Ekeler looked like a shell of himself last season. I really don’t think he has anything left in the tank.
They haven’t really made any moves as far as I can tell, but just looking around the league I really don’t understand what the Saints are doing. They’re mediocre at best, but they continue to just push contracts into the future. This year’s inflated cap gives them some relief on that, but it’s not going to be like this every year, and it’s not like they’re only a couple of players away from contending.
In addition to having lost Gardner Minshew through free agency, the Colts also lost RB Zack Moss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Patriots bring back QB Jacoby Brissett on a one-year deal. There had been a lot of speculation in local media that this would be the plan. Use Brissett as a bridge QB, draft the best remaining QB at pick 3 and let him sit for a while since you don’t want to throw anyone right out there with the level of talent currently on the roster (cf. Jones, Mac). It seems a lock they will take a QB in the draft now.
There had been some speculation that they might try to bring in someone like Baker Mayfield and then grab Marvin Harrison, Jr. at 3 to get an immediately playmaking WR, but that always seemed unlikely to me unless they really hate the guy who falls to them at 3, and is now off the table.
Aaron Jones wasn’t unemployed for long; ESPN is reporting that he’s agreed to a one-year contract with the Vikings.
The Vikes have also agreed to a one-year deal with QB Sam Darnold, though I have to believe that they will still be looking for a better option at the position.
Darnold is really good at kneeldowns.
I wonder if they would consider Fields at all. Seems unlikely with Mac flaming out from the same draft, but Brissett has a pretty low ceiling.
Darnold has to be a 1-year placeholder in hopes that McCarthy pans out. Maybe they trade up with New England for Maye/Daniels. As it is they are really rolling the dice that a guy will be there at 11. Would be funny if the Bears ended up in a position to trade back at 9 and had multiple suitors, the Vikings gonna pay that asshole tax.
There’s definitely been some discussion by Globe sportswriters about Fields as an option, but the general consensus has been that the Patriots want someone who understands that he is a short-term bridge, not a long-term answer, and who can be a mentor to a rookie. Brissett is by all accounts a terrific team guy who everyone loves.
This one is a bit of a surprise. I actually think Mooney is a really good player and was badly held back by Fields/Moore/Getsy. But $13M AAV and $26M guaranteed is a very big number. If you doubted the crazy scarcity at WR this should confirm it. With Bijan, London and Pitts, Mooney will almost certainly be a tertiary option in Atlanta but Kirk knows how to spread it around. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Mooney have an Adam Theilen like breakout.
Seems like Seattle has cut half their starting defensive players. Not a shock I guess, their defense has been underperforming since the LOB ended and the new head coach is a defensive-minded guy. But a couple of the cuts took me by surprise, especially Quandre Diggs who was a major leader and a frequent Pro Bowler, and Jordyn Brooks who was a high-performing and relatively young (and lightning fast) LB and heir apparent to Bobby Wagner.
At least they kept Leonard Williams, that guy was a huge boost on the defensive line last year.
ETA: Ravens get Derrick Henry.
$8M a year to Henry?! Holy crap, RBs are just not valued at all in the NFL.
Then again, he did hit 30 a couple of months ago and that’s the traditional cliff for a RB, so maybe that’s the issue. I still think it’s a bargain, he’s a generational talent.
Did I miss the post announcing Saquon Barkley signing a 3-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles?
I see last years’ Thielen and Darnell Mooney as very similar. Guys who need 140 or so targets and to be pretty much the only focus in the passing game to hit 1000 yards. Why the Falcons are giving 13 million a year for Mooney is beyond me, other than the fact they’re not a very well run organization. I’m always happy to see teams overpay for average.
Yes you did.
In NFL + political nutjob news:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent in this year’s presidential election, has told the New York Times that Jets QB Aaron Rodgers (as well as former pro wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura) are on his short list to be his running mate.
What does that say when the Professional Wrestler is the smartest and most serious of the trio?
Shortly after accepting the offer to run as VP, Rodgers is at the press conference where RFK Jr officially introduces his new running mate. As his name is called, Rodgers hustles up the stairs to the stage and collapses, grabbing his knee. We learn that evening that he’ll need surgery and afterward he won’t have time to campaign amidst all of the physical therapy.
The Bears have agreed to a 2-year deal with Jonathan Owens of the Packers. I won’t miss him terribly (he was a decent plug-and-play, but ultimately JAG), but I will miss his wife on the sidelines - Simone Biles.
Someone tell me about Xavier McKinney. All I know is he was a second round pick for the Giants, coming from Alabama, he’s only 24 years old, and he just signed a $68m contract with Green Bay. I’ve seen noise he’ll be a good fight, but I need more information so I can properly declare the Packers will win the Super Bowl with their All-Star lineup before the draft even happens.
He’s good, and I’m definitely not happy the Giants decided not to match the offer. Apparently they have decided that safeties don’t matter along with running backs, and that any Joe Schmoe off the street can be plugged in and do fine.
Supposedly the Giants are sinking all their money into the lines, which is how you’re supposed to build a team but I’ll believe it when I see it.