Minor NFL Transactions: 6/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Tyler Newsome
New York Jets
- Waived: DL Sharif Finch
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: TE Daniel Helm
Jets Sign Ronald Blair
The Jets have defensive lineman Ronald Blair, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The deal will reunite Blair with old pal Robert Saleh, the former Niners defensive coordinator who now serves as the Jets’ head coach.
Blair ruptured his ACL midway through the 2019 season, which should have given him enough time to return for 2020. Unfortunately, something went wrong while Blair was on the operating table, leaving him sidelined for the entire year. Now, Blair seems to have recovered from his botched ACL surgery and he’ll have the summer to prove it.
Before all of that, the former 2016 fifth-round pick enjoyed a spot in the Saleh’s defensive rotation, compiling 13.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 22 tackles for loss across four seasons. Blair could help provide depth for the Jets at multiple spots up front, including the edge where they desperately need a lift over last season. On the plus side, the Jets’ rush should be in better shape thanks to Saleh and newcomers like ex-Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson.
Latest On Nick Bosa, Dee Ford
Nick Bosa was not currently among the 80-plus 49ers working at the team’s facility for OTAs last week, but Kyle Shanahan is keeping in contract with the recovering defensive end. Bosa is training in Florida this offseason.
The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year suffered an ACL tear in Week 2 of last season. His rehab effort continues to unfold according to plan. The 49ers expect Bosa to be ready for training camp.
“I’ve been talking to Nick since February on this. He came out in February for a while to get checked up on his knee and stuff. With him coming off the ACL and everything, it’s going great,” Shanahan said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “… He’s going to show up at some time during this (offseason), but he won’t be going out there doing anything coming off the ACL. But we fully expect him to be ready for training camp.”
One of numerous 49ers to go down with a significant injury last season, Bosa is the most important player on San Francisco’s defense. His arrival coincided with the 49ers going from 23rd to second in DVOA from 2018 to ’19, and the team will certainly count on him to spearhead a 2021 rebound effort.
While Dee Ford has not proven reliable since the 49ers traded for him two years ago, he remains with the team due to the guarantees on his contract. Ford has battled a litany of injuries since arriving in San Francisco; he missed five games in 2019 and 15 in 2020. A back malady sidelined Ford last year. Although Shanahan was not as emphatic about Ford being ready for camp, the fifth-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, subscription required) the veteran defensive end has made strides and is headed in the right direction. Ford will not take part in on-field work until training camp.
Ford’s reworked contract makes him an unrealistic trade or cut candidate, so the 49ers are prepared to move forward with the injury-prone situational rusher. He, Bosa and Arik Armstead remain from the Super Bowl LIV pass-rushing crew. The latter duo will be expected to spearhead this season’s rush, with 2021 Ford contributions likely viewed as a bonus.
Seahawks Interested In Julio Jones
Add another team to the Julio Jones sweepstakes. This morning, we learned that the Rams and Titans have discussed a Jones trade with the Falcons, with Tennessee being viewed as the likeliest landing spot. But as Dianna Russini of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter), the Seahawks have also talked trade with Atlanta. Russini adds that Seattle QB Russell Wilson and Jones have spoken about the possibility of playing together.
Earlier this year, Wilson was the subject of his own trade speculation, and one of the catalysts of those rumors was Wilson’s public dissatisfaction with his offensive line. The club acquired talented RG Gabe Jackson via trade but otherwise didn’t do a ton to supplement Wilson’s cadre of blockers. However, adding Jones to a WR corps that already includes D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett would probably make Wilson pretty happy, especially if new OC Shane Waldron implements a pass-heavy game plan.
Like several of Jones’ other suitors, the Seahawks do not possess a 2022 first-round choice. But most reporters are skeptical that the Falcons will actually get that type of value in a Jones trade, and it seems that a 2022 second-round pick is the more likely compensation. Seattle only had three selections in this year’s draft, which is reflective of the club’s willingness to move draft capital in exchange for proven talent, though if it were to deal its 2022 second-rounder, it would have to wait until Round 3 to pick its first collegiate player next year.
Plus, the ‘Hawks did select deep threat D’Wayne Eskridge in the second round of this year’s draft, and the team would need to create significant cap space to facilitate a Jones acquisition. So there are hurdles to be cleared if the Seahawks are serious about making a run at Jones, but it appears to be in the realm of possibility.
Meanwhile, reiterating his report from yesterday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com says the division-rival 49ers are still a team to keep an eye on, and that the Ravens would be willing to get involved if the price is right (Twitter link).
Falcons Setting High Price For Julio Jones; 49ers In Mix
Kyle Shanahan did not indicate a reunion with Julio Jones was off the table, and it now looks like the 49ers are involved in these sweepstakes.
The 49ers are the team coming up most regarding Jones around the league, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who indicated during a SportsCenter appearance San Francisco is in the mix for the seven-time Pro Bowler — to some degree. While the 49ers would not be able to match the reported offer of a first-round pick, they do have a strong roster equipped to contend in the NFC this season. A healthy Jones would certainly help the team do so.
[RELATED: Shanahan Discusses 49ers’ Potential Interest In Jones]
The Trey Lance trade stripped the 49ers of their 2022 and ’23 first-round picks, so building a competitive offer will be more challenging — if a first-round pick is indeed on the table for Jones. The Falcons are still holding out hope for a big offer, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the team’s asking price is viewed as “outlandish” in league circles as of Saturday. Four days remain until a Jones trade can realistically take place, and a few teams remain in this somewhat blurry picture.
Tennessee emerged as the first rumored landing spot, and Fowler adds Baltimore could join the fray if the asking price is right. The Ravens have been connected to a host of big-name receivers this offseason, and while a few of them declined free agency offers, Jones’ attitude regarding their run-heavy offense would not matter in a trade for a player with a no-trade clause. The Rams, despite their crowded receiver room, also popped up in Fowler’s report. Los Angeles and Baltimore have done plenty to add at receiver this year; each franchise used its first draft pick to address the position and each signed a veteran (DeSean Jackson and Sammy Watkins, respectively). The Rams are often in the mix for high-profile trade targets, but they would not seem a fit. They have Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp signed to lucrative long-term deals.
Conversely, the 49ers’ top two receivers — Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk — are on rookie contracts. San Francisco has avoided splashy receiver signings since their 2017 Pierre Garcon deal did not work out, but Shanahan did sign off on sending third- and fourth-round picks for Emmanuel Sanders in 2019. That trade made a difference in the 49ers reaching Super Bowl LIV. Jones, 32, enjoyed his most productive season — a 136-catch, 1,871-yard 2015 showing — during Shanahan’s two-year Atlanta OC stay and would be in a better position than most late-summer arrivals due to his experience in the well-regarded play-caller’s offense.
The Falcons are still asking interested teams to pay all of Jones’ $15.3MM 2021 salary — a tough sell for most, given the limited cap space around the league — and $2MM in 2022 guaranteed pay, Florio adds. Jones is due base salaries of $11.5MM in 2022 and ’23. The 49ers hold more than $17MM in cap space, which ranks in the top 10. The Patriots have come up as Jones suitors as well, but they may be cooling on this prospect.
49ers To Sign James Burgess
The 49ers are set to sign James Burgess (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). It’ll be a one-year deal for the former Packers and Jets linebacker. 
Burgess went undrafted out of Louisville in 2016 and didn’t see the field until 2017 with the Browns. But, when he arrived in Cleveland, he notched four sacks and wound up starting nine of his 14 games. He later moved on to the Jets, serving as their starting middle linebacker for ten games in 2019. That year, he notched 80 total tackles, one interception, three passes defensed, and eight tackles for loss.
His 2020 with the Packers was a little less noteworthy — he saw just four games before losing the year to a hamstring injury. Now, he’ll get a shot to stick with the Niners, who are also taking a look at ex-Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall. Marshall, 32 in September, was a key player for Denver’s 2015 Super Bowl squad, but he’s been slowed by injuries of his own in recent years. It’s not immediately clear whether Marshall is still in the mix for SF after the addition of Burgess.
TE MyCole Pruitt Drawing Interest From Ravens, 49ers
The market for MyCole Pruitt is apparently heating up. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that the veteran tight end visited with the Ravens this week and is set to meet with the 49ers next week.
After bouncing around the league a bit, Pruitt found a home in Tennessee in 2018. While the former fifth-rounder never put up big numbers during his stint with the Titans (20 receptions for 241 yards and one score), he had a consistent role as a blocking tight end, appearing in 42 games (15 starts) in three years. Pruitt also saw time in five playoff games for Tennessee, hauling in six receptions.
We learned last month that MyCole Pruitt was drawing interest from the Vikings. The tight end actually started his career with Minnesota back in 2015.
While both the 49ers (George Kittle) and Ravens (Mark Andrews) have Pro Bowl tight ends, they could still probably offer Pruitt a solid amount of playing time. In San Francisco, Ross Dwelley is the main backup behind Kittle, with 2020 sixth-round Charlie Woerner and undrafted free agent Josh Pederson rounding out the depth chart.
Baltimore’s depth chart is a bit more crowded, as the team is currently rostering seven tight ends. That includes long-time Raven Nick Boyle, veteran journeyman Eric Tomlinson, and former third-rounder Josh Oliver, who the team traded for this offseason. The team is also rostering 2020 undrafted free agents Jake Breeland and Eli Wolf, and they added 2021 undrafted free agent Tony Poljan earlier this month.
49ers Work Out Brandon Marshall
The 49ers auditioned Brandon Marshall on Thursday (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The former Broncos linebacker (not to be confused with the longtime NFL receiver) is looking to return to the field after a few years out of the league.
Marshall, 32 in September, was a key player for one of this century’s defining defenses. He started all 19 games the 2015 Super Bowl champion Broncos played and was a five-season first-stringer in Denver. In the 2016 offseason, Marshall inked an $8MM-per-year extension to stay in Denver. However, injuries plagued the veteran linebacker for much of that deal. The Broncos released Marshall in 2019. He then hooked on with the Raiders, but that didn’t last long thanks to an injury.
The veteran made the rounds last year, including a tryout with the Texans. To date, he has 418 tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, 21 passes defensed, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles to his credit.
Shanahan Expects Fred Warner Extension
Fred Warner has become one of the NFL’s best linebackers. He joins Nick Bosa as a cornerstone front-seven 49ers piece on a rookie contract. Kyle Shanahan expects that status to change in the near future.
One year remains on Warner’s rookie pact. Although the former third-round pick’s salary is set to spike to $3.38MM this season, he will command top-tier off-ball linebacker money on an extension. The 49ers appear prepared to pay him as such.
“I want to get it done personally,” Shanahan said of a Warner extension (via NFL.com). “I kind of feel like I’d say the same about him as I did about [George] Kittle when we were talking about it [last year]. I just see that kind of as a matter of time.
“I know he’s not going into his free agent year or anything like that, so that’s why it’s not always on my mind. But Fred’s a guy that I plan on being here forever and who has earned that. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t start sooner than later.”
Warner earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2020, when he made 125 tackles and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 off-ball linebacker (by far). The 24-year-old defender said Tuesday he wants to be a “Niner for life.”
The 49ers have exclusive negotiating rights with Warner until the start of the 2022 league year next March. They would have the franchise tag at their disposal, should a deal remain elusive. Kittle signed his top-market extension last August, ahead of his fourth season. Warner may be on a similar timetable. No talks have begun just yet, but they appear imminent.
C.J. Mosley‘s $17MM-per-year contract has yet to benefit the Jets, but the 2019 deal changed the market for traditional linebackers. Bobby Wagner then topped it, via an $18MM-AAV pact, later that year. Both Warner and Darius Leonard are entering contract years; one of them will be in line to surpass Wagner’s deal and perhaps become the league’s first $20MM-per-year non-rush ‘backer.
Kyle Shanahan Discusses 49ers’ Potential Interest In Julio Jones
The 49ers have already pulled off one blockbuster trade this offseason, and they might not be done. When asked about the team’s potential interest in Falcons wideout Julio Jones, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted that the team’s acquisition of the No. 3 pick (and subsequent selection of Trey Lance) may have paved the way for another major deal.
“Well, you know I’m not legally allowed to talk about players on other teams,” Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “So I can’t answer that exactly the way you want me to.
“Anyone I’ve coached in the past that I have a relationship with, especially a great dude like Julio, obviously I have a ton of respect for. We’re always interested in improving our team. We’ll never just say, ‘Hey, we’re done. We can’t improve our team.’ You always try to make that happen. But, yeah, it makes it harder when you’ve already given up some stuff to make some moves and things like that.”
As Shanahan noted, the coach served as the Falcons offensive coordinator between 2015 and 2016, a pair of seasons that saw Jones compile 3,280 total yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. Five years later, Jones finds himself on the trade block while Shanahan finds himself loading up for an eventual run at the championship.
We learned yesterday that Jones had already requested a trade, and this followed reports that the Falcons would consider dealing the future Hall of Famer as they looked to clear some money off the books. Plenty of teams would naturally have interest in the wideout, but only a handful of names have definitively trickled out over the past few days, including the Patriots and Titans.
While the 49ers won’t be able to satisfy the Falcons’ desire for a first-round pick, they have the cap space to make a deal happen. Plus, Jones would add some legitimacy to an offense that (outside of tight end George Kittle) is predicated on youth and upside. While former first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk and former second-round pick Deebo Samuel have the draft pedigree, the young duo combined for only 1,242 all-purpose yards last season (albeit in only 19 combined games).