Tag: Mike Garafolo

Kevin O’Connell expresses belief in new QB Sam Darnold

Is Sam Darnold’s best football ahead of him? Kevin O’Connell believes it is

Earlier this month, the Minnesota Vikings moved to fill the void left by Kirk Cousins in part by signing quarterback Sam Darnold to a one-year deal. While it’s been made pretty clear — through various Vikings’ brass’ comments along with the contract structure itself — that Darnold is seen as a bridge quarterback, at least one person within the Vikings organization believes Darnold can give the team some quality play in that time.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell stated in an interview with NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo that be believes that Darnold’s “best football is ahead of him”, specifically pointing to how he went 4-2 down the stretch with the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

O’Connell also pointed to Darnold’s work with the San Francisco 49ers and how it’s clear to him that Darnold has put in a lot of work to make progressions as a quarterback. O’Connell believes that the staff with the Vikings can “pick up” where Darnold left of in San Francisco and continue to develop him.

Darnold was a top-5 pick of the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent four years as the starter in New York before landing with the Panthers and then 49ers, in mostly back-up roles. Now Darnold finds himself in Minnesota and is likely going to be the starter heading into the early part of the season while a rookie gets acclimated to the system and league.

Whether or not Darnold starts the entire season remains to be seen, but it’s clear he has at least one person in his corner to start his tenure.

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Jackson Powers-Johnson highlighted as one of top performers at Senior Bowl

Jackson Powers-Johnson is impressing NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl despite going through drills with an injured hamstring.

Everyone at Oregon knows how good center Jackson Powers-Johnson is and now all of the NFL scouts know how good he is.

The Rimington Award winner is impressing those in attendance at the Senior Bowl as his draft stock is rising despite going through drills with a bum hamstring.

He suffered the injury during training leading up to the Senior Bowl activities and JPJ had to exit practice early. According to The Oregonian’s James Crepea, Powers-Johnson will not participate in the remainder of the practices, or the game on Saturday.

But according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, Powers-Johnson has done enough already to show what he can do on the next level. Garafolo pointed out that Powers-Johnson has played all along the offensive line and even on the defensive side of the ball.

NFL scouts love flexibility and that should be in Powers-Johnson’s corner in the future.

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Ravens reportedly scheduling second interview with Broncos OC Justin Outten

Mike Garafolo reports the Baltimore Ravens are scheduling a second interview with Denver Broncos’ OC Justin Outten

With the Baltimore Ravens looking for a new offensive coordinator to take over for Greg Roman, the list of candidates keep increasing.  It’s not surprising that the team is searching and looking at all teams, and are being thorough in their search.  With that said, some candidates are being scheduled to interview for a second time as the hiring process continues.

It is being reported by Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network that the Ravens have scheduled a second interview with Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Justin Outten.  To go along with Outten, second interviews are being held with Dave Canales and Todd Monken as well.

With the news of a second interview for Justin Outten, it adds onto a list of qualified candidates who will get another opportunity to figure out of a fit between them and Baltimore is right. The Ravens have a big offseason ahead, and finding the right option at offensive coordinator is one of the top questions still surrounding the team.

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Bears elevating QB Nathan Peterman to the active roster

With Justin Fields questionable, the Bears are elevating Nathan Peterman from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game.

The Chicago Bears haven’t made a decision on whether or not Justin Fields starts on Sunday against the New York Jets, but their latest roster move might be a strong indication of which way they’re leaning. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports the team is elevating quarterback Nathan Peterman from the practice squad to the active roster, hinting that Fields could be made inactive for the game and Trevor Siemian will start.

Peterman was signed by the Bears this offseason as their third-string quarterback. He played in every preseason game, going 14-of-24 for 178 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Peterman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and has had a rocky career, primarily playing as a backup with the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders. He will likely back up Siemian, who appears on track to make his first start of the season. Fields is officially questionable with a left shoulder injury.

The Bears will announce their inactive players 90 minutes before gametime but this roster move is a strong indication that Fields won’t be playing on Sunday.

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Mike Garafolo thinks Giants QB Daniel Jones will thrive in 2022 … or does he?

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes New York Giants QB Daniel Jones will “thrive” in 2022, although he didn’t sound very convincing.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has believers in John Mara, Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll and others around the organization. He also, apparently, has a believer in NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Well … kind of.

During a debate on which quarterbacks will thrive under new head coaches, Garafolo settled on Jones. He followed that by offering a strong take on Jones’ future before second-guessing himself and then again settling in on Jones.

“Daniel Jones — I’m going to say ‘will’ — will thrive right here,” Garafolo said. “It has to [work]. It has to. They are better up front than they’ve been in the last couple of years.”

Asked point-blank if he believed in Jones as a franchise quarterback, Garafolo waffled for quite a bit of time. He was noncommittal, even asking if a commercial break was coming at one point. However, after mulling it over, the veteran reporter and former Giants beat writer doubled down.

Again … kind of.

“I think he will thrive, I think he will ascend. . . . I think he’s going to play better and I think he’s got a shot to convince me he’s a franchise quarterback,” Garafolo said. “I believe that Daniel Jones under Brian Daboll, and with a better offensive line and a better situation this year, is going to cement his status as the Giants’ starter in 2023.

“That’s what I think he’s going to do this year, and that is thriving.”

Garafolo wouldn’t commit to Jones long-term (specifically looking as far ahead as 2026) but does expect a significant improvement from the former first-round pick this season.

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Chiefs not close on long-term deal with LT Orlando Brown Jr.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the #Chiefs and LT Orlando Brown Jr. are not close on a long-term deal with a deadline fast approaching.

The latest update on the contract situation with Kansas City Chiefs LT Orlando Brown Jr. is not quite as optimistic as we heard late last week.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs and Brown Jr. are not currently close on a deal. They have just three days left before the deadline to sign franchise-tagged players to long-term contract extensions (July 15). Right now, it sounds like the deal that Kansas City has presented is not in line with left tackle money.

“He and his representation have spoken to the Chiefs in recent days regarding a potential contract extension, which must be done before Friday, otherwise he can only play on the one-year franchise tender,” Garafolo said. “I spoke to Jammal Brown, the former NFL offensive tackle who is serving as a mentor for Orlando, and he said that the sides are nowhere close on a deal and that they’re not just going to, “Do a deal just to do a deal.” Jammal Brown did not get into specifics, but my understanding is the offer to Orlando Brown, who wants to be paid at the top of the left tackle market, which is $23 million per year, are more in line with the top of the right tackle market. Brown moved from the right side to the left side, he wanted to make that move, which is why he was traded from Baltimore to Kansas City. So you could imagine how that is sitting with him.”

Garafolo has been pretty plugged into the situation with Brown all offseason and clearly has a connection with his off-field mentor. Should a deal not get done between Kansas City and Brown Jr., it could bleed into training camp and the regular season.

“Here is the rub,” Garafolo said. “If there is no long-term deal. I am not expecting Orlando Brown for the start of training camp or really any time during training camp. That is my understanding. Remember, he hasn’t signed the (franchise) tag, so he can’t be fined if he’s not there. Even Week 1 is in question. So let’s see how this plays out over the next couple of days. Like I said, the sides are far apart. I’m not expecting a deal and that could have ripple effects for Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector down the line.”

Right now, this feels a bit like a game of chicken and it’s not clear which side will blink first. There is still time for both sides to agree upon a deal and this could simply be a tactic to try and get more out of the Chiefs ahead of the deadline.

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Report: Jarran Reed wanted out of Seattle after being denied extension

NFL reporter Mike Garafolo is reporting former Seahawks DT Jarran Reed wanted out of Seattle because he was denied an extension.

Defensive tackle Jarran Reed signed with the Kansas City Chiefs two days ago, five days after the Seattle Seahawks released him, and Mike Garafolo shed some light on the circumstances surrounding the veteran defensive tackle’s release on Good Morning Football.

Garafolo revealed that Reed became upset over the Seahawks denying him a long-term contract extension and was “not feeling the love” from the organization as a result. Reed was fully aware that he would have made millions more if he stayed in the Emerald City, but he decided he wanted out.

Reed’s one-year contract with Kansas City is worth $7 million including $5 million guaranteed.

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Seahawks and Shaquill Griffin ‘not in same ballpark’ on money

The Seattle Seahawks and unrestricted free agent Shaquill Griffin are still “not in the same ballpark” when it comes to a new contract.

The official start of free agency is still two days away but the legal tampering period with regards to unrestricted free agents kicked off Monday morning.

Seattle usually makes few if any splashy moves in the first wave of free agency and this year isn’t figuring to look much different. But . . . there are a number of storylines out there surrounding the Seahawks pending free agents and whether they stay in Seattle or go elsewhere.

One of the players to keep a close eye on is cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who is in the top tier of potential available players at his position. Seattle opted not to tag Griffin but still hopes to work a deal to keep him in the Emerald City.

However, the two sides don’t seem to be on the same page when it comes to a fair price tag.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo provided the following update on the Griffin situation on Monday morning.

“The Seahawks would love to have him back,” Garafalo said. “But they’ve had some discussions and are not in the same ballpark on money right now. So Griffin is going to go to the market and see what’s available there and Seattle is saying ‘keep us in the loop, we’d be interested in having you back at a certain number.'”

Garafolo made no mention of what that magic number would be, but it’s safe to assume it is less than Griffin believes he could command on the open, free-agent market.

You can follow all the latest Seahawks moves as they happen on our live tracker.

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Mike Garafolo: Antonio Brown has interest in Seahawks for 2020

Last week, NFL insider Mike Garafolo told 950 KJR that sources told him that wide receiver Antonio Brown has an interest in the Seahawks.

NFL insider Mike Garafolo appeared on 950 KJR last week and revealed that a source close to him said free-agent, wide receiver Antonio Brown has an interest in playing in the Emerald City in 2020.

“When the Tampa Bay thing came up the other day, I spoke to someone close to Antonio Brown and that person said, ‘All I know is he wants to go to Seattle,’” Garafolo said. “That’s what I was told from someone close to him, that he wants to go to Seattle but they don’t know if it’s going to wind up happening.”

If this is true, then the interest is mutual, as Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson recruited Brown to Seattle earlier in the offseason.

“But look – put it all together. There’s interest from Seattle and there’s interest from Russell Wilson,” Garafolo continued. “Russell Wilson would love to have him at the other end of his passes and I think the Seahawks know that.”

Garafolo stated that Brown is looking to join a team that can contend for a Super Bowl above all else, and Seattle seems to fit.

“My understanding is that (Brown’s) got a select few teams he would go to,” Garafolo said. “He wants to go to a team with a good, exciting quarterback and a team that can win and the Seahawks fit both of those bills right there.”

Because of Brown’s well-documented character issues throughout the past few years, he does not have a clear presumed destination. However, his talent as a wide receiver is undeniable and that will be the reason he ends up playing in 2020 if a team signs him.

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Mike Garafolo believes Gardner Minshew, D.J. Chark will be best QB/WR duo in AFC South

NFL insider Mike Garafolo really likes what he saw out of Chark and Minshew in 2019 and believes they could be the AFC South’s top QB/WR duo.

When looking at the national perception surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, fans would be hard-pressed to find an analyst high on the team. A big reason for that is the personnel they have on offense as many aren’t high on either quarterback Gardner Minshew II or the personnel around him.

Despite all of the negative feedback, however, it appears that at least one national analyst isn’t quite ready to count the Jags’ offense out. That analyst’s name is NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, who singled out Minshew and receiver D.J. Chark as the best duo in the AFC South Friday on “Good Morning Football.”

 

Garafolo makes some great points about Minshew’s numbers being better than those of 2019 first overall pick and Rookie of the Year, Kyler Murray, in certain areas. As mentioned, the Arizona rookie had a lower quarterback rating (Murray’s was 87.4, Minshew’s 91.2), threw for one less touchdown (Minshew had 21), and threw double the amount of picks (Murray had six to Minshew’s 12). However, with him not getting more of a national spotlight playing in Jacksonville, his achievements have been heavily overlooked just like fellow 2019 draftee Josh Allen, who quietly went to the Pro Bowl and truly earned the nomination.

As for Chark, he was the Jags’ most improved player and his bond with Minshew was pretty fun to watch. In fact, their connection was so strong that Chark linked up with Minshew for four touchdowns within the first five games of the season. Additionally, all but two of Chark’s receptions came from Minshew during that period and the two linked up for 25 receptions and 443 receiving yards. So yeah, Garafolo is right to single out the pairing.

Now, with a year under their belts and a coordinator in Jay Gruden who most feel will be an upgrade over John DeFilippo, it will be interesting to see if Chark and Minshew take another step. If they do, the Jags could prove a lot of their doubters wrong and reach the .500 mark this season or maybe even better.