Tag: Will Fuller

Podcast: Clowney’s return, other defensive free agents and Fuller rumors

In today’s Browns Wire Podcast, talking Clowney’s return, who could be next for the defense and hit on the new Will Fuller talk:

The Cleveland Browns continued to make moves this offseason, this time bringing back DE Jadeveon Clowney on a one-year deal. Clowney’s return, along with his encouragement to Deshaun Watson to waive his no-trade clause, is a big part of what the team hopes to be on the defensive side of the ball.

In today’s Browns Wire Podcast, we talk about why Clowney is the perfect fit, how he impacts the other defensive ends and what might be next for Cleveland in bringing in other defensive free agents.

We also touch on the recent talk about WR Will Fuller coming to the Browns to reunite with Watson. The thing Watson to Fuller did well in Houston they did it very well but is there a fit and room in Cleveland?

As always, check out the show’s page and make sure you subscribe, like and rate wherever you get your podcasts.

Athletic player comparisons for the Detroit Lions 2022 draft class

The Detroit Lions 2022 draft class athleticism compares favorably to strong NFL players and gives an idea what might be on the horizon

The dust has settled on the second Detroit Lions draft class under Brad Holmes, and a theme is starting to become quite clear. Under the Holmes/Campbell regime, they value high character players, especially those who were team captains. On top of that, they covet prospects with primer athleticism.

Detroit walked away with one of the top athletic classes in the 2022 draft and will look to continue building its foundation with potential cornerstone players and strong depth rounding out the roster. We will get our first glimpse of these prospects with minicamp right around the corner, but what kind of comparisons can we make on these players?

Using Player Profiler’s best player comparison feature and the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) tool, we can create a picture of what we could expect from these prospects from an athletic perspective.

Here are the best comparisons for the Lions 2022 draft class.

10 best remaining free agents the Eagles should target after NFL draft

10 best remaining free agents the Philadelphia Eagles should target after the NFL draft

The NFL draft is a wrap and as the Eagles work towards building for the 2022 regular season opener, there are still holes to be filled on the roster.

Defense headlines the list, with several guys making the group that would allow Jonathan Gannon to display even more versatility with his defensive packages.

The only position lacking an immediate starter is the cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay, and as Philadelphia waits for high-value free agents to sign for less, we’ve identified 10 players that shouldn’t break the bank, nor disrupt the growing culture being built by Nick Sirianni.

7 more moves the Eagles should make in NFL free agency

7 more moves the Philadelphia Eagles should make in NFL free agency

We’re just 24 days away from the start of the 2022 NFL draft and that’s plenty of time for the Eagles to continue adding depth to the roster via free agency.

Philadelphia is looking for starters at cornerback and safety while adding depth at wide receiver, defensive tackle, and edge rusher could make the roster even more formidable heading into the 2022 regular season.

With the AFC loaded and NFC up for grabs, the Eagles have the cap space and roster flexibility to add more talent without sacrificing finances.

Here are seven more moves Philadelphia can make in free agency.

4 deep-threat wide receivers the Saints can pair with Jameis Winston

The Saints must invest in their wide receivers after re-signing Jameis Winston, and there are options both in free agency and the 2022 draft, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

Now that Jameis Winston is set to return as the New Orleans Saints quarterback in 2022, the team will begin to address the offense around him. While the loss of Terron Armstead leaves a big hole on the offensive line that must been tended to, the Saints will look to add talent at pass-catcher as well. Having the quarterback and offensive line in place will be important but, as we saw in 2021, the team will struggle without viable receivers.

The expected return of Michael Thomas, who holds the NFL single-season record for most receptions, will obviously help improve the situation. However, the Saints should be intent on adding talent around him, particularly talent on the perimeter. New Orleans is in need of a field-stretching receiver that can add a complementary deep threat to the team’s passing attack. Here are four options New Orleans could pursue this offseason to serve that role.

Pro Football Focus names WR Will Fuller V as Saints’ perfect free agent fit

Pro Football Focus names Dolphins wide receiver Will Fuller V as Saints’ perfect free agent fit, via @DillySanders:

With free agency looming, Pro Football Focus analyst Ben Linsley listed one perfect free agency signing for every NFL team. For the New Orleans Saints, Linsley assigned wide receiver Will Fuller V. As for his reasoning for the selection, Linsley said this:

The return of Michael Thomas should give a shot of life to the Saints passing offense, but they could still use a wide receiver who can challenge defenses vertically. There’s no guarantee that you’re going to get 17-plus games of Fuller in 2022, as the veteran’s one-year deal with the Dolphins last season highlights.

Chances are that his next team doesn’t get a full season, but the big-play ability he brings to the table is worth taking a flier on with a one-year deal for a team with a tight cap situation like New Orleans, though. Fuller graded in the 92nd percentile of all wide receivers in receiving grade vs. single coverage in 2020, the last time he saw significant action.

PPFF projects a one year $7 million contract with $6 million in guaranteed money for Fuller in this free agency period. While I do have love for Fuller, after using him for years on Madden and always accruing ridiculous statistics against my friends, I do not believe that he is the perfect answer for the Saints in free agency. His role as a deep threat could be addressed easily during the draft in mid to late rounds or with an even cheaper free agent.

Zay Jones and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are also both just sitting there and would each be better options for the Saints, in my opinion. Those may not be the superstar, homerun signings Saints fans are looking for, but that’s not the role we would even be filling with Fuller in the first place.

While Fuller may bring more talent than some others on a surface level, the cliché saying “the best ability is availability” should be taken very seriously when taking a look at potentially signing Fuller. Fuller has never played a full season in the NFL, his most appearances coming during his rookie year of 2016. He played in 14 games that season. The Dolphins signed him to a one year, $10.6 million deal just last off-season to then only get two games and eight targets out of him.

It pains me to say all of this, as a noted Fuller fan for his entire career, but I don’t believe the Saints can afford to be the ones to take that risk. I mean that both literally and figuratively.

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Looking at Chiefs’ potential free agent options at wide receiver

Our @Nicolas_Roesch takes a look at some pending free agent wide receivers that the #Chiefs could be interested in.

The wide receiver group for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 was a mixed bag behind Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill.

Guys like Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle made some big plays, but also made their fair share of mistakes. Demarcus Robinson regressed from 45 catches for 466 yards in 2020 to 25 catches for 264 yards in 2021. The mid-season signing of Josh Gordon was a bust as he caught just five passes for Kansas City and didn’t even log a snap during the playoffs.

It’s clear that a shakeup is needed within the position group. The Chiefs’ offense needs a legitimate option besides Hill and tight end Travis Kelce for defenses to respect. There are plenty of big-name free agent receivers available this offseason, giving K.C. a shot to land one of the best.

Let’s look at some of the options:

Ranking the Texans’ ‘Walmart receivers’ from 2020

If the Houston Texans’ 2020 receiving corps were categorized by the type of retail store they were, how would they compare?

The Houston Texans receiving corps in 2020 was like the box store retailer Walmart: affordable.

So says Quincy Avery, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson’s personal quarterbacks coach. The signal caller whisperer joined The Ringer’s The Ryen Russillo Podcast, and opined about the paucity of weapons Watson had throughout the 2020 season.

“(People) might have forgot that his last year in Houston, when he played, he was carrying like three guys who could have been working at your local Walmart at the receiver position and he went absolutely berserk,” Avery said via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. “If he gets on a team with any sort of talent around him, somebody’s going to have to really watch out.”

With that as a framework, here is a look at the Texans’ receivers categorized by what type of retail store fits their 2020 production. Note: this ranking includes receivers only, not tight ends and running backs.

1 pending free agent the Eagles could target from each AFC team

With some big names set to hit the open market, we’re looking at 1 pending #NFL free agent the #Philadelphia #Eagles could target from each #AFC team

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter the 2022 NFL offseason with several pressing needs, and the free-agent period offers the opportunity to sign a polished veteran from other talent-filled teams.

Howie Roseman is stacked with assets and will look to fill holes or urgent needs at wide receiver, cornerback, and safety, among others.

With several big-name free agents set to hit the open market, we’re looking at the one pending free agent Philadelphia could target from each AFC team.

Dolphins free agent profile: Will Fuller will get another shot somewhere

His next opportunity probably won’t be with the Dolphins.

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The Miami Dolphins and the rest of the NFL are officially onto the offseason. New head coach Mike McDaniel has filled out most of his staff, meaning general manager Chris Grier can start planning for the roster construction for 2022 and beyond.

Miami is set to have 28 free agents this offseason, but one of the more under-the-radar free agents for the team this year is wide receiver Will Fuller, and we all know why.

Fuller signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins last offseason for over $10 million. After missing the first game due to a suspension and the second due to personal issues, Fuller made his debut in Week 3 before suffering a season-ending thumb injury in Week 4 against Indianapolis.

He finished the season appearing in just two games and recording 26 yards on four receptions.

When head coach Brian Flores was asked questions about Fuller’s injury throughout the season, he would respond saying that he was close to returning, but the receiver never did.

Then, in early February, Fuller posted an image on social media of him in a hospital bed with his hand in a cast. It wasn’t made clear when the picture was taken, but if it was recent, the injury was a lot more severe than we were led to believe. And, if that was the case, it leads to questions about whether or not Fuller and Flores had their own issues.

Now, Fuller is set to become a free agent for the second time in his career, and he’s missed at least five games for the fifth straight year. When he’s on the field, he’s a solid second wideout, but that availability problem is a serious concern.

How can anybody give a larger contract to a receiver they can’t trust?

It seems more than likely that Fuller will get a one-year prove-it deal this offseason with the chance to set himself up with one last contract before hitting 30. If he had problems with Flores but McDaniel likes him, it’s not crazy to think that he could end up back in Miami for a lot less money. However, it does seem very unlikely.

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