NFC North watch: Bears decline 5th-year option on Mitchell Trubisky

The Chicago Bears have opted to not exercise the fifth-year option on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s contract. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft will become a free agent after the upcoming season as a result.

Trubisky has had an up-and-down career in Chicago since arriving with considerable fanfare in 2017. In his three seasons as the starting QB, the 25-year-old has earned one Pro Bowl berth and produced a 23-18 overall record as a starter. Yet his inaccuracy and questionable decisions have led the Bears to bring in high-priced Nick Foles to challenge Trubisky for the starting spot in 2020.

Trubisky has found success against the Lions. He’s led the Bears to a 3-2 record against Detroit, completing over 70 percent of his passes and throwing 11 TDs against four INTs. Despite inferior statistics, Trubisky also won four of his six starts against the Minnesota Vikings.

He is one of several disappointing outcomes in the top five of the 2017 NFL Draft. After the Browns picked Pro Bowler Myles Garrett with the No. 1 pick, the next four selections have all had their teams bail on the fifth-year option. Trubisky, 49ers DL Solomon Thomas, Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette and Titans WR Corey Davis will all be auditioning in 2020 to play elsewhere in 2021.

The Lions announced on Saturday they will not exercise the option on their own 2017 first-rounder, LB Jarrad Davis.

Fifth-year options for NFL Draft class of 2017

Many decisions have been made about fifth-year options for the 2017 NFL Draft first-rounder. Some remain with the deadline May 4.

Busy time for NFL teams and the players they chose in the first round of the 2017 draft. Rookie contracts for NFL draftees are four years long. Contracts for players picked in the first round, however, carry a team option for a fifth year and if a team wishes to use it, the option must be exercised by May 4.

32. Ryan Ramczyk

The Saints picked up the option on offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk in March. Ramczyk, taken from Wisconsin, has earned recognition on the All-Pro list in both 2018 (on the second team) and 2019 (on the first team).

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Jaguars declining Leonard Fournette’s fifth-year option

Add the Jags to the list of teams who will be declining the fifth-year option for their 2017 first-round draft pick, Leonard Fournette.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will not be picking up the fifth-year option of running back Leonard Fournette, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Jaguars are not picking up the fifth-year option of former first-round pick Leonard Fournette, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 1, 2020

The Jags’ choice comes as no surprise as their relationship with Fournette has been up and down since drafting him in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Just last month, Schefter revealed that the Jags entered the draft open to trading him, however, nothing materialized though the Tampa Bay Bucs and Miami Dolphins contacted them.

Before 2020, Fournette had issues with seeing eye-to-eye with former team executive Tom Coughlin and the front office. His issues with the organization resulted in him being sidelined and fined at different points of his career. He also dealt with a suspension from the league for brawling with Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Shaq Lawson.

With the Jags declining the contract option, Fournette is due to make $4.17 million in 2020 and will count $8.64 million against the team’s salary cap. It appears those paychecks will fall on the Jags this year though, as his chances of landing with another team via trade feel unlikely with the draft over.

The Jags could end up still extending Fournette if he turns things around, however, a change of scenery may be what’s best for him. He’ll enter 2020 with 2,631 career rushing yards, 1,009 career receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns.

Report: Browns pick up 5th-year options on Myles Garrett and David Njoku

The Cleveland Browns will pick up the 5th-year contract options on DE Myles Garrett and TE David Njoku, per ESPN’s Jake Trotter

Myles Garrett and David Njoku will be members of the Cleveland Browns through at least the end of the 2021 season. That is per a report from ESPN’s Jake Trotter on Monday. Per Trotter, the Browns will exercise their club options for the fifth year of their respective rookie contracts.

Garrett and Njoku were first-round picks by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft. The first four years of their contracts are set, but all first-round picks come with fifth-year options at the club’s discretion. The Browns had until May 3rd to pick up those options.

Garrett’s option was a no-brainer, but there was some question about if the team would exercise the option on Njoku. After signing TE Austin Hooper to a massive contract in free agency and then drafting promising young Harrison Bryant over the weekend, Njoku faces an uncertain role and future. By exercising the option, the team decided that Njoku’s value is enough to keep for at least one more season…barring any trade activity. The Browns already traded the third member from the 2017 first-round class, safety Jabrill Peppers.

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The team does still have the ability to sign either player to a new contract extension before the end of the exercised options.

4 things to know about new Jets CB Quincy Wilson

Here are four things to know about new Jets cornerback Quincy Wilson, who New York traded the No. 211 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft for.

Instead of making a selection with the 211th pick, the Jets dealt the choice back to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for CB Quincy Wilson.

New York originally traded the 211th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in exchange for CB Nate Hairston. That pick was returned to Gang Green after the compensation conditions were not met. Wilson now joins his former Colts teammates, Hairston and Pierre Desir, as well as his former Florida teammates, Marcus Maye and Brian Poole, in New York’s secondary.

Not only did the Jets acquire an established veteran in Wilson — he has three-years playing experience under his belt — but he’s also just 23 years old. He has a lot of raw talent and the potential to play a pivotal role in Gregg Williams’ defensive scheme, which better fits his playing style.

With that said, let’s get to know the Jets’ newest addition to their secondary.

Scheme Change

Quincy Wilson played exceptionally well in the Colts’ press-man system in 2017 and 2018 when he received a Pro Football Focus grades of 71.1 and 69.9, respectively. In those two seasons, Wilson served primarily as the Colts’ No. 3 cornerback, recording two interceptions and 50 tackles.

Once the Colts switched to a zone-scheme to accommodate their personnel, Temple cornerback Rock Ya-Sin leaped Wilson on the depth chart. Wilson’s play immediately hit a wall. In 2019, Wilson received a PFF overall grade of 30.2.

The Jets are now hoping that a change in scenery and a return to a press-man coverage system under Gregg Williams will revitalize Wilson’s career.

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Ranking Ryan Pace’s 5 worst draft picks as Bears GM

Let’s take a look at Bears GM Ryan Pace’s five worst draft picks, which includes three failed first-round selections.

With the 2020 NFL Draft upon us, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace will be bringing in a new crop of talent that he hopes will have a positive impact on this roster moving forward.

When you examine Pace’s draft history, it’s filled with some studs and some duds. Unfortunately, here, we’re going to be looking at the busts that Pace has drafted in his five years as Bears GM.

Let’s take a look at Pace’s five worst draft picks, which includes three failed first-round selections.

5. OL Hroniss Grasu (Round 3, 2015)

When the Bears drafted Hroniss Grasu, they were hoping that he’d become an anchor of their offense line for the future. That wasn’t the case for Grasu, who struggled

Due to injury on Chicago’s offensive line, Grasu started eight games in his rookie season, where he struggled against some of the competition. He was primed to compete for the starting center position before suffering a season-ending knee injury in training camp. While Grasu had lost his starting role to rookie center Cody Whitehair and left guard Josh Sitton, he got another chance once again due to injuries on the offensive line. In 2017, Grasu appeared in six games — including four starts — before being let go ahead of the 2018 season.

As is the case for two other players on this list, injuries were a factor in Grasu’s downfall. That, and the fact that his uninspiring play didn’t exactly warrant a second contract.

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Ranking Ryan Pace’s 5 best draft picks as Bears GM

Let’s look at the studs that Ryan Pace has drafted in his five years as Bears GM.

With the 2020 NFL Draft upon us, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace will be bringing in a new crop of talent that he hopes will have a positive impact on this roster moving forward.

When you examine Pace’s draft history, it’s filled with some studs and some duds. Luckily, here, we’re going to be looking at the gems that Pace has drafted in his five years as Bears GM.

Let’s take a look at Pace’s five best draft picks, which include a pair of All-Pros and some playmakers on this Bears roster.

5. LB Roquan Smith (1st Round, 2018)

In just two seasons, Roquan Smith has shown the potential to become a cornerstone of this Bears defense at inside linebacker. And he could wind up being one of Pace’s best picks, when all is said and done. Smith had a solid rookie season — where he tallied 121 tackles, five sacks, five passes defended and one interception.

While he got off to a slow start in his sophomore year, he was playing some of his best football late in the season before a torn pec ended his year early. Last season, Smith notched 101 tackles, two sacks, two passes defensed and an interception. Assuming Smith returns to form following his torn pec, he could be primed for a breakout season in 2020.

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2017 NFL Draft do-over: Bears land defensive stud, not QB

If there’s one draft that Bears fans would give anything to redo, it’s the 2017 NFL Draft.

If there’s one draft that Bears fans would give anything to redo, it’s the 2017 NFL Draft. It’s not the entire draft they’d like to redo — nabbing former All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson in the fourth round was one of general manager Ryan Pace’s best moves.

But it’s one pick in particular.

It wasn’t enough knowing the Bears traded a handful of draft picks just to move up on spot to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky No. 2 overall. But knowing that Chicago passed on MVP Patrick Mahomes and rising star Deshaun Watson, it’s enough to make anyone weep.

And Bears fans will be reminded about it through the duration of both Mahomes and Watson’s NFL careers.

Knowing what he knows now, you figure Pace would certainly do things differently if given another chance. But second chances aren’t awarded. Only in draft re-dos that feel more painful than satisfying.

Bleacher Report conduced a 2017 NFL Draft do-over, but unfortunately the Bears still don’t land a star quarterback. If the Bears were to stay firm at pick No. 3, theoretically Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson would’ve been the top two picks off the board.

So instead of the two best offensive players, Bleacher Report has the Bears targeting pass rush with Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt.

Knowing now that it was a mistake to use a 2016 first-round pick on Leonard Floyd, and knowing how injurious Khalil Mack’s contract is, T.J. Watt would be perfect in this spot. He’d still be extremely cheap in comparison to Mack (whom they acquired a year later), and he’s coming off an All-Pro season in which he earned 10 Defensive Player of the Year votes at the age of 25.

With Mahomes and Watson off the board in this scenario, it makes sense for the Bears to target a defensive stud. And in his three seasons in the league, Watt has already garnered two Pro Bowl nods and first-team All-Pro honors. Just imagine this Bears pass rush with Khalil Mack and Watt.

It’s hard to imagine having to live through an entire season quarterbacked by Mike Glennon, but Trubisky just hasn’t done enough to prove he was worthy of being drafted in the first round.

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What to expect from Seahawks 2017 draft class in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks are hoping the remaining members of the 2017 Draft class will play a big role on the team in 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks have always valued quantity in the NFL draft. 2017 was no different, with John Schneider making a series of trades to net the squad 11 total draft picks.

Now, three years later, the Seahawks are left with just six of the 11 picks on the 2020 roster – and only two of them are guaranteed starting spots next season.

Malik McDowell was a huge bust, never even appearing in a game with the team after suffering a serious injury during the offseason.

Third rounder Amara Darboh never panned out, and the team recently released fourth round safety Tedric Thompson after a disappointing 2019 season – joining sixth rounders Mike Tyson and Justin Senior who are no longer on the squad.

However, Seattle made a couple great picks in the seventh round, and third rounder Shaquill Griffin developed into a Pro Bowler last season – so the draft was not a total loss.

Here’s a look at each of the players still on the roster, and how they are expected to be utilized in 2020.

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2017 NFL Draft has been boom or bust for Ravens

Of the Baltimore Ravens’ seven picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, four are now no longer on the team while two have turned into stars.

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams at scouting and drafting talent. They’ve been able to find stars and key contributors in pretty much every round over the last two decades. From guys like Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis in the first round to star outside linebacker Matthew Judon in the fifth round, you can usually count on Baltimore making the most of each draft.

However, the 2017 NFL Draft apparently ran hot or cold for the Ravens. With news that Baltimore is trading defensive end Chris Wormley to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it marks yet another 2017 draft pick that is no longer on the team.

Of the Ravens’ seven selections in that draft, four are now with different teams, with Wormley being the highest-drafted of the group. Offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and Wormley have both been traded, guard Nico Siragusa was cut and eventually signed off Baltimore’s practice squad and outside linebacker Tim Williams was outright cut after struggling for four games last season.

On the flip side, when Baltimore hit, they hit hard. The Ravens’ first-round pick was Marlon Humphrey, who has turned into one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Safety Chuck Clark was Baltimore’s sixth-round pick and their final of the 2017 NFL Draft. Though he might not be well known around the league, the Ravens clearly think highly of him, signing him to a three-year contract extension early.

The only player remaining that hasn’t situated himself in the hot or cold category is former second-round pick outside linebacker Tyus Bowser. Prior to last season, it seemed as though Bowser could be on his way out as a failed project but he stepped up his game over the course of the 2019 season. Bowser finished with five sacks, 14 pressures and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. As Bowser enters his final year, this is his make-or-break season and the last chance for Baltimore to ring everything out of the 2017 NFL Draft.

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