Tag: JC Tretter

Rookie OL Dawson Deaton tears ACL, out for year

Two major injuries at the same position could create real concern for the Browns:

The hits keep coming for the Cleveland Browns. Injuries are a part of the game for every team but they become problematic if major ones come to key contributors or when multiple injuries happen to the same position.

So far, the biggest loss for the Browns was KR/PR/WR Jakeem Grant’s season-ending Achilles injury. New starting center Nick Harris went down on the second snap of the team’s opening preseason game with a knee injury but he has yet to be ruled out for the year even if it is expected.

Monday came with another injury at the center position as Dawson Deaton, Cleveland’s seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft, was carted off the field. Late Monday night came word that he too will miss the entire season:

Michael Dunn and Hjalte Froholdt rotated in to provide some depth at the position on Monday.

With Harris likely done for the season, many wondered if veteran J.C. Tretter could be in line for a return to the Browns. While Tretter’s injuries have kept him from practicing for most of the last three years, the veteran was a solid performer on game days.

Cleveland will have to get down to 85 players on their roster as of Tuesday which will include Deaton being placed on injured reserve.

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Nick Harris likely out for season, per Kevin Stefanski

According to Stefanski, the worst-case scenario is likely for Harris. Pocic is the likely replacement but a Tretter return is possible:

The Cleveland Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason opener by the score of 24-13. RB Jerome Ford looked really good except for a fumble. CB Martin Emerson played bully ball to intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown. Isaiah Thomas, Chris Odom and Isaac Rochell showed that the Browns may have some quality depth at defensive end as well.

There were obvious negatives as well. QB Deshaun Watson looked rusty and rushed. WR Anthony Schwartz dropped two passes. RB D’Ernest Johnson joined Ford with a fumble.

The most significant negative was the loss of new starting center Nick Harris on the second play from scrimmage. Harris’ leg buckled during a bull rush and he was in obvious pain. Saturday, HC Kevin Stefanski all but confirmed the worst for Harris:

The team’s fifth-round pick in 2020, Harris finally got his chance to grab the starting job when Cleveland released veteran J.C. Tretter. Smaller, for a traditional offensive lineman, Harris’ agility and speed were seen as perfect fits in the wide zone scheme.

Ethan Pocic, signed as a free agent this offseason, stepped in to replace Harris on the third play. A second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, Pocic will likely get the first shot at taking Harris’ place.

Brock Hoffman is the only other center listed on Cleveland’s roster but Dawson Deaton played center in college as well.

Tretter remains a free agent and could get a call from GM Andrew Berry.

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ESPN predicts horrendous pass-blocking rank for Vikings offensive line

This prediction would be the Vikings’ worst nightmare.

Pain and misery could be in store for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins if ESPN’s recent offensive line prediction comes true.

When projecting the best and worst units, the analytics team has the Vikings ranking in the bottom-half of all NFL teams. Oh, but things get worse when you start delving into the specifics, like pass-blocking.

The team is projected to rank 31st in the league in pass-block win rates, which is the second-worst behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ouch.

The Vikings clearly have a problem with their interior blocking. Center Garrett Bradbury’s struggles haven’t magically gone away, even with first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell taking over the reins of the offense. And there’s still some uncertainty at the troubled right guard position. Jesse Davis appears to be in the lead right now, but that isn’t a spot the Vikings are necessarily confident about heading into the 2022 season.

It doesn’t help matters that the team will be facing some ferocious defensive fronts in the first four weeks as well, including the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.

The Vikings have worked veteran Chris Reed in at both center and right guard. And there’s always the option to sign another veteran player. Free agent JC Tretter has been mentioned by Vikings fans so many times that it’s become a meme at this point.

But really, they could use the help.

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POLL: What should the Cardinals do at the center position?

The Cardinals are set to lose Rodney Hudson to retirement. Who should the team look to in his absence?

The Arizona Cardinals are faced with the possible retirement of three-time Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson. It’s a huge blow for a team that will already be down their best offensive player for the first six games of the regular season, as receiver DeAndre Hopkins was suspended six games for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.

What do you believe the Cardinals should do in Hudson’s absence? Which of the following do you believe is the best option to step in?

They could roll with their current backup center, Sean Harlow. Justin Pugh, their starting left guard, is getting work at center to potentially change positions. Rookie Lecitus Smith is a possibility. They could also look to free agency.

What should they do? Vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comments section below the article.

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Cardinals, free agent center J.C. Tretter a perfect match

With the pending retirement of Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson, the Cardinals should pick up the phone and dial J.C. Tretter’s number.

The Arizona Cardinals are on their way to having another glaring hole on the roster.

Three-time Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson could be set to retire, as he has not reported for any offseason activities, voluntary or mandatory. It would be a massive blow to the team. Not only are the Cardinals potentially losing a Pro Bowl talent and the anchor of their offensive line, but they’re doing so in June. It’s much harder to replace losses at this point in the offseason than in the spring.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, there is an option that could bail them out of this surprising an unfortunate situation. Former Browns and Packers center J.C. Tretter is one of the top free agents available and was an integral part of a dominant offensive line in Cleveland.

Tretter has dealt with various knee and ankle injuries that kept him out of practice, but was readily available for the Browns on game day. There are some concerns about his injuries contributing to him still being on the market, but if healthy, he is by far the best option.

During his time with both the Packers and Browns, Tretter was consistently available. He has started 16 games in every season since 2017. The Cardinals could use that reliability.

The 31-year-old posted a 78.7 overall PFF grade, meanwhile Rodney Hudson only had a 60.9. He signed a three-year deal with the Browns in 2019 with an average annual salary of just under $11 million. Hudson’s extension with the Cardinals last offseason was for approximately ten million.

Should Hudson retire, the Cardinals are expected to receive a decent amount of cap space depending on the manner of his departure. 

The Cardinals have nearly no long term money tied up. The extension for Murray will add to that, of course, but the team has the money to afford a proven, veteran center should they need to.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury recently said the team is about to make Kyler Murray the highest paid player in franchise history. That’s a foolish investment if he does not have a proper offensive line to keep him upright.

J.C. Tretter, should he be healthy, is a good veteran player who can mitigate the damage from Hudson’s potential retirement.

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JC Tretter listed as potential Giants fit

Veteran center JC Tretter has been named a potential fit for the New York Giants despite the presence of Jon Feliciano.

The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen have done significant work on their roster this offseason. However, as you might imagine after inheriting a thin group, there are still several more holes to patch.

The problem, of course, is that the Giants are running out of both time and money. Training camps are two months away, while the team has just under $6.5 million remaining in cap space. And that’s with several more rookies left to sign.

Needless to say, any and all free agent spending is likely to be limited from here on out. But that doesn’t mean the Giants can’t make one final splash.

While said splash is likely to come at the cornerback position, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes it may come at center by way of JC Tretter.

Center might not be the most valuable position on the offensive line, but it is still surprising that there is one as good as J.C. Tretter still on the market.

Tretter’s departure from Cleveland had more to do with financials and little to do with his level of play or health. He was the fifth-highest graded player on the roster by Pro Football Focus and only gave up one sack on the season.

The veteran center is set to enter his age-31 season, but health shouldn’t be a concern. He has played in 16 games in each of the last five seasons.

Tretter has a wealth of experience and will bring leadership and solid play to whatever team picks him up. He’s a plug-and-play starter from Day 1 who will be solid in pass protection and an asset in the run game.

Anyone with questions on the interior would benefit from bringing him on board.

Along with the Giants, Ballentine listed the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins as potential fits.

The Giants did sign veteran Jon Feliciano in free agency, and the plan is for him to start at center this season. Still, there is very little depth behind Feliciano, especially considering that Nick Gates is still a “ways off” from returning.

While Tretter would be a quality addition for the Giants, potentially pushing Feliciano to left guard and strengthen the entire line, it would upend what the team has done so far. It would also likely bother Feliciano, who is determined to revitalize his career at center.

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Bleacher Report says Ravens should sign these two free agents before 2022 NFL draft

Bleacher Report says that the Ravens should sign these two free agents before the 2022 draft

The Baltimore Ravens have signed multiple big-time free agents over the course of the 2022 free agency period including safety Marcus Williams, who inked a five-year, $70 million deal with the team. However, they could decide that they want to make even more moves and add more veterans to their roster.

When looking at potential free agent deals that he think should happen before the 2022 NFL draft, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named Baltimore as a destination for two of the top players still remaining, the first being running back Melvin Gordon III. Knox explains that Gordon would be great veteran insurance for J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill, all of which are coming off of serious injuries.

“Baltimore should go ahead and get a deal done with Gordon before the draft. Running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill are all coming off season-ending injuries, and the Ravens need depth at the absolute best. At worst, their backfield won’t be ready for Week 1…Yes, the Ravens could take a back in the draft, but signing Gordon now would allow them to use their capital on other areas of need.”

After Gordon, Knox names center JC Tretter as another player he’d like to see in a Ravens uniform before the draft. Knox talks about how Tretter would make more sense for Baltimore than a player in the draft such as former University of Iowa star Tyler Linderbaum.

“Signing the 31-year-old Tretter would give Baltimore a reliable starter at center and take the position out of the early-draft equation. Why reach for Linderbaum at No. 14 or hope he falls to Round 2 when the Ravens can sign Tretter and address other positions instead? It wouldn’t make sense. Signing Tretter as soon as possible would.”

Gordon would fit in well behind Dobbins and Edwards, but the Ravens can’t afford to commit too much money to him if they were to sign the veteran. They need to create cap space, and spending too much of it on a running back could prevent them from looking at other needs. In the case of Tretter, he would be a phenomenal fit, but Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh already all but shut down any free agent center being brought in by the team during the 2022 owners meetings.

4 takeaways from Ravens HC John Harbaugh’s press conference at 2022 owners meetings

We look at four takeaways from Ravens head coach John Harbaugh’s 2022 press conference at the 2022 owners meetings

There are plenty of questions surrounding the Baltimore Ravens as they continue to march on through the 2022 offseason. The team has made some solid additions in free agency and also has 10 draft picks in next month’s draft, including nine in the first four rounds.

On Monday, Harbaugh sat down and spoke to the media during the 2022 NFL owners meetings. He answered questions on a plethora of different topics, including updates on injured players, his thoughts on new additions to the team and more.

Below we look at four takeaways from Harbaugh’s press conference with the media from the owners meetings on Monday.

Bleacher Report names one move Ravens should still make in 2022 free agency

Bleacher Report named one move that the Ravens should still make in 2022 free agency

The 2022 NFL free agency period kicked off last Monday, and there has been pandemonium in the NFL ever since, especially in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens have made a few splash moves themselves, bringing in safety Marcus Williams, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive tackle Michael Pierce.

Despite making those moves, there are others that the team could make in the coming days and weeks. When listing out one move that each NFL team should still make in 2022 free agency, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report said that the Ravens should sign center JC Tretter. When explaining his decision, Knox talked about how reliable the former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman has been over the years.

“The Browns released JC Tretter at the onset of free agency in a cap-saving move. The release likely had nothing to do with Tretter’s reliability, which has been tremendous over the last five years…Over the past five seasons, Tretter missed only one game—on the reserve/COVID-19 list—and none due to injury. He also played 100 percent of the snaps when active with the Browns. The 31-year-old isn’t a player Baltimore can build around for the next decade, but he’s a plug-and-play guy who can lock down center for the next three-to-five years with no concerns.”

Tretter is an eight year veteran, and has been one of the best at his position for a while. After losing center Bradley Bozeman to the Carolina Panthers, Tretter would be the best replacement for Baltimore, as he’d give them a solid option in the middle of their offensive line.

The Browns are releasing center JC Tretter

Cutting Tretter saves the Browns over $8 million in cap room for 2022

JC Tretter’s time in Cleveland is coming to an end. The Browns are releasing their longtime starting center.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news, which was quickly confirmed by several Cleveland sources.

The move saves the Browns $8.235 million in salary cap room. Tretter had one year remaining on his contract with Cleveland. He had started every game but one since joining the Browns prior to the 2017 season. Tretter also serves as the NFLPA president, a situation that sometimes pitted him against teammates or the team.

The Browns do have an in-house replacement in Nick Harris, now entering his third season.