Chargers CB Michael Davis Signs Tender
Chargers cornerback Michael Davis signed his second-round tender, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. With that, Davis will earn roughly $3.3MM in 2020 on a one-year deal. 
[RELATED: Rams-Chargers Stadium May Not Be Ready For Season]
Davis was set for restricted free agency and the Bolts tendered him at the second-round level to keep other teams at bay. Last year, Davis started in all 12 of his games as the Chargers worked around a rash of injuries in the secondary. Derwin James, Adrian Phillips, and second-round rookie Nasir Adderley all succumbed to different maladies, thrusting Davis into the spotlight.
Davis, meanwhile, missed a pair of games due to a substance-abuse policy violation. All together, the advanced metrics were not wild about Davis’ performance – he graded out as one of the NFL’s worst qualified corners, according to Pro Football Focus. Still, he managed 39 stops and the first two interceptions of his career. It was, at minimum, enough for the Chargers to hang on to him for another season.
This year, the Chargers’ secondary will be bolstered by the arrival of Chris Harris, who is expected to play in the slot. The longtime Broncos star gives the Chargers three first-team All-Pros in the unit – Harris, James, and Desmond King – plus second-team All-Pro Casey Hayward. King, who excelled in the slot last year, will likely shift to safety.
Bucs GM On Brady, Gronk, Jones
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht has been heavily criticized over the years, but he managed to come away with the league’s biggest prize this offseason. So, how does it feel to land Tom Brady?
“It feels damn good,” Licht said on Thursday (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine).
The GM also recognizes his shortcomings, saying “a lot of [the criticism] was deserved.” The Bucs have gone 34-62 in Licht’s six years at the helm, but that could all be quickly forgotten if Brady is able to lead them to a Super Bowl championship.
Here are some of the highlights from Licht’s virtual chat:
- Licht expressed confidence in Ronald Jones, signaling that the running back position might not be high on their to-do list. “We do think Ronald hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he can be,” Licht said (via the team website). “He made a huge jump from year one to year two. He didn’t have to do much to do that because year two wasn’t very good for him. But year two, we felt very good about where he came, and we think he still has a tremendous amount of upside.” Jones, a former second-round pick, had a strong start to the 2019 season as a backup to Peyton Barber. Later, he was bumped up to the starting lineup, but his production took a nosedive. He also missed some key blocks on blitzes, an issue that he’ll have to correct if he wants to be a regular this year.
- No matter what’s going on in the news cycle, tight end Rob Gronkowski seems to remain front and center. Brady’s arrival in Tampa has fueled speculation that Gronk could attempt a reunion with his longtime pal, but Licht didn’t take the bait. “Well he’s doing a pretty good job in Wrestlemania right now,” Licht said (Twitter link via Laine), referring to Gronk’s recent WWE appearance. “I have no idea if he’d want to play.” It’s worth noting that the Patriots still hold his rights, so a return with the Bucs or any other club would require cooperation from Bill Belichick & Co.
- Earlier this week, Tom Brady sat down with Howard Stern to discuss his move to Tampa and what led him to leave the Patriots.
Roger Goodell: NFL Planning To Play In 2020
Even amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, the NFL plays to forge ahead with its 2020 season. This week, commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated that stance in a chat with Kairos CEO Ankur Jain. 
“The NFL is planning to play,” Goodell said (link via the NFL on Instagram). “That’s our hope, and that’s our planning to date…We can help our country heal. We can help bring our communities together. We can provide hope.”
Goodell also stressed that public safety is paramount to the NFL. Right now, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which the NFL launches its season in September exactly as planned. Even if social distancing regulations are relaxed by local and federal regulators, the threat of a new COVID-19 wave will likely linger.
In the meantime, the NFL has drastically altered its offseason plans while mostly keeping the scheduled milestones in place. NFL executives will conduct the NFL Draft at their individual homes. And, between now and April 23rd, they’re conducting interviews with players via video conference.
President Trump has been pushing for the season to start on time, but there are many hurdles to clear between now and the fall. That goes for every city, but it’s doubly true in Los Angeles. SoFi Stadium is behind schedule and less than certain to be ready for Week 1, leaving the Rams and Chargers in limbo.
Latest On Utah RB Zack Moss
The surgically-repaired knee of Utah running back Zack Moss check out well in a recent exam, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. His agent tells Schefter that all 32 NFL teams have been notified of the results, which could boost his stock over the next few weeks. 
Moss went under the knife in 2018, which prevented an early jump to the pros. Before that, he racked up 1,096 rushing yards off of 179 carries, good for an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. Moss didn’t show any ill effects last year, either – he went off for more than 1,400 yards with a 6.0 ypc average.
All together, Moss ran for over 4,000 yards at Utah, including three straight seasons of 1,000 yards or more. Still, his injury history might make some evaluators skittish. Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Florida State’s Cam Akers, and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor could all come off the board before him.
Still, even if Moss isn’t a Day 1 selection, he’ll likely be a Day 2 pick for a team in need of backfield help. Moss offers power at around 220 lbs and he’s quicker than most ‘backs his size.
Chiefs To Re-Sign Bashaud Breeland
The Chiefs have agreed to re-sign Bashaud Breeland, according to ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). Breeland will return on a one-year deal worth $4.5MM as he looked to build off of last year’s momentum. 
Breeland suited up for every game for the Super Bowl champs last year, capping his season with a ring and an interception on the game’s grandest stage. It was a big turnaround for Breeland, who had a bizarre 2018. After inking a three-year, $24MM contract ($11MM guaranteed) with the Panthers, his contract was voided due to an infected foot. Then, the veteran corner had to wait until late September until he finally found a home with the Packers. Unfortunately, he was held back by a hamstring injury and was unable to really showcase himself.
All along, Breeland has said that he wanted to return to KC. He got his wish, though he had to wait until the second/third wave of free agency before securing his deal. The ongoing pandemic surely played a role in his prolonged free agency as well.
Although it’s a decent payday for Breeland, the deal is a clear win for the Chiefs, who have managed to keep another difference-maker on the roster while crossing a major item off of the to-do list ahead of the draft. After watching Kendall Fuller leave for the Redskins, the Chiefs are glad to move forward with at least one of their free agent CBs in the mix. Morris Claiborne, who appeared in eight regular season games for KC last year, remains unsigned.
Breeland, 28, tallied 48 tackles, eight passes defended, and a pair of interceptions in the 2019 regular season.
Redskins High On Tua Tagovailoa
Everyone seems pretty convinced that the Redskins will select Chase Young with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. In fact, no teams picking below the Lions at No. 3 have even bothered to contact the Ohio State sack machine. Young-to-D.C. remains the most likely outcome, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that Redskins head coach Ron Rivera is a big fan of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. 
[RELATED: Could Patriots Trade Up For Tua?]
Due to his surgically-repaired hip, Tagovailoa’s stock has been murky for months. However, the QB seems to have restored much of his luster through his voluntary medical exam and videos that show off his health and mobility.
If the Redskins stun the football world by taking Tagovailoa and putting Dwayne Haskins on the back-burner, they’ll create a domino effect throughout the rest of the first round. The Lions, for example, could be tempted to bypass trade-back opportunities in order to grab Young, who many believe to be a generational talent. No matter what, the Lions seem to be in excellent position at No. 3.
Lions Discuss Trading Back From No. 3
The Lions have talked with other clubs about potentially trading back from the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The teams that want to move up “have been receptive,” Rapoport writes, so a trade could happen between now and when everyone logs on to the virtual podium.
For months, the Lions have been connected to Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah. The chatter has only increased in recent weeks, following the trade of Darius Slay to the Eagles. Okudah is widely regarded as the top cornerback in the draft and would be a logical fit for Detroit, but the Lions may feel that they can move down the board, get their guy, and add some additional ammo to their stockpile of picks.
The NFL Draft, of course, is completely unpredictable, but it’s fair to say that any team trading up to the third pick would not be chasing Okudah. Instead, any trade up to No. 3 would probably be for a quarterback – if the Bengals select Joe Burrow at No. 1 and the Redskins take Chase Young at No. 2, every other signal caller will be there for the taking. That includes Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa, who has received positive marks on his medical recheck and released promising workout videos.
The Dolphins are believed to have Tagovailoa in their sights. With the No. 5 pick, No. 26 pick, and even more in their arsenal, they’d be a logical candidate to swoop in. The Lions may also choose to wait until April 23rd before making any moves, just in case the Redskins throw everyone for a loop and pass on Young.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/8/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: P Tyler Newsome
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: OL Cameron Tom
New York Giants
- Released: LB Nate Harvey (failed physical)
Bengals HC: A.J. Green Is “Fully Healthy”
Last year, A.J. Green missed the entire season thanks to a foot injury. Last month, the Bengals cuffed him with the franchise tag anyway. Fortunately, the wide receiver appears to be “fully healthy,” according to head coach Zac Taylor. 
[RELATED: Bengals Won’t Rule Out Keeping Dalton]
“Everything’s been positive with A.J.,” Taylor said in a virtual presser on Wednesday. “He’s fully healthy and is working hard. He’s been in Atlanta. It’s all been positive in that regard.”
The franchise tag will pay Green roughly $18MM in 2020, a steep price given Green’s age and questions about his foot. As he looks ahead to his 32nd birthday in July, Green is preparing to prove himself all over again.
Meanwhile, Green has been vocally opposed to playing on the franchise tag. It remains to be seen whether he’ll get the long-term deal that he wants – he’s been largely unstoppable throughout his career, but the Bengals may be fearful of committing major dollars to him beyond 2020.
“I have no problem with the franchise (tag). I don’t like it, but I’m not a guy that’s going to sit out the whole year,” Green said in December. “But at the end of the day, that shows me they’re not committed to me. That’s fine. They have a business they have to run. As the player I have my own business, so if you do that I have to protect myself.”
“If you’re not committed to me long-term, I understand. There are no hard feelings. You have a business to run. All great businesses face difficult decisions. I understand that. For me, I have to make a big decision as well.”
Green qualified for the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven NFL seasons and he’s tallied more than 1,000 yards in every campaign with at least 13 games played. He’s also gone for double-digit touchdowns in three separate seasons with a career average of almost 15 yards per catch.
Falcons GM Says Todd Gurley’s Deal Includes Injury Protection
Like most deals this offseason, Todd Gurley‘s contract has yet to be 100% finalized. This week, the Falcons announced that they have “agreed to terms” with Gurley, though the star running back has yet to take his physical. 
[RELATED: Cardinals Have “No Concern” Over Hopkins Trade]
Despite Gurley’s knee trouble, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff isn’t too worried about the situation. Meanwhile, if any red flags pop up, he says the team is well covered.
“We looked closely at it. We have language our contracts that will protect us and the player.” the GM said (Twitter link via William McFadden of the team website). “We’re not looking at it that way…[we’re] very comfortable with it.”
Last year, Gurley was limited to just 223 carries – the lowest total in any of his five pro seasons. The Falcons are hoping to get a full season out of the longtime Rams star, who still managed 1,000+ all-purpose yards despite the setback. The Falcons, meanwhile, have gone two full seasons without a running back hitting the 1,000-yard mark, or even the 900-yard mark.
Gurley is set to take over for Devonta Freeman, who was released in March amidst injury concerns of his own. Ito Smith, Brian Hill, and Qadree Ollison sit behind him on the depth chart, though the RB group could be shuffled between now and the start of the season. Gurley will work to get back to his old form, which saw him lead the league in rushing touchdowns in both 2017 and 2018.