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QB Rumors: Trubisky, Winston, Taylor, Lock

March 13th, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants’ new head coach, Brian Daboll, worked with free agent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky when they were both with the Bills last year (Daboll as offensive coordinator). Well, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN, Daboll has interest in luring Trubisky to join him in New York.

There’s been some interest in bringing Trubisky to Pittsburgh, as well, where a path to starting is much more clear. If Daboll’s familiarity with the sixth-year quarterback is able to attract him to the Giants, though, the head coach sees the potential for him to mirror the results of Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. A quick refresher: Tannehill arrived in Nashville in 2019 in a trade with the Dolphins. Tannehill started the season in the role of back up quarterback to the incumbent starter Marcus Mariota. After a 2-4 start to the season, Mariota was benched in favor of Tannehill, who went 7-3 for the rest of the year and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game.

Daboll holds hope that, while Daniel Jones may retain the starting job in New York, if the need presents itself, Trubisky could provide the same effect as Tannehill.

Some other notes concerning quarterbacks around the league:

  • Another option the Steelers could be looking into, Jameis Winston is looking like the most likely starting quarterback for the Saints in 2022, according to Graziano. With Teddy Bridgewater headed to free agency, a return to New Orleans could be possible, and Winston may see some opportunities in testing the free agent market, himself. But Winston is a locker room favorite that saw success on the Saints before tearing his ACL midseason last year.
  • Tyrod Taylor lost the starting job in Houston last year to rookie quarterback Davis Mills. With Mills expected to return to the starting position next year, the Texans do have interest in bringing Taylor back in the role of back up quarterback, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Taylor has chased starting jobs throughout his career and has seen some success at times. He may search for a new opportunity to start, but, if not, Taylor has shown professionalism several times in back up roles mentoring young quarterbacks.
  • After receiving Drew Lock in the Russell Wilson-trade with the Broncos, Seattle is considering the elements to Lock’s lack of success in Denver, according to Fowler. Some believe that the revolving door of offensive coordinators contributed to his struggles. Seattle is analyzing whether they believe in Pete Carroll‘s ability to develop Lock, who showed glimpses of promise in his early appearances as a Bronco, or whether they need to make moves for Deshaun Watson to win now.

Saints, Panthers Make Offers For Deshaun Watson

March 13th, 2022 at 11:10am CST by Rory Parks

The Saints and Panthers have extended trade offers to the Texans for QB Deshaun Watson, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Watson, who wants to make a fully-informed decision before waiving his no-trade clause, will meet with both teams in the near future (Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets that Houston will grant permission for those meetings).

After a grand jury decided against indicting Watson on Friday, trade rumors predictably picked up in a big way. Carolina has been seen as something of a frontrunner for the three-time Pro Bowler since the Dolphins bowed out of the race, but there are now up to 10 teams involved in the bidding.

So while the details of the Saints’ and Panthers’ offers are not yet known, Pelissero says Houston’s asking price — three first-round picks and more — has not changed, and multiple teams are now willing to pay that price. New Orleans and Carolina both have one first-round pick in the 2022 draft, with the Panthers’ No. 6 overall selection obviously quite a bit more valuable than the Saints’ No. 18 selection.

We have known that Panthers owner David Tepper has been willing to pull the trigger on a Watson deal despite the inevitable PR backlash, and Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com says the same is true of Saints ownership (Twitter link). That probably goes without saying in light of the fact that New Orleans has extended a trade offer, but it’s worth noting that, according to Duncan, the franchise has done “extensive background checks” on Watson and is comfortable with its findings.

With free agency opening this week, there is a sense of urgency to these proceedings, at least for some teams. While the Panthers have not been connected to any free agent passers or second-tier trade targets and may pivot to the draft if their Watson pursuit is unsuccessful, New Orleans is interested in re-signing Jameis Winston and doubtlessly wants to get some clarity on where things stand with Watson before Winston is eligible to sign elsewhere. But since Watson wants to take his time and meet with interested clubs, it looks like the process will take a little longer than certain organizations would like.

Texans GM Nick Caserio has been very methodical with respect to the Watson situation, and he is not going to rush things now that he has so much leverage. Soon enough, his patience will pay off in the form of a massive influx of draft capital to accelerate Houston’s rebuilding efforts.

Texans, Jacob Martin Talking Contract

March 13th, 2022 at 10:27am CST by Rory Parks

Defensive end Jacob Martin, selected by the Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, was part of the package received by the Texans in the 2019 trade that sent Jadeveon Clowney to Seattle. Over his three years in Houston, Martin has quietly turned himself into a key component of the club’s defense, and as Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network writes, the Texans are actively discussing a new contract that would keep Martin off the open market when free agency opens this week.

In 2021, the Temple product started 14 games and appeared in 61% of the Texans’ defensive snaps, both of which represented career bests. While he posted only four sacks, his peripherals suggest that there is room for continued growth. As Wilson writes, Next Gen Stats credited Martin with the third-fastest “get-off” among all defensive players, behind only the Chargers’ Joey Bosa and the Steelers’ Alex Highsmith.

Pro Football Focus handed Martin a solid 67.3 overall score last season, which was also a career-high. The strides he has made are thanks in no small part to the fact that he was able to operate as a true 4-3 DE when Lovie Smith took over as defensive coordinator last year. Prior to that, Martin had worked as an outside linebacker in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme, which included pass coverage duties that he struggled to handle. With Smith having earned a promotion to head coach, the 4-3 alignment will remain.

Neither Martin nor fellow DE Jonathan Greenard are household names at this point, but they provide the rebuilding Texans with a young, talented, and fairly inexpensive foundation to build upon. Indeed, assuming Martin and the Texans are able to come to terms on a multi-year deal, it’s unlikely to include an eight-figure AAV, and Greenard has two seasons left on his rookie contract.

In related news, the Texans recently worked out former Broncos WR DaeSean Hamilton, as Wilson tweets. Hamilton was officially waived last week, and though the 2018 fourth-rounder was unable to carve out a consistent role in Denver, his size and raw talent figure to get him another opportunity somewhere. It’s unclear if that opportunity will come in Houston, as the Texans re-upped Chris Conley after meeting with Hamilton.

Texans Sign T Cedric Ogbuehi

March 12th, 2022 at 10:46pm CST by Ely Allen

The Houston Texans will reportedly sign offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Ogbuehi has become a bit of journeyman over the past couple of years as he’s set to join his sixth NFL team. 

Ogbuehi was a first-round pick for the Bengals in the 2015 NFL Draft. After having his fifth-year option declined, Ogbuehi played a year each in Jacksonville and Seattle. He re-signed with the Seahawks for the 2021 season, but was placed on injured reserve before the season began and was released shortly after coming off IR. Ogbuehi signed with the Ravens, appearing in two games before getting released, and spent two days after that on the Titans’ practice squad.

Ogbuehi will find a familiar face in Houston, who just hired George Warhop a few weeks ago to coach their offensive line. Ogbuehi worked with Warhop when he played for the Jaguars in 2019.

Contract Details: Williams, Kirksey, Conley, Landry

March 12th, 2022 at 8:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Rounding up a few contract details from recent deals:

  • Mike Williams, WR (Chargers): Three-year, $60MM. The contract has $40MM guaranteed, including a $21MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. The third year of the contract, worth $17MM in not guaranteed for the 2024 season, when Williams will be due a $3MM roster bonus on the third day of the league year.
  • Christian Kirksey, LB (Texans): Two-year, $10MM. The contract has a base value of $8MM with a $2MM signing bonus being part of the contract’s $4MM guaranteed amount, according to Wilson. Kirksey will earn approximately $58,823 per game as an active bonus for up to $1MM per year. The contract also holds annual incentives of $250,000 for each year of the contract.
  • Chris Conley, WR (Texans): One-year, $2MM. The contract has a base salary of $1.5MM, $500,000 of which is guaranteed, along with a $250,000 signing bonus, according to Wilson. Conley’s contract also has a per game active bonus clause that can earn him up to $250,000 for the year as well as a $500,000 incentive that can be triggered off his 2022 catch and playing time totals.
  • Harold Landry, OLB (Titans): Five-year, $87.5MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $52.5MM, composed of a $19MM signing bonus and the contract’s first three years of salary: $1.25MM for 2022, $15MM for 2023, and $17.25MM for 2024, according to Wilson. The 2024 amount is guaranteed for injury at signing, meaning that it won’t become guaranteed until the 5th day of the 2023 league year.

Saints, Vikings Join List Of Deshaun Watson Suitors; Latest On QB’s Market

March 12th, 2022 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Deshaun Watson being cleared of criminal charges Friday will not prevent an NFL suspension, and the Texans quarterback still must navigate the 22 civil cases that emerged from allegations of sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct. But several teams are interested in the Pro Bowl passer, pointing toward a big trade haul for Houston.

In addition to the Panthers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Browns, the Saints and Vikings have emerged as Watson suitors, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports. They join a suddenly robust market, one that does not include the Dolphins, who moved on despite being runaway favorites for Watson last year. The Texans have sought a trade package fronted by three first-rounders. With Friday’s lack of a grand jury indictment a “game-changer” in this pursuit, per Wilson, Houston might land its desired haul or something close to it.

The Browns are “incredibly interested,” Wilson notes, adding that up to 10 teams are monitoring the embattled QB. The Saints paid close attention to Friday’s developments, NFL.com’s Jane Slater tweets, though they have a tricky cap situation. New Orleans has reached out to Houston, however. The Vikings are in on Watson “for the right price,” Wilson adds. Watson was said to be interested in Minnesota and Tampa Bay as destinations last month.

Minnesota has a rather expensive quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who is tied to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. Cousins would obviously need to be moved in a Watson-to-Minnesota scenario, and that may mean the Vikings eating some of his contract. That could be tricky, given Watson’s $39MM-per-year deal. Watson is also due a $35MM base salary in 2022. Sitting $15MM-plus over the cap, the Vikings are actually in slightly worse shape than the long-cap-strapped Saints ($6MM over) as of Saturday afternoon.

Still in on Watson, after emerging as a suitor in early 2021, the Panthers are preparing an aggressive offer. David Tepper hired an investigator to look into Watson’s legal matters, Wilson notes, adding that the Texans still want draft assets in addition to the three first-rounders and at least one player for their quarterback. Jameis Winston extension talks have been on the Saints’ radar, and that would better fit New Orleans’ cap situation. But the team has never been shy about executing winter cap gymnastics. Watson would be a considerable upgrade on Winston for the Saints, whose passing game took a major hit after Drew Brees‘ retirement.

This market’s new additions notwithstanding, the Panthers and Seahawks are still viewed as the likely favorites, Wilson tweets. Seattle has a quarterback need for the first time in 10 years and now has three first-round picks over the next two drafts, including this year’s No. 9 overall choice. The Seahawks’ Watson interest surfaced not long after Tuesday’s Russell Wilson trade.

The Eagles are no longer believed to be a key player here. Watson has not shown interest in Philadelphia as a destination, with Wilson adding he has never waived his no-trade clause for the Eagles. The Steelers and Giants also remain pointed in other directions, but many offers could still come the Texans’ way in the coming days.

Texans Re-Sign WR Chris Conley

March 12th, 2022 at 12:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Chris Conley is sticking around Houston. The veteran wideout has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texans, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

The 29-year-old caught on with the Texans last offseason, and he ended up collecting 22 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (10 starts). Conley also saw some time on special teams, garnering the most ST snaps since his rookie campaign.

Following a four-year stint with the Chiefs to start his career, Conley had his best performance with Jacksonville in 2019. He finished that season with career-highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (775), and touchdowns (five).

Conley was one of three Texans wideouts set to his free agency along with Danny Amendola and Chris Moore.

Panthers Preparing “Aggressive” Offer For Deshaun Watson

March 12th, 2022 at 8:24am CST by Ben Levine

As expected, the Panthers will make a run at Deshaun Watson. According to ESPN’s David Newton, the Panthers are planning to make an “aggressive” trade offer for the Texans quarterback.

[RELATED: No Criminal Charges For Deshaun Watson]

Of course, the Panthers’ offer would be contingent on Watson being willing to waive his no-trade clause. When the Panthers tried to negotiate a trade before the trade deadline, they were told that Watson was focused on Miami and wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause for Carolina. However, Newton says the clause isn’t anticipated to be an issue, and The Athletic’s Joseph Person writes that the Dolphins’ decision to close the door on a Watson trade has renewed belief within the Panthers organization that Watson will reconsider his no-trade stance. Person also adds that Panthers owner David Tepper “has arguably been the driving force behind the team’s interest in Watson.”

The Panthers were prepared to make a major push for Watson last year, and after initially backing off after the off-field trouble surfaced, they were believed to have made the Texans an offer. Carolina’s quarterback situation moved Matt Rhule to the edge of a hot seat last year, and the team has not had stability at the position since Cam Newton‘s injuries began to pile up. The Panthers still have Sam Darnold‘s fully guaranteed $18.8MM salary on their payroll, but for a player like Watson, the QB-desperate team likely would not view that as a hindrance.

After yesterday’s update to Deshaun Watson‘s legal situation, it is expected his trade market will intensify very quickly. A number of teams have long been known to be interested in the Pro Bowler, with the Panthers, Buccaneers, Browns, and Seahawks already mentioned as potential suitors. As Person points out on Twitter, there’s be an interesting side-story if both Carolina and Seattle ultimately emerge as preferred destinations: Panthers GM Scott Fitterer would be bidding against his former bosses in Seattle, John Schneider and Pete Carroll.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/22

March 11th, 2022 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are today’s minor roster moves around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

No Criminal Charges For Deshaun Watson

March 11th, 2022 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Harris County (Texas) grand jury did not indict Deshaun Watson on Friday. The Texans quarterback will not face criminal charges related to the accusations of sexual assault and harassment.

While the veteran QB’s civil cases are not closed, this represents a positive development for his prospects of continuing his career. Watson remains in trade rumors, and Friday’s decision will surely lead to those intensifying. Interested teams understandably awaited this decision, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the market should accelerate quickly.

“After a Harris County grand jury was presented all the evidence and had the opportunity to hear from all witnesses, grand jurors declined to indict Deshaun Watson,” said Dan Schiller, spokesman for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. “Grand jury proceedings are secret by law, so no information related to their inquiry may be disclosed.”

The NFL is still investigating the Pro Bowl passer as well, and a suspension may well come out of this. But the biggest hurdle Watson faced in this saga is now clear. The 26-year-old standout could soon see his wish to exit Houston granted as well, in what promises to be one of the biggest trades in NFL history.

Twenty-two women accused Watson of sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct, with the allegations stemming from massage therapy sessions. Nine of those accusers proceeded with criminal complaints. This led to the Texans shelving him for the 2021 season. The NFL did not place Watson on the commissioner’s exempt list, but the Clemson product has not played since Week 17 of the 2020 campaign. Despite the inactivity, the Texans are expected to land a considerable haul from interested parties. With multiple teams still in the mix here, Houston’s ask of three first-round picks and change could be on the table soon.

The Buccaneers, Panthers and Seahawks are believed to be interested in Watson. The Eagles did extensive homework on the embattled QB last year, and Watson has been connected to the Vikings as well. A few teams bowed out of the slow-moving sweepstakes. The Giants are expected to pass here, as are the Steelers. The Broncos moved to acquire Russell Wilson, and the Dolphins — the team most closely connected to Watson ahead of last year’s deadline — closed the door on a Watson trade. It will be interesting to see if Miami resurfaces here, but GM Chris Grier said just days ago the team has moved on.

Houston did not entertain trade talks for Watson for most of the 2021 offseason but did discuss its disgruntled starter with the Dolphins and Panthers ahead of last year’s deadline. Watson only waived his no-trade clause for the Dolphins. If they are truly out, he will need to reconsider his options. Multiple teams were believed to have offered three first-rounders, even amid the turmoil engulfing the QB, last year. That would be a good sign for the Texans’ trade ask, now that Watson is not facing prison time.

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