Browns Exec: COVID-19 May Impact Spending
Throughout the offseason, the pandemic has held up contract signings for this year’s rookies as well as extensions. As the uncertainty continues, vice president of player personnel Glenn Cook admits that the Browns’ plans have “somewhat” changed their approach (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com).
[RELATED: Clowney’s Best Multi-Year Offer Came From Browns]
“All of that goes into play when we’re talking about any of these moves that we’re looking to make, whether it’s extensions, signing free agents, possibly trades or even going into 2021 and 2022,” Cook said. “It does somewhat change what our overall plan is and we actually initially did have some conversations around that just in terms of team planning — not specific to Myles [Garrett] — and just what that looks like given what COVID was saying in February, March or going into the next year. Yes, you do think about that with all the moves we make and all the decisions that may come into play now and into the season.”
The Browns’ intention to keep Garrett for the long haul hasn’t changed, but it sounds like the Browns’ may think long and hard about the payout structure for all of their forthcoming deals. Meanwhile, they’ve got nearly $40MM in cap space to work with this year. A truly conservative approach could see Cleveland hold on to some of those dollars and roll them into 2021, when things will hopefully be more stable.
Meanwhile, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (Twitter link) estimates that only a handful of teams prepared for a labor stoppage this year and wonders how many owners are instructing their GMs to halt spending, rather than planning proactively.
49ers Player Tests Positive For COVID-19
A 49ers player has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The player’s identity has not been revealed.
The positive player was working out with other NFL players in Nashville, Tennessee. Those who were with the player are getting tested and the players who live elsewhere are working to figure out their travel options. All of the Niners’ quarterbacks were present for the workouts, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears, and “many other skill players” were also on hand. Jimmy Garoppolo, Jalen Hurd, Trent Taylor, Brandon Aiyuk, and Kyle Juszczyk were among those in Tennessee.
In recent days, there have been a number of positive tests in the sports world. In the NFL, that includes Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott and Broncos safety Kareem Jackson. The positive tests raise the unfortunate reality of a return to sports – no matter what protocols are in place, social distancing is impossible on the field.
The latest figures in the U.S. have projected the COVID-19 death count at nearly 120,000. Meanwhile, Florida and South Carolina set record highs for daily cases on Friday.
Jets Sign Denzel Mims
The Jets have formally signed second-round pick Denzel Mims, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter). In accordance with his slot, the Baylor product will receive a four-year, $5.4MM deal with $3MM guaranteed. 
Mims was widely considered to be a first-round talent, but this year’s talent-rich WR crop pushed him down the board. The Jets were delighted to stop his mini-slide near the back of the second round, at No. 59 overall.
You won’t find many receivers at 6’3″ that move like Mims. Drops have been an issue for him in the past, but his fluidity, speed, and blocking skills made evaluators drool throughout draft season.
Last year, Mims cracked 1,000 yards receiving for the second time in his career, even though he was playing with a broken hand. The Jets had first crack at every receiver with the No. 11 overall pick, but they opted for tackle Mekhi Becton instead. At that moment, taking Becton over the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III was a head-scratcher to some. But, ultimately, their patience paid off – they got Mims and extra capital by trading down.
Now, Mims will look to make his mark alongside fellow newcomer Breshad Perriman and the returning Jamison Crowder.
Jets’ Jamal Adams Has Bucs On Trade Destination List
Jamal Adams wants out. The Jets Pro Bowl safety has a few preferred spots in mind and he tells ex-NFL safety Ryan Clark that the Buccaneers are among the teams on his list (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). 
[RELATED: Adams Has Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys On His List]
A trade to the Buccaneers would reunite Adams with Todd Bowles, his former head coach with the Jets. Bowles currently serves as the Bucs’ defensive coordinator and he’d surely love to add Adams to his secondary. And, even though they’re on the other side of the ball, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski would likely love to welcome their old divisional foe to Tampa Bay.
Adams is also said to have the Cowboys, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, and Seahawks on his not-so-short list. And, depending on where he lands, he’d reportedly be willing to wait on a contract extension. Still, teams taking the long view may be warded off by the sticker price. Ultimately, Adams is seeking a deal worth about $20MM/year – far beyond the ~$15MM/year it would take to make him the NFL’s all-time highest-paid safety.
The Jets, for now, are sticking to their position – they want to keep Adams for the long haul. But, in order to do that, they’ll have to pony up some serious cash, and get that offer in front of him quickly.
Jadeveon Clowney’s Best Multi-Year Offer Came From Browns
The Browns’ offer wasn’t good enough for Jadeveon Clowney, but it’s the best multi-year opportunity he’s gotten, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Browns’ proposal was previously estimated to be somewhere in the range of $12MM/year. 
[RELATED: Browns Willing To Increase Offer To Jadeveon Clowney?]
Earlier this week, we heard that the Browns would be willing to move their offer up to somewhere around $15MM/year. It’s not clear whether they’d be open to giving him that kind of money over multiple seasons or just for 2020, however.
The Browns have nearly $40MM in cap space, plenty of cash for summer upgrades. Besides, any deal for Clowney worth $15MM or less could be offset by the release of Olivier Vernon, who is due $15.25MM in non-guaranteed cash this year.
Clowney could effectively come as a package with a Myles Garrett extension. Both defensive ends are represented by Bus Cook, who is presently working to make Garrett the highest-paid DE in league history.
The Seahawks haven’t ruled out a reunion with Clowney either, but they’re limited by their cap situation. With just ~$14MM in spare room, they’ll have to get creative – and convincing – to bring the former No. 1 overall pick back to Seattle. For what it’s worth, they offered Clowney a ~$15MM deal earlier in the offseason, before they allocated most of their money elsewhere.
49ers’ Deebo Samuel Suffers Broken Foot
49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel broke his foot during a throwing session, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Samuel suffered the injury on Tuesday in Nashville and he’ll have surgery today to correct the Jones fracture in his left foot. 
Samuel “should be able” to suit up “early in the season,” Rapoport hears, noting the 2019 second-round pick faces a 12- to 16-week timetable (Twitter link). It stands to reason that he won’t be ready to go in time for the opener, when the 49ers are slated to face the Cardinals on Sept. 13.
Samuel impressed as a rookie last year, hauling in 57 grabs for 802 yards and three touchdowns. This year, he was slated to serve as one of the team’s leading receivers, along with NFL frosh Brandon Aiyuk, Jalen Hurd, and Kendrick Bourne. The Niners may choose to stand pat, depending on how Samuel’s recovery goes, but they’ll likely assess available wide receiver options as well.
While it represents good news that Samuel will likely be able to return during the season’s first half, this is a considerable blow to a passing attack that lost Emmanuel Sanders. The 49ers allowed the 2019 trade acquisition-turned-Super Bowl starter to defect to the Saints in free agency. The drop from Samuel to the rest of San Francisco’s receivers is fairly significant.
The 49ers still employ 2018 second-round pick Dante Pettis, but after a promising rookie season, the Washington alum barely played down the stretch as an NFL sophomore. Slot receiver Trent Taylor is also returning from a broken foot, which cost him the entire 2019 season. That experience may prompt the 49ers to act swiftly to cover themselves on the wideout front.
Free agent options include Taylor Gabriel, who played for Kyle Shanahan with the 2016 Falcons. Jordan Matthews, whom the 49ers added last year, is also back on the market. So are Jermaine Kearse and Dontrelle Inman. Bigger names like Josh Gordon — who applied again for NFL reinstatement today — and Antonio Brown reside on the market as well. The 49ers were connected to the then-less controversial wideout last year but opted not to pull the trigger on a trade.
San Francisco has been aggressive on the trade market to plug holes recently, from adding Sanders to giving up more draft capital to acquire Trent Williams shortly after Joe Staley‘s retirement. It would not be surprising to see the defending NFC champions make a move to bolster this position while Samuel recovers.
Josh Gordon Applies For NFL Reinstatement
Josh Gordon has formally submitted his request for reinstatement, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Gordon has been training throughout the offseason in hopes of getting back on the field. Now, the league must rule on Gordon’s eligibility.
[RELATED: Cowboys’ Aldon Smith Reinstated By NFL ]
Gordon, 29, has been working out in Seattle with optimism that he could be cleared by the league office before training camp. It is, unfortunately, familiar territory for the talented wide receiver. In December, Gordon was hit with yet another ban – this time, an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That gave him a grand total of six career suspensions from the NFL and it’s not clear if Roger Goodell & Co. are ready to give him an immediate shot at redemption.
Gordon spent time with the Patriots and Seahawks last year. His contract with Seattle has lapsed, making him a free agent. Teams can, in theory, sign Gordon before he receives word from the league office, as the Cowboys did with Aldon Smith. Still, teams are likely to wait until they have a clearer picture of Gordon’s availability for the coming season.
Last year, Gordon had seven catches for 139 yards in five games for the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll has hinted that he’d be interested in a reunion and it stands to reason that other clubs will at least consider the former Browns superstar. Despite the hiccups in his personal life, Gordon’s talent will always tantalize evaluators. Several years have passed since Gordon’s exceptional 2014 season, but it’s impossible to forget what he achieved while focused and on the field. In that campaign, Gordon finished out with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games.
Jaguars Sign Collin Johnson
The Jaguars have officially signed fifth-round wide receiver Collin Johnson, per a club announcement. With Johnson under contract, they now have three of their 2020 draft picks in the fold. 
[RELATED: Assessing Yannick Ngakoue’s Trade Value]
Football is in Johnson’s blood – the University of Texas product is the son of former NFL defensive back Johnnie Johnson, who was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame for own stellar career at UT.
Johnson (the younger Johnson) amassed 2,624 receiving yards across four years with the Longhorns, good for the fifth-highest total in program history. If not for a hamstring injury that cost him time last year, he might have been in consideration for teams a couple rounds earlier. Instead, the Jaguars snagged him at No. 206 overall. Per the terms of his slot, Johnson will earn $3.45MM over the course of his four-year deal.
The Jaguars have one of the largest incoming classes in the league, so they still have lots to go. Here’s the full rundown of the Jaguars’ drafted frosh, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker:
1-9: C.J. Henderson, CB (Florida)
1-20: K’Lavon Chaisson, DE (LSU)
2-42: Laviska Shenault, WR (Colorado)
3-73: Davon Hamilton, DT (Ohio State)
4-116: Ben Bartch, OT (St. John’s (MN))
4-137: Josiah Scott, CB (Michigan State)
4-140: Shaquille Quarterman, ILB (Miami): Signed
5-157: Daniel Thomas, S (Auburn)
5-165: Collin Johnson, WR (Texas): Signed
6-189: Jake Luton, QB (Oregon State)
6-206: Tyler Davis, TE (Georgia Tech): Signed
7-223: Chris Claybrooks, CB (Memphis)
Jets’ Jamal Adams: “Maybe It’s Time To Move On”
On Thursday, Jamal Adams took yet another social media shot at the Jets. In an Instagram comment referencing Christian McCaffrey‘s recent big-money extension and the forthcoming Patrick Mahomes mega-deal, Adams wondered why his team isn’t taking care of him in the same fashion. 
[RELATED: Jamal Adams Frustrated With Jets]
“I deserve to be paid…don’t use the pandemic excuse,” Adams wrote (h/t Ralph Vacchiano of SNY). “CM22 got paid not too long ago. Well deserved. Great friend of mine…I’m [going to] protect myself just like an organization will look out for themselves at the end of the day. And, if you guys don’t respect that, cool. It’s all [love]. Maybe it’s time to move on!”
Throughout the offseason, Jets GM Joe Douglas has told the press that he intends to keep the young standout safety for the duration of his career. Meanwhile, Adams says he has been left waiting. In January, Adams says, the Jets told him that they would propose terms of a long-term extension. Last week, Adams says that he’s still waiting for it.
The pandemic has unquestionably gummed up the works for pending extension talks around the league. However, Adams isn’t buying it. The Pro Bowler has been pushing for a market-value deal for well over a year and, lately, he’s received little in the way of communication. Instead, during that time, the Jets discussed potential trades, including one that would have shipped Adams to the Cowboys. Ultimately, the Jets’ asking price scuttled those talks – ditto for discussions with the Ravens.
As it stands, the Jets have Adams under contract through 2021. The Jets could keep him off the market with the franchise tag, but it’s clear that Adams wouldn’t cooperate with that course of action.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Elliott, Eagles, Hyde
Ezekiel Elliott is not experiencing any complications after testing positive for COVID-19 (via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News). Assuming Elliott stays healthy and largely symptom-free, that should bode well for the Cowboys‘ star running back in the long haul.
Earlier this week, Elliott was one of four players (two from the Cowboys, two from the Texans) to test positive for the coronavirus. Other players are being tested as a precaution, but no additional positive cases have emerged from either club. Furthermore, quarterback Dak Prescott did not test positive, despite hosting a widely-criticized birthday party earlier this year.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Eagles head coach Doug Pederson admits that he missed out on his top running back target. “We had the opportunity to possibly grab a player and he slipped through our fingers,” Pederson told WIP (via NJ.com). The Birds were connected to a few veteran RBs this summer, including Carlos Hyde, LeSean McCoy, and Devonta Freeman. Of that group, only Hyde has been signed (by the Seahawks) so Hyde is presumably the player he’s referencing. Freeman still seems to be on their radar, though teams have been warded off by his asking price. They’re open to Shady, too, but, at last check, they have not made him an offer.
- Meanwhile, the Eagles are working with the playmakers they already have in-house, including rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor. They’re planning to groom the former TCU speedster in the mold of fellow deep threat DeSean Jackson, as Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com writes. “He’s going to come in and he’s going to learn one position and he is going to learn from DeSean Jackson, and learn everything he can,” Pederson said. “Obviously the playbook is extensive and we just have to see what he’s taken from the offseason to training camp, and then once we see his potential and his growth, then we can use him in multiple spots.”
- Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan only has one year to go on his deal, but he’s hoping to stay for the duration of his career – however long that might be.
- In case you missed it, Sam Robinson reflected on the retirement of Giants quarterback Phil Simms, which played out much differently than Eli Manning‘s sendoff.