NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter:
Green Bay Packers
- DE Francis Kallon (link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- DEs Praise Martin-Oguike, Drew Ott; LB Jason Thompson; CB Jarnor Jones; DBs Jordan Bowman, Malik Golden (link via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- P Jeff Locke (link via Balzer)
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Daniel Braverman; Gs Willie Beavers, Dallas Thomas (link via Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- LB Otha Peters (link via Balzer)
Two Teams Discussing Frank Gore Trade
At least two clubs have discussed the concept of trading for Colts running back Frank Gore, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. At present, it’s unclear if those deliberations were internal in nature, or if the Colts have in fact explored Gore’s trade value via trade negotiations.
Without quarterback Andrew Luck available, Indianapolis isn’t seriously contending for a playoff spot, and Gore isn’t the only Colts veteran who’s been mentioned in trade rumors this week. Cornerback Vontae Davis, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, and offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo have all been tossed out as potential trade chits, and while some of those potential deals could be more likely than others, Gore makes sense as a player who could be on the move.
Now in his 13th NFL season, Gore would likely be open to playing for a contending team going forward, per Holder. Any club that acquires Gore would do on the cheap, at least from a financial perspective. The 34-year-old back is earning $3.5MM this season, so an acquiring team would be responsible for just $1.75MM for the remainder of the year.
Whether Gore is worth that salary (plus whatever draft compensation the Colts can wrangle) is a fair question. Gore has managed just 3.8 yards per carry since joining Indianapolis in 2015, and has recently ceded work to rookie Marlon Mack. He’s also been ineffective in the passing game, as he’s posted just 14 receptions and earned poor pass-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus. Of course, Gore’s disappointing numbers have come behind an offensive line that ranks just 27th in adjusted line yards.
T.Y. Hilton Trade Buzz Heating Up
- T.Y. Hilton is rumored to be on the trade block. Florio hears from multiple sources the NFL’s reigning receiving-yardage leader is available. Florio opines a future Hilton-type talent could come out of a mid-round draft pick, allowing the Colts — now run by a decision-maker in Chris Ballard who did not draft the sixth-year wide receiver — to offload Hilton’s $13MM-AAV contract and improve the roster with the savings.
Ballard Interested In Matt Nagy As HC
- The Colts are not expected to retain Chuck Pagano for a seventh season, and one name to monitor will be Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The second-year OC will be high (if not first) on Chris Ballard‘s list if/once he searches for his first head-coaching hire, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. The 39-year-old Nagy’s been on Andy Reid staffs for 10 seasons and is in his first as a solo OC; he and Brad Childress shared that title last season. Nagy does not call plays, but the Chiefs are operating one of the more innovative offenses in the game — one that ranks second through seven games. That figures to put Nagy on radars.
Latest On Colts QB Andrew Luck
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck began feeling pain after throwing several weeks ago and is now seeking further medical opinions related to the cause of his discomfort, tweets Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
Reports of a Luck setback first surfaced earlier this month, and the Indianapolis signal-caller hasn’t participated in practice or thrown since. Instead, Luck — who hasn’t played at all this season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery — received a cortisone shot and ceased all football activity.
The Colts opted not to place Luck on the physically unable to perform list at the season’s outset, meaning he’s been accounting for a roster spot all year long. Whether or not a late-season Luck return is possible remains unclear, but Indianapolis is now 2-6 following today’s loss to the Bengals. FiveThirtyEight gives the Colts just a 1% chance of winning the AFC South and a 3% chance of earning a postseason berth.
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton Available Via Trade?
T.Y. Hilton‘s name has popped up as a player who could be traded before Tuesday’s deadline, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While the asking price for the Colts’ No. 1 wideout would presumably be sky-high, a source tells Florio “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” in relation to a potential deal.
Hilton, 28 next month, has no interest in leaving Indianapolis, per Florio, and also wouldn’t be amenable to altering his contract in order to ease a trade. The Colts inked Hilton to a five-year, $65MM extension prior to the 2015 campaign, and he still has three years remaining on his current pact. The former third-round pick has non-guaranteed base salaries of $11MM, $13MM, and ~$14.5MM over the next three seasons, all of which are relative bargains for a pass-catcher of Hilton’s caliber.
The Colts have struggled in 2017 without Andrew Luck under center, but despite the lack of quality talent on Indianapolis’ roster, there’s been no indication the club is ready to undergo a complete rebuild under general manager Chris Ballard. In 10 months as the Colts’ top decision-maker, Ballard hasn’t traded away any key pieces, as his most high-profile deals have included spare parts in tight end Dwayne Allen and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.
Dealing Hilton, though, would signal Indy’s intention to revamp its roster, as he’s been the team’s top offensive weapon for four-plus seasons. From 2013-16, Hilton averaged 81 receptions, 1,250 yards, and six touchdowns per season, and while his numbers in 2017 aren’t as eye-popping given the absence of Luck, Hilton has still managed 512 receiving yards through seven games.
Hilton isn’t the only Colts player to be mentioned in trade rumors today, as left tackle Anthony Castonzo and cornerback Vontae Davis have also been bandied about as potential candidates to be shipped out prior to Tuesday.
Colts Could Trade Vontae Davis
- Per Schefter (via Twitter), the Colts are receiving inquiries on CB Vontae Davis, and they have been in talks with at least two clubs about the Illinois product.
Seahawks Willing To Trade Jimmy Graham?
Texans LT Duane Brown is expected to suit up for Houston for the first time this season as the club takes on the Seahawks in Seattle today. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, though, today might be Brown’s last day in a Texans uniform.
Per Rapoport (Twitter links), the Seahawks are continuing their attempts to acquire a veteran left tackle, and Seattle and Houston have engaged in talks involving Brown. Brown, of course, has held out all season to express his dissatisfaction over his current contract, and he has only reported to the team in order to accrue a year of service time; if he missed any more game action, he would not receive any credit for the 2017 season and would remain under club control for two more years instead of being eligible for free agency at the end of the 2018 campaign.
Seattle, though, is pretty strapped for cap space, and as Rapoport points out, if the Seahawks were to trade for a left tackle like Brown — they are also interested in the Bills’ Cordy Glenn and the Colts’ Anthony Castonzo — they would need to cut or trade other players to remain under the salary cap. One player who could be moved is TE Jimmy Graham, who is earning $7.9MM in base salary this year and who is counting for $10MM against the cap. Rapoport says Seattle would be willing to move Graham if such a move would allow them to acquire a left tackle.
However, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll strong denied that Graham would be available before Tuesday’s deadline, calling any reports to that effect “total bull—-“, as Michael Silver of NFL.com tweets. Similarly, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) has been told Seattle has no plans to trade Graham.
Graham, 30, is averaging a career-low 9.6 yards per catch through six games this season, which comes on the heels of an excellent 2016 season, his best in Seattle. The Seahawks continue to believe Graham is a critical part of the offense, but they feel acquiring a quality left tackle is more important.
For what it’s worth, Rapoport says it is unlikely that the Seahawks and Texans agree to a one-for-one swap involving Brown and Graham, but it could be a possibility (Twitter link). Houston, however, is probably more interested in acquiring draft capital than a 30-year-old tight end on an expiring contract.
Holder: Andrew Luck Should Play If Healthy
- If Andrew Luck is ultimately cleared to play, he should be taking the field for the Colts, opines Stephen Holder of the Indy Star. The writer understands that there’s some risk to playing a previously-injured franchise quarterback when the team is already out of the playoff hunt. However, Holder believes there are several benefits to having Luck take over under center. If the quarterback misses the entire season, he’ll end up going 20 months without playing in an NFL game. Inserting Luck into the lineup would also allow him to get “reacclimated” with the system and his teammates, which could be instrumental if the team hopes to compete in 2018.
[SOURCE LINK]
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/27/17
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Released from injured reserve: WR River Cracraft
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: TE Henry Krieger-Coble