Latest On Cowboys WR Michael Gallup
The Cowboys paid up to keep Michael Gallup in Dallas, but the team might not see the receiver playing on his new contract until late September or early October. Cowboys director of player personnel Stephen Jones told reporters that Gallup could miss two or three games to start the season, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Dallas Star-Telegram on Twitter.
Gallup continues to rehab a torn ACL suffered in January, so it’s good to know the injury shouldn’t force him off the field for much of the 2022 campaign. When the Cowboys inked Gallup to a five-year, $62.5MM deal, they provided themselves with some injury insurance; according to Hill, Gallup’s contract includes $1MM in annual per-game roster bonuses.
Gallup has spent his entire four-year career with the Cowboys, including a 2019 campaign where he had 1,107 receiving yards. In nine games this past season, Gallup had 35 receptions for 445 yards and two scores.
The Cowboys will certainly need Gallup in the lineup considering the losses of Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson this offseason. Jones hinted that the organization could consider adding receivers via the draft.
“We are going to have to draft well,” Jones said (via Hill). “We lost two really good receivers in Amari and Ced. We are looking to find some people who make plays. That receiver situation certainly jumps out.”
Jets Considering Mekhi Becton At RT
After a knee injury knocked him out for the majority of the 2021 campaign, Mekhi Becton is expected to slide back into the starting lineup…just maybe not at left tackle. When speaking with reporters today, Jets head coach Joe Douglas wouldn’t definitively say whether Becton will slot in at his usual starting spot.
“[W]e are operating like Mekhi is going to be one of our two tackles,” Douglas said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post on Twitter). “That’s our expectation that he’s going to come back ready to roll. I know he’s fired up to get back on the field and compete.”
When the Jets drafted Becton with the 11th-overall pick in the 2020 draft, he was expected to be their starting left tackle for the foreseeable future. He started 13 games at the position during his rookie campaign, and he was expected to slide back into that spot in 2021. However, midway through the first game of the 2021 season, Becton suffered a knee injury that ultimately kept him off the field for the rest of the year.
As ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes, the Jets may not be committing to Becton at left tackle in the hopes that the player “gets the message and fulfills his immense potential.” Further, Cimini opines that George Fant, who started 15 games at left tackle last year, deserves to defend his starting spot. There’s a good chance that the loser of the LT competition would simply slide over to RT, but Cimini leaves open the possibility that the Jets could select an offensive tackle with the fourth-overall pick, which would force one of Fant or Becton to the bench.
Jets Cut K Matt Ammendola
The Jets kicking competition is down to two players. The Jets announced that they have released kicker Matt Ammendola.
[RELATED: Jets Sign K Greg Zuerlein]
Ammendola was already facing an uphill battle to make the roster. The Jets signed veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein this past weekend, and they later signed restricted free agent kicker Eddy Pineiro to a new one-year deal. The front office seems content to head into training camp with a competition at kicker, but three was apparently too many at the position.
Now, Ammendola will look to revive his career elsewhere. The 2020 undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State made his NFL debut last season for the Jets, seeing time in 11 total games. The 25-year-old connected on 13 of his 19 field goal tries and 14 of his 15 extra point attempts. He even added in six punts, averaging 48.5 yards.
Jets Still Pursuing WR Help
The Jets have seemingly been connected to every available wideout this offseason, but the only significant move they’ve made at the position has been re-signing receiver Braxton Berrios. As Connor Hughes of The Athletic writes, the Jets will continue to keep their options open at the position, meaning the team could look toward the draft or an unexpected veteran who becomes available.
[RELATED: Tyreek Hill To Jets Was “Almost A Done Deal”]
As Hughes writes, the Jets prefer to pair Zach Wilson with an “established” player at the position, and a top wideout would also take pressure (and coverage) off the likes of Corey Davis and Elijah Moore. This was clear when the Jets made a strong push for Tyreek Hill before he landed in Miami, and as the writer notes, Hill wasn’t the only big-name receiver who the Jets have kicked the tires on. The front office also considered pursuing Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley, and they went after Amari Cooper before he landed in Cleveland.
“We weren’t expecting the opportunity to pop up that happened last week (Hill), but when it came available, we were ready,” he said. “Again, in a situation that may be another player or another position, I feel like our pro staff and personnel staff do a great job of keeping everyone prepared — personnel and coaches — to get the evaluations in so that when those opportunities happen, we can jump right in and be aggressive.
“We feel good about the receiver corps we have. If we have an opportunity to keep adding to it — if the opportunity is right and the price is right — we’re going to strike.”
Considering the Jets’ draft ammo, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they add a rookie to their receivers room. ESPN’s Rich Cimini previously opined that the front office will ultimately add a “midlevel free agent” wideout while using one of their first-round picks on the draft’s top receiver, perhaps USC’s Drake London or Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson.
Latest On Potential Deshaun Watson Discipline
Two grand juries didn’t criminally charge Deshaun Watson with any crimes, but the Browns’ new quarterback still faces 22 civil lawsuits that will make him subject to discipline. Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that there’s no timetable on potential discipline for the QB, but he did keep the door open for a suspension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com relays that Watson will only be subject to a suspension under the Personal Conduct Policy, meaning the QB won’t land on the Commissioner Exempt List.
[RELATED: Latest On Deshaun Watson Investigation]
“The civil cases were in play over the last year,” Goodell said (via Williams). “The only thing that’s changed is the criminal element has been at least resolved, and that was an important element in the context of the Commissioner Exempt List as discussed with the Players Association. So that was an important (decision as it relates to the Commissioner Exempt List).
“If the criminal had proceeded, that more than likely would have triggered the Commissioner Exempt. I think at this point, the civil case in and of itself would not do that. If there’s a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, that may trigger something, but that more than likely trigger some kind of discipline in some fashion.”
Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault. We heard previously that the NFL was unlikely to act on a Watson suspension until his civil trials conclude. The league’s investigation is ongoing. Anticipating a suspension, the Browns previously reduced Watson’s 2022 base salary to $1MM, which will significantly limit the financial penalties the quarterback will face if/once the NFL’s ban is handed down.
Saints’ Taysom Hill Likely Done At QB
It sounds like Taysom Hill‘s stint as a quarterback has come to an end. Speaking with reporters at the owners meeting, Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Hill will primarily play tight end in 2022.
“A lot more of the F-tight end, a tight end type of role,” Allen said (via WDSU.com). “I think that’s the direction we need to move with him. Because I think he may be one of the better players in the league in that role.”
According to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com (on Twitter), it was always the Saints’ plan to move Hill to a full-time tight end. The player’s four-year extension was designed to pay him like a tight end, and the escalators were only in place for the slim chance that Hill returned to the quarterback position.
Hill flirted with the quarterback position early in his career, and he had opportunities to show what he’s got while filling in for Drew Brees in 2020 and filling in for Jameis Winston during the post-Brees 2021 campaign. While the Saints have gone 7-2 when Hill has started under center, he’s still only tossed eight touchdowns vs. eight interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes.
Of course, Hill has also shown the ability to be a game-changer in a Swiss Army Knife-type role. Over the past four years, Hill has collected 1,571 yards from scrimmage and 23 touches on 255 touches.
WR Damiere Byrd Visited Falcons, Raiders
Damiere Byrd is starting to generate some interest around the NFL. Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Falcons hosted the free agent wideout on a visit. Yates notes that Byrd previously met with the Raiders.
The former undrafted free agent spent the first four seasons of his career with the Panthers, where he mostly played a special teams role. He saw a larger offensive role during his lone season with the Patriots in 2020, finishing with 619 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 49 touches.
Byrd joined the Bears last offseason, and he proceeded to collect 329 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 26 touches. He saw time in all 17 games with four starts.
The Falcons offense will look a whole lot different in 2022, with Matt Ryan gone and Calvin Ridley suspended. While the team can still hang their hat on Kyle Pitts, their receiving corps is questionable at best, so Byrd would provide some experience to the unit. The wideout is also familiar with Falcons exec (and former Bears GM) Ryan Pace. Similarly, Byrd is familiar with Josh McDaniels, who he played under in New England. However, Byrd wouldn’t have as clear of a path to playing time in Las Vegas. At best, Byrd would be fourth in line for targets behind Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller.
Latest On 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Many pundits believed Jimmy Garoppolo would be on a different team by now, but the quarterback remains on the 49ers. When speaking with reporters today (including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), GM John Lynch revealed some details about trade negotiations, noting that the 49ers were discussing a deal in late February that ended up being derailed by Garoppolo’s surgery.
Now, with the quarterback carousel mostly complete, Lynch admitted that the front office is holding still on the Garoppolo front until a trade materializes. The GM even noted that Garappolo could enter the season on the 49ers roster, and he rejected the notion that the organization would release the veteran QB.
“I don’t foresee that,” Lynch said. “He’s too good a player. I think Jimmy will be playing for us or will be playing for someone else. He’s too good of a player not tyear’s draft. o be.”
Naturally, this wasn’t the intended plan after the 49ers gave up a boatload of picks to draft Trey Lance during last year’s draft. Lynch admitted as much when speaking with reporters.
“We value strength at that position,” Lynch said. “To be completely forthright, though, when you make a trade of that magnitude (for Lance), most of our options did not include Jimmy on our books (in 2022)…But you always have to adapt and a series of events happened that it didn’t work out. But that’s not a bad thing, though. We feel positive with it. And we’ll make it work.”
Albert Breer of SI.com provides some more insight into the QB situation, noting that Garoppolo’s shoulder has been the biggest factor in the 49ers’ trade difficulties. The plan was to trade the veteran after the “big quarterback dominoes fell,” but the injury changed things.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/28/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Re-signed: RB Qadree Ollison
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Stanley Morgan (two-year deal)
New York Giants
- Re-signed: RB Sandro Platzgummer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: LS Zach Triner
Vikings Sign CB Nate Hairston
The Vikings made a handful of roster moves today, including the signing of a veteran cornerback. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Nate Hairston. The Vikings also announced the signing of offensive lineman Jesse Davis, and the team announced that they have re-signed cornerback Tye Smith.
[RELATED: Vikings Sign OL Jesse Davis]
Hairston was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2017, and he spent the first two seasons of his career with Indy, starting 11 of his 27 games. He spent the 2019 campaign with the Jets before splitting the 2020 season between New York and Denver.
In total, Hairston has seen time in 59 career games, collecting 104 tackles and a pair of interceptions. That includes a 2021 campaign with the Broncos where he complied nine tackles and four passes defended in 16 games (one start). The 27-year-old played the majority of his snaps on special teams last year.
Smith, a former fifth-round pick, joined the Vikings last offseason, and he collected six tackles in five games with the organization. Per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter), Smith is signing a one-year minimum contract worth $1.035MM.