Jets Work Out WR/TE Jordan Matthews
The Jordan Matthews audition tour is heading to New York. The veteran wideout (and perhaps future tight end) had a tryout with the Jets today, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
Matthews, a former second-round pick, had at least 800 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, but he’s struggled to match that production over the past few years. Since 2017, Matthews has hauled in only 49 receptions for 615 yards and three scores. He saw time in the 49ers’ final two games of the 2020 season, appearing on 14 offensive snaps without recording a catch.
We learned earlier this offseason that the veteran was hoping to reinvent his career as a tight end. The 29-year-old has added 30 pounds this offseason; standing at 6-foot-3, Matthews always had the height to play tight end. Now tipping the scales at somewhere above 230 pounds, he has the bulk too. Matthews also spent time working out with NFL tight ends like George Kittle and Robert Tonyan, and he visited the University of Louisville to train with wide receivers coach Gunter Brewer and assistant tight ends coach Stu Holt.
We heard that a handful of teams had their eye on the veteran, but the only team that’s been definitively connected to Matthews was the Titans. We can now add the Jets to that list, and it makes sense that the team would consider some depth at the position. Besides Chris Herndon, the team has a number of uninspiring options like Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft, Trevon Wesco, Daniel Brown, and rookie Kenny Yeboah.
Details On Aaron Rodgers’ Reworked Contract
The recent compromise between the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers included a decision to void the player’s contract for the 2023 season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter) provided some new details on the terms of that agreement.
The timing of the voided contract in 2023 makes Rodgers “untaggable after 2022,” meaning he’ll hit free agency after two more seasons in Green Bay. There’s no new money in the deal, and the reworked contract will provide the organization with an extra $10MM in cap space in 2021. If the organization trades him at some point before next June, they’d be left with a whopping $26.8MM in dead money.
Further, if Rodgers makes the unexpected decision to retire after this season, the Packers will no longer have the ability to take back $11.5MM in prorated signing bonus money. This was negotiated into the reworked contract, and it makes it much easier for the quarterback to simply walk about if he desires. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com notes, this also provides Rodgers with some leverage, as we could threaten retirement and see if the organization trades or releases him.
Finally, as Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes (on Twitter), the reworked contract all but assures that Rodgers won’t be in Green Bay in 2022. The reporter opines that “something truly momentous” would need to happen for the quarterback to stick around beyond the 2021 campaign.
Eagles Expect TE Zach Ertz On Roster To Start Season
Zach Ertz may continue to push for a trade out of Philadelphia, but the organization is expecting him to play for the Eagles…at least for Week 1. GM Howie Roseman told reporters that he anticipates the veteran tight end being on the Eagles roster for the start of the 2021 season.
“When you talk about Zach, it doesn’t take a lot to get him here. He cares so much about this team and this city. Just really good to see him out there,” Roseman said (via ESPN’s Tim McManus). “When you talk about the guys that are here and the kind of player that he is and you think about our young skill position group and having a Pro Bowl player like that on your roster players can learn from, it’s huge for us.”
Ertz reported to training camp yesterday, but the veteran still wants to be traded. The three-time Pro Bowler reportedly hasn’t “forgotten or forgiven” the Birds for their apparent disagreements, and his decision to attend camp was presumably about avoiding fines. Of course, the Eagles would have to find a taker for Ertz, and while they’ve gotten a few bites, the organization still hasn’t found an offer to their liking.
Ertz will turn 31 in November and he’s coming off of a down year. With one season left on his five-year, $42.5MM deal, it’s hard to say whether Roseman will get what he wants. Of course, Ertz’s issues with the Eagles have been extremely public, so teams are willing to wait things out until the price comes down. Roseman’s comments from today could simply be posturing as he continues to find a suitor.
Titans Sign DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Briean Boddy-Calhoun has joined his sixth NFL team. The veteran defensive back is signing with the Titans, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
After appearing in 43 games through his first three seasons in the NFL, the cornerback has been limited to only four games over the past two seasons. He stayed unsigned for most of the 2020 campaign, but after joining San Francisco’s practice squad in December, he managed to get into one game for the 49ers, appearing exclusively on special teams.
While Boddy-Calhoun‘s recent inability to stick around the league is worrying, the former undrafted free agent showed enough to stick around the NFL during his stint with the Browns. In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 47 games (22 starts), collecting 151 tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks. The cornerback has spent time with the Jaguars, Browns, Texans, Colts, and 49ers.
This transaction follows the Titans placement of defensive back Chris Jones on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Boddy-Calhoun‘s ability to play both cornerback and safety provides him a better opportunity at a roster spot, and he could provide some experience to a team that added three defensive backs in this year’s draft (Caleb Farley, Elijah Molden, and Brady Breeze).
Colts Sign DE Damontre Moore
The Colts auditioned a handful of pass rushers today, and one player emerged with a contract. Aaron Wilson tweets that Indy has signed Damontre Moore.
The 2013 third-round pick has truly settled into journeyman status after spending the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Giants. Since leaving New York, the defensive lineman has spent time with the Dolphins, Raiders, Seahawks, Cowboys, Raiders (again), the 49ers, and the Seahawks (again). He also had a brief cameo in the AAF during the 2019 campaign.
The 28-year-old spent the 2020 campaign with the Seahawks. He saw time in 10 games (his highest total since 2015), finishing with nine tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He also sat out six games thanks to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. In total, Moore has seen time in 66 games, collecting 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, 12 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits.
The Colts were apparently sniffing around for defensive lineman, as the team also hosted Nick Coe and Davin Bellamy today. Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so the organization could simply be looking for some reinforcement. Moore will be joining a depth chart that features Tyquan Lewis, Kwity Paye, Kemoko Turay, Isaac Rochell, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ben Banogu, Kameron Cline, and Muhammad.
Patriots Claim QB Jake Dolegala
The Patriots have added another quarterback. The team announced today that they’ve claimed quarterback Jake Dolegala off waivers from the Packers. The 24-year-old was waived by Green Bay yesterday.
More notably, it sounds like today’s transaction was insurance for another QB on the roster. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (via Twitter), backup Jarrett Stidham “isn’t expected back in the near future.” The quarterback landed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week, and Howe writes that the player is battling a shoulder injury that could ultimately lead to surgery.
At one time, it was believed that Stidham could be the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Instead, the 2019 fourth-round pick barely played during his sophomore season, and he fell further down the depth chart when the team added Mac Jones this offseason. The Auburn product will be 25 by the start of the next season, and despite collecting only 48 attempts through two seasons, it’s unlikely his NFL career is in danger. However, it’s looking like he doesn’t have much of a future in New England.
Dolegala actually spent most of his rookie season on the Patriots practice squad, and after earning a reserve/future contract in January, he was waived by the team in April. His best chance of sticking with the Patriots is probably via the practice squad; even with Stidham temporarily out of the picture, the team is still rostering Jones, Cam Newton, and Brian Hoyer.
Bears TE Jake Butt Retires
Jake Butt is calling it career. The Bears placed the veteran tight end on the reserve-retired list today (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter).
Butt had a standout collegiate career at Michigan, earning a first-team All-American nod and a pair of first-team All-Big Ten honors. However, he also suffered a pair of torn ACLs during his time in college, and that led to him sliding to the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
Unfortunately for the tight end, it was more of the same in the NFL. Thanks mostly to continued injuries, the six-foot-six target was limited to only eight games in four seasons. After returning from his college ACL tear in 2018, Butt sustained another torn ACL, ending that season prematurely. Complications from his injury forced him to sit out the 2019 campaign, and his 2020 season was cut short thanks to a hamstring injury.
In total, the 25-year-old finished his career having hauled in 10 receptions for 90 yards in eight games (four starts). Five of those games came in 2020, with Butt appearing in 11-percent of Denver’s offensive snaps.
It was only last month that the 26-year-old caught on with the Bears. The organization may have had an inkling that this decision was coming; the team signed tight end Jesse James earlier this week. The new addition will join a depth chart that also includes Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and fellow newcomers J.P. Holtz.
Davante Adams Wants To Be Highest-Paid WR
Packers receiver Davante Adams is willing to restart extension talks with the Packers, but the wideout made it clear that he won’t be giving the team a discount on his next deal. The receiver told reporters today that he’s “earned the right to be paid the highest” among NFL receivers.
“I’m not gonna too far into details about the numbers and all of that stuff, but I like to say that I’ve outperformed my last contract or my current contract,” Adams said (via NFL.com). “I’m going to keep elevating. At the end of the day, however it pans out, it pans out that way and I’m going to think long and hard about how everything goes. At this point, like I said, I’m here for my teammates and I’m really excited to be back. I told you guys before — I’m a man of my word and I’m ready to play.”
Adams is set to earn $16.8MM next season, and he currently has the third highest cap hit at the position (behind Amari Cooper and Allen Robinson). However, Adams’ earned around $14.5MM per year throughout his current contract, and that AAV ranks 18th among all wideouts. The veteran will surely rise on that AAV list over the next year, whether it be via an extension with the Packers or a free agent contract elsewhere. If Adams truly wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid wideout, he’ll likely be demanding an AAV that rivals DeAndre Hopkins‘ position-leading mark of $27MM+.
Just a few days ago NFL Network was saying things were “now in a bad place” between Adams and the franchise. Apparently news of Aaron Rodgers’ impending return has changed those circumstances, even though it seems like Rodgers could still be on his way out the door in 2022. 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. However, the receiver’s demands are lofty, and it remains to be seen if the organization will dish out that kind of money to retain the wideout.
Patriots Cut WR Devin Smith
Bill Belichick has had some previous success with former-Jets reclamation projects, but Devin Smith apparently won’t be one of them. The Patriots announced today that they’ve released the wide receiver.
Smith joined the NFL as a second-round pick (No. 37) in 2015, but he didn’t show much during his first two seasons in the NFL. In two years with the Jets, the wideout collected only 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (three starts). To be fair, a torn ACL derailed his rookie campaign, and another ACL tear in 2017 forced him to miss the entire season. The receiver was ultimately waived by the team in 2018 and ended up sitting out that entire season, as well.
He got another chance in 2019 with the Cowboys, finishing with five receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown in four games (two starts). He was released by Dallas prior to last season, and he spent most of the 2020 campaign on the Texans and Patriots practice squad.
New England held on to him for the entire offseason but ultimately decided to move on. Smith would have been an interesting piece for the Patriots, but the organization already has plenty of their own projects behind Jakobi Meyers and free agent additions Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.
Latest On Trey Lance, 49ers QB “Competition”
There isn’t a QB competition in San Francisco. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said there is no open competition for the starting gig, as veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is the definitive starter while rookie Trey Lance will serve as the backup (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo via Twitter).
“Trey’s had seven practices with us, and I haven’t seen him in 40 days, so I’m not thinking about that right now,” Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “There’s no open competition right now in terms of equal reps with the same group…Jimmy is coming in as the one, and Trey is coming in as the two.”
This isn’t the first time the organization has expressed this sentiment. In fact, we heard earlier this year that the team was willing to roll with Garoppolo for the next two years before inevitably turning to Lance, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. To the 49ers credit, they seem to be sticking to their story, but it remains to be seen if they’ll stick with the game plan.
Few first-round quarterbacks since the Packers’ Brett Favre-to-Aaron Rodgers transition have failed to take over starting jobs as rookies, let alone second-year passers. In every non-Rodgers case, a first-round pick having failed to seize the job by Year 2 signaled a bust. Garoppolo sat for three-plus seasons behind Tom Brady, but the Patriots selected him in the 2014 second round. Garoppolo piloted the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV, throwing 27 touchdown passes in 2019, but has been unreliable from a health standpoint since coming to San Francisco. This led to the team trading up for Lance.
Meanwhile, Lance has yet to ink his rookie contract, but GM John Lynch believes a deal will be completed sooner than later.
“We’ve never had a holdout but it always seems to go down to the wire,” Lynch said (via Garafolo on Twitter). “It’s important he is here.”