What Happens If An NFL Rookie Does Not Sign His Contract?
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, rookie contract negotiations are fairly textbook. Players are constricted by the confines of their draft slot, meaning that we have less holdouts and deal delays than ever. 
Still, draft picks are not mandated to sign with their respective clubs, and the drafting team does not hold the player’s rights in perpetuity. In theory, a player can hold out for the entire year and re-enter the draft in the following season. Even though NFL draft picks are boxed in by the slotting system and unable to choose their employer, they are not completely without leverage.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a notable draft pick really go to the mat with his team, but it’s not unprecedented. In 1983, John Elway was selected first overall by the Baltimore Colts, but he threatened to pursue a career in Major League Baseball unless the team traded him elsewhere. Fearing that Elway’s threat was serious, the quarterback got his way when the Colts shipped him to the Broncos. Elway was satisfied with the trade, we never got to find out whether the future Hall of Famer would have followed through on his suggested season-long holdout.
In 1986, fellow two-sport star Bo Jackson refused to report to the Buccaneers after they drafted him No. 1 overall. Jackson spent the year in the Kansas City Royals’ organization instead and the Bucs were forced to renounce his rights prior to the 1987 draft. The Raiders, in turn, made one of the savviest seventh-round picks in franchise history when they selected the legendary athlete with the No. 183 overall pick.
It’s hard to imagine a drafted player taking a similar route today, but it’s always possible. A few years ago, Joey Bosa stared down the Chargers until the two sides finally reached an agreement on offset language in late August. The Chargers ultimately backed down from their position out of fear that Bosa could miss games as a rookie and maybe even re-enter the draft in 2017.
It’s safe to say that this year’s draft will not produce a year-long holdout, but a rookie’s ability to re-enter the draft is something to keep in mind for future disputes.
Poll: Will The Jets Reach .500 In 2019?
The Jets entered the 2018 offseason full of hope and a boatload of cap room. They emerged with the best available cornerback in Trumaine Johnson and drafted a potential franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold, giving them reason to believe in the coming year. The Jets hardly expected to contend, but they looked the part of a team that could make some noise and at least finish in the middle of the pack. 
That, of course, isn’t how things played out. The Jets finished the year 4-12, failing to improve on their five-win season in 2017.
With that, the Jets were in an eerily familiar position this offseason. Gang Green had more than $100MM in cash to burn and, once again, owned the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.
Much of their free cap space went to signing Le’Veon Bell, much to the chagrin of new head coach Adam Gase. In April, the Jets used the third pick to select defensive tackle Quinnen Williams – regarded by most as the best player available – rather than addressing more pressing needs, such as their lackluster edge rush. After signing the biggest star on the open market and overseeing one of the most crucial drafts in franchise history, GM Mike Maccagnan was given the heave-ho in favor of Eagles executive Joe Douglas.
The Jets’ past draft blunders and internal discord have been well-documented, but despite all their warts, the Jets have real talent on both sides of the ball. If Darnold is able to take a leap forward in 2019 and Bell is able to quickly shake off the rust, the Jets just might have a balanced attack good enough to keep defenses honest. Gang Green also boasts a quietly dangerous group of receivers, headlined by Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and Jamison Crowder.
Meanwhile, the Jets boast a fearsome interior defensive line and a serious upgrade at inside linebacker after C.J. Mosley supplanted Darron Lee. And, in the middle of the secondary, they have a young and exciting tandem of Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.
Can Adams’ strong coverage skills offset the Jets’ possible deficiencies at cornerback? Can the Williamses do enough damage up front to allow the Jets’ iffy edge rush unit to penetrate the backfield? Can the arrival of two-time Pro Bowler Kelechi Osemele help to fortify the Jets’ offensive line?
If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then the Jets just might be a competitive football club in 2019.
Will the Jets reach or break the .500 mark this season? Cast your vote below (link for app users) and back up your choice in the comments section.
Devonaire Clarington Enters Supplemental Draft
Former University of Texas commit Devonaire Clarington will enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter). The tight end never suited up for the Longhorns due to academic issues, but he’s hoping to find a spot in the league.
Clarington was ranked as the fourth-best tight end in the 2015 class when he signed up with the University of Texas. Unfortunately, academic issues kept him off of the field. After leaving UT, the tight end played at Blinn Junior College and, most recently, at Northland Community College.
At NCC, Clarington recorded 48 catches for 916 yards and eleven touchdowns. The low level of competition means that those stats won’t carry much weight with NFL evaluators, but Clarington could be poised to impress during his workout on July 8. The 6’6″ tight end reportedly runs a 4.6 second 40-yard-dash and boasts a max squat of 450 pounds.
Clarington is the third entrant into July’s supplemental draft, joining former Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen and former West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms.
Extension Candidate: Rams CB Marcus Peters
With one year to go on his contract, the Rams say they’re looking to lock up Marcus Peters for the long haul. However, things have been quiet on that front and it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be re-upped at all. 
Peters, 26, is entering the fifth year of his rookie contract. After that, the Rams have the option of keeping him off of the free market with the franchise tag, but that would be an expensive proposition. This offseason, the one-year tender for cornerbacks was set at $16.022MM. Next year, that number is expected to climb north of $17MM.
Peters’ 2018 campaign was a tale of two players. He struggled in the first half of the year, but things started to click in the latter portion of the season. He was particularly impressive in the Super Bowl and, along with punter Johnny Hekker, he was one of only a few Rams players to turn in a quality performance.vIn terms of pure talent, Peters is among the very best at his position. However, his up-and-down 2018 season and history of clashing with coaches in Kansas City may be giving the Rams pause.
It’s also worth noting that the Rams have been reluctant to pay big bucks for defensive backs in the past. In recent years, they’ve allowed corners Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins and safeties Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald, and Lamarcus Joyner to walk. And, in the recent case of Johnson, that proved to be a wise move – if given the opportunity by a genie, the Jets probably turn back time and tear up the veteran’s five-year, $72.5MM deal (they might also ask the genie to fire then-GM Mike Maccagnan before the thick of the 2018 offseason, but we digress.)
So, what will the Rams do with Peters? If they choose, they can stand pat and allow Peters to play out his 2019 season at a reasonable rate of $9.069MM. Alternatively, if they want to extend Peters now, they may have to back up a Brinks truck for him.
In May, the Dolphins made Xavien Howard the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history with a five-year, $76.5MM extension, giving him an average annual value of $15.3MM. The deal also includes $27MM in full guarantees, slotting him behind only Josh Norman, Johnson, Stephon Gilmore, Denzel Ward, and Jenkins. When considering that two of those corners once formed the backbone of the Rams’ secondary, it’s hard to see the team making a similar commitment to Peters before he can consistently prove his worth over the course of a full season.
For what it’s worth, head coach Sean McVay says the Rams “absolutely” want to sign Peters to an extension. We’ll see if the Rams put their money where their mouth is in the coming weeks, when Peters’ reps will likely seek a deal in the neighborhood of Howard’s.
Jets Sign Chuma Edoga
The Jets have signed third-round pick Chuma Edoga, according to a team announcement. The offensive tackle will earn $3.4MM over the course of a four-year deal, in accordance with his slot. The deal also includes an $867K signing bonus. 
Edoga, one of the final draft picks to be made by Mike Maccagnan, protected quarterback Sam Darnold at USC. He started in 25 games for the Trojans, including 12 games as Darnold’s shield in 2017.
Edoga is remarkably athletic for a 308-pound lineman, but questions persist about his NFL potential. His core power is said to be substandard for the position and some teams red-flagged him for perceived maturity issues. In 2016, Edoga shoved an official to the ground and received a one-game suspension from the team.
With Edoga signed, the Jets have just one straggler remaining in No. 3 overall pick Quinnen Williams.
Release Candidate: Broncos DE DeMarcus Walker
Two years ago, the Broncos used a second-round pick to select DeMarcus Walker out of Florida State. Today, the defensive end may be on Denver’s roster bubble.
[RELATED: Broncos TE Jake Butt Eyeing Training Camp Return]
Walker appeared in ten games for the Broncos as a rookie, but saw the field just three times in 2018. At one point, the Broncos tried to jumpstart his career by moving him to outside linebacker before shifting him back to defensive end, but, so far, nothing has worked.
Ordinarily, a team would stick things out with a young second-round pick like Walker, but Walker finds himself buried in a defensive line group that also includes Derek Wolfe, Adam Gotsis, Shelby Harris, Zach Kerr, and third-round pick Dre’Mont Jones. To make the 53-man cut, he’ll have to leapfrog at least one veteran while staving off the rest of the pack on the 90-man offseason roster.
If Walker doesn’t stick with the Broncos, you can expect him to immediately draw interest on the waiver wire. The 6’4″, 280-pound defender compiled 16 sacks as a senior at FSU and had the attention of several teams heading into the ’17 draft. In fact, before selecting Walker at No. 51 overall, the Broncos pondered a trade up to land him.
This Date In Transactions History: Vikings Sign Brock Lesnar
Fifteen years ago today, Brock Lesnar stepped out of the squared circle and on to the gridiron. The WWE superstar hadn’t played organized football since high school, but his athletic ability made the Vikings curious enough to give the muscle-bound homegrown talent an opportunity to compete in training camp as a defensive tackle.
On the surface, this seemed to be a publicity ploy for the former WWE champion, but there was reason to believe that Lesnar could defy the odds and embark on a legitimate professional sports career. Before Lesnar beat the likes of The Rock and The Undertaker, he was an amateur wrestling phenom at the University of Minnesota, where he captured the 2000 NCAA Division I heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestling championship.
At 6’2″ and 285 pounds, Lesnar’s drill times and marks were downright impressive. With a reported 4.7-second 40-yard-dash time, 35-inch vertical leap, and 30 reps on the 225-pound bench press, Lesnar would have bested many DTs at the 2004 combine. For reference, No. 14 overall pick Tommie Harris ran a 4.78-second 40-yard-dash and posted 29 reps on the bench press before the Bears made him the first DT drafted in April.
Despite never playing football in college, Lesnar was still only 26 years old at the time and had real potential as a raw prospect. Still, there was one big problem – an April motorcycle accident left Lesnar with a busted jaw, a broken left hand, a bruised pelvis, and a pulled groin. Playing at less than 100% health, Lesnar’s unlikely mission became even more improbable.
After Lesnar missed the Vikings’ cut in late August, the Vikings offered him a spot on their NFL Europe affiliate team. Citing a desire to stay close to his family in the U.S., Lesnar left football, transitioned to MMA, and went on to become the heavyweight champion of the UFC.
Lesnar’s NFL career was short-lived, but his presence in camp was appreciated by Randy Moss, Nate Burleson, and other members of the Vikings’ locker room who grew up as wrasslin’ fans. Lesnar also got to put his WWE skills to good use while with the Vikes. When a Chiefs defender roughed up Daunte Culpepper during a summer scrimmage, Lesnar grabbed him by the waist, suplexed him high in the air, and slammed him on the turf. At least, that’s how Burleson remembers it.
Falcons Waive Jeremy Langford From IR
The Falcons waived Jeremy Langford from injured reserve, according to a team announcement. The running back has been on the team’s IR since clearing waivers in May. 
[RELATED: What Will It Take For The Falcons To Lock Up Julio Jones?]
Langford initially looked promising after entering the league as a fourth round pick of the Bears back in 2015. He opened the 2016 season as Chicago’s starting running back, but he’s struggled with injuries and turned into a journeyman ever since. Drafted only a few years ago, the Falcons were already the fifth stop of his career.
Langford only appeared in one game for the Falcons last year, rushing nine times for 25 yards. He also has spent time with the Ravens, Jets and Dolphins.
Now, Langford is free to sign with any NFL team.
Ravens Work Out Vincent Rey
Linebacker Vincent Rey worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Rey has been a core special teamer for the rival Bengals for years, but he could jump ship in 2019. 
[RELATED: Latest On Ravens’ LB Plans]
To date, Rey has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bengals. He’s appeared in all but two games over the last eight seasons, making 50 total starts. Rey’s usage dropped like a stone last year, however – he started in just two contests after running with the first-teamers for eleven games in 2018.
The Ravens are plenty familiar with what Rey can do when given a chance. In a 2013 meeting between the Ravens and Bengals, the linebacker sacked Joe Flacco three times.
Largest 2019 RB Cap Hits
Despite the celebrity status that many NFL running backs enjoy, the market for the position has not advanced like market for quarterbacks and wide receivers has.
[RELATED: Largest 2019 Quarterback Cap Hits]
Here’s a look at the top 10 RB cap hits for 2019, with a few notes and observations accompanying the figures:
Running backs:
- David Johnson (Cardinals): $9.75MM
- Todd Gurley (Rams): $9.2MM
- LeSean McCoy (Bills): $9.05MM
- Le’Veon Bell (Jets): $8.97MM
- Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys): $7.94MM
- Leonard Fournette (Jaguars): $7.4MM
- Lamar Miller (Texans): $7.2MM
- Saquon Barkley (Giants): $7.1MM
- Devonta Freeman (Falcons): $6.75MM
- Jerick McKinnon (49ers): $5.75MM
- Surprised to see McKinnon at the bottom of the top 10 after he inked a lucrative free agent deal with the Niners just one year ago? The Jet still has plenty of money coming to him on his four-year, $30MM deal, but the deal was structured to give him the lowest cap hit in ’19. Next year, McKinnon’s hit will rise to $8.8MM, then elevate to $9.2MM in 2021, the final scheduled year of the contract. McKinnon is looking to bounce back from his lost 2018 season this year, but if he doesn’t, the Niners will be able to escape his contract and save $4.8MM next year against $4MM in dead money.
- It’s a similar story for Bell, who has the second-highest paying contract of any running back in terms of overall annual value, with a relatively affordable $8.97MM cap hit for the coming year. As of this writing, he’s slated to have the second-highest hit of any RB in 2020 at a whopping $15.5MM.
- Despite playing on a rookie contract, Barkley makes the list with a $7MM+ cap hit for his sophomore season. This, perhaps more than any other deal on this list, illustrates the gap in pay between RBs and QBs. Sam Darnold, drafted one spot behind Barkley in 2018, has the 25th highest cap hit of any QB this year.