Chiefs, Packers Pursued Marquise Brown
Prior to the Cardinals acquiring Marquise Brown during the first round, the Ravens discussed the deep threat with the Chiefs and Packers, SI.com’s Howard Balzer tweets.
Given both contenders’ receiver moves this offseason, their involvement in these trade talks should not surprise. The Cardinals’ somewhat surprising offer — headlined by the No. 23 overall pick — won out, and neither the Chiefs nor Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round. Despite holding two first-rounders apiece, Green Bay and Kansas City enter Day 2 of the draft with needs at the position.
Although the teams’ market-shifting Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill trades had more of an impact on the A.J. Brown trade than the one involving the Baltimore wideout, the moves left the Chiefs and Packers in need. Kansas City does not appear to feature the same level of need as Green Bay, thanks to Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s Missouri relocation, but the team was linked to a wideout move ahead of the draft. The Packers have done well with second-round receiver picks; perhaps this is the direction Green Bay goes Friday.
Lamar Jackson expressed frustration after the Brown trade commenced, but the former MVP knew about the latter’s trade request. Despite Jackson’s Twitter activity Thursday night, GM Eric DeCosta informed the star quarterback of the move before it happened, per Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed. Brown did as well, being at the Cardinals’ draft party Thursday night.
“It was just … my happiness,” Brown said during an appearance on the I Am Athlete Tonight podcast (via Pro Football Talk). “I talked to Lamar about it after my second year. And then after my third year, leading up to the end of the season, you know, [Jackson] wasn’t playing. I let him know again, like, ‘Yeah, bro, I can’t do it.’
“You know, it’s not really on Lamar, like I love Lamar. It was just, you know, it’s just the system just wasn’t for me personally. You know, I love all my teammates. I love the guys. It was just something I had to think about for myself.”
The Ravens’ run-heavy system has steered receivers (including Smith-Schuster) away in the past, and Brown’s exit leaves Baltimore with a bit of a need at the position. This reunites Brown with Oklahoma teammate Kyler Murray, a scenario Brown said the two discussed this winter (via 98.7 Arizona Sports’ Tyler Drake, on Twitter). Brown, who is coming off his first NFL 1,000-yard season, played a big role in Murray winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy. The 5-foot-9 target caught 75 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, catching the Ravens’ eye in the 2019 first round.
Packers Pick Up Fifth-Year Options On Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage
For the second time in three years, the Packers used two first-round picks to bolster their defense. Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt will join 2019 first-rounders Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage. The Georgia products are in line to join the 2019 draftees for multiple seasons.
The Packers are picking up the fifth-year options on Gary and Savage, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Rob Demovsky (Twitter links). Despite Gary qualifying for a lower-tier option on the new four-tier hierarchy, his 2023 price tag comes in much higher than Savage’s due to positional value. The former Michigan pass rusher will be tied to a $10.89MM salary next year. A three-year Packers starter eligible for the Tier 3 option price, Savage is now attached to a $7.9MM 2023 salary.
Gary’s increased 2021 playing time did not lead to his option cost climbing, due to the 2019 and ’20 seasons he spent largely as a backup behind Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. The Packers broke up their edge-rushing Smith tandem this offseason, cutting Za’Darius to leave Gary a clear path to a starting role. The 2019 No. 12 overall pick impressed in his first extended run as a starter, registering 9.5 sacks and 28 QB hits. During a season in which Za’Darius Smith missed 16 games, Gary became a key part of Green Bay’s defensive future.
Green Bay traded out of the 2018 first round, allowing New Orleans to select Marcus Davenport. This gave the Packers a 2019 first, which became Savage after the Packers traded up to No. 21 with the Seahawks. Savage became a Day 1 starter in Green Bay. He has started all 46 games he’s played — including 17 last season — to help the Packers to three consecutive playoff byes. While Pro Football Focus viewed Savage’s 2021 as a step back from his 2020 showing, the Maryland alum’s lower option price allowed for a sensible pickup.
Packers Trying To Trade Up
The Packers‘ streak of not drafting a wide receiver in Round 1 has hit 20 years, but they may be prepared to snap it in a few hours. After trading Davante Adams and letting Marquez Valdes-Scantling walk in free agency, Green Bay enters the draft with a glaring need at this position. The team is exploring trade-up scenarios ahead of Round 1, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Holding the Nos. 22 and 28 picks, the Packers standing pat runs the risk of seeing the top receivers being taken ahead of them. Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams could all go off the board in the first half of Round 1. Other receivers are firmly on the first-round radar as well. The Packers have traded up in the first round under GM Brian Gutekunst, doing so for Jordan Love two years ago. That scrutinized pick prevented the Pack from landing a first-round receiver to pair with Adams, and the team’s efforts to trade up in the 2020 second round failed. Can Gutekunst and Co. pull off a deal tonight?
Latest On Raiders’ Darren Waller
While most of the buzz around the NFL is related to the upcoming draft, a report recently surfaced regarding what would be another sizeable trade seeing a Pro Bowler on the move. Aaron Nagler of CheeseHead TV wrote earlier this week that the Packers and Raiders were in discussion on a trade involving tight end Darren Waller. 
When referencing the report, ESPN’s Matt Miller added that Waller “was being shopped due to age and expected cost” previously (Twitter link). That would seem to open the door to Vegas dealing the 29-year-old, who has two years remaining on an extension he signed in 2019. He is due $6.25MM in each season, with slightly higher cap hits. None of that money is guaranteed, however.
A swap involving the Raiders and Packers would, of course, be the second notable one of the offseason. But it is in large part because of Vegas’ acquisition of Davante Adams that Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote “they have no desire to part ways with [Waller]”. The price – both in terms of draft capital and the financial commitment of a lucrative extension – the Raiders paid to add the ex-Packers star would indeed make any thought of moving Waller rather puzzling.
Bonsignore added that while Waller is on a below-market deal relative to his production (including two straight 1,100 yard seasons in 2019 and 2020), the team’s decisions on an extension or any possible trade if terms can’t be agreed upon “appear [to be] at least a year away”. Recently re-signed quarterback Derek Carr added (on Twitter) further rejection to the notion of Waller playing anywhere but in Vegas this upcoming season.
For what it’s worth, Waller doesn’t believe he’ll be moved. During an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, the tight end said he was told by the organization that he’s staying put.
“They said that’s not a thing that’s happening and there’s no trade that’s going to happen,” Waller said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter).
The Raiders will be waiting until the third round of the draft to make their first selection, as a result of the Adams deal. In the meantime, this storyline could be one to watch during the weekend.
Packers Interested In George Pickens
- Shifting to the draft, Georgia wideout George Pickens has emerged as a polarizing prospect. Some teams have the SEC-produced talent off their board altogether, citing character concerns, via SI.com’s Albert Breer. Others, however, have done extensive work on him. Pickens said the Cardinals, Chiefs and Packers have been the teams who have come in contact with him most, Fowler notes. Arizona and Kansas City have been linked to first-round wideouts, with the Chiefs connected to a Round 1 trade-up, while the Packers have famously not taken a first-round receiver since Javon Walker in 2002. Although the 6-foot-3 wideout referred to himself as the draft’s best wideout, he views his likely draft slot in the 25-45 range. Pickens, who posted 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns between his freshman and sophomore seasons, is coming off a slate he largely missed due to a March 2021 ACL tear.
Jets Are “Front-Runners” To Acquire 49ers WR Deebo Samuel
We heard previously that the Jets were “all in” on 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel, and it sounds like their aggressive stance has made them the favorites in the Deebo sweepstakes. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jets are considered to be the “front-runners” for the wideout.
[RELATED: Jets “All In” On Deebo Samuel]
Despite Samuel asking out of San Francisco, John Lynch and the 49ers front office publicly stated an unwilligness to engage in trade talks. However, Fowler writes that the organization is “at least listening” to pitches from suitors. The team’s public stubbornness could ultimately be posturing in pursuit of extra assets in a trade.
While the Jets remain the favorite to acquire the talented wideout, the Lions and Packers continue to have interest, echoing a report from the other day. However, a source believes it would take a haul for Green Bay to acquire Samuel from an NFC rival.
New York currently holds the No. 4 and No. 10 selections in tomorrow’s draft, and Jets GM Joe Douglas is prepared to use the latter choice as part of a package to acquire Samuel. The All-Pro wideout, meanwhile, wants a deal with an AAV of at least $25MM, and while that’s a hefty sum, the Jets were willing to dole out that kind of money for Tyreek Hill.
Last week, Samuel requested a trade from the 49ers. The request wasn’t entirely about money; rather, Samuel is also hesitant about his increased usage as a running back. The 49ers gave the physical receiver 59 carries last season, tying Tavon Austin‘s 2017 output for the most by a wide receiver since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Packers, Lions Interested In Deebo Samuel?
Staying in character, the Jets are prepared to make an offer involving the No. 10 overall pick for Deebo Samuel. In addition to the persistent wide receiver-chasing team, NFC squads are interested in the disgruntled 49er.
The Lions and Packers are believed to be on the radar for Samuel, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Green Bay is on the verge of entering the draft with a glaring hole at the position, and although Detroit saw Amon-Ra St. Brown progress down the stretch last season, Samuel would step in as a clear-cut No. 1 weapon with the rebuilding team. The prospective price would hover around a mid-first-round pick, per Rapoport. The 49ers dealt DeForest Buckner for a mid-first-rounder in 2020, doing so after extension talks reached a price point too high for the team.
[RELATED: Samuel, Brown, McLaurin To Skip Offseason Workouts]
Of course, this all might be premature. The 49ers are not believed to be listening to Samuel proposals, and while John Lynch said these recent hiccups have surprised the team, the plan remains to find a way to salvage this partnership.
“I can’t ever imagine wanting to move on from Deebo,” Lynch said Monday. “He’s just too good of a player. You don’t let guys like that walk.”
Samuel trade rumors have only emerged in the past week, though the trade-and-extend sequences involving Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill have impacted the receiver market for several weeks. The 49ers have planned Samuel and Nick Bosa extensions, but the team’s initial offer — less than $19MM per year — did not go over well with the All-Pro wideout. Samuel submitted a trade request last week, with issues like his frequent backfield usage and not wanting to live in California any longer surfacing. The 49ers, however, have thus far closed off this route.
The 49ers trading their top receiver to the Packers, one of their top conference rivals, seems farfetched. An interconference deal to the Jets would add up, especially given ex-49ers coach Mike LaFleur running the Jets’ offense. The Lions (Nos. 2 and 32), Jets (Nos. 4 and 10) and Packers (Nos. 22 and 28) each have two first-round picks, providing additional ammo in the event the 49ers do decide to enter trade talks. The team still holds considerable leverage, with Samuel under contract through 2022 and the franchise tag in play for 2023, but may well be able to recoup better value ahead of the draft.
NFC Rumors: Toney, Packers, Hainsey, Ragnow
With the news early this morning that Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney is on the trading block after only one season in New York, questions have arisen about the value Toney commands. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, interest in Toney covers the gamut across the NFL.
Howe reports that some teams have absolutely no interest, while other teams believe that giving him a chance to develop in their system will allow his talent and ability to shine. Toney showed explosive ability in college at Florida, scoring on big plays and showing elite ability after the catch. The Giants looked past several off-field concerns during his time in Gainesville when drafting Toney at 20th overall. Unfortunately for New York, Toney’s off-field issues continued into Year One of his NFL career.
Howe thinks that New York has potentially been trying to move Toney for a while now with little success. He posits that the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft will create some urgency either for receiver-needy teams looking for a young boost to their pass-catching group or for New York to accept a lesser price to get any value out of their failed first-round experiment from 2021.
Here are some other rumors from around the NFC, starting with a new name in Green Bay:
- According to the Packers’ website, Green Bay finalized their staff this week with the addition of John Donovan as a senior analyst. After 19 years in college football culminating in offensive coordinator jobs at Vanderbilt and Penn State, Donovan first entered the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Jaguars. He left Jacksonville to return to college for the offensive coordinator job at the University of Washington. After two years in that role, Donovan will give the NFL another try, this time in Green Bay.
- Former third-round pick Robert Hainsey played offensive tackle at Notre Dame before working through his rookie year in Tampa Bay at center. Greg Auman of The Athletic believes Hainsey could split the difference and compete for a starting job at guard this year. With Ali Marpet retiring and Alex Cappa signing in the offseason with the Bengals, the Buccaneers will need to replace both spots. They addressed one position, signing former-Patriots guard Shaq Mason to slot in at right guard. They also re-signed Aaron Stinnie who has been a reliable backup in Tampa Bay, but has only started one game in his four-year career. Expect Hainsey to get a chance to compete for the starting spot this offseason.
- After suffering a season-ending toe injury in a Week 4 loss to the Bears last season, the Lions have reported that Frank Ragnow is feeling strong, healthy, and ready to return to his role as a leader in the middle of the Lions’ offensive line. The Lions will look forward to getting Ragnow back to lead an impressive-sounding group that includes Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Taylor Decker, and Penei Sewell.
WR DeSean Jackson Considering Retirement
It’s been quiet on the DeSean Jackson front this offseason, and the veteran wideout may be considering retirement. During an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Ashley Nicole Moss, Jackson admitted that he might hang up his cleats.
“I’m not really sure if I’m going to play next year or not,” Jackson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I know I announced and said I was going to play. It’s just really at this point where I’m at in my life, it’s gotta be the right fit.”
Jackson was also asked what would qualify as “the right fit,: with the receiver noting that any suitor would need to feature a “great quarterback.” Jackson even mentioned a potential reunion with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who coached Jackson when the two were in Philly.
“Chiefs may be one,” said Jackson. “The Browns. Russell Wilson in Denver. Green Bay … we’ll see for sure.”
The three-time Pro Bowler joined the Rams last offseason. However, after hauling in only eight catches in seven games, Jackson asked for and was granted his release. He later caught on with the Raiders, and while his receptions-per-game average slightly increased, he still put up similar yardage per game. He ultimately saw time in nine games (four starts) for Las Vegas, hauling in 12 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown. He also had a single 26-yard reception in the postseason.
Contract Details: Gilmore, Cooks, Nelson, Smith, Bynes, Watkins
Here are some details on deals recently signed around the NFL:
- Stephon Gilmore, CB (Colts): Two-year, $20MM. The deal includes $10.51MM guaranteed at signing and $14MM in overall guarantees. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Gilmore’s Year 1 payout will total $10.02MM.
- Brandin Cooks, WR (Texans): Two-year, $39.76MM. The deal includes $36MM guaranteed at signing consisting of the $16MM signing bonus (applied over three years) and the first two years of base salary ($2MM in 2022 and $18MM in 2023), according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Cooks will have a per game active bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000 and will receive a roster bonus in 2024 of $3MM.
- Steven Nelson, CB (Texans): Two-year, $9MM. The deal is worth up to $10MM, according to Wilson. It includes $4.5MM guaranteed at signing consisting of a $2MM signing bonus, the 2022 base salary of $1.75MM, and $750,000 of the 2023 base salary. Nelson will have a 2022 per game active bonus of $44,117 for a potential season total of $750,000 and a 2023 per game active bonus of $58,832 for a potential season total of $1MM. The deal includes an unspecified incentive worth $250,000 for the 2022 season.
- Geno Smith, QB (Seahawks): One-year, $3.5MM. The deal is worth up to $7MM, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, with up to $3.5MM worth of incentives likely triggerable if he wins the starting job. The deal includes a guaranteed amount of $500,000.
- Josh Bynes, LB (Ravens): One-year, $1.27MM. According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, the deal includes $600,000 of guaranteed money consisting of the signing bonus worth $152,500 and $447,500 of the base salary (worth $1.12MM total).
- Sammy Watkins, WR (Packers): One-year, $1.85MM. The deal includes a signing bonus of $350,000 and is worth up to $4MM, according to USA Today’s Ryan Wood, with incentives for playtime, catches, yards, and touchdowns. Watkins can earn an extra $150,000, $350,000, or $525,000 if he plays a snap count percentage of 55%, 60%, or 65%, respectively. He can earn an extra $150,000, $350,000, or $525,000 if he records a receptions total of 50, 60, or 70 catches, respectively. He can earn an extra $150,000, $350,000, or $525,000 if he has yardage totals of 550, 650, or 700, respectively. Lastly, Watkins can earn an extra $150,000, $350,000, or $575,000 if he catches 7, 8, or 9 touchdowns, respectively.