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Offseason In Review: New York Jets

August 18th, 2022 at 9:33pm CST by Ben Levine

The New York Jets have always been intent on winning the back page, which often includes lavish (and later regrettable) spending. While the Jets still spent a bit this offseason, the organization’s new-ish regime (led by fourth-year GM Joe Douglas and second-year head coach Robert Saleh) seems to be operating under a more disciplined, focused approach, with a particular emphasis on building from within. To that, the Jets did an admirable job filling a handful of holes through the draft, especially via three first-round picks and one early second-round pick.

The Jets deserve props for adding both foundational and short-term pieces that addressed some clear needs. While they don’t have much room to fall following a four-win campaign in 2021, it remains to be seen if these offseason moves will be enough to get the Jets to a respectable record…and (perhaps) their first playoff appearance since the 2010 season.

Notable signings:

The Jets offensive line actually showed plenty of improvement during the 2021 season, but other than former first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker, questions remain. George Fant and Connor McGovern are both getting up there in age and only have a year remaining on their contracts. Morgan Moses left in free agency, while the embattled Mekhi Becton first lost out on the LT competition before being ruled out for the season.

To help shore up the unit in both the short- and long-term, the Jets brought in Laken Tomlinson. A former first-round pick by the Lions, Tomlinson found a home in San Francisco between the 2017 and 2021 seasons, including a 2021 campaign where he earned his first career Pro Bowl selection. He ended up ranking 13th among 82 eligible guard candidates via Pro Football Focus, and based on his track record, there’s no reason to think he’ll fall out of the top-15 guards in 2022.

Following Becton’s season-ending knee injury, the Jets brought in Duane Brown to start at left tackle. While Fant initially claimed the LT gig, it sounds like he’ll switch back to RT to welcome in his experienced teammate. As a Pro Bowl alternate last season, Brown demonstrated that he can still operate at a high level despite his age, and the Jets will clearly be counting on him to remain an effective blindside blocker for at least the 2022 campaign.

The Jets got a combined 50 catches for 534 yards and three touchdowns from their tight ends last season. While they didn’t necessarily fill the holes with sexy names, they added a pair of dependable TEs who they can immediately pop into the lineup. C.J. Uzomah had a career year with the Bengals in 2021, hauling in 49 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns before adding another 15 receptions for 146 yards and one score in the playoffs. Tyler Conklin had a breakout season with the Vikings, finishing with 61 receptions for 593 yards and three scores. Conklin profiles as mostly a receiving TE, but Uzomah has the blocking prowess to play in any scenario.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jets focused on adding depth to their secondary. Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols started a combined 31 games at cornerback last season, but the duo will likely be demoted following the additions of rookie Sauce Gardner (who we’ll get to later) and free agent acquisition D.J. Reed. A former backup in San Francisco, Reed started 22 games for the Seahawks over the past two seasons, including a 2021 campaign where he finished with a career-high 78 tackles and 10 passes defended. Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance, ranking him eighth among 166 qualifying cornerbacks last year. Reed should immediately slide into the starting lineup along with Gardner and nickelback Michael Carter II.

Elsewhere on their secondary, the Jets signed Jordan Whitehead to add some depth at safety. The former fourth-round pick started 55 of his 59 games for the Buccaneers between 2018 and 2021, and he helps add a championship pedigree to a squad striving for a simple postseason appearance. Whitehead was firmly in the top-third of PFF’s ranking of the league’s safeties, and his run-defending ability should come in handy alongside a questionable front seven. The same sentiment applies to Marcell Harris, a former safety who mostly played linebacker with the 49ers last season.

While the Jets front office did an admirable job of filling their needs this offseason, there are still some question marks surrounding their front seven, especially their linebackers corps. The recent signing of Kwon Alexander will certainly help, although his consistent injury issues will probably limit him to a backup role. Jacob Martin was also brought in as some depth at LB, but he profiles as more of a DE in Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defense. Solomon Thomas will provide some depth behind defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers.

The Jets relied on Matt Ammendola and Eddy Pineiro at kicker last season, with the duo connecting on only 77.8 percent of their field goal attempts, the seventh-worst mark in the NFL. The Jets brought in veteran Greg Zuerlein to hopefully provide some consistency at the position. Greg The Leg connected on 82.9 percent of his field goal attempts in each of the past two seasons, although he finished the 2021 campaign having connected on a career-worst 87.5 percent of his XP tries.

Notable losses:

The Jets lost a handful of contributors during the offseason, but the majority of those exits have been accounted for. Marcus Maye was a consistent starter during his tenure in New York, but he was limited to only six games in 2021 thanks to a torn Achilles. The Jets ended up pivoting to Jordan Whitehead, who earned about half of what Maye got from the Saints. Plus, Lamarcus Joyner is back after appearing in only one game last season.

Elsewhere on defense, Folorunso Fatukasi is gone after starting a career-high 15 games last season. He ended up grading out as a middle-of-the-road interior defender on PFF, and with Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, and Solomon Thomas around, Fatukasi was made expendable. Jarrad Davis started five of his nine games for the Jets last season, finishing with 25 tackles. Considering the team’s lack of LB depth, it’s probably pretty telling that the front office was willing to let him walk.

The Jets also lost some starting-caliber players along their offensive line. Morgan Moses started 16 of his 17 games last season, while Greg Van Roten started 23 of his 30 appearances over the past two years. The signing of Laken Tomlinson helps make those losses more palatable, and while either of Moses or Van Roten would have provided some much-needed depth, they were unlikely to crack the starting lineup.

Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffin started a combined 18 games last season, but the duo finished with only 43 total receptions. The Jets replacements at the position (C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin) won’t set the world on fire, but they’re definitely an upgrade over what the team was relying on in 2021. The same could probably be said at wide receiver, although Jamison Crowder was one of the team’s most consistent offensive weapons over the past three years (63 catches per season). Keelan Cole also showed flashes in 2021, averaging 16 yards on his 28 receptions. Fortunately, the team still has plenty of depth at the position, with Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, Denzel Mims, and Braxton Berrios providing some intrigue.

Re-signed:

The Jets made sure to retain some depth pieces on both sides of the ball. Lamarcus Joyner and Vinny Curry were both brought in by the Jets last offseason, but the two acquisitions combined for only one game. Joyner bounced in and out of the Raiders starting lineup during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and he was mostly graded as a below-average safety during those two years. The Jets didn’t give up a whole lot to bring him back, and while he’s projected to start at safety, he could see some pressure from Ashtyn Davis and Jason Pinnock. Curry was sidelined for the entire 2021 campaign after being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that required the removal of his spleen. He re-signed with the Jets this offseason, a positive indication that he’s doing better, but he’ll still have an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

While offseason reports indicate that Joe Flacco has outshined Zach Wilson during training camp, the former Super Bowl champ will be lucky to see the field a whole lot during a pivotal season for his position mate. Mike White also made a name for himself while guiding the Jets to one of their four wins, and he’ll stick around as some insurance behind Wilson and Flacco (and, potentially, as a future QB2 once Flacco hangs up his cleats). Both of these re-signings have proved to be particularly important following Wilson’s preseason injury.

Braxton Berrios has continued to improve on offense, and he had a career year in 2021 after finishing with 46 receptions for 431 yards. The Jets were eager to bring him back, but at best, he’ll slide in behind Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and Garrett Wilson on the depth chart. Tevin Coleman is also more of an offensive depth piece. While his 2021 numbers didn’t come close to matching his best days in Atlanta, he still rebounded nicely following a 2020 campaign in San Francisco. Coleman will likely stick around as a veteran back behind recent draft picks Breece Hall and Michael Carter.

Nathan Shepherd and Dan Feeney are depth pieces along the defensive and offensive line, respectively. Shepherd has at least three players firmly ahead of him on the DT depth chart, while Feeney will likely serve as the backup center to Connor McGovern.

Draft picks:

The Jets entered the draft loaded with picks, and they made sure to consolidate those selections to get the players they wanted. They didn’t have to make any moves to get their guy with the fourth-overall pick. While the Jets front office presumably would have liked to have used their first selection on a pass rusher like Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker, the two players were selected within the top three. Instead of reaching for a defensive lineman, the Jets settled on the clear best player on the board: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The rookie will probably never reach Darrelle Revis status, but he has the ability to be a shutdown CB (at best) or a reliable, consistent starter (at worst). The Jets had a real need for depth at cornerback, so the rook will have a chance to show what he’s got during the 2022 campaign.

The Jets used the 10th-overall pick, acquired from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade, to select Ohio State wideout Garrett Wilson. The Jets had reportedly been dangling the pick in pursuit of a big-name wideout, but when those deals never came to fruition, they pivoted to the draft. The rookie provides Zach Wilson with a much-needed vertical threat, and while he probably won’t be playing on every passing down (considering their relative depth), there’s hope that he’ll one day combine with Elijah Moore to form a deadly one-two punch.

The Jets finally started wheeling and dealing later in the first round, moving up from No. 35 to No. 26 to fill in a hole on their defensive line, selecting Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. Considering the lineman’s breakout campaign in 2021, there’s some pundits who question if he’ll be able to sustain his production in the pros, and that logic could have played a role in him sliding down the draft board. It’s definitely a high-reward pick, and while you’d usually like to bring these types of prospects along slowly, the Jets will immediately be counting on Johnson to play an important role on their defensive line.

The Jets later traded up two spots in the second round to select the draft’s first RB, Breece Hall. You could nitpick that the Jets had bigger needs than running back, but Hall could develop into a hotshot three-down player. Fortunately for the Jets, they don’t need that from the rookie in 2022, as Hall will likely split carries with 2021 fourth-round pick Michael Carter to at least start the season.

Thanks to the Jets’ trades, they had only three selections following their top-four picks, with each of those latter choices coming in the third and fourth round. Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert has been described as more of a dirtdog than a future pass-catching star, but the Jets have the ability to bring him along slowly following their other offseason additions at the position. The Jets have plenty of future uncertainty on their offensive line, so it made sense to select a tackle who won’t immediately need to make an impact. Max Mitchell will have a chance to compete for the team’s swing tackle spot during training camp, but there’s a better chance he’s buried on the depth chart during the 2022 season. The same goes for defensive tackle Micheal Clemons, although the Texas A&M product has a higher upside than your typical fourth-round pick. Clemons fell down the draft board thanks to his injury history, his advanced age (25 by the time the season starts), and his off-the-field issues (including two arrests in a three-month span in 2021).

Other:

If there was a wide receiver on the trade block, you can bet the Jets were connected. The organization was involved in the highly publicized bidding war for Tyreek Hill, and despite some optimism that they’d be able to acquire the Chiefs WR, he ended up getting shipped to Miami. The Jets were also heavily connected to 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel, especially leading up to the draft. However, those talks ultimately simmered before Samuel inked an extension with San Francisco. It wasn’t just those two big-name wideouts; the Jets were also connected to A.J. Brown (before he was traded to the Eagles), Amari Cooper (before he was traded to the Browns), and D.K. Metcalf (before he inked an extension to stay in Seattle).

Ultimately, the Jets didn’t acquire any of these popular receivers. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; instead of investing a hefty chunk of cap to another WR, they instead pivoted to a cheaper alternative in first-round rookie Garrett Wilson. Still, the Jets’ desire for a top-end WR probably doesn’t speak too well of Corey Davis‘ status with the organization. After inking a three-year, $37.5MM deal with the Jets last offseason, he contributed only 34 receptions in nine games. With Wilson now in the picture and Elijah Moore having burst onto the scene, there’s a chance Davis doesn’t complete his contract if he underperforms in 2022. The team’s desire to acquire a top wideout certainly hints at this possibility.

Quinnen Williams hasn’t necessarily lived up to the billing of a third-overall pick, but the Jets still committed to the hulking defensive tackle for the 2023 campaign. In 2021, Williams finished with 53 tackles and six sacks while getting into a career-high 15 games. He ended up ranking 37th among 108 qualifying interior defensive linemen candidates, per PFF, and the Jets are hoping he can take a step toward the upper echelon of the position in 2022.

Top 10 cap charges for 2022:

  1. C.J. Mosley, LB: $17.5MM
  2. Carl Lawson, DE: $15.33MM
  3. Corey Davis, WR: $13.66MM
  4. John Franklin-Myers, DE: $12.47MM
  5. George Fant, OT: $11.1MM
  6. Quinnen Williams, DE: $10.55MM
  7. Connor McGovern, C: $10.33MM
  8. Zach Wilson, QB: $7.98MM
  9. Sheldon Rankins, DT: $6.19MM
  10. Ahmad Gardner, CB: $6.08MM

You can nitpick some of the Jets’ offseason moves, but Douglas deserves credit for addressing both the present and the future. Will it be enough to get the Jets back into the postseason? Probably not. The team is still way too dependent on young players. Even if each of those first- or second-year guys exceed expectations and take a clear step forward, it’s still hard to envision the Jets getting the six additional wins they’d need to qualify for the postseason.

Instead, a two- or three-win improvement is a more realistic target, and that’d still be a positive sign for the organization. Then, the Jets could eye a return to the playoffs for the 2023 campaign.

Seahawks OL Damien Lewis Carted Off Field

August 18th, 2022 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Damien Lewis appeared to have suffered a serious injury on Thursday night. The Seahawks offensive guard was carted off the field during Seattle’s preseason contest against the Bears.

Lewis suffered a leg injury during a run play in the second quarter. Lewis was down on the ground for a bit while the trainers placed an air cast on his leg. The team, including head coach Pete Carroll, huddled around the offensive lineman before he was carted off the field. Predictably, Lewis was later ruled out for the game with an ankle injury.

Lewis has been a dependable member of Seattle’s offensive line since he joined the organization as a third-round pick in 2020. He’s started each of his 29 games since entering the league, and while he was graded 57th among 82 qualifying guards in 2021 (per PFF), he ranked 13th at the position as a rookie. Thanks to that performance in 2020, he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.

Phil Haynes ended up replacing Lewis in the lineup, and there’s a chance the former fourth-round pick could end up securing the starting gig if Lewis is out. The team could also turn to backups like Greg Eiland and rookie Shamarious Gilmore.

Lewis wasn’t the only player hurt on the play. Bears linebacker Caleb Johnson was also down for a moment, but he was eventually able to walk off the field.

Latest On Bengals QB Joe Burrow

August 18th, 2022 at 6:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Joe Burrow returned to Bengals practice this week after undergoing an appendectomy in late July. While initial reports seemed to indicate that Burrow underwent a standard procedure, that didn’t end up being the case. As ESPN’s Ben Baby writes, the quarterback lost weight thanks to the surgery and subsequent recovery, and it sounds like he’s got some work to do to get into game shape for Week 1.

“It wasn’t normal appendicitis that you hear about,” Burrow explained. “I didn’t really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we’d get it checked out. Turns out I had it. So we had to get it fixed.”

It’s an encouraging sign that Burrow has returned to practice, and the Bengals have a plan in place to get him right for the start of the regular season. This includes a plan to add weight and get the QB’s body back “to its pre-surgery form.” Burrow isn’t expected to see the field for Cincinnati’s remaining preseason contests.

“I think it will be OK,” Burrow said. “We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff. I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better.”

Burrow isn’t the only key Bengals player to return to practice. Wideout Tee Higgins participated in team drills for the first time on Sunday, per Baby. The receiver had his labrum worked on this offseason, but it sounds like he’ll be good to go for the start of the regular season.

49ers Work Out S Tashaun Gipson

August 18th, 2022 at 6:38pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers are eyeing a veteran safety. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team worked out defensive back Tashaun Gipson.

Gibson spent the past two seasons with the Bears, starting each of his 28 games. While he was more than serviceable during the 2020 campaign, he appeared to take a step back in 2021, with Pro Football Focus ranking 85th among 92 qualifying safeties. Coupled with him missing five games, it seems pretty clear why the 32-year-old remains unsigned in August. This is the first reported visit for Gipson.

However, he apparently has a suitor in the 49ers. Jimmie Ward is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be ready to go for the start of the regular season. With San Francisco eyeing a current depth chart that features Talanoa Hufanga, Tarvarius Moore, George Odum, and Dontae Johnson, the team is considering adding a veteran to the mix.

While Gibson struggled in 2021, there’s no denying his experience. Despite going undrafted in 2012, he’s started 132 of his 140 games in his career. He earned a Pro Bowl nod back in 2014 after finishing with a still-career-high six interceptions. The safety has hauled in an interception in each season of his career.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/22

August 18th, 2022 at 4:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Indianapolis Colts

  • Placed on IR: TE Drew Ogletree (story)

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Young signed with the Raiders in May, as part of their re-vamped linebacker corps. The 27-year-old gradually grew into a larger defensive role with the Ravens before being traded midseason to the Rams in 2019. He was dealt once again last year, from Los Angeles to Denver. Starting all 13 games he appeared in between the two teams, the UCLA product had a career-year in 2021, but hasn’t done enough during training camp to catch on in Sin City. The Raiders will move forward with the likes of Denzel Perryman, Divine Deablo and free agent signings Jayon Brown and Micah Kiser in the middle of their defense.

Latest On Colts’ Quenton Nelson Extension Talks

August 18th, 2022 at 3:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top priority remaining this offseason for the Colts is a deal which will keep left guard Quenton Nelson on the books for the foreseeable future. The All-Pro lineman is set to play on the fifth-year option this season, but could very well have a massive extension finalized by the time the regular season starts. 

While a new contract “does not sound imminent” at this time, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, owner Jim Irsay is remaining confident that one will be in place soon. “I see that getting done,” he said when asked about the status of negotiations.

The Colts are eyeing a second contract for the 26-year-old by the end of August, keeping in line with standard club practice on substantial deals signed in recent years. CBS’ Joel Corry aptly calls it a “foregone conclusion” that Nelson will become the league’s highest-paid interior blocker once the deal is done – a title which currently belongs to Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff ($16.5MM per year). The question of whether Nelson will break the $20MM-per-year threshold, as only three left tackles have done, has been raised with talks ongoing.

Irsay added that, “it’s just a question of timing, and moving towards an agreement, like I always say, that favors both sides and is good for both sides. But you know we’ve never had a problem there when you look at the history of our franchise and our outstanding players going into second contracts, whether it’s been Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison or whoever.”

Corry observes that the Colts could be further incentivized to commit to a long-term deal since multiple franchise tags would carry a similar cost to the average of even a record-breaking multi-year extension. As Nelson still played at a Pro Bowl level last season despite dealing with multiple injuries, a major investment in him would still be considered a wise one by the Colts.

On the point of his health, the Notre Dame alum said, “I feel great, no surgeries this offseason. It was just a chance to really work on my body… gaining more range of motion in my joints, more flexibility.”

With Nelson in a good place health-wise and the Colts in better position than most teams with respect to cap space in the immediate future, an extension being finalized may well just be a matter of time at this point.

Daniel Jones Underwent Offseason Neck Surgery

August 18th, 2022 at 2:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Daniel Jones faces plenty of performance-related questions heading into the 2022 campaign, but his health remains a talking point as well. While he is on track to start Week 1 without issue, it was recently revealed that he went under the knife this spring. 

The Giants quarterback underwent a “non-football-related procedure” on his neck, reports Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The surgery was done early in the offseason, Dunleavy adds, and has left Jones with a visible scar at the base of his Adam’s Apple.

The 25-year-old missed the final six contests of the 2021 season due to a neck injury. The fact that this procedure was deemed ‘non-football-related’ points to a separate issue altogether, though it is nevertheless a potentially concerning development given how much is riding on Jones being fully healthy and more productive this year.

To no surprise, the Giants declined Jones’ fifth-year option, leaving the strong possibility that he hits free agency at the end of the 2022 season. A significant improvement from the Duke alum – who has a 12-25 record, career completion percentage of 62.8% and only one more scrimmage touchdown scored (50) than total giveaways (49) – would be needed to avoid the team moving on in advance of a draft considered far better than this year’s with respect to signal-callers.

New York also has veteran Tyrod Taylor available should Jones miss significant time again. Ownership has publicly backed the latter as the unquestioned starter for at least one more year, giving him an opportunity under new head coach Brian Daboll to elevate his play closer to the level which was expected of him when he was drafted sixth overall. From a health standpoint at a minimum, his ability to play the team’s preseason opener without issue is an encouraging sign.

“It was all good” Jones said after the game against the Patriots. “[I] didn’t have any kind of issues at all.”

Buccaneers Do Not Have Firm Tom Brady Return Date

August 18th, 2022 at 12:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

When Todd Bowles announced Tom Brady was making an unusual mid-training camp exit, which took place Aug. 11, the new Buccaneers HC said he and the future Hall of Fame quarterback had discussed this matter prior to camp. That said, a Brady return date remains elusive.

Bowles said Thursday he does not know when exactly the recently unretired passer will return to the Bucs, via Greg Auman of The Athletic (on Twitter). The plan remains for Brady to return after the Bucs’ second preseason game — against the Titans on Saturday — though the timetable being foggy represents a new wrinkle here. Tampa Bay wraps its preseason slate Aug. 27.

“We’ll see. We’ll talk about it next week. I’m not concerned about it right now,” Bowles said of Brady’s status. “We’re trying to practice against Tennessee and play a game. I said sometime after Tennessee. There’s no definitive date for me. We’ll keep in touch and find out.”

Brady, 45, is believed to be attending to personal matters, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). The 23rd-year QB is in his third year in this Tampa Bay offense, which retained its play-caller (OC Byron Leftwich) despite Bruce Arians‘ surprise late-March retirement, and was not ticketed to play in the Bucs’ first two preseason games. The timing of this departure still qualifies this situation as one of the odder camp developments regarding a star player in recent memory. Brady has also not been available for questioning since the Dolphins’ tampering punishment — for speaking to Brady during his time with the Patriots and Bucs — surfaced.

The Bucs’ offseason shifted considerably on two Brady decisions — his February retirement and pre-free agency unretirement — with the team going from potentially retooling to making another run at a Super Bowl. Brady agreed to an offseason restructure as well, helping the Bucs create cap space to add more talent for 2022.

Set to be the oldest starting QB in NFL history, Brady is attached to just a $1.12MM base salary. His two Bucs contracts, however, have fully guaranteed him $75MM. Brady’s void years would begin to hit the Bucs in 2023, which features a $35MM-plus dead-money charge unless the parties agree to another extension before the ’23 league year begins. For now, however, the team remains in a clear contention window — whenever its starting quarterback returns.

NFL, NFLPA Reach Settlement; Browns QB Deshaun Watson Banned 11 Games

August 18th, 2022 at 10:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL and NFLPA moved to decide the Deshaun Watson matter via settlement. After off-and-on talks for months, the league and the union came to an agreement Thursday. Watson will be suspended 11 games and fined $5MM, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports (on Twitter).

Counseling will also be mandatory for the Browns quarterback, per the settlement. Watson said last week he had begun counseling. This agreement, a five-game bump from the original suspension announced by disciplinary officer Sue Robinson, will prevent this saga from spilling into court — long rumored to be the NFLPA’s course of action if a full-season ban came down.

Although Watson will not be permitted to play in games until December, he can return to the Browns’ facility Oct. 10, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The recently traded quarterback can resume practicing Nov. 14.

Settlement talks did not progress too far ahead of Robinson’s initial suspension, but with appeal appointee Peter Harvey expected to bring stronger punishment, the NFLPA became more amenable to negotiating with the league. Prior to Robinson’s ruling, the league was willing to drop its push for a full-season ban. The NFL was open to a 12-game penalty and a fine of at least $8MM. While this suspension and the fine are not quite what the league wanted initially, the NFL’s desire to see Watson sidelined for much of this season will come to fruition.

While Watson’s absence will obviously hinder the Browns’ hopes at a successful 2022 season, this settlement does open the door to his debut being in Houston. The Browns, who have a bye in Week 9, will travel to face the Texans in Week 13. Watson, 26, was with the Texans for five seasons — the last of which as a non-playing member on the 53-man roster.

It remains to be seen if Cleveland will stick with Jacoby Brissett for the duration of Watson’s suspension, as Jimmy Garoppolo connections have increased in recent days. Andrew Berry would not yet confirm Brissett would start Week 1, with Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed noting the third-year GM only expressed confidence in the Watson fill-in (Twitter link).

Unless a Garoppolo trade happens soon, or in the unlikely event Sam Darnold retains his starting Panthers job, Week 1 will feature a Brissett-Baker Mayfield matchup. The Browns will not have Watson for games against the Jets, Falcons, Chargers, Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Buccaneers and initial games against each of their three AFC North rivals.

One of the 24 women who filed civil lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions has not settled her case. Absent a settlement, that matter will be tabled to 2023. Unless more lawsuits come down, this saga is on the homestretch regarding punishment. Two grand juries did not bring charges against Watson, but Robinson ruled he violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy by committing nonviolent sexual assault. Roger Goodell said last week the league found the Browns QB committed multiple violations of the policy, leading to the appeal.

With the CBA giving Goodell power to appeal and ultimately, via Harvey, follow through with a 17-game ban, the league would have been favored to prevail in a court case. It did so against Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott, who served their suspensions — after delays — despite court fights. The Watson drama, due to the volume of accusers and the nature of the alleged misconduct, became one of the highest-profile off-field matters in NFL history. Thus, it is unsurprising to see the league go forward with a settlement that prevents a weeks- or months-long court battle.

In the leadup to this settlement, Watson appeared to show more remorse for the alleged off-field misconduct. A Goodell statement Thursday indicated Watson “committed to doing the hard work on himself that is necessary for his return to the NFL.” The sixth-year QB has never admitted wrongdoing, however, and continued to lean in that direction Thursday, saying (via CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala, on Twitter) “I have always stood on my innocence” and that he “never assaulted or disrespected anyone.”

“I’m looking forward to just moving forward with my career and being able to get back on the field as soon as possible,” Watson said. “That’s the plan, to continue to grow as a person, an individual, and keep moving forward.”

Watson, who missed much of his rookie season due to an ACL tear, will end up missing 28 games in connection with these allegations. The Texans held off on trade talks for much of last year, after Watson had requested to be dealt just before his off-field saga began, and the three-time Pro Bowler’s market cooled once the controversy erupted. Houston deactivated its former starter for all 17 games last season. The Dolphins came closest to trading for Watson in 2021; at that point, the QB was only believed to have waived his no-trade clause to go to Miami. But the now-Mike McDaniel-led Dolphins moved forward with Tua Tagovailoa this year, opening the door to one of the most unusual trade sweepstakes in NFL history.

The Browns, Falcons, Saints and Panthers met with the embattled quarterback this year, and while Carolina was in on Watson the longest, Atlanta was believed to be the passer’s preference. That is, until the Browns came down with their historic five-year, $230MM fully guaranteed contract offer. The Texans traded Watson to the Browns for a package headlined by three first-round picks. Watson’s former employer is now in position to see the quarterback whose off-field actions led to the franchise being sued — producing 30 settlements with Watson accusers — come December 4.

Thursday’s settlement will prevent Watson’s contract from tolling. The NFL also increased the monetary penalty for a quarterback attached to a $1MM 2022 salary — a point of contention among the league and its 31 other teams. Watson will lose the $5MM and a $632K of his 2022 base salary. His 2023-26 salaries — which are in line to produce league-record cap numbers ($54.99MM) — will be unaffected.

Teams Calling Eagles On Jalen Reagor

August 18th, 2022 at 10:07am CST by Sam Robinson

It appears Jalen Reagor is back in trade rumors. After they cropped up during the spring, rumblings of the former first-round pick being moved out of Philadelphia quieted. But teams are again looking into the third-year wide receiver.

Two teams have called Eagles GM Howie Roseman about Reagor in recent days, per InsidetheBirds.com’s Geoff Mosher, who adds one AFC squad has done so along with an NFC team. Roseman backed Reagor in a post-draft statement this year, but the former TCU standout has not yet justified his lofty draft slot (No. 21 overall). That has helped prompt the Eagles to devote significant resources to the receiver position in both the 2021 and ’22 offseasons.

That said, Reagor is believed to be ticketed for the No. 4 receiver role in Philly. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins are ahead of the TCU product, but the Eagles also signed Zach Pascal. While the former Nick Sirianni Colts charge may be behind Reagor at this point, Pascal could surely step in as the Eagles’ top backup wideout. He played that role extensively in Indianapolis, a team that has experienced consistent injuries at the receiver position in recent years.

Given a one-year, $1.5MM deal this offseason, with all of that money being guaranteed, Pascal played under Sirianni from 2018-20 in Indy. The 6-foot-2 pass catcher started 44 games with the Colts over the past four seasons. With T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell battling extensive injury issues during Pascal’s tenure, the Old Dominion alum eclipsed 600 receiving yards in both 2019 and 2020. He was not as productive during the Colts’ Carson Wentz season, catching 38 passes for 384 yards, leading to a modest market.

Reagor, 23, has two years remaining on his rookie contract. That deal could be extended through 2024, but a fifth-year option being exercised seems highly unlikely at this point. The Eagles shifted to a run-oriented attack last season, but they have not been able to count on their highly drafted 5-11 wideout in either of his two campaigns. In 17 games last year, Reagor caught 33 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles would not get back anything close to a first-round pick for Reagor, who was a preference of Roseman and the team’s coaching staff at the time. During the 2020 draft, Eagles scouts are believed to have preferred Justin Jefferson. A different coaching staff, however, is in place now. A Reagor connection would seem to exist in the AFC, with Doug Pederson now guiding the Jaguars. The Eagles have already traded one underperforming wideout/tight end, dealing J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the Seahawks. A similar move may be on the radar.

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