Cardinals Acquire No. 6, Select Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.
After trading out of the No. 3 pick, the Cardinals are moving back up. Arizona has acquired the No. 6 pick (along with No. 81) from the Lions, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that Detroit will receive picks No. 12, No. 34, and No. 168. 
The Cardinals will use their newfound selection on Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
We heard that Arizona was considering a trade down in pursuit of an offensive lineman. It took multiple trades to get there, but the Cardinals ultimately got their way, selecting one of the draft’s top O-line prospects.
After playing sparingly through his first two collegiate seasons, Johnson took on a larger role in 2022, appearing in 13 games for Ohio State. The 6-6, 315-pound blocker was charged with only a pair of sacks this past season, and Pro Football Focus gave him one of the highest grades (88 overall) at his position. As a result of his performance, Johnson earned a consensus All-American nod after the season.
The Cardinals surrendered 46 sacks last season, leaving open the possibility of improving their pass protection during the draft. By virtue of this pair of moves, new general manager Monti Ossenfort has landed arguably the team’s top target, while adding draft capital next season. Johnson will join a new-look room along the offensive front in the desert.
Arizona has re-signed right tackle Kelvin Beachum and added veteran Elijah Wilkinson so far this offseason. Johnson could compete for a starting role right away, despite only playing at that spot for one season with the Buckeyes. The Cardinals still have D.J. Humphries at left tackle, but the longtime starter missed much of last season. His previous experience includes time at right guard, versatility which could help the Cardinals improve along the O-line in one fashion or another – a needed development considering the long-term rebuilding path the team is likely on.
The Lions, meanwhile, had been connected to a few different defensive players at their original spot. Moving down has already taken them out of contention for DT Jalen Carter, though CB Christian Gonzalez could still be an option at No. 12.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/26/23
QB Draft Notes: Patriots, Seahawks, Lions
We’ve heard several times that the Colts have interest in Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, and Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com reiterated today that the organization is a fan of the prospect (via Pat McAfee Show on Twitter). However, one surprising suitor has emerged in the Levis sweepstakes.
According to Mike Giardi (on Twitter), the Patriots have “real interest” in Levis, While there isn’t “universal” interest in the quarterback within the organization, there are some “important folks in that building” who believe in the player’s ability and potential. Giardi also cautions that the prospect hasn’t “blown anyone away” during his workouts, a surprising remark considering Levis’ draft stock seems to be climbing each day.
While Bill Belichick and co. have a penchant for moving back in the first round, the organization would surely have to move up the board if they hope to get their hands on Levis. The Patriots are currently sitting with the No. 14 pick in the draft, and if the Colts’ interest is for real, New England would have to jump into the top-three to get their hands on the signal-caller.
That would be a shocking development after the Patriots used a first-round pick on Mac Jones only two years ago. Jones took a step back during his sophomore season in the NFL, leading some to wonder if the coaching staff could be eyeing a quarterback competition heading into training camp. While that competition was assumed to feature Jones and Bailey Zappe, the Patriots could shock the NFL world by adding another player to the mix.
More QB draft notes…
- ESPN’s Todd McShay writes that he’s getting a “strong sense” that the Seahawks won’t leave the first round without a quarterback. McShay wonders if the front office could be eyeing Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the fifth-overall selection, noting that either prospect would make sense as a long-term developmental option behind Geno Smith. McShay also notes that the Seahawks could skip over the position at No. 5 before targeting Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker at No. 20.
- As we’ve heard previously, the Titans are in the mix for a quarterback, with McShay noting that they’re contenders to trade up from No. 11 to select Stroud or Levis. If the organization is unable to pull off a trade up the board, McShay writes that the front office would likely pivot and trade back, in which case they could select Hooker later in the first round.
- McShay says the Lions could be a surprising suitor for a quarterback prospect at No. 6. If Stroud does fall down the board, the writer opines that he won’t fall any further than Detroit, where he could serve as a temporary backup to Jared Goff. Meanwhile, while the Raiders previously sniffed around at a trade for Alabama’s Bryce Young, they’re unlikely to take a quarterback with the No. 7 pick, per McShay.
Latest On DT Jalen Carter’s Draft Stock
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
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
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
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
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Ethan Greenidge
Chicago Bears
- Signed ERFA tender: DL Andrew Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Michael Dunn
- Signed ERFA tender: DB Thomas Graham, DL Ben Stille
Detroit Lions
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Brock Wright, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Signed RFA tender: OL Yosh Nijman
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed ERFA tender: OL Blake Hance
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Shaun Jolly, LB Christian Rozeboom
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Joejuan Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed RFA tender: CB Myles Bryant
New York Jets
- Signed ERFA tender: DT Isaiah Mack
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Jauan Jennings
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: T Jarrod Hewitt, CB Chris Steele, RB Darwin Thompson, WR Connor Wedington
- Signed ERFA tender: DT Myles Adams, CB Michael Jackson, LB Jon Rhattigan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed ERFA tender: G Nick Leverett
Washington Commanders
- Signed RFA tender: S Jeremy Reaves
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
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
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.