Patriots To Sign Cam Newton
The Patriots have agreed to sign Cam Newton, according to Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal that could be worth as much as $7.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds. The base portion is believed to be much lower, however, and Newton likely didn’t receive much in the way of guarantees. 
[RELATED: Patriots Fined $1MM; Stripped Of Third-Round Pick By NFL]
Newton, 31, will join Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer on the Patriots’ depth chart. Naturally, he’ll be the odds-on favorite to come away with the starting job.
The Patriots checked in with Newton during the early stages of free agency, right around the time Tom Brady took off for Tampa Bay. However, at the time, Newton was seeking a deal that was more in line with his previous earnings. Thanks to injuries, the former MVP had to stay patient and slash his asking place before finding his home in New England.
The 2015 NFL MVP and three-time Pro Bowler has struggled in recent years. Since 2016, he’s ranked 30th in Total QBR while spending large chunks of time on the sidelines. But he remains a high-end talent and a very intriguing addition to the Pats’ offense in the post-Brady era.
Newton was limited to only two games in 2019, but he did make 14 starts in 2018. In that year, he completed a career-best 67.9% of his throws for 3,395 yards, 24 TDs, and 13 picks. He also showed that he can still make plays with his feet – he tallied 488 rushing yards and four scores on 101 carries. For his career, Newton has amassed a 68-55-1 record as the Panthers’ starting quarterback. That record includes a perfect 2-0 mark against his new team.
After replacing Newton with Teddy Bridgewater, the Panthers tried to trade their longtime star to the Bears and Chargers. Those deals did not come together – the Bears went on to trade for Nick Foles instead while the Chargers waited ’til April to tap Justin Herbert as their new QB addition. With no takers, the Panthers dropped Newton to save $19MM+ in cap room versus $2MM in dead money.
Now, Newton has a prime opportunity to show the world what he can do. Even after his 2018 shoulder relapse and last year’s Lisfranc surgery, Newton still believes that he can play at a high level. For what it’s worth, he’s now six months removed from his December foot surgery and he’ll more or less enter camp with fresh legs.
With Newton, plus a mix of familiar and new faces, the Patriots’ offense is starting to look pretty formidable. Newton will be working with Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead in the backfield while targeting a receiver group headlined by Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, and N’Keal Harry. The biggest question mark, perhaps, remains at tight end, where they’ll be largely dependent on rookies Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi.
Former 49ers G Mike Person Retires
Mike Person is calling it a career. Following his offseason release from the 49ers, the longtime NFL guard announced his retirement. 
[RELATED:49ers Sign Javon Kinlaw, Brandon Aiyuk]
“I just feel like now is the right time,” Person told Greg Rachac of 406 MT Sports. “Obviously I wish it would have ended differently, especially this past season. You take a beating, and anybody who’s played knows that. At some point you just have to tell yourself now is the right time. My kids are getting older and most likely I’d spend the entire season away from them if I were to sign with someone. I’ve missed too much already.”
Person, 32, spent the last two seasons as the Niners’ starting right guard. Last year, they kept him from free agency with a three-year, $9MM pact including $3MM in guarantees. Few could argue with the value – in 2018, Person graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 ranked guard in the NFL out of 71 qualified players.
Before SF, Person suited up for the Seahawks, Rams, Falcons, and Colts. All in all, he spent nine years in professional football and played in six of those seasons. Along the way, he earned millions and played in a Super Bowl – not bad for a seventh-round pick.
Person was hoping that his knees and elbows would be less bothersome after taking some time to recover in the offseason. Ultimately, he decided to hang ’em up, but he admits that it wasn’t an easy decision.
“It was in the back of my mind. I knew once this contract played out, if it had, that I would retire,” he said. “It’s one of those things where 75% of you wants to be done with it but there’s that 25% that knows you can still do it and still play.”
49ers Sign Javon Kinlaw, Brandon Aiyuk
The 49ers have signed first-round picks Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk, the team announced (Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the Kinlaw signing via Twitter prior to the club announcement). Kinlaw and Aiyuk become the fourth and fifth of 32 first-rounders to sign their rookie deals.
Any other year, all (or almost all) rookies would be under contract by now. But thanks to COVID-19, many teams are waiting until their new draftees can report to team facilities before signing them.
Kinlaw was the No. 14 overall selection of this year’s draft. The 49ers traded fellow DL DeForest Buckner to the Colts earlier this offseason in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick, and then they traded down one spot on draft day to allow the Buccaneers to move up and select OL Tristan Wirfs.
The selection of Kinlaw marked the fourth time in the last five years that the 49ers used their top pick on a D-lineman. Kinlaw will be asked to step into the void left by Buckner, the No. 7 overall pick in 2016, and he will line up alongside Solomon Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in 2017. The 49ers declined Thomas’ fifth-year option in May, so if Kinlaw impresses this year, the club could allow Thomas to leave via free agency in 2021.
Kinlaw, a South Carolina product, was deemed a moderate injury risk by most clubs, but he has boundless potential. The 6-4, 319-pounder moves with great explosiveness for a man of his size, and his ability to collapse the pocket will serve him well against the pass and the run. His inspiring backstory also makes him a player worth watching.
Like Kinlaw, Aiyuk has a chance to make an immediate impact. The 49ers watched Emmanuel Sanders depart in free agency, and second-year pro Deebo Samuel suffered a broken foot that puts his availability for the first few weeks of the season in doubt. San Francisco’s WR corp was not particularly deep to begin with, so Aiyuk will be instrumental in the team’s early season success.
The Niners’ brass certainly has confidence in Aiyuk. The team moved up from No. 31 to No. 25 to nab the Arizona State product, who caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight scores in his final collegiate season. He offers excellent YAC ability, so looks for HC Kyle Shanahan to scheme ways to get the ball in his hands. His route-running is a bit raw, but he and Samuel should complement each other nicely when the latter is ready to return to the field.
Per the terms of their slots, Kinlaw will take home a four-year, $15.5MM deal, and Aiyuk will receive a four-year, $12.5MM pact. Both contracts, of course, come with a fifth-year option that would be fully-guaranteed if exercised. Here’s the full rundown of the Niners’ class, via PFR’s tracker:
1-14: Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina): Signed
1-25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR (Arizona State): Signed
5-153: Colton McKivitz, T (West Virginia): Signed
6-190: Charlie Woerner, TE (Georgia)
7-217: Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennessee): Signed
Jets Sign OT Cameron Clark
The Jets have signed fourth-round offensive tackle Cameron Clark, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). Per the terms of his slot, Clark will get about $4MM on his four-year deal.
The Charlotte product didn’t come with as much hype as No. 11 overall pick Mekhi Becton, but the Jets believe that he may also have a bright future as a pro. Another plus: Clark and Becton have already worked together.
“Me and Mekhi, we trained together at MJP in Dallas,” Clark said earlier this year (via the team website). “We got real close in the combine process, even at the combine, post-combine. I was definitely excited about joining him up there with the Jets. Mekhi’s a heck of a player. He’s nasty, he loves finishing blocks. I feel like both of us have that in our game. I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Clark, who stands at 6’4″ and weighs over 300 pounds, was a three-year starter in college. He’s only the third Jets draft pick to sign, so GM Joe Douglas still has some work ahead of him. Here’s the rundown, via PFR’s tracker:
1-11: Mekhi Becton, T (Louisville)
2-59: Denzel Mims, WR (Baylor): Signed
3-68: Ashtyn Davis, S (California)
3-79: Jabari Zuniga, DE (Florida)
4-120: Lamical Perine, RB (Florida)
4-125: James Morgan, QB (Florida International)
4-129: Cameron Clark, OT (Charlotte): Signed
5-158: Bryce Hall, CB (Virginia): Signed
6-191: Braden Mann, P (Texas A&M)
49ers Sign Jauan Jennings
The 49ers have inked seventh-round pick Jauan Jennings, per a club announcement. Per the terms of his slot, the wide receiver is set to earn ~$3.4MM on his four-year deal. Of course, as the No. 217 overall pick, it’s not a certainty that he’ll make the roster. 
[RELATED: 49ers’ Deebo Samuel Suffers Broken Foot]
Jennings was the second wide receiver selected in April, long after first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk. Jennings didn’t come into the draft with the same sort of fanfare, but he was an accomplished player in his own right. In his final year at Tennessee, the 6’3″ receiver finished out with 59 receptions for 969 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jennings has shown that he can break tackles with his big frame, but his lack of speed impacted his stock somewhat. Still, you don’t need to beat every defender if you’re able to plow through some of them. Jennings will look to impress coaches with his power as he pushes to make a group that could be without Deebo Samuel for a little while.
Here’s the full rundown of the Niners’ class, via PFR’s tracker:
1-14: Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)
1-25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR (Arizona State)
5-153: Colton McKivitz, T (West Virginia): Signed
6-190: Charlie Woerner, TE (Georgia)
7-217: Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennessee): Signed
Lions Sign Jonah Jackson
It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, the Lions announced the signing of third-round guard Jonah Jackson. 
Jackson began his college career at Rutgers before transferring to Ohio State. As a Buckeye, he put himself on the NFL radar and was named first-team All-Big Ten. Jackson’s work on the interior helped Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins put up insane numbers in 2019.
That caught the attention of the Lions, who moved up ten spots in the third round to nab Jackson at No. 75 overall. In exchange, the Lions gave fifth- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 148 and 182) while also receiving a lesser a sixth-round choice (No. 197). Per the terms of his slot, Jackson will earn roughly $4.7MM over the course of his four-year deal. The pact includes a $1MM signing bonus.
With Jackson in the fold, the Lions now have four of their 2020 rooks signed. Here’s the full rundown of their class, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker:
1-3: Jeffrey Okudah, CB (Ohio State)
2-35: D’Andre Swift, RB (Georgia)
3-67: Julian Okwara, OLB (Notre Dame): Signed
3-75: Jonah Jackson, G (Ohio State): Signed
4-121: Logan Stenberg, OL (Kentucky): Signed
5-166: Quintez Cephus, WR (Wisconsin)
5-172: Jason Huntley, RB (New Mexico State)
6-197: John Penisini, DT (Utah): Signed
7-235: Jason Cornell, DE (Ohio State)
Titans Sign Rookie QB Cole McDonald
The Titans have inked seventh-round quarterback Cole McDonald, according to Jim Wyatt of the team website (Twitter link). Per the terms of his slot, the University of Hawaii product will receive a four-year, $3.4MM deal with a ~$101K signing bonus. 
Last year, McDonald finished third in the nation in passing yards. Hawaii’s aggressive offensive scheme had a lot to do with that, but the Titans also saw some pro potential in the youngster. Now, he’ll try to make the cut behind Ryan Tannehill and try to push Logan Woodside for the QB2 role.
With McDonald in the fold, it’s three down and three to go for the Titans. Here’s the full rundown of their draft class, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker:
Tennessee Titans
1-29: Isaiah Wilson, T (Georgia)
2-61: Kristian Fulton, CB (LSU)
3-93: Darrynton Evans, RB (Appalachian State)
5-174: Larrell Murchison, DT (N.C. State): Signed
7-224: Cole McDonald, QB (Hawaii): Signed
7-243: Chris Jackson, S (Marshall): Signed
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott To Sign $31.4MM Franchise Tender
Dak Prescott will sign his exclusive franchise tender by Monday, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). With that, the Cowboys quarterback will be slated to play out 2020 on a one-year, $31.4MM deal. After that, the two sides will have just a few weeks to hammer out a multi-year deal.
[RELATED: Prescott Pushing For Four-Year Deal?]
For months, we heard that Prescott was pushing for a two or three-year deal while the Cowboys were looking for a five or six-year add-on. Now, it seems like the two sides are closer than previously believed – at least, in terms of contract length. Prescott reportedly wants a four-year deal and the Cowboys would prefer a five-year arrangement.
Prescott is aiming for a deal that would pay him more than $35MM/year, enough to top Russell Wilson. That’s not exactly chump change for the Cowboys, but they’d rather lock up the QB than risk his asking price skyrocketing next year. If Prescott’s full 2020 played out like his 2019 first half, he’d be in line for untold riches next year. At that point, the Cowboys would have to give him an absolute fortune or tag him with a 20% raise over this year’s tag, for ~$37.7MM. Even in the tag scenario, it’s unlikely that Prescott would cooperate.
Under the more commonly used non-exclusive tag, other teams would have had a shot to sign Prescott to an offer sheet. Instead, the Cowboys opted for the slightly more expensive exclusive tag. Ultimately, it was a ~$5MM difference between the two.
Last year, Prescott threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the two-time Pro Bowler won’t turn 27 until the end of July.
49ers Sign Colton McKivitz
The 49ers have signed fifth-round rookie Colton McKivitz, per a club announcement. In accordance with his slot, the offensive lineman will earn about $3.6MM over the course of his four-year deal.
[RELATED: 49ers Guarantee Half Of Trent Williams’ Salary]
On draft weekend, the 49ers shipped running back Matt Breida to the Dolphins for the No. 153 overall pick, which they used to select McKivitz. At West Virginia, McKivitz suited up for 50 games (47 starts) over the course of five years on campus. Last year, he earned first-team all-conference honors for his work at left tackle.
The West Virginia product may vie for time as a supporting guard, Somewhere behind projected starters Laken Tomlinson and Tom Compton. He could also push for snaps on the outside, where he’d back Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey.
Here’s the full rundown of SF’s class, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Pick Signing Tracker:
- 1-14: Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)
- 1-25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR (Arizona State)
- 5-153: Colton McKivitz, T (West Virginia): Signed
- 6-190: Charlie Woerner, TE (Georgia)
- 7-217: Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennessee)
Jets Sign Denzel Mims
The Jets have formally signed second-round pick Denzel Mims, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter). In accordance with his slot, the Baylor product will receive a four-year, $5.4MM deal with $3MM guaranteed. 
Mims was widely considered to be a first-round talent, but this year’s talent-rich WR crop pushed him down the board. The Jets were delighted to stop his mini-slide near the back of the second round, at No. 59 overall.
You won’t find many receivers at 6’3″ that move like Mims. Drops have been an issue for him in the past, but his fluidity, speed, and blocking skills made evaluators drool throughout draft season.
Last year, Mims cracked 1,000 yards receiving for the second time in his career, even though he was playing with a broken hand. The Jets had first crack at every receiver with the No. 11 overall pick, but they opted for tackle Mekhi Becton instead. At that moment, taking Becton over the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III was a head-scratcher to some. But, ultimately, their patience paid off – they got Mims and extra capital by trading down.
Now, Mims will look to make his mark alongside fellow newcomer Breshad Perriman and the returning Jamison Crowder.