Cardinals’ David Johnson Cleared By Doctors
Cardinals running back David Johnson has been given full medical clearance, according to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). He’ll be ready for Arizona’s full slate of offseason workouts. 
[RELATED: Brice Butler Signs With Cardinals]
Johnson was arguably the league’s best offensive player in 2016 as he posted more than 2,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 20 total touchdowns. He remains one of the NFL’s premier talents at running back, but his health was a question mark this offseason after he missed the majority of the 2017 campaign.
Johnson told the media that he was fully healthy back in January, but new head coach Steve Wilks indicated at the owners’ meetings that he had yet to get the full green light from doctors. In recent days, Johnson got the go-ahead.
Johnson will now return to an offense spearheaded by a different veteran quarterback. Carson Palmer is gone and in his place is the talented, yet injury-prone, Sam Bradford. Should Bradford suffer another malady, the Cardinals have Mike Glennon as a backstop.
Patriots Won’t Pursue Odell Beckham Jr.
The Patriots have picked up another first-round pick thanks to the Brandin Cooks trade, leading to speculation that they could parlay their draft capital into a trade for Odell Beckham Jr. The word, for now, is that will not be happening. The Cooks deal is not a precursor to an attempt to land Beckham, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com hears (on Twitter). 
The Giants are seeking at least two first-round picks for Beckham and the Patriots now have selections at No. 23 and No. 31 in the current draft to work with. However, the Patriots are believed to have traded Cooks in part because he is entering his contract year. Trading for Beckham Jr. would put the Patriots in an even more expensive predicament than they were facing with Cooks, not to mention the sacrifice of serious draft value.
Beckham, 26 in November, was among the game’s most spectacular wide receivers up until an injury cut his 2017 season short. In 2016, OBJ had 101 catches for 1,367 yards and ten touchdowns en route to his third career Pro Bowl selection. He’d be exceptionally dangerous in the Patriots’ offense, but it sounds like that dream scenario won’t be coming to fruition.
Patriots Trade Brandin Cooks To Rams
The Patriots have traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The deal will see Cooks and a fourth round pick head to Los Angeles. In return, the Pats will receive a first-round pick and a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. 
The Pats now have the No. 23 overall pick in the draft to pair with their original selection at No. 31. With those two selections, the Pats could conceivably explore trades to get into the top half of the first round or keep them in order to fill multiple urgent needs. Further down the line, the Patriots also own two second round picks at Nos. 43 and 63.
The Rams have been extremely aggressive this offseason and Cooks is just the latest high-profile addition, joining the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. In recent weeks, the Rams have been tied to Giants superstar Odell Beckham Jr., but they have found a different standout wide receiver in Cooks. The Pats, meanwhile, could hypothetically turn their attention to OBJ now that they are armed with two first-round picks, but that apparently is not in the cards.
Cooks may not be of the very top tier of wide receivers like OBJ, but he’s not far off. The former first-round pick does not turn 25 until September and has three consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons under his belt. Last year, he set a new career high with 16.6 yards per reception while finding the end zone seven times.
Cooks will now serve as the Rams’ top receiver, arguably giving the team an upgrade over the departed Sammy Watkins. Robert Woods and rising sophomores Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds will return and the Rams may still look to improve that group between now and the fall.
Cooks is set to enter the option year on his rookie deal, worth $8.459MM. The Rams can continue to control him through the 2019 season with the franchise tag, but he’ll probably seek out a fresh multi-year pact. Knowing the Patriots, it’s likely that Bill Belichick & Co. were wary of having to extend him given the boom of the WR market this year.
You can now add wide receiver to the Patriots’ list of needs as they approach the draft in April. As it stands, Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman, Kenny Britt, and Phillip Dorsett comprise the top of the team’s wide receiver depth chart. While there’s potential there – particularly in Britt and Dorsett – the Pats presently lack a strong No. 1 WR type for Tom Brady to target. Brady will also be without the services of Danny Amendola, who left New England after five seasons to sign with the rival Dolphins.
[RELATED: Rams Depth Chart]
Latest On Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
Multiple teams are planning to call the Patriots in regards to tight end Rob Gronkowski‘s availability, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link).
Despite February rumors that Gronkowski could choose to retire this offseason, most subsequent reports have indicated the 28-year-old All Pro intends to return in 2018. Gronkowski has reportedly been working out at Tom Brady‘s Sports Therapy Center, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) reported Monday that nothing has changed in terms of Gronk’s status. Indeed, there may never be a formal announcement from Gronkowski — he may simply show up for offseason workouts and continue his career.
While Gronkowski seems intent on playing in 2018, it’s possible that he won’t be suiting up in New England. As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hasn’t been afraid to deal stars in the past. Edge rusher Chandler Jones, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, guard Logan Mankins, and linebacker Jamie Collins are among the players Belichick & Co. have traded, often times for what seemed like pennies on the dollar.
Plus, Belichick and Gronkowski’s relationship appears to be at a low point, as Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com recently reported the Patriots head coach may not believe Gronkowski is “all in” at this juncture. Gronkowski, for his part, is reportedly frustrated with Belichick and others in the New England organization, and is put off by the club’s “high-strung” culture. Those differences, per Darlington, aren’t believed to be irreconcilable.
Gronkowski, of course, is still a dominant player when healthy. In 2017, Gronk was on the field for 14 games, and managed 69 receptions, 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns, all of which placed him within the top-five among tight ends. He’s signed through the 2019 campaign, with base salaries of $8MM and $9MM over the next two respective seasons.
Brice Butler To Sign With Cardinals
Brice Butler‘s visit with the Cardinals will produce a deal. The UFA wideout agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Cards, James Jones of the NFL Network reports (on Twitter).
The former NFL wide receiver reports the Cardinals have won the pursuit for Butler. They were one of four teams scheduled to have visits with the former Cowboys and Raiders pass-catcher, with the Jaguars, Seahawks and Bears also in the mix for Butler.
Butler expressed a desire to become a starter with his next team. He’s been a spot starter in Oakland and Dallas but has never commandeered a full-time role. He figures to have a chance to do that with the Cardinals and learn from one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. Larry Fitzgerald is entrenched at one of the Cards’ starting positions, but with John Brown and Jaron Brown having defected in free agency, Fitzgerald’s supporting cast is uncertain beyond J.J. Nelson.
The Cowboys re-signed Terrance Williams in 2017, and he, Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley ensured Butler would remain a rotational presence rather than a first-stringer. Butler, though, showed flashes of being a strong deep threat. The 6-foot-3 target averaged 21.1 yards per catch last season, posting 317 air yards and three touchdowns on just 15 receptions. He averaged 21.5 yards per grab in 2015, his first year in Dallas, while working with various backups while Tony Romo was on the shelf.
While the Cardinals may still be looking at wideouts in the upcoming draft, with Fitzgerald set to play his age-35 season this fall, they’ve secured an intriguing player for the next two seasons. Arizona submitted an offer to Jordan Matthews, who visited in mid-March, but it’s unclear if that proposal is still out there.
LB Will Compton Signs With Titans
Two weeks after hosting Will Compton on a visit, the Titans signed the free agent linebacker, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline reports. It’s a one-year deal, per Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
A member of the Redskins’ linebacking corps for five seasons, Compton will now try to earn an inside spot with the Titans. Tennessee lost Avery Williamson in free agency, breaking up the longtime tandem of he and Wesley Woodyard.
Compton, who has started 33 games over the past four seasons, also visited the Bills during this free agency period. He will stay in a 3-4 defense, having played in that scheme throughout his career. The former undrafted free agent played in only nine games last season, which was cut short due to injury.
Woodyard and Williamson teamed up as starters for four seasons, so this will be a bit of an adjustment. Compton, who will be set for his age-29 season, was a full-time Redskins starter in 2016. He also started 10 games for the 2015 division champion Redskins. Shoulder and Lisfranc injuries plagued Compton in 2017, but the Titans look set to give the Nebraska product a shot at returning to a starting lineup.
Geno Smith To Sign With Chargers
It looks like Philip Rivers will have a new backup quarterback. Geno Smith and the Chargers reached an agreement on a deal that will bring Smith to Los Angeles, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal, per Schefter and ESPN.com’s Eric Williams.
Smith will reunite with Anthony Lynn, who was a Jets offensive assistant during his first two seasons with the team.
The sixth-year quarterback met with both the Bolts and Seahawks this offseason, with the Chargers receiving the first meeting. He will trek to L.A., leaving Seattle without a proven backup to Russell Wilson. Smith and Cardale Jones are now in line to fill out the Chargers’ Rivers-centric QB meetings.
Having spent a year backing up the player once traded for Rivers, Smith made one start for the Giants and ended up snapping Eli Manning‘s historic streak. That caused quite a bit of uproar and accelerated the changing of the guard in New York. Smith saw action in just two Giants games last season and only three Jets contests from 2015-16, with the infamous locker room skirmish with IK Enemkpali playing a role in sidetracking the former second-round pick’s career.
Entering his age-28 season, Smith holds a career 57.9 completion percentage and has thrown 29 touchdown passes compared to 36 interceptions. He started a loss to the Raiders in Oakland last season, completing 21 of 34 tosses with a touchdown on a depleted Big Blue team.
Rivers has not missed a start since taking over the Bolts’ passing reins in 2006. Jones did not throw a pass last season with the Bolts. Longtime Rivers backup Kellen Clemens, who threw eight passes in 2017, is a free agent. Rivers’ backup for the past four seasons, Clemens seems poised to head elsewhere now. The Seahawks could be a fit, with the 34-year-old quarterback having worked under new Seattle OC Brian Schottenheimer with the Rams earlier this decade.
Latest On Rob Gronkowski’s 2018 Status
The uncertainty surrounding Rob Gronkowski‘s career may be on the verge of being tabled. The All-Pro tight end is more likely to play in 2018 than retire shy of his 29th birthday, Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com reports.
Although Gronkowski has not yet made an official decision, Darlington reports he is “pretty certain” to return as long as Tom Brady is still with the Patriots. Despite nearing his 41st birthday, Brady is not believed to be considering retirement. That would point the two Patriots icons toward a ninth season together.
While Gronkowski and Brady appear to still be in lockstep, the four-time first-team All-Pro and Bill Belichick may not be. Gronk is frustrated with Belichick and some others in the Patriots organization, Darlington reports. The punishment the injury-prone player absorbed last season isn’t the only thing pushing him toward a possible early NFL exit, with Darlington also reporting part of the Patriots’ ways are wearing on their top weapon. With nothing occurring since the conclusion of last season indicating the “high-strung” culture will change, Gronkowski is factoring the mental component into his decision, per Darlington.
Belichick has also expressed frustration about Gronkowski, per Darlington, questioning whether the tight end is “all in” at this juncture. Although, sources close to both parties informed the ESPN reporter these differences aren’t believed to be irreconcilable.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported in February that Gronk was likely to return for his age-29 season, but talk about the superstar tight end’s future has swirled since he expressed uncertainty his career would continue after Super Bowl LII. Darlington reports Gronk was having thoughts of walking away late during the 2017 regular season.
The Patriot with the second-most first-team All-Pro honors, behind Hall of Famer John Hannah, Gronkowski remains attached to a contract he signed in 2012. A return to the gridiron next season stands to come on a $10.9MM cap number. Gronk maxed out his incentive-laden 2017 salary by earning that fourth All-Pro nod. Two years remain on the deal.
Gronkowski caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns, surmounting yet another significant injury to reclaim his status as the league’s best tight end. He caught two TDs in New England’s Super Bowl loss but was knocked out of the AFC title game because of a concussion.
Hollywood and WWE interest has come his way, and it’s clear the gregarious performer will have options once his career concludes. While it’s uncertain if he’ll venture elsewhere prior to this season, it’s increasingly looking like there will be a ninth NFL campaign for Gronk.
Lions Unlikely To Sign Ansah To Long-Term Deal?
Some teams use the franchise tag to buy some time to negotiate with their players on a long-term deal. That doesn’t appear to be the case in Detroit with Ezekiel Ansah. Appearing on PFT Live, general manager Bob Quinn alluded to taking a wait-and-see approach with the fifth-year defensive end. 
“We’re hoping he stays healthy, has a productive year and we go from there,” Quinn said.
Quinn said it is about new head coach Matt Patricia being able to get to know Ansah through the off-season program before the team makes a decision about a long-term deal. The fact that Ansah has been inconsistent early in his career — sandwiching a pair of double-digit sack seasons in 2015 and 2017 with a two-sack campaign in 2016 — also surely factors into the decision to wait.
Though he wants Patricia to become familiar with the defensive end through the offseason program, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also writes Ansah isn’t likely to attend the offseason program with a long-term deal.
The 2015 Pro Bowl selection has until July 16 to sign his franchise tender, which will pay him an expected $17.14MM.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Aldon Smith
A bench warrant has been issued for free agent Aldon Smith after he failed to appear in court Thursday in a protective order stemming from his arrest on charges of alleged domestic violence earlier this month, according to TMZ Sports.
Smith’s attorney claimed that he had never missed a prior court date and that he planned to be present Thursday, per the TMZ Sports report. Smith was charged with four misdemeanors in early March after an alleged altercation with his fiancee. He was also arrested earlier this week after violating a mandate that stated he was to refrain from contact with the victim from the alleged domestic violence incident and he eventually turned himself in to authorities.
The Raiders promptly released Smith earlier this month after the initial domestic violence charges. A series of off-the-field issues led the 49ers to cut the former No. 7 overall pick in August 2015. He latched on with the Raiders and signed a two-year deal to remain in Oakland in April 2016.
Smith last appeared in a game in 2015 with the Raiders, recording 3.5 sacks in just nine games. He showed flashes of greatness on the field in his career, including 41 sacks through his first three seasons. But it appears Smith’s chances of ever suiting up with an NFL team again are slim at best.