NFL News

[Futureshock]

Patriots trading Chase Winovich to Browns for Mack Wilson

Posted by Myles Simmons on March 15, 2022, 9:07 AM EDT

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As the negotiating window for free agents continues on Tuesday, two teams have also agreed to swap defensive players.

According to multiple reports, the Patriots will send defensive lineman Chase Winovich to the Browns in exchange for linebacker Mack Wilson.

The trade cannot become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday.

The deal swaps two players who may be a better scheme fit for their new teams.

After Winovich recorded 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons with New England, he didn’t have any in 2021. In 13 games with no starts, Winovich played only 10.5 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps. He was inactive for the team’s playoff loss to the Bills.

Wilson appeared in 14 games with six starts for the Browns in 2021, but was on the field for just 17 percent of the club’s defensive snaps. He recorded 42 total tackles.

Both Winovich and Wilson are entering the last year of their rookie contracts. Winovich was a third-round pick and Wilson was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft.

[Futureshock]

ZA'DARIUS SMITHLB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
Packers released OLB Za'Darius Smith.


GM Brian Gutekunst telegraphed the move last month, saying Smith's deal would need to be adjusted. Release was always more likely than adjustment, as the 29-year-old had a mountainous $27.6 million cap number. The move clears over $15 million in cap space for a cap-strapped team. Smith was elite as recently as 2020, but his back limited him to two games last season. The Pack have obviously decided they can get along without him. Smith will offer plenty of bounce-back upside on the open market and should not take long to find a new home.

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• Green Bay Packers

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 14, 2022, 10:31 AM

[Futureshock]

Deshaun Watson reportedly will meet with Browns on Tuesday

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2022, 5:38 AM EDT

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Baker Mayfield could be getting upset.

The Cleveland Browns have sufficient interest in Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to take a meeting with him. Per multiple reports, the Browns will sit down with Watson on Tuesday in Houston.

Tuesday will be a busy day for Watson, given that he’s scheduled to be grilled by lawyer Tony Buzbee in the civil actions pending against Watson. Word of the first lawsuit to be filed against Watson emerged 52 weeks ago today.

Despite the looming deposition, Watson met with the Saints and Panthers on Monday, also in Houston. Some would say his full focus should be devoted to preparing for his deposition. It will be an experience unlike any he had endured. And if it goes poorly, the teams currently interested in him may have second thoughts.

As explained on Monday, at least one potentially interested team realizes the potential significance of Tuesday’s testimony. All of them should, frankly. All should want to see the video and read the transcript of the many in which Watson faces what could be withering questioning from Buzbee.

Some folks with the Browns could be in line for some tough questions, too. Mayfield is the current starter, under contract through 2022 and recovering from surgery to his non-throwing shoulder. He has a fully-guaranteed salary of $18.8 million for 2022. If the Browns will be absorbing Watson’s $35 million salary, they presumably would want to unload Mayfield’s salary.

Potential destinations at this point would include, in theory, the Colts — and perhaps the other teams that met with Watson on Monday, the Saints and Panthers. Seattle also could be an option.

By trading Watson, the Texans would clear more than $24 million in 2022 cap space.

[Futureshock]

MYLES JACKLB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
Jaguars released LB Myles Jack.


Jack led the Jaguars with 108 combined tackles last year, but that's about all he contributed. He did not record a sack, pass defense, or forced fumble. Jack also added just three TFLs. Seven of his teammates logged more TFLs despite Jack playing nearly every snap on defense. Once viewed as an elite interior linebacker, Jack will now be searching for a short-term deal to reignite his value in the coming years. Still only 26 years old, he should have no problem finding a new team on the open market.

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• Jacksonville Jaguars

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 15, 2022, 10:26 AM

[Futureshock]

JANORIS JENKINSDB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
Titans released CB Janoris Jenkins.


The move will clear $6.9 million in cap space for Tennessee. "Jackrabbit" Jenkins lasted one season with the Titans, who had Pro Football Focus' sixth highest pass coverage grade in 2021. Jenkins, 33, had one interception in 13 games last year. He'll likely land somewhere in quick order.

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• Tennessee Titans

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 15, 2022, 10:17 AM

[Futureshock]

LAVISKA SHENAULTWR, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
ESPN's Michael DiRocco reports the Jaguars may be open to trading WR Laviska Shenault.


The Jaguars loaded up on free agent pass catchers on Monday, inking Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Zay Jones. Doug Pederson is the second straight Jacksonville head coach who seems less-than-enamored with Shenault, a fantasy football folk hero whose best chance at success might be elsewhere. Shenault -- a dual threat wideout -- in 2021 failed to score a touchdown on 100 targets in the horrendous Jaguars offense. He could be a useful gadget player in an offense with established pass catchers.

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• Marvin Jones
• , Christian Kirk

SOURCE: Mike Clay on Twitter
Mar 15, 2022, 9:14 AM

[Nick Pappageorgio]

Jack could offer something…but IIRC didn’t he have some sort of a degenerative knee condition coming out of college?

based on the blurb above he offers very little in coverage, but Jax was a tire-fire last year.

[Futureshock]

MICHAEL PIERCEDL, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
Vikings released DT Michael Pierce.


The move creates $6.235 million in cap space. The Vikes have already signed Pierce's replacement in Harrison Phillips. Signed to a three-year deal in March 2020, Pierce ended up opting out of the "COVID year" in 2020 before returning for 2021 and missing nine games with a torn triceps. Pierce earned a reputation as an elite run stuffer in Baltimore, but he will now be headed into his age-30 campaign with just eight appearances in two years. Pierce did remain effective when on the field last season, however, and there will surely be teams willing to gamble he can still clog a rushing lane.

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• Minnesota Vikings

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 14, 2022, 11:30 PM

[jaadam4]

MYLES JACKLB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
Jaguars released LB Myles Jack.


Jack led the Jaguars with 108 combined tackles last year, but that's about all he contributed. He did not record a sack, pass defense, or forced fumble. Jack also added just three TFLs. Seven of his teammates logged more TFLs despite Jack playing nearly every snap on defense. Once viewed as an elite interior linebacker, Jack will now be searching for a short-term deal to reignite his value in the coming years. Still only 26 years old, he should have no problem finding a new team on the open market.

RELATED:

• Jacksonville Jaguars

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 15, 2022, 10:26 AM

Not sure if he'd come to Detroit but he's exactly who we need to be going after.

[jaadam4]

Also it looks like Baker is done in Cleveland. Unless they trade for Watson I'm not sure who they think is replacing him. Teams left right and center are proving that.

[Futureshock]

I saw this story late yesterday and it made me laugh:


First there was:

Randy Gregory will re-sign with the Cowboys

Posted by Josh Alper on March 15, 2022, 10:47 AM EDT
The week began with uncertainty about whether the Cowboys would retain defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence for the 2022 season.It is expected to end with both players still in the fold. Lawrence reached agreement on a new deal with the team on Monday and Tuesday brings multiple reports that Gregory is re-signing with [more]

THEN

Reports: Randy Gregory spurns Cowboys for Broncos

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 15, 2022, 12:22 PM EDT
Moments after the Cowboys announced that they would re-sign Randy Gregory comes news that they won’t.Now there are multiple reports that Gregory has spurned the Cowboys and decided to accept a contract offer with the Broncos.The financial terms of the contract are reportedly the same: A five-year, $70 million deal that includes $28 million in [more]

WHY?

Salary forfeiture language in Cowboys’ deal prompted Randy Gregory to opt for Denver

Posted by Charean Williams on March 15, 2022, 6:35 PM EDT
Randy Gregory agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Cowboys that included $28 million in guaranteed money. The Cowboys announced the deal Tuesday.At some point after that, things went sideways. That much is fact. The details that explain the reason Gregory changed his mind — agreeing to the same deal with the Broncos [more]

Randy Gregory’s agent gives their version of decision to ditch Cowboys for Broncos

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2022, 8:15 PM EDT
Randy Gregory and his agent, Peter Schaffer, weren’t going to get into a back and forth with the Cowboys over Gregory’s decision to not sign with Dallas but to instead jump to Denver. But since the Cowboys are complaining to reporters about what transpired, Schaffer has decided to tell Gregory’s story.Schaffer told PFT by phone [more]

[Nick Pappageorgio]

Not sure if he'd come to Detroit but he's exactly who we need to be going after.

Depends on his ask…he’s strictly a run stopper and MLB is increasingly becoming a position that needs to have coverage skills.

And IIRC…didn’t he have some sort of degenerative knee condition coming out of college?

[Futureshock]

Per Schaffer, owner and G.M. Jerry Jones got Gregory on the phone to make the pitch. The Cowboys increased their offer to match Denver’s. As Schaffer tells it, the Cowboys told Gregory, “‘We love you, we will support you. This is the best place for you. We know who you are.'”

Gregory then decided not to sign with the Broncos, and to stay with the Cowboys. But next came the actual contract from the Cowboys. Schaffer said he was surprised to find language wiping out all guarantees in the event of any fine imposed by the NFL.

“No other teams have that language in their contracts,” Schaffer told PFT. “No other teams. Never in 30 years have I seen that language.”

Teams usually void guarantees in the event of a suspension. The Cowboys void guarantees in the event of a fine.

Schaffer said that the move bothered Gregory. The Cowboys had fallen behind in the negotiations, and then Jerry got personally involved. He cited the personal relationship, the familiarity.

When the Cowboys added the clause wiping out guarantees in the event of a fine, Schaffer asked them about it. Per Schaffer, the Cowboys said they use it for every contract. However, Schaffer later learned that they didn’t put that language in the Dak Prescott deal.

Schaffer said he then gave the Cowboys an opportunity to remove the language. They didn’t.

[Futureshock]

That's going to hurt them going forward. What FAs will want to sign up for that?

[Futureshock]

BAKER MAYFIELDQB, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Baker Mayfield has posted a cryptic message to Browns fans on his Twitter account.


Forgive the gossipy news description, but we weren't sure what else to call Mayfield's multi-paragraph message to the people of Cleveland. "I have given this franchise everything I have," Mayfield said. "That is something I have done at every stage, and at every level. And that will not change wherever I take my next snap. Whatever happens ... I just want to say thank you." Alrighty then. The Browns and Mayfield were basically already in open combat before the team met with Deshaun Watson on Tuesday. Now the breach appears irreparable. Not that Mayfield really possesses anything in the way of leverage coming off his dismal 2021. Nevertheless, stay tuned.

SOURCE: Baker Mayfield on Twitter
Mar 15, 2022, 10:19 PM