NFL Off Season News /Rumors And Discussion

[NewYorkKnight]

The Denver Post's Troy Renck still expects C.J. Anderson to be the lead back.

Denver re-signed Ronnie Hillman and spent a fourth-round pick on Devontae Booker, but Renck still expects Anderson "to receive the bulk of the carries." Not everyone agrees with that opinion, however. ESPN's Jeff Legwold has said on multiple occasions he expects Booker to push for carries, although it is possible those come at the expense of Hillman. Anderson has a ton of upside, but his usage remains a big concern.

 

[TheComputerGroup]

Is it September yet? I'm ready for football!

 

[NewYorkKnight]

September / football can't get here soon enough !

 

[thekeyman]

September / football can't get here soon enough !

i'll second that

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Eagles signed No. 2 overall pick QB Carson Wentz to a four-year, $26.7 million contract.

That includes a $17.6 million signing bonus. As is the case with all first-rounders, the deal comes with a fifth-year team option for 2020. According to Profootballtalk, the deal features offset language, something Wentz apparently agreed to before the Eagles made their blockbuster trade with the Browns. Offset language, of course, will only come into play if Wentz is a bust and cut before the end of his rookie contract. The Eagles will likely commit to "redshirting" Wentz as a rookie, but just ask the Jags how that worked out with Blake Bortles. It's a matter of when, not if, Wentz makes 2016 starts.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Vikings signed No. 23 overall pick WR Laquon Treadwell to a four-year contract.

As you already know, the deal includes a fifth-year team option for 2020. Arguably the top receiver prospect in the draft, Treadwell is still over a month shy of his 21st birthday. Treadwell has just 4.64 speed, but is adept at the finer points of receiving, and is a beast after the catch. Minnesota wasn't the best landing spot from a fantasy perspective, but Treadwell is a no-brainer top-five pick in Dynasty leagues, and will be on the WR3/4 radar in re-draft formats.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins have "internally discussed" free agent CBs Leon Hall and Antonio Cromartie.

The Dolphins have one of the league's sorriest cornerback corps even after using the No. 38 overall pick on Xavien Howard. There's a strong possibility Howard is too raw to start opposite Byron Maxwell as a rookie. Hall is a far more effective player than Cromartie at this stage in their respective careers, but is recovering from back surgery. If he can get healthy, he'd be a no-brainer addition for the 'Fins. Hall would man the slot in South Beach.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman considers the Chargers a viable backup plan if the Raiders opt not to move to Nevada.

"To me, yes," Goodman said when asked if the Chargers were a possibility. "I know they're absolutely looking to move." It's not exactly a concrete declaration. Goodman seems to be reading the tea leaves more than relaying information based on actual talks. Aside from Goodman, there's been nothing connecting the Bolts to Sin City.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jaguars signed No. 36 overall pick LB Myles Jack to a four-year, $6.3 million contract.

The Jags have now signed four of their seven draft picks. Jack fell out of the first round because of concerns about his surgically-repaired knee but he was healthy enough to take reps at rookie minicamp earlier this month. He won't be able to resume practicing with the team until UCLA's school year ends in early June.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Dorial Green-Beckham is working his way back from a hamstring injury.

It's unclear when or how long he's been dealing with the injury. Green-Beckham seems to be okay but it could take him a couple weeks to get back to full speed. "He has some work to do," said coach Mike Mularkey. DGB missed most of OTAs with a similar injury last season. Despite an inconsistent rookie year, the 23-year-old should start opposite Rishard Matthews in 2016.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

9 News Denver's Mike Klis suggested free agent RB Knowshon Moreno's (knee) career is all but over.

Moreno does not turn 29 until July, but Klis said he mentally is "80 percent done" with football after taking off last season to rehab an ACL tear. Despite his age, Moreno's knees were a concern long before the ACL injury, with Klis reporting they were "virtually bone on bone" while playing for the Broncos in 2013. The condition of his knees explains why he received very little free agent interest after leaving Denver and why he appears content to end his NFL career. Klis does say Moreno is "staying in great shape just in case," but it is likely he has played his last snap.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

49ers RB/ST Jarryd Hayne announced his retirement from football.

His plan is to train for the Olympics in rugby. "We fully support Jarryd’s decision to pursue another dream - representing the Fiji Rugby Sevens team in this summer’s Olympic games," GM Trent Baalke said in a statement. "We look forward to watching him in Rio and wish him continued success." Previously a pro rugby player, 28-year-old Hayne spent one season with the 49ers, appearing in eight games and rushing 17 times for 52 yards. He also returned eight punts for 76 yards.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Chargers coach Mike McCoy said he will not "hesitate" to play second-round TE Hunter Henry this season.

"He’s going to be one of those guys that will get in there early and start playing," McCoy said. "He’s going to make some mistakes ... but as you saw in practice, he’s a very talented player." Rookie tight ends rarely make an impact, but the Chargers will give Henry every chance to carve out a role behind Antonio Gates, who turns 36 in June. Even so, it is unlikely Henry becomes a consistent fantasy contributor without an injury to Gates.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The Boston Herald reports Danny Amendola is recovering from knee and ankle surgeries that could "impact the start of his 2016 season."

Amendola underwent surgery on the left knee that bothered him in 2015, and had a bone spur removed from his ankle. The knee operation is the bigger concern. Per reporter Jeff Howe, both operations occurred "early this offseason." Howe reports there is "hope" Amendola is ready for training camp, but "no guarantee" he'll be back by Week 1. The Pats can't be that worried, as they retained Amendola's roster spot after he agreed to a pay cut. Amendola plays an extremely hard-nose style of football that leads to numerous injuries. Even though he'll likely have some big games in 2016, he can't be counted on as a fantasy draft pick this summer.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Sammy Watkins "should be ready for training camp" despite recovering from a fractured foot.

RapSheet reports Watkins' injury is a "small" broken bone in the foot, and he needed a "screw inserted." While Rapoport's report is positive, we've seen many wide receivers fail to regain form following significant foot injuries, including enduring setbacks after they returned. Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, DeVante Parker, and Marvin Jones all struggled to varying degrees. The Bills may want to consider giving free agent Anquan Boldin a call.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Bills first-round pick Shaq Lawson (shoulder) is expected to miss 5-6 months.

It's been a tough day at One Bills Drive, where the team also lost Sammy Watkins (foot) until training camp at the soonest. Lawson will undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday. His 5-6 month timetable means Lawson will return in mid-October at the earliest, and mid-November if he needs the full six months. The 19th overall pick in the draft, Lawson is a prime candidate for reserve/PUP, which would cost him the first six games of the season.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Bills are targeting Week 1 for Sammy Watkins' return from foot surgery.

We're marking him "questionable for Week 1" on our injury page. Whereas NFL Network reported Watkins "should be ready for training camp," Bills beat writers have stated that is only the team's "hope," and Schefter's report all but rules out Watkins returning that quickly. It sounds like Watkins will practice minimally if he does return late in camp, and he probably won't play a single preseason snap. A borderline second-round fantasy pick before surgery, Watkins is now shaping up as an especially high-risk fourth- or fifth-round choice.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Bucs OC Dirk Koetter suggested Austin Seferian-Jenkins is in a fight to win a starting job over Cameron Brate.

A former UDFA out of Harvard, Brate posted a 23-288-3 receiving line in 14 games last season. Seferian-Jenkins has struggled to stay healthy, missing seven games as a 2014 rookie and nine more last year. "Jameis (Winston) and Cam(eron Brate), they really connected last year," Koetter said. "They had a real good feel for each other in the red zone and on seam routes and just all over the field really. And Cam, well, he really made the most of his opportunities." The job will belong to Seferian-Jenkins if he stays healthy. The Bucs cut Brate four days after Week 1 last season, only to re-sign him after ASJ went down. Still, this could be a make-or-break year for Seferian-Jenkins in Tampa.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss reports Danny Amendola's knee and ankle injuries are considered "minor" and are not "long-term" issues.

Amendola had surgery on his troublesome left knee and underwent a procedure to remove a bone spur from his ankle "early this offseason." He originally injured the knee in November, but he was able to play through it the rest of the season. Reiss reports Amendola is already "moving well" and is "on a positive track." It sounds like he has a good shot to be ready for training camp, but he could be eased into action.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Bengals signed FS Shawn Williams to a four-year extension through 2020.

A third-round pick in 2013, Williams has only started four games in three seasons, but his presence was a big factor in the decision to let Reggie Nelson walk. Williams is expected to open the season as the starter at free safety, and a big year likely would have earned him a hefty payday next spring. Cincinnati's decision to lock him up now could look like a savvy move this time next year.