NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Tristan Wirfs
Quality offensive line talent is hard to come by in today’s NFL, but this year’s class is surprisingly strong in that area. Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, potentially, could be the first one off the board.
At 6’5″ and 320 pounds, Wirfs offers uncommon athleticism for his size. Wirfs put those skills to good use for the Hawkeyes, earning Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2019. In college, he primarily lined up at right tackle, though he also offers experience on the left side, and some say that he can also work on the interior as a pro.
With a reported 40-yard-dash time of 4.85 seconds and a 625-pound max squat, Wirfs has scouts drooling over his potential. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. are also pushing to be the first tackle selected, but Wirfs is widely viewed as the most NFL-ready of the bunch.
In all likelihood, the Bengals will kick off the draft by selecting LSU’s Joe Burrow, followed by the Redskins grabbing elite defensive end Chase Young at No. 2. The Lions, at No. 3, are entertaining offers to trade down; any team that moves up will probably use that choice to take a quarterback, or something other than an offensive lineman. But, Wirfs, Wills, and Thomas are all thought to be possibilities for the Giants at No. 4, provided that they don’t move back in the order.
A trade down would make sense for the G-Men, who are also on the hunt for pass rushers, centers, and safeties. However, history suggests that Dave Gettleman will be inclined to stand pat – in five drafts with the Panthers, and two drafts with the Giants, he’s never moved down from his first-round pick. Even if he passes on Wirfs, the Iowa standout won’t have far to fall. The Cardinals have some serious holes to plug on the O-Line as they aim to protect Kyler Murray – with the ability to play on the inside and outside, the No. 8 pick may represent Wirfs’ floor.
AFC East Notes: Patriots, Edelman, Jets, Bills
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman won’t be prosecuted in connection with his January incident (via TMZ). One week after the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs, Los Angeles police alleged that he jumped on the hood of someone else’s Mercedes and caused damage. His drunken escapade won’t result in legal consequences because the owner of the car doesn’t want him to be prosecuted and Edelman does not have a “known criminal history,” per the DA’s office. With that, it’s unlikely that the Super Bowl LIII MVP will face league suspension.
Last year, Edelman tallied 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. Even as he enters his age-34 season, he remains a key player in the Patriots’ offense. Now, the Pats have to figure out who will be throwing to him in 2020.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- The Patriots still hold Rob Gronkowski‘s rights, which means that he wouldn’t be able to simply come out of retirement and rejoin Tom Brady in Tampa (if that’s what he wants to do). However, he could easily force the Patriots’ hand, as Mike Florio of PFT notes. Gronk could un-retire, put his $9MM salary back on the books, and push the cap-strapped Pats to trade or release him. In that scenario, Florio speculates that the Patriots could swing a trade for one of the Bucs’ talented tight ends – Cameron Brate or O.J. Howard.
- Despite the chatter, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY doesn’t think the Jets will trade Jamal Adams. He reasons that if the Jets wanted to trade the Pro Bowl safety, they would have done it already – the Cowboys reportedly offered a first-round pick for him, but they countered by asking for a whole lot more. That sky-high asking price, he says, is a pretty good indication that they want to keep Adams for the long-haul. Despite all of the drama, Adams is one of the game’s premier young defenders and the Jets seem to think that an extension is possible.
- With that said, Vacchiano doesn’t think the Jets are in any rush to extend Adams. The 24-year-old (25 in October) can be kept through 2021 through his fifth-year option. After that, they can realistically use the franchise tag twice over to keep him through 2023.
- The Bills are believed to have running back on their draft to-do list, but they also see rising sophomore Devin Singletary as a potential workhorse back. “I think Devin can do either or. He’s an unselfish player,” GM Brandon Beane said (via PFT). “If we want him to be the workload guy, I think he could definitely do it. I think Year Two is going to be better for him.” Singletary averaged over 5.0 yards per tote last year and could have had a chance at 1,000+ yards if he hadn’t missed time with a hamstring injury.
NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Isaiah Simmons
There’s little doubt that Isaiah Simmons will hear his name called early in the NFL Draft. His pro position, however, remains in question. At 6’4″ and 230 pounds, the Clemson standout has the size and skillset to make it at linebacker. Meanwhile, he’s also got the chops to play safety and handle the slot. No one’s quite sure how Simmons will be used at the next level, but that’s not a bad thing. 
[RELATED: Jeff Okudah’s NFL Draft Profile]
Used sparingly in two frosh seasons, Simmons broke out as a sophomore in 2018 with 88 stops, including nine tackles for a loss and two sacks. Things only picked up from there – Simmons managed 104 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, and three interceptions as a junior en route being named the nation’s best linebacker. With freakish athleticism for his size, NFL Draft guru Matt Miller went outside of the sport to find a proper comp for the underclassman.
“Can I compare Isaiah Simmons to Zion Williamson?,” Miller tweeted. “Just too big, fast, smart, and athletic for anyone to handle.”
Joe Burrow is considered to be a shoe-in for the Bengals’ No. 1 overall pick. The Redskins, at No. 2, would shock the world by drafting anyone other than Ohio State star Chase Young at No. 2. After that, could it be Simmons’ turn to take center stage (er, monitor screen)?
The Lions don’t seem terribly interested in him, but they do seem to be leaning towards a trade back from No. 3. The team moving up could be in the market for a QB – perhaps Tua Tagovailoa – but don’t discount the possibility of Simmons. After posting a 4.39 40-yard-dash and 39-inch vertical leap at the combine, there will be plenty of teams tempted to pounce on the Tigers defender.
Even if that doesn’t happen, Simmons won’t have far to fall. If the Giants stand pat at No. 4 and Dave Gettleman can resist a “hog mollie” like Jedrick Wills Jr., Mekhi Becton, or Tristan Wirfs, they could add Simmons to a revamped front seven alongside Blake Martinez. The Dolphins (No. 5) are laser-focused on finding their quarterback of the future in the early stages, but there aren’t many other clubs that could be ruled out for the versatile wonder. Simmons’ ceiling is sky-high and so is his draft floor.
XFL Suspends Operations, Lays Off Employees
The XFL has suspended operations and laid off its entire workforce, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The XFL was already on the ropes thanks to the COVID-19 epidemic and this could prove to be the knockout blow. 
Vince McMahon attempted to reboot his football league with a ten-game (re)inaugural season, but he was forced to shut things down halfway through. Initially, the XFL expressed confidence that it would return in 2021, but McMahon might be forced to close up shop on the XFL for a second time.
Similar to the first time around, the XFL received mixed reviews from fans. The league did well in TV ratings to start the year as viewers looked for post-Super Bowl entertainment, but interest tailed in the following weeks. Still, the XFL featured a host of notable names and those players were released from their contracts on March 12, freeing them to pursue deals with NFL teams. Quarterbacks Josh Johnson, P.J. Walker, Jordan Ta’amu were among those who were in, then out, of the XFL 2.0.
XFL employees will be paid through Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. In his conference call with employees, COO Jeffery Pollock did not provide a timeline for when operations might resume.
Ravens C Matt Skura Signs RFA Tender
Ravens center Matt Skura has inked his restricted free agent tender, according to agent David Canter (on Twitter). With that, Skura will return to the club on a $2.133MM deal for 2020.
[RELATED: Ravens GM Eric DeCosta On 2020 Draft]
Skura suffered a devastating knee injury in the final stretch of the season, forcing him to go under the knife for tears in his ACL, PCL, and MCL. Before that, Skura was remarkably durable. The 27-year-old had perfect attendance dating back to 2018 and never even missed a snap.
The Ravens turned to Skura in 2018 after Ryan Jensen left to join the Buccaneers. In his first season in the middle, Skura graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 ranked center in the NFL. This year, it looked like he was on course for a solid multi-year pay day, up until the fateful injury in Week 12. After that, the Ravens handed things over to rookie Patrick Mekari for the last four games, plus the divisional round loss to the Titans.
Meanwhile, the Ravens’ work on the offensive line is not done. They still need more support on the interior line and GM Eric DeCosta seems open to the idea of converting one of this year’s promising rookie tackles into a guard.
NFC West Notes: Rams, Gurley, 49ers
Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews are still waiting on checks from the Rams, as Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com writes. Both players were jettisoned on March 19, but they believe they are still entitled to bonuses, per the terms of their contracts.
“Past due,” Gurley tweeted at the Rams. “Send me money ASAP.”
“You and me both TG!,” Matthews responded. “Better get some interest with that, too.”
Obviously, both players are better off than most during these unprecedented times, but they may have a case. The Rams owed Gurley a fully-guaranteed $7.55MM roster bonus on the third day of the league year. Even though the Rams will get some of that back from the Falcons, Gurley argues that he’s still owed a check. Matthews, meanwhile, has a similar case for his $2MM roster bonus.
While we wait to see how that plays out, here’s more from the NFC West:
- Paycheck drama aside, the Rams must also figure out how they’ll replace Gurley in the offense. In an interview with Rich Eisen (Twitter link), head coach Sean McVay pointed to the potential of Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown, but also indicated that the Rams could explore running backs in the draft. Surely, the RB position is on their list of needs, but they’ve got other holes to fill, including wide receiver thanks to the trade that sent Brandin Cooks to the Texans. Of course, they’ll also have more to work with on draft weekend, thanks to the second-round pick they acquired from Houston.
- Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports expects the 49ers to take a wide receiver with the No. 13 overall pick. Of course, they’ll also take a hard look at offensive tackles, defensive linemen, and cornerbacks in the early stages of the draft, but talents like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and CeeDee Lamb might be too tempting to pass up.
- The 49ers also hold the No. 31 pick, but Matt Barrows of The Athletic doesn’t expect them to keep it. Instead, he sees them trading down to add to their arsenal. As of this writing, the Niners own Nos. 13, 31, 156, 176, 210, 217, and 245.
Reactions To Brandin Cooks Trade
The Texans trade for Brandin Cooks is a “flailing response to failure,” Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com writes. In his view, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has a poor assessment of draft pick value – instead of taking on Cooks’ contract and injury woes, the Texans could have simply drafted a wide receiver with the second round pick they forfeited.
On the flipside, Barnwell has heard some theorize that the 2020 season will be especially challenging for rookies, who won’t have the benefit of a typical OTA schedule. Veterans like Cooks are already accustomed to the pace of the game and often pick and choose when it comes to OTA participation anyway. Barnwell doesn’t buy it, because he doesn’t believe the Texans are built to win this year. In 2019, they placed 19th in DVOA, and their divisional round loss to the Chiefs remains fresh in his mind.
Ultimately, if the Texans wanted to win in 2020, their best bet would have been to hold on to DeAndre Hopkins, Barnwell argues. Instead, they’ve effectively swapped Hopkins for Cooks and running back David Johnson.
More on the blockbuster:
- Barnwell feels that the trade made more sense from the Rams perspective, but he’s not letting L.A. off of the hook either. Cooks’ extension, he writes, was a massive mistake by GM Les Snead. And, even though they were able to bail out, they were still stuck paying him a $4MM roster bonus since the deal happened after 3/15. This year, they’ll wear a $21.8MM dead money hit for Cooks; between that and the Gurley deal, they’re stuck with $33MM in dead money this year.
- Cooks’ history with the Patriots undoubtedly played a role in the deal. In addition to O’Brien, he also has a strong relationship with Texans exec Jack Easterby, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter) notes. “Jack Easterby, you think about him and smile because he brings so much positivity within our locker room and our building,” Cooks said earlier this year. “All you can do is respect that and want to follow that lead.”
- A fun fact from Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link): Since August 31, the Texans have traded away 12 players/picks and acquired 15 players/picks. He compiled the full list, which includes Hopkins, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks in the exit column. Meanwhile, they’ve added Cooks, Johnson, tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, and eleven more assets that may or may not justify the cost.
Latest On Tua Tagovailoa
On Thursday, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa recorded an hour long workout and distributed the film to all 32 teams, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The audition included “55 scripted throws and another 20 throws in a dynamic drill.” 
[RELATED: Tua Says “I Feel 100%”]
The Alabama star worked out at a local private gym with less than ten people present to safeguard against the transmission of coronavirus. Ultimately, Tagovailoa’s camp is looking to silence concerns about his hip and looking for creative ways to showcase his health in lieu of a traditional pro day.
So far, it seems to be working. A few months ago, some wondered whether Tagovailoa – once presumed to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s class – would be drafted in the first round. Now, all indications are that he’ll be one of the first names called on April 23rd.
The Dolphins have a clear QB need and they’ve been heavily connected to him at No. 5 overall. Unless Oregon’s Justin Herbert is really the guy they want, it sounds like they’ll target him there or, potentially, trade up to guarantee they’ll get him. It’s even possible that the Redskins could nab him with the No. 2 pick, though we’d be shocked if they passed on defensive end Chase Young.
Rams Trade Brandin Cooks To Texans
The Texans have agreed to send a second-round pick to the Rams in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a future fourth-round choice, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. With that, the Texans have found their replacement for DeAndre Hopkins while holding on to the second-round pick they acquired from the Cardinals. 
Cooks, interestingly enough, was shipped from the Patriots to the Rams roughly two years ago today. The well-traveled 26-year-old still has tons of potential, especially now that he’s in Deshaun Watson‘s offense. The biggest question mark, perhaps, is Cooks’ health. He has a history of concussions and one more bad blow could put his career in jeopardy.
Cooks, a 2014 first-round pick, emerged as a top-end wide receiver in 2015 when he racked up 84 catches, 1,138 yards, and nine scores. In 2017, the Saints shipped Cooks and a fourth-rounder to the Patriots for first- and third-round choices. After one year, the thrifty Pats sent him to the Rams, allowing L.A. to give him his payday. Now, he’ll continue on his five-year, $80MM deal with the Texans.
Even with Hopkins out of the picture, the Texans’ offense still projects to be a potent one. With Watson under center, their starting lineup will feature Cooks, Will Fuller, Randall Cobb, and Kenny Stills as their top receivers. Meanwhile, David Johnson and Duke Johnson will be in the backfield, with blocking specialist Darren Fells up front.
In exchange for Cooks, the Rams will receive the No. 57 overall pick in this month’s draft. Given the depth of this year’s crop, it might not be hard for them to fill the void at wide receiver. They’ll also gain some extra breathing room by unloading Cooks’ contract.
The Texans will take on the rest of his multi-year pact, which calls for an $8MM base salary in 2020. After that, he’s set to earn escalating salaries of $12MM, $13MM, and $14MM until 2023.
Cam Newton Willing To Wait
Cam Newton is willing to wait until after the draft, if necessary, to find the right deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter) hears. Newton has been on the market for a little over two weeks and, so far, it sounds like that feeling is mutual. Tons of teams are believed to have interest in the former MVP, but no one is in a rush to sign him at this moment. 
[POLL: Where Will Cam Newton Sign?]
The Panthers shopped Newton before officially cutting him on March 24th, and they even announced it publicly to further spread the word (and, possibly, mitigate some PR damage with fans). Of course, once the Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a lucrative free agent deal, they had no real leverage in the matter.
The Chargers are one possible destination for Newton. Head coach Anthony Lynn says that even though Tyrod Taylor is the starter “for now,” he’ll be open to all options under center. That surely will include Newton, who was one of the best QBs in the NFL before he was beset by injuries.
In a recent PFR poll, nearly 34% of readers picked the Chargers as Newton’s most likely destination. The Patriots – who have some mighty big shoes to fill under center – placed second with ~26% of the vote.
Newton, 30, is looking to prove himself all over again following Lisfanc surgery in November. The current restrictions on medical exams could leave him waiting longer than he wants to – teams will want to get a close look at his foot, shoulder, and every other injured body part before making a serious commitment to him.