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Draft Notes: Cowboys, Rams, Fautanu, Legette, Texans, Colts

April 24th, 2024 at 10:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys currently own pick No. 24, but like many other teams late in the first-round order they could be enticed to move down the board. When speaking about the team’s Day 1 approach, owner Jerry Jones noted the appeal of adding extra draft capital, stating it is “very likely” they could have a trade-down opportunity.

“I’m not trying to be cute there,” Jones added, offering a counter to his previous point (via The Athletic’s Saad Yousef). “Obviously we’d like to have some mid-round picks. But by the same token, Micah Parsons might be sitting there with that pick. Now, do you want to go for some more picks or do you want to snag him?”

A number of intriguing options could still be on the board for Dallas if the team remains in place. Offensive line is a known area of interest, and Graham Barton is believed to be on the Cowboys’ radar. Replacements for Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz are needed, and Yousef adds that – all things being equal – Dallas’ preference would be to acquire a left tackle over a center in round one. That direction would allow Tyler Smith to remain at guard.

With the draft’s opening night less than 24 hours away, here are some more notes from around the NFL:

  • The Colts are among the teams set to to pick in the teens which could be interested in a move up the board. That is also the case for the Rams, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. 2024 marks the first year in which Los Angeles owns a Day 1 selection since 2016, but with 11 total picks the team could easily move up from the No. 19 slot. Adding a successor for Matthew Stafford under center has been floated as a first-round possibility, and Bo Nix could be a target in that instance. However, Dianna Russini of The Athletic sees such a move as unlikely (subscription required). Finding a D-line contributor to help fill the void left by Aaron Donald could be a more pressing need for the Rams.
  • Troy Fautanu is one of many offensive linemen slated to be selected in the first round, but an injury concern could hurt his stock. The Washington tackle had a knee injury flagged during the pre-draft process, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The issue is seen as one which should not cause trouble in the short term but could ultimately “[impact] his longevity” at the NFL level. Fautanu may be viewed as a tackle (rather than a guard) in the pros, and he is believed to be a target of the Jets at the No. 10 pick. It will be interesting to see if his knee causes a drop down the Day 1 order.
  • Wideout Xavier Legette recently went public with the fact the Panthers have shown an interest in drafting him 33rd overall. In response, first-year head coach Dave Canales replied he has made the same remark to “50 other guys” (h/t team reporter Darin Grant). Carolina is obviously not considering that many prospects with the team’s top selection, but Canales’ comment proves the approach is certainly not Legette-or-bust. The former Gamecock had a breakout campaign in 2023, and his size and physicality makes him one of the more intriguing prospects in a celebrated receiver class. Legette could be a first-round candidate, and the WR-needy Bills are among the teams which hosted him for a private workout.
  • Nick Caserio has a reputation for executing trades both early and late in the draft, pulling off 18 total moves during his three years at the helm of the Texans. That total includes eight trades in 2023, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes Caserio is “likely” to continue being active on the trade front this weekend. Of course, Houston has already been a major player in terms of pick swaps, dealing the 23rd choice to the Vikings last month. As things stand, the Texans own nine 2024 selections.
  • Colts owner Jim Irsay is recovering from surgery which addressed back and leg issues, and his mobility is presently limited as a result. That will keep him from being in the team’s draft room, as he explained to ESPN’s Stephen Holder. Irsay will still be connected virtually to the team’s decision-makers, though, meaning Indianapolis’ draft process will carry on as usual as he continues to recover.

Prospect Profile: Bo Nix

April 22nd, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Ely Allen

Quarterback has been a position of significant intrigue ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The least intriguing piece is USC’s Caleb Williams, who has been slotted into the No. 1 overall pick pretty much since the end of the 2023 NFL Draft. For several weeks now, a prediction that three other quarterbacks (LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy) are expected to occupy the three picks immediately following the presumed selection of Williams, in some order. After those four, only two other names have been mentioned as potential first round passers: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. (who received a Prospect Profile a month ago) and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix started off his high school career at Scottsboro School (Alabama) before following his father, former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, who had just been hired as the head coach at Pinson Valley HS (Alabama) closer to Birmingham. A fractured left ankle kept the younger Nix from thriving in his first year at the new school, but he made a return in time to lead Pinson Valley to a state championship title. He absolutely dominated his senior year, leading his school to their second straight state title and getting ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s 62nd best overall recruit and second-best dual-threat quarterback behind Daniels. Other recruiting services had him as a five-star quarterback and the top dual-threat passer in the nation.

Sitting smack dab between Alabama and Auburn, Nix was recruited heavily by both programs. It did not take much to persuade Nix, though, as he committed to his father’s alma mater before his senior season even began, never wavering from following in his father’s footsteps. Nix enrolled early for the Tigers and quickly beat out Joey Gatewood and Malik Willis for the starting job as a true freshman. Despite early growing pains, namely his 57.6 completion percentage, Nix shined in his first year leading the team, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. While Nix displayed some ups and downs over the next two years, his numbers continued to improve despite having three different offensive coordinators. The team success did not improve, though, as the Tigers went 12-9 with Nix starting in those two years.

After a broken ankle ended his 2021 season, Nix let it be known that he was miserable under new head coach Bryan Harsin, who didn’t coach in 2023 after being fired part-way through the 2022 season, and entered the transfer portal. Nix committed to Oregon, reuniting with Kenny Dillingham, who had been his offensive coordinator during his freshman year at Auburn. Thanks to COVID-19, Nix now had six years to play five seasons, meaning he had two years of eligibility remaining with the Ducks.

Nix exploded in his first season at a new school. For the first time in his collegiate career, Nix eclipsed a 70 completion percentage (71.9), 3,000 passing yards (3,593), 20 passing touchdowns (29), 500 rushing yards (510), and 10 rushing touchdowns (14). He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection as he set the school record for highest completion percentage at a school that produced such quarterbacks as Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert. His senior year saw him take off even more, beating his prior year passing numbers with a new record-77.4 completion percentage, 4,508 passing yards, and 45 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

If stats were the sole determining factor for who would go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft, Nix would be the unanimous selection. In 2023, Nix’s 77.4 completion percentage led all of college football. It wasn’t just a school record, it broke Mac Jones‘ FBS record for single-season completion percentage. Nix was second in the FBS in passing yards only behind Penix (4,903) last season. He let the nation in passing touchdowns, and while some full-season starters like Florida State’s Jordan Travis and Penn State’s Drew Allar had few interceptions (2), neither were producing near the yardage and touchdowns of Nix. But scouts and coaches focus on much more than numbers when it comes to the draft.

Physically, Nix is not the prototype for a quarterback, but his body type works for the game he plays. While Nix set records with his arm this year, he still projects best as dual-threat passer. Some of his best throws come on the run and without his feet set, and he uses strong footwork to avoid tacklers in a collapsing pocket. He benefited from most of his production coming off quick, one-look passes, but those plays fit his quick release and strong arm.

Nix still showed the ability to throw all over the field and was productive using play fakes to open routes up down the field. He is a strong runner and, though he did sustain a pair of ankle injuries through high school and college, any questions of his toughness were put to rest when he broke Colt McCoy and Kellen Moore‘s NCAA records for most starts in a career for a quarterback with 61.

So, why isn’t Nix going No. 1 overall? Mainly, quarterbacks with Nix’s style of play have not generally fared well in the NFL. They have not fared poorly (see Mariota, Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor), but they never really stick out around the league’s best. Coaches have nitpicked a lack of patience that does not allow routes to develop and open up. Nix also can rely on his great arm strength as a catch-all, affecting his accuracy and forcing his receivers to make some uncomfortable grabs. Teams also will not like that he is 24 years old entering the NFL draft. It’s not quite on the level of Brandon Weeden (the NFL’s oldest-ever first-round pick at 28 years old), but he’s already the same age as Trevor Lawrence.

Nix presents a mixed bag coming into the draft. He provided outstanding production through the air and on the ground at the collegiate level. Though his style of play isn’t tailormade for the NFL, Nix has proven to be very coachable. After three different coordinators in his first three seasons and a change of schools, Nix continued to improve year after year, going from a 57.6 completion percentage as a freshman to the FBS record-holder in the stat. He has been lauded for his academics and leadership with his coaches calling him “another coach” on the field, and he only got better each year.

There is plenty to suggest that Nix could struggle to be elite at the next level, but with his tools and drive, it’s hard to imagine that he won’t get a chance as a starter at some point.

Now, where does a player like that go in the draft? Most see Nix as a likely Day 2 pick, though an early run of quarterbacks could force a team’s hand if they truly want Nix, and there isn’t an absence of teams who do. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, there is an assumption in league circles that, if Nix goes in the first round, it will be to the Broncos. While some speculate that Denver could trade up to select McCarthy, many like Nix better as a stylistic fit with head coach Sean Payton. The Broncos do not have a second-round pick, so they may opt to trade back from No. 12, collect more draft capital, and draft Nix to compete with the newly acquired Zach Wilson.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter warns not to dismiss the Rams, either. Schefter points to general manager Les Snead, who was a graduate assistant coach at Auburn in 1993, when Nix’s father, Patrick, was the Tigers’ quarterback. With some speculation that Penix could be the fifth passer coming off the board as high as No. 8 overall, do not rule out Los Angeles taking Matthew Stafford‘s heir apparent at No. 19.

The speculation does not stop there. With mere days remaining until the draft begins, there is no shortage of possibilities for how the event may play out. Nix could join the others in the first round, or he could freefall into the middle of the draft. Regardless, some NFL team should be adding a coachable, fast-learning competitor later this week.

Rams Could Be Surprise Team Looking For QB In Draft

April 21st, 2024 at 10:14pm CST by Ely Allen

The teams in need of a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft have been known for a while now. The Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders have all been connected to passers throughout the pre-draft process. Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team, though, points to the Rams as a squad that could surprise many with an early quarterback selection later this week.

Los Angeles certainly doesn’t need a new passer for the 2024 season. Matthew Stafford didn’t reach his Super Bowl season numbers of 41 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards, but he was impressive in his second-ever Pro Bowl season in which he finished eighth in MVP voting. Stafford did miss two games this year, though, and the eight games he missed in 2022 were enough to show head coach Sean McVay and company that they needed to start looking towards the future.

The team did address the position after Stafford’s injury-marred season, drafting former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of last year’s draft. The Rams saw Bennett as a bit of a project heading into the 2023 season, and it’s safe to say the experiment didn’t go according to plan. Initially thought to be the heir apparent to Stafford, Bennett ended up being completely out of the mix in the quarterbacks room as Carson Wentz and Brett Rypien subbed in for two starts that Stafford missed.

On top of that, Bennett found himself on the reserve/non-football illness list and off the active roster entirely. McVay claimed that Bennett was “doing better” in January but said that it was too early to know if he would be ready to be a part of the team again in 2024. With Wentz and Rypien on other teams now, Jimmy Garoppolo and Dresser Winn now sit on the depth chart behind Stafford with Bennett.

So, the Rams will turn to the draft. Obviously, the top four quarterbacks on the board are out of range. At No. 19 overall, Los Angeles would need to put together a massive package in order to move up that far. That could leave two quarterbacks who played on the west coast in college available in Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix, though. Penix has been consistently connected to the Raiders at No. 13 overall, so even he might not be available.

If the Rams aren’t in love with Penix or Nix, or don’t like them at that value in the draft, their options get fairly thin past that. After the top six passers, South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler is expected to be the next quarterback off the board. Rattler is maybe the only passer with a third-round grade. Tulane’s Michael Pratt is close, with expectations that he’ll be selected late on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

After that, the depth of the position dips a bit. There are plenty of options, but they either slot in as fifth- to seventh-round picks or as preferred undrafted free agents. Popular college names like Tennessee’s Joe Milton, Florida State’s Jordan Travis, and Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman all dominated at the college level but aren’t viewed as more than potential flyers in the draft.

If the Rams are going to surprise teams by going after a passer, they’re going to need to do so in the third round or sooner. If they don’t feel confident in Rattler potentially taking over as a starter eventually, they’re going to have to seriously consider what it will take to get a passer in the first two rounds.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/15/24

April 15th, 2024 at 8:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: OL Lorenz Metz

Washington Commanders

Today marks the first day for teams with holdover HCs to begin offseason programs. That date frequently coincides with restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents officially coming back into the fold. McCloud’s signing and Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson inking his second-round tender leaves 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, also given a Round 2 tender, as the lone unsigned RFA. McCloud will be tied to a nonguaranteed $2.99MM salary.

A former UDFA out of Michigan State, Bachie has been with the Bengals for the past three seasons. The young linebacker has been a regular special-teamer in that time; over the past two seasons, Bachie has been on the field for more than 60% of Cincinnati’s ST plays.

The Commanders signed Tyler Ott in free agency. The longtime Seahawks snapper spent 2023 with the Ravens; the veteran staying in the Mid-Atlantic region will lead to Addington — a three-game Washington long snapper in 2023 — being moved off the roster.

Murtaugh and Metz are coming to the NFL via the league’s International Pathway Program. Murtaugh hails from Australia and has a background in Australian Rules Football. He spent a bit of time with the Lions in 2023. A German, Metz spent time with the Bears last year but did not make their roster. He was not with a team during the season. If Murtaugh and Metz fail to make their respective team’s 53-man roster, they can be carried as a 17th practice squad player via the IPP program.

LT Alaric Jackson Signs Rams RFA Tender

April 15th, 2024 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams have their top free agent back in the fold, announcing Alaric Jackson signed his RFA tender. This transaction places Jackson under contract for 2024 and sets up an important year for the young blocker’s long-term future.

The rare UDFA to move into a role as a starting left tackle, Jackson received a second-round RFA tender in March. That entitles him to a $4.89MM salary. Unless he and the Rams agree on an extension before the season, that will be the Iowa alum’s 2024 salary. Only Jackson and 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings received second-round tenders this offseason.

Jackson, 25, usurped Joe Noteboom as the Rams’ left tackle last year, starting 15 games. Expected to remain in that role in 2024, Jackson has a big opportunity ahead. Barring an extension before the 2025 legal tampering period, Jackson is ticketed for unrestricted free agency next year.

Mid-April annually brings a deadline pertaining to RFAs. This year, the last date for RFAs to sign offer sheets with other teams looms on April 19. The league did see an offer sheet extended this offseason — the 49ers’ Brock Wright effort — but the Lions matched it. Although Jackson has shown himself to be a more important player, the Rams placing a second-round tender on him scared off other teams regarding an offer sheet. Had the Rams failed to match a Jackson contract proposal, they would have received a second-round pick as compensation.

Although the Rams signed Noteboom to a three-year, $39MM deal to succeed Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, he could not retain the job. Entering last season, Jackson had beaten out the former $13MM-per-year player — Noteboom has since taken a pay cut — for the blindside gig. Pro Football Focus slotted Jackson as a mid-pack tackle in 2023, ranking him 43rd at the position.

As of now, a notable crop of LTs are due to be 2025 UFAs. Ronnie Stanley, Taylor Decker, Garett Bolles, Jedrick Wills, Cam Robinson and Dan Moore are unsigned beyond 2024. So are 2021 first-rounders Christian Darrisaw and Rashawn Slater, though that will almost definitely change once the Vikings and Chargers respectively pick up their blind-siders’ fifth-year options. The Rams now have two big-ticket guard contracts on their payroll, via the Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson signings, so it will be interesting to see how they proceed with Jackson. Longtime Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein is signed through 2025.

CB Tre’Davious White Signs With Rams

April 12th, 2024 at 8:09am CST by Ely Allen

APRIL 12: White’s Rams pact will check in considerably south of that $8.5MM mark if the former All-Pro cannot become a defensive regular. This contract features a base value of $4.25MM, per OverTheCap, and carries a $3.25MM guarantee. White must play 60% of the Rams’ defensive snaps to bump the value to that $8.5MM place.

MARCH 26: The Rams continue to build a new look secondary, stacking serious talent at cornerback. After reuniting with Darious Williams two weeks ago, Los Angeles will set him up with an All-Pro on the other side of the field. Former Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White has announced his intentions to sign with the Rams. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, White will join the team on a one-year, $8.5MM deal with a maximum value of $10MM.

White was designated as a post-June 1 release, becoming a cap casualty shortly before the start of free agency. Buffalo will recover $10.2MM of cap space come June 2. Once it’s official, White will become a Ram, playing for a team other than the Bills for the first time in his NFL career.

A 2017 first-round pick out of LSU, White has enjoyed a seven-year career in Buffalo since getting drafted. In his first four years, White was the picture of elite cornerback play. Through four seasons, White tallied 54 passes defensed and 15 interceptions, as well as four forced fumbles and fumble recoveries apiece. For his efforts, White finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, made two Pro Bowls, and was voted to both first- and second-team All-Pro honors.

In 2021, he suffered a torn ACL after 11 games, cutting his season short. A three-sport athlete since middle school, White’s mental health suffered as a result of his forced inactivity during recovery. Slow-playing his recovery meant spending the first seven weeks of 2022 on injured reserve and missing three more games before finally making his return. Things went from bad to worse four games into 2023, when White suffered a torn Achilles tendon, another season-ending ailment.

Before signing, White made the rounds in his first bout with free agency. White spent time visiting the Rams, Raiders, Giants, and Titans. As much as these visits were for White to determine where he wanted to go, they also served as an opportunity for team doctors to feel out how White’s recovery was progressing. A big plus for both White and Los Angeles is that the Rams currently employ Dr. Neal ElAttrache as their team doctor. ElAttrache is the surgeon who repaired White’s Achilles tendon, and he and White have spent time together since with rehab, according to Schefter.

In Los Angeles, White should be allowed to return at his own pace. Derion Kendrick returns after starting 12 games last season, as does Cobie Durant who started nine games while manning the nickelback role in 2023. Although top cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon‘s contract expired, the addition of Williams more than makes up for his absence.

As White works to return to the field with the doctor that fixed his injury, the Rams should be able to field Williams, Kendrick, and Durant in the secondary. The value of White’s new contract, though, seems to imply that Los Angeles doesn’t anticipate being without White for long.

Draft Notes: Titans, Alt, Chargers, Jags, Hawks, Cardinals, Bucs, Pats, Latu, Rams

April 11th, 2024 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cutting Andre Dillard and not replacing him to this point, the Titans have a clear left tackle need going into a draft loaded with high-end prospects at the position. The Titans are “definitely” interested in Joe Alt, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller writes, noting the team’s recent visit and Combine meeting with the two-time All-American. But the Chargers should be considered a team to watch for the Notre Dame alum. The Bolts, whose first-round slot (No. 5) is two in front of the Titans’, have a clear wide receiver need but have hired a coach (Jim Harbaugh) who has not emphasized that position.

Alt continues to come up in connection to the Chargers at 5, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds, and SI.com’s Albert Breer is not sure the Titans will have a chance at the decorated blocker due to the Bolts staying drafting Alt at 5. Alt would replace Trey Pipkins at right tackle in this scenario. Alt was a left tackle for the Fighting Irish and would step in there immediately if he lasted until the Titans at 7. One avenue for Tennessee to have a shot here would be if the Bolts trade down — a move they have made it known they are willing to make. Other quality tackles like Alabama’s JC Latham and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga could be options for the Bolts if they move down, Reid adds.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • Personnel around the NFL are tying the Jaguars to a cornerback investment at No. 17, Reid adds in the above-referenced ESPN piece. Jacksonville has hosted both Alabama CBs — Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry — and has a need at the position due to the Darious Williams cut. The Jags signed Ronald Darby, but the 30-year-old CB is signed to a two-year deal that can be shed easily in 2025. A young corner to pair with Tyson Campbell would make sense. With Josh Allen signed long term and Trevor Lawrence perhaps on deck this year, the Jags finding quality starters on rookie contracts will be paramount.
  • The Cardinals and Seahawks have hosted Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson on visits this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. The ex-Nittany Lions sack artist has been busy during the draft run-up, having already met with the Eagles, Ravens, Saints, Giants and Jets. Robinson would come into play for the Cardinals if they moved down from No. 4, but Arizona — which certainly needs help on the edge — also holds the No. 27 choice courtesy of its Texans trade early in last year’s draft. The Seahawks hold the No. 16 selection. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com mock draft sends Robinson to the Buccaneers at 26.
  • Speaking of the Bucs, they recently brought in Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley for a pre-draft meeting, Pelissero tweets. The Bucs have plenty of money allocated to the receiver position, with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on deals north of the $20MM-AAV mark. Corley profiles as a second-round option in a deep receiver draft, with teams who pass on filling a WR need in Round 1 likely paying attention to the ex-Hilltoppers standout’s status entering Day 2. The Browns, Ravens, Seahawks and 49ers have also scheduled Corley visits.
  • Moving to another Day 2-level wideout, Troy Franklin is believed to have scheduled a Patriots meeting, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan tweets. The Patriots not landing Calvin Ridley places them on the radar for a wideout in Round 2, assuming they fill their QB need at No. 3 overall. The Pats did sign K.J. Osborn and kept Kendrick Bourne off the market, but the team’s rookie QB will need more help.
  • Most teams to meet with UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu have cleared him medically, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline, who indicates the Rams are one of them. A neck issue forced a Latu medical retirement in 2020, and the ex-Washington recruit missed the 2021 season. He re-emerged to post back-to-back double-digit sack seasons in L.A., and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes edge rusher is a priority for the Rams. With Aaron Donald gone and the team not making any additions here in free agency, that adds up. The reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has already met with the Eagles, Bears, Broncos, Vikings and Cardinals.

Rams Re-Sign LB Troy Reeder

April 11th, 2024 at 6:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Troy Reeder‘s run in Los Angeles will continue. After leaving the Rams for the Chargers in 2022, the veteran linebacker returned to the NFC’s L.A. franchise last year. The Rams still have Reeder in their plans.

The Rams re-signed Reeder on Thursday, per a team announcement. The former UDFA started six games for the 2023 Rams edition and has made 31 starts for the team since arriving in the NFL in 2019. Also lining up as a Super Bowl LVI contributor, Reeder is readying for a fifth season with the team.

[RELATED: Rams Pursued LB Andrew Van Ginkel]

Reeder’s only NFL stretch outside L.A. came when he signed a one-year deal with the Vikings last year. Minnesota did not carry Reeder onto its initial 53-man roster, leading to a return to the Rams via the practice squad. The Rams quickly called up the veteran defender and used him in all 17 regular-season games. Reeder, 29, logged 192 snaps on defense and was on the field for 59% of the Rams’ special teams plays. The Delaware native will be back as a key depth piece.

Sean McVay‘s team has turned to Reeder regularly, and he has offered a low-cost solution for a Rams team that has continually kept LB costs low — save for its 2022 Bobby Wagner contract — since releasing Mark Barron. Reeder was not teammates with Wagner, playing with the Chargers in 2022. The Bolts used Reeder strictly as a backup, doing so despite the ex-Blue Hen notching 91 tackles and two sacks for the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning iteration in 2021.

Pro Football Focus offered Reeder a much better assessment in 2020 compared to 2021, when he dropped from 27th to 72nd in LB rankings on the advanced metrics site. Reeder recorded three sacks and 81 tackles in 2020, making seven starts. He made 10 in 2021 and was in the starting lineup for three Los Angeles playoff games. Reeder played 21 snaps in Super Bowl LVI, which came after he was out there on 96% of the Rams’ defensive plays in the NFC championship game — an eight-tackle performance.

The Rams still have Ernest Jones as their LB centerpiece, though extension talks are not on tap ahead of the season. PFF ranked L.A.’s other off-ball LB regular — Christian Rozeboom — as a bottom-five player at the position in 2023. The Rams have not made any outside additions at this spot this offseason, but with Jones going into a contract year and the team regularly opting to save money at this position, it would be surprising if help was not coming via the draft.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024

April 10th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Higbee, 49ers

April 9th, 2024 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks are conducting a thorough search for interior offensive line help. This has included three visits with veterans thus far. Following the news of Greg Van Roten and Lucas Patrick‘s visits, Ike Boettger has spoken with the team. Boettger, 29, made a trip to Seattle on Monday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The former Bills starter spent last season with the Colts. The Seahawks let Damien Lewis walk in free agency and have not re-signed 2023 starter Phil Haynes. As the team transitions to Ryan Grubb as its play-caller, it appears clear a veteran free agent will be part of the equation at guard.

Considering how Boettger’s career has gone since a December 2021 Achilles tear, he would qualify as a depth-level addition. Boettger, who started 17 Bills games at guard from 2020-21, was not activated off Buffalo’s PUP list until mid-December of 2022. He only played in one game that season and was active for just two Colts contests last year.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • Tyler Higbee is expected to begin training camp on the Rams‘ active/PUP list, Sean McVay said recently. Considering the timing of Higbee’s ACL tear (Los Angeles’ wild-card loss), it would not surprise to see the veteran tight end transferred to the reserve/PUP list to start the season. Higbee, 31, is going into his ninth season with the Rams. The longtime starter is on his third contract (two years, $17MM); that deal runs through 2025. If Higbee is shifted to the reserve/PUP list, he would miss the Rams’ first four games. The team added ex-Seahawk Colby Parkinson in free agency; Parkinson spent the past three seasons playing in ex-McVay staffer Shane Waldron‘s offense, making for a smooth transition.
  • The 49ers have received better injury news regarding their top tight end. George Kittle underwent core muscle surgery recently, but John Lynch said (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) the All-Pro is not in danger of missing training camp time. Ditto Charvarius Ward, who also underwent core surgery early this offseason. Ward is going into a contract year, while Kittle still has two years remaining on the $15MM-per-year extension he signed in 2020. Both were All-Pros last season.
  • The Rams dived into the guard market’s deep waters this year, re-signing Kevin Dotson and adding Jonah Jackson. They also added Parkinson and brought back Darious Williams. These deals, as The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue points out, largely overlap with the rookie contracts of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams and Kobie Turner. Players are also more interested in shorter-term deals now, as the cap spikes at record-setting levels. “I think you’ve seen that trend in the league, players want shorter deals,” Rams VP of football ops Tony Pastoors said. “It allows them to get back to free agency. As the cap continues to grow, they’re not stuck in a deal they are unhappy with because the numbers are antiquated. … I think the other part of it is probably just the evolution of Sean and Les (Snead), and wanting to be able to make moves and make adjustments and not have huge ramifications.”
  • Not long after the Steelers added Cordarrelle Patterson with an eye on the NFL’s radical kickoff change, the Seahawks have the same plan in mind for recent pickup Laviska Shenault. GM John Schneider said (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta) the team signed the former second-round pick to be a return-game weapon. The 220-pound wideout, who will also serve as a Seattle backup receiver, only returned nine kickoffs while on his rookie contract. Each came with the Panthers over the past two seasons. But he showed some big-play ability in Carolina and Jacksonville. As the kickoff receives a revival (on a trial basis), the Seahawks had a target in mind to take advantage.
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