Tag: lynn bowden

Saints aren’t tendering wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr.

The Saints aren’t tendering Lynn Bowden Jr., which means only 3 of the 11 wide receivers who played for them last year are set to return for 2024:

Get ready for a new-look New Orleans Saints wide receiver corps in 2024. The Saints will not be tendering veteran wideout Lynn Bowden Jr., per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, which will make him a free agent when the new league year begins on March 13.

This isn’t too surprising in itself. Bowden primarily worked as a blocker and decoy for the Saints, only drawing 16 targets in 15 games last year while catching 11 passes for 83 yards, picking up a pair of first downs. He also recorded 5 rushing attempts for 32 yards on the ground, moving the chains three times. He was a serviceable emergency returns specialist, averaging 7.6 yards per punt return and 21.3 yards per kick return. That isn’t production teams pay top-dollar for.

But things are interesting under the surface. Fowler initially said that Bowden was an exclusive rights free agent, not a restricted free agent, which he later said was a mistake. Not tendering Bowden as a restricted free agent made sense because it costs at least $2,985,000. Re-signing Bowden at the league-minimum salary is an option.

Maybe he returns later as a minimum signing, but it’s possible that the Saints will be moving on as offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak revamps the receiving corps. Bowden is the latest wideout from New Orleans’ 2023 team to depart thus far. Let’s break it down:

  • Michael Thomas will enter free agency on Wednesday after being released from his contract
  • Marquez Callaway signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after his practice squad deal expired
  • Shaquan Davis chose to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in similar circumstances
  • Kirk Merritt is playing for the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks
  • Jontre Kirklin is with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas as well
  • Keith Kirkwood will be an unrestricted free agent, too
  • If you’re curious, the Detroit Lions signed Tre’Quan Smith

Which leaves Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry as the only receivers returning for the 2024 season (so far). It’s possible Kirkwood and Bowden return at some point but Kubiak has a big opportunity to retool this depth chart. Stay tuned to learn what his plan for accomplishing that is.

Update: Fowler corrected his report, clarifying that Bowden was a restricted free agent (RFA), not an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA). So that confusion can be chalked up to a typo. Maybe the NFL can workshop some abbreviations which aren’t so easy to mistake for one another?

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12 free agents Giants could target based on coaching hires

These 12 free agents could become free agent targets of the New York Giants based on their offseason coaching and coordinator hires.

The New York Giants significantly overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, changing two of their three coordinators while also switching out a multitude of assistant coaches.

Because of those changes, the team will need to readjust their personnel by way of free agency and the 2024 NFL draft in an effort to match talent with the new schemes.

As a reminder, here are the notable coaching changes:

  • Defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen
  • Special teams coordinator, Michael Ghobrial
  • Running backs coach, Joel Thomas
  • Offensive line coach, Carmen Bricillo
  • Tight ends coach, Tim Kelly

These new arrivals create an interesting dynamic headed into free agency. They are intimately familiar with several of the available players and have developed trust with them over the years.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean any or all of them will be signed by the Giants, there is likely to be some crossover.

Here is a look at 12 impending free agents the Giants could target based on the above coaching changes/hires.

Rookie wide receiver Shaquan Davis activated from Saints injury list

Rookie wide receiver Shaquan Davis has been activated from the New Orleans Saints injured/practice squad list:

This is good to see: the New Orleans Saints announced that rookie wide receiver Shaquan Davis has been activated from the practice squad injury list, taking a vacancy created by the release of safety Daniel Sorensen earlier this week.

Davis signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State and quickly won over the fanbase with some big catches in preseason. He has rare size at a listed 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds.

Injuries have been stacking up at receiver for New Orleans, so there’s a chance Davis could hear his number called soon. Michael Thomas is on injured reserve with a knee injury and a thigh issue has sidelined Rashid Shaheed in recent weeks. Chris Olave didn’t practice Thursday while dealing with an illness.

Other receivers available this week include rookie sixth-round pick A.T. Perry, veterans Lynn Bowden Jr. and Keith Kirkwood, with backups Marquez Callaway and Jontre Kirklin on the practice squad. Stay tuned for game status updates after Friday’s practice session.

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What are the Saints waiting on to let A.T. Perry dress out on game days?

What are the Saints waiting on to let A.T. Perry dress out on game days? They aren’t getting enough out of the other players in their receiving corps to justify leaving him on the bench:

When the New Orleans Saints offense is performing as poorly as it has, every single decision is going under the microscope. Pete Carmichael’s unit has failed to score 25 points in each of their last 10 games. They’ve scored 25 or more points in just six of his 21 games calling plays. So every decision, no matter how small, warrants scrutiny.

Which is why we’re wondering what the plan is for a sixth-round draft pick who hasn’t gotten on the field through five games. What are the Saints waiting on to give A.T. Perry a shot and at least dress him out on game days?

It’s not like the other receivers ahead of him on the depth chart are impressing anyone. And we aren’t talking about Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, or Rashid Shaheed, just to be clear. The other players rounding out the depth chart have left a lot to be desired.

Keith Kirkwood has stepped into Tre’Quan Smith’s old role as a run-blocking specialist — 51 of his 75 snaps have come in that role, telling defenses what the plan is whenever he’s on the field. All three of the passes thrown his way have fallen incomplete.

The decision to play Lynn Bowden Jr. ahead of Perry is even more suspect. He dropped his only target going into Week 5 and has botched his blocking assignments, which isn’t too surprising; he doesn’t have the frame and strength to execute those jobs. He’s built for return duties on special teams at a listed 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds, but the Saints aren’t using him in that role. So why is he getting the nod over Perry?

It’s true that Perry was a more-limited player coming out of college than fans anticipated. He primarily lined up at split end at Wake Forest, giving him few opportunities to work out of the slot, so the Saints have had to coach him up and prepare him for a wider variety of assignments. But is he not ready for the 15 snaps per game that Kirkwood and Bowden have combined for? Is there no way to get the ball to a 6-foot-5, 205-pound rookie eager to make a name for himself in the league?

Every aspect of the Saints offense deserves criticism given how poorly they’ve played over the last calendar year, not just these four games. At some point they must change some things and put different players in position to try and breathe some life into their offense. They need all the help they can get.

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All 3 wide receivers on Saints’ practice squad could be called up in 2023

Shaquan Davis cleared waivers and was added to New Orleans Saints practice squad. He is joined by two fellow wide receivers | @southexclusives

The New Orleans Saints were loaded at wide receiver headed into camp. That was a frequent topic of conversation as it is completely opposite from last year. Some of the moves didn’t work out, but you also had a nice surprise in Keith Kirkwood having a strong training camp. The depth of that position resulted in Shaquan Davis being waived after a strong end to training camp.

The Saints chose to keep six wide receivers on the roster this year: A.T. Perry, Chris Olave, Keith Kirkwood, Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, and Rashid Shaheed. They, then, added three more to the practice squad. All three have potential to be called up to the main roster at some point in the season, whether it’s for helping on special teams returning kicks or covering them — or making plays on offense should unexpected absences flare up.

Here’s who made the cut:

Saints sign multiple free agents after minicamp tryouts

The Saints added three offensive players Thursday in a wave of roster moves after tryouts at their minicamp practices this week: | @crissy_froyd

The New Orleans Saints announced a series of roster moves on Thursday evening, noting that the team had added three new offensive players after tryouts at minicamp. They’ll have opportunities to compete for roster spots during training camp and this summer’s preseason games, but each of these players is very much on the bubble going deeper into the offseason. Get to know the newest members of the black and gold:

Patriots 2023 NFL draft preview: Where do Patriots stand at WR?

Mac Jones could use another big target. Will the Patriots draft a receiver in the first round?

The wide receiver position has long been a thorn in the side of the New England Patriots.

Even when Tom Brady was still under center, the Patriots struggled to keep top receiving talent on the field. It obviously isn’t due to a lack of trying considering they’ve used a first and second-round pick on a wideout in two of the last four NFL drafts.

The team has struggled drafting and developing players at the position. They also haven’t prioritized spending a lot of money for elite, playmaking receivers. Will this finally be the year where they go after one of the top wideouts on the draft board and hit a home run with the selection?

Let’s break down where the Patriots stand right now at the position ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

WATCH: Mac Jones and teammates bond with night out bowling

Mac Jones and some of his Patriots teammates enjoyed a fun evening out on Wednesday.

There’s nothing like a little team bonding to take the edge off after getting back into the groove of NFL workouts.

Several New England Patriots players, including quarterback Mac Jones, running back J.J. Taylor and wideouts Tyquan Thornton, Kendrick Bourne and Lynn Bowden, got together for a game of bowling on Wednesday to help take the edge off.

A little team bonding goes a long way for what is obviously a tight-knit offensive unit, regardless of the struggles they endured throughout the 2022 season.

They’ve stuck together through the good and bad. Hopefully, there’s less of the latter in 2023 with Bill O’Brien taking the reins of the offense.

The offseason workout program is currently underway for the Patriots, and the team is trying to get an early start on preparing for the season.

Jones will be tasked with helping to lead the team back to relevance after they missed the playoffs for a second time in three years. The climb will be as steep as it’s ever been in a much-improved AFC East division suddenly filled with contenders.

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List of Patriots practice squad players not signed to future contracts

These players were not signed to future contracts by the Patriots.

The New England Patriots are making the necessary preparations for a long offseason ahead, including the planning of their 2023 practice squad.

After the team signed 11 players to future contracts last week, that leaves at least five more pending free agents. Keep in mind, some of the names on the list are players that have been involved in at least some way with the Patriots organization off and on.

So there’s a chance they could be back at some point.

Granted, the Patriots are hopeful to have an overall healthier season to avoid leaning too heavily on their practice squad for help, which was often the case throughout the 2022 season.

But then again, it’s always a good thing to have options, and one of the players not signed to a future deal could prove to be an option to either the Patriots or another team down the road.

Browns linked with multiple players in trade speculation piece

With rosters having to be cut to 53 men in a couple of weeks, trade speculation will ramp up. PFF has a few names connected to the Browns in this piece:

Unfortunately, the Cleveland Browns continue to be the center of the NFL drama with QB Deshaun Watson’s discipline still up in the air almost two months after Judge Sue Robinson’s hearing completion. There have been rumors that QB Jimmy Garoppolo could come in if Watson is out for the entire season.

Even RB Kareem Hunt asked for a trade and didn’t practice in team drills for a day.

A lot of drama and we are still almost a month away from the team’s season kicking off.

All around the NFL, teams will work to get their rosters down to their initial 53-man group. One way that will happen is through trades especially some on the lower end of rosters.

Pro Football Focus posted an article with 10 potential trade candidates and, not surprisingly, Cleveland was connected to quite a few of the names. First, Hunt and Garoppolo were mentioned. Hunt was given a fifth-round trade value with Buffalo, New Orleans and Philadelphia all listed as possible fits.

Interestingly, PFF believes that Garoppolo will be released soon which would open him up to sign with any team he wants including the Browns. Seattle is also listed as a potential fit. Not having to give up trade assets and being able to negotiate a lower salary could make former second rounder more interesting to teams.

Finally, Lynn Bowden Jr. from the Miami Dolphins was listed as a fit to come to Cleveland. The versatile wide receiver, running back and kick returner was a third-round pick in 2020. After 28 receptions for 211 yards as a rookie, the Youngstown, Ohio native missed last season with a hamstring injury.

Bowden could help replace the injured Jakeem Grant and PFF assigned him a seventh-round trade value.

The Browns could be very active in the ramp-up to opening the season with their initial 53-man roster. Trades could just be one part of that process.

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