Zachary Links | Pro Football Rumors

Falcons, Grady Jarrett Agree To Extension

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have agreed to a brand new deal with Grady Jarrett (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The defensive tackle has a fresh three-year extension that will pay up to $51MM and keep him under contract through the 2025 season.

Jarrett previously had one year to go on his deal, a four year, $68MM pact inked in 2019. That contract came with $42.5MM in guarantees and $38MM guaranteed at signing. This new deal furnishes Jarrett with a healthy $34.5MM locked in at signing.

The Falcons have now secured their standout interior lineman while tamping down their 2022 cap figure. That’s a big deal for Atlanta. Heading into today, they were in the bottom five of the NFL in cap room — ahead of the Titans, Cardinals, Patriots, and 49ers — and just $4.8MM under the max. The newfound cash will help them sign their rookie class and, perhaps, enable some veteran additions between now and September.

“I’m not going to predict that I 100 percent know,” head coach Arthur Smith said recently when asked about a potential Jarrett extension (via the team website). “He knows where we stand. We love Grady. We also know that players may have their own opinions, and that’s welcome. It’s part of doing business. We’ll see how it plays out. I love Grady and we’d love to keep coaching him.”

Jarrett, who just turned 29, earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2020. There was no Pro Bowl for him in 2021, but he did suit up for all 17 games while continuing his usually solid work as a run-stuffer.

2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.

Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:

1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)

EJ Perry Signs With Jaguars; Nixes Eagles Deal

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:03am CST by Zachary Links

EJ Perry isn’t going to Philly after all. On Tuesday, the former Brown quarterback agreed to sign with the Jaguars after initial reports had him ticketed for the Eagles (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).

The Eagles were believed to have two notable undrafted free agent quarterbacks in Perry and ex-Nevada signal caller Carson Strong. While Strong received a larger-than-average $320K guarantee for his weekend deal, other teams still had interest in Perry.

Perry — who started out at Boston College — was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2021 after throwing for 3,033 yards and 23 touchdowns in just ten games. He also showed dual-threat potential, tacking on 402 rushing yards and seven TDs via the ground.

It’s not clear if Perry has a better path to the 53-man roster in Jacksonville. The Jaguars already have former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence under center with C.J. Beathard and Jake Luton in reserve.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have some new options to consider beyond starter Jalen Hurts. If GM Howie Roseman elects to trade Gardner Minshew, Strong and Reid Sinnett could vie for the QB2 spot.

Commanders To Pick Up Montez Sweat’s Option

April 27th, 2022 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Commanders are set to exercise Montez Sweat‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via Ben Standig of The Athletic). With that, they now have the defensive end under contract through the 2023 season.

Sweat was limited to just ten games in 2021 thanks to a fractured jaw. Still, his past performance made this a pretty easy decision for Washington. Across all three years, the former first-round pick has 119 tackles and 21 sacks to his credit. He’s also registered seven forced fumbles, including three last year.

It’s also worth noting that Sweat suited up for 40 straight regular season games before the jaw injury. That helped the Commanders feel more comfortable with Sweat’s fully-guaranteed $11.5MM salary for 2023.

Sweat fell on draft day due to a misdiagnosed heart condition that tanked his stock. The Washington front office wasn’t bothered by the noise — they traded back into the first round, snagged Sweat at No. 26, and secured one of the better talents in the 2019 class.

NFL teams have until May 2 to exercise the fifth-year options for 2019 first-round draft picks. Earlier today, we learned that Bucs linebacker Devin White will have his option picked up for the 2023 season.

Bucs To Pick Up Devin White’s Option

April 27th, 2022 at 9:56am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers will pick up Devin White‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). With that, the linebacker is now set to make a fully-guaranteed $11.7MM in 2023.

White, the No. 5 overall pick in 2019, was set to enter the final year of his four-year, $29.3MM rookie deal. There was no chance that the Bucs would let him get away after his Pro Bowl season. White notched 128 stops and 3.5 sacks, helping the Bucs finish as a top-five defense in points allowed.

White has been a starter throughout his career, dating back to his 91-tackle rookie campaign. All in all, he’s got 359 tackles, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and one interception to his credit. Meanwhile, he just celebrated his 24th birthday in February. The Buccaneers will work to sign White to an even longer deal down the road. But, for now, they’ve got him locked in for another two seasons.

Teams have until May 2nd to exercise their options for 2019 first-round picks. Some decisions will be tough, now that the fifth-year option is fully-guaranteed rather than just guaranteed-for-injury. For Bucs GM Jason Licht, this one was a no-brainer.

Latest On Bears, Robert Quinn

April 27th, 2022 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are “not currently shopping” Robert Quinn, according to a source who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). However, teams are reportedly looking into Quinn and the veteran pass-rusher does profile as a logical trade candidate.

Quinn, 32 in May, registered 18.5 sacks last year to break Richard Dent‘s single-season sack record. Some have wondered whether the Bears could use this opportunity to sell high, especially given Quinn’s two-sack 2020 campaign.

Currently, Quinn is slated to carry a $17.1MM figure on the Bears books — more than any other player in Chicago. Meanwhile, they’ve moved on from many of their other high-priced defenders this offseason. For his part, Quinn says he wants to stay put.

“The only thing I thought of was hopefully my résumé or my production from last year gives me a little weight to keep my foot in the building,” Quinn said earlier this week (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). “At the end of the day, it’s a business. Again, you see Khalil Mack getting traded. Again, it’s just a business. Don’t dwell on it, too crazy.”

Any team that trades for Quinn would assume his $12.8MM base salary while the Bears would still be responsible for his prorated signing bonus. The Bears would also take on $12MM+ in dead money, so it wouldn’t be a monumental money saver.

The Bears furnished Quinn with a five-year, $70MM extension in 2020, so he remains under contract through 2024. That might not fit in with the Bears’ rebuilding efforts, though Quinn rejects the “rebuild” term altogether.

“I don’t think that’s the right way we should phrase it, because people in — the guys in the building are professionals and I think everyone carries themselves to high expectations,” Quinn said. “I believe, me personally, no player is better than me, and I believe everyone else should carry themselves the same way. So to say, ‘a rebuild’ is, I guess, a funny word. I think it’s just getting guys to believe who they truly are, and perform at their high level of expectations, because everyone’s talented enough, because they’re here. Now you’ve just got to go prove it.”

Jaguars, Cam Robinson Agree To Extension

April 27th, 2022 at 9:32am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have reached agreement on an extension with tackle Cam Robinson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Robinson will receive a three-year deal worth $54MM, according to RapSheet (on Twitter).

The 26-year-old was franchise tagged for the second straight year, guaranteeing that he would be in Jacksonville for at least the 2022 campaign. That tag bought the Jaguars some time, allowing them to negotiate a long-term arrangement up until the middle of the summer. Instead of waiting things out, they’ve pounced just before draft day.

Robinson has started all 61 games across his five years in Jacksonville, though he hasn’t performed as a top-tier tackle. Last year, his 67.4 PFF grade in 2021 placed him No. 48 out of 83 qualifying tackles. Still, the Jags went ahead with the $16.6MM tag, which would have slotted him eighth in terms of left tackle salaries. Now, they’ve followed it up with a whopping $18MM/year extension.

The Jaguars have already invested heavily in their offensive line, adding All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff to the interior. Now, they can apply their draft ammo elsewhere — starting with the No. 1 overall pick, where they could select Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker. Of course, they’ve long been expected to target one of those elite edge rushers, but North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu was also said to be on their radar.

49ers’ Deebo Samuel Requests Trade

April 20th, 2022 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

Deebo Samuel wants out. On Wednesday, the wide receiver said that he has asked the 49ers for a trade (Twitter link via Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com).

[RELATED: Jets Eyeing D. Samuel?]

Samuel declined to go into specifics, but this may have something to do with his contract. Samuel has reportedly asked the Niners for something in the range of $25MM/year, which would make him one of the highest-paid WRs in the league.

Samuel made his request known last week, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). “Money is not at the root,” of his issues with the team, per RapSheet (on Twitter) — Samuel is also upset about how he has been used in the Niners’ offense.

The speculation around Samuel has been building for weeks, especially after he removed all mentions of the 49ers across social media. Meanwhile, the Niners’ multiple offers to Samuel have not yielded much progress. Samuel’s reported ask for ~$25MM/year deal would vault him ahead of other recent WR deals including those for D.J. Moore, Chris Godwin, and Mike Williams.

The South Carolina product has held up his end of the bargain so far, notching 167 catches for 2,598 yards and ten touchdowns across the last three seasons. He’s also done damage out of the backfield, notching 550 rushing yards and eleven TDs on the ground.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a team that wouldn’t want to add Samuel, particularly after his Pro Bowl / All-Pro campaign. In just 13 games last year, Samuel racked up 869 receiving yards and averaged nearly 14 yards per catch. He also took 59 carries for 365 yards and eight touchdowns, positioning him as one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the game today.

NFL Draft Rumors: Howell, McDuffie, Texans, Eagles

April 20th, 2022 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

Scouts aren’t wild about this year’s crop of quarterbacks, but North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell tells Albert Breer of SI that he’s not bothered by the negativity.

“We all hear it,” Howell said. “I don’t really take it personally. People are going to say what they believe, and that’s what they get paid to do. Whether they’re right or wrong, it doesn’t really matter. I can speak for myself, I truly could care less what anyone says about me. They try to judge all these draft guys before the draft every single year, and then they go in the league and they’re either going to play well or they’re not.”

“And they’re going to guess, and 50% of the time they’re going to be right, and 50% they’re probably going to be wrong.”

On that note, here’s the latest buzz from Breer as we head into the 2022 NFL Draft:

Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie has impressed throughout the pre-draft process, Breer hears. From coach and scout meetings to his 4.4-second 40-yard-dash, McDuffie seems to have slotted himself as the No. 3 CB in this year’s crop, behind Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner and LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.
Texans head coach Lovie Smith has been vocal about his desire to remain his cornerback group and the rest of the league is taking him at his word. Smith, known for running the Tampa 2 defense, may push his club to pounce on a top-end CB with at either No. 3 or No. 13 overall.
The Eagles have prioritized wide receivers in each of the last two drafts, but rival scouts and evaluators aren’t ruling out the possibility of Howie Roseman going for three in a row. This year’s WR class is headlined by the likes of Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, Georgia’s George Pickens, and USC’s Drake London.

This Date In Transactions History: Tim Tebow Joins The Eagles

April 20th, 2022 at 8:35am CST by Zachary Links

On April 20th, 2015, quarterback Tim Tebow joined Eagles. At the time, this was presumed to be the two-time BCS national champion’s last chance in the NFL.

Tebow inked a one-year deal, seemingly settling for a backup gig in Philly. It was a reminder of how far the former first-rounder had fallen in only a few years’ time. In 2011, Tebow appeared in 14 games (11 starts) for the Broncos, completing 126 of his 271 pass attempts (46.5% completion percentage) for 1,729 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six picks. He also added 660 rushing yards and six scores on 122 carries. The Florida product also appeared in two playoff games that season, including a dramatic overtime win over the Steelers.

However, after Denver inked Peyton Manning to a contract prior to the 2012 season, Tebow was traded to the Jets. The quarterback ended up making 12 appearances (two starts) for New York that year. While he only attempted eight pass attempts, he did compile 102 rushing yards on 32 carries. His season ended prematurely after he suffered two broken ribs.

Tebow was released by the Jets following that season, and he caught on with the Patriots during the 2013 preseason. Ultimately, New England let him go prior to the regular season, and Tebow transitioned to a broadcasting gig. However, on this date, he received a new NFL opportunity.

When the Eagles signed Tebow, they were hoping he’d compete with Matt Barkley to be the team’s third-string signal-caller behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. Tebow ended up getting action in all four of Philly’s preseason games, completing 21 of his 36 attempts for 286 yards, two scores, and one pick. He also added another 82 rushing yards. However, after nearly two years away from football, Tebow was clearly a step behind the other signal-callers on the Eagles’ depth chart, and the team released him prior to the regular season.

Tebow later moved on to a new sport and joined the Mets’ farm system before retiring from baseball in February of 2021. That wasn’t a wrap on his playing career, however. In 2021, old pal Urban Meyer signed Tebow to the Jaguars’ 90-man roster as a tight end. Tebow was released midway through the preseason, bringing his pro football career to an end — we think.