Around the NFL Thread

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

HA HA CLINTON-DIX
DB, DALLAS COWBOYS

Cowboys agreed to terms with S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, formerly of the Bears.

The move comes two days after Jeff Heath departed for Las Vegas. Clinton-Dix had another low-key good season in 2019 and should immediately slide in as a starter for Mike Nolan's defense. Headed into what will be his age-28 campaign, Clinton-Dix has never missed a game with injury in his six-year career.
SOURCE: Calvin Watkins on Twitter

Mar 20, 2020, 12:38 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sign Gurley for minimum deal?

McKinnon had his best season in his last season at Minnesota, getting 51 receptions on 68 targets./

Gurley has had two seasons with higher production in the passing game.

Gurley ain't signing a minimum deal, unless it's just to spite the Rams - though I'm guessing he was in a strong enough bargaining position that there aren't offsets in his contract anyway. He's not worth $17 million a year, but he's easily worth $8 million or more to another team. He's still a very good player, it's just hard to maintain transcendent play at the RB position.

TODD GURLEY
RB, ATLANTA FALCONS

Falcons signed Todd Gurley, formerly of the Rams, to a one-year, $5 million contract.

The deal is contingent on the 25-year-old eventually passing his physical with the team. The Falcons were in the mix for Gurley before the Rams outright released him, so it's no surprise he ends up back in Georgia where he played collegiate ball. From a sheer volume standpoint, the former Offensive Player of the Year could not have asked for a better situation as Devonta Freeman's release vacated 184 carries with negligible surrounding competition for Gurley to hit the ground running. The Falcons are still expected to add a running back in April's draft.
SOURCE: Atlanta Falcons on Twitter

Mar 20, 2020, 8:39 AM ET

[Bald Bull]

Read on Twitter

[Bald Bull]

49er legend

Read on Twitter

[CrimsonCrew]

Travis Fredrick retires at 29. That hurts.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28944264/cowboys-center-travis-frederick-announces-retirement-age-29

[CrimsonCrew]

Gil Brandt has been fading for years, but he may finally have passed the point of no return after an impressive career. Here, he re-drafts the 2012 draft...with some very odd choices.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001107673/article/2012-nfl-draft-doover-colts-take-luck-foles-saves-browns

Where to even start with this? I can't decide what the most absurd pick is. Going in order, you can defend Luck over Wilson, but his argument is an odd one as the Hawks have had one of the worst OLs in football for years, and with the exception of a single season, Wilson has been (and obviously will be) better than Luck. But that's one of his better picks.

Foles at 3? I mean, sure, Foles won a SB, but he's not a good QB. And he goes way ahead of Cousins (13), who inexplicably falls behind Tannehill and his one good half-season. Riley Reiff goes fourth? Dude is pretty solid at an important position, but he's never even made a pro bowl. Stephon Gilmore, reigning defensive player of the year at the most important defensive position (and analytics would probably say the most important position outside of QB), falls to sixth behind TY Hilton. Luke Kuechly at 9th is almost as perverse as Bobby Wagner at 19 (WHAAAAAA???). In fact, in this re-draft, the Hawks still take Bruce Irvin over Wagner, and with Chandler Jones sitting on the board. Poe and Brockers over Chandler, too. I suppose pass rush is pretty overrated compared to top-notch run-stopping, though. WTF? Just bad.

[wco81]

Cowboys sign Aldon Smith to a 1-year deal.

I believe NFL would still have to reinstate him.

He hasn’t played since 2015!

He’s 30 now.

Oh and get this, Tomsula is the DL coach in Dallas.

Too bad they don’t have Justin Smith to play next to him.

[GS Warriors 1]

Houston Texans trade 2nd round pick (#57) to the LA Rams for WR Brandin Cooks and 2022 4th round pick.

Cooks had his 5th concussion in his NFL career last season, the Rams were kinda known to put him on the market after Gurley release, and Houston gives up that? Massive dead money cap hit for the Rams (21.8M) but they seemed to really want to get out of that contract and they have to be happy with the return of a top 60 pick.

[wco81]

Yeah interesting they blew out their cap on big contracts and have gotten rid of Gurley and Cooks deal.

Of course they keep Donald but also Goff.

They really need to rebuild their OL.

[CrimsonCrew]

It kills me that it's our division rivals who keep picking the Texans' pockets. Can we get in on some of that? A third for Goodwin, maybe? They seem to only covet speed among their WRs.

[Bald Bull]

Tavararis Jackson was killed in a car crash.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/national-football-league/tarvaris-jackson-death-car-crash-seahawks-vikings-buffalo-bills-nfl-age-cause-a9462606.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1586785931

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

1z said that he was going to be a bust in the league:

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY
RB, CAROLINA PANTHERS

Panthers signed RB Christian McCaffrey to a four-year contract extension through 2025.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $16 million per year, making McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in NFL history. It was an inauspicious time for CMC's contract to come due after a recent spate of running back deal mega-busts, but McCaffrey is no ordinary runner, and he is still two months shy of his 24th birthday. He has also never missed a game with injury. That combination of youth, durability and unique skill-set always made McCaffrey more likely to get paid than most. It is surprising the deal was finalized at this moment in time, but the Panthers clearly wanted to make a commitment to their offensive engine as they embark on a reset. McCaffrey is coming off a campaign where he became just the third player in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He has averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 8.3 yards per reception for his career. Especially considering the absurd amount of passes he catches for a running back, that second number is extra impressive. Even with Cam Newton out and Teddy Bridgewater in, CMC has the strongest claim to No. 1 overall status in 2020.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Apr 13, 2020, 4:05 PM ET

[wco81]

That's far more money that Gurley got right?

So how likely is he to get all 4 years of that deal?

He could put up big numbers but they didn't make the Panthers a winning team.

If they get a #1 WR, a guy who will get 100 catches a year and double-digit TDs, a high-salary RB will be a luxury.

[Dodub]

That's far more money that Gurley got right?

So how likely is he to get all 4 years of that deal?

He could put up big numbers but they didn't make the Panthers a winning team.

If they get a #1 WR, a guy who will get 100 catches a year and double-digit TDs, a high-salary RB will be a luxury.

Right now he’s literally their entire offense. They don’t really have a big superstar on defense either unless im forgetting someone. They need to draft a superstar with their first pick, a WR with their second and tank for Lawrence.

[CrimsonCrew]

I'm firmly opposed to spending big at the RB position, but if you are going to do it, he's the sort of player you would want to do it for as he's basically two starting players in one. They've got solid young WRs, too, with DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel.

[wco81]

My guess is if they become contenders and have to pay big contracts to WR, edge rusher, QB, then they will ask him to restructure.

Or just cut or trade him before the 3rd or 4th year of the deal.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

TRENT WILLIAMS
T, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

ESPN's Josina Anderson reports acquiring LT Trent Williams is "still on the table" for the Browns.

"Nothing is imminent or super close right now," Anderson adds, but the Browns are continuing to monitor the situation. All but certain to be selecting their successor at left tackle with the No. 10 overall pick, it makes sense for Browns GM Andrew Berry to simply forego that development process altogether and instead opt to bring in a sure-thing to shore up Baker Mayfield's blindside. Of course, that would also entail coming to terms on a new deal worth upwards of $18 million-plus annually for the 31-year-old stud. The Vikings, currently set to select at No. 22 and No. 25 in the first round of Thursday's draft, are also reportedly inquiring on what it would take to land Williams.
SOURCE: Josina Anderson on Twitter

Apr 21, 2020, 9:24 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

MALIK HOOKER
DB, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Former NFL executive Michael Lombardi reports Colts S Malik Hooker is available ahead of the NFL draft.

Lombardi also cites Raiders DT P.J. Hall, Eagles CB Rasul Douglas, and Bears TE Adam Shaheen as known players on the trading block ahead of Thursday's draft. Hooker has struggled to stay healthy in his career, missing 14 of a possible 48 games since joining the Colts as the No. 15 overall pick in 2017, but remains a true game changer when available. As it stands, Indianapolis currently doesn't have a Day 1 pick in the 2020 draft.
SOURCE: Michael Lombardi on Twitter

Apr 21, 2020, 9:34 AM ET

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

ROB GRONKOWSKI
TE, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Bucs acquired TE Rob Gronkowski from the Patriots in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

The Pats are also sending a seventh-rounder Tampa Bay's way. FOX's Jay Glazer reports the soon-to-be 31-year-old has already taken a physical. We learned of Gronk's official desire to return less than an hour ago, but the longtime Pat had never closed the door on returning. After a decade of injuries in New England, Gronk looked many steps slower in 2018, but he still managed a 47/682/3 line in 13 games before going 12/166 across the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. His 15.1 yards per reception led all active tight ends. The ultimate security blanket for Tom Brady, Gronk should be refreshed after his year off. Even if O.J. Howard isn't traded, Gronk will be in the TE1 mix, though he will not ascend to his usual heights with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin around to gobble up targets.
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Apr 21, 2020, 4:25 PM ET

[GS Warriors 1]

Gotta think Howard is getting moved, just didn't seem to gel with Arians.