Jonathan Allen Wants To Stay With WFT
Washington DT Jonathan Allen has been a part of the team’s dysfunctional Bruce Allen regime and a part of the new Ron Rivera era. Apparently, he likes what he has seen from Rivera and is excited about the direction the team is heading.
“[W]e’re moving in the right direction, from the front office to the players, and I love everything that we’re building here,” Allen said (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). In speaking about his long-term goals, he added, “[i]t’s always been my dream to play my career in one spot. … This is my home. This is where I want to stay.”
WFT presumably shares those sentiments. Allen, the No. 17 overall pick of the 2017 draft, has largely lived up to his billing. Although a Lisfranc injury limited him to five games in his rookie campaign, he missed only one contest over the subsequent three seasons. He notched just two sacks in 2020 after recording 14 sacks across the 2018-19 seasons, but his 14 QB hits last year actually represented an increase from the 10 he posted in 2019. Pro Football Focus also gave him a terrific 83.7 pass-rushing grade, and PFF considered him the 18th-best interior defender in the league out of 125 qualifiers.
Washington has invested significant draft capital in its defensive front over the past few years, and that strategy is paying off. The team yielded the second-fewest yards per game and the fourth-fewest points per game last year, and Allen was a key component of that success. He is scheduled to play out the 2021 campaign under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which will pay him a little more than $10MM.
At this point, we haven’t heard anything to suggest that negotiations on a long-term extension have taken place, though it’s likely that the club has at least discussed parameters with Allen’s camp. However, those talks could be tricky. The top of the 4-3 interior defender market includes AAVs of $20MM and above, and Allen may shoot for a deal in that range. But unlike those $20MM players, Allen has not yet earned a Pro Bowl bid, nor has he put together a double-digit sack campaign, so Washington would likely be looking for something closer to a $15MM/year deal.
Charles Leno On Broncos’ Radar
The Broncos are doing extensive research in their effort to fill Ja’Wuan James‘ right tackle post. Four veterans — Bobby Massie, Dennis Kelly, Jermaine Eluemunor and Cameron Fleming — have come up thus far. Each is set to visit the team.
Denver has also expressed interest in Charles Leno. The right tackle-needy team has spoken with the longtime Bears left tackle-turned-free agent about the sudden vacancy, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim (on Twitter). However, Leno’s goal at the moment is to catch on with a team and play left tackle, Keim adds. The Broncos signed Ryan Pope earlier Tuesday but remain in the market for a starter-level tackle.
[RELATED: Washington Hosts Charles Leno On Visit]
Leno worked as the Bears’ starting left tackle from 2015-20 and graded as a top-30 tackle, per Pro Football Focus, last season. But Chicago cut him shortly after drafting Teven Jenkins in the second round. Leno, 29, went through a Monday workout with Washington, and it sounds like he remains in play for a stopgap role. Washington also drafted a tackle in Round 2, Texas’ Samuel Cosmi, but Leno’s visit signals the team is hunting for a short-term fix at Trent Williams‘ former spot.
No left tackle vacancy exists in Denver, with Garett Bolles having turned his career around in 2020. Bolles signed an extension to stay with the Broncos last year. The Broncos may well have considered another left tackle-to-right tackle conversion, but timing scuttled it. Days before James went down, the Ravens took Alejandro Villanueva off the market. They are prepared to move the longtime Steelers left tackle to the right side, where he is ticketed to replace Orlando Brown Jr. Villanueva worked under Broncos O-line coach Mike Munchak for several years in Pittsburgh.
Four of Leno’s pro seasons took place when Broncos HC Vic Fangio worked as the Bears’ defensive coordinator. For now, however, Massie is the more realistic option to follow Fangio from Chicago to Denver. Other free agent options include Mitchell Schwartz, Ricky Wagner and 2020 Broncos spot starter Demar Dotson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/21
Monday’s minor moves
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: S Saquan Hampton
Washington Football Team
- Waived: TE Marcus Baugh
Latest On Ryan Kerrigan, Potential Return To WFT
While Washington may have selected a pair of seventh-round edge rushers, they still lack reliable depth behind Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Thanks to the shallow depth chart, plenty of pundits have wondered whether Ryan Kerrigan would re-sign with the team. When asked about the chances of signing the franchise sack leader, GM Martin Mayhew refused to explicitly mention anyone by name. However, he did hint that the team could look to add a veteran in the coming weeks.
“There will be guys who are released and we’ll keep an eye out for guys on the streets,” Mayhew said (via NBC Sports Washington). “We’ll probably have some try-out guys during our mini camps. We definitely plan to upgrade that position through the offseason.”
Kerrigan would be a natural fit for the role; he already served as a backup in 2020, so it’s not like the fan favorite would put up a stink about not starting. Despite only starting one game last season, the the 32-year-old still had a productive season, finishing with 5.5 sacks and six QB hits. It’s obviously been a while since Kerrigan was a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but his pass-rushing prowess and versatility would still be an asset to any defense.
Of course, Mayhew doesn’t have any true connection to Kerrigan, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he looks elsewhere for reinforcement. The GM also seemed to be a fan of his two late-round picks, Baylor’s William Bradley-King and Penn State’s Shaka Toney.
“We drafted these guys with the idea that these guys can contribute this year,” Mayhew said.
Bobby McCain To Visit WFT
Bobby McCain is already lining up his suitors. After getting released by the Dolphins earlier today, the veteran safety is set to meet with Washington on Monday, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Dolphins To Cut Bobby McCain]
The 2015 fifth-round pick had become a staple of the Dolphins’ defense over the past six years, but he saw a drop off in play during the 2020 campaign. While his counting stats were fine (46 tackles, five passes defended, one interception in 16 games (15 starts)), he ranked just 55th out of 94 qualified safeties, per Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins ultimately decided to pivot to younger (and, of course, cheaper) options at the position, spelling the end of his tenure in Miami.
Following news of McCain’s impending release, there were some whispers that Miami could simply be leaking the news with the hope of making a trade. However, the team officially announced the transaction this afternoon.
Washington has an opening for a free safety, and McCain’s versatility means he could certainly fill that slot. Per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, head coach Ron Rivera has indicated that the organization would audition free agents for the gig after the draft. Other than a free agent addition, the team could end up turning to fifth-round rookie Darrick Forrest.
Washington To Host T Charles Leno On Visit
Days after the Bears released Charles Leno, the veteran left tackle will have an opportunity to catch on elsewhere. The Washington Football Team will host Leno on a visit Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.
In transition at left tackle for the past two years, with Trent Williams skipping the 2019 season and Washington trading the Pro Bowler away in 2020, the WFT did invest highly in this position in the draft. Washington chose Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi in Round 2, but the team appears to be in the market for a stopgap starter.
The Bears cut Leno earlier this week, doing so after they made a second-round tackle investment — Teven Jenkins — at the position. Washington passed on a tackle in the first round, selecting linebacker Jamin Davis instead. Cosmi may well profile as Williams’ true long-term successor, after the team shuffled a few players here over the past two seasons. But the Leno visit could signal Washington will view the ex-Longhorn as not being ready to step in to start the season.
Despite being a seventh-round pick, Leno has been a left tackle starter for the past six seasons. Chicago gave the former long-shot prospect an extension in 2017, and he served as the team’s blindside protector from 2015-20. Pro Football Focus graded Leno as a top-25 tackle in three of the past four years, including the 2020 season. Leno, 29, has not missed a game since his rookie season.
The Bears, however, have cut both their longtime bookends — Leno and Bobby Massie — and are starting over at the position. Jenkins may well be expected to start in Week 1; Cosmi may play a second-string role to begin his career. Washington has longtime right tackle Morgan Moses in place, but the team will see about pairing him with an experienced left tackle.
WFT Signs TE Deon Yelder, CB Linden Stephens
The Washington Football Team added a pair of veterans today. The team announced this evening that they’ve signed tight end Deon Yelder and cornerback Linden Stephens.
Yelder is the notable name in this grouping, as the tight end appeared in 26 games for the Chiefs over the past three seasons. This included a 2020 campaign where he set career-highs across the board, including games played (14), receptions (seven), receiving yards (36), and offensive snaps (194). He also has four playoff games (including three in 2019) and a Super Bowl ring on his resume.
Logan Thomas sits atop the depth chart in Washington, meaning Yelder will end up battling with the likes of Temarrick Hemingway, John Bates, Marcus Baugh, Tyrone Swoopes, and Sammis Reyes for backup reps.
Stephens has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2018, spending time with the Saints, Rams, Broncos, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Seahawks (second stint). He saw time in 13 games for Seattle last season, appearing mostly on special teams.
Washington Discussed Trading Up For QB
One of a few teams linked to trading up for a quarterback in Round 1, Washington stood pat. Both the Bears and Patriots ended up landing potential franchise passers, with Chicago moving up nine spots to do so. Ryan Fitzpatrick remains Washington’s top quarterback.
Washington ended up staying at No. 19 and drafting linebacker Jamin Davis, but the team discussed making a jump to address its QB spot as well as drafting a later-round passer.
“Both those situations we had conversations [about]. We liked a couple of those young quarterbacks a lot; that was a consideration,” Ron Rivera said, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (on Twitter). “The thing that always seemed to just kind of make us step back and think about it was the draft capital we’d have to give up.
“So as we kept debating it was always, ‘Well, let’s take one more look.’ Let’s see if he falls again.’ At the right number, it would have been something we could have done.”
The Bears sent the Giants three picks (other than No. 20) — their 2022 first-rounder, along with a 2021 fifth and a 2022 fourth — to move up for Justin Fields, while the Patriots stayed at No. 15 to select Mac Jones. Although the Cowboys and Eagles agreed to a first-round deal, it was a lower-level exchange involving only a third-round pick. The Giants, who entered the draft having not traded down in Round 1 in 15 years, almost certainly would not have agreed to allow Washington to move up eight spots for a quarterback.
Washington would have needed to part with a similar package — or a slightly lesser one — to climb up into the low teens for Jones. But Trey Lance was the passer the team was linked to ahead of the draft. Rivera appeared to confirm as such.
“The guy we talked about waiting on ended up getting taken early,” the second-year Washington HC said. “So when those two guys left, then we just felt, ‘OK, hey we’re going to stick with what we got. We got a group of young guys, led by Ryan Fitzpatrick, that we think we can develop and be guys that can be very good football players for us.”
Linked to Jones for weeks, the 49ers ended up taking Lance at No. 3. Considering Jones lasted until No. 15, Fields may well have been the other potential Washington target. But going into the draft, the team was not believed to be especially eager to part with too many assets in a trade-up scenario. The defending NFC East champs ended up tabling their long-term QB solution, as the Broncos did at No. 9.
Washington gave Fitzpatrick a one-year deal and re-signed Taylor Heinicke on a two-year pact. The team also retained Kyle Allen as an ERFA. While a major quarterback need remains for the future, this looks like the team’s 2021 quarterback picture.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/3/21
Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: RB Paul Perkins
New York Jets
- Released: DL John Daka
Washington Football Team
- Released: WR Trevor Davis, WR Jeff Badet
Washington To Sign UDFA RB Jaret Patterson
Despite a dominant junior season, Jaret Patterson was not among the running backs selected in this year’s draft. But he has a UDFA deal. The Buffalo prospect agreed to terms with Washington, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
The 5-foot-9 back torched MAC competition in 2020, averaging 7.6 yards per carry and clearing the 1,000-yard barrier in just six games. Patterson matched his 19-touchdown output of his sophomore season, doing so in seven fewer games.
Patterson reeled off an eight-touchdown, 409-yard performance against Kent State in 2020. For his career, the productive back totaled 52 rushing TDs and 3,884 yards on the ground in three Buffalo seasons. He will join a Washington team that has been unable to establish backfield continuity in recent years.
While Washington has misfired on a couple of backs over the past several years, the team did do well to identify Antonio Gibson in the 2020 third round. Veterans Peyton Barber, Lamar Miller and J.D. McKissic are also on Washington’s roster, though Gibson profiles as the leader of the team’s 2021 backfield.