Tag: Rumors

Report: Browns, Vikings, Jets among teams pursuing Saints DE Trey Hendrickson

New Orleans Saints pending free agent DE Trey Hendrickson reportedly has a hot market, with the Browns, Vikings, and Jets pursuing him.

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Trey Hendrickson is expected to enjoy a busy market as the top New Orleans Saints pending free agent, and NFL insider Josina Anderson has already reported three teams seeking his services. Anderson listed (in no specific order) the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns as three suitors interested in Hendrickson at the opening of the NFL legal tampering window.

Now, we’re in a very fluid situation. No deals can be signed until the new league year begins Wednesday afternoon. Any of these teams could drop out and others could be in play. But it’s clear that Hendrickson’s breakout 2020 season caught the attention of several big spenders.

And there’s quite a demand for accomplished pass rushers. Romeo Okwara returned to the Detroit Lions on a $39 million contract; Shaq Barrett dwarfed that in a $72 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hendrickson should earn comparable money after tying for second-best in the NFL last year with 13.5 sacks.

Of those three teams, the Jets have the most to offer with more than $68 million in cap space; the Browns are expected to be more discerning investors with $24 million to work with, while the Vikings only have roughly $9 million to spend. But Minnesota might have the worst need after logging just 23 sacks as a team last year — New York had 31, and Cleveland bagged 38 but wants to improve with a complimentary edge rusher to Myles Garrett. Let’s see where Hendrickson ends up.

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Much ado about nothing? Russell Wilson not mentioned in season ticket holder letter

The Seahawks sent a letter to their season ticket holders and quarterback Russell Wilson’s name was not mentioned. Much ado about nothing?

Rumors about a possible trade of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson continue to swirl around the internet leading to more and more conspiracy theories about his future (or lack thereof) in Seattle.

One of the latest stories circulating around social media involves a letter recently sent by the organization to season ticket holders. While the letter doesn’t mention every player on the team, one name has “mysteriously” been left out . . . that of the face of the franchise, Mr. Wilson himself.

The letter was penned by Seahawks’ president Chuck Arnold and contained a brief recap of recent team happenings, including some records set last season and some new hires this year. Only a handful of players were actually mentioned, including wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

The lack of Wilson’s name in the letter is likely indicative of absolutely nothing, but for those looking for clues of a potential trade, the evidence could be stacking up.

Much ado about nothing???

Here’s a look at the letter in question – you decide for yourself.

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Tyrann Mathieu: Saints, 49ers or Bears should inquire about Texans QB Deshaun Watson

Tyrann Mathieu weighs in on trade rumors surrounding Texans QB Deshaun Watson.

Kansas City Chiefs DB Tyrann Mathieu is playing matchmaker for one of his former teammates.

With the announcement that the Houston Texans will hire New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio to fill their vacant GM role, rumors have been swirling about the future of Texans star QB Deshaun Watson. Some of that seems to be stemming from a cryptic tweet that happened shortly after the news was announced. Some of it is the typical NFL talking heads drumming up a discussion as the offseason begins for 18 NFL teams, including Houston.

Mathieu played with Watson in 2018, prior to signing with Kansas City. He has immense respect for Watson as a leader, teammate and competitor. Whatever the case heading into the 2021 offseason, Mathieu has some ideas about the NFL teams that should inquire about the veracity of the rumors surrounding his former teammate. He tweeted out three teams who he thinks should be “all in” on the Watson news.

Mathieu believes that the New Orleans Saints, the San Francisco 49ers, or the Chicago Bears should be the teams to reach out and see if Watson would be available in trade. It’s no coincidence that the only teams that came to mind are NFC teams. Mathieu probably doesn’t want to have to play against Watson in the AFC and if the Texans were to make a trade, they’d probably be thinking the same thing.

The Saints make some sense for Watson, especially with recent reports that Drew Brees is expected to announce his retirement after the Saints’ postseason run. The problem there is that they already seem committed financially to making Taysom Hill their next starting quarterback.

After appearing in Super Bowl LIV a season ago, the 49ers were hit with a rash of injuries, dashing their playoff hopes early in the season. There have certainly been questions about Jimmy Garoppolo and it’s not clear if they’re ready to move on from him in San Francisco.

Finally, the Bears have been stuck in quarterback purgatory for years now. Mitchell Trubisky has helped them to the 2020-21 playoffs after a rough start to his career. Trading for Watson would certainly be an admission by their GM that he got it wrong when he traded up and selected Trubisky No. 1 overall back in 2017. Would Ryan Pace be humble enough to do such a thing?

Mathieu certainly raises some interesting options for consideration. So what do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Do those teams make sense as potential destinations for Watson? Do you think he’ll actually be on the trade block? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.

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Video: Jim Harbaugh addresses NFL rumors, Michigan football plans

Though it’s different now after having lost 2 games, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh addresses NFL rumors and his contract.

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh says ‘actions speak louder than words’ in terms of his willingness to continue coaching in comparison to jumping to the NFL, as recent rumors have suggested.

Texans, Bears linked to ex-Saints Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford

The New Orleans Saints cut Larry Warford, their Pro Bowl right guard. The Texans and Bears have already shown interest in the free agent.

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The New Orleans Saints were unable to find a trade partner before releasing right guard Larry Warford, but he’s already receiving interest as a free agent. Warford was called up to the Pro Bowl as an alternate in each of his three seasons with the Saints, but a step back in performance before a contract year in 2020 prompted the team to draft Michigan interior lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of this year’s NFL draft.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported Friday evening that the Houston Texans were a team looking to get in on Warford’s sweepstakes, potentially reuniting him with former teammate Senio Kelemete (who started 14 games at left guard in 2018 before his 2019 campaign ended with a Week 1 wrist injury). The Texans have struggled to field a consistent five-man lineup in front of franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, so Warford’s streak of 101 starts (plus six playoff appearances) would be appealing.

Another team to watch on Warford might be the Chicago Bears. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported that the Bears would consider a run at Warford, whose only hurdle at starting in the Windy City would be Seattle Seahawks draft bust Germain Ifedi (signed by the Bears as a free agent earlier this year). Longtime Saints personnel director Ryan Pace is now the Bears general manager, so he may have a good idea of what Warford offers.

What’s frustrating about this immediate interest from teams around the league is that the Saints apparently couldn’t cut a deal with any of these teams before releasing Warford. That’s probably due to his salary — any team trading for the 29-year-old would be on the hook for his $7.65 million base salary, but now that he’s a free agent they can negotiate a contract much more favorable against the salary cap. It’ll be interesting to see where he lands up.

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2020 Saints schedule release tracker: Instant analysis on every reported kickoff

Reports are already airing on the 2020 schedule of New Orleans Saints games, including a Christmas Day kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings

Our instant tracker for reports and rumors on the 2020 New Orleans Saints schedule is live, so check this space often for updates. But remember that nothing is official until it comes from the team or the NFL itself, with announcements expected to air at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday night.

Here’s what we know so far:

  • Week 1, Sept. 13: Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. This was almost too easy to see coming. Drew Brees versus Tom Brady, in a competition to get an early jump on the race for the NFC South crown? Let’s go.
  • Week 2, Sept. 21: Saints at Las Vegas Raiders. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The Raiders will be hoping to unveil their expensive, Death Star-ish stadium in the desert, and the Saints offer plenty of star power to help bring in more viewers. Hopefully fans will be able to safely attend.
  • Week 3, Sept. 27: Saints vs. Green Bay Packers. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Aaron Rodgers has never beaten the Saints in New Orleans in his career, getting outplayed by a margin of 44-23 in 2014 and floundering against them in a 51-29 loss way back in 2008.
  • Week 4: TBD
  • Week 5, Oct. 12: Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. This might be the last time Brees against his old team, what with his retirement plans at NBC Sports now secured. It’s fitting that he’ll get to play them in the stadium he helped revive against Justin Herbert, the latest rookie quarterback the Chargers have tried to replace him with.
  • Week 6: TBD
  • Week 7: TBD
  • Week 8: TBD
  • Week 9, Nov. 8: Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Here’s a great mid-season rematch of the Saints’ home opener. It’ll be fascinating to see how long it takes Brady to get up to speed in a new offense, surrounding by new faces and part-time professional wrestler Rob Gronkowski.
  • Week 10, Nov. 15: Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers. Via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Last year’s Saints-49ers kickoff was arguably the game of the year. Hopefully things go more in New Orleans’ favor this time. Fortunately, Emmanuel Sanders and the 157 receiving yards he racked up last year have switched sides.
  • Week 11: TBD
  • Week 12: TBD
  • Week 13: TBD
  • Week 14: TBD
  • Week 15: TBD
  • Week 16, Dec. 25: Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings. Via Jeff Duncan of The Athletic. This is a weird one, with the Saints and Vikings playing a rare Friday NFL game. But with the holiday surrounding the game and their fiery streak of recent rivalry games (including a few ugly playoff losses) on everyone’s minds, this matchup should draw plenty of viewers.
  • Week 17: TBD

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Report: Saints opening 2020 season vs. Buccaneers, visiting Raiders on MNF

The New Orleans Saints will host Tom Brady and the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their home opener for the 2020 NFL season, per a report.

The NFL is set to release its schedule of games for the 2020 season at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday night, but reports are already filtering in concerning when the New Orleans Saints will be playing this year. Nothing is official until the team itself reveals its slate of games, so don’t finalize your travel plans just yet.

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football got the scoop on the first few weeks of the 2020 Saints schedule, which begins with an afternoon home opener against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 13. Underhill adds that the Saints and Buccaneers will get a rematch on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 8.

Additionally, Underhill reports that the Saints are scheduled for two Monday Night Football games: in Week 2 at the Las Vegas Raiders, and again in Week 5 versus the Los Angeles Chargers. The Green Bay Packers will visit New Orleans in Week 3, while the San Francisco 49ers will grace the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Week 10.

Stay tuned for updates as more reports come to light throughout the day. But if things follow this early track, this year’s Saints schedule is looking to be as exciting as advertised.

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Which teams could the Saints trade with to get into Round 2?

The New Orleans Saints could move up into the early picks of the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by trading with teams like the Dolphins.

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The second round of the 2020 NFL Draft is going to be filled with intrigue, if the latest reports are any indication. The New Orleans Saints were among several teams actively working to trade up and secure a pick early on Friday night, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport rattling them off in a list that included the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Atlanta Falcons. Each of those teams could end up arranging a deal to climb up in the second round, but the Saints would be making the biggest jump. Right now, they don’t even own a second-round pick.

Rapoport also speculated that the Saints could be targeting a cornerback or linebacker with this move. While he didn’t specify which position the Saints might want to address so badly, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer also reported that the Saints are busily working the phones to try and find a trade partner before the second round kicks off.

But which teams might be interested in trading down? The Dolphins were one possibility suggested by Rapoport, as were the Indianapolis Colts (at No. 34). Miami owns multiple picks in the second round at Nos. 39 and 56, ironically because the Saints traded with them last year, targeting Erik McCoy. The Dolphins have a history of cutting deals with New Orleans, going back to the Kenny Stills-Dannell Ellerbe trade way back in 2015. Maybe they can work something out again.

Other options to watch would be the Baltimore Ravens (picking at Nos. 55 and 60) and the Chicago Bears (with selections at Nos. 43 and 50). But if the Saints are really wanting to get ahead of their competition, they might need to put a ton of chips on the table and aim even higher. Don’t sleep on another trade with the New England Patriots, who the Saints have often traded with in the past (remember the Brandin Cooks deal?). The Patriots traded down and out of the first round, acquiring the Los Angeles Chargers pick at No. 37.

Whichever direction the Saints end up going, they won’t have lacked for options.

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Rumor: Saints working to get a draft pick early in the second round

The New Orleans Saints are exploring options with possible trade partners slotted to pick high in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished upending fans’ expectations. Having selected Michigan interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they’re now working to make a bold move up the board.

Per a report from the MMQB’s Albert Breer, the Saints are targeting a draft slot “near the top of the second round.” That would put them in position to select one of the top prospects at linebacker, wide receiver, or cornerback, but we really can’t rule anything out (except maybe punter, kicker, and long-snapper).

The difficulty arises from New Orleans lacking a second-round pick in this year’s draft, having traded it already to move up for Erik McCoy in 2019. Their next pick isn’t until No. 88 overall, so the Saints might have to dive into their war chest of 2021 draft picks. They could also trade a veteran player.

And that would follow a precedent. The Saints have often traded next-year selections to make moves in the present, maneuvering the draft board to acquire prospects they value highly. Don’t be shocked if they go back to one of their common trade partners like the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, or Philadelphia Eagles, though it’s worth noting that the Baltimore Ravens are a team with four picks in rounds two and three.

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2020 NFL Draft: Saints among teams actively working to trade up

The New Orleans Saints are one of several teams actively exploring trade possibilities in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton isn’t one to sit idly by while his competition gets better. Payton has traded up in every draft he’s been a part of in New Orleans except for his first, all the way back in 2006. He trusts his scouts to turn in comprehensive reports on college prospects so that his coaches can best project how those players might fit their scheme, and then he gets to work wheeling and dealing draft picks to move with confidence.

The 2020 NFL Draft should go no differently. If anything, the Saints might be more aggressive than usual in the first round. Multiple reports from around the league’s orbit place the Saints among a crowd of teams interested in jumping up and out of the first round’s final selections, targeting higher-graded prospects available earlier on.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted the Saints “have made some noise” about trading up the board on Thursday night, and that New Orleans is typically among the more-frequent movers in the draft. That was echoed by Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who listed the Saints in a group of teams coveting quick-footed options in this year’s dynamic wide receiver class.

However, both Rapoport and Robinson were late to this party: ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported earlier Thursday that the Saints had contacted every team slotted ahead of them in the first round, working on contingencies should a highly-valued prospect slip down the board.

But Russini also said that the Saints could be content to remain at No. 24, trusting their evaluations of prospects at cornerback and all across the offensive line — as well as running back, specifically noting Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor as someone ranked high on their board.

It’s too soon to know whether any of these rumors end up bearing fruit, but it is clear that the Saints are investigating all of their options. They aren’t about to be caught flat-footed in maybe the most important moment of their offseason.

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