Around the NFL Thread

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

LEONARD FOURNETTE
RB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

MMQB's Albert Breer reports the Seahawks have made a "strong bid" for Leonard Fournette.

The Patriots, Breer added, are also interested in signing Lombardi Lenny. Breer said Tom Brady is recruiting Fournette to return to Tampa after Fournette emerged as the team's primary ball carrier down the stretch of the 2020 season. Fournette's impressive postseason was always going to attract running back-needy teams, and with the departure of Chris Carson, Seattle fits that description. Ronald Jones, who was the Bucs No. 1 back before injuries hampered him late in the season, would be the clear beneficiary of Fournette leaving town. Fournette would instantly jump ahead of Travis Homer, Rashaad Penny, and DeeJay Dallas if he were to sign with the Seahawks. In Seattle's run heavy offense, Fournette would have volume-based upside.
SOURCE: Albert Breer on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 8:23 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Man all the drama with Rothlisberger, lowering his cap number and the Steelers let him walk? Maybe because of the injury?

It's probably because Dupree isn't that good. He has pretty good sack numbers, but he's only okay. Not worth the money he's getting. PFF had him just a few points higher than Ebukam last year (60.2 vs. 56.9), and Ebukam almost certainly had a higher pressure rate this past season. Dupree has been helped immensely by arguably being the fourth-best player on that OL. Granted you could say the same thing about Ebukam, he's just costing about 1/3 as much on a shorter-term deal.

I disagree. Dupree is a good player, albeit not a great one. Still I agree with the point that you’re making in terms of him being overpaid. What are the figures on his deal, I didn’t see any posted anywhere.

Hey Crims, never mind I found it:


BUD DUPREE
LB, TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans signed LB Bud Dupree, formerly of the Steelers, to a multi-year contract.

The deal is still being finalized, but Dupree will reportedly receive $16.5 million annually as one of the highest-paid pass rushers among this year's class. The 28-year-old played under the franchise tag for the Steelers in 2020 before tearing his ACL late in the season but that clearly didn't blemish his market. He should immediately improve a poor Titans pass rush that finished 31st in pressure rate (17.6%) and 30th in sacks (19) last year.
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Mar 15, 2021, 8:36 PM ET

[wco81]

HUNTER HENRY
TE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Patriots signed TE Hunter Henry, formerly of the Chargers, to a three-year, $37.5 million contract.

Henry's deal includes $25 million guaranteed. The Patriots have now landed both of free agency's top tight ends in Henry and Jonnu Smith, who on Monday signed a four-year, $50 million deal with New England ($31.25 million guaranteed). There will be loose talk of the Patriots trying to revive the team's Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez offense from years ago. There is a slight difference, however, between career prime Tom Brady and late-career Cam Newton. Barring a total overhaul of New England's run-heavy, Cam-led offense, the Henry signing all but ensures neither tight end will be a startable fantasy option in 12-team leagues this season. Henry departing LA leaves Donald Parham -- he of much fantasy football intrigue -- as the favorite to start at tight end in Justin Herbert's offense.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 10:03 AM ET

Wow, Pats really trying to re-create the Bronk/Gonzalez duo.

Who needs WRs with two TEs running down the seams and going for deep corner patterns?

[CrimsonCrew]

It's probably because Dupree isn't that good. He has pretty good sack numbers, but he's only okay. Not worth the money he's getting. PFF had him just a few points higher than Ebukam last year (60.2 vs. 56.9), and Ebukam almost certainly had a higher pressure rate this past season. Dupree has been helped immensely by arguably being the fourth-best player on that OL. Granted you could say the same thing about Ebukam, he's just costing about 1/3 as much on a shorter-term deal.

I disagree. Dupree is a good player, albeit not a great one. Still I agree with the point that you’re making in terms of him being overpaid. What are the figures on his deal, I didn’t see any posted anywhere.

Hey Crims, never mind I found it:


BUD DUPREE
LB, TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans signed LB Bud Dupree, formerly of the Steelers, to a multi-year contract.

The deal is still being finalized, but Dupree will reportedly receive $16.5 million annually as one of the highest-paid pass rushers among this year's class. The 28-year-old played under the franchise tag for the Steelers in 2020 before tearing his ACL late in the season but that clearly didn't blemish his market. He should immediately improve a poor Titans pass rush that finished 31st in pressure rate (17.6%) and 30th in sacks (19) last year.
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Mar 15, 2021, 8:36 PM ET

I didn't realize he tore his ACL late in the season. All the more reason not to bring him back.

I should clarify. I don't think Dupree is comparable to Ebukam. Although both are coming off down years to an extent, Dupree has hit a higher ceiling in the past, and I would expect him to be the better player. But Dupree also hasn't been great in a very pass-rush-friendly system. His sacks have tended to be effort/clean-up sacks more than generating individual pressure. When I say he's not that good, I mean relative to the contract he's getting. Especially if he's coming off a serious injury. But maybe I'm just gun shy about that because our medical staff seems to be comprised of a bunch of morons.

[CrimsonCrew]

HUNTER HENRY
TE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Patriots signed TE Hunter Henry, formerly of the Chargers, to a three-year, $37.5 million contract.

Henry's deal includes $25 million guaranteed. The Patriots have now landed both of free agency's top tight ends in Henry and Jonnu Smith, who on Monday signed a four-year, $50 million deal with New England ($31.25 million guaranteed). There will be loose talk of the Patriots trying to revive the team's Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez offense from years ago. There is a slight difference, however, between career prime Tom Brady and late-career Cam Newton. Barring a total overhaul of New England's run-heavy, Cam-led offense, the Henry signing all but ensures neither tight end will be a startable fantasy option in 12-team leagues this season. Henry departing LA leaves Donald Parham -- he of much fantasy football intrigue -- as the favorite to start at tight end in Justin Herbert's offense.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 10:03 AM ET

Wow, Pats really trying to re-create the Bronk/Gonzalez duo.

Who needs WRs with two TEs running down the seams and going for deep corner patterns?

Honestly, there's something to be said for that. Both those guys are nasty in the red zone, too.

WRs have a lot of value, but it's also one of the easiest positions to find talent at (unless you're Bill Belichick, apparently). Adding upper-tier TEs may be a savvy move.

[CrimsonCrew]

Giants sign Leonard Williams for three years, $63 million??? $45 million guaranteed? Am I reading that right? $21 million/year for an interior DL? Especially one who is good but not elite? That's utterly insane.

[GS Warriors 1]

Run of "battle" and backup QB's:

Andy Dalton to the Bears - 1/10M, 3M incentives
Tyrod Taylor to the Texans - 1/6M, 6M incentives
Jacoby Brissett to the Dolphins - terms TBD

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Giants sign Leonard Williams for three years, $63 million??? $45 million guaranteed? Am I reading that right? $21 million/year for an interior DL? Especially one who is good but not elite? That's utterly insane.

LEONARD WILLIAMS
DL, NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants signed DL Leonard Williams to a three-year, $63 million contract.

The deal includes $45 million guaranteed. It solves a major cap headache for the Giants, as Williams had been counting $19.4 million against 2021's declining number. That number could have jumped even more had Williams won his positional grievance, arguing he should be considered a defensive end instead of defensive tackle. Coming off a career high 11.5-sack campaign, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2015 Draft has indeed come on as one of the league's best lineman at the age of 27 (in June). GM Dave Gettleman has gotten himself into roster-building trouble with Williams at times, but he's a legit blue-chip player.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 3:29 PM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Darn it. I really wanted us to sign him instead of the stupid Giants:


JOHN ROSS
WR, NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants signed WR John Ross, formerly of the Bengals, to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

The deal includes $1 million guaranteed. Cincinnati's former No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 draft, 25-year-old Ross flamed out in his final year with the Bengals, getting benched in Week 2 for a costly drop and eventually discussed as a converted cornerback before suffering a season-ending foot injury mid-year. Ross has always been coveted for his 4.22 40-speed but has never put it all together on the field. That's not expected to change under OC Jason Garrett in New York.
SOURCE: Mike Garafolo on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 3:31 PM ET

[CrimsonCrew]

Darn it. I really wanted us to sign him instead of the stupid Giants:


JOHN ROSS
WR, NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants signed WR John Ross, formerly of the Bengals, to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

The deal includes $1 million guaranteed. Cincinnati's former No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 draft, 25-year-old Ross flamed out in his final year with the Bengals, getting benched in Week 2 for a costly drop and eventually discussed as a converted cornerback before suffering a season-ending foot injury mid-year. Ross has always been coveted for his 4.22 40-speed but has never put it all together on the field. That's not expected to change under OC Jason Garrett in New York.
SOURCE: Mike Garafolo on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 3:31 PM ET

Meh. He's a deep threat, and our starting QB can't throw deep. Maybe if Rosen becomes the starter at some point. With Garoppolo, it would be a waste.

[thesack12]

Ahkello Witherspoon signs with Seattle for 1 year.

I'm not sad to see Spoon go, but not thrilled he went to Seattle. He has the tools to be really good, especially coverage skills. His ball skills have always left a lot to be desired however. Hopefully, he's not another ex 9er to move on and thrive in Seattle.

[tres]

Ahkello is trash, just being honest. If that’s Seattle’s staring CB then I feel... Hol up wait a minute I don’t feel bad for them

[wco81]

HUNTER HENRY
TE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Patriots signed TE Hunter Henry, formerly of the Chargers, to a three-year, $37.5 million contract.

Henry's deal includes $25 million guaranteed. The Patriots have now landed both of free agency's top tight ends in Henry and Jonnu Smith, who on Monday signed a four-year, $50 million deal with New England ($31.25 million guaranteed). There will be loose talk of the Patriots trying to revive the team's Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez offense from years ago. There is a slight difference, however, between career prime Tom Brady and late-career Cam Newton. Barring a total overhaul of New England's run-heavy, Cam-led offense, the Henry signing all but ensures neither tight end will be a startable fantasy option in 12-team leagues this season. Henry departing LA leaves Donald Parham -- he of much fantasy football intrigue -- as the favorite to start at tight end in Justin Herbert's offense.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 16, 2021, 10:03 AM ET

Wow, Pats really trying to re-create the Bronk/Gonzalez duo.

Who needs WRs with two TEs running down the seams and going for deep corner patterns?

Honestly, there's something to be said for that. Both those guys are nasty in the red zone, too.

WRs have a lot of value, but it's also one of the easiest positions to find talent at (unless you're Bill Belichick, apparently). Adding upper-tier TEs may be a savvy move.

Well Bellichek overpaid for Bourne and Nelson Aguilar from the Raiders too.

Not as much as those TEs though.

[wco81]

Run of "battle" and backup QB's:

Andy Dalton to the Bears - 1/10M, 3M incentives
Tyrod Taylor to the Texans - 1/6M, 6M incentives
Jacoby Brissett to the Dolphins - terms TBD

Ross Tucker mentioned that the 49ers were sniffing around Dalton too.

[GS Warriors 1]

Maybe at a backup price (4-5M), but not what the Bears gave him, which indicates he'll be in a battle vs Nick Foles.

[thesack12]

Maybe at a backup price (4-5M), but not what the Bears gave him, which indicates he'll be in a battle vs Nick Foles.

Yeah, Dalton at 4-5 mil would have been a good pickup if they were going to hand the keys to a rookie QB like Wilson. I wouldn't have wanted Andy in any other capacity, especially at the price Chicago gave him.

[CrimsonCrew]

Ahkello is trash, just being honest. If that’s Seattle’s staring CB then I feel... Hol up wait a minute I don’t feel bad for them

Mixed feelings on this one. If there's one position where I wouldn't question Carroll, it's CB. And just like us and Ebukam, the Hawks should be intimately familiar with Witherspoon. Witherspoon is one of those guys with all the physical tools, but he lives in his head and has been extremely inconsistent. As noted above, arguably his biggest issue is playing the ball in the air. If he can clean up that aspect of his game - and it's a HUGE if; that's one of those things that guys kind of have or don't and it can be difficult to improve upon - he could be a very good corner. Let's hope it's not another DJ Reed situation. Still pissed about that one, and another indictment on our medical staff that we let that dude walk and he shortly thereafter developed into a good starting-caliber player.

[GS Warriors 1]

Couple of WR moves: John Brown to the Raiders, A.J. Green to the Cardinals

[CrimsonCrew]

Green is an interesting one. He hasn't really even been trying the past few years, when healthy. But he could be a pretty effective piece if he can still physically perform. As he went to the Cards, hopefully he can't.

[GS Warriors 1]

Raiders trade C Rodney Hudson and 7th round pick to the Cardinals for 3rd round pick, per Adam Schefter.