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Draft Notes: Sternberger, Jets, Thorson

By | at March 31, 2019 12:23 pm

The Patriots are on the lookout for tight end help in the wake of Rob Gronkowski‘s retirement, and the club will have a top-30 visit with Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The Pats could use their No. 32 overall pick on a tight end, and while that may be a little high for Sternberger, top prospects Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson may be off the board by that point. Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. could be available, though, and there is no reason why New England, which has deployed two tight ends to great effect in the past, could not use several of its 12 picks in this year’s draft on the tight end position.

Now for more draft-related rumblings from around the league:

  • In addition to the Patriots, Wilson reports that Sternberger has visits lined up with the Chiefs, Packers, Lions, Cowboys, Vikings, and Seahawks.
  • Brian Costello of the New York Post does not believe that the Jets will invest high-end draft capital on the WR, RB, or TE positions this year in light of their free agent expenditures, but he still thinks the club could bolster those units with collegiate prospects. He suggests that Gang Green could use a middle- or late-round selection on a wideout, particularly if that player offers return ability, and he thinks a Day 3 blocking tight end and power back could also be in the cards. Of course, with only six draft picks at the moment, New York may need to focus on areas of greater need.
  • Penn State DE Shareef Miller will visit with the Ravens, Cardinals, and Jets, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Miller currently projects as a Day 3 pick, but all three clubs could use pass rushing help, and Miller has the raw ability to succeed as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB.
  • The Broncos may be hosting some of the top QBs in this year’s draft class, but they’re looking at more under-the-radar passers as well, as Mike Klis of 9News.com tweets that Denver will be working out Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson in early April. Thorson is expected to be a middle-round selection.
  • Valdosta State CB Stephen Denmark has top-30 visits lined up with the Browns and Saints, per Wilson (via Twitter).
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Chiefs, DL Chris Jones Discussing Extension

By | at March 28, 2019 5:59 pm

If the Chiefs have their way, Chris Jones will be sticking around Kansas City for the foreseeable future. General manager Brett Veach told Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star that the two sides have started discussing a contract extension.

“There’s a lot of time to go before the season starts, and he’s certainly a guy that we’ve targeted and would love to get done,” Veach said. “The conversations have started.

“I wouldn’t say they are heating up at a rapid pace, but you’ve got to start somewhere. We’ve had two to three of these conversations and they’re getting better.”

As Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com points out, the former second-rounder is entering the final year of his contract. Jones is set to earn a $1.2MM base salary and will account for a $1.3MM cap hit.

Following his 2018 season, the 24-year-old should end up seeing a sizable pay raise. Jones had a breakout campaign last year, finishing with a career-high 40 tackles and 15.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked him fifth among 112 interior defenders, with his pass-rushing score ranking second at the position.

With Dee Ford out of the picture, the Chiefs will lean even more on Jones in 2019. The team can also turn to Derrick Nnadi and Xavier Williams in the middle of its defensive line, and reports yesterday indicated that the Chiefs were still pursuing free agent Allen Bailey. Either way, we should see Jones top his 11 starts from 2018.

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Chiefs Still In Mix For DL Allen Bailey

By | at March 27, 2019 6:44 pm

Free agent defensive lineman Allen Bailey is still considering a return to the Chiefs, while the Patriots — who met with Bailey earlier this month — are also still in the mix, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Kansas City is moving to a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and that shift would likely entail a minor position change for the 6’3″, 288-pound Bailey if he re-signs with the Chiefs. After playing defensive end in the Chiefs’ 3-4 scheme, Bailey would play tackle in a 4-3 look. Defensive tackle isn’t necessarily an area of need for Kansas City, which already boasts Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, and Xavier Williams in the middle of it defensive line.

The Patriots have made one addition at defensive tackle this offseason by bringing in free agent Mike Pennel, but they’ve also lost Malcom Brown to the Saints and could potentially be without free agent Danny Shelton, who has yet to sign a new contract with any club. New England will also be without defensive end Trey Flowers — who had the ability to rush from the interior on passing downs — after he inked a massive deal with the Lions..

Bailey, 30, has spent his entire career with the Chiefs after entering the league as a third-round pick in 2011. He became a full-time starter in 2014, and last season posted six sacks, 38 tackles, and two forced fumbles across 16 games while ranking as just the No. 91 interior defender among 112 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Bailey just wrapped up a four-year extension that paid him $6.25MM annually.

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Latest On Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill

By | at March 27, 2019 2:38 pm

The NFL is not expected to weigh in on possible discipline for Chiefs star Tyreek Hill until child protective services concludes their investigation, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link) hears. That could mean that Hill’s fate will be in limbo for a while as authorities sift through the accusations levied against the wide receiver. 

Hill’s three-year old son is said to have suffered injuries, including a broken arm, at Hill’s home. Authorities are looking into Hill’s involvement in the incident, which may not be the first such event in his household. On March 5th, officers were called to Hill’s home to investigate a different incident of “child abuse or neglect.” Hill’s name was listed on that police report, though the “report was closed three days later when prosecution was declined.” 

Hill has not been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list yet and the league is likely waiting for more information from CPS before proceeding with any discipline. The accusations are troubling, particularly in light of Hill’s pre-NFL track record, but at this point, details are murky.

In 2017, Hill’s second NFL season, he amassed nearly 1,200 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. Then, last year, he set new career highs with 87 catches for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite his diminutive stature, Hill is among the very best in the league at his position.

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Jeremy Maclin Announces Retirement

By | at March 24, 2019 4:33 pm

Former NFL wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has announced his retirement from the NFL, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Maclin, 30, was released by the Ravens last March but still expressed an interest in continuing his career in 2018. He didn’t garner any looks in free agency, however, although the Eagles were reportedly monitoring his status. Maclin’s health was an issue, as he suffered a hamstring/glute injury during a training session that required surgery in October. That ailment ruled him out for the 2018 campaign, and may have contributed to Maclin’s decision to hang up his cleats.

A first-round pick of the Eagles in 2009, Maclin averaged 64 receptions and 864 yards per season before breaking out in 2014, when he posted 85 catches for 1,318 yards and seven touchdowns. That performance landed him a five-year, $55MM contract with the Chiefs, and Maclin’s success continued in his first go-round in Kansas City, as he managed a 85/1,088/10 line.

In 2016, however, Maclin missed four games and failed to top 50 receptions or 600 yards receiving, and the Chiefs cut him after only two years. He landed with the Ravens on a two-year deal, but his results in Baltimore resembled his final year in Kansas City, leading to his release.

PFR extends its best wishes to Maclin and his family as he enters post-NFL life.

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Chiefs Were Shopping Tyreek Hill?

By | at March 22, 2019 10:39 pm

Tyreek Hill‘s status with the Chiefs is very much in doubt. The embattled receiver is under investigation for allegedly abusing his child, and it’s unclear how that situation will resolve and whether or not he’ll be able to stay on the roster. But even without this scandal, Hill apparently wasn’t a lock to remain with the Chiefs. “Even if none of this happened, there were questions in Kansas City about whether they could re-sign” Hill, according to Jay Glazer of The Athletic.

Glazer “heard some rumblings at the start of free agency that his name was being thrown about in trade talks.” That’s surprising to hear, but Glazer is usually pretty plugged in and was right about the Giants trading Odell Beckham Jr. Hill was reportedly negotiating an extension with the Chiefs before this latest news broke, and it sounds like Hill was making some lofty demands. Hill is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.

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Chiefs To Re-Sign FB Anthony Sherman

By | at March 22, 2019 11:52 am

The Chiefs are bringing back their lead blocker. Fullback Anthony Sherman is re-signing with Kansas City on a one-year deal, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Sherman made the Pro Bowl last year, and is one of the better fullbacks in the league. Many teams are going away from fullbacks, but many of the most successful offenses like the Patriots and Chiefs still use them. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is also a huge proponent of the fullback and has invested heavily there with Kyle Juszczyk, so the position certainly isn’t on the verge of going extinct.

Sherman signed a one-year deal last offseason, and the team apparently prefers to go year-to-year with him. Sherman caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown last year. He only carried the ball once last year, but in 2017 he carried it 14 times.

His most notable action cam in the Pro Bowl this past year, when he racked up several big plays. With Kareem Hunt no longer in the fold, the Chiefs’ backfield will be a bit more uncertain next year, but Sherman will be out there paving the way for whoever the lead back is.

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Contract Details: Vaccaro, Callahan, Okafor

By | at March 21, 2019 10:20 pm

Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed NFL contracts, with all links going to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle’s Twitter account:

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