NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Everything hinges on what the Jets and Niners do at QB.

Also let’s not pretend that they were getting any of these guys with Stidham and Dolegala as the only QB’s on the roster. Cam has a lot more cache with other NFL players than he does with Pats fans right now. He’s a fallback option they think they can win with for a year with talent upgrades around him. He did manage to hit on 66% of his passes last year with one of if not the least threatening groups of pass catchers I’ve ever seen. If he can do even just that again with more play-making around him, the offense can be markedly better. I’m not sold on him either but I’m OK with giving him another shot with these upgrades for a year if we can’t pry Jimmy out of SF or go all-in for an elite guy.

 

I think another year of Cam will be a waste of the money they just spent for the upcoming season. His stats from last year were bad but the eye test was atrocious. Watching him fire the ball at his receiver’s ankles time and again was tough to watch. As you pointed out, the wideout group was really weak but the guy trying to throw them the ball didn’t mask anything. He also had an elite O-line and most opposing defenses selling out for the run. Looked like Cam was throwing a shot put or anvil out there.

 

Report: Patriots have been in contact with Leonard Fournette, Chris Carson

The Patriots have agreed to deals with free agents at several positions, but they haven’t brought in a new running back at this point.

They are reportedly in the market for one, however. Michael Giardi of NFL Media reports that the team has expressed “strong interest” in Leonard Fournette and that they’ve also been in contact with Chris Carson.

Fournette played with longtime Patriots Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in Tampa last season while Carson spent the last four seasons in Seattle. Another report on Tuesday indicated the Seahawks have made an offer for Fournette’s services.

The Buccaneers are reportedly trying to hold onto Fournette and they’ve also been linked to James White, which brings things full circle since White has spent his entire career with the Patriots.

NBC

 

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin is leaving Seattle.

Michael-Shawn Dugar of TheAthletic.com reports that Griffin has agreed to a three-year deal with the Jaguars. The contract is worth up to $44.5 million with $29 million in guaranteed money.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Tuesday that the Seahawks were making a “hard push” to re-sign their 2017 third-round pick, but it would seem they couldn’t sway him from joining up with Urban Meyer in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have also re-signed cornerbacks Tre Herndon and Sidney Jones this month.

Griffin was No. 33 on PFT’s free agent list and No. 8 among available players. He had 63 tackles and three interceptions for the Seahawks last season.

A couple of other cornerbacks — William Jackson III and Troy Hill — ranked just ahead of Griffin on our list. We’ll see if Griffin’s agreement leads to other dominoes falling into place in the cornerback market.

NBC

 

Well it's official...the Jaguars are throwing some of that cap space around.

I am very interested to see what an Urban Meyer led NFL team looks like on the field. It will be a different roster, that's for sure.

The Jets and Colts, two other teams who started in the top 5 in cap space, have been much quieter. While the Jets have made a COUPLE signings, the Colts to this point have been radio silent. My personal guess, and I really have no evidence to back this up, is that the Colts are making a push for Kenny Golladay and mostly trying to keep their own guys in house otherwise. Just a hunch, but I expect full credit if it plays out that way.

 

I'm gonna guess the Colts want to push as much cap space forward onto future years as possible while they see what Wentz brings. Maybe they are going for a big signing but they probably don't want to sign a bunch of "okay" guys when they can work with who they have in house and wait.

 

And when (if) something better comes along, they can walk away with nothing but $3.5M dead on this year’s cap. They weren’t going to get a better option on the roster before the start of FA at that price.

 

Ballard’s been crushing the draft and they’re gonna need to take care of Nelson and Leonard some time in the next 12 months...LT is really the only glaring hole that they could throw big money at that would make sense

 

You comfortable with Michael Pittman, Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, and Jack Doyle as the options for Wentz? Campbell can’t stay healthy. And while he’s filled a role admirably, I think you’d prefer to upgrade Pascal as your #2.

Or you’re thinking LT through FA, free to go BPA receiver in either 1st or 2nd is enough?

I have considered the Colts could be one team slowing down the Trent W.- SF reunion. But Ballard has generally favored youth in free agency.

 

If Wentz is right, yeah I think those guys and Taylor is enough to not need to spend big $ on another receiver. I’m a big Pittman believer, though. And this draft is deep at WR. They could grab a LT at 21 and come back and take a good receiver in the 2nd.

 

Mike Hilton set to sign with Bengals



Cornerback Mike Hilton is leaving the Steelers, but he won’t be leaving the AFC North.

According to multiple reports, Hilton has agreed to sign with the Bengals as a free agent after the league year starts on Wednesday afternoon. No terms of the deal have been part of those reports.

Hilton is No. 47 on PFT’s list of the top free agents this offseason. He landed with the Steelers late in the 2016 season and made his first appearance for the team the next season. He had 237 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries while in Pittsburgh.

Hilton spent most of his time playing in the slot for the Steelers. The Bengals have Trae Waynes and Darius Phillips under contract at corner with Chidobe Awuzie set to sign along with Hilton. William Jackson III, Mackensie Alexander, and LeShaun Sims headed for free agency.

NBC

 

The Bills made a push to snag Gronkowski, but in the end... Gronk chose to sign with TB again. I read Gronkowski gave it some serious thought to go to Buffalo.

 

Report: Giants agree to one-year deal with John Ross



John Ross has found his second NFL home.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports Ross will sign a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with the Giants. The deal includes $1 million in guaranteed money.

The Bengals’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Ross never found his footing in Cincinnati. He dealt with various injuries over the last four years, playing only 27 games in four seasons. He registered 51 catches for 733 yards with 10 touchdowns. His most productive season was in 2019, when he caught 28 passes for 506 yards — averaging 18.1 yards per reception.

But in 2020, Ross played only three games, catching a pair of passes for 17 yards. The Bengals had already declined his fifth-year option for 2021 and Ross posted on social media in October, “It’s no secret that I have requested a trade.”

Now Ross gets a fresh start with the Giants.

NBC

 

HEADLINES...

Matt Ryan Restructures Contract, Falcons Gain $14M In Cap Space

Chiefs To Release Damien Williams
Steelers Cut Vince Williams
Titans Release Dennis Kelly, Adoree Jackson

 

Report: Leonard Williams agrees to three-year, $63 million deal with Giants



The Giants used the franchise tag on Leonard Williams as a placeholder for a long-term deal. A week later, the sides have a deal.

The defensive lineman has agreed to a three-year, $63 million with the Giants that includes $45 million fully guaranteed, NFL Media reports. Williams will get a $22.5 million signing bonus, and his cap number drops from over $19 million to about $11 million.

The Giants traded for Williams in the middle of the 2019 season, sending a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick to the Jets. Williams had his best season in 2020, recording 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 30 quarterback hits.

He played last year under the one-year tag of $16.126 million.

In 95 career games, Williams has 29 sacks, 48 tackles for loss and 131 quarterback hits. He was the sixth overall pick by the Jets in the 2015 draft.

NBC

 

He grew up as a big Bills fan, but some Bills fans are less enamored with Gronk. He assisted in a Bills injury once. Personally, I think Bills fans ought to get over being so f'ckin butthurt.

 

They would have in less than a nanosecond if Gronk had actually signed there

 

Well you can't blame them much when Gronk doubled down on it. I think that was the real slight.

 

Jamaal Williams heading to Lions on two-year deal



Running back Jamaal Williams is leaving the Green Bay Packers but staying in the NFC North.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Williams is set to sign a two-year deal worth up to $7.5 million with the Detroit Lions.

With Aaron Jones signing an extension with the Packers, Williams is heading out to get a chance at a greater role in Detroit. Williams has rushed for between 460-556 yards in each of his four seasons with Green Bay, including 10 total rushing touchdowns over that span. He’s also been productive as a receiver, catching 122 passes for 961 yards and eight touchdowns.

Williams joins D'Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson as running backs under contract for 2021 with the Lions.

NBC

 

Lions acquiring defensive tackle Michael Brockers from Rams



The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams are making another trade together.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Lions are acquiring veteran defensive tackle Michael Brockers in a deal with the Rams.

It’s the second trade the two teams have struck this offseason as former Rams front office executive Brad Holmes now serves as the Lions new General Manager. They also reached an agreement earlier in the offseason to swap quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff as well as multiple draft picks. That trade can also become official finally with the start of the new league year on Wednesday.

Brockers has spent his entire nine-year career with the Rams. He’s started 136 of the 138 games he’s appeared in over that span with 28 career sacks. The 5.0 sacks posted by Brockers last year was the second-best mark of his career behind the 5.5 sacks he posted during his second season in 2013.

Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Rams had asked Brockers to rework his contract and couldn’t reach an agreement. The Rams have been on the wrong side of the salary cap limit as the deadline to get their books in order approaches with the start of the league year on Wednesday.

However, Brockers may need to smooth things over with Goff now that they’re teammates again.

NBC