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Broncos GM George Paton On Bradley Chubb, Courtland Sutton

April 25th, 2021 at 12:45pm CST by Rory Parks

Much of the coverage of the Broncos this offseason has focused upon what the club will do with respect to its quarterback position, but new GM George Paton also has non-QB business to handle. That includes the contract situations of OLB Bradley Chubb and WR Courtland Sutton.

During his first pre-draft press conference, Paton told reporters, including Zack Kelberman of SI.com, about his desire to keep both players in the fold for the long haul. “They’re two of our core guys, and we want them here a long time,” Paton said. “We’re not going to address that until after the draft. We’re strictly focused on the draft, but those are two of our guys.”

As a 2018 first-round choice, Chubb’s rookie contract carries a fifth-year option that Paton must exercise by May 3. Though he has not explicitly said so, the rookie general manager will doubtlessly pick up the option, which is valued at a fully-guaranteed $12.7MM. That will buy player and team plenty of time to work out a contract extension.

Chubb posted 12 sacks in his rookie year, but he suffered a torn ACL early in the 2019 season. He rebounded from that injury to tally 7.5 sacks last year, to go along with 19 QB hits. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 30th-best edge defender out of 109 qualifiers, but his pass rushing score of 79.4 was actually a top-15 mark, and he earned his first Pro Bowl bid for his efforts.

It’s unclear if Paton will pursue an extension for Chubb immediately after the draft, though it would make sense for the two sides to at least have exploratory conversations. The same can be said of Sutton, but his situation is a little murkier.

Like Chubb, Sutton is a 2018 draftee, but because he was selected in the second round that year, his deal does not have a fifth-year option. So he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2021 season, and given that he sustained a season-sending ACL tear in his first game of the 2020 campaign, Paton may want to make sure he returns to form before getting too aggressive with extension talks.

Plus, the Broncos invested heavily at the wide receiver position last year, drafting Jerry Jeudy in the first round and KJ Hamler in the second. That could limit how far Paton is willing to stretch himself on a new contract for Sutton, but if Sutton picks up in 2021 where he left off in 2019 — he earned a Pro Bowl nod that year after posting 72 catches for 1,112 yards — it will be difficult to let him walk.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Jets Notes: Mosley, Draft Plans, Hoyer

April 25th, 2021 at 11:49am CST by Rory Parks

The Jets reportedly received trade calls on linebacker C.J. Mosley this offseason, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says Mosley remains a trade candidate. As Randy Lange of the team’s official website writes, new head coach Robert Saleh recently offered high praise for Mosley, calling him a tremendous leader and player. Saleh also said Mosley is good enough to thrive in any system, including the 4-3 scheme that Saleh plans to implement (Mosley has not played in a 4-3 since he turned pro).

But New York did sign Jarrad Davis in free agency, and the team has been speculatively linked to high-end linebackers in the draft, like Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. If GM Joe Douglas does select an LB with a Day 1 or Day 2 choice, that could make a Mosley trade more likely (though obviously the return on such a trade would be minimal given Mosley’s contract and the fact that he has played all of two games in the last two years).

Now for more notes on the Jets:

  • Although Gang Green is going to select QB Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick, there is plenty of uncertainty as to what the club will do with the No. 23 overall selection. Cimini believes the team will ultimately go with a player to help Wilson, whether that’s an offensive lineman or a wide receiver. If that’s how Douglas is leaning, he might need to trade up to get the prospect he wants, and Connor Hughes of The Athletic tweets that Douglas has already done the “groundwork” on a potential move up the board.
  • Cornerback also profiles as a major need for the Jets, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them use the No. 23 pick or another early selection on a CB. According to Cimini, the club is intrigued by Syracuse corner Ifeatu Melifonwu, who looks like a second- or third-round talent. If the team doesn’t get a slot corner at some point in the draft, Hughes says the team could look to re-sign Brian Poole, whose 2020 season was cut short by injury but who has played well in his two seasons in the Meadowlands.
  • If the Jets don’t go with an offensive lineman with their second first-round choice, Hughes expects them to grab one with the No. 34 pick, and he also thinks they could pick up another blocker with one of their two third-round selections.
  • New York brought in veteran QB Brian Hoyer for a visit earlier this month, and he looks like an ideal backup/mentor for Wilson. Hughes reports that the team is likely to commence contract talks with the 35-year-old signal-caller after the draft.
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Saints HC Sean Payton: We Have To Add Cornerback

April 25th, 2021 at 10:46am CST by Rory Parks

Given their dire salary cap situation, the Saints were unable to do too much in free agency. They watched several high-profile players leave for other clubs, and the contracts they handed out themselves were on the more modest end of the spectrum.

Despite that, and despite the fact that New Orleans is now officially in the post-Drew Brees era, the club still has a talented roster that is capable of competing for a playoff spot. But in order to maintain the level of defensive proficiency the Saints have established under DC Dennis Allen, they will need to address their cornerback situation.

Head coach Sean Payton recently acknowledged as much. “Corner is an area we have to address between now and the season and I think we will be able to find that,” Payton said (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “But yeah, we lost some good players that we knew we might have to to get our numbers below [the salary cap]. I think that’s part of operating in the salary cap era.”

2020 starter Janoris Jenkins became a cap casualty in March, and while the Saints were able to re-sign P.J. Williams, he is a slot corner and safety, not an outside-the-numbers starter. Patrick Robinson will be back, but he hasn’t played more than 24% of the team’s defensive snaps since he returned to New Orleans in 2018. After Williams and Robinson, there is not much else behind CB1 Marshon Lattimore.

The Saints are armed with the No. 28 overall pick in this week’s draft, and if they elect to go CB with that choice, a player like Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. or Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley might be available. If they wait until Day 2, UCF’s Aaron Robinson or Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph could be the pick.

There are also a few intriguing veterans that remain available on the free agent market. The Saints expressed interest in Richard Sherman earlier this offseason, and he is still looking for a new home. Jason McCourty and Steven Nelson are also unsigned and have generated some interest on the open market.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Colts Plan To Keep Quenton Nelson At Guard

April 25th, 2021 at 9:42am CST by Rory Parks

Longtime Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo announced his retirement in January, leaving Indianapolis with a major hole to fill this offseason. The team did add Sam Tevi and Julie’n Davenport on modest free agent contracts, but neither player profiles as a particularly appealing Castonzo replacement.

That has led to some chatter that the Colts could move all-world left guard Quenton Nelson to left tackle, given that it’s generally easier to find a quality LG than a quality LT. But in a recent radio interview on 107.5 The Fan (via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star on Twitter), team owner Jim Irsay said the team will ideally keep Nelson right where he is and bring in a left tackle from outside the organization.

One of the top options that was available this offseason, Orlando Brown, was recently traded from Baltimore to Kansas City, and it’s unclear if the Colts were one of the handful of teams that had contacted the Ravens about a potential Brown deal. It’s also unclear if they are one of the teams that are monitoring the market for former Chiefs LT Eric Fisher.

Luckily for GM Chris Ballard, this year’s draft offers plenty of quality tackle prospects. Although it’s not always ideal to start a rookie LT on a team that has championship aspirations, the presence of Nelson will go a long way towards helping that rookie start living up to his potential right away. And if the draft does not yield a player that profiles as an immediate blindside protector for new QB Carson Wentz, Ballard could circle back to a player like Fisher or former Steeler Alejandro Villanueva (though Villanueva is presently expected to sign with the Ravens as a Brown replacement).

Nelson, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2018 draft, has earned First Team All-Pro honors in each of his three professional seasons. Ballard will soon exercise Nelson’s fifth-year option for 2022 — which will guarantee the Notre Dame product just shy of $14MM — but look for player and team to at least discuss an extension long before the 2022 season gets underway.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Chiefs To Discuss Extension With Tyrann Mathieu

April 25th, 2021 at 8:52am CST by Rory Parks

Earlier this offseason, Chiefs GM Brett Veach said he hoped to keep safety Tyrann Mathieu in Kansas City for years to come. Mathieu echoed those sentiments last week.

“Absolutely, I’d would love to spend the rest of my time in Kansas City,” he said (via Blair Kerkhoff of the Wichita Eagle). “Everybody has embraced me here. It reminds me so much of a football town. For me, that’s everything. Waking up, seeing my family, going to play football. It’s a blessing to be here.”

Mathieu will count nearly $20MM against the cap in 2021, the final season of the three-year, $42MM contract he signed in March 2019. While the Chiefs have managed to conduct the bulk of their offseason business without lowering that cap charge and still have enough space to sign their draft class, it never hurts to have more room. And given the quality of Mathieu’s play during his first two years in KC, a new contract feels like a no-brainer.

Veach says there is no timeline for a Mathieu extension, though he expects talks to ramp up after this week’s draft (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star). The $14MM average annual value on Mathieu’s current deal is still near the top of the safety market, where Justin Simmons‘ $15.25MM AAV represents the new high-water mark.

Mathieu, who will turn 29 next month, will doubtlessly want to top that figure, and he will have every reason to aim high. The LSU product has earned Pro Bowl nods in both of his seasons with the Chiefs, and he earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2020. Over his two KC seasons, he has tallied 137 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 21 passes defensed.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Cowboys Won’t Trade Up From No. 10

April 24th, 2021 at 9:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys may be high on Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, but they won’t trade up to land him or any other player, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. With less than one week to go until the NFL Draft, it sounds like Jerry Jones & Co. will be standing pat at No. 10. 

[RELATED: NFL Suspends Cowboys’ Rashard Robinson]

Drafting Pitts would require the Cowboys to move up several spots — perhaps as high as No. 4. Of course, that’d be costly, especially after the 49ers set the market by sacrificing a 2022 third-round pick and two future first rounders in order to advance from No. 12 to No. 3. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have much more pressing needs to address in the draft including cornerback, offensive tackle, and safety.

Pitts, a quarterback in high school, moved to tight end at UF and quickly put himself on the NFL radar. Last year, he snagged 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games, finishing out with an eye-popping 17.9 yards per grab. Right now, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins will allow him to fall beyond No. 6. Meanwhile, many prognosticators (and PFR readers) expect the Falcons to snag Pitts at No. 4.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2021 NFL Draft Order, Pick By Pick

April 24th, 2021 at 7:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29th in Cleveland, Ohio at 8pm ET/7pm CT. Then, Rounds 2-3 will take place on Friday, starting at 7pm ET/6pm CT, followed by Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, starting at 12pm ET/11pm CT.

Here’s the complete rundown of this year’s draft order, from pick No. 1 through pick No. 259:

Round 1

1) Jacksonville Jaguars
2) New York Jets
3) San Francisco 49ers (from Texans via Dolphins)
4) Atlanta Falcons
5) Cincinnati Bengals
6) Miami Dolphins (from Eagles)
7) Detroit Lions
8) Carolina Panthers
9) Denver Broncos
10) Dallas Cowboys
11) New York Giants
12) Philadelphia Eagles (from 49ers via Dolphins)
13) Los Angeles Chargers
14) Minnesota Vikings
15) New England Patriots
16) Arizona Cardinals
17) Las Vegas Raiders
18) Miami Dolphins
19) Washington Football Team
20) Chicago Bears
21) Indianapolis Colts
22) Tennessee Titans
23) New York Jets (from Seahawks)
24) Pittsburgh Steelers
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams)
26) Cleveland Browns
27) Baltimore Ravens
28) New Orleans Saints
29) Green Bay Packers
30) Buffalo Bills
31) Baltimore Ravens (from Chiefs)
32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round 2

33) Jacksonville Jaguars
34) New York Jets
35) Atlanta Falcons
36) Miami Dolphins (from Texans)
37) Philadelphia Eagles
38) Cincinnati Bengals
39) Carolina Panthers
40) Denver Broncos
41) Detroit Lions
42) New York Giants
43) San Francisco 49ers
44) Dallas Cowboys
45) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Vikings)
46) New England Patriots
47) Los Angeles Chargers
48) Las Vegas Raiders
49) Arizona Cardinals
50) Miami Dolphins
51) Washington Football Team
52) Chicago Bears
53) Tennessee Titans
54) Indianapolis Colts
55) Pittsburgh Steelers
56) Seattle Seahawks
57) Los Angeles Rams
58) Kansas City Chiefs (from Ravens)
59) Cleveland Browns
60) New Orleans Saints
61) Buffalo Bills
62) Green Bay Packers
63) Kansas City Chiefs
64) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Read more

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49ers Split On No. 3 Pick?

April 24th, 2021 at 7:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers gave up a bevy of draft picks in order to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 overall. However, with days to go before the draft, ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum hears that the Niners have yet to reach a consensus on who they’ll take (video link).

[RELATED: 49ers Sign Hurst]

The Niners have — or will — take a closer look at Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance in the lead-up to the draft. Many prognosticators believe that Jones is the quarterback they want, but Tannenbaum hears that there’s still some debate among SF brass.

“What that says to me and what I am hearing around the league is they are not unanimous in who they want to pick, meaning [GM] John Lynch, [assistant GM] Adam Peters, and [head coach] Kyle Shanahan,” Tannenbaum said.

Even if Jones winds up as the Niners’ pick, Fields and Lance probably won’t have to wait too long to hear their names called. Between the three aforementioned passers and the presumptive top two picks (Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson), we’re expecting to see five QBs taken inside of the top 12.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl around the Niners’ current starter, Jimmy Garoppolo. Although Lynch has said that Garoppolo is staying put for 2021, more than half of PFR’s readers anticipate that he’ll be traded between now and September.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Panthers GM: At Least 5 Teams Have Inquired About No. 8 Pick

April 24th, 2021 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several teams in the top 10 are believed to be open to moving down. The Panthers may be preparing to do so. After acquiring Sam Darnold from the Jets, the Panthers have engaged in frequent talks about trading their No. 8 overall pick.

New GM Scott Fitterer said he has spoken with at least five teams about trading back. Carolina’s draft slot falls at a position when only one of the top five quarterback prospects could be available. And teams may be keen on moving on front of the Broncos, who have a QB need and hold the No. 9 pick.

“We’re very open to moving back,” Fitterer said, via ESPN.com’s David Newton. “It just depends on how the first seven picks go. … We’ll see what the options are. We’re more than willing to listen to other teams, and if they want to offer picks and we can go back and get one of the players we want and get multiple picks to help build this team, that’s what we’ll do.”

[RELATED: Panthers Discussing Moving No. 8 Pick]

Fitterer spent 20 years with the Seahawks, who have frequently used the trade-down option to accumulate draft capital. The first-year Carolina GM said the team has first-round grades on 16 players, which could affect how it proceeds regarding trade offers. Of the teams who loom as possible QB-seeking trade partners, two — Washington (No. 19) and Chicago (No. 20) — reside in the bottom half of the first round.

“We’ll have to take a look at the players that are available when we pick and how many of those players can help us that we’ve identified, how far we can trade back and still get one of those players without trading out of the [top] level,” Fitterer said. “We don’t want to trade out of a certain level where the talent dips. We know exactly where that is in this draft.”

Between picks 4 and 8, everyone but the Bengals (No. 5) has popped up as a trade-down candidate. The Falcons (No. 4), Dolphins (No. 6), Lions (No. 7) and Panthers figure to keep holding talks with teams wanting to land one of the final two coveted quarterback prospects. This potential seller frenzy — with some teams potentially wanting to move up for a non-QB as well — has created an interesting backdrop to this year’s draft. In 2020, no trades occurred until the 49ers gave the Buccaneers pick No. 13. This draft figures to feature a higher-profile trade.

Fitterer previously did not rule out taking a quarterback in the first round, and while that would be unexpected — after the Panthers’ Darnold trade — this talk could be a matter of driving up the market for the No. 8 pick. It could also increase the value of the picks in front of the Panthers’. Carolina is expected to pick up Darnold’s fifth-year option, which would suggest the team is not in the market for a passer in Round 1. The Panthers appear willing to help a team that is, however.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Poll: How Will Broncos Address QB Need?

April 24th, 2021 at 4:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The only two starting quarterbacks to retire after winning Super Bowls played for the same franchise. While the Broncos made the playoffs multiple times in the five years following John Elway‘s retirement — with the likes of Brian Griese and Jake Plummer operating as the team’s primary starters — they have hovered off the contention radar for most of their post-Peyton Manning stretch. No team has started more quarterbacks than Denver’s 10 (counting the Kendall Hinton game) since 2016.

This stretch has placed the Broncos back on the quarterback radar. Although their last foray into the first-round market careened off course quickly (Paxton Lynch in 2016), the Broncos’ three subsequent QB investments — Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Drew Lock — largely struggled. Will this run of futility at the NFL’s premier position force the Broncos to acquire one of this year’s top QB prospects?

New GM George Paton has said multiple times this offseason the Broncos will acquire a quarterback to push Lock, but it is not certain that will be a rookie. Denver brass, however, did extensive work on this year’s top passer crop. Paton was at Justin Fields and Trey Lance‘s initial pro days, while offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur trekked to the second workouts held by the Ohio State and North Dakota State QBs. Other teams have viewed Denver as a stealth quarterback seeker as well.

Only two of the draft’s top five passing prospects will be available to teams picking after No. 3, with the 49ers moving up for a quarterback. Considering the needs of some teams picking outside the top 10 — the Patriots, Washington and Bears have been linked to trade-up maneuvers — and the not-impossible prospect of the Lions (No. 7) or Panthers (No. 8) jumping into the fray, it is possible the Broncos will be left out if they stand pat at No. 9. They are believed to have inquired about trading up, though Paton denied this. The Falcons (No. 4), Dolphins (No. 6), Lions and Panthers are all open to trades, creating opportunities for the Broncos and teams eager to trade in front of them.

Given the Broncos’ above-average defense and bevy of skill-position weapons, going into another season with Lock (29th in 2020 QBR) could lower the team’s ceiling — in a hot-seat year for Vic Fangio. But Fangio’s status could also push the team to trade for a veteran instead of hoping this year’s fourth- or fifth-best QB prospect can make an impact right away. Although the Broncos sat out the free agent market and passed on trades for Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold — after falling short for Matthew Stafford — veteran arms remain available.

Paton was with the Vikings when they drafted Teddy Bridgewater in the 2014 first round; Carolina has since given Bridgewater permission to seek a trade. Given Paton’s history with the 28-year-old QB, it would make sense if the Broncos were one of the teams interested. Gardner Minshew figures to be available — even though Urban Meyer denied it. The 49ers are holding out for a big offer to part with now-lame-duck starter Jimmy Garoppolo.

Lock has not been blessed with great circumstances, despite Denver drafting Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler in the first and second rounds last year. The pandemic nixed the young passer’s first offseason with Shurmur, and No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton went down in Week 2 last year. But the 2022 quarterback class, as of now, has received far less hype than the past two drafts’ QB crops generated. The Broncos not making a move for Fields, Lance or Mac Jones next week could limit their options going forward.

How do you think the Broncos will play this? Will they prioritize acquiring another quarterback by trading up or hope one falls to No. 9? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this situation in the comments section.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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