Latest On Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski
Tom Brady opted against attending the Patriots’ OTAs on Monday, and it’s not yet known whether tight end Rob Gronkowski will follow suit. However, he will be there at some point, Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter) hears. 
Apparently, there’s a good reason for Gronk potentially skipping Monday and reporting in the near future. Gronk’s reps and the Patriots are discussing a revised contract and, per NFL rules, a reworked deal involving incentives cannot be completed until one year after the last restructuring.
Last year, the Pats and Gronk agreed to tweak the tight end’s deal on May 24th, as James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes, so that’s the date to keep an eye on this year. If the two sides can reach an accord in the coming days, Gronk could be on the field starting Thursday.
In 2017, Gronk had incentives added to his deal that gave him the potential to earn some extra cash while protecting the team against another major injury. The 29-year-old hit the top tier of the bonus structure, giving a total salary of $10.75MM by way of his First-Team All-Pro selection.
Gronk bounced back from an injury-riddled year to haul in 69 grabs for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 16 catches for 218 yards and three scores in the postseason.
Details On Jamar Taylor’s New Contract
Last week, the Cardinals acquired cornerback Jamar Taylor from the Browns. In order to facilitate the deal, Taylor agreed to a restructured contract. It turns out that Taylor has taken a significant pay cut in order to play opposite of Patrick Peterson. 
Taylor’s base salary will drop from $4.25M to $975K under the terms of his revised deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. His overall cap number has decreased by $2.75M thanks to the adjustment.
That marks a substantial hair cut for Taylor, especially when considering that he signed his three-year, $15MM extension less than a year-and-a-half ago. However, Taylor was unlikely to make the Browns’ final cut after the additions of T.J. Carrie, E.J. Gaines, Terrance Mitchell, and No. 4 overall pick Denzel Ward this offseason. Faced with the prospect of hitting free agency in the summer when teams have already set their CB plans or taking less money to (likely) start in Arizona, Taylor went with the latter.
It’s not immediately clear whether the 2019 portion of Taylor’s deal has also been tweaked. Assuming the ’19 season remains untouched, he remains on course to earn a base salary of $4.075MM with a $5.1MM cap number. However, the Cardinals would be left with just $750K if they were to release him under those terms.
In 2016, Taylor ranked as one of the 20 best corners in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He took a step back last year, but the Cardinals are optimistic that he can revert to his old form. Even if he performs somewhere in between, that’s still preferable to the team’s other CB2 options, which include Brandon Williams, Bene Benwikere, and Marcus Williams.
Aaron Donald Skips Rams OTAs
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has informed the team that he will not be in attendance for Organized Team Activities on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Donald, of course, is still pushing for a new contract, and his absence from OTAs is no coincidence. 
On the plus side, the Rams remain optimistic about hammering out a new deal with the three-time First-Team All-Pro. While Donald will not be with the club for their voluntary workouts this week, Rams head coach Sean McVay has been texting with Donald, and he says the line communication is stronger than last summer.
“He’s responding more than he was at this time last year, so that’s what I feel good about,”said McVay.
Given that Donald has been an elite player in each of his four NFL seasons, it seems likely that he’ll top Von Miller‘s $19.083MM average annual value, making him the highest-paid defender in league history. The Rams are aware of what it will take to lock him up, but they also have to be careful not to blow their budget with several other stars due for new deals. That group includes running back Todd Gurley and cornerback Marcus Peters as both players are due for unrestricted free agency after the 2019 season.
Last year, Donald amassed eleven sacks, five forced fumbles, and 41 total tackles playing mostly from the interior. Opposing teams will have their hands full as they deal with a defensive line unit that includes Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers, Ethan Westbrooks, and Dominique Easley in the rotation.
Cowboys Wrap Up Draft Class
The Cowboys have wrapped up their 2018 draft class. On Monday, the team reached agreement with the last straggler in their group – third-round wide receiver Michael Gallup (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer). 
Last year, it took the Cowboys a while to sign all of their draft picks. Third-round pick Jourdan Lewis did not agree to terms until June 29, but this time around, Dallas ironed everything out with its third-round pick in short order.
Gallup hauled in 100 receptions for 1,413 yards last year at Colorado State and figures will compete for time in a revamped wide receiver group with Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and others. Although he’s a bit green, the Cowboys are hopeful they can get him up to speed quickly.
Here’s the full rundown of the Cowboys’ draft class, courtesy of PFR’s Draft Results By Team tracker:
- 1-19: Leighton Vander Esch, LB (Boise State): Signed
- 2-50: Connor Williams, G (Texas): Signed
- 3-81: Michael Gallup, WR (Colorado State): Signed
- 4-116: Dorance Armstrong, DE (Kansas): Signed
- 4-137: Dalton Schultz, TE (Stanford): Signed
- 5-171: Mike White, QB (Western Kentucky): Signed
- 6-193: Chris Covington, LB (Indiana): Signed
- 6-208: Cedrick Wilson, WR (Boise State): Signed
- 7-236: Bo Scarbrough, RB (Alabama): Signed
Latest On Tom Brady
The Patriots started the on-field portion of their Organized Team Activities on Monday, but did so without Tom Brady, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. While OTAs are voluntary, Brady’s absence could be a sign of friction in New England. 
Brady’s decision to stay away could mean the two sides are still far apart in talks to re-work his contract. Brady, who has been playing under a below-market deal for years, is currently signed through the 2019 campaign. In each of the next two years, he’s scheduled to earn a base salary of $15MM, while $7MM of annually prorated signing bonus money will bring his cap charges to $22MM in each season. The 40-year-old has no intentions of retiring anytime soon, so he is seeking a deal that will take him into 2020 and beyond.
Brady has indicated that he is staying away from the team, in part, to spend more time with his family.
“Part of this offseason for me is certainly about still preparing for what’s ahead in my next journey, my next mountain to climb with this group of teammates, but it’s also [acknowledging] that a lot of people are getting the short end of the stick in my life — certainly my wife and my kids,” Brady said recently. “Football is year-round for me. It’s a lot of thought, a lot of energy and emotion put into it, but I need to invest in them, too. My kids are 10, 8 and 5. They’re not getting younger, so I need to take time so I can be available to them, too. … I’ve really spent the last two or three months doing those things, and I think I’m really trying to fill my tank up so that when I do go back, I can go back and I think I’ll actually be, in my mind, a better player, a better teammate, because I’ll be really rejuvenated.”
While OTAs are voluntary, the June mandatory minicamp is not (as the name suggests). With that in mind, the real situation to watch will be next month when the team gets to work on June 5-7.
Raiders Sign Rookie Kolton Miller
The Raiders officially signed first-round offensive tackle Kolton Miller, according to a team announcement. Per the terms of his slot as the No. 15 overall pick, Miller will receive a four-year deal worth $13.5MM. 
On draft night, the Raiders the No. 10 pick to the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 15 selection, plus third- and fifth-round selections. The deal allowed them to add additional draft capital while securing Miller at a cheaper rate. Had they taken Miller at No. 10, the Raiders would have doled out an extra $4.1MM over the course of his four-year deal while also facing a more expensive decision on his fifth-year option for the 2022 season.
It seems likely that Jon Gruden had his eye on Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey at No. 10, but the 49ers beat them to the punch by selecting him ninth overall. Even though he’s a bit green, Miller is not a bad consolation prize, especially when considering the extra draft picks acquired in the trade.
Oakland’s initial offseason workouts involving rookies have featured Miller at left tackle, where Donald Penn remains a mainstay. Penn’s entering his fifth season as the Raiders’ starter there but is also coming into his age-35 season. And the Raiders have had issues at right tackle for a couple of seasons now, the undeniable weak link on what’s been a strong offensive line over the past few years, and it’s possible the UCLA product could begin his career there.
Vincent Jackson Retires From NFL
Vincent Jackson is “very happily retired” from the NFL, a representative for the wide receiver tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jackson has played in over a year-and-a-half, so the news was largely expected. 
Jackson appeared in three Pro Bowls over the course of his 12-year NFL career with the Chargers and Buccaneers. His last NFL season in 2016, however, did not go according to plan. That campaign ended after just five games due to a serious knee injury.
Now focused on community and business work in the Tampa, Florida area, the 35-year-old has fully transitioned into post-NFL life. He leaves the game with 9,080 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns and six individual seasons with 1,000 yards or more.
Jackson entered the league as a second-round pick of the (then San Diego) Chargers in 2005. Injuries hampered him as an NFL freshman, but he eventually blossomed into a dangerous receiving threat. A contract dispute later soured his relationship with Bolts brass, leading him to sign a five-year, $55.55MM free agent deal with the Bucs in 2012. Things started with a bang in Tampa as he enjoyed a career year with 72 catches for 1,384 yards and eight touchdowns. His eye-popping of 19.2 yards per catch led the NFL that year.
After a successful and lucrative NFL career, Jackson has decided to focus on other endeavors. It sounds like he’s settled into post-football life, even if Jon Gruden calls him up.
Browns To Trade Jamar Taylor To Cardinals
The Cardinals are finalizing a trade for Browns cornerback Jamar Taylor, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Cardinals have long had a glaring need at cornerback and Taylor figures to step in as the team’s new No. 2 CB alongside Patrick Peterson. Arizona will send a 2020 sixth-round pick to Cleveland in the deal, according to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon-Journal (on Twitter). The deal is expected to be finalized after 4pm ET/3pm CT on Friday. 
The belief before the draft was that the Browns would look to unload Taylor if they selected a cornerback early on. After the Browns selected Ohio State’s Denzel Ward with the No. 4 overall pick, his fate was all but sealed. The Browns have moved on from both of their starting cornerbacks from last year after trading Jason McCourty to the Patriots for a late draft pick. The Browns’ revamped secondary will see free agent pickup T.J. Carrie start opposite of Ward with newcomers E.J. Gaines and Terrance Mitchell among those in support at cornerback.
Taylor had the best year of his career in 2016 as he hauled in three interceptions and 57 total tackles, but he was not quite as sharp in 2017. If he can revert to his old form, then the Cardinals will be getting a quality starter in the trade. In ’16, Taylor ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 19 ranked overall cornerback in the NFL and excelled in the slot, where he played 32% of his snaps.
The acquisition of Taylor could impact the Cardinals’ pursuit of free agent Bashaud Breeland. Then again, the Cardinals have signed the majority of their draft class and they still have upwards of $16MM in cap room, so there could be room for both players. Theoretically, Breeland could be signed to start at outside corner while Taylor mans the slot with occasional snaps on the outside.
Taylor restructured his contract in order to make a trade more palatable for the Cardinals, Rapoport hears (Twitter link), so there should still be plenty of breathing room for GM Steve Keim & Co. Originally, Taylor was slated to take up $5.25MM in cap space this year and $5.1MM in 2019. The revised terms of his deal are not yet known.
The Cardinals’ release of Tyrann Mathieu left them with a glaring need for slot help this offseason. The acquisitions of cornerbacks Bene Benwikere, Marcus Williams, Louis Young, and sixth-round pick Chris Campbell may provide depth, but that leaves much to be desired in Arizona’s secondary.
Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. To Attend OTAs
The Giants and Odell Beckham Jr. still have some work to do when it comes to his contractual situation, but the impending talks won’t keep him from the practice field. OBJ will be in attendance for the Giants’ offseason team activities on Monday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie deal and earlier this year it was reported that he could consider a holdout if he did not get the pricey contract extension he was after. The big money deal has yet to arrive, but OBJ will arrive for Phase 3.
The news of OBJ’s participation in OTAs is not totally unexpected since he already took part in individual drills this offseason. Still, it’s a positive sign for Beckham’s mindset, even as the Giants say they won’t rush their way into a new deal.
“I wouldn’t say a sense of urgency,” Giants co-owner John Mara said recently. “The contract will get done when it’s supposed to get done. I think that’s the Dave Gettleman line. I’m gonna adopt that I think, all spring, all summer, as long as it takes.”
Beckham is set to earn earn $8.5MM in 2018, per the terms of his fifth-year option. Before the 2017 season, it was said that he was seeking a deal in excess of $100MM. That may be a lofty goal, but a $90MM pact certainly seems within reach after Mike Evans secured a new $82.5MM deal from the Bucs earlier this year.
Last year, Beckham was one of several jinxed Giants receivers to succumb to the injury bug. This year, the WR group has received a face lift following the release of Brandon Marshall and addition of former Broncos receiver Cody Latimer. Sterling Shepard, who had 59 catches for 731 yards and two scores in eleven games last year, will start alongside Beckham.
49ers DL Arik Armstead Has Surgery
49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead is recovering from minor foot surgery, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The good news is that Rapoport’s source says teh procedure was a minor cleanup and he should be fine for most, if not all, of the spring drills. 
However, it’s a situation to keep an eye on as injuries have cut Armstead’s past two seasons short. In 2016, a shoulder injury cost him half of the season. Then, last year, he missed ten games after injuring his hand. He’s now dealing with some type of foot issue after the Niners exercised his $9.046MM option for the 2019 season, which is guaranteed for injury.
If Armstead misses time but heals up is able to pass a physical before the season starts, the Niners can still get out of their obligation for 2019. But, if he doesn’t get the green light from doctors, the 49ers will be forced to keep him at a salary of $9.046MM.
Armstead has played defensive tackle in the past, but last year he lined up at end in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh‘s 4-3 scheme. Had he been classified as a defensive tackle, his ’19 option would have been worth $7.154MM, about $1.9MM less than his scheduled rate.
Although the injuries have been frustrating, Armstead has been effective at creating pressure when on the field. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 44 ranked edge defender, which paints a more accurate picture of his performance than his total of 1.5 sacks. PFF’s ranking put him roughly in the same range as notables like Michael Bennett, Ezekiel Ansah, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Bruce irvin.