Jaguars To Trade A.J. Bouye To Broncos
The Broncos have themselves a new cornerback. On Tuesday, GM John Elway struck a deal with the Jaguars to acquire A.J. Bouye, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Klis notes in a separate tweet that multiple teams were interested in trading for Bouye, but he preferred to be dealt to Denver, and Jacksonville GM Dave Caldwell made it happen.
In exchange, the Jaguars will receive a 2020 fourth-round pick (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The trade will be officially processed on March 18, when the new league year kicks off.
Once finalized, the Broncos will assume the $13.4MM owed to him in 2020 and the $13.5MM coming to him in 2021. The Broncos will honor that deal “for now,” Klis writes, so it sounds like the Broncos may look to restructure the contract once all of the dust settles.
The deal, in all likelihood, will mark the end of Chris Harris‘ tenure in Denver. Harris is set for free agency and he was already preparing himself to move on. The arrival of Bouye all but seals it. This also means that the Broncos will be less bullish on this year’s crop of free agent CBs, which includes notables like James Bradberry, Josh Norman, Logan Ryan, and Byron Jones.
Bouye teamed with Jalen Ramsey two years ago to help form one of the most talented secondary units in the NFL and aid the Jags in their run to the AFC title game. Now, that whole group has been revamped.
Instead, the Jaguars are choosing to retool and they’ll have a bevy of draft picks to make that happen. With the trade, they’ll have ten picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, with six of those picks coming in the first four rounds and two in the first round. As Schefter (Twitter link) notes, they’ve also got nine picks in 2021. And, in both years, they’ve got two picks in Round 1 and Round 4. The Jaguars will also have more to spend – by dealing Bouye, the Jaguars have cleared an additional $11.4MM in cap space.
Last year, Bouye recorded 65 tackles and one interception for the Jaguars. Still, he didn’t fit the Jaguars’ plans – Jacksonville would have released Bouye if they didn’t find a deal for him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (via Twitter).
No Marijuana Charges For Browns’ Kareem Hunt
Running back Kareem Hunt will not face charges for possession of marijuana in connection with his January traffic stop, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal writes. The local police lieutenant did not dismiss the possibility of additional charges, but he says that’s an “unlikely” possibility. 
It’s good news for Hunt, whose status with the team was in question following the incident. In recent weeks, new GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have offered support for Hunt, indicating that they’d be willing to move forward with him if he stayed on the right path and showed remorse.
Hunt is set for restricted free agency and the Browns have some time before deciding whether to tender him and which level of the tender to use. It’s not a given that they’ll retain him, but it seems likely.When asked at the combine, Berry told reporters “that’s the anticipation right now.” At minimum, the traffic stop incident probably won’t play a major role in their decision.
“We’re looking forward to him being a member of our team,” Berry said, “provided that he and all of our players abide by our expectations.”
In a vacuum, the traffic stop doesn’t mean much. However, this slip-up raised some eyebrows given his previous history. In 2018, the Chiefs cut Hunt after a surveillance video showed him striking a woman at a hotel in Cleveland. In that same year, he also got into a physical altercation with a man in Ohio.
After serving an eight-game ban, Hunt averaged 4.2 yards per carry in a limited sample and also caught 37 passes for 285 yards. All together, he scored three all-purpose touchdowns.
Bengals Shopping Cordy Glenn
The Bengals are looking to move Cordy Glenn, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The asking price probably isn’t very high; she hears that Glenn would be released outright if they’re unable to find a suitable trade. 
The Bengals acquired Glenn via trade with the Bills in 2018. In the deal, they took on his five-year, $60MM contract which calls for a $9.5MM cap hit in 2020. However, it’s completely non-guaranteed, so the Bengals can wipe that sum from the books without any fiscal penalty.
In his first year with the Bengals, Glenn started in 13 games at left tackle. It was his worst year as a pro, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus that ranked him 60th among all tackles in the NFL. Last year, the Bengals planned to move him to left guard, a position he had never played before as a pro. Unfortunately, those plans were 86’d when rookie Jonah Williams was sidelined.
After that, things got contentious between Glenn and the team. Glenn missed time with a concussion and argued that the club was rushing him back too soon. When they clashed, Glenn instructed head coach Zac Taylor to cut him. Instead, the team hit him with a sizable fine and suspended him for one game.
They shopped him prior to the trade deadline but couldn’t find any takers, even though contenders like the Patriots were in need of offensive line help. They probably won’t find a robust market this time around either.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/3/20
AFC East Rumors: Patriots, Brady, Jets
As speculation continues to swirl around Tom Brady, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston offers up an assuring and expected update for Patriots fans. No one knows what the quarterback will do when free agency begins, but the two sides are still in communication with each other. They’ve yet to meet, but texts are still being exchanged and head coach Bill Belichick has been among those in contact with the future Hall of Famer.
One source who spoke with Curran dismissed the notion that Brady has mentally divorced himself from the Pats.
“Of course not. There’s an attachment there. You can’t be someplace for 20 years and not have an attachment,” the anonymous source said. “That’s just not who he is.”
Brady will listen closely to the Patriots’ pitch, Curran writes, and he expects them to pinpoint all of the comforts they offer against the backdrop of the unknown that he might find elsewhere.
“Wherever he goes, there won’t be one guy who knows what he wants done and how he wants it done,” one league source said. “Is he going to coach the receivers coach on how to coach the receivers? Or coach the offensive coordinator? There’s a million things.”
While we wait for Brady’s next move, here’s a look at more from the AFC East:
- In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has the Jets taking Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas. Some expect the Jets to target a wide receiver at No. 11 overall, but league sources tell Miller that the Joe Douglas-led front office will not seek a WR in the first round. Thomas, meanwhile, can solve the Jets’ most glaring need and protect Sam Darnold at the left tackle spot.
- Patriots special teams ace Justin Bethel had surgery to repair a shoulder issue that had been bothering him, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. The good news is that Bethel should be good to go for the start of the season. The Pats may need the former Raven on hand since several special teams stalwarts – including Matthew Slater and Nate Ebner – are slated to reach free agency later this month.
- Could Josh Norman reunite with his old friends from Carolina? Earlier this week, Bills GM Brandon Beane said that he’s talked with the veteran cornerback.
Panthers Meet With DL Chris Smith
The Panthers will huddle up with former Browns defensive lineman Chris Smith on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Smith has been away from the game since his girlfriend’s tragic death last year, but he’s ready to make his return in 2020.
Smith entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick of the Jaguars in 2014. After that, he spent time with the Bengals and went on to ink a three-year deal with the Browns in 2018. In his first season, he notched 21 stops, two passes defensed, one sack, and a forced fumble. In 2019, he made nine appearances before being released in December. For his career, Smith has 67 total tackles and 8.5 sacks in 60 games.
The Panthers’ defensive line figures to look rather different in 2020. The team is expected to decline the 2020 option on nose tackle Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, and Vernon Butler are unlikely to return. Mario Addison, who has tallied 55 sacks for the Panthers, may be the only pending free agent DL to return. Even then, it’d have to be on the Panthers’ preferred terms.
Tom Brady Hoping To Play With Antonio Brown?
Is Tom Brady looking to reunite with Antonio Brown? Two people close to the troubled wide receiver tell Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com that the quarterback has told Brown that he wants to play with him again. 
It’s a surprising bit of news that perhaps should be taken with a grain of salt. First, we have to consider the source – those close to Brown would have incentive to push the narrative that the league’s most popular athlete is eager to team up with him. It’s also possible that Brady, who was friendly with Brown during his short stay in New England, is simply looking to keep up Brown’s spirits.
If Brady returns to the Patriots, it’s hard to envision such a reunion taking place. And, if Brady signs elsewhere, teams will have reservations about getting involved with Brown. Even before all of the ugly accusations and disturbing social media videos, Brown was perceived to be unstable for his behavior in Pittsburgh and the drama that nixed his Oakland tenure before it even began.
One of Brown’s attorneys told the ESPN duo that Brady has encouraged Brown to stay “mentally and physically strong” so that they can pair up once again. If that does somehow come to fruition, it’s not a given that Brown will be allowed to take the field in September.
Meanwhile, it’s anyone’s guess as to where Brady will wind up. The Colts and Giants are reportedly not among the teams chasing him, but the Chargers, Titans, and Raiders may be among the clubs looking to pry him from the Patriots. Despite his accomplishments, some execs have told Graziano and Fowler that they’re expecting him to fetch no more than $30MM/year on a two- or three-year deal.
Giants Exercise Alex Tanney’s Option
The Giants have exercised their option on Alex Tanney‘s contract, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). With that, he’ll be in the mix to serve as Daniel Jones’ QB2 this year. 
Tanney, 33 in November, has bounced around the league throughout his career. He had stops with the Chiefs, Cowboys, Browns, Buccaneers, Titans, Bills, Colts, and Titans (again) before joining the Giants in May of 2018. Meanwhile, he’s thrown just 15 passes in the NFL between two games.
Despite his lack of live action, coaches see Tanney as a quick study and a solid influence in the locker room. Keepin the Monmouth product isn’t an expensive proposition, either. If he sticks, he’ll earn just $950K in base salary with a $1.012MM cap hit. If he doesn’t make the cut, the Giants won’t be on the hook for much: the dead money hit would be less than $38K.
Earlier this offseason, there were some rumblings that the Giants could consider Tom Brady, but we heard recently that they will not be in pursuit of the future Hall of Famer. Instead, they’ll stay the course with youngster Daniel Jones who showed flashes of promise after taking over for Eli Manning.
Broncos Targeting Top Free Agent RBs
The Broncos are doing their due diligence on top running backs in this year’s class, Mike Klis of 9News hears. This year’s crop includes Derrick Henry (Titans), Kenyan Drake (Cardinals), Melvin Gordon (Chargers), and several other big names.
The Broncos believe that a reliable running back can help to keep defenses honest and, in turn, aid in the development of young quarterback Drew Lock, Klis writes. Henry is at the top of the shopping list for many RB-needy teams, though he’s expected to command a hefty asking price. He also might not reach the open market; the Titans are expected to cuff him with the franchise tag if they cannot work out a long-term deal, which would tender him at roughly $11MM for the coming season.
Drake, Gordon, and Carlos Hyde (Texans) may be in the mix, however. Between those veteran options and the draft, it’s likely that the Broncos will move to upgrade their RB room which currently leads with Royce Freeman and Philip Lindsay. Last year, the Broncos ranked 20th in the NFL with 103.9 rushing yards per contest.
As Klis notes, the Broncos met with a number of RB prospects at the combine late last month, including J.K. Dobbins, Cam Akers, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and A.J. Dillon.
Chargers, Travis Benjamin To Part Ways
The Chargers and wide receiver Travis Benjamin are “mutually parting ways,” a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Benjamin will hit the open market in a couple of weeks and he apparently won’t be discussing a new deal with the Bolts. 
Benjamin joined the Chargers as a free agent in 2016 after talks with the incumbent Browns broke down. He landed a four-year, $24MM deal with $13MM guaranteed, a solid payout for a player who came out of nowhere to post 68 receptions, 966 yards, and five touchdowns in his platform year.
Since then, Benjamin’s production has been in decline. In Year One with the Chargers, he posted a 47/677/4 line. After the move to L.A., things cooled – 34/567/4 in 2017, 12/186/1 in 2018, and, thanks to injuries, he had just six grabs in five games last year.
Benjamin won’t be the only Chargers veteran leaving L.A. Quarterback Philip Rivers – an even more notable San Diego import – will be signing elsewhere in March.
At wide receiver, the Chargers will have some work to do – they don’t have a lot of proven talent on hand, outside of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.