Tracking former Lions

[Futureshock]

49ers agree to terms on one-year deal with Austin Bryant

Posted by Charean Williams on March 22, 2023, 8:54 PM EDT

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The 49ers are signing free agent defensive end Austin Bryant to a one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. He visited with the team Wednesday.

Bryant, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, spent his first four seasons with the Lions. His most productive year was 2021 when he recorded 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and six quarterback hits in 14 games with five starts.

Bryant, 26, has totaled 65 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 11 quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and a pass defensed in 33 game appearances with six starts.

He appeared in nine games in 2022, playing 208 defensive snaps and 46 on special teams.

Bryant joins former Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and former Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell as new additions to the 49ers’ defensive line. Defensive ends Samson Ebukam (Colts), Charles Omenihu (Chiefs) and Jordan Willis (Raiders) signed elsewhere as did defensive tackles Maurice Hurst (Browns) and Hassan Ridgeway (Texans).

[Futureshock]

Report: Brandon Powell reaches agreement with Vikings

Posted by Charean Williams on March 22, 2023, 3:44 PM EDT

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The Vikings are signing free agent receiver Brandon Powell to a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

It reunites Powell with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who previously was the Rams’ offensive coordinator.

Powell, 27, spent the past two seasons with the Rams. In 2022, he played 17 games with six starts and totaled 24 catches for 156 yards. Powell played 290 snaps on offense and 228 on special teams.

The Lions signed Powell as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

He played one season for the Lions and spent 2020 with the Falcons.

In 44 career games, Powell has 47 receptions for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

[Futureshock]

Giants sign Amani Oruwariye, Tommy Sweeney

Posted by Charean Williams on March 23, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT

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The Giants have added free agent tight end Tommy Sweeney, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports.

Giants General Manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have familiarity with Sweeney from their time together in Buffalo.

Sweeney spent four seasons with the Bills, appearing in 24 games with four starts. He totaled 18 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Sweeney, a seventh-round pick of the Bills in 2019, sat out the 2020 pandemic season after being diagnosed with myocarditis.

The Giants used Chris Myarick, Tanner Hudson and Nick Vannett as blocking tight ends last season. Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger will get most of the playing time at the position if they stay healthy.

The Giants also have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Amani Oruwariye, Jordan Schultz of theScore reports.

Oruwariye spent four seasons with the Lions after the team selected him in the fifth round in 2019. He played 53 games in four seasons with 36 starts.

In 2021, Oruwariye had six interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

The Giants have question marks at the position outside of Adoree' Jackson.

[Futureshock]

Cardinals agree to terms with Josh Woods on a one-year deal

Posted by Charean Williams on March 23, 2023, 6:38 PM EDT

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The Cardinals announced they have agreed to terms with linebacker Josh Woods on a one-year contract.

Woods, 26, spent the past two seasons with the Lions. He was a team captain last season and appeared in a career-high 17 games.

Woods made a career-best 14 tackles on special teams in 2022, with his 10 solo stops tying for fifth most in the NFL.

He is a five-year veteran who also has spent time with the Bears (2018-21) since entering the league as a rookie free agent out of the University of Maryland.

Woods has appeared in 54 games with one start in his career, totaling 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits on defense while adding 33 tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.

[Futureshock]

TY JOHNSONRB, NEW YORK JETS
Jets re-signed RB Ty Johnson to a one-year contract.


Johnson returns as a third-down depth piece. Breece Hall (ACL recovery) will start when he's healthy, while Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter will likely split the early-down role to some extent. Carter is probably the back with the most touch upside in this backfield while Hall is out.

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 23, 2023, 1:49 PM ET

[CGVT]

Cardinals agree to terms with Josh Woods on a one-year deal

Posted by Charean Williams on March 23, 2023, 6:38 PM EDT

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The Cardinals announced they have agreed to terms with linebacker Josh Woods on a one-year contract.

Woods, 26, spent the past two seasons with the Lions. He was a team captain last season and appeared in a career-high 17 games.

Woods made a career-best 14 tackles on special teams in 2022, with his 10 solo stops tying for fifth most in the NFL.

He is a five-year veteran who also has spent time with the Bears (2018-21) since entering the league as a rookie free agent out of the University of Maryland.

Woods has appeared in 54 games with one start in his career, totaling 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits on defense while adding 33 tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.

This seems like a pretty big loss?

[Futureshock]

Yeah. It got pretty glossed over in the local press.

[Futureshock]

Martin Mayhew on Chase Young’s fifth-year option: We’re still talking about that

Posted by Myles Simmons on March 27, 2023, 7:10 PM EDT

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After the season, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera told reporters that the club had not made a decision on edge rusher Chase Young‘s fifth-year option.

With the calendar about to turn to April, Washington is still evaluating that situation.

“We’re still talking about that,” G.M. Martin Mayhew said Monday, via Ben Standig of TheAthletic.com. “We have a number of things to work through. We’re getting through the first part of the agency right now. We’re still in draft preparations. We have until May to make that decision. We’ll make the appropriate decision at the right time.”

The No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Young was the AP defensive rookie of the year after he recorded 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and four forced fumbles.

But in 2021, Young suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the year. And he didn’t get back to game action until late in the 2022 season.

Young had just 1.5 sacks in nine games in 2021. In 115 defensive snaps last season, he recorded five total tackles and one QB hit.

If the Commanders do pick up Young’s fifth-year option, that would guarantee the defensive end a projected $17.5 million salary in 2024.

[Futureshock]

Frank Reich: D.J. Chark recently had ankle surgery

Posted by Mike Florio on March 28, 2023, 11:18 AM EDT

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The Panthers recently added veteran receiver D.J. Chark on a one-year, $5 million deal. Not long before that, Chark had ankle surgery.

Panthers coach Frank Reich made that disclosure on Tuesday in Arizona, via Joseph Person of TheAthletic.com.

Reich said Chark could be ready for a portion of the team’s OTAs. Reich added that the hope is that the procedure will keep Chark from experiencing ongoing foot and ankle problems.

Injuries have limited Chark, a Pro Bowler in 2019, to 15 games in the past two seasons. Last year, he caught 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games with the Lions.

[The King]

Oh, he’s already hurt. That was fast.

[whatever_gong82]

Frank Reich: D.J. Chark recently had ankle surgery

Posted by Mike Florio on March 28, 2023, 11:18 AM EDT

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The Panthers recently added veteran receiver D.J. Chark on a one-year, $5 million deal. Not long before that, Chark had ankle surgery.

Panthers coach Frank Reich made that disclosure on Tuesday in Arizona, via Joseph Person of TheAthletic.com.

Reich said Chark could be ready for a portion of the team’s OTAs. Reich added that the hope is that the procedure will keep Chark from experiencing ongoing foot and ankle problems.

Injuries have limited Chark, a Pro Bowler in 2019, to 15 games in the past two seasons. Last year, he caught 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games with the Lions.

I'm glad that we passed on Chark.

We can get the same value (or better) in the upcoming NFL Draft next month. Plus, whoever that we draft will be younger than Chark as well.

[Forsh]

Matt Millen would've called Chark a devout coward, no doubt

[whatever_gong82]

Matt Millen would've called Chark a devout coward, no doubt

You, me or anyone else that's a member of the Forum could've drafted or worked as a GM just as badly as Matt Millen, and we would've gotten paid way less than what he made with the Detroit Lions.

[Futureshock]

Bill Belichick: “I’m not sure” if Matt Patricia will work for the Patriots this year

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 30, 2023, 1:47 PM EDT

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Usually, by this point in the offseason, NFL teams have their coaching staff set. But Bill Belichick says there’s still on fairly big question about the Patriots’ coaching staff.

Belichick was asked directly if Matt Patricia will work for the Patriots this year, and Belichick said he doesn’t know.

“I’m not sure,” Belichick said, via MassLive.com.

Patricia worked for the Patriots from 2004 to 2017, serving as defensive coordinator for the last six seasons, before he was hired by the Lions in 2018. After he was fired by the Lions late in the 2020 season, he returned to New England in 2021, and last season he was promoted to the offensive play caller job.

That did not go well, and Belichick brought back Bill O’Brien to run the offense. But there has been no word on whether Patricia will have some other job on the Patriots’ coaching staff, and if so what that job might be. Belichick, who is usually tight-lipped about his coaching staff, says he doesn’t know.

[CGVT]

Fuck Patricia. I have never disliked (I don't want to say hate, because that is a bit too strong) a Lions coach as much as Patricia.

I think I disliked Millen less, even though he did more, longer term damage to the Lions. At least he was a likeable guy for the most part.