Patriots Shopped Gronk To Four Teams
The Patriots deny having shopped Rob Gronkowski this offseason, but evidence to the contrary is mounting. The Pats engaged in trade talks with the Lions, Titans, Texans, and 49ers, Albert Breer of The MMQB told FS1 (transcription via NESN). 
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Recently, we learned the Patriots were discussing deals involving Gronk as recently as three days before the draft. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of PFT hears from a league source that the Patriots had conversations with more clubs than the four listed by Breer. However, a deal was never close enough for the Pats to talk to the tight end about the possibility. When Gronk put the retirement rumors to rest in April, it seems that the trade discussions were also 86’d.
Breer hears that the Patriots only discussed a potential Gronkowski trade with teams they “trust.” The tentacles of the Patriots extend to all four teams: Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia used to work for the Pats, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien previously served as the Pats’ offensive coordinator, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel played for the Pats and GM Jon Robinson spent more than ten years in New England, and Bill Belichick has a solid relationship with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
For now, it seems like Gronk is staying put, but the Patriots weren’t entirely truthful when they threw water on the latest round of trade rumors. The two sides will likely hammer out a revised contract between now and the start of the season, but it’s still a situation worth monitoring.
Browns Sign Greg Robinson
The Browns have signed offensive lineman Greg Robinson, per a team announcement. To make room on the roster, fellow lineman Roderick Johnson has been waived. 
Robinson, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, has been looking for work all offseason. Of course, things haven’t gone according to plan for Robinson since leaving Auburn to enter the NFL. Robinson started in 42 of 46 appearances with the Rams, but the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus rated him among the league’s worst tackles in each of his first three seasons. Then, right around this time last year, the Rams shipped him to the Lions for a sixth-round pick.
Robinson started six games for the Lions in Taylor Decker‘s absence, but didn’t perform all that well. The Lions released Robinson in November when Decker returned to the lineup and he did not hook on with another club in 2017.
Johnson, meanwhile, was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft. He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and the new regime apparently was not interested in seeing what he could do at full health.
Lions Hire Jimmy Raye III
The Lions added veteran NFL executive Jimmy Raye III as Senior Personnel Executive late last week, league sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Raye most recently served as the Texans’ assistant GM but was fired in April.
In his new role, Raye will work directly with GM Bob Quinn, Rapoport hears. Raye was “highly coveted” in league circles, so this is a solid get for Detroit as they build out the front office.
Raye climbed the ladder in Houston and become the team’s assistant GM when Brian Gaine left to join the Bills as their vice president of player personnel. When Gaine returned to Houston to take over for former GM Rick Smith, he cleaned house and fired five executives, including Raye.
Although Gaine was displaced in Houston, his experience was valued elsewhere in the league. Raye spent 17 years as a scout and executive with the Chargers, later served as vice president of player operations with the Colts, and has been a GM candidate for several clubs – including the Texans – in recent years.
Last year, the Lions missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Now under the guidance of a new head coach, they’ll look to get on the right track in 2018.
Panthers Sign First-Round WR D.J. Moore
The Panthers have signed rookie D.J. Moore, according to an announcement from the team. With the wide receiver under contract, the Panthers have now wrapped up their entire draft class. 
Early on in draft season, many believed that Alabama’s Calvin Ridley would be the first receiver to come off of the board. However, with strong performances in workouts, Moore leapfrogged him on many draft boards. Moore won out as he was selected 24th overall by the Panthers while Ridley went No. 26 overall to the Falcons.
The Maryland standout earned Big Ten Receiver of the Year honors last year after setting a single-season school record for receptions with 80. Despite playing with four different quarterbacks, Moore posted 1,033 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, becoming just the third wide receiver in school history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season.
Moore will now be tasked with a significant role in the Panthers’ offense as he catches passes from Cam Newton. Moore projects to be the one of the team’s top wide receivers, along with Devin Funchess and fellow Maryland alum Torrey Smith.
Per the terms of his slot, Moore will earn roughly $11.2MM over the course of his four-year deal. The pact will include a $6.2MM signing bonus.
Here’s the complete rundown of Carolina’s draft class:
Carolina Panthers
- 1-24: D.J. Moore, WR (Maryland): Signed
- 2-55: Donte Jackson, CB (LSU): Signed
- 3-85: Rashaan Gaulden, CB (Tennessee): Signed
- 4-101: Ian Thomas, TE (Indiana): Signed
- 4-136: Marquis Haynes, DE (Ole Miss): Signed
- 5-161: Jermaine Carter Jr., LB (Maryland): Signed
- 7-234: Andre Smith, LB (North Carolina): Signed
- 7-242: Kendrick Norton, DT (Miami): Signed
This Date In Transactions History: Bengals Cut Terrelle Pryor
On this date in 2015, the Bengals released quarterback Terrelle Pryor. After four unremarkable years in the NFL, the move didn’t mean much at the time. However, the release changed the trajectory of the former Ohio State star’s career. 
The late Al Davis brought Pryor into the league after selecting him in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft. Pryor didn’t play much in his first two seasons and struggled on the whole in 2013, although there were some impressive moments. Pryor was traded to the Seahawks in 2014, but was cut prior to Week 1 and wound up sitting out of football altogether that year. In January of 2015, the Chiefs signed Pryor, but released him in May. The Bengals scooped him up, but cut him from the roster five weeks later on June 18, 2015.
Clearly, Pryor’s athleticism could not carry him at the quarterback position in the NFL, but he was reluctant to give up on his lifelong dream. Prior to signing with the Bengals, Pryor declared, “If I can’t play quarterback, I can’t play football.” But, after his release from the Bengals, agent Drew Rosenhaus informed teams that Pryor was willing to line up as a wide receiver.
Ohio’s other team – the Browns – moved quickly to claim Pryor off of waivers. Pryor mostly sat on the bench in 2015 as Josh McCown‘s backup, but the Browns shifted him to wide receiver prior to the 2016 offseason. The Browns were optimistic about what the 6’4″, 228-pound athlete could do at his new position, but few expected him to finish the season with 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns.
Pryor parlayed his huge season into a one-year, $6MM free agent deal with the Redskins, but he was held back by an ankle injury and did little in D.C. This offseason, the Jets decided to take a moderate gamble on Pryor by signing him to a one-year, $4.5MM contract with $2MM guaranteed.
Pryor is still battling an ankle injury and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he’ll be able to replicate his ’16 production with Gang Green. But, Pryor has earned far more in the NFL than anyone expected he would back in 2015, which is something to be proud of regardless of how things shake out from here.
Delvin Breaux Signs With CFL Team
Delvin Breaux will not be playing for an NFL team in 2018. The former Saints cornerback has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). The news was first reported by Justin Dunk of 3 Down Nation. 
The Saints opted against tendering a contract to Breaux in March, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Despite meetings with the Broncos, Patriots, Packers, and 49ers in that very same month, the veteran did not sign with any teams. He’ll now look to rebuild his stock north of the border.
Breaux first put himself on the NFL’s radar with his strong play for the Ticats. After earning an All-Star selection in 2014, nearly half of the league watched him work out. The Saints signed Breaux in 2015 and he graded out as a high-end starter in his first year with the club. Breaux started in all 16 games and notched three interceptions, but he has been unable to recapture the magic so far.
Between a broken fibula suffered in the 2016 season opener and a shoulder injury sustained later in the year, Breaux lost the bulk of his sophomore season. He was then unable to take the field in 2017 after another fractured fibula that was misdiagnosed by team doctors as a leg contusion. That incident led to the Saints overhauling their medical team.
It was widely assumed that teams stayed away from Breaux due to his past leg injuries, but an issue with his spine is what prevented him from getting cleared by other teams in the NFL, Underhill hears (on Twitter).
CFL contracts run for a minimum of two years and do not include opt-outs for NFL opportunities, so the 28-year-old (29 in October) is set to play in Canada through the 2019 season. In theory, teams can grant requests for a release, but they are not obligated to do so. Ticats quarterback Johnny Manziel is in the same boat.
10% Of NFL Draft Picks Remain Unsigned
As shown in PFR’s tracker, the bulk of this year’s draft picks are now under contract. Of this year’s 256 selections, 230 have inked their first NFL deal. As of Monday morning, that leaves just 26 players – or approximately 10% of this year’s class – unsigned. Here’s the complete breakdown of the stragglers, round by round:
First Round (16)
- Browns, 1-1: Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma)
- Giants, 1-2: Saquon Barkley, RB (Penn State)
- Jets, 1-3: Sam Darnold, QB (USC)
- Browns, 1-4: Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State)
- Broncos, 1-5: Bradley Chubb, DE (North Carolina State)
- Bills, 1-7: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)
- Bears, 1-8: Roquan Smith, LB (Georgia)
- 49ers, 1-9: Mike McGlinchey, T (Notre Dame)
- Patriots, 1-23: Isaiah Wynn, T (Georgia)
- Panthers, 1-24: D.J. Moore, WR (Maryland)
- Ravens, 1-25: Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina)
- Falcons, 1-26: Calvin Ridley, WR (Alabama)
- Steelers, 1-28: Terrell Edmunds, S (Virginia Tech)
- Jaguars, 1-29: Taven Bryan, DT (Florida)
- Vikings, 1-30: Mike Hughes, CB (UCF)
- Patriots, 1-31: Sony Michel, RB (Georgia)
Second Round (4)
- Colts, 2-36: Darius Leonard, LB (South Carolina State)
- Colts, 2-37: Braden Smith, G (Auburn)
- Dolphins, 2-42: Mike Gesicki, TE (Penn State)
- 49ers, 2-44: Dante Pettis, WR (Washington)
Third Round (5)
- Broncos, 3-71: Royce Freeman, RB (Oregon)
- Redskins, 3-74: Geron Christian, OL (Louisville)
- Bengals, 3-77: Sam Hubbard, DE (Ohio State)
- Bengals, 3-78: Malik Jefferson, LB (Texas)
- Seahawks, 3-79: Rasheem Green, DE (USC)
Fifth Round (1)
- Giants, 5-139: RJ McIntosh, DT (Miami)
Sixth Round (0)
Seventh Round (0)
Fourth Round (0)
Rookie holdouts are pretty rare under the current CBA, but the Joey Bosa drama of 2016 reminded all of us that it’s still a possibility. We have yet to hear of a significant divide between this year’s first-round picks and their respective teams, but it’s something to keep in mind as we inch closer to training camp.
Typically, first-round picks take longer to sign as they haggle over offset language. Offset language relates to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the first four years of his career, while he’s still playing on his rookie contract. For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.
However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. Some teams hold the line on the issue of offset language while others are willing to either give into the agent’s demands or meet them halfway with “partial” offset language.
Third-round picks also tend to take a while to sign due to flexibility in base compensation, but that list of stragglers has been cut in half – from 10 to 5 – over the last two weeks.
The Fifth-Year Option
This summer, we’ve seen a handful of notable players from the 2014 NFL Draft hold out from their respective clubs. The standard rookie deal runs for four years, but first-round picks such as linebacker Khalil Mack, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and Titans tackle Taylor Lewan are under contract through the 2018 season thanks to the fifth-year option. With one year left on their deals at a pre-determined rate, they are looking to gain leverage in their extension talks.
So what exactly is the fifth-year option? Essentially, it’s a way to extend a player’s rookie contract by an extra year, at the club’s discretion. Players don’t have any say in whether or not these options are picked up, though players and teams are still free to negotiate longer-term contracts that would render the fifth-year option unnecessary. Otherwise though, the decision is in the hands of the team, and must be made by May 3 in the player’s fourth season.
Last year, 25 players (out of a possible 32) had their fifth-year options picked up for the 2018 season. As a top-10 pick, Mack’s fifth-year salary was equivalent to the transition tender at his position during his fourth season, which came out to $13.846MM.
For first-rounders picked outside the top 10, like Lewan and Donald, the calculation was a bit more complicated. Their fifth-year option was determined by the average of the third through 25th top salaries at that position. That’s why Lewan is in line for $9.34MM this season and Donald is set to earn just $6.9MM.
Fifth-year options are guaranteed for injury only between May 3 and the start of the following league year. As such, they’re not entirely risk-free, but as long as the player remains healthy, a team could exercise his fifth-year option, then cut him before his option year gets underway without being on the hook for his salary. When the league year begins, the player’s fifth-year salary becomes guaranteed for skill and cap purposes, as well as injury.
With a new CBA on the horizon, it’s conceivable that the fifth-year option will be amended to allow first-round picks to test free agency sooner. Then again, the NFLPA might not want to make the concessions needed in order to do away with the fifth-year option, even though it would help to accelerate the market at every position.
Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry. Our glossary posts explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. This post was modified from an early entry by editor emeritus Luke Adams.
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Minor NFL Transactions: 6/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: LB Frank Ginda
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Bo Bower, DL Caushaud Lyons, OLB Antonio Simmons
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers from Titans: WR Zach Pascal
- Waived: Kayaune Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Waived: DT Michael Hughes