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Latest On DT Jalen Carter’s Draft Stock

April 22nd, 2023 at 10:06am CST by Ben Levine

Jalen Carter‘s troubling pre-draft process reportedly led some teams to completely remove the Georgia defensive lineman from their draft boards.. Carter is unlikely to climb back into the top-four, but his draft stock may not have taken as big of a hit as initially anticipated. Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork.com writes that teams still have the defensive tackle as the top-graded player on their draft boards.

Carter will not face jail time in connection with the misdemeanor charges he faced after two members of Georgia’s football program, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, died in car accident. Further, the defensive lineman had a weak pro day, but it sounds like the prospect did some work to repair his image during his private workouts with NFL teams.

Sources told Tashan Reed of The Athletic that Carter remains atop the Raiders draft board. While the organization is aware of “how drafting Carter could garner a negative reaction” following Henry Ruggs‘ fatal DUI felony charge, the front office has also done their due diligence on the prospect.

“We looked at Jalen like every other player that’s in the draft,” Raiders GM Dave Ziegler said. “I don’t think we want to cheat the process with any prospect in that regard. We want to hit those bases for each individual prospect. And, of course, on some prospects it’s deeper; there’s just more things to look at and more things to consider based on their situation. Jalen, in that regard, was similar to a lot of players in the draft and we feel very comfortable with the work that we’ve done on him.”

Lions general manager Brad Holmes shared a similar sentiment about Carter. While the executive didn’t elaborate as much as Ziegler, he did acknowledge that the front office “felt better” about the lineman following his in-person visit (per NFL Network’s James Palmer on Twitter).

Carter’s agent declared no visits to teams without a top-10 pick would take place, putting the Lions (No. 6) and Raiders (No. 7) in prime position to select the Georgia product without making a trade. In addition to those two organizations, Carter has also visited with the Seahawks (No. 5), Falcons (No. 8), Bears (No. 9) and Eagles (No. 10).

NFL Suspends Lions WR Jameson Williams For Gambling; Four Others Banned

April 21st, 2023 at 10:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

A year after Calvin Ridley drew an indefinite suspension for gambling, the NFL will ban another prominent wide receiver. Jameson Williams received a suspension for violating the NFL’s betting policy, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms (Twitter link).

The NFL also suspended Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus for gambling. Williams will be sidelined six games, according to the Lions. The Lions have since waived Cephus and released safety C.J. Moore, whom the league also hit with a suspension. The NFL also suspended Lions wideout Stanley Berryhill and Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, Rapoport reports.

Cephus and Moore received indefinite suspensions, which will cover at least the 2023 season. A former fifth-round Lions pick, Cephus had been with the team since 2020. Moore resided as a core Lions special-teamer over the past four seasons.

Williams and Berryhill remain with the Lions. Berryhill joined the 2022 first-round pick in drawing a six-game ban. Toney, a 2021 seventh-round Washington draftee, received an indefinite suspension. Toney remains with the Commanders.

“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”

This obviously represents a bad look for the two franchises and the NFL, coming not long after the league reinstated Ridley from his year-long suspension. The league’s policy permits players to bet on sports — just not NFL games — but prevents player bets while in team facilities. The NFL did not find the four Lions or Toney used inside information, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter), but Friday’s news still stands to alter the Lions’ plans at wide receiver. Williams and Berryhill made mobile bets on non-NFL sporting events while in the Lions’ facility, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com adds.

The Lions traded up 20 spots to draft Williams 12th overall last year, doing so despite the Alabama-developed speedster suffering a torn ACL in the previous national championship game. Williams missed 11 games last season and caught just one pass — a 41-yard touchdown — upon returning; the Lions used their rehabbing receiver sparingly. But Williams was set to be a key component of the Lions’ 2023 offense. Those plans are on hold. Williams and Berryhill will be permitted to participate in offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games, per NFL rules, but the receivers will then be shut down until Week 7.

Additionally, the Lions fired several staffers last month for violating the gambling policy, Woodyard reports. The Lions first learned of the NFL’s investigation in March. The staffers’ dismissals coupled with the four player suspensions point to a widespread problem — regarding rule awareness at the very least — among the Lions here. Williams’ agency indicates (via Rapoport) the second-year wideout accepts responsibility for his infraction but notes the penalty stems from an otherwise-legal bet — just one that took place on team property. Players are also prohibited from making bets on team planes or in hotels on the road.

For decades, the NFL featured a short list of players banned for gambling policy violations. That number has grown substantially over the past four years. Friday’s news runs the number of NFL players suspended for gambling to seven since 2019, following Ridley and defensive back Josh Shaw. Ridley is on track to return to action as a Jaguar; Shaw never played again after his ban.

A former UDFA, Berryhill played four games for the Lions last season. Toney served as a backup pass rusher in 16 with the Commanders in 2022. He did not record a sack last season but registered 1.5 as a rookie in 2021. Toney’s future with the NFC East team should certainly be considered in doubt. Should Toney be back with the Commanders in 2024, two years will still remain on his rookie contract. This suspension will lead to the deal tolling.

As for the Lions, their receiver situation suddenly looks quite different. Williams was set to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and the recently reacquired Marvin Jones as the team’s top receivers. Josh Reynolds also remains under contract. The Lions signed Jones on March 29; it is fair to wonder if the NFL’s investigation into Williams and Cephus played a part in that move. Of course, the Lions re-signed Moore on March 18; the organization clearly learned of this investigation after that date. Cephus joined Berryhill in only playing in four games last season, but the three-year veteran represented depth for a position group that lost DJ Chark this offseason.

Lions, QB Jared Goff Haven’t Talked Extension

April 18th, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Ben Levine

With Jalen Hurts on the brink of officially inking a record-breaking contract, the focus has turned to other extension-eligible quarterbacks. One signal caller who has flown under the radar in that discussion is Lions QB Jared Goff. Speaking to reporters today, the veteran acknowledged that he hasn’t had extension talks with Detroit’s front office.

“I mean, of course you’d be open,” Goff said of signing an extension (via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News). “It hasn’t been brought to my attention, but yeah, of course open to anything. Not up to me. I’m a player, I don’t have to make those decisions. And if I did, I would have made that decision a long time ago: Give me and all my friends all the money in the world. But I just get to play, and if that comes about, that’d be great. But we’ll see.”

As Rogers notes, there’s no rush to sign Goff to an extension; the quarterback still has two years remaining on the four-year, $134MM deal he signed with the Rams back in 2019. However, the writer also notes that there are plenty of reasons why the two sides should explore a new deal.

For starters, QB contracts continue to jump, and Goff’s asking price will likely increase as each quarterback signs an extension. Goff already finds himself 12th at the position in average annual value, and he’ll continue to fall down that list as younger QBs continue to reset the market. Fortunately for the Lions, Goff understands the business and acknowledged that his ranking at the position was always going to fall.

“That’s how the league goes,” Goff told Rogers. “Guy gets paid, and then 10 more guys get paid, you’re toward the bottom. Hopefully (you sign again), and things go like this. Yeah, hopefully I can play for a long time, play in this league, win games, win championships, and the money and the contract all comes with that. But just enjoying your time in the present, enjoying the people around you and your teammates, is the most important thing. All that will come.”

After being ousted in Los Angeles and winning only three games during his Lions debut, Goff rebounded in 2022. He finished the season with 29 touchdowns (his highest total since 2018) and a career-low seven interceptions while guiding the Lions to an inspiring 9-8 record. Goff earned his third career Pro Bowl nod at the end of the season.

Falcons Hosting DT Jalen Carter

April 18th, 2023 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

After his agent declared no visits to teams without a top-10 pick would take place, Jalen Carter is wrapping up his run of meetings with teams in that range. The last stop: the Falcons, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Carter visited the Lions (No. 6) on Monday, Schefter adds (on Twitter), and has met with the Seahawks (No. 5), Bears (No. 9) and Eagles (No. 10). A report last week indicated Carter had not yet visited the Raiders (No. 7), but Schefter notes the oft-discussed defensive tackle did make a trip to Las Vegas for that previously reported meeting. Carter will close out his pre-draft itinerary with the Falcons meeting today.

[RELATED: Falcons Taking “Serious Look” At QB Prospects?]

Seeing as teams use their “30” visits to look into players with injury pasts or off-field concerns, Carter has been a popular player on the interview circuit. An arrest warrant emerged in connection with the car accident that killed two members of the Georgia football program, breaking up Carter’s Combine. Carter has since reached a plea agreement and will not serve jail time for his alleged role in the January accident, but teams understandably want to do as much work as they can before considering a Carter investment.

Multiple teams are believed to have taken Carter off their draft boards. In addition to being present at the scene on the night of the accident and drawing charges of reckless driving and speeding, the top-tier prospect was previously ticketed (by Athens, Ga., police) for driving 89 mph in a 45-mph zone in September 2022; Carter received a $1K fine for that violation.

While Carter’s reputation has taken a significant hit during this pre-draft process, he continues to be viewed as a top-10 pick. Carter expects the arrest to affect his draft stock but appeared to indicate not every team that has hosted him asked him about it.

“A couple teams asked me about it, but they really didn’t get too in depth about the accident,” Carter said during an HBO Real Sports piece (h/t Pro Football Talk). “They just wanted to hear my side and that was it. … Yeah, I feel like [the January incident] is gonna matter a little bit. Because, you know, NFL teams look deep into your life. But it could’ve been something I did back in elementary [school]. You know, I’m pretty sure they’d know. So you know, this coming out at the time it did come out I’m pretty sure is going to affect a little bit.”

The Falcons have made multiple major moves to address their defensive line this offseason, agreeing to terms with David Onyemata shortly after the legal tampering period began and later signing Calais Campbell despite the Jets pushing to add him. Only the Bears finished with fewer sacks than the Falcons (21) last season.

An Apopka, Fla., native, Carter became an integral part of Georgia’s back-to-back national championships before declaring for the draft after three seasons. Both ESPN’s Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah rank the 314-pound defender as this year’s fifth-best prospect.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/23

April 17th, 2023 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Teams with returning head coaches are now free to begin offseason workouts, leading to this high number of RFA and ERFA tenders being signed. Bryant and Reaves signed the low-end tender, while the Packers gave Nijman a second-round tender. Bryant and Reaves are tied to $2.62MM salaries; Nijman is attached to a $4.3MM number. Nijman has both played left and right tackle, settling in at the latter spot after the Packers moved Elgton Jenkins back to guard last season. ERFAs are two years from unrestricted free agency; RFAs are one year away.

An August shoulder injury cost Williams his 2022 season, but the former second-round pick was trending in the wrong direction with the Patriots. New England chose Williams 45th overall in 2019 but used him as a starter only once. New Vikings DC Brian Flores was no longer with the Pats when they drafted Williams, 25, but the team will take a flier on the Vanderbilt alum.

Lions Re-Sign CB Saivion Smith

April 17th, 2023 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Saivion Smith‘s most recent NFL action saw him taken off the field by an ambulance, marking a frightening end to his 2022 campaign. The 25-year-old is set to continue his career in Detroit, however, as he has a new deal in place with the Lions, per a team announcement.

Smith suffered a neck injury in Week 5 which led to serious questions about his playing future, given the nature in which he left the field and the attention which was necessary afterwards. He underwent neck fusion surgery in November, and has been recovering since.

His progress on that front has obviously been sufficient for the Lions to bring him back into the fold for at least training camp. The 25-year-old was making his season debut when the injury occurred, but he had been promoted from the practice squad to the starting lineup that week as a reaction to the team’s woeful start to the campaign on the defensive side of the ball. Smith was unable to carve out a long-term role for himself due to the missed time from surgery, but he will get the opportunity to do so in 2023.

The Lions have made a number of moves in the secondary this offseason, including the signings of Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency. Those two will give the team a pair of starting-caliber options in the CBs room, and their arrivals made 2020 third overall pick Jeff Okudah easier to move on from. Detroit sent the latter to Atlanta as a way of giving both parties a fresh start and of furthering their changes to their backend.

Retaining Smith will give the Lions a degree of continuity at that spot, though. The former UDFA has been in Detroit since partway through the 2021 campaign, and has experience on special teams dating back to his time with the Cowboys and 49ers. He will look to establish himself as at least a third phase contributor upon returning to the field, with the chance for a rotational defensive role potentially in sight if he can recover in full.

Utah TE Dalton Kincaid Cleared Before Draft

April 16th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Ely Allen

This year’s draft class is extremely deep at the tight end position, and one of the top prospects faced the additional challenge of a recent injury. Despite a back injury suffered late in the season, Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid has officially been cleared for football activity prior to the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Dr. Robert Watkins sent an email to NFL teams fully clearing the 23-year-old. “Dalton Kincaid sustained a back injury while playing football on 11/26/2022,” the email said. “Subsequent MRIs have shown appropriate healing, and he has been asymptomatic with no pain and no limitation of function for at least 3 months. He is cleared to play football with no restrictions.”

The injury caused him to miss the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine, and a shoulder injury forced him to miss time earlier in the year, as well. The injury issues don’t help concerns about his smaller frame for an NFL tight end. Yet, Kincaid is still a stellar pass-catching option who caught at least eight touchdowns in four of five college seasons (the fifth being the COVID-shortened season).

The full clearance is big for Kincaid, who is expected to be selected in the first round later this month. He and Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer are widely anticipated to go on Day 1, while Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave and Georgia’s Darnell Washington have a chance, as well. With such a deep class, a nagging back injury could’ve really hurt Kincaid’s draft stock; a full clearance should keep Kincaid with his status as a consensus top two tight end in the draft.

With injury concerns out of the way, Kincaid has had several visits planned with NFL teams. The Ute met with the Bengals and Patriots this past week and has plans to visit the Packers in the week to come. Prior to those visits, Kincaid had spent time with the Texans, Raiders, Chargers, Jaguars, Titans, Lions, Chiefs, and Cowboys.

Lions DL Levi Onwuzurike Facing Uncertain Future

April 15th, 2023 at 6:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions took a risk when they drafted Levi Onwuzurike in 2021. The back issues the defensive lineman faced in college have remained at the NFL level, and they have put his playing future at risk.

Onwuzurike entered the league with plenty of promise and expectations as a second-round pick. He was able to play 16 games as a rookie, despite missed time in the summer due to chronic back ailments. The Washington product showed potential in a rotational role, totaling 35 tackles while adding one sack and two tackles for loss.

That could have provided a stepping stone to a larger workload in 2022, but Onwuzurike re-aggravated his existing issue during the first practice of the summer, resulting in an IR stint. By October, it had become clear that suiting up this season would not have been possible. As a result, he underwent surgery aimed at giving him the best chance possible of continuing his career in 2023 and beyond. When providing an update on his status, head coach Dan Campbell was unable to definitively point to a return at any time in the future.

“We just need to see how it is,” he said, via Kyle Meinke of mlive.com (subscription required). “We talked to him a couple of weeks ago, he was doing good. The rehab has gone well, but you just don’t know. You don’t know with a back. But I mean certainly, he’s going to get an opportunity if the body will allow it.”

Indeed, a path to significant playing time certainly exists for Onwuzurike. The 25-year-old has little in the way of veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, especially since Detroit moved on from Michael Brockers earlier this offseason. The team’s other moves along the defensive interior have included re-signing Isaiah Buggs, Benito Jones and John Cominsky. An outside addition late in free agency and/or a notable investment in the draft would come as little surprise given the Lions’ situation at the position. Particularly if Onwuzurike isn’t able to practice and play on a consistent basis, such action may become necessary.

Draft Rumors: Murphy, Banks, Branch, Forbes, Torrence

April 12th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top edge defenders available in the draft, Clemson’s Myles Murphy will have a busy week. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher met with the Jaguars earlier this week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets, and Bengals, Falcons and Texans visits are on tap for one of Clemson’s two first-round-caliber D-line talents. Joining D-tackle Bryan Bresee on this front, Murphy submitted a consistent resume at the ACC power. In three seasons, the 268-pound edge recorded 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. The Jaguars, who have drafted an edge in Round 1 three times since 2019, go on the clock at No. 24. The Bengals, who have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard signed beyond 2023, hold the No. 28 pick. The Texans (Nos. 2, 12) and Falcons (No. 8) are needier on the edge, but their draft slots might not align with a player ranked just outside the top 20.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • Both Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah grade Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks just outside the top 20 as well, but he appears to be interviewing well with teams and trending upward. The Commanders, Ravens and Steelers are three of the teams impressed by Banks, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, who adds others are intrigued by the 6-foot cover man. The Raiders will host the former Big Ten defender today, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The Steelers will be connected to Round 1 corners, having lost Cameron Sutton, and the Ravens have not re-signed Marcus Peters. Both Washington and Pittsburgh cut William Jackson over the past seven months. The Raiders, who have not re-signed Rock Ya-Sin, seemingly have a perpetual cornerback need.
  • In addition to Emmanuel Forbes‘ Lions visit, the Mississippi State corner is a popular pre-draft guest. The Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, Steelers, Titans and Vikings are on his visit schedule, Jon Sokoloff of WCBI tweets, with Wilson adding the Bengals and Commanders will take a look as well. Forbes’ frame will certainly come up at these meetings. Despite posting a Division I FBS-record six pick-sixes and intercepting 14 passes in three seasons, Forbes being 6-foot and 166 pounds will be an issue for teams. Nevertheless, he profiles as a late-first-round talent.
  • Staying on the DB front, Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the best bet for safety-needy teams in what is viewed as a weak class at the position. The Falcons, Commanders, Raiders, Texans and Vikings are on Branch’s pre-draft itinerary, per Wilson, who adds the Bills have a workout scheduled for the multiyear Crimson Tide contributor as well. Branch has extensive slot experience as well, providing potential flexibility for teams considering him in the late first round.
  • Like Branch, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence profiles as the top player at his position going into the draft. The Louisiana transfer became a consensus All-American in 2022, and the Bills, Commanders and Steelers have auditioned him thus far, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). Each of these teams have added at guard already this offseason. The Steelers signed both Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, while the Bills signed Connor McGovern. The Commanders signed ex-Giant Nick Gates but have plans to use him at center, where he played before a severe September 2021 injury sidetracked his career.

Emmanuel Forbes, O’Cyrus Torrence, Brian Branch On Lions’ Visit Schedule

April 11th, 2023 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Connected to bigger names at No. 6 overall, the Lions have two first-rounders. Players who should be expected to factor into Detroit’s second selection — No. 18 — are showing up on their pre-draft radar.

Detroit’s No. 6 pick belonged to the Rams, via the Jared Goff trade, but the NFC North team is gathering intel on prospects who could be available at 18. The Lions will host Florida offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence on April 17, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets, adding a visit with Alabama defensive back Brian Branch is also on the team’s itinerary. Ditto Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, per WCBI’s Jon Sokoloff (on Twitter).

[RELATED: Lions To Meet With Will Anderson Jr.]

A transfer from Louisiana to Florida last year, Torrence finished his lone Gators season as a consensus All-American at guard. He grades this draft’s top interior O-lineman available, per Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who each have the one-and-done SECer ranked just outside the top 30.

The Lions agreed to a reworked deal with Halapoulivaati Vaitai this offseason and have their other guard starter, Jonah Jackson, going into a contract year. Graham Glasgow is back on the team, but the 2016 Lions draftee is on a one-year agreement. Vaitai’s reworked contract also removed 2024, moving the injury-plagued blocker into a contract year.

Forbes notched three pick-sixes last season and holds the career Division I-FBS record with six in his career, getting there despite playing just three seasons with the Bulldogs. Forbes intercepted 14 passes in total in college, but size will cloud his tremendous production numbers. The 6-foot-1 corner weighed 166 pounds at the Combine. Scouts Inc. still rates Forbes just inside the top 30.

Branch checks in a few spots lower, but the former Crimson Tide safety profiles as the headliner of a mediocre crop at the position. Branch, who goes 5-11 and 190 pounds, offers flexibility as well; he saw considerable time in the slot at Alabama. He joined Torrence as a consensus All-American last season.

Coming off a season in which they ranked last defensively, the Lions have made major additions in the secondary this offseason. They brought in Cameron Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The team also added ex-49er Emmanuel Moseley on a lower-cost deal and re-signed Will Harris. They traded Jeff Okudah to the Falcons on Tuesday. At safety, the Lions have Gardner-Johnson as an option — though, he primarily patrolled the slot during his time under Aaron Glenn in New Orleans — along with second-year cog Kerby Joseph and veteran Tracy Walker.

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