NFL 2022 - Off-Season Player News and Updates

[Sven]

I haven't been back to my hometown of Innisfail FNQ for the same randomness.

Yup - those FNQers are a crazy bunch. Mind you, most randomness is related to when Bob Katter arrives in town

 

[Exe Gesis]

 

[rumply]

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Rams are working on a top of the market deal for DL Aaron Donald and that Donald "has a number he will play for."​

Fowler notes that if Donald's number isn't met, retirement is still potentially in play for the best defensive player in the NFL. The fact that the Rams have been engaged on this probably points to it eventually going down, and the Rams will likely make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Donald had 12.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and finished in the top five in defensive player of the year voting for the eighth-straight season in 2021.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Bengals and franchise-tagged S Jessie Bates have made "no tangible progress on a deal" and that Bates "does not intend to play on the tag."​

"It seems like anything is possible here, including a lengthy holdout," Fowler writes. Bates had a somewhat down season last year in PFF's coverage metrics, falling from a 90.0 grade in 2020 to a 70.0 grade in 2021. He also had two picks and six pass breakups in the playoffs alone, and was an obvious franchise tag target. It'll be interesting to see how much goodwill there is on both sides as Cincinnati has spent in free agency the last two years and Bates looks deserving of a near-top-of-market deal.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Commanders spent mildly in free agency in part "because it has budgeted for re-signing Terry McLaurin."​

Most of the smoke around McLaurin so far this offseason has pointed to Washington being loud with words but silent with actions, and this still sort of fits that narrative. McLaurin is absolutely deserving of a top-of-market wideout contract after putting up big numbers with a motley crew of quarterbacks, particularly when you budget for the fact that Carson Wentz is going to be throwing him into tough situations this year. This is nice to hear if you're a Commanders fan, but it's not exactly action yet.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Chargers "definitely believes" an extension for S Derwin James "will get done."​

"The Chargers see James as a true roster pillar," Fowler adds. Los Angeles has James on his fifth-year option this season at just over $9 million in base salary. An extension could lower his cap hit for 2022. James was PFF's 14th-ranked safety last season and has been a standout in all areas when healthy.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Steelers beat Mark Kaboly reports that he's "not confident" that Steelers DL Stephon Tuitt will participate in OTAs.​

The issue here isn't the knee injury that sent Tuitt to IR early in the season, but instead his mental state after his brother was struck and killed by a car during OTAs last offseason. "The Steelers never clarified why Tuitt missed the entire season and never spoke about his absence other than to say he was dealing with personal issues, leaving a lot up to speculation. They have said they expect Tuitt to return this year, but nothing more detailed than that, and that’s likely on purpose," Kaboly writes. The Steelers could save $9 million against the cap with a post-June release of Tuitt, which certainly could be on the table if his desire to play remains in question.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Browns signed EDGE Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal worth "up to" $11 million.​

Cleveland brings the mercenary EDGE back into the fold, where he'll start next to Myles Garrett. Clowney had nine sacks in 14 starts with the Browns last year, adding 52 more quarterback pressures per Sports Info Solutions. It's a huge hold for the Cleveland D/ST. Cleveland had a league-high $27 million in cap space coming into today so it'll be interesting to see how much of it actually gets held up as they have been connected to Will Fuller and Odell Beckham.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Packers WR coach Jason Vrable said that second-year WR Amari Rodgers is "in the best shape of his life."​

"His route-running is already cleaner and crisper," Vrable added. (Checks watch.) Yep, it's May. The Packers certainly have a void at wideout, and Rodgers could potentially fill it if he takes a giant step forward. But it also says a lot about how they felt about him last season that he barely got on the field and the organization drafted three wideouts and signed Sammy Watkins. Rodgers played just 103 offensive snaps last season. His returner skills might save him from a roster battle.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Giants WR Kadarius Toney is recovering from offseason knee surgery.​

Toney missed voluntary OTAs earlier this month after undergoing a knee scope. Offseason rumors the Giants were shopping Toney suggests there may be concerns with how healthy he is, as scopes can be precursors to future injuries. Toney is attending offseason workouts but wasn't cleared to practice. The Giants expect Toney to be ready for training camp.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles “has been impressed” with undrafted WR Jerreth Sterns at minicamp.​

Tampa didn’t add to its receiver room with any of its eight draft picks, but they landed one of the top UDFAs in Sterns, the nation's leader in receptions (150), receiving yards (1,902) and touchdowns (17) last year. Sterns was a Combine snub but shined at the Shrine Bowl where corners had trouble covering him. The Western Kentucky and Houston Baptist star has produced at every level, starting 40-of-41 games in college with 370 receptions, over 3,800 yards and 35 touchdowns, a career line that’d be higher if not for a COVID-shortened 2020. Sterns played for former NFL QB Jon Kitna in high school and trained with ex-Panthers WR Steve Smith in pre-draft workouts. Tampa could be without Chris Godwin (knee), a candidate for the reserve/PUP list, for the first month of the season, leaving Sterns to compete in an open competition behind Mike Evans. Sterns shouldn’t struggle to win a roster spot and is a sleeper for the slot role in Tampa, where Tom Brady has had success with undersized receivers.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) is expected to be ready for training camp.​

Coach Zac Taylor said Higgins will sit out the team's offseason program. Higgins is two months removed from surgery to repair a torn labrum he played through last year. The Bengals expect to have Higgins for training camp.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

USA Today's Jarrett Bell reports NFL owners are "counting votes" on potentially removing Commanders owner Dan Snyder.​

Bell's source is an anonymous NFL owner. By "counting votes", the owner is alluding to the fact that 24 franchises would need to vote Snyder out, and the cohort that wants him gone is seeing if they have the numbers necessary to make it happen. An official vote has yet to occur. The move stems from an ongoing investigation into the Commanders that alleges they cheated other teams out of ticket revenue which is shared amongst the franchises. The allegation adds that the team withheld as much as $5 million in refundable deposits from season ticket holders. Washington has also been investigated for fostering a culture of sexual harassment. Snyder's reign as the Commanders' owner has been marred by an unending series of scandals. His mismanagement of the team may finally come to an end if the rest of the league has had enough. Snyder would be forced to sell the franchise if he is successfully voted out.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Retired OT Andrew Whitworth didn't rule out a return to the NFL.​

Whitworth, 40, retired a Super Bowl champ after 16 seasons in the NFL. While it's unlikely the All-Pro tackle comes out of retirement, Whitworth is still under contract with the Rams and has ties to both of last year’s conference winners. There's a non-zero chance he could be lured back if injuries arise. Whitworth has been staying in NFL shape, working out with Rams' linemen Joseph Noteboom and David Edwards this offseason.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Browns QB Deshaun Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, expects the NFL to make its decision on a suspension for Watson by June or July.​

Watson is expected to meet with the NFL a second time after being interviewed for multiple days earlier this week. A decision on a suspension next month would likely be a best case scenario for both Watson and the Browns given the still pending 22 civil lawsuits against Watson. The league could wait until more resolution on Watson's legal situation to hand down discipline. Hardin said “no settlement talks are in the offing” in the civil suits with Watson.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard reports there's a "high-level of concern" about what's going on with the Patriots' offense.​

Patriots players have been "alarmed" with what they've seen from the team's offensive coaching staff and lack of direction on offense, according to Bedard. The Patriots haven't named an offensive coordinator since Josh McDaniels' departure, with the expectation Joe Judge or ex-Lions HC Matt Patricia will be the offensive play caller. Neither coach is known for offense. Judge's background is in special teams while Patricia's is in defense. Judge, a former college quarterback that spent 2019 as the Patriots' WR coach, is the likely favorite for the role. Judge said at the team's minicamp he plans to work closely with second-year QB Mac Jones.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

The Athletic's Jeff Howe reports NFL executives are monitoring Lamar Jackson's contract situation.​

"Executives around the league are certainly monitoring the situation from afar, wondering of course whether Jackson would ever become available if these nontraditional negotiations go sideways," Howe said. "There’s no hint of that happening now, but superstar movement around the league in recent years has curbed the surprise element with these storylines." Jackson, 25, has yet to agree to a contract extension while the team insists a deal will eventually get done. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in March that the organization would "pay him when he's ready." OverTheCap.com's Jason Fitzgerald, meanwhile, believes Jackson is a candidate for "multiple" franchise tags in the coming years, which would keep him in Baltimore. Playing under the Ravens' franchise tag in 2023 would land Jackson around $31 million. Another injury-marred season in 2022 could change Baltimore's calculus on breaking the bank to make Jackson their long-term quarterback.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said second-year QB Kellen Mond is "having a good spring so far."​

"Working incredibly hard, digesting the system," O'Connell said. "He made a couple checks yesterday at the LOS that he wasn't prepared play by play for...he just instinctively did it. Those are the little things you look for." Former coach Mike Zimmer did not appear to be fond of the young quarterback, but he is getting off to a better start with the new coach. Barring a trade, Kirk Cousins' contract seemingly will keep him in Minnesota for at least the next two seasons, but perhaps Mond can make a case to be a viable quarterback of the future option.

 

[aussiedude]

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Chargers "definitely believes" an extension for S Derwin James "will get done."​

"The Chargers see James as a true roster pillar," Fowler adds. Los Angeles has James on his fifth-year option this season at just over $9 million in base salary. An extension could lower his cap hit for 2022. James was PFF's 14th-ranked safety last season and has been a standout in all areas when healthy.

Hard to say what he is worth, because if the games he has missed from injury. but when healthy he is big. which might lead to a smaller deal like 3 years then try and go big on the next one

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Hard to say what he is worth, because if the games he has missed from injury. but when healthy he is big. which might lead to a smaller deal like 3 years then try and go big on the next one

yea its a tough one, I get the feeling if the chargers dont give him a decent deal tho someone will be willing to do so. Think hes still worth top 5 safety money on the open market despite the injuries.

 

[aussiedude]

yea its a tough one, I get the feeling if the chargers dont give him a decent deal tho someone will be willing to do so. Think hes still worth top 5 safety money on the open market despite the injuries.

Yeah he is prob up for top 5 at his best. but the injury history would make it hard to break the bank till he gets a couple of healthy seasons.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Yeah he is prob up for top 5 at his best. but the injury history would make it hard to break the bank till he gets a couple of healthy seasons.

Decent chance the Chargers franchise tag him if he makes it thru the season unscathed I reckon.

I hope for his sake a deal gets done but it feels like a FT situation.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Rashaad Penny is "resting a slight hamstring issue."​

For a player with an injury history as lengthy as Penny's, this is more than a bit concerning, even if the season is three months away. Since Seattle drafted Penny in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he has appeared in just 37 games. Penny finally got healthy toward the end of the 2021 season and made the most of an injury-depleted backfield. He totaled 714 yards and six scores over his final six contests. Seattle then re-signed him to a one-year deal. He should have the inside track on the starting role over rookie Kenneth Walker. However, missing reps this early in the summer is a great way to land in a backfield-by-committee for Week 1.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Baker Mayfield will not attend the Browns' OTAs.​

Cleveland begins their OTA program on Tuesday. As Schefter noted, Mayfield sitting out was expected. He and the Browns are still waiting to find a trade partner now that Deshaun Watson has been brought in to take Mayfield's job. So far, the obvious candidates to acquire Baker are Seattle and Carolina. Both teams have weak quarterback rooms and enough flexibility in their cap situations to make his contract work. Still, neither team is lining up to take on his fully guaranteed, $18.9 million salary. Cleveland has been unwilling to keep enough of that money on their books for a deal to happen, bringing talks to a stalemate.