Bears, Jets Meet With Morgan Moses
Morgan Moses is a busy man. On Wednesday, the former Washington tackle will meet with the Bears, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link) hears that he also visited the Jets last week. 
There could be even more visits on the docket for Moses, who stands as one of the best offensive lineman left on the market. Washington gave Moses permission to seek trades earlier this month, but there were no takers. Ultimately, they released him to save $7.74MM against the 2021 salary cap.
Moses was re-upped by WFT in 2017 and went six straight seasons without missing a game. He’s durable, but not a world-beater, so Washington revamped their tackle group by drafting Samuel Cosmi in the second round and signing longtime Bears left tackle Charles Leno.
For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus graded Moses as a top-20 tackle last season. But, previous to that, the advanced metrics framed him as a middle-of-the-road tackle from 2017 through 2019.
The Jets are set at left tackle with second-year pro Mekhi Becton, but their right tackle spot is still up in the air. For now, George Fant and Chuma Edoga stand as their top RT options. Meanwhile, the Bears could slot Moses ahead of Germain Ifedi on the right side with second-round rookie Teven Jenkins on the left.
Lions Sign Brian Price
The Lions have signed Brian Price, per a club announcement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely a one-year deal for the veteran defensive lineman. 
Price went undrafted in 2016, largely because of red flags — including the time he threw an official to the ground. When he didn’t hear his name called, the University of Texas-San Antonio joined up with the Packers’ practice squad. They were pretty high on his ability, because midway through the year they nearly quadrupled his salary to prevent him from getting poached.
Since then, Price has made the rounds, spending time with the Cowboys, Raiders, Browns, Colts, and Jaguars before circling back to the Packers late last year. All in all, Price has 24 career appearances to his credit. Now, he’ll look to make the cut in Detroit, where he could take the place of Joel Heath following his season-ending ACL tear.
Jets Sign Ronald Blair
The Jets have defensive lineman Ronald Blair, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The deal will reunite Blair with old pal Robert Saleh, the former Niners defensive coordinator who now serves as the Jets’ head coach.
Blair ruptured his ACL midway through the 2019 season, which should have given him enough time to return for 2020. Unfortunately, something went wrong while Blair was on the operating table, leaving him sidelined for the entire year. Now, Blair seems to have recovered from his botched ACL surgery and he’ll have the summer to prove it.
Before all of that, the former 2016 fifth-round pick enjoyed a spot in the Saleh’s defensive rotation, compiling 13.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 22 tackles for loss across four seasons. Blair could help provide depth for the Jets at multiple spots up front, including the edge where they desperately need a lift over last season. On the plus side, the Jets’ rush should be in better shape thanks to Saleh and newcomers like ex-Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson.
Vikings Wanted Justin Fields At No. 8
Recently, the Panthers shared a behind-the-scenes look at the 2021 NFL Draft, which showed the Vikings calling on their No. 8 overall pick. Ultimately, the offer wasn’t up to snuff. But, had the Panthers said yes, the Vikings would have selected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (via PFT). 
The Vikings were connected to Fields in the weeks leading up to the draft, hoping that he’d fall to No. 14 overall. Now, we know that they were proactive in trying to land him. It’s an interesting footnote, especially given the presence of Kirk Cousins. Cousins has two years and $56MM to go on his deal; Fields could have prompted them to trade the veteran sometime between now and the end of the pact.
The Vikings offered up their No. 14 pick, their third-round choice at No. 90, and a fourth-round pick to jump to No. 8. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer wanted a 2022 first-round pick in order to move down, so the talks didn’t progress from there. Instead, the Vikings moved down to No. 23, tapped Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw, and added to their third-round stockpile. That’s where they selected Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond, who could be groomed as an eventual successor to Cousins.
“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” GM Rick Spielman said in March. “I know there’s a lot of rumors floating around out there, but Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We felt that he played very well, probably the best that he’s ever played down that stretch last year. Kirk is our quarterback going forward, and I look forward to him (having) another year in this system.”
Cousins is indeed the Vikings quarterback, but it’s worth nothing that his contract no longer includes a no-trade clause. Meanwhile, the Vikings will see Fields twice per year when they face the Bears.
PFR Originals: Tebow, Chiefs, Snyder
In case you missed it, here’s a look back at some of our recent originals:
- Tim Tebow hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2012, when he was with the Jets. Now, he’s vying for a spot on the Jaguars’ roster. Will he pull it off? Sam Robinson asked PFR readers to weigh in and, so far, ~46% of you say that the former University of Florida standout will make the cut. Meanwhile, about 25% say he’ll make the practice squad and ~30% think that he’ll be released outright.
- Six years ago, the Chiefs promoted Chris Ballard and Brett Veach to larger roles in John Dorsey‘s front office. The move vaulted Ballard up the NFL ranks, leading him to the Colts’ GM job. Meanwhile, Veach stayed and wound up as Dorsey’s successor in Kansas City. As Sam notes, the Chiefs are happy with the way things turned out. Despite going 50 years between their second and third Super Bowl appearances, the Chiefs have become the AFC’s best team to start this decade.
- Meanwhile, Ben Levine took us all the way back to 1999, when the NFL approved Dan Snyder as the new owner of the Washington football franchise. Snyder’s first season at the helm saw ten wins, but fans have been less-than-thrilled over the last 20+ years.
- Victor Cruz will always be remembered for his standout Giants seasons and his iconic salsa dance. But, in 2017, Cruz tried to start a new chapter in Chicago. Here‘s a look back at his short-lived Bears tenure, his Giants contract, and an important reminder for NFL players — always insist on guaranteed cash.
Would Falcons Take Second-Round Pick For Julio Jones?
By all accounts, the Falcons are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Julio Jones. But, in reality, they’d accept a second-round choice for the All-Pro wide receiver, a source tells Peter King of The MMQB. 
[RELATED: Jones May Want New Deal]
That would certainly help to facilitate a trade. Jones, 32, is scheduled to make $38MM over the next three years. Meanwhile, the Falcons star could demand a new deal (read: more guaranteed money). Between his age, injuries, and the possibility of having to dish out even more money, it’s hard to imagine anyone sacrificing a Round 1 choice.
Reportedly, one club did offer a first-round pick for Jones, but King is skeptical. Meanwhile, some of the teams tied to Jones do not own their 2022 first-round pick. Instead, as King’s source indicates, the Falcons could be okay with a 2022 second-rounder. In theory, the Falcons can drag things out over the summer, but it’s hard to imagine even a ’23 or ’24 first-round pick being offered.
Jones could be traded as soon as Wednesday, when the Falcons (and other clubs) can divide dead money between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Seahawks have recently entered the sweepstakes, but the Titans and 49ers appear to be his most likely destinations. The Niners, led by Jones’ former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, would make lots of sense. When they were together in 2015 and 2016, Jones went off for 3,280 yards from scrimmage with 14 touchdowns.
Cowboys To Move Keanu Neal To LB
The Cowboys will play Keanu Neal at linebacker (via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com). Neal spent his first five seasons at safety for the Falcons, but he says he’s ready to make the adjustment.
“I feel I can play safety, linebacker,” Neal said. “Wherever they put me, I’m going to go out there and play at my best. Growing up, I played linebacker in middle school and high school. Then, we changed the defense, and I switched to safety. So I went to college as a safety, but in my heart, I have been a linebacker for a while. I still have an understanding of what everything entails with playing linebacker.”
The former first-round pick is listed at 6’1″ and 216 pounds. This year, he plans on bulking up a bit and playing around 222 lbs in the fall. It’ll be an adjustment, but old pal Dan Quinn is confident that he can make it work.
When Neal signed in March, most assumed that the Cowboys would keep him in the secondary, since they already had two three-down ‘backers and a need at safety. They’ve even bolstered the LB group since then by drafting Micah Parsons with the No. 12 overall pick, followed by LSU’s Jabril Cox in the fourth round.
Still, Sean Lee is out of the picture and the Cowboys may see Neal as a potential 2022 replacement for Leighton Vander Esch, who had his fifth-year option declined. For now, Neal’s only signed for 2021 on a one-year, $5MM deal.
Neal, 26 in July, recorded at least 100 tackles in each of his three healthy seasons. He posted 106 stops last year — including a career-high nine tackles for loss — and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 33 overall safety.
Falcons’ Julio Jones Wants New Deal
Julio Jones wants out and the Falcons are willing to accommodate his request. However, if he’s traded, Jones may ask his new club for a fresh contract, according to a source who spoke with PFT. 
[RELATED: Seahawks Interested In Julio Jones]
As it stands, Jones is set to earn a guaranteed $15.3MM in 2021. In 2022, he’s under contract for $15.5MM in 2022, which is only partially guaranteed for $2MM. Then, in 2023, he’s set to collect $11.5MM, though that sum is completely non-guaranteed.
In total, Jones’ three-year, $66MM deal gave him an average annual value of $22MM and $64MM guaranteed at signing. However, the Falcons have already paid out the bulk of those guarantees, so the 32-year-old may want his new team to have some skin in the game.
That would be yet another roadblock for interested teams, many of whom have already been scared off by the Falcons’ ask of a first-round pick. The Rams, for instance, have discussed Jones, but they’re already without their first-rounders in 2022 and 2023. The Seahawks have already surrendered their ’22 first-round pick, so they might not want to give up their next one and shell out a mega-deal for the aging star.
The Titans and the 49ers appear to be Jones’ most likely destinations right now, but it’s not clear if they’d be willing to give Jones a new contract. Either way, we should have more clarity on Jones’ situation this week when the Falcons are able to trade Jones as a post-June 1 transaction.
Rams Out On Julio Jones?
The Rams have discussed Julio Jones, but they’re not currently in the mix for the wide receiver (via PFT). While things could change, the cost appears to be too high for a team that’s already short on draft capital.
[RELATED: Rams Discuss Julio Jones]
The Falcons are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for the multiple-time All-Pro. Meanwhile, the Rams have already surrendered their 2022 and 2023 first-round picks to the Lions in order to acquire Matthew Stafford. And, similar to Atlanta, they’re tight against the cap. Jones is due a guaranteed $15.3MM this year. Beyond that, he’s set to make $15.5MM in 2022, with a couple million already locked in, followed by another $11.5MM in 2023.
The Rams would love to have Jones (who wouldn’t?) but going the next three seasons without a first-round pick would be a challenge, especially when considering that Jones is 32 and coming off of injury. They also don’t need Jones as badly as, say, the rival Seahawks, who are hoping to placate Russell Wilson with a top-tier target.
For now, the Rams’ WR group is headlined by Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, legendary deep threat DeSean Jackson, 2020 second-round pick Van Jefferson, and 2021 second-round pick Tutu Atwell.
Latest On Jaguars’ Tim Tebow
As you might have heard, the Jaguars signed Tim Tebow earlier this month. According to head coach Urban Meyer & Co., Tebow will be competing for a roster spot as a tight end. But, around the league, executives believe that Tebow is actually being groomed as more of a wildcat quarterback (Twitter link via ESPN’s Dianna Russini). 
[POLL: Will Tim Tebow Make Jaguars’ Roster?]
Given Tebow’s background, a Taysom Hill type of role could make sense. A hybrid position also give him a better chance of making the final cut. The Jaguars already have a full house at tight end, with Chris Manhertz, fifth-round rookie Luke Farrell, Tyler Davis, James O’Shaughnessy, and Ben Ellefson on board. Ditto for quarterback, where No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence is backstopped by Gardner Minshew, C.J. Beathard, and Jake Luton. Whether or not Minshew stays, the Jags will carry no more than three QBs on their Week 1 roster with three or four tight ends, max. In theory, Tebow could provide a bit of roster flexibility if he’s slotted as the No. 3 QB/No. 4 TE.
In any event, it’s hard to peg Tebow’s odds of actually making the roster. At last check, ~46% of PFR readers said that Tebow will make the 53-man roster, ~29% predicted he’ll be dropped entirely, and ~25% said he’ll land on the taxi squad. And, in case you’re wondering, Tebow still has the No. 1 selling jersey in the NFL.