Rams Receiving Calls On WR Robert Woods
Could Robert Woods be on the trade block? The Rams have received calls about the receiver’s availability, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Rams To Sign Allen Robinson]
The Super Bowl champs shocked many when they inked Allen Robinson to a deal, and subsequent reports indicated that the team was still interested in re-signing Odell Beckham Jr.. Cooper Kupp obviously isn’t going anywhere, and Van Jefferson was productive during his sophomore season. While the Rams have a high-flying offense, something was clearly going to give.
It could end up being Woods, who hauled in 45 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns before tearing his ACL in practice. That injury happened in November, and while we’ve seen some miraculous recoveries in recent years, Woods would be hard pressed to be ready for the start of the 2022 season.
When healthy, Woods has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. He topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage each season between 2018 and 2020, and inquiring teams are surely counting on Woods returning to form. Woods inked a four-year, $65MM extension with the Rams in 2020, and he’s attached to $15MM+ cap hits for the next four seasons.
Seahawks Re-Sign DT Al Woods
Al Woods is returning to Seattle. The Seahawks announced that they have re-signed the veteran defensive tackle.
The former fourth-round pick has been able to stick around the NFL for more than a decade. After serving as mostly a backup, special teamer, or roster fodder in stops with the Saints, Steelers (two stints), Buccaneers, Seahawks (first stint), and Titans, Woods finally got a chance to start full-time with the Colts in 2017. He spent two seasons in Indy before returning to Seattle in 2019.
Woods saw time in 14 games that season, but he missed a handful of games while serving a suspension for performance-enhancing substances. He joined the Jaguars for the 2020 season but opted out, and the team released him from his contract last offseason. He joined the Seahawks for his third stint with the organization and had one of the best seasons of his career.
Woods started all 16 of his games last season, collecting a career-high 50 tackles to go with 1.5 sacks and five QB hits.
49ers Sign WR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud
The 49ers are adding a special teams ace. San Francisco is signing wide receiver/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). The deal is worth up to $10.4MM, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
The former sixth-round pick bounced around the NFL during his first two years in the league, but he found a home in Pittsburgh over the past two saeasons. He got into 16 games during his first year with the Steelers, but he took a significant step forward in 2021.
McCloud made a name for himself on special teams, leading the NFL in punt return yardage at 367. He also returned 35 kickoffs for 776 yards. He wasn’t a scrub on offense, either; he hauled in 39 receptions for 277 yards, and he added another 15 yards on two carries.
Now, the 25-year-old is off to San Francisco. The Steelers made an effort to retain McCloud but the 49ers made a “stronger commitment,” according to Fowler (on Twitter).
RFA Tender Decisions: 3/17/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Seahawks: CB Bless Austin, OL Kyle Fuller
Panthers Out In Deshaun Watson Sweepstakes
And it’s down to two. The Panthers have been informed that they’re out in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). That leaves the Falcons and Saints as the final remaining suitors for the Texans QB.
[RELATED: Browns Out Of Contention For Deshaun Watson]
Carolina had been connected to Watson for the better part of a year, and they were one of the four teams to meet with the QB. We learned earlier today that the Browns were the first loser of the Watson sweepstakes, and now we can include the Panthers to the list.
While the Browns find themselves in a messy situation following the fallout from Watson’s decision, the Panthers won’t really have to deal with those kind of issues, and they’ll still probably be in the hunt for a QB. Sam Darnold struggled during his first season in Carolina, with Cam Newton and P.J. Walker also getting looks in 2021.
So when will we get a resolution on the Watson trade? We may have to wait through the weekend, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com. The reporter writes that the QB “will take some time to think things over,” and he could use the weekend to make his decision. The Falcons bought themselves some extra time earlier tonight when they delayed Matt Ryan‘s impending roster bonus. Meanwhile, the cap-strapped Saints have continued to carve out some space for a potential trade.
Latest On Raiders QB Derek Carr
Derek Carr got his wish earlier tonight when the Packers traded for wideout Davante Adams. Next up: a lucrative extension. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders will now pivot to extending their quarterback. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets that an extension is coming “sooner than later.”
[RELATED: Packers Trade WR Davante Adams To Raiders]
When the Raiders hired Dave Ziegler as GM and Josh McDaniels as head coach, some were questioning whether Carr would be moved. The organization continued to say that Carr would be sticking around Las Vegas, and the Raiders’ decision to reunite their QB with his college WR all but confirms that Carr will be with the team for the foreseeable future.
Back in 2017, Carr became the first player in the NFL to average $25MM per season. Even while breaking that barrier, Carr claimed at the time that he was leaving money on the table. Pundits posit that Carr has earned near-top-tier money that could make him yet another quarterback to join the $40MM per year club, joining the likes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Dak Prescott.
Carr’s current deal runs through the 2022 season, so the two sides will surely want to complete a deal before the offseason is over. The front office has already spent big money to extend Adams and Maxx Crosby, so Carr should see a lucrative contract before long.
Falcons Delay Matt Ryan’s Roster Bonus
Matt Ryan will have to wait a few extra days to get paid, and he’s also buying the Falcons some extra time in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the Falcons have pushed back Ryan’s $7.5 million roster bonus from Friday to Tuesday.
[RELATED: Falcons To Restructure Matt Ryan’s Deal?]
This will provide the Falcons with a bit more flexibility as they pursue a trade for Watson. Ryan’s impending bonus would complicate a corresponding trade, but the extra few days means Ryan’s hypothetical suitor wouldn’t have to get as creative with the cap.
The Falcons haven’t processed the restructured contract that Ryan agreed to last week, providing the organization with even more flexibility in trade talks. The veteran QB reportedly reduced his sizable cap hold, opening $12MM in cap space for the Falcons.
Atlanta is one of three teams still in the running for Watson (along with the Saints and Panthers). The organization informed Ryan last weekend of their plans at quarterback, but it remains to be seen if the 14-year vet will stick around if the Falcons don’t acquire Watson. Ryan went 7-10 as a starter this past season, tossing 20 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions.
Bears Sign WR Byron Pringle
New Bears general manager Ryan Poles is recruiting his former Chiefs players to Chicago. The Bears are signing receiver Byron Pringle, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Pringle is inking a one-year, $6MM deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The wideout will get $4MM in guaranteed money.
Poles was the Chiefs’ director of college scouting when Kansas City signed Pringle as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State in 2018. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, Pringle established a minor role in the Chiefs offense, appearing in 29 games for the team between 2019 and 2020.
He took it to another level in 2021, having a career year ahead of his free agency. Pringle finished the season with 42 receptions for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games (five starts). The 28-year-old also started two of the Chiefs’ three playoff games, hauling in 12 catches for 82 yards and three scores. Pringle also has extensive experience on special teams, returning 25 kicks this past season.
The Bears will be hard pressed to replace Allen Robinson, but Pringle should easily slide into the depth chart. Darnell Mooney is expected to lead the way for Chicago in 2022.
Packers Trade WR Davante Adams To Raiders
Davante Adams‘ stint with the Packers has come to a sudden end. The Packers are trading the Pro Bowl wideout to the Raiders, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The Packers will receive the Raiders’ first- and second-round picks in this year’s draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Raiders are also inking Adams to a record-breaking contract. The wideout will sign a five-year, $141.25MM deal with Las Vegas, with his $28.25MM average annual salary setting a new record for the position (per Rapoport).
There were whispers that Adams could be on the move, but the return of Aaron Rodgers had many assuming that the star wide receiver would be back in Green Bay next season. Of course, there was still the matter of a contract; the Packers ended up franchising Adams when they couldn’t agree on an extension prior to the tender deadline, but the wideout later made it clear that he wouldn’t play the 2022 season on the franchise tag (one-year, $20.5MM). Adams has been pushing for a megadeal to top DeAndre Hopkins‘ $27MM/year contract, and per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter), the Packers were willing to meet his asking price. However, Adams ultimately wanted to play elsewhere, leading to the trade.
Whenever a potential Adams trade was brought up, the Raiders were consistently mentioned as a top suitor. This wasn’t only due to the Raiders’ need for a top-end wide receiver; it was also because of the friendship between Adams and quarterback Derek Carr, who were teammates at Fresno State. Carr said last summer that he would “welcome” a reunion with his good friend, and he acknowledged that he’d be “recruiting hard” by the time the 2022 offseason came around. Ultimately, Carr got his wish, and he’ll now be adding one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers.
A few eyebrows were raised when it was recently reported that Adams had bought a home in the Las Vegas area, and Rapoport tweets that the receiver will actually be neighbors with his new QB. Rapoport adds that the Raiders and Packers had been working on a deal for a few days, although NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the trade was dead as recently as yesterday.
Adams had a standout career with the Packers aftre being selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. The receiver earned a pair of first-team All-Pro nods and made five-straight Pro Bowls during his time in Green Bay. After putting up some incredible numbers in recent seasons, Adams somehow took it to another level in 2021. The wideout finished the season with a career-high 1,553 receiving yards on 123 receptions. He also hauled in 11 touchdowns.
Josh McDaniels and co. were reportedly seeking a top-end receiver to pair with receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller. DeSean Jackson provided a bit of a spark after joining the organization, but there was no guarantee he would stick around (plus he profiles as a lower-end WR). The team also lost a key future piece in Henry Ruggs.
While Green Bay settled their issues with their franchise QB, they now have some major question marks elsewhere on offense. The team’s receivers depth chart is currently led by Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and the Bears signed away Equanimeous St. Brown earlier today. It will be interesting to see if the Packers are able to attract one of the few remaining FA wideouts, and Schefter confirms (on Twitter) that the team is indeed pursuing veteran receivers. And for those wondering, Rapoport tweets that Rodgers has indeed signed his new contract. In fact, Rodgers was aware that Adams was done with the Packers when he inked his new deal, so this trade won’t come as any surprise to the QB (per Rapoport).
Dolphins Re-Sign LB Brennan Scarlett
Brennan Scarlett is heading back to Miami. The Dolphins are re-signing the linebacker, according to agent Henry Organ (and passed along by Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com).
Scarlett joined the Dolphins last offseason and ended up getting into 13 games (four starts). He finished the season with 19 tackles, and while he got some run on defense, his main impact came on special teams (77 percent of Miami’s ST snaps). A knee injury forced him to miss all of December’s games.
The linebacker spent the first five seasons of his career with the Texans, starting 22 games. His best season came in 2019 when he finished with 51 tackles and 3.5 sacks.