49ers DE Jordan Willis Suspended Six Games
49ers defensive end Jordan Willis has been suspended for the first six games of the 2021 season, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Willis was banned for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The suspension would basically sideline the defensive lineman through the end of October. However, Willis will be allowed to participate in all offseason practices and preseason contests.
The former third-round pick was already going to be hard pressed to make the 49ers roster. Willis was acquired by the 49ers last season, and he was re-signed by the organization earlier this year. However, the team also added Zach Kerr and Maurice Hurst this offseason, pushing Willis down the depth chart.
In 50 career games split between the Bengals, Jets, and 49ers, the 26-year-old has collected 65 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He collected 13 tackles and five QB hits in seven games for San Francisco last season.
Raiders Sign LB Darron Lee
A former first-round pick is heading to Las Vegas. The Raiders announced that they’ve signed linebacker Darron Lee. The team also signed cornerback De’Vante Bausby and waived cornerback T.J. Morrison.
Lee, the No. 20 pick of the 2016 draft, disappointed during his three seasons with the Jets, collecting a total of 273 tackles and four sacks in 58 games (38 starts). He won a Super Bowl ring after getting traded to the Chiefs in 2019, but he was limited to mostly a backup role during his lone season in Kansas City. He caught on with the Bills in 2020, seeing time in only a pair of games.
Lee will have an uphill battle to find snaps, as the Raiders have put in work over the past few years to revamp their linebackers depth chart. Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski will once again lead the depth chart, but Lee would still have to overcome the likes of Nicholas Morrow, Tanner Muse, and Divine Deablo for playing time.
Bausby has bounced around the league a bit since going undrafted in 2015. The 28-year-old actually ended up having a career season in 2020, collecting 21 tackles and five passes defended in 11 games with the Broncos (and briefly the Cardinals).
Morrison went undrafted out of Stony Brook in this past year’s draft. He signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent back in May.
Bengals OL Hakeem Adeniji Could Be Out For Season
Hakeem Adeniji is likely done for the season. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor revealed that the offensive lineman will likely be sidelined for the entire 2021 campaign after undergoing surgery (via Geoff Hobson of the team’s website).
Adeniji tore a pectoral muscle less than two weeks ago, necessitating the surgery. There’s a chance that the recovery time only takes a few months, but it sounds like Taylor is assuming that the lineman will be out for the entire season.
This is a tough break for the 23-year-old. The 2020 sixth-round pick had an opportunity to build off an impressive rookie campaign that saw him appear in 15 games with five starts. Adeniji ultimately saw time in 22-percent of his team’s offensive snaps and 13-percent of his team’s special teams snaps.
The lineman logged snaps at both tackle spots and even tight end last season, and his versatility meant he was likely to retain his spot on the roster. As Hobson notes, there was even some optimism that Adeniji could start at one of the guard spots, meaning the Bengals will have to dig into their offensive line depth to replace the second-year pro. Per Hobson, D’Ante Smith could see more snaps at offensive tackle, while the team could turn to a handful of guard candidates (including Xavier Su’a-Filo, Quinton Spain, and Michael Jordan).
Falcons To Sign WR Jeff Badet
Jeff Badet has found a new gig. The wideout has signed with the Falcons, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (via Twitter). Badet worked out for Atlanta earlier today.
Badet had a standout career at Kentucky, including a junior season where he hauled in 31 receptions for 670 yards and four touchdowns. Instead of declaring for the NFL Draft, the wideout decided to transfer to Oklahoma for his senior year, where he’d receive passes from the likes of Baker Mayfield and backup Kyler Murray. Badet’s numbers ended up going down during his lone season with the Sooners, and he went undrafted in 2018.
Badet spent most of his rookie season with the Vikings organization, but after getting cut prior to the 2019 campaign, the receiver declared for the XFL Draft. Badet ended up being the fourth skill player off the board, and he proceeded to haul in 16 receptions before the league folded.
The 26-year-old finally got to see the field for an NFL game this past season with Washington. Badet ultimately saw time on 21 offensive snaps for WFT.
Badet earned a name for himself thanks to his speed; he previously won the ’40 Yards of Gold contest,’ which intended to crown the NFL’s fastest player. The Falcons receivers depth chart is a bit uncertain behind Calvin Ridley, but Badet’s best chance of making the roster is probably as a return man.
TE Chase Harrell Suspended For Entire 2021 Season
Chase Harrell is out for the 2021 campaign. The tight end has been suspended for the entire season, per ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
We haven’t received an explanation for the tight end’s current suspension, but it’s worth noting that Harrell was slapped with a six-game ban last October after violating the NFL’s PED policy.
Harrell spent three years at Kansas, hauling in 30 receptions for 302 yards and five scores. He had a standout pro day (including a 4.53 40-yard time) prior to the 2020 draft, and he ultimately signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. The organization initially signed him as a defensive lineman, but the team website continued to list him as a tight end.
Harrell spent time bouncing on and off the 49ers practice squad in 2020, and he was finally waived by the organization back in April. Considering the 12-month ban, it’ll be a while before Harrell gets another shot at the NFL.
QB Derek Carr Discusses Future With Raiders
Derek Carr has been the subject of trade rumors over the past few years, but the Raiders quarterback doesn’t intend to play anywhere but Las Vegas. In fact, Carr said today that he’d rather retire than be traded to a new squad.
“I’d probably quit football if I had to play for somebody else,” Carr said (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez). “I am a Raider for my entire life. I’m going to root for one team for the rest of my life — it’s the Raiders. So, I just feel that so strong in my heart I don’t need a perfect situation … to make things right.
“I’d rather go down with the ship, you know what I’m saying, if I have to.”
While the front office has continually supported the three-time Pro Bowler, that hasn’t stopped the trade rumors; it was only February that we last heard that Carr could be on the move. While the 30-year-old has managed to put up some solid individual numbers (including a handful of franchise records), the Raiders have only made the playoffs once since he entered the NFL in 2014.
Until the Raiders return to the postseason, there will continue to be question marks surrounding Carr’s future in Las Vegas, but the quarterback made it clear that he wouldn’t consider reversing his fortunes elsewhere.
“I’m that old-school mentality — I’m playing for one team and that’s it,” Carr said. “Whether we’ve won enough or not, I literally give every bit of energy and effort that I can to this organization and when I sign a contract, I completely, in my mind, have to fulfill that. I committed to that. I put my name on paper.”
Carr inked a five-year, $125MM contract in 2017. The deal expires at the end of the 2022 campaign.
Falcons Sign Five Draft Picks
The Falcons recently carved out some cap space via the Julio Jones trade, and they’re now starting to ink rookies to contracts. The team announced today that they’ve signed five draft picks to rookie deals: third-round offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield, fifth-round defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham, fifth-round linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji, fifth-round cornerback Avery Williams, and sixth-round wideout Frank Darby.
Mayfield, who was taken with the No. 68 pick, is naturally the most notable signing. The lineman appeared in 18 games through three seasons at Michigan, allowing only a pair of sacks. Mayfield put himself on the NFL map after helping guide the 2019 Michigan running game to more than 2,000 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Ogundeji is an intriguing prospect following a productive career at Notre Dame. The defensive lineman saw time in 43 games for the Irish, compiling 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, and 17 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, while Williams had a solid stint at Boise State as a defensive back, he was prolific on special teams, and he could immediately find himself as one of the Falcons’ key returners next season.
Following the five signings, the Falcons have four draft picks who remain unsigned:
- Round 1: No. 4 Kyle Pitts, TE (Florida)
- Round 2: No. 40 (from Broncos) S Richie Grant (Central Florida)
- Round 4: No. 108: Darren Hall, CB (SDSU)
- Round 4: No. 114 (from Broncos) Drew Dalman, C (Stanford)
NT Eddie Goldman No-Shows Bears Mandatory Minicamp
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman was a no-show at Bears mandatory minicamp today. Matt Nagy told reporters that he’s talked with the veteran defensive lineman, but the head coach also noted that the absence was unexcused (per Adam Jahns of The Athletic on Twitter). Nagy said he expects Goldman to be present during July’s training camp.
[RELATED: Allen Robinson To Show For Bears’ Minicamp]
Goldman signed a four-year, $42MM extension ($25MM guaranteed) with the Bears back in 2018. That deal was set to expire following the 2022 campaign, but the deal was extended to 2023 after the veteran sat out the 2020 campaign. As part of that move, Goldman agreed to a $350K stipend during the 2020 season, and his original 2020 salary of $4.75MM was pushed to 2021. It’s unknown if Goldman’s current absence is contract related, but this wrinkle could be a potential explanation.
The 2015 second-round pick has spent his entire career with the Bears, appearing in 67 games. Prior to sitting out the 2020 season, the veteran had only missed a pair of games between the 2017 and 2019 seasons, collecting 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and eight QB hits over that span.
Latest On Packers, Aaron Rodgers
While Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy recently made it clear that he wants Aaron Rodgers to stick around Green Bay, the executive isn’t doing much to help his cause. During an event at Lambeau on Thursday, Murphy admitted that his star quarterback is a “complicated fella” (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
[RELATED: Packers’ Aaron Rodgers Begins Holdout]
“I’m often reminded though…of Ted Thompson, as most of you know, just a great general manager, passed away (earlier this year),” Murphy said (via NBC 26 in Green Bay). “(Thompson) often talked about Aaron, that he’s a… and it wasn’t just Aaron, a lot of different players. He would say ‘He’s a complicated fella.’…So I’ll just leave it at that.”
That probably won’t help, Mark. Rodgers officially began his holdout this week as the future Hall of Famer continues to push for a divorce. The reigning MVP wants to take his talents elsewhere, which would leave 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love or Blake Bortles as the No. 1 QB in Green Bay. Murphy, GM Brian Gutekunst, and head coach Matt LaFleur say that won’t happen, leading to the current standoff.
During a recent column on the team website, Murphy noted that Rodgers trade request has divided the fan base, but he also noted that the organization is “committed to resolving things with Aaron.” From a financial perspective, the Packers front office may be on to something. While Rodgers has already passed on $500K of bonuses by missing the team’s voluntary workout (and he could lose another $200+ for skipping minicamp), the real financial toll will come when Rodgers starts missing games. In the unlikely event he stays home all year, the 37-year-old will forfeit his $14.7MM salary, $6.8MM roster bonus, and be forced to refund $23MM of his signing bonus.
Cowboys DE Randy Gregory Hoping To Take On Leadership Role
Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has had a turbulent NFL career, having been suspended four times since he turned pro in 2015. Shortly after his latest reinstatement in September, Dallas showed some faith in the Nebraska product by extending his contract through 2021, and the 28-year-old ended up seeing time in 10 games during the 2020 campaign. While it’s difficult to put too much faith into the embattled pass rusher, Gregory is hoping to build off his 2020 season and become a team leader.
“This year, I think for me, is about really finding my role on this team,” Gregory told Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “Not as somebody who’s here and then leaves for a certain amount of time. Somebody who’s here to stay and somebody that wants to be a leader, not only vocally but on the field with my play.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things for me that I’ve always struggled with is my leadership skills on and off the field, so this year, I’m trying to be a little bit more invested because I am one of the older guys in the group. I think me, [DeMarcus Lawrence] and [Brent Urban] are the three oldest guys in our D-line group. Naturally, I feel like guys are looking at me for input and advice or looking at me to make a play and show people how it’s done.”
Gregory flashed his talent last season, tallying 3.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. However, his playing time was inconsistent, and the defensive end is hoping for more opportunities after the organization replaced defensive coordinator Mike Nolan with Dan Quinn.
“Obviously, I wanted to be out there,” Gregory said. “Obviously, I felt like there were things I could do to help the team win. I honestly felt like when I did go out there, with the sample that I was able to put out there, I’d done a pretty good job, enough so that I feel like the new staff knows what they have in me and knows what they need to do to get me where I need to be as a player.”