Footballguys #287 - 2/2 - News And Notes From Around The League - Enjoy The Big Game
Volume 20, #287 -- Saturday Night, February 2nd, 2019
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Howdy Folks,
It's here! Enjoy the Big Game and I hope all the bounces go your way.
J
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. OAK - Oakland an option for QB Nick Foles?
2. PHI - QB Nick Foles' option likely to be exercised
3. PIT - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey could return
4. PIT - Pittsburgh may look at ILB C.J. Mosley
5. NYG - Dwayne Haskins interested in joining NYG
7. PIT - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster dangerous after catch
8. LAR - Smooth rehab for WR Cooper Kupp
9. NYJ - QB Sam Darnold ready for Adam Gase
1. OAK - Oakland an option for QB Nick Foles?
Source: 94WIP Radio - Eliot Shorr-Parks
Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles might be traded this offseason, and the Oakland Raiders are a potential fit, in the opinion of 94WIP Radio's Elliott Shorr-Parks. New general manager Mike Mayock has already said Nick Foles is a franchise quarterback, although Derek Carr is in the midst of a five-year, $125 million contract.
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This would only work if the Raiders can trade Carr. The Raiders are smart to give off signals that they are open to another quarterback because they are in a prime trade up spot at #4 if a team wants to leapfrog the Giants and Jaguars at 6 and 7 to get their pick of the crop and also prevent the Raiders from taking their guy.
2. PHI - QB Nick Foles' option likely to be exercised
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles' $20 million option for 2019 is expected to be picked up by the Eagles this offseason, according to sources.
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Foles can still buy his way into free agency for two million, but then the Eagles can tag him, while knowing that they can't fit his nearly 25 million dollar salary on the tag under the cap. The chess game with Eagles and the rest of the league is just getting started.
3. PIT - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey could return
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent WR Darrius Heyward-Bey could re-sign with the Steelers this offseason, in the opinion of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette.
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Heyward-Bey was drafted way back in 2009 at #7 as one of the last signature Al Davis picks and ended up sticking around the league on the strength of his special teams play. He'll have a better chance of making the team if Antonio Brown is traded.
4. PIT - Pittsburgh may look at ILB C.J. Mosley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Ed Bouchette
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent LB C.J. Mosley could receive some interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers if he hits the free-agent market, but the Steelers may not be able to afford him, in the opinion of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette.
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Mosley could set the market for inside linebacker pay, and the Steelers are rarely the team that breaks the bank in free agency. The Ravens shouldn't let Mosley get to free agency anyway. The Steelers are also poised to get a blue chip ILB at #20 in a strong class.
5. NYG - Dwayne Haskins interested in joining NYG
Source: New York Post - Paul Schwartz
Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins said he would love it if the New York Giants selected him in the 2019 NFL Draft because he was a fan of the team growing up.
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#6 to the Giants is about as high as Haskins could go unless he dazzles in the pre-draft process and gets Oakland to bite or induces a trade up ahead of the Giants. Dave Gettleman might not be sold on Haskins as being worth the pick with premium offensive and defensive linemen on the board.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach Jacob Burney has retired from the National Football League after his contract with the team expired Friday, Feb. 1.
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Burney has been a coach for over 35 years. The defensive line wasn't the problem for the Bengals defense in recent years and Burney did a good job developing their draft picks at the position. They could choose to promote assistant Matt Raich, although likely new head coach Zac Taylor could also look outside of the organization for the hire.
7. PIT - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster dangerous after catch
Source: ESPN.com
Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster's 617 yards after catch were the sixth most in the NFL in 2018, and he was the only wide receiver ranked in the top 10 in the category.
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Smith-Schuster has been better than expected in each of his first two years and will cost a second round pick in 2019 drafts, and his ADP could go up if Antonio Brown is traded. He still has a lot of room to grow at 22.
8. LAR - Smooth rehab for WR Cooper Kupp
Source: Los Angeles Times - Sam Farmer
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp (knee) said he has not experienced any setbacks as he rehabs from knee surgery.
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Kupp is only going the fifth or sixth round of early drafts even though he was providing value around the third round level before his ACL tear. This news makes him seem like a value at his early ADP.
9. NYJ - QB Sam Darnold ready for Adam Gase
Source: Newsday - Al Iannazzone
New York Jets QB Sam Darnold said he is 'excited' to work with head coach Adam Gase and believes Gase can make him a better quarterback. 'I think he's going to help me with everything, mechanics, but mainly how to play the position in the NFL,' Darnold said.
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Gase has a reputation as a quarterback whisperer but didn't really done much to earn it during his time in Miami. Darnold might be a good enough prospect that any coach that works with him will look good.
10. CLE - Dontrell Hilliard could have role
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com - Andrew Gribble
Cleveland Browns RB Dontrell Hilliard could be a part of head coach Freddie Kitchens' three-back sets next season, according to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com.
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Hilliard has some receiving skills and should make the team again but this is an offense that can't find enough snaps for Duke Johnson. We should still keep Hilliard on our deep dynasty radar.
11. CLE - Derrick Willies on the mend
Source: ClevelandBrowns.com - Andrew Gribble
Cleveland Browns WR Derrick Willies (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of OTAs.
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Willies will have a hard road to make the roster if the team brings back Rashard Higgins and Breshad Perriman. He did end up on the 53 as an undrafted free agent and made a big play in an overtime win over Baltimore. He might make another team if he can't make the Browns roster.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Enjoy the Big Game!
J