Extra Points: Ownership, Draft, QBs, Cap
As we move closer to Week 2 Sunday, plenty of storylines have surfaced — much of them out of the AFC East. Antonio Brown is on track to make his Patriots debut, Minkah Fitzpatrick may or may not be on the trade block, and a mono-stricken Sam Darnold will miss the Jets’ Monday-nighter against the Browns. But let’s shift to a few items on the league’s periphery.
- The NFL recently discussed some changes to its ownership policy. With franchise values skyrocketing, the league’s rule requires prospective owners to put up at least 30% of the price. This has produced limited buyers, at least it did with during the Panthers sale. (Current franchise valuations would force bidders to put up at least $600MM.) Seeking input from a quartet of firms involved in franchise sales, NFL owners discussed several matters on the topic of acquiring teams but made only one change recently. Owners of non-NFL teams in NFL markets — such as Steve Ballmer, Mark Cuban, etc. — can now make bids to acquire NFL franchises, Scott Soshnick of Bloomburg.com reports.
- Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm regularly appears in 2020 mock drafts as a first-round pic, but various NFL personnel are now not so sure he will be part of that class. Executives and scouts polled by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller expect Fromm to return to school for what would be his senior season in 2020. Operating a run-first offense, Fromm has displayed improved accuracy since being handed the Bulldogs’ reins as a true freshman. However, he’s viewed as perhaps a cut below the likes of Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert on the 2020 prospect spectrum.
- Were Fromm to postpone his NFL entrance, he would likely be joining one of the more hyped quarterbacks in modern draft history. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence has begun to generate more buzz than Tagovailoa or Herbert, leaving NFL brass to question the Dolphins’ strategy of using this season to tank for a possible franchise quarterback. “Next year, though? Oh, yeah. Let me get [Ohio State’s] Justin Fields or Trevor Lawrence, and our fans won’t care how many games we lose,” an NFL GM told Miller.
- Projected first-round tackle Walker Little, a junior at Stanford, underwent knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season, per Miller. The 6-foot-7 blocker will then have to determine whether or not to enter the NFL off a lost season or return to school to rebuild his stock.
- Despite the Dolphins‘ run of moves to jettison higher-profile talent, they are not projected to possess the most cap space in 2020. As of now, that’s the Colts, who are in line to hold $138MM, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap tweets. Miami sits second at $113MM, with no other teams over $100MM. These figures are imprecise with the 2020 cap not yet set, but the Colts’ caution this year in free agency — despite holding more than $100MM in space — stands to again equip the franchise with plenty to spend come March.
- Free agent wide receiver Cayleb Jones is serving a six-game suspension, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter). The younger brother of Zay Jones, Cayleb Jones was charged with domestic assault as a member of the Vikings during the summer of 2018. He did not make Minnesota’s 53-man roster.
Notable NFL Practice Squad Salaries
Playing on an NFL practice squad isn’t a bad gig. You work with a club’s 53-man roster every week, have a good chance to get called up if/when injuries strike, and collect a solid paycheck ($8K per week minimum). And for some practice squaders, the pay can get even better.
While all practice squad salaries count towards the salary cap, there’s no restriction on how much a team can pay a practice squad player. When a club desperately wants to retain a player but can’t fit him on its 53, they’ll often bump up his salary in an effort to keep him around. Here’s a look at several players who are earning much more than the NFL’s $8K per week standard, via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link):
- 49ers LB Elijah Lee ($37,941)
- 49ers S Marcell Harris ($30K)
- Ravens CB Maurice Canady ($26K)
- Jets RB Josh Adams ($25K)
- Jets OL Calvin Anderson ($20K)
- Eagles OL Sua Opeta ($20K)
- Broncos QB Brett Rypien ($20K)
- Eagles QB Kyle Lauletta ($20K)
- Dolphins QB Jake Rudock ($20K)
- Colts OL Jackson Barton ($20K)
The 49ers clearly have no problem with spending a little extra on practice squad players, as both Lee and Harris are earning at least $22K more than the league PS minimum. Lee’s been with San Francisco since 2017 and started five games for the club last season, but the 49ers’ front seven depth is keeping him on the taxi squad for now. Harris, too, was a part-time starter for San Francisco in 2018.
The quarterbacks on the list are also interesting. Rypien has been deemed Broncos’ offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello‘s “project” and could be called up to the active roster at some point given that Denver is only carrying two quarterbacks in Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen (rookie second-rounder Drew Lock is on injured reserve). And the rebuilding Dolphins seem intent on hanging onto Rudock, who spent the first three seasons of his career with the Lions.
Colts Work Out DL Datone Jones
- Former Packers first-round pick Datone Jones remains on teams’ radars. The Colts worked out the defensive lineman this week. Jones has been on the in-week workout circuit for a bit now. He played in one Cowboys game last season and caught on with the Jaguars before camp. The 2013 first-rounder did not make the team but has now worked out for the Colts and Redskins this week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Dax Raymond
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Released from IR via injury settlement: QB Jeff Driskel
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Kyle Kalis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
- Placed on IR: WR Tim Patrick
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB David Williams
- Waived: QB Chad Kanoff
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: S Rolan Milligan
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Ahmad Thomas
New York Giants
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Alex Wesley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Craig James
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Richard Rodgers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Andre Chachere, TE Darrell Daniels
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
Houston Texans
- Signed: DB Cornell Armstrong
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, DB Tevaughn Campbell, WR Anthony Johnson
- Cut: LB Curtis Akins, DB Kemon Hall
- Placed on practice squad IR: WR Artavis Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR T.J. Rahming
- Cut: LB Christian Sam
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
- Cut: OL Colby Gossett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Alex Ellis
NFL Workout Updates: 9/10/19
We’ve got another busy day of workouts, with many teams across the league hosting players.
Arizona Cardinals
- S Briean Boddy-Calhoun; CBs Andre Chachere, De’Vante Harris
Buffalo Bills
- QBs Keller Chryst, Taylor Heinicke; WRs Tommylee Lewis, Joe Parker, Terrance Williams; CB Marcus Sherels, WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
- DEs Jesse Aniebonam, Andrew Ankrah, Markus Jones; S Josh Jones; CB Jeff Richards
Indianapolis Colts
- RBs Bruce Anderson, Darrin Hall; S Chris Banjo; DTs Earl Mitchell, Mike Pennel
Miami Dolphins
- DB Jordan Brown; Ts Christian DiLauro, Storm Norton, Chidi Okeke; CB Deatrick Nichols
New York Giants
- CBs Derrick Baity, Picasso Nelson; LBs Reshard Cliett, LaTroy Lewis; WRs Jamal Custis, Trenton Irwin; RBs Josh Ferguson, Austin Walter; DT P.J. Johnson; DEs Carroll Phillips, Kevin Wilkins; QB Jordan Ta’amu
New York Jets
- WRs Carlton Agudosi, Amara Darboh, Krishawn Hogan, Joe Horn, DeAndre Thompkins, Jordan Veasy, Kendall Wright; TEs Stephen Anderson, Donald Parham, Ross Travis; QBs Taryn Christion, Tyree Jackson, Mike White, Ks Elliott Fry, Greg Joseph, Younghoe Koo, Tristan Vizcaino
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins
Colts To Place Devin Funchess On IR
From a clavicle perspective, Sunday was a rough day for multiple key players. The Colts will place Devin Funchess on IR because of a broken clavicle, Frank Reich said.
Like the maladies Nick Foles and Tyreek Hill suffered, Funchess’ will likely not end his season. Reich added (via The Athletic’s Stephen Holder, on Twitter) the Colts do not view Funchess’ setback as one that will limit his 2019 season to one game. Funchess will miss at least the next seven, however. The former Panthers wideout has already undergone surgery.
This will almost certainly mean Funchess’ 2019 earnings will be capped at $10MM. The Colts gave the former Panthers auxiliary weapon $10MM guaranteed, but included an additional $3MM in incentives. Funchess will be out until at least Week 10.
The Colts were set to use Funchess as part of their revamped cast of T.Y. Hilton sidekicks. More work will now be left to Deon Cain, who missed all of 2018, and Parris Campbell, who dealt with an injury during camp.
Colts To Work Out De’Angelo Henderson
The Colts will work out running back De’Angelo Henderson on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Henderson remains a free agent after missing the Vikings’ cut over Labor Day weekend.
Henderson was a Broncos sixth-round draft choice in 2017 and spent last year with the Jets. All in all, he has eight career appearances across two seasons and a grand total of nine carries.
There was a lot of talk about Marlon Mack not being able to mesh with Jacoby Brissett as the Colts’ starter, but he was stellar on Sunday. It goes without saying – after Mack’s career day, the Colts are looking at Henderson as a potential supplement for Mack, not a replacement.
Devin Funchess Has Broken Collarbone
Somehow we have yet another big name with a serious clavicle injury. Nick Foles and Tyreek Hill will both miss time with clavicle injuries, and Colts receiver Devin Funchess will be joining them.
Funchess broke his collarbone during Sunday’ loss to the Chargers, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). In a follow-up tweet, Pelissero reports that Funchess will get a second opinion, but as of right now surgery seems likely. It’s unclear at this time exactly how long he’ll be out, but obviously he’s going to miss some regular season action. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we have a timetable. Funchess is in his first year with Indy after signing a one-year deal back in March.
The Colts gave Funchess $10MM in base money with another $3MM available in incentives, and they were hoping he could establish himself as the clear number two receiver they’d been missing behind T.Y. Hilton. The former Panthers second-round pick had three catches for 32 yards in his Colts debut before going down.
Funchess was up and down during his time with Carolina, although he was always clearly high on talent. His injury is the latest blow to a Colts offense that has had to deal with the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. With Funchess on the shelf, the team will likely count on Deon Cain for a bigger role. Cain had 35 yards in the opener, the second-most on the team behind Hilton.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/7/19
We’ve got another big batch of workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter).
Cleveland Browns
- DT Ricky Walker
Houston Texans
- Ps Ryan Allen, Matt Wile; LB Christian Kuntz; LS Carson Tinker
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Tre’ Crawford; DE Jamell Garcia-Williams; CBs Quenton Meeks, Jackson Porter; S Jonathan Owens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WRs Terry Godwin, Ishmael Hyman; RB Jeremy McNichols; P Brock Miller
Minnesota Vikings
- Safeties Briean Boddy-Calhoun, C.J. Reavis; DT Anthony Zettel
New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Safeties Andrew Adams, Chris Banjo; OTs Dino Boyd, Pace Murphy, Josh Wells; G Bryan Witzmann
The Texans could be looking for specialist help, as they worked out a pair of punters and a longsnapper. Boddy-Calhoun, who worked out for the Vikings, is probably the biggest name on this list. He started at least seven games for the Browns each of the past three seasons, but was released by Houston at final cuts.