelved him in December of last year.
The Lions still have plenty of time to extend Hockenson. Last year, we saw the Patriots sign Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry to deals that averaged $12.5MM per year, and Dallas Goedert later one-upped the duo by inking a deal worth $14.25MM AAV. The league’s highest-paid TEs, George Kittle and Travis Kelce, clock in a bit above that at $15MM and $14.3MM, respectively.
Hockenson’s agent would be hard pressed to reset the market at tight end. However, the $9MM+ commitment for 2023 indicates that the two sides can’t be that far apart.
Colts Still Considering Re-Signing WR T.Y. Hilton
T.Y. Hilton could be back in Indy for an 11th season. According to NFL Network’s James Palmer (via Twitter), the Colts have had discussions with Hilton about returning for the 2022 campaign.
As Palmer cautions, the receiver hasn’t made up his mind about his future. However, GM Chris Ballard believes the wideout still has something left in the tank, and the front office has been in contact with the veteran over the past week. It sounds like a deal for Hilton could be partly contingent on what the Colts do at wide receiver during the early parts of the draft.
We heard last month that Hilton still intended to play next year. The 32-year-old is coming off a forgettable season, with injuries limited the four-time Pro Bowler to just 23 catches, 331 yards, and three touchdowns — all career lows. That’s a far cry from his best work, and it’s worth noting that Hilton hasn’t posted a 1,000-yard season since 2018.
At the moment, Michael Pittman Jr. is the only starting wideout set to return from the 2021 team. Of the remaining options, Parris Campbell has shown the most potential, but injuries have been an issue in each of his three seasons. While more targets are likely for Campbell and pass-catching back Nyheim Hines, the team could still add at the position. The free agent market still includes the likes of Hilton, but also Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry and Will Fuller. As for the draft, Indianapolis doesn’t own a first-round pick as a result of last year’s Carson Wentz trade. Their top selection is presently No. 42, which should still put them within range of some of the second- and third-tier receiver prospects in what is generally viewed as a deep class at the position.
Broncos Unlikely To Move Up To First Round
Following their blockbuster acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos are operating without a first-round pick. Of course, GM George Paton said the trade was still more than worth it, especially after the organization dealt with a rotating cast of QBs over the past half-decade.
“It’s a blessing. We love having first-round picks. We love having the early second, but we also love having a franchise quarterback that sets the tone every day in the building,” Paton said (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith). “I come in here and he’s here working. There is a reason he’s great. It’s because of the work he puts into it … On that first day (of the draft), we’ll watch Russell Wilson highlights.”
While the Broncos may not have a first-round pick, they’re still loaded will draft capital, including nine picks overall and five selections in the first four rounds. The front office could conceivably have the ammo to move up to the first round, but Paton told reporters that he’s unlikely to move that far up, with the GM hinting at a potential move up the board during the second round (per Mike Klis of 9News on Twitter). The team’s first selection is currently at No. 64 overall.
“When we get to that second day, we’ll be on the phone calling every team. We’ll have an idea of what we want to do on that second day, especially as it starts dropping to the mid rounds,” Paton said. “Then we’ll decide do we want to move, do we want to stand pat, or do we want to move back? That kind of depends on who is there and how many players that we like are there.”
So what will the Broncos look to accomplish in the draft as they make a push toward contention?
“I think we’re in a really good spot,” Paton said. “I think there’s going to be value in those rounds where we can upgrade our team, upgrade our depth, and upgrade our speed which is everything we need to do.”
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones: “We’re Not Done Yet In Free Agency”
The Cowboys haven’t really been a major player in free agency this year, but executive vice president Stephen Jones hinted that moves could be coming. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said the front office isn’t done adding free agents.
[RELATED: Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz Seeking Long-Term Deal]
“We feel like we did do a good job with it in terms of re-signing, for the most part, the players that we wanted and felt like we could keep under the current salary-cap environment,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “I do think we were able to fill (our needs), for the most part. We’re not done yet in free agency. We’ll see what opportunities come up out there. But we feel like we can go into the draft pure again and pick the best players on our board.”
As Jones notes, the Cowboys have spent much of their offseason retaining their own guys. The team reached new deals with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, wide receiver Michael Gallup, safety Jayron Kearse, and defensive end Dorance Armstrong, and they also slapped tight end Dalton Schultz with the franchise tag. Of course, all of this future money has led to some roster casualties, most notably wideout Amari Cooper and offensive tackle La’el Collins.
When it comes to free agency, the team’s most notable addition was the signing of defensive end Dante Fowler. At this point of the offseason, the Cowboys will be hard pressed to find any game-changers still remaining in free agency, but the current crop of unsigned veterans could help fill in any roster holes following the draft. As Machota notes, the Cowboys could use reinforcement at guard, center, wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end, and cornerback, and there’s a good chance they won’t cross all those positions off the list during next week’s draft.
Latest On Giants WR Kadarius Toney
Kadarius Toney could be playing elsewhere next season. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants receiver “could be available in a trade.” Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News was first with the news yesterday and was more definitive with his report, stating that the Giants front office is actively looking to trade the former first-round pick.
There were rumblings earlier this offseason that the Giants could consider moving on from Toney, and those reports didn’t come as much of a surprise following a rocky 2021 campaign. Toney was continually in the news last season, stemming from on-the-field issues (like the time he wore the wrong cleats or time he was tossed from practice for throwing a punch) or off-the-field issues (like “a lack of playbook study” or “poor meeting behavior,” per Leonard). The receiver also missed a handful of games with injuries and COVID.
When all was said and done, the Florida product ended up getting into 10 games for the Giants, hauling in 39 receptions for 420 yards and no touchdowns. Plenty of players have rebounded following tumultuous rookie seasons, but as Leonard points out, Toney has skipped out on the team’s offseason program with new head coach Brian Daboll, leading to his spot on the trade block.
When the Giants selected Toney with the No. 20 pick in last year’s draft, they were envisioning a variety of roles for the talented wideout. Toney projected to be a slot receiver in the NFL, but his Swiss Army Knife profile offered him an even greater upside. He was expected to join a revamped receivers depth chart that also featured Kenny Golladay plus John Ross, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Dante Pettis. Alas, the Giants still put forth one of the worst offensive performances in the NFL last season.