Draft Rumors: Williams, Colts, Cardinals, Texans, Broncos
After breaking out in his lone Alabama season, Jameson Williams encountered a significant hurdle to close his junior year. The ACL tear Williams suffered in the national championship game damaged his pre-draft stock, but it appears to be rebounding. Williams is now expected to be taken in the top 10, Chris Mortensen of ESPN said recently (h/t Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com; Twitter link). ESPN ranks Williams as its No. 4 wideout prospect, at No. 19 overall, behind ex-Ohio State teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and USC’s Drake London. When available in 2021, the slender Crimson Tide wideout showed game-breaking speed in a monster statistical season. The 6-foot-1 transfer get totaled 1,572 yards (19.9 per catch) and 15 touchdowns. That total surpasses other first-round Tide wideout draftees like Julio Jones, Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle‘s final-season production at the SEC powerhouse. ACL tears are obviously not the deterrents they once were, and teams eyeing Williams through a long-range lens would make sense.
Here is the latest from the draft:
- In what would seemingly be a meet-and-greet, as opposed to something indicating a potential draft choice, the Colts scheduled a Malik Willis visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Indianapolis traded its 2022 first-round pick to Philadelphia for Carson Wentz last year and acquired Matt Ryan to be its starter for at least the next two seasons. Willis would profile as a developmental prospect behind Ryan, but the Colts not having a pick until No. 42 makes a partnership unrealistic. The Liberty prospect has visited the Falcons and Panthers, and the Steelers have been linked to the Group of 5 passing prospect as well. The Colts could acquire another potential Ryan heir apparent in Round 2, but they make more sense as a QB suitor in 2023.
- The Texans have another veteran stable of running backs, having added Marlon Mack to a group that includes Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman, but the rebuilding team could use younger talent here. Iowa State’s Breece Hall is viewed by some as this draft’s top back, and he visited the Texans on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. After its two first-round picks, Houston holds the No. 37 overall selection. That would be the most logical window for Hall to become a Texan, barring a trade. The Bills, Commanders and Giants have also met with Hall.
- Losing Chandler Jones in free agency after seeing J.J. Watt battle more major injury trouble, the Cardinals could use pass-rushing help. They met with a first-round talent recently, hosting Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis, Pelissero tweets. The 266-pound rusher did not post eye-popping stats (14 sacks in three seasons) but is viewed as a solid all-around prospect, whom NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah compares to fellow ex-Boilermaker Ryan Kerrigan.
- Russell Wilson‘s Denver arrival ensured the Broncos do not hold a draft choice until No. 64, but they are meeting with a higher-end tackle prospect. Tulsa’s Tyler Smith visited the Broncos recently, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The Broncos signed Billy Turner and Tom Compton; one is likely to become Denver’s 10th Week 1 right tackle in 10 years. But the team has long needed a young answer at this position. Smith rates as Jeremiah’s No. 41 overall prospect but sits 58th on ESPN’s big board.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/11/22
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Cody Conway
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DE Tashawn Bower
- Released, NFI: OT Kamaal Seymour
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 4/11/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Signed:
- Broncos: LB Malik Reed
- Jaguars: S Andrew Wingard
ERFAs
Signed:
- Cardinals: RB Jonathan Ward
- Broncos: S P.J. Locke, QB Brett Rypien
- Chargers: TE Donald Parham
- Jaguars: LB Jamir Jones
- Lions: P Jack Fox
- Raiders: TE Nick Bowers, S Roderic Teamer
Broncos GM On Trades, Draft, Free Agency
Since George Paton took over as Broncos GM last year, the team traded the previous regime’s highest-profile player and now has a new one. Both transactions came via blockbuster trades, with the capital acquired from the first helping the Broncos pull off the second.
Denver dealt Von Miller to Los Angeles for second- and third-round 2022 picks. That ended up being a win-win-win deal, with the Rams claiming a Super Bowl title, the Broncos having enough draft picks to feel comfortable parting with a big haul for Russell Wilson, and Miller’s post-trade rebound enticing the Bills to submit a strong free agency offer. The Broncos’ years-long quarterback issue hovered at the root of the Miller trade.
“I love Von, but we knew we weren’t good enough with Von to get to where we needed to go at that point,” Paton said via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue (subscription required). “I knew in the next year or two we needed to get a quarterback. We needed to break through, [be it] trading up in the draft or via trade; free agency, you’re probably not going to get your franchise guy. So we were just going to keep accumulating picks until we got a quarterback. It’s hard to win if you don’t get that guy.”
Paton successfully filled one of the NFL’s longest-standing needs by acquiring Wilson for a package that included three players, two first-round picks, two second-rounders and a fifth. The Miller trade, however, leaves the Broncos with three Day 2 picks this year. Without first-rounders this year and next, the second day of this year’s draft figures to be quite important for a Denver team that will have a franchise-quarterback salary on its books in the not-too-distant future.
Denver, which had started 11 quarterbacks since Peyton Manning‘s retirement, has not carried a notable QB salary on its books since Joe Flacco‘s in 2019. Wilson is set to count just $24MM against the Broncos’ cap this season. While an extension is fully expected to commence by the 2023 season, it is not yet certain a new deal will be in place this year.
“You build a different way,” Paton said of how the Broncos will need to construct future rosters. “You aren’t going to go on a spending splurge every free agency; you just can’t. The model doesn’t work like that. We realize — we had all of these talks about how, three years down the road, how this impacts us.
“Do we have to hit on picks? Yeah. Everyone has to hit on their picks. But the stakes are higher. You gotta hit on the sixth-rounder, the seventh-round safety or else the model doesn’t work. We embrace the challenge just as we embrace the opportunity to have a guy like Russ.”
Paton’s first Broncos draft included cornerstones like Patrick Surtain and Javonte Williams, along with rookie-year contributors in offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz (Round 3), safety Caden Sterns (Round 5), linebacker Baron Browning (Round 3) and edge rusher Jonathon Cooper (Round 7). Nathaniel Hackett has Meinerz, who became a starter after a midseason Graham Glasgow injury, installed as the team’s starting right guard. With a Wilson extension expected to be in the $50MM-per-year ballpark on the horizon, the Broncos will need more low-cost contributors in this draft.
TE Kyle Rudolph Met With Broncos
After getting cut by the Giants in early March, Kyle Rudolph has finally appeared in the workout circuit. According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer (on Twitter), the veteran tight end met with the Broncos recently.
[RELATED: Giants To Release Kyle Rudolph]
The Giants inked Rudolph to a two-year, $12MM deal in March of 2021, but following a season where the tight end finished with only 26 catches for 357 yards and one touchdown, the team released him to save about $2.5MM. Following his release, Rudolph indicated that he wouldn’t be hanging up his cleats, with the 32-year-old stating that he was “looking forward to what’s next.”
The 2011 second-round pick spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he hauled in 48 touchdowns in 140 games. Rudolph earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2012 and 2017, although his best offensive season came in 2016 when he finished with 83 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Current Broncos GM George Paton was the Vikings’ director of player personnel when the tight end was drafted.
The Broncos included tight end Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade, leaving the organization with Albert Okwuegbunam as their top receiving tight end. The Broncos also added tight end Eric Tomlinson, although the veteran is better known for his blocking ability.
Broncos Re-Sign S Kareem Jackson
Kareem Jackson will be back in Denver next season. Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post reports (via Twitter) that the veteran safety is re-signing with the Broncos. The 33-year-old is inking a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Broncos, Kareem Jackson]
The 2010 first-round pick spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Texans before inking a three-year, $33MM deal with the Broncos in 2019. The Broncos declined his option last offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent, but he ended up reupping with the organization on a one-year, $5MM deal.
In three seasons in Denver, Jackson has started all 44 of his appearances, collecting 248 tackles, four interceptions, and 16 passes defended. He had another 16 interceptions in 132 games with the Texans.
While Broncos GM George Paton believes in 2021 fifth-round pick Caden Sterns, the organization understands that they couldn’t rely on the sophomore as they look to make a playoff run. As Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets, the Broncos believe Jackson has set a high bar on defense, and his leadership and physicality will continue to be relied on throughout the 2022 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/5/22
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Jesper Horsted
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: LB Jonas Griffith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE J.P. Holtz
New York Jets
- Signed: T Greg Senat
Latest On Melvin Gordon
As one of the top remaining options at the running back position, Melvin Gordon is a name worth watching in the secondary waves of free agency. As Pro Football Network’s Mike Florio details, there has been a notable update with respect to his financial future. 
Gordon has changed agents in the middle of the offseason. Instead of Fletcher Smith and Damarius Bilbo, he will now be represented by Brian Murphy and Joe Panos from Athletes First. It had been recently reported that the Broncos were one of multiple teams interested in Gordon, so the veteran does seem to have generated a market for himself. Regardless of where he lands next, though, he is likely to earn much less than he did on his previous contract.
Florio reports that the 28-year-old’s market “is believed to be in the range of $2.5MM on a one-year deal”. That would mark a steep pay cut compared to the two-year, $16MM deal he signed in Denver two seasons ago. The former Charger was productive in his time with the Broncos, posting over 1,100 scrimmage yards and exactly 10 touchdowns in each campaign. Given those numbers, it didn’t come as a surprise that there was said to be a mutual interest between he and the team for a new contract.
However, the presence of 2021 second-round pick Javonte Williams complicates the matter. Operating in a time share with Gordon, Williams flashed the potential to take over as an undisputed No. 1 back last season. Even if Gordon does re-sign, then, it would only make sense to do so at a significantly reduced rate and with – quite likely – a smaller workload. With new representation, a new deal (from Denver or another club) could be coming sooner rather than later.
Broncos’ Randy Gregory Underwent Shoulder Scope
In the midst of his dramatic change of heart in free agency, defensive end Randy Gregory has also been facing a lingering shoulder issue. He recently took steps to address the matter, reports Mike Klis of 9News. 
[RELATED: Gregory Signs With Broncos; Nixes Cowboys Deal]
As Klis details, the 29-year-old “underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his rotator cuff”. Other options were available, but both he and the Broncos agreed upon his signing that the scope would produce the best long-term benefits. He will rehab the shoulder throughout the offseason, but is expected to be recovered in time for the start of the 2022 campaign.
Gregory, a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2015, played five seasons in Dallas. Dealing with multiple injury and suspension issues, he grew into his role with the team and began living up to his potential. In 2021, he totalled six sacks and three forced fumbles as part of the Cowboys’ vaunted pass rush.
That led to a new deal being agreed upon for him to remain in the Lone Star State. However, he ultimately pivoted to Denver, inking a contract with the same length (five years) and financial terms ($14MM per season, with $28MM in guaranteed money) as the one he was in line to sign in Dallas.
Now officially a Bronco, Gregory is set up to begin his tenure there with the hopes of putting one of his injury problems to rest. Assuming he is healthy by the start of the regular season, he should have a large role to play on Denver’s defense as he tries to live up to the billing of that new contract.
Quinn Meinerz To Remain Broncos RG
- Quinn Meinerz did not open last season as a Broncos starter, but the Division III product looks set to do so in 2022. Nathaniel Hackett envisions Meinerz as the team’s starting right guard, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post notes. “The sky is the limit” for Meinerz, said Hackett, who plans to keep Graham Glasgow‘s midseason replacement in the lineup. That leaves Glasgow’s role uncertain. The 2020 UFA addition has been the Broncos’ starting right guard when healthy over the past two seasons, but he played center for 16 games with the 2018 Lions. Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry has not missed a snap during his initial two NFL seasons, but Pro Football Focus graded the former third-rounder as the team’s worst O-line starter last season.