Cowboys DE Damontre Moore Suspended
Cowboys defensive end Damontre Moore has been suspended two games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Moore was arrested for DWI in December.
Moore, a third-round pick in 2013, has already bounced around to give teams during his short NFL tenure, and had agreed to a two-year deal with Dallas this spring. Set to earn $775K for the upcoming season, Moore will now forfeit nearly $100K in game checks — if he makes the roster. Moore is no lock to secure a spot on the Cowboys’ defense, as his limited track record means he’ll be competing with Benson Mayowa, Charles Tapper, and others for a reserve role.
Moore is just the latest Cowboy to run afoul of legal or NFL rules this year, as running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive end David Irving, linebacker Damien Wilson, and cornerback Nolan Carroll have all either been arrested or are facing league discipline. Aside from Moore, only Irving has been handed a ban (four games), although an Elliott suspension is also expected.
Given that he’ll miss the first two games of the season, Moore will be absent for contests against the Giants and Broncos.
Vikings Offered Extension To Xavier Rhodes
The Vikings have made a “nice offer” to cornerback Xavier Rhodes and are willing to make him one of the league’s highest-paid cornerbacks, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link).
Rhodes, 27, has appeared in 59 games for Minnesota since being selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft. 2016 was a Pro Bowl campaign for Rhodes, who earned the nod after starting 14 games and racking up five interceptions while grading as the league’s No. 29 corner, per Pro Football Focus, which also ranked Rhodes as the single-best run-defending corner in the NFL.
Under team control for the 2017 season thanks to his fifth-year option, Rhodes will earn $8.026MM for the upcoming year. In order to ensure he’s one of the NFL’s highest-paid at his position, the Vikings will likely need to clear the $13MM per year barrier for Rhodes. That level of contract would put him in line with Stephon Gilmore, A.J. Bouye, and Desmond Trufant. If Rhodes can hit $14MM or even $15MM annually, he’ll join the ranks of Josh Norman, Patrick Peterson, and Richard Sherman.
49ers LB Reuben Foster Medically Cleared
Although reports following the draft indicated rookie linebacker Reuben Foster could be sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Alabama product has been medically cleared and will participate in 49ers training camp, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Barrows had reported earlier this week that Foster was expected to be a full contributor during camp.
While other NFL clubs were worried about the condition of Foster’s shoulder — worries that surgery “didn’t take” abounded, while some teams “medically rejected” Foster — the 49ers were always prepared to select him in the first round. In fact, San Francisco likely would have taken Foster at No. 3 overall had edge rushers Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas already been drafted. Soon after the draft, however, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted Foster wasn’t a lock to play during his rookie campaign.
That view had apparently changed by June, as Shanahan by then had “no concerns” about Foster’s health status. It’s good news for the No. 31 pick, not only because he can play during his rookie season, but because his contract status will remain unaffected. Had Foster been placed on the non-football injury list, his contract may have tolled, meaning he’d be one more year further from unrestricted free agency.
Foster is expected to compete with free agent addition Malcolm Smith for the Niners’ weakside linebacker position, per Barrows. San Francisco inked Smith to a five-year, $26.5MM contract earlier this year.
Raiders OT Donald Penn Holding Out
Veteran left tackle Donald Penn is holding out for a new contract from the Raiders, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Penn didn’t report for Oakland’s training camp today, and the Raiders are aware that he wants to rework his deal, per Rapoport.
[RELATED: Raiders Release Austin Howard]
In 2017, Penn is scheduled to earn a base salary of $5.8MM and a workout bonus of $300K as part of a two-year extension he signed last March. That workout incentive could reportedly be voided due to a holdout, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. Penn’s yearly contract value of $6.25MM ranks just 21st among NFL left tackles, as he’s sandwiched between the Cardinals’ Jared Veldheer (who’s being shifted to the right side) and former No. 2 draft pick Greg Robinson.
Part of Penn’s argument for a new contract appears to revolve around him playing against the NFL’s best pass-rushers — including Von Miller, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Joey Bosa — in the AFC West, per Rapoport. He’s also been remarkably durable, as the 34-year-old Penn hasn’t missed a single game during his decade-long career. Last year, Penn ranked as the NFL’s No. 12 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Raiders have continually invested in their offensive line, which ranked first in adjusted sack rate last season, per Football Outsiders. Oakland recently reached a long-term extension with right guard Gabe Jackson, and has signed left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson to hefty free agent contracts in recent years.
49ers Sign First-Round DL Solomon Thomas
The 49ers have agreed to terms with first-round defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, general manager John Lynch announced. Thomas, the third overall selection, had been one of just three unsigned 2017 draft picks, a list that now includes only cornerback Gareon Conley (Raiders) and wide receiver Corey Davis (Titans).
On Thursday, Lynch indicated his “concern” that talks with Thomas had not yet concluded, and while it hasn’t yet been officially reported as to what caused the holdup, offset language typically causes snags during negotiations with top picks. As Joel Corry of CBSSports.com noted earlier this week (Twitter link), San Francisco didn’t include offset language in 2013 first-rounder Eric Reid‘s rookie deal, meaning Reid could have collected both his 49ers salary and money from a new club had he been released. Thomas likely wanted the same concession in his contract, but the 49ers’ new regime may have wanted to start a fresh precedent in regards to rookie pacts.
Thomas, a Stanford product, will add to already crowded San Francisco defensive line, a unit that also includes the club’s first-round picks from 2015 and 2016. Thomas will likely play defensive end opposite Arik Armstead, while DeForest Buckner will kick inside in the 49ers’ new 4-3 scheme. The rest of San Francisco’s defensive line includes free agent addition Earl Mitchell, Aaron Lynch, Quinton Dial, and other depth pieces.
The 49ers’ four-year deal with Thomas should be worth roughly $28.154MM and contain a signing bonus of ~$18.616MM, according to Over the Cap. The pact will also include a fifth-year option, affording San Francisco the opportunity to retain Thomas in 2021.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Eagles’ Mychal Kendricks Requested Trade
The Eagles have been reportedly been shopping linebacker Mychal Kendricks for several years, and Kendricks himself asked to be traded or released in January, as Kendricks told reporters, including Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Kendricks isn’t expected to see a larger role on defense in 2017, and therefore hasn’t dismissed the possibility that he could still dealt, per Zach Berman on the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). However, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said March that he expected Kendricks to remain on Philadelphia’s roster for the upcoming campaign. When asked if he would have agreed to an extension had he known his playing time would subsequently be reduced, Kendricks indicated he’d “plead the fifth,” per Berman.
Philadelphia had placed Kendricks on the trade block as far back as the 2015 draft, but the club was reportedly actively shopping him this offseason. The Eagles were looking for a fifth-round pick in exchange for Kendricks, but no team was willing to meet that ask after $4.35MM of Kendricks’ $4.85MM 2017 base salary became fully guaranteed earlier this year. Kendricks, 26, is signed through the 2019 campaign thanks to an extension inked in August 2015.
A full-time starter during his first four seasons with the Eagles, Kendricks was largely relegated to a reserve role in 2016, as he played on only a quarter of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps. In that span, he racked up 28 tackles and fumble recovery, and earned positive marks for his run defense and pass rushing ability from Pro Football Focus. Kendricks’ coverage grade of 47.7, however, was lacking.
Chiefs Trade LB D.J. Alexander To Seahawks For LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
The Chiefs and Seahawks have agreed to a swap of linebackers, as Kansas City will send D.J. Alexander to the Seattle in exchange for Kevin Pierre-Louis, the Chiefs announced today.
Alexander, 25, was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, and has primarily contributed on special teams thus far in his career. He’s appeared in all 32 games in two seasons with the Chiefs, but has just one start. Last year, he posted five tackles while playing 48 defensive snaps and 358 special teams snaps. Alexander earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2016, and was named as one of the league’s best special teamers by Pro Football Focus.
Pierre-Louis is a remarkably similar player to Alexander. Also 25 years old, Pierre-Louis was drafted one year earlier than Alexander, albeit in the fourth round. Like Alexander, he’s essentially a special teams-only player: in 2016, he played 71 defensive snaps and 227 special teams snaps. All told, Pierre-Louis racked up seven tackles.
The primary difference between Alexander and Pierre-Louis is team control. Alexander is signed for two more seasons, with base salaries below $800K in each year. Kansas City will only get Pierre-Louis through 2017, however. He’ll earn $690K next year.
Latest On Ravens, Colin Kaepernick
The Ravens signed former Arena League quarterback David Olson earlier today, but that won’t necessarily prevent them from adding free agent Colin Kaepernick, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Staring quarterback Joe Flacco is dealing with a back injury, and although a worst-case scenario clouds his Week 1 status, Harbaugh doesn’t sound worried about Flacco’s condition. “Joe is day to day, so do we really need to make that move or not?” Harbaugh said of signing Kaepernick, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Baltimore has been in contact with Kaepernick, but the club is “weighing need and fit,” tweets Zrebiec.
In addition to Flacco and Olson, the Ravens currently have two other quarterbacks on their roster: Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan. Mallett has struggled through eight career starts as a member of the Patriots, Texans, and Ravens, while Vaughan, a 2014 undrafted free agent, has never appeared in an NFL game.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin’s Contract Vests
Mike Tomlin is now under contract as the Steelers head coach through 2019, as his contract has vested based on wins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport indicates Pittsburgh has had discussions about a longer deal for Tomlin, and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports an extension could be announced soon (Twitter link).
Bouchette suggested earlier this week that Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert could be in line for new contracts. Colbert is the more pressing situation, as his current deal expires after the 2018 draft. Tomlin, one of only three Pittsburgh head coaches since 1969, could still land a new pact, but given that he’s now locked in for three more seasons, his status is a bit less imperative.
Tomlin, 45, has been extremely successful in his 10 seasons as the Steelers head coach, as the club has earned seven postseason appearances during his decade-long run. Pittsburgh has never finished with fewer than eight wins during Tomlin’s reign. Overall, Tomlin has posted a 103-57 regular season record and owns one Super Bowl and two AFC Championship titles.
Seahawks To Sign DE Marcus Smith
The Seahawks have reached an agreement with former first-round pick Marcus Smith, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Smith was waived by the Eagles earlier this week.
This isn’t the first time Seattle has taken a chance on a disappointing high draft choice, as the club agreed to deals with offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (No. 2 overall in 2013) and defensive end Dion Jordan (No. 3 overall in 2013) earlier this year. While Joeckel landed $8MM on a one-year pact, Jordan signed for the minimum salary with no guaranteed money. While financials haven’t been released on Smith’s contract, his deal will likely be more in the Jordan vein.
Smith, who made the transition from outside linebacker to defensive last season, has never broken out since being selected with the 26th pick in 2014. While he’s appeared in 37 career games over three seasons, he’s never made a start and has registered only four sacks. In 2016, the 25-year-old Smith played on only 20% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps, but did see action on 40% of the team’s special teams plays.
Smith won’t be assured of a roster spot in Seattle, as he’ll compete with Jordan and Garrison Smith to earn a place as a reserve defensive end.