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2020 NFL Draft Capital By Team

April 16th, 2020 at 5:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Every NFL team automatically gets seven draft picks per season, but thanks to lots of trades and the compensatory pick process, many clubs end up with more (or less) than their original seven selections. After running down the NFL Draft round-by-round, let’s take a look at how much draft capital each club has amassed:

Updated: 4-16-20 (6:00pm CT)

14 picks

  • Miami Dolphins

12 picks

  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New England Patriots

10 picks

  • Denver Broncos
  • Green Bay Packers
  • New York Giants

9 picks

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Detroit Lions

8 picks

  • Carolina Panthers
  • New York Jets
  • Philadelphia Eagles

7 picks

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Chicago Bears
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Washington Redskins

6 picks

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tennessee Titans

5 picks

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • New Orleans Saints

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/16/20

April 16th, 2020 at 5:20pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Chicago Bears

New England Patriots

  • Signed RFA tender: OL Jermaine Eluemunor

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Latest On NFL Draft’s Top WRs

April 16th, 2020 at 3:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have themselves a star wide receiver after trading for DeAndre Hopkins, but this year’s WR class is talented enough to tempt every team. Even though the Cardinals may like Kyler Murray‘s one-time teammate CeeDee Lamb and other WR talents, they’re not expected to use their No. 8 pick on a receiver, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

With Hopkins installed as the Cardinals’ new WR1, Arizona will likely address larger needs with that pick – perhaps a stud defensive player or an offensive lineman. Then, somewhere around Nos. 11 or 12, where the Jets and Raiders pick, Rapoport expects the WR run to take flight. In that scenario, CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy stand out as likely candidates – they’re the consensus top receivers in this wildly talented crop, Rapoport hears.

Further down the board, the Eagles have been heavily connected to LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson. But, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) cautions that several teams could jump ahead of the Birds at No. 21 to land him. The Vikings (Nos. 22 and 25), Patriots (No. 23), and the Saints (No. 24) are all lurking, and they could make a play for a big-time WR like Jefferson.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Patriots, Draft

April 16th, 2020 at 1:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Want to know the Dolphins‘ plans for the NFL Draft next week? You’ll have to wait, because general manager Chris Grier says his lips are sealed (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald):

“We’ve spent a lot of time going through, spent a lot of time with the players. We’re going to do what’s best for the Miami Dolphins..My wife and kids are worse than you guys [asking who we’ll take].”

Grier claims there are “about eight or nine players” the Dolphins could select at No. 5 overall, but we’d wager that the list is much shorter than that. Based on what we’ve been hearing, the ‘Fins are most likely looking at quarterbacks, though no one is sure whether their preferred QB is Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

Here’s the latest from the AFC East:

  • It’s no secret that the Patriots are in the market for a QB and the feeling is that Bill Belichick will either find his next passer in the first round or in the middle rounds, with no real in between, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Meanwhile, one NFL GM tells Peter King of NBC Sports that the Pats “love” Herbert, though they’re not in love enough to vault way up from No. 23 to get him.
  • So, what is Belichick looking for as the Patriots try to replace Tom Brady? Recently, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Twitter link) unearthed scouting material from BB’s Browns days where he said the No. 1 trait is someone that makes “good decisions.” Arm strength, to BB, is secondary – he values accuracy over “a guy with a cannon.” Those descriptions fit Brady and they’ll likely be prerequisites for the Patriots’ QB of the future. Beyond Tua and Herbert, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe sees Jake Fromm as a solid fit.
  • Earlier this year, the Patriots exercised their option on Jason McCourty, which helped bring brother Devin McCourty back to New England. If the Patriots didn’t hold on to Jason, Devin would have left for the Dolphins, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears.

Patriots "Love" Justin Herbert

April 13th, 2020 at 1:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson
  • One NFL GM tells King the Patriots “love” Herbert, but may not be infatuated enough to trade up from pick No. 23. Indeed, New England would likely need to sacrifice a 2021 first-round pick in order to move into Herbert range.

2020 NFL Cap Room By Team

April 12th, 2020 at 6:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The biggest names in NFL free agency might be off the board, but there are still plenty of noteworthy players on the board and high-profile cuts on the way. And, while some teams did their spending early, others are still sitting on lots of cash.

The latest cap figures from OverTheCap show that several teams are poised to pounce in the latter waves of free agency, starting with the Browns. The numbers also show that teams like the Rams still have work to do in order to sign their upcoming draft class. Also, the Eagles’ 2020 figure doesn’t quite tell the whole story – thanks to high-priced multi-year deals including Darius Slay’s new contract, they’re already overcommitted on dollars for 2021.

Here’s the complete rundown for all 32 teams, in descending order of cap space:

  1. Browns – $40.2MM
  2. Lions – $29.5MM
  3. Eagles – $27.1MM
  4. Colts – $24MM
  5. Dolphins – $23.9MM
  6. Redskins – $23.8MM
  7. Chargers – $22.3MM
  8. Titans – $21.5MM
  9. Bills – $20.9MM
  10. Texans – $18.6MM
  11. Broncos – $17.5MM
  12. Giants – $17.1MM
  13. Jets – $15.5MM
  14. Jaguars – $14.6MM
  15. Cowboys – $13.6MM
  16. Buccaneers – $13.5MM
  17. 49ers – $13.4MM
  18. Seahawks – $12.6MM
  19. Vikings – $12.3MM
  20. Ravens – $11.3MM
  21. Packers – $11.08MM
  22. Bears – $11.03MM
  23. Panthers – $9.4MM
  24. Raiders – $8.8MM
  25. Bengals – $7.3MM
  26. Steelers – $7.2MM
  27. Cardinals – $7MM
  28. Saints – $5.3MM
  29. Chiefs – $2.9MM
  30. Falcons – $2.4MM
  31. Patriots – $1.2MM
  32. Rams – (-$5.3MM)

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Edelman, Jets, Bills

April 12th, 2020 at 10:51am CST by Zachary Links

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman won’t be prosecuted in connection with his January incident (via TMZ). One week after the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs, Los Angeles police alleged that he jumped on the hood of someone else’s Mercedes and caused damage. His drunken escapade won’t result in legal consequences because the owner of the car doesn’t want him to be prosecuted and Edelman does not have a “known criminal history,” per the DA’s office. With that, it’s unlikely that the Super Bowl LIII MVP will face league suspension.

Last year, Edelman tallied 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. Even as he enters his age-34 season, he remains a key player in the Patriots’ offense. Now, the Pats have to figure out who will be throwing to him in 2020.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • The Patriots still hold Rob Gronkowski‘s rights, which means that he wouldn’t be able to simply come out of retirement and rejoin Tom Brady in Tampa (if that’s what he wants to do). However, he could easily force the Patriots’ hand, as Mike Florio of PFT notes. Gronk could un-retire, put his $9MM salary back on the books, and push the cap-strapped Pats to trade or release him. In that scenario, Florio speculates that the Patriots could swing a trade for one of the Bucs’ talented tight ends – Cameron Brate or O.J. Howard.
  • Despite the chatter, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY doesn’t think the Jets will trade Jamal Adams. He reasons that if the Jets wanted to trade the Pro Bowl safety, they would have done it already – the Cowboys reportedly offered a first-round pick for him, but they countered by asking for a whole lot more. That sky-high asking price, he says, is a pretty good indication that they want to keep Adams for the long-haul. Despite all of the drama, Adams is one of the game’s premier young defenders and the Jets seem to think that an extension is possible.
  • With that said, Vacchiano doesn’t think the Jets are in any rush to extend Adams. The 24-year-old (25 in October) can be kept through 2021 through his fifth-year option. After that, they can realistically use the franchise tag twice over to keep him through 2023.
  • The Bills are believed to have running back on their draft to-do list, but they also see rising sophomore Devin Singletary as a potential workhorse back. “I think Devin can do either or. He’s an unselfish player,” GM Brandon Beane said (via PFT). “If we want him to be the workload guy, I think he could definitely do it. I think Year Two is going to be better for him.” Singletary averaged over 5.0 yards per tote last year and could have had a chance at 1,000+ yards if he hadn’t missed time with a hamstring injury.

Patriots, Saints, Packers, Others Doing Homework On Jordan Love

April 11th, 2020 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the rules leading up to the virtual draft make it more difficult to determine teams’ interest in prospects, franchises are doing their homework in different ways. And several teams are doing extensive research on Jordan Love.

The Utah State-developed quarterback prospect has drawn interest from teams with varying levels of quarterback needs. Among the teams doing homework on Love: the Saints, Patriots and Packers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. The Dolphins, Chargers and Redskins are also examining the intriguing passer.

With Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert expected to be the first three quarterbacks drafted, that places Love in an interesting spot. Following the Bengals, Dolphins and Bolts in the top six, there are not many teams with an immediate quarterback need. The Patriots, though, do qualify. Picking at No. 23, the Pats have not used a first-round pick on a quarterback since Drew Bledsoe 27 years ago and last picked one in Round 2 in 2014 (Jimmy Garoppolo). The Pats are believed to be prepared to give Jarrett Stidham a genuine shot to succeed Tom Brady, but it certainly would not surprise if they either drafted a quarterback early or signed one of the high-profile free agents.

Some scouts view Love as the draft’s best pure thrower, but Fowler adds others see him as a Day 2 pick. He finished last season with a 20-17 TD-INT ratio, well off the prolific pace he set as a sophomore (32-6) in 2018. Texas Tech coach Matt Wells — the former Utah State head coach — said seven NFL HCs have contacted him about Love in the past five days, per Fowler.

The Saints and Packers have been previously linked to the 6-foot-4 passer and have spoken with him leading up to the draft. New Orleans placed a first-round tender on Taysom Hill, but the former UDFA has 13 career pass attempts and will soon turn 30. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers under contract through 2023, and the 36-year-old star has indicated he wants to play into his 40s.

The Dolphins got in a meeting with Love before the NFL nixed the in-person components of the pre-draft process due to COVID-19. While Miami has been most closely connected to Tagovailoa, the organization has been mentioned as being interested in Love going back to February. In addition to their No. 5 overall pick, the Dolphins hold picks 18 and 26 in this draft.

Patriots Held Out Hope For Tom Brady Extension Until Free Agency

April 8th, 2020 at 6:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

During an interview with Sirius XM’s Howard Stern, Tom Brady said he had a strong indication going into the 2019 season that it would be his last with the Patriots. The sides had agreed to a deal last year that prevented the Pats from placing the franchise tag on Brady, but it does not sound like the team was definitively moving on.

The Patriots held out hope of re-signing Brady up until the week of free agency, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Brady’s meeting at Robert Kraft‘s house provided the Patriots closure on their centerpiece player, but Rapoport adds that going into that summit the Pats were still hoping Brady would inform them he wanted to stay.

The Brady saga took substantial turns, from the Raiders and Chargers preparing bids to the Titans being the top threat to the Patriots to Brady’s camp showing interest in the 49ers to finally the Buccaneers winning the sweepstakes.

Brady announced on the morning of March 17 he was leaving the Patriots. His agent began discussing a deal with the Bucs once the legal tampering period opened at 11am CT March 16, but the future Hall of Fame quarterback did not engage in discussions with Bruce Arians or Jason Licht until the evening of March 18. At that point, Licht indicated Brady was pitching himself to the Bucs. It appears it was Brady who wanted to exit Foxborough more so than the Pats desiring to start over with a cheaper option.

Brady signed a fully guaranteed two-year, $50MM deal with the Bucs. As of now, 2019 backup Jarrett Stidham is the odds-on favorite to succeed Brady. However, Cam Newton and Jameis Winston are free agents. And while the Bengals are considering keeping Andy Dalton, his $17.5MM cap number makes him a potential release candidate.

Tom Brady On Free Agency, Leaving The Patriots, And Joining The Bucs

April 8th, 2020 at 9:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

In a wide-ranging two-hour interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM Radio, new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady discussed his first foray into free agency, his decision to leave the Patriots, his journey to Tampa Bay, and his future in the NFL. Let’s take a look at the highlights from Brady’s sit-down with the King of All Media:

  • Brady said he had a strong feeling he’d leave New England before the beginning of the 2019 NFL season, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. “I don’t think there was a final, final decision until it happened,” Brady said. “But I would say I probably knew before the start of last season. I knew that, it was just, our time, you know, our time was coming to an end.” Brady signed a renegotiated contract in August 2019 that prevented the Patriots from franchise tagging him in 2020, so the tea leaves regarding a possible departure were in place.
  • Brady indicated he heard from “a lot” of interested teams when he reached free agency, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, Brady said he wrote down a list of 20 factors that would play into his decision, including location, wide receiver talent, and coaching, per Palmer (Twitter link), which helped lead him to the Buccaneers.
  • While leaving the franchise he played for his entire career couldn’t have been an easy decision, Brady said he wasn’t concerned about tarnishing his NFL legacy. “I never cared about legacy,” Brady said, per Greg Auman of the The Athletic (Twitter link). “I could give a s— about … that’s not me, that’s not my personality. Why would I choose a different place? It was time. I had accomplished everything I could with an incredible organization.”
  • Although he’s now entering uncharted territory as a mid-40s NFL quarterback, Brady doesn’t seem to be considering retirement any time in the immediate future. “You don’t tell a musician to stop singing, you don’t tell a great painter to stop painting at 42,” Brady said, per Auman (Twitter link). Brady, of course, inked a fully guaranteed two-year contract with Tampa Bay that will take him through his age-44 season.
  • Despite reports of friction between Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the future Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn’t hold any resentment towards the future Hall of Fame coach, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets. “No absolutely not,” Brady said. “To have him allowed me to be the best I can be. So I’m grateful for that. And I very much believe he feels the same about me…”
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