Report: Sheldon Rankins on track to be ready for Saints training camp

The New Orleans Saints reportedly expect to see defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, an injured co-starter, on the field for training camp.

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Here’s a big piece of offseason news for New Orleans Saints fans: NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is working towards a training camp return from surgery last December. This was the third lower-leg injury Rankins has suffered in his first four years in the NFL, and this report suggests an answer for why Rankins has struggled so much with Achilles tendon issues.

Underhill also reported that Rankins deals with Haglund’s Deformity, basically an enlarged bone spur on the heel that puts added tension on the Achilles tendon. That constant irritation results in athletes who are more prone to rupturing that tendon, which Rankins experienced late in the 2018 season. In 2019, the Saints medical staff noticed that his other leg was at heightened risk for the same injury, and recommended he undergo preventative surgery.

Because Rankins chose to go under the knife again so soon rather than after the season, he’s benefiting from both that decision and the abbreviated recovery timeline that follows this procedure (as opposed to a full-on ruptured tendon). It all means that he should be back in action when the Saints meet for training camp, which usually kicks off in late July but may be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a situation to watch out for.

So what does this mean for Rankins’ role in 2020? If everything goes the way it’s supposed to, he should again play as a co-starter with David Onyemata at the three-technique position, seeing about 30 to 38 snaps each week. That leaves plenty of room for nose tackle Malcom Brown and backups like Shy Tuttle and Mario Edwards to rotate into the game.

But if Rankins suffers another setback or is outplayed in training camp by another lineman, it’s possible he ends up seeing a reduced role. The Saints have enough depth up front to where he shouldn’t start ahead of a better player just because of his draft status or the success he found several years ago. In a contract year and with his injury history, it’s time he stood out for the right reasons.

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Full Packers roster breakdown following first wave of free agency

A breakdown of the Packers roster following the first big wave of free agency.

The Green Bay Packers re-signed four unrestricted free agents, tendered five exclusive rights free agents, added three outside free agents and lost seven other free agents during the first big wave of free agency.

Here’s a breakdown of the current roster:

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Manny Wilkins

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: The Packers probably won’t add a veteran here. A developmental option capable of legitimately competing with Boyle and Wilkins for the No. 2 job is required.

Running back

Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Tyler Ervin, Dexter Williams, Damarea Crockett

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: With Jones, Williams and Ervin all having expiring deals after 2020, the Packers might need to add another mid-round draft pick to the mix. Financially speaking, recycling through mid-round picks could be the way to go at running back.

Fullback

Elijah Wellman

Additions: None
Subtractions: Danny Vitale

Notes: Either the Packers will eliminate the traditional fullback from the offense or they’ll search through the scrap heap for someone versatile like Vitale.

Receiver

Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Darrius Shepherd, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor, Reggie Begelton, Devin Funchess

Additions: Devin Funchess, Reggie Begelton
Subtractions: Geronimo Allison, Ryan Grant?

Notes: The Packers shopped around at receiver and eventually landed on Funchess, who will be expected to crack the top four. He’ll almost certainly be joined by a top pick. At the moment, this position looks like a true No. 1 (Adams) and a bunch of No. 3 and No. 4 receivers.

Tight end

Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Jace Sternberger, Evan Baylis, James Looney

Additions: None
Subtractions: Jimmy Graham

Notes: Sternberger could easily elevate to the No. 1 spot by Week 1. It’s possible he could be an upgrade on Graham in 2020. Adding a draft pick here makes sense.

Offensive tackle

David Bakhtiari, Rick Wagner, Alex Light, Yosh Nijman, John Leglue, Cody Conway

Additions: Rick Wagner
Subtractions: Bryan Bulaga, Jared Veldheer? Jason Spriggs?

Notes: Depth here is a major issue. Might Veldheer want to return? Expect a high draft pick. This is a big need.

Offensive guard

Billy Turner, Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, Lane Taylor, Cole Madison

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: The Packers still have Taylor on the roster. Might he compete for a starting job in 2020? Turner wasn’t good enough in 2019.

Center

Corey Linsley, Lucas Patrick

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: Linsley’s deal is up after the 2020 season. Is Patrick the long-term replacement?

Defensive line

Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Tyler Lancaster, Montravius Adams, Kingsley Keke

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: This group still needs a lot of help. The Packers haven’t signed any veteran help, but sorting through what’s left and acquiring one (Timmy Jernigan?) might be the right play.

Edge rushers

Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Tim Williams, Greg Roberts, Randy Ramsey

Additions: None
Subtractions: Kyler Fackrell

Notes: Fackrell’s departure opens up opportunities. More snaps are there for Gary, and there’s no clear favorite for the No. 4 spot. A draft pick could be added.

Inside linebacker

Oren Burks, Christian Kirksey, Ty Summers, Curtis Bolton

Additions: Christian Kirksey
Subtractions: Blake Martinez, B.J. Goodson

Notes: This is still one of the NFL’s worst inside linebacker groups. A high draft pick could change that in a hurry.

Cornerback

Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson, Ka’dar Hollman, Kabion Ento, DaShaun Amos

Additions: DaShaun Amos
Subtractions: Tramon Williams?

Notes: Will the Packers bring Williams back? Or are they comfortable with the group as is? Depth suddenly looks like an issue. So does future stability.

Safety

Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Will Redmond

Additions: None
Subtractions: Ibraheim Campbell?

Notes: The Packers could go into next year with just these four. Adding another versatile player makes sense. Mike Pettine loves putting safeties on the field.

Special teams

Kicker: Mason Crosby
Punter: JK Scott
Long snapper: Hunter Bradley

Additions: None
Subtractions: None

Notes: Barring injury, these will be the Packers’ three specialists in 2020.

Updated Chiefs depth chart projections following first wave of free agency

Our latest depth chart projections for the players currently on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 90-man offseason roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been fairly quiet in free agency. They opened the 2020 league year with 60 players on the 90-man offseason roster. They’ve added six players since the onset of free agency, including re-signing three of their own free agents.

As the salary cap space begins to thin, they’ll have to make some moves if they’re to add more players during the course of free agency. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach may move his attention to the 2020 NFL draft, which is set to take place April 23-25.

Here are our latest updated projections for the offseason depth chart as the roster currently stand:

Offense (35)

Pos.	First	Second	Third	Fourth
QB	Patrick Mahomes	Chad Henne	Kyle Shurmur	Jordan Ta’amu
RB	Damien Williams	Darwin Thompson	Darrel Williams	Marcus Marshal, Eljiah McGuire, Mike Weber
FB	Anthony Sherman	John Lovett
WR	Tyreek Hill	Demarcus Robinson	Byron Pringle	Gehrig Dieter
WR	Sammy Watkins	Mecole Hardman	Jody Fortson	Felton Davis
TE	Travis Kelce	Deon Yelder	Nick Keizer	Alize Mack
LT	Eric Fisher	Greg Senat
LG	Martinas Rankin	Andrew Wylie
C	Austin Reiter	Nick Allegretti
RG	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif	Ryan Hunter
RT	Mitchell Schwartz	Mike Remmers	Jackson Barton

Observations:

Kansas City added St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta’amu. Typically the Chiefs like to go into training camp with four QBs, so this will allow them to do that. Don’t expect him to push for the No. 2 job, but he should be solid competition for Kyle Shurmur during the course of the offseason program.
The Chiefs re-signed fullback Anthony Sherman. The team remains one of the few NFL teams to utilize a FB in their offense. He’s been a leader in the locker room and a contributor on special teams.
Mike Remmers is one of the few outside free agents that Kansas City has added. He replaces both Cam Erving and Stefen Wisniewski, with the versatility to play four spots on the offensive line. For now, I have him listed as the backup right tackle because that is where he’s put in the most snaps during his career.

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Taysom Hill has earned a shot as the Saints QB2, says Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton offered an endorsement of quarterback Taysom Hill, saying the talented athlete has earned his stripes.

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Where does Taysom Hill slot in on the New Orleans Saints depth chart? Last season, he was the third-string quarterback behind Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater, playing more often at receiver and tight end (or on special teams) than at his listed position. Even when Brees was held out with an injury to his throwing hand, Hill largely stood by and watched Bridgewater quarterback his way to five wins as a starter.

Now, though, Bridgewater is leading the cross-division Carolina Panthers. And Hill is under contract on a one-year deal, earning $4.64 million on a restricted free agent tender. That puts Hill in the next-man-up spot next to Brees. And if Sean Payton is telling the truth (which he has admitted to not doing in the past), Hill will stay there even if the Saints add another passer.

“Taysom’s earned this opportunity to be our No. 2 (quarterback). But he’s also earned the opportunity to play and help us win football games as a one,” Payton said during an interview with WWL Radio when asked about Hill’s projected status for 2020 and beyond.

But Payton clarified that no matter what position Hill’s designated on the official roster, the Saints will find ways to get him the football: “And what I mean by that, whether you call him a receiver, a tight end, a specialist, also a quarterback. Yeah, he’s going to play. He’s too good a football player. He’s one of our better football players.”

So asking the future of your franchise to go out and block with his throwing shoulder might make things difficult, at least in the short-term. Payton acknowledged that the team would consider bringing in another quarterback because of the possibility that Hill could miss time, owing to the more-physical nature of his assignments than what most passers face.

Payton continued, “Because on any given play, Taysom can come over to the sideline and his, his right thumb or finger can be pointing east and west. And if that happens, you know, then you don’t have a backup quarterback. But, I would say coming into the season, you know, he’s going to be our second string quarterback and obviously play a number of snaps, not only at quarterback but at other positions.”

How the Saints might acquire that third quarterback is, for now, unclear. They could draft a high-upside rookie early like Utah State’s Jordan Love or Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, or settle for a middling prospect such as Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. The Saints may also take a hard look at the free agent market, with big names like Cam Newton and Jameis Winston searching for new teams. Clipboard-holders including Trevor Siemian, Mike Glennon, and Geno Smith are also still out there. Wherever New Orleans finds its next signal-caller, it won’t lack for options.

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Saints special teams ace Justin Hardee returns on one-year deal

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with special teams ace Justin Hardee, an important backup cornerback

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The New Orleans Saints brought back an important piece of their special teams unit on Friday, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Underhill reports that cornerback Justin Hardee, a Saints restricted free agent, agreed to terms on a contract which The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell added will last one year.

This is an important addition beyond the continuity it ensures on punt and kickoff coverage. Hardee is someone the Saints have been developing for years as a backup cornerback, having entered the NFL as a wide receiver out of college. He spoke last summer about the work he’s put in to earn his stripes in the pro ranks, and remains a popular member of the locker room.

It’s doubly important when you consider that the Saints only had one cornerback under contract before Hardee agreed to return. While Marshon Lattimore had his fifth-year option for 2021 picked up and Patrick Robinson agreed to a pay cut, Janoris Jenkins is the only other corner signed on for the 2020 season. Hardee’s presence helps fill out the depth chart and keep someone around that the Saints have invested in.

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Rams’ projected depth chart after first wave of free agency

The Rams have several new faces atop the depth chart on defense.

After a quiet start to the week for the Los Angeles Rams, they were busy tweaking their roster on Wednesday and Thursday. They lost a handful of starters – most notably Michael Brockers, Dante Fowler and Cory Littleton – but brought back two key pieces on the offensive line with Andrew Whitworth and Austin Blythe. They also declined Nickell Robey-Coleman’s option, making him a free agent.

On Wednesday, they added Leonard Floyd and A’Shawn Robinson to replace Fowler and Brockers, but the real fireworks came on Thursday just before 4 p.m. ET. That’s when they released Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews.

Cutting Gurley was a surprise, but as was the case with Matthews, the Rams needed cap space and saw that as a path to creating some.

That leaves the depth chart looking very different than it did last year, particularly on defense. There’s only one new starter on offense, but six new faces on defense are projected to be at the top of the stack at their respective positions.

Offense

Position	Starter	Backup	Reserve	Reserve
QB	Jared Goff	John Wolford
RB	Darrell Henderson	Malcolm Brown	John Kelly
WR	Brandin Cooks	Josh Reynolds
WR	Robert Woods
Slot WR	Cooper Kupp	Nsimba Webster	Greg Dortch
TE	Tyler Higbee	Gerald Everett	Johnny Mundt	Kendall Blanton Ethan Wolf
LT	Andrew Whitworth	Joe Noteboom
LG	Joe Noteboom	Austin Corbett	Jeremiah Kolone
C	Brian Allen	Austin Blythe	Coleman Shelton	Nate Trewyn
RG	Austin Blythe	Jamil Demby	Chandler Brewer
RT	Rob Havenstein	Bobby Evans

Darrell Henderson is likely to take over for Gurley at running back, though Malcolm Brown is also under contract and could contribute at that spot, too. The Rams still have the draft, too, where they could add a complementary piece to the backfield.

The only position on the offensive line that’s settled is left tackle with Whitworth. Every other spot will likely be decided in training camp as a large group of youngsters will compete for starting jobs up front.

The wide receiving corps and tight end rooms remain unchanged, but a trade involving Brandin Cooks could still happen and would shake things up even more.

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Updated Lions depth chart after free agency moves

It’s been a busy first few days of free agency. Here is an updated look Detroit Lions comprehensive depth chart after the Darius Slay trade.

It’s been a busy four days of free agency for the Detroit Lions, but they haven’t signed anyone in the last hour, so it’s the perfect time to do a roster check and see where things stand.

Note: you will see some players listed more than once as they have multiple roles and starters will be listed in bold.

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford
Chase Daniel
David Blough

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Running back

Kerryon Johnson
Bo Scarbrough
Ty Johnson
Wes Hills
Tra Carson

Third Down back

Ty Johnson
Jamal Agnew — gadget option

Fullback/H-back

Nick Bawden (FB)
Isaac Nauta (TE)

Wide receiver

Kenny Golladay
Marvin Jones Jr.
Danny Amendola
Marvin Hall
Chris Lacy
Travis Fulgham
Tom Kennedy
Jon Duhart
Victor Bolden

Slot receiver

Danny Amendola
Tom Kennedy
Victor Bolden

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Tight end

T.J. Hockenson
Jesse James
Isaac Nauta
Paul Butler
Matt Sokol

Starting offensive line

Taylor Decker — LT
Joe Dahl — LG
Frank Ragnow — C
Beau Benschawel — RG
Halapoulivaati Vaitai — RT

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Reserve offensive line

LT — Tyrell Crosby, Dan Skipper
LG — Russell Bodine, Casey Tucker
C — Joe Dahl, Beau Benzschawel, Russell Bodine
RG — Joshua Garnett, Caleb Benenoch
RT — Tyrell Crosby, Dan Skipper, Matt Nelson

Interior defensive line

Da’Shawn Hand — DT/BIG DE
Danny Shelton — NT/3T
Nick Williams — DT
John Atkins — NT
Kevin Strong — DT/BIG DE
Frank Herron — DT/BIG DE
Olive Sagapolu – NT

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EDGE Rushers

Trey Flowers — DDE, 3T
Romeo Okwara — DDE, 3T, JACK
Austin Bryant — JACK, DDE
Jonathan Wynn — DDE, 3T

Off-the-ball linebacker

Jamie Collins — WILL, JACK, MIKE
Jarrad Davis — MIKE, WILL
Christian Jones — WILL, JACK
Jahlani Tavai — MIKE, WILL
Jalen Reeves-Maybin — MIKE, WILL
Steve Longa — MIKE, WILL
Jason Cabinda — MIKE, WILL
Anthony Pittman — JACK, WILL
Christian Sam — WILL, MIKE

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Cornerback

Desmond Trufant
Justin Coleman
Amani Oruwariye
Mike Ford
Jamal Agnew
Dee Virgin
Michael Jackson

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Slot cornerback

Justin Coleman
Jamal Agnew

Safety

Tracy Walker — JOKER
Duron Harmon — Single-high
Will Harris — SS/Slot/Single-high
Jayron Kearse — SS/WILL
C.J. Moore — Single-high

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Third-safety

Will Harris
Jayron Kearse

Kicking team

Matt Prater — placekicker
Don Muhlbach — long snapper
Jack Fox or Matt Wile or TBD — punter, holder, kickoffs
James Fischer — long snapper

Kick returns

Jamal Agnew — kick returner and punt returner
Danny Amendola — reserve punt returner
Chris Lacy — reserve kick returner

Top special teams players

C.J. Moore – gunner
Dee Virgin — gunner
Mike Ford — gunner
Jalen Reeves- Maybin
Jayron Kearse
Steve Longa
Jason Cabinda

Chiefs projected depth chart for 2020 NFL offseason

Our depth chart projections for the players currently on the Kansas City Chiefs’ 90-man offseason roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs will open the 2020 league year with 60 players on the 90-man offseason roster.

They’ll still look to add more players during the course of free agency, before rounding out the team during the 2020 NFL draft and undrafted free agency. General manager Brett Veach has his work cut out for him creating cap space to make some free-agent acquisitions and have the money to sign a draft class. Here are our current projections for the offseason depth chart as the roster currently stand:

Offense (31)

Pos.	First	Second	Third	Fourth
QB	Patrick Mahomes	Chad Henne	Kyle Shurmur
RB	Damien Williams	Darwin Thompson	Darrel Williams	Marcus Marshal, Eljiah McGuire, Mike Weber
FB	John Lovett
WR	Tyreek Hill	Byron Pringle	Gehrig Dieter
WR	Sammy Watkins	Mecole Hardman	Jody Fortson	Felton Davis
TE	Travis Kelce	Deon Yelder	Nick Keizer	Alize Mack
LT	Eric Fisher	Greg Senat
LG	Martinas Rankin	Andrew Wylie
C	Austin Reiter	Nick Allegretti
RG	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif	Ryan Hunter
RT	Mitchell Schwartz	Jackson Barton

Observations:

The Chiefs could go into the season with these three quarterbacks and be fine. I expect them to add at least one undrafted free agent for competition.
There are a lot of names at the RB position, but Darwin Thompson is the only one of them that is under contract beyond the 2020 season. Kansas City has some work to do here.
The receiver corp will need to find a replacement for Demarcus Robinson. That player could already be on the roster as Pringle, Dieter and Fortson all could be sensible replacements.
Tight end looks like a really solid group as both Yelder and Keizer are well-liked among the organization. The Chiefs could be comfortable leaving this group as is.
The offensive line is surprisingly comfortable, even with the departure of Stefen Wisniewski and Cameron Erving. Wylie and Rankin could battle for a starting spot on the interior. I also expect Allegretti to push for a starting job. Who will win the swing tackle job in 2020, though? Is that player already on the roster?

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Just how important was it for the Saints to re-sign David Onyemata?

The New Orleans Saints made re-upping David Onyemata a free agency priority, due to their success against the pass and run with him at DT.

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Of course it was a big deal when the New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a contract extension with David Onyemata — the defensive tackle started 15 games last year (only missing Week 1 with a suspension) and led the position in snaps played per game (37.7), splitting time with both Sheldon Rankins (when healthy) and rookie standout Shy Tuttle for much of the year. So keeping him around bodes well for the unit’s immediate future, to say the least.

But let’s really dig into that. The Saints are expected to return all four starters to last year’s defensive line, including Onyemata, nose tackle Malcom Brown, and defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Top backups like Rankins (who is really more of a co-starter when healthy, having averaged 41.4 snaps per game in his career), Tuttle, Mario Edwards, and Trey Hendrickson are all also running it back in 2020. And that’s a great thing considering last year’s defensive line was the best in the Sean Payton era, if not the last two decades of Saints football.

As a group, the Saints defense racked up 51 sacks in 2019, their most since Payton took the job as head coach (and the highest total since 2001, when they bagged 53 sacks). They consistently pressured quarterbacks throughout the season, peaking with a nine-sack performance against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving. Another year of the same group working together, learning each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies, should only help them moving forwards.

But they also weren’t just a one-dimensional unit. The Saints defense, led by a tenacious group up front, paved the way for an NFL-best streak of 43 consecutive games played without allowing a 100-yard rusher. While some opponents passed that mark as a whole and certain running backs threatened it (like Dalvin Cook in the playoffs, with 94 yards gaindd on the ground), the Saints largely held their own and move into the 2020 season with a pronounced strength in run defense.

And much of that is due to the influence Onyemata carries up front. He’s as important to the group’s success as anyone, creating opportunities for teammates by absorbing double-team blocks and plugging run lanes. Even though his contract is pricey, it’s worth it considering the success the Saints have experienced with him in the lineup. Continuity is key in the NFL, and by re-signing Onyemata, the Saints proved they acknowledge that.

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How adding Halapoulivaati Vaitai impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The Detroit Lions opened the 2020 tampering period of free agency by agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai and the early expectations are that he will take over the vacated starting role at right tackle.

Playing behind Eagles tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, it’s not surprising that Vaitai’s starting experience was limited to only 20 games. But over his career he saw starts at both right and left tackle, even seeing some snaps at right guard.

Despite his limited starting experience, Vaitai (6-6, 320 pounds) is an underrated athlete — he meets all the Lions preferred benchmarks identified in my QIB system — and is an ideal scheme fit in the Lions offense, as mauling run blocker.

So how does Vaitai impact the rest of the Lions roster?

With the money the Lions are investing in Vaitai — reportedly averaging $10 million a year for five years — it’s fair to assume he is penciled in at right tackle. With left tackle Taylor Decker playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, the starters are in place.

Tyrell Crosby will likely be given a shot to win the right tackle job in training camp, and the Lions love his versatility to reliably back up both tackle spots. He is at worst, their third offensive tackle and primary backup.

Currently, the Lions’ fourth offensive tackle is Dan Skipper, while defensive end convert Matt Nelson is still learning the position and doesn’t appear to be in the mix at this time.

Will the Lions add any more offensive tackles?

Probably not in free agency, but with Decker in the final year of his contract, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions add a developmental tackle in the draft — a prospect that could compete for a potential OT4 role with Skipper this season and a potential starting role in 2021.

While tackles may be limited to the draft, the Lions still have a starting right guard position open and that role could be filled in free agency or the draft.