Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster Signs Rookie Deal
JuJu Smith-Schuster is officially a member of the Steelers. The team announced on Wednesday that the second round pick has inked his rookie deal. 
Smith-Schuster first received national attention in 2015 when he caught 89 passes for 1,454 yards and ten touchdowns at USC. He wasn’t quite as impressive last year as he battled through a back injury, but he still managed to haul in 70 receptions for 914 yards and ten scores. The stock of the 6’1″, 215 pound receiver may have dipped a bit in 2016, but the Steelers see him as a first-round caliber talent and someone who can help take some of the heat off of Antonio Brown.
A former USC assistant coach gushed over Smith-Schuster’s work ethic and athleticism before the draft.
“He has a mom and stepdad who keep him grounded. His passion and enthusiasm are second to none and he absolutely loves football. He came in as a safety and probably could have gone pro as a safety as well if he had stayed there,” the coach told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Patriots Work Out WR Andrew Hawkins
The Patriots worked out wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on Wednesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s officially a big week for Hawkins after he completed his master’s degree in sports management from Columbia’s School of Professional Studies just a couple of days ago. 
Hawkins has been sitting on the open market since being released by the Browns in February. The Saints kicked the tires on him back in March, but they ultimately passed on signing him. The Patriots’ level of interest in adding Hawkins isn’t immediately clear and there’s a bit of a glut at the position. Already, the Patriots have Brandon Cooks, Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Devin Street, and special teams specialist Matthew Slater under contract.
Hawkins, 31, has spent his entire career to date in the AFC North. After playing for the Bengals from 2011-2013, he hooked on with the Browns as a free agent prior to the 2014 season. Hawkins was initially a focal part of the offense in Cleveland, racking up 63 catches for 824 yards and two scores in his first season there. After that, however, his role shrank. Last year, he had just 33 catches for 324 yards and three scores.
Jaguars Sign RB Leonard Fournette
Leonard Fournette is officially a member of the Jaguars. The Jags have signed the running back to his four-year rookie deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Per the terms of his slot as the No. 4 overall pick, Fournette will receive a four-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $27.15MM. That sum includes fat a $17.89MM signing bonus. By virtue of being a first-round pick, the Jaguars will also reserve the right to keep him for a fifth season.
Fournette was widely regarded as the best running back in this year’s class and he impressed evaluators at the combine with his faster than expected 40-yard-dash time. If he stays healthy, the Jaguars figure to have a superstar on their hands. Before the draft, one anonymous NFC director of scouting told NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein that the LSU back has an exceptionally bright future ahead of him:
“I can’t wait to see how the draft guys pick at Fournette and tell everyone what he doesn’t do right. He was healthy last year and that is what you are going to get. Big, fast and dominant.”
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Falcons Meet With DL Sean Lissemore
The Chargers met with defensive lineman Sean Lissemore on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
Lissemore, 30 in September, appeared in 41 games for the Chargers between 2013 and 2015 and made 13 starts during that span. Unfortunately, in August of 2016, he suffered a major injury which ended his season before it even began. Presumably, the William and Mary alum is now healthy enough to play.
Before his time with the Bolts, Lissemore spent three years with the Cowboys. For his career, he has 135 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one interception to his credit.
Lissemore could be a depth option for Atlanta’s newly revamped defensive line. This offseason, the Falcons made three significant additions by signing free agents Dontari Poe and Jack Crawford and drafting UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley.
Charges Against Browns’ Caleb Brantley Dropped
The battery charge against Browns rookie Caleb Brantley has been dismissed, his lawyer tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). The Florida product was alleged to have punched a woman in a bar, causing dental injuries. The charge was closed due to “insufficient evidence,” per Alachua County Court documents (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). 
[RELATED: Browns To Sign CB Jason McCourty]
After taking the Florida product in the sixth round, top exec Sashi Brown indicated that his time with the organization would be short lived if the charges stuck. Now, Brantley could have a much clearer path to making the 53-man roster. From a talent perspective, many evaluators viewed the defensive tackle as a first- or second-round pick. However, because of this ugly incident and other perceived character issues, many teams took him off of the board completely. One Florida coach also reportedly warned teams to steer clear of Brantley.
Back on April 13, two witnesses saw Brantley get into a verbal spat with a female patron at a bar. After the woman shoved Brantley due to “crude comments” he made, Brantley was said to have struck the woman in the face, rendering her unconscious and knocking out a tooth. Even though he’s in the clear from a legal perspective, the Browns will likely be keeping a close eye on the rookie’s off-the-field behavior from here on out.
Details On Eddie Lacy’s Seahawks Contract
The weight-oriented clauses in Eddie Lacy‘s contract have been discussed at great length, but the running back’s one-year pact with the Seahawks includes many other bonuses tied to his performance. Thanks to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com, we now have a more complete breakdown of his deal. 
Lacy’s deal includes roughly $2.865MM guaranteed with a max value of $5.55MM, meaning that there’s $2.685MM available via incentives. Approximately $400K of that additional money is tied to Lacy’s monthly weigh-ins, but he can make more if he delivers on the field. If he reaches certain yardage plateaus, he’ll come closer to achieving the full potential value of the deal.
If Lacy runs for at least 800 yards, he’ll cash in on an additional $250K. If he reaches 900 yards, he’ll get $500K. For a 1,000-yard season, Lacy receives $750K. At 1,100 yards, the number jumps to $1MM. And if Lacy rushes for 1,200+ yards, he’ll net an extra $1.3MM. These bonuses do not accumulate, so he can only collect at the highest plateau. For what it’s worth, Lacy has twice eclipsed 1,100 yards but he has never quite reached 1,200. His last 1,100+ plus season game in 2014.
Lacy can also cash in by staying on the field. The 26-year-old will earn $62,500 for each week he’s on the 46-man active roster, meaning that he’ll get an extra $1MM if he plays a full 16-game season.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Vince Wilfork Unsure About Retirement
After the Patriots knocked Vince Wilfork‘s Texans out of the playoffs, the defensive tackle indicated that he was likely done with football. Four months later, Wilfork has yet to make his retirement official. That’s because the veteran is still on the fence about whether he wants to continue playing. 
“Right now I am not retired,” Wilfork told SiriusXM (on Twitter). “I’m not saying I’m retired. It’s something I want to make sure I’m 100% certain about.”
To date, Wilfork has put in 13 years in the NFL and he can probably leave the game without any regrets if this is in fact the end of the line. The 35-year-old has two Super Bowl rings thanks to his 11-year stint with the Patriots and he was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game during his prime. Although he had only 16 career sacks, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus show that he was among the game’s elite between 2006 and 2012. Once he’s eligible, it seems likely that Wilfork will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
With all of that said, it’s not clear what Wilfork can offer in 2017. Last year, he ranked 84th amongst PFF’s 127 qualified defensive tackles. It’s not clear if the Texans or Patriots would have a place for Wilfork, so continuing his career might mean joining up with a third squad.
Eagles Likely To Cut RB Ryan Mathews
The Eagles have signed running back LeGarrette Blount and the expectation is that they will release Ryan Mathews as a result, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. However, he adds that the Eagles will wait until Mathews is healthy before releasing him. 
As noted by former NFL executive Michael Lombardi (on Twitter), cutting Mathews before he is healthy would leave the Eagles on the hook for injury protection. Per the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Philly would have to pay out an extra $1.15MM, leaving them with a $2.15MM cap charge when factoring in the dead money on his deal. By waiting until he’s back to full health, however, the Eagles will be left with just $1MM on the cap while saving $4MM.
Mathews‘ 2016 season ended in December of last year when he suffered a herniated disc in his neck. Still, even with that injury plus the MCL sprain he was dealing with, he still turned in an alright season. In 13 games played he had 661 yards off of 155 carries for an average of 4.3 yards per attempt. He also had eight rushing touchdowns plus 13 catches for 115 yards.
With Mathews out of the picture, the Eagles will likely have Blount and Darren Sproles split the majority of carries. Wendell Smallwood and fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey figure to make the cut while 2016 UDFA Byron Marshall might be on the fringe.
Eagles Sign LeGarrette Blount
The Eagles have signed running back LeGarrette Blount, according to a team announcement. It’s a one-year deal with a maximum value of $2.8MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The pact calls for $1.25MM in base pay with up to $1.55MM in incentives, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
[RELATED: Eagles Likely To Cut RB Ryan Mathews]
Last week, the Patriots used a May 9 tender on free agent running back, a little-known clause that could now impact the 2018 compensatory pick formula for the Eagles and Pats. However, it was said that teams with interest in Blount were looking into ways to circumvent the formula, so it’s possible that the Eagles will not give up much in that area.
The last compensatory pick is currently tied to a $2.05MM annual salary, so the Eagles will only sacrifice a 2018 comp selection if Blount earns more than that total. With $1.55MM of Blount’s deal is tied to performance, the Eagles could come away from this deal without hurting next year’s draft.
The Giants and Lions were known to have interest in Blount for a while, but the Eagles swooped in to sign the power back. As we explained earlier this month, the Eagles were a logical landing spot for Blount since Ryan Mathews could be let go this summer. Indeed, on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that Mathews is expected to be released once he’s fully healthy. By cutting him, the Eagles will save $4MM in 2017 while carrying just $1MM in dead money. With Mathews gone, Blount and Darren Sproles will get most of the carries while Wendell Smallwood assumes the role of No. 3 RB.
The seven-year veteran is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career, having amassed career highs in carries (299), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (an NFL-leading 18). Still, the Patriots would only go so far to re-sign Blount this offseason. They’re losing the bruising back, but they now have an impressive bunch at RB with offseason additions Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead joining holdovers James White, Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster.
The Cardinals and Giants both made offers to Blount before he signed with Philly, according to Rapoport.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Vikings Sign Former Bears DT Will Sutton
The Vikings signed defensive tackle Will Sutton, per a team announcement. Sutton was cut by the rival Bears last week. 
Sutton, 25, was selected in the third round by Chicago in the 2014 draft. In the last three years, he started in half of his games and the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus indicate that he had his best season to date in 2016. Still, GM Ryan Pace wasn’t terribly interested in keeping this holdover from the previous regime, as evidenced by his effort to trade him before last year’s season opener.
In his eight games last year (six starts), Sutton had only 15 total tackles but he earned a decent 74.8 overall score from PFF. His 174 snaps weren’t enough to qualify to be ranked, but if he had a larger sample, he would have been ranked as the 44th best interior defender in the league, ahead of notables like Ricky Jean-Francois, Corey Peters, and Cullen Jenkins.
The Vikings project to start Linval Joseph and Sharrif Floyd at the defensive tackle spots in a 4-3 scheme. If Sutton sticks, he could be one of the first DTs off of the bench along with fourth-round rookie Jaleel Johnson.