49ers Shopping Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander
The 49ers are shopping several notable names in advance of the draft, according to Mike Lombardi of The Ringer (on Twitter). Execs around the league tell the former GM that edge rusher Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jaquiski Tartt have all been made available for the right price. Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who was dangled earlier this year, also remains on the block. 
The level of interest in those four players isn’t immediately clear, but the Niners are exploring every avenue in advance of the draft. Ford is set to enter his second season with San Francisco, just one year after coming over via trade with Kansas City. He’s in the midst of a five-year, $85MM contract and coming off of an injury-riddled season.
Thanks to knee, quadriceps, and hamstring issues, Ford was limited to just eleven regular season contests. And, when he was on the field, the 49ers had to ease the 29-year-old into action. All in all, he played on just 22% of the defensive snaps.
Alexander, 26 in August, has three seasons left on his four-year, $54MM deal. The off-ball ‘backer is remarkably tough – he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in November and somehow managed to return for the Niners’ playoff run. Alexander also battled a biceps injury that required surgery in February. These maladies emerged after he missed much of the 2018 season with an ACL tear. They will also drop his potential trade value.
The 49ers used rookie Dre Greenlaw for much of the season in Alexander’s place but reinstalled the highly paid outside linebacker in the starting lineup in the playoffs. Greenlaw has three years left on his rookie deal.
San Francisco had initially constructed Alexander’s contract to make it easier for the franchise to move on from him after 2019. But after a November restructure, that becomes more difficult. The 49ers added void years to Alexander’s contract to create cap space. Because of this, Alexander does not become a realistic cut candidate until 2022. But it appears the 49ers are trying to offload the former Buccaneer’s contract on another team and move forward with a younger player at the position.
Yannick Ngakoue Lashes Out At Jaguars
Yannick Ngakoue is getting restless. On Monday, the defensive end took to Twitter to express his frustration with the Jaguars and their reported lack of momentum on trade talks. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Haven’t Received Offers For Ngakoue]
“Tired of the back and forth @Jaguars,” Ngakoue wrote. “Let’s get this s— done.”
The 25-year-old also tweeted at team co-owner Tony Khan, telling him to “stop hiding.”
“I’m not in hiding sir, I’m in isolation getting ready for the draft,” Khan replied. “I’ve been pretty active on social media in isolation, but you wouldn’t know that since you unfollowed me (again).”
After that, Ngakoue challenged Khan to “let the world in on the truth.” The truth, he says, is that the two men agreed that the December game against the Chargers would be Ngakoue’s last in a Jaguars uniform. After that, Ngakoue accused Khan of trying to “backdoor the situation” while avoiding calls from his camp.
Khan went on to say that tweeting insults at him wouldn’t get Ngakoue traded any faster, thereby implying that the team is indeed willing to deal its disgruntled star. And according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that’s news to rival teams. Though other clubs have talked trade with the Jags, no offers have been made to date, perhaps because Jacksonville was making it clear that it was not really serious about moving Ngakoue. If that was the case, it now seems as if the Jags really are open for business.
If it wasn’t obvious before, the barbs make it crystal clear: Ngakoue absolutely wants out of Jacksonville and the relationship seems to be broken beyond repair.
The former third-round pick engaged in extension discussions last year, but a Jaguars short-term offer helped lead to Ngakoue skipping the team’s offseason program. Shortly before the Jags cuffed him with the franchise tag this offseason, Ngakoue announced he had no intentions of signing a long-term deal with the team. It’s been bumpy ever since.
Jacksonville has parted ways with most of the players that played key roles for its 2017 AFC championship game-qualifying team. The Jags traded Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell since October. They released Malik Jackson last year and cut Marcell Dareus to save money in March. The team has shopped Leonard Fournette as well.
Latest On Jaguars, Yannick Ngakoue
The Jaguars haven’t gotten any real bites on running back Leonard Fournette and they’re in a similar boat with Yannick Ngakoue, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The franchise-tagged defensive end has been discussed, but there have been no offers. 
[RELATED: Weak Market For Fournette?]
Ideally, the Jaguars would like to find a deal for Ngakoue before Thursday night, allowing them to add picks in this year’s draft. But, to get a deal done, they may have to scale back their asking price. At last check, the Jaguars were asking for a first-round pick, plus more.
Every team in the league would love to add Ngakoue, a 25-year-old edge rusher with a long track record of getting to the quarterback. Still, any club trading for him would have to cough up serious draft capital and sign Ngakoue to a whopping new deal. So far, that’s proven to be too rich for everyone’s blood. Meanwhile, Ngakoue says he’s not interested in moving forward with the Jags.
“The Jaguars are aware I no longer have interest in signing a long term contract in Jacksonville,” tweeted Ngakoue after he was franchise tagged “Duval, I love you and gave you guys everything I got. I’m thankful for the journey and look forward to continuing my career elsewhere.”
With at least eight sacks in each of his four NFL seasons – including 12.5 sacks in 2017 – the former third-round pick has outperformed expectations by every measure. But, for what it’s worth, the advanced metrics called his value into question last year. Instead of trading an early round choice for Ngakoue, teams in need of edge help could hold on to their picks and sign the likes of Jadeveon Clowney.
Chiefs Eyeing Henry Ruggs?
With the final pick in the first round, most analysts expect the Chiefs to prioritize their need at cornerback. However, Peter King of NBC Sports has heard that the Chiefs could also explore a move up for Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III if he falls into the twenties. 
[RELATED: Is This The Most Unpredictable Draft In NFL History?]
The Chiefs already have a loaded group of receivers, headlined by Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, and tight end Travis Kelce. They’re also short on ammo for a trade up the board, so a leap for Ruggs would be truly shocking.
It’s not hard to see why the Chiefs might be drawn to Ruggs, of course. He’s one of the very best receivers in a historically deep class for the position, alongside Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and teammate Jerry Jeudy. He also has the blazing speed that the Chiefs can’t get enough of – his 4.4 second 40-yard-dash shows that he has the moves to burn any corner in the pros.
While they don’t need another dynamic wide receiver, the Chiefs may view Ruggs as a long-term replacement for Watkins. The veteran re-upped with KC on a one-year deal earlier this month, which means that he probably won’t fit into their budget if he has a monster season. And, while the cornerback position is a must, they might be content to pass on CBs in the first round once Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson are spoken for.
NFL Draft Rumors: Giants, Herbert, Tua
Will the Giants actually consider quarterback Justin Herbert with the No. 4 overall pick, even though they already have Daniel Jones under center? The answer is no, according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, though GM Dave Gettleman has been eyeing him for quite some time. Had Herbert entered last year, he would have been Gettleman’s top choice, Pauline hears.
Here’s a look at the latest draft rumblings from around the NFL:
- In private conversations, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has indicated that Herbert is not actually in consideration for the No. 5 pick, a source close to Ross tells Pauline. That same source says the pick will either be used on Tua Tagovailoa or a position player, with Jordan Love being selected sometime later. If it’s a non-QB at No. 5, Pauline hears that tackle Andrew Thomas is the most likely choice.
- Multiple NFL execs tell ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler that the Vikings are looking to move back. The Vikings own Nos. 22 and 25, but they could fill their needs at cornerback and wide receiver later on. In the second round, they should be able to land one of this year’s second-tier corners such as Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, LSU’s Kristian Fulton, or Alabama’s Trevon Diggs – the brother of former Vikes receiver Stefon Diggs.
- Based on what we’ve heard, Washington’s Jacob Eason profiles as a Day 2 pick for QB-needy teams like the Patriots. He could also be a fit for teams looking to groom their next signal caller. One AFC exec pondered the possibility of Eason going to the Buccaneers, where the pure passer serve as the heir to Tom Brady. The Bucs own the No. 45 overall pick in the second round and Eason could be there for them, provided that teams like the Colts (No. 34) don’t pounce first.
Giants High On QB Justin Herbert?
The Giants have spent lots of time researching and talking to Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Needless to say, it would be an absolute stunner if the Giants targeted Herbert, but RapSheet says it’s a note to file away this week.
[RELATED: Justin Herbert’s NFL Draft Profile]
Herbert has had lots of FaceTime conversations with head coach Joe Judge, but that could just be a part of their “exhaustive” draft prep for their top pick. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine any scenario where the Giants would draft Herbert with Daniel Jones already in place. NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter) speculates that the Giants could be playing the long game, using this opportunity to do their homework on him in case he becomes available at some point down the road.
The Giants probably won’t be in the mix for Herbert, but other QB-needy teams are taking a hard look at him. That list, of course, includes the Dolphins at No. 5 overall. For months, they’ve been heavily connected to Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, but more and more insiders are hearing that they’re actually obsessed with Herbert. That may also explain the Giants’ deep dive on Herbert – an attempt to sweat the ‘Fins into trading up.
The Chargers are also a possibility for Herbert, but it doesn’t sound like they’re willing to trade up from No. 6 to get him.
NFL Teams Begin “Virtual” Offseason Program
The Bills, Patriots, and Colts were among the teams to kick off the “virtual period” of their offseason program on Monday. A total of twelve NFL teams opted to start online sessions today, but only the aforementioned teams will have virtual workouts on the agenda, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Bolts, Raiders, Patriots Eyeing QBs]
As Garafolo notes (via Twitter), those three teams are requiring the workouts in order for players to receive their workout bonuses. The Bills have upwards of $3MM in workout incentives going to their players, including $250K for defensive linemen Mario Addison, Star Lotulelei, and Jerry Hughes. The Patriots have less tied to workout bonuses, though wide receiver Julian Edelman is personally on the books for $300K this year.
Soon, the rest of the NFL will follow suit with online OTAs. These sessions obviously can’t replace on-field drills and gym time, but teams have no other choice.
49ers In Talks To Trade No. 13 & No. 31 Picks
The 49ers are talking trade. They’re taking calls on both of their first round picks at Nos. 13 and 31 overall, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, and they’re open dealing one or both those choices. 
[RELATED: 49ers’ Matt Breida Signs Tender]
For months, the Niners have stood out as an obvious trade-down candidate. With no picks in the second, third, or fourth rounds, they’re eager to replenish their stockpile. After No. 31, their next pick doesn’t come until No. 156.
The 49ers turned their draft depth into edge rusher Dee Ford and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (now with the Saints). Earlier this year, they shipped defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Colts, bringing them the No. 13 overall pick – ammo they desperately needed.
That No. 13 pick could put them in range for an elite wide receiver, like Oklahoma star CeeDee Lamb. As tempting as that might be, they have other needs to address, including cornerback, interior offensive line, and defensive tackle.
Weak Offers For Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette
The Jaguars haven’t found any viable deals for Leonard Fournette, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Schefter hears they’ve actually been shopping the running back for over a month, which indicates that he’s not in their plans for this year. Ultimately, they may have to settle for less than they anticipated if they really want to move on from him. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Talking Fournette Trade]
Fournette clashed with Tom Coughlin and struggled to stay healthy in his early seasons, but he turned in a solid 2019. The former No. 4 overall pick ran for a career-high 1,152 rushing yards with an average of 4.3 yards per carry, a big step up from his 3.3 average in an injury-shortened 2018. Still, the Jaguars aren’t sold on him.
The LSU product is set to earn $4MM+ in 2020 with a fifth-year option for 2021, priced at more than $10MM. The Jaguars have until early May to exercise that option and, clearly, they don’t think Fournette is worth the gamble. Meanwhile, Fournette has been less than thrilled with the Jaguars’ overhaul this offseason.
“Calais Campbell, they got rid of my dawg,″ Fournette said on social media after the veteran defensive end was shipped to the Ravens (via John Reid of the Florida Times-Union) . “I’m hurt, first those are my dawgs. ‘Don King’ Jalen Ramsey. And my dawg, Yan [Yannick Ngakoue]. Come on now…They’re just killing me right now. I’m just so hurt, it feels like my girl has broken up with me. She left to go with somebody else.″
Teams like the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Lions, Colts, and Bills would make varying degrees of sense for Fournette, but it’s not clear if they’ve been in contact with the Jags. Whichever clubs have expressed interest in Fournette, apparently, aren’t offering a whole lot.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Williams, Thuney, Dolphins
Throughout the offseason, the Jets have been unwilling to part with a second-round pick for Trent Williams. With days to go before the draft, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY hears that their position hasn’t changed.
And, even if the Jets were willing to cough up a second-round pick, Vacchiano doesn’t think that would be enough to bring the Redskins’ left tackle to Gang Green.
More on the Jets and the rest of the AFC East:
- The Jets want to keep Jamal Adams for the long haul, but they’re also willing to slow-play negotiations to get the best possible price, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini writes. Meanwhile, Adams’ camp has not set a deadline for talks, so the Jets don’t feel rushed or pressured to get something done. As it stands, Adams is under contract through the 2020 season, and the Jets also hold a fifth-year option on his deal that could take him through 2021.
- If rival teams call with trade interest in guard Joe Thuney, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss expects the Patriots to pick up the phone and listen with an open mind. The Pats stunned everyone by using the franchise tag on Thuney, cuffing him at a $14.78MM rate for 2020. That’s not Bill Belichick‘s style, of course, so Reiss thinks he’d consider dealing Thuney if they’re offered a second-round choice or even a high third-rounder.
- The Dolphins have done lots of homework on mid-round running backs and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wouldn’t be surprised to see them come out of draft weekend with two new RBs. They’ve also done lots of interviews with kickers like Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, which could spell the end for Jason Sanders.
- After undergoing wrist and groin surgeries, Jerry Hughes says he’s “on schedule” for the 2020 season (via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News). That’s fantastic news for the Bills, who hope to feature Hughes at defensive end alongside Trent Murphy and newcomer Mario Addison.