Tag: Field Yates

NFL Insider shows respect for a ‘criminally underappreciated’ former Tiger

A.J. Terrell may be underappreciated by his NFL peers, based on the fact that he didn’t make the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list, which is voted on by the players themselves. However, the former Clemson standout and current Atlanta Falcons …

A.J. Terrell may be underappreciated by his NFL peers, based on the fact that he didn’t make the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list, which is voted on by the players themselves.

However, the former Clemson standout and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback is certainly not underappreciated by this ESPN NFL Insider.

NFL Network has been gradually unveiling the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2022, and while Terrell was excluded from the list despite having an incredible 2021 season, ESPN’s Field Yates showed his respect to Terrell on social media this week.

Yates made it clear how much he thinks of Terrell when he wrote via Twitter on Thursday, “I try not to overreact too much to the NFL Top 100 players list but there is no universe that exists in which there are 100 football players better than A.J. Terrell.”

Added Yates: “A lockdown corner who is (apparently) criminally underappreciated.”

Terrell was considered by many to have been a Pro Bowl snub after his breakout season last year, but he did earn second-team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press.

A first-round pick of the Falcons in the 2020 NFL Draft (16th overall pick), Terrell tallied 81 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, 16 passes defended and three interceptions in 16 games this season.

Terrell didn’t allow more than 32 yards in coverage in a game last season, allowed fewer than 20 yards in 13 games last season and also recorded the lowest passer rating allowed (47.5) and the lowest completion percentage allowed (43.9), according to PFF. Additionally, per PFF, the Atlanta native yielded only 200 yards over the course of the entire season.

At Clemson, Terrell was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2019 and third-team All-ACC selection in 2018. He racked up 107 career tackles (3.5 for loss), 29 pass breakups, six interceptions (returned for a total of 160 yards including a 44-yard touchdown) and two forced fumbles in his three-year career from 2017-19.

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Ravens bring in three CBs for tryouts

The Ravens brought in three cornerbacks for tryouts

The Baltimore Ravens went through many different injuries during the 2021 season. One of the positions that was hit the hardest for the team was at cornerback, so the team made sure to improve their depth over the course of the 2022 offseason by signing free agents and drafting prospects that can make an impact both now and in the future.

On Sunday, news came out that Baltimore had tried out three cornerbacks in Ken Crawley, Darryl Roberts and Daryl Worley. The team could look to add one of the three for extra defensive back depth, especially for training camp and the preseason.

Worley, a six-year veteran, has played for eight different NFL teams, which includes a stint with the Ravens during the 2021 season. Worley was signed to the team’s practice squad in December, and in one game with Baltimore notched five combined tackles.

Roberts, another six-year veteran, is also another well-traveled defensive back. Roberts has played for seven NFL teams, most recently with the Washington Commanders. Roberts has notched 223 combined tackles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery in 73 games played.

Crawley, a six-year veteran, has spent most of his time as a defensive back with the New Orleans Saints. He’s also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, and has totaled 138 combined tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble in his career.

ESPN’s Field Yates makes argument for Patriots to target Trey Lance over Mac Jones

Mobility is a key element that Mac Jones is lacking.

The New England Patriots have a little over a week to decide how they want to pursue the 2021 NFL Draft.

Cam Newton is currently at the helm and will likely start to begin the season regardless of the outcome in the draft. But, the Patriots still need a signal-caller for the future and this year presents talented players who could fit that role. The top 5 guys include Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Trey Lance.

Lawrence and Wilson will be gone after the first two picks, but the Patriots have the potential to trade out of the No. 15 overall pick and select one of the three remaining. There’s a high possibility the San Francisco 49ers snag Fields at pick No. 3 — leaving Jones and Lance for the Patriots to choose from.

New England has scouted all five prospects heavily and Jones’ name has been connected to the Patriots throughout the process. ESPN’s Field Yates discussed the topic on “Get Up” Tuesday and believes the Patriots should go with Lance.

“I am trading up for Trey Lance,” Yates said. “I just see a significantly higher ceiling for this player. Mac Jones fits the confines for what the Patriots have had under center for 20 of the last 21 years. Obviously, last year being the exception. You have to look at the direction the NFL is evolving right now. You had eight quarterbacks rush for over 400 yards last season.

“The Patriots, within their own division, saw Josh Allen make major strides last year. Yes, he’s a gifted thrower, but where he can really torture you is one second reaction plays. Even if his first read is not there or if there is pressure in the pocket, Josh Allen might run towards the sideline like he’s running out of bounds and the next thing you know, he’ll launch the football 24 yards down the field to Stefon Diggs. The game is changing. Trey Lance offers the ability to keep up with how the game is changing.”

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky gave a little more detail regarding Lance’s skills and how it will translate to the NFL.

There are multiple teams who are reportedly willing to trade down, but it all depends on the price Belichick is willing to pay.

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ESPN pegs Ryan Fitzpatrick to be Washington’s starting QB in 2021

Ryan Fitzpatrick was serviceable for the Miami Dolphins in 2020, and ESPN’s Field Yates thinks he can do the same for Washington in 2021.

Will it be through the draft that the Washington Football Team finds their next quarterback? Or through free agency? Or maybe a trade?

Who knows at this point, but everybody seems to have an opinion, and as we get further into the offseason, more and more scenarios start to pop up, and a conversation is driven.

One of the more unheard of scenarios was recently proposed by ESPN’s Field Yates, who predicted that former Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick would be the guy that Ron Rivera turned to this offseason to lead his team.

Washington is in the same category as the Patriots: in need of a quarterback addition but too far down the draft order to count on that as the avenue to address it. Fitzy is about as well-traveled as any other player in the league over the past 15 years, but he continues to play at a strong enough level to merit starting consideration. It’s often a roller coaster with him under center, but he has an infectious energy that cannot be discounted. We saw it last year in Miami when he helped the team in a few gotta-have-it situations.

The roller coaster that Fitzpatrick brings to the table is extremely real. He often will perform incredibly well in some weeks, and then make you wonder how he was ever a starting QB in others. There is a chance that he could be the spark that Washington’s offense needs, but the possibility of him ending in a heap of flames is just as likely.

Fan reaction to this prediction definitely won’t be favorable, so let’s go ahead and categorize it as the ‘last resort’ options that we’ll revisit if Washington strikes out in all other avenues.

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Defensive end Carlos Dunlap takes pay cut to be with Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap’s pay for the 2020 season will be reduced from $4.59 million to $2 million as part of the deal.

 

When the Seattle Seahawks acquired defensive end Carlos Dunlap in a trade deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, he agreed with the organization to restructure his contract for the remainder of the 2020 season.

According to the details, Dunlap’s pay for the rest of the year has been reduced from $4.59 million to $2 million. This will allow the Seahawks to reduce their cap impact for the year, which is certainly positive. The situation also benefits Dunlap in the long run because, in addition to the $3 million roster bonus, he is in line for a big payday after this season’s end whether the Seahawks choose to sign him to a contract extension or let him enter free agency.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Dunlap told reporters Wednesday. “At this point in my career, if I were to ever put play and put on another jersey, I wanted to go to an organization where I was the last piece to help them win and get a Super Bowl.”

However, the most important thing is what Dunlap does on the field, and the struggling pass rush should improve with him in the fold.

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Report: Former Spartan DT Malik McDowell gets tryout with Dolphins

After numerous off-field incidents, Malik McDowell is potentially getting a second chance at an NFL career.

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After numerous off-field incidents, former Michigan State Spartan defensive tackle Malik McDowell is potentially getting a second chance at an NFL career.

Field Yates of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins are giving McDowell a tryout.

McDowell was a second round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft but has yet to play a down in the league after his career was derailed by off-field incidents — starting with an ATV crash shortly after he was drafted. Injuries from that crash eventually led to McDowell being waived by the Seahwaks in 2018, and McDowell has ran into legal trouble since then, including being arrested for fighting an officer in 2019. That incident led to McDowell being sentenced to three months in jail last November.

McDowell played at Michigan State from 2014 to 2016, racking up 88 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one interception — that was also returned for a touchdown — in 32 career games.

As Yates pointed out in his tweet, talent has never been an issue for McDowell so if he’s gotten his off the field issues under control then there’s a chance he could have an impact for the Dolphins.

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Seahawks sign defensive end Damontre Moore, waive 2 from roster

The Seattle Seahawks have signed defensive end Damontre Moore and waived wide receiver Seth Dawkins and linebacker Pita

The signing of wide receiver Josh Gordon wasn’t the only move the Seattle Seahawks made on Thursday. Seattle also signed defensive end Damontre Moore.

Moore played four games for Seattle in 2016, recording seven tackles and 0.5 sacks. He landed on injured reserve on December 20 due to a foot injury and signed with the Cowboys in free agency. The Seahawks’ signing of Moore was listed on Thursday’s official NFL transaction report.

Seattle released wide receiver Seth Dawkins and linebacker Pita Taumoepenu to make room for Moore and Gordon on the active roster.

ESPN’s Field Yates also reported that the Seahawks brought in center Justin Britt for a tryout on Wednesday.

Britt was one of the most notable offensive linemen for the Seahawks over the past half-decade, constantly rotating across the line before eventually settling in at center. Throughout the nadir of Seattle’s offensive line struggles from 2015 to 2017, Britt was the most consistent presence and did not display as many issues as countless others along the line.

Seattle has to trim its squad down to 53 players by Saturday’s deadline.

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Report: Seahawks bring in QB Kyle Sloter and 2 WRs for workouts

ESPN NFL insider Field Yates reported that the Seattle Seahawks brought in Kyle Sloter, Justin Hardy, and Lance Lenoir for workouts.

ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday that the Seattle Seahawks recently brought in quarterback Kyle Sloter and wide receivers Lance Lenoir and Justin Hardy for workouts.

Sloter was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017, but the team waived him before the start of the regular season despite a strong preseason. He spent time with the Vikings and Cardinals, had a brief stint with the Lions, and had a workout with the Bears in mid-August.

Justin Hardy spent his first five seasons with the Falcons, tallying minor production every year before the team let him walk in free agency in 2020. With his exception of seven games in his rookie season, Hardy has never missed a game in his five-year NFL career.

Lance Lenoir is a former Cowboy who has only played eight games in his career and has no offensive stats whatsoever.

None of these players will be expected to be game-changing contributors, but they could be signed for depth purposes. Time will tell if any of them will be wearing blue and green for the 2020 season.

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ESPN floats out a trade deal for Jags to send Yannick Ngakoue to Browns

With the deadline for him to sign the franchise tag approaching, ESPN proposed potential trade for Yannick Ngakoue involving the Browns.

With less than a month until the Jacksonville Jaguars report for training camp ahead of the 2020 season, their situation with Yannick Ngakoue remains one of the major talking points across the NFL.

After announcing that “his time was up” in Jacksonville in March, the pass-rusher has made no known attempts to reconcile with the organization. In fact, Ngakoue now remains one of only five players yet to sign their franchise tag tender.

With the chances of a long-term deal feeling almost nonexistent, and the former Maryland Terrapin threatening to sit out the season, general manager Dave Caldwell’s leverage is diminishing as we approach the July 15 deadline. In a nutshell, if Ngakoue isn’t going to play for the Jags and isn’t traded by then, the potential in terms of compensation for him will decrease because he’d only be eligible to sign the franchise tag, which is only a one-year deal.

If the Jaguars want to get maximum value from the player, the sensible thing to do would be to trade him before that deadline passes. Since Jamal Adams declared his desire to leave New Jersey, multiple outlets have entertained the idea that the Jaguars should package Ngakoue with a 2021 pick to propose for the All-Pro safety. That being said, any potential deal for Adams remains improbable at best.

However, ESPN’s Field Yates proposed a different deal for the Jaguars to rid themselves of this situation in order to prevent any distractions ahead of training camp. In a recent article, Yates suggested tight end David Njoku and a 2021 second-round pick as compensation to send Ngakoue to the Cleveland Browns.

Approaching the offseason, many would have expected more in return for such a productive pass-rusher, but nothing materialized. That was even the case after a pre-draft Twitter altercation between Ngakoue and son of Shad Khan, Tony Khan, that led to Khan saying the compensation had to be right.

The Jaguars already have an additional 2021 first-rounder after trading Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams last October. That said, adding further capital for the next draft could entice Caldwell as he continues rebuilding this roster for the second time.

As for Njoku, he’d add an interesting option for quarterback Gardner Minshew. Still only 23, the former Miami Hurricane could fall victim to the numbers game in Cleveland after they signed Austin Hooper in the offseason and drafted Harrison Bryant in April. For those reasons, many could view him as a tradable piece.

Njoku broke his wrist early on in 2019 and only played in four games as a result. Still, many saw promise out of him in his first two seasons. The Jaguars have already added Tyler Eifert this offseason, but the oft-injured tight end probably shouldn’t be the only answer at a position that has plagued the Jaguars since Marcedes Lewis left in 2017.

If a trade deal is to happen, the team acquiring Ngakoue will likely have to weigh whether they are comfortable paying him the long-term deal he reportedly wants, averaging $22 million a year. For the Jaguars, however, they would be acquiring a player of significant need for little to no money at all. Njoku’s 2020 salary would be a mere $1.7 million and wouldn’t require an extension until 2022.

While this might not be the most likely trade, this is certainly the type of avenue Caldwell should look to pursue. Any extra capital for the 2021 NFL Draft will be useful, and adding young starters at affordable salaries is going to be vital in his attempt to build a team that can compete for the long-term.

ESPN analyst introduces potential trade idea for Chargers

ESPN Field Yates believes the Chargers should trade for a left tackle.

Chargers cornerback Desmond King has been thrown into trade conversations after the team signed Chris Harris Jr. earlier this offseason. Talks slowed down, but they have started to arise again after a player-for-player trade idea was proposed by ESPN’s Field Yates.

Yates proposed a makeshift trade that would send King to the Vikings for offensive tackle Riley Reiff. Minnesota would also agree to pay $3.8 million of his base salary.

Los Angeles did a great job by reconstructing the offensive line by adding Bryan Bulaga and Trai Turner. However, the team did not address the left tackle position that needs to be filled after the departure of Russell Okung.

Yates believes that Reiff would be a “dependable” option and he wouldn’t cost all that much, either.

“In this maneuver, Reiff would be acquired for two years and up to $18.85 million, a fair market price for a 31-year-old starter. Because Reiff does not have any guaranteed money due to him in 2021, the Chargers would have the chance to evaluate Reiff fully this season and reevaluate the need to address the left tackle spot further next offseason,” Yates said.

The Vikings could afford to trade Reiff because they drafted his eventual replacement, Ezra Cleveland in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Rather than letting King play his final season under contract, the Chargers could be in a position where they could deal him to a team that’s in need of a proven cornerback, like the Vikings, and get a player that addresses a glaring position of need in return.

It’s difficult to see a player that was an All-Pro two seasons ago be shipped, but given how his presence might not be as needed due to the arrival of Harris Jr. and if they don’t foresee him being an extension candidate, it might not be as bad of an idea after all.