The Week in NFL News - 3/10

Photo: USA Today Sports

Atlanta

Calvin Ridley was suspended for one year for betting on football

Why It Matters: The trade market for Ridley was hot, with the Browns and Patriots strong contenders to acquire his services, but the Falcons knew he was under investigation and did not trade him. Now Ridley will sit a year and likely be traded in 2023. He was turned in by a sportsbook and the league acted decisively to send a message to players about the severity of damaging the integrity of the outcome of games by gambling, even if you gamble a relatively small amount on bets that include your team winning, as Ridley did. This doesn’t change the outlook for Kyle Pitts or any other part of the Falcons passing game as Ridley wasn’t expected to be with the team this season.

Buffalo

The Bills have given Cole Beasley permission to seek a trade, but GM Brandon Beane said “no door has been closed” when asked about his status

Why It Matters: Emmanuel Sanders and Isaiah McKenzie are free agents, so it’s possible that three of the top six targets in the 2021 Bills passing game aren’t with the team this season. That would boost Gabriel Davis and Dawson Knox, although the team obviously would look to reload at wide receiver in the meantime (they did just re-sign Jake Kumerow in a move that could affect the bottom of the depth chart). Beasley is due 4.9 million plus 1.2 million bonuses coming off of a down year in terms of efficiency and production.

Carolina

David Newton of ESPN reports that the Panthers are open to trading Christian McCaffrey for a first-round pick and another player who doesn’t have a high cap number

Why It Matters: McCaffrey is only due 8.4 million this year with no guaranteed money after that and reasonable salaries in the 11-12 million dollar range, but a team might be wary of paying a first-round pick plus another cost-controlled asset when McCaffrey has broken down each of the last two seasons. The Panthers are the latest team to have remorse about giving a top running back a second contract at market value. The league seems to be wising up as the Giants' new regime didn’t find any significant trade interest in Saquon Barkley, who will be a free agent in 2023.

Cincinnati

The Bengals used the franchise tag on Jessie Bates

Why It Matters: This was expected as Bates' 12.9 million tag salary is reasonable and he has been a linchpin of the Bengals secondary. The team is obviously in a championship window and with Joe Burrow on a rookie contract, they will be aggressive about retaining and adding pieces to keep them in that window.

Cleveland

The Browns used the franchise tag on David Njoku. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the team still plans to keep Austin Hooper.

Why It Matters: Njoku has flashed his considerable athletic gifts in limited duty with the Browns, so this precludes him from finding greener fantasy pastures in free agency. The Browns still need to make a decision on Jarvis Landry and should be big players at wide receiver this offseason, so it looks like Njoku’s potential breakout season has been delayed for at least another year, especially if Fowler’s report is correct. Harrison Bryant’s short-term value also takes a hit with this news.

Dallas

The Cowboys used the franchise tag on Dalton Schultz

Why It Matters: Schultz should remain at least his solid TE1 2021 fantasy value, if not grow with a reshaping of the team’s passing game possibly on tap depending on who they keep and who leaves from a wide receiver group in flux. Schultz could still get a long-term deal and he has excellent chemistry with Dak Prescott. Blake Jarwin recently underwent hip surgery for an injury that is rare among football players, further enhancing the top end of Schultz’s range of outcomes for 2022.

Adam Schefter reports that the Cowboys are expected to release Amari Cooper, and reported on March 4 that the team is close to re-signing Michael Gallup.

Why It Matters: Cooper is due 20 million and would only cost the team 6 million if he is released. The team hasn’t found significant trade interest in Cooper, so we should expect Cooper to be let go. Washington showed significant interest in him in the past. The Gallup deal hasn’t been consummated, so it’s possible Gallup’s camp wants the market to set his value, but the team has had a better relationship with him and he would obviously come a lot cheaper than Cooper, so it’s credible that they would choose to retain him and fellow impending free agent Cedrick Wilson over keeping Cooper.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Demarcus Lawrence was asked to take a pay cut but said no

Why It Matters: Don’t tell Jerry and Stephen Jones that the salary cap isn’t real. Lawrence has been a cornerstone but only played in seven games last year, mostly due to a foot injury. Randy Gregory has finally reached his potential, but he is a free agent, so the team will be forced to choose between the two.

Denver

The Broncos acquired Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and a fifth-round pick

Why It Matters: The move came quickly on the heels of the announcement of Aaron Rodgers' extension with the Packers. GM George Paton did not blink and got a huge upgrade at quarterback for a very reasonable price. The #9 pick this year is not worth as much as a typical year with few true blue-chip prospects in this class, and the first-round pick next year should be in the back half of the first with Wilson at the helm. Fant has arguably been outperformed by Albert Okwuegbunam, who gets a big boost in fantasy value with Fant’s departure, and Harris, while being a solid starter, is 30, turning 31 before the season, and due 7.5 million this year and 8.5 next year, so he’s not a great asset. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, K.J. Hamler, and Javonte Williams all get boosts in value with this move.

Detroit

The Lions re-signed Josh Reynolds to a two-year deal with a $12 million maximum value

Why It Matters: Reynolds is line to be a starter outside after a successful reunion with Jared Goff last year. The Titans signed him to a one-year, $1.75 million deal last year before he was released during the season. Reynolds' contract should look inexpensive once we see the deals handed out to players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers signed a 4-year, $200 million extension with the Packers and used the franchise tag on Davante Adams

Why It Matters: The buzz that Rodgers was going to stay with the Packers despite items that suggested otherwise ended up being correct after all. The Packers cap situation won’t be great in upcoming years as they restructure multiple players to make these contracts possible, but they will be a favorite to easily win the division and hold home-field advantage in the NFC again this season.

Indianapolis

The Washington Commanders swapped picks 42 and 47 in this year’s draft and sent this year’s third round and next year’s third (that can become a second if Wentz plays 70% of the 2022 snaps) to Indianapolis for Carson Wentz

Why It Matters: At least one report indicated that the decision to move on from Wentz happened before the late-season collapse, so the Colts may not have a plan for the successor to Wentz. Matt Ryan, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins are all possibilities as the team sent their 2022 first to Philadelphia in the Wentz trade they made last offseason. The Colts are going to be in on Garoppolo according to Ian Rapoport. Chris Ballard might regret trusting Frank Reich and acquiring Wentz, but he was able to recoup something even after Wentz did nothing but lose value last year despite a 27/7 TD/INT ratio.

Jack Doyle announced his retirement

Why It Matters: Reich loves 2021 fourth-round pick Kylen Granson, and Mo Alie-Cox is a free agent, so Granson could see his role grow by leaps and bounds in the tight end centric offense. Watch free agency to see if the Colts bring back Alie-Cox or add someone else to bolster the position. Doyle was a massive success in his nine-year career when considering his undrafted free agent status in 2013.

Jacksonville

The Jaguars used the franchise on Cam Robinson

Why It Matters: It’s the second straight year the team has used the tag on Robinson, and it will cost about 16 million, totaling about 30 million over the last two years. It is a curious move as an offensive tackle might be the best pick at #1 overall, but instead, they will have three-year starter Jawaan Taylor and 2021 second-round pick Walker Little (who is a left tackle) vie to start at right tackle, with Robinson installed on the left. After having a good combine, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is seen as the leading candidate to go #1, and the Jaguars are expected to be in the market for interior offensive line help now that tackle has been addressed. The team will also attempt to sign Robinson to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline.

Kansas City

The Chiefs used the franchise tag on Orlando Brown

Why It Matters: This is no surprise. The trade for Brown has been a boon for the Chiefs as the biggest move to rebuild an offensive line that let them down in Super Bowl LV.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers re-signed Mike Williams to a three-year, $60 million deal with 40 million guaranteed

Why It Matters: Williams set career highs in catches and yards last year and had the most impact on games that he has had in his five-year career, so this makes sense. The team didn’t have to use the franchise tag and will keep the most important pieces of this budding offense together. He could be a great value at his 5th/6th round early best ball ADP.

Miami

The Dolphins used the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki

Why It Matters: At just under 11 million dollars, the tag value is a reasonable price for Gesicki, who should be a cornerstone of the Mike McDaniel pass offense along with Jaylen Waddle. Gesicki’s current best ball ADP is around the 10th round, which could be way too low in hindsight if McDaniel can work some magic with Tua Tagovailoa and this underachieving offense.

New England

Greg Bedard (Boston Sports Journal) reports that the Patriots have talked to the Panthers about a trade for Robby Anderson. They were also reportedly in on Calvin Ridley before his suspension was handed down.

Why It Matters: With Mac Jones on a rookie deal, the team can still afford to splurge on skill players to upgrade the mediocre offense after spending a ton on Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith. Anderson’s salary is 10 million for 2022 with eight million guaranteed after the Panthers extended him before last season. Whether they get Anderson or not, the Patriots will be pursuing more additions at wide receiver.

The Patriots did not use the franchise tag on cornerback J.C. Jackson

Why It Matters: Jackson has been excellent in a defense that capitalizes on his ability to cover outside receivers, so this wasn’t expected. He should break the bank while the Patriots figure out how to replace him with a current cornerback group of Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant, Joejuan Williams, and Shaun Wade.

Seattle

The Seahawks acquired two first-round picks (2022 #9, 2023), two second-round picks (2022 #41, 2023), Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and a fifth-round pick for Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick

Why It Matters: It appears the Seahawks will be undergoing a rebuilding effort with the oldest head coach in the NFL. The team could take a quarterback at #9, with Kenny Pickett (Pitt) being the most pro-ready and Malik Willis (Liberty) having the best fit and highest ceiling in a run-first offense. Fant and Harris aren’t considerable assets, and Lock isn’t even an asset, so this isn’t much for one of the best quarterbacks of this era. Tyler Lockett could be on the market as the team also released Bobby Wagner, another franchise player who joined the team in the draft the same day that Wilson was selected in 2012. Wagner becomes the top off-ball linebacker in the free-agent class.

Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers used the franchise tag on Chris Godwin

Why It Matters: This is the second straight year the Bucs have used the tag on Godwin. It will cost about 19 million, with a cost of about 35 million over the last two years. The team has a significant number of free agents from last year’s offense, including Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, and Ronald Jones II, so this is an attempt to at least keep the wide receiver position a strength as the team also has to replace their quarterback since Tom Brady retired. Godwin’s value won’t be as high as it was last year but could rebound if the team makes a move for someone like Jimmy Garoppolo or Kirk Cousins.

Tennessee

The Titans signed EDGE Harold Landry to a five-year, $87.5 million deal

Why It Matters: The Titans chose not to use the franchise tag on Landry, which would have cost around 19 million, but quickly got a long-term deal done before he was able to hit the market. With Bud Dupree also locked up long-term, the team has their pass rusher duo for the foreseeable future as they try to bounce back from the disappointing loss to the Bengals in the divisional round. To help their cap situation, the team released Rodger Saffold and Kendall Lamm to free up over 13 million dollars. 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz and 2020 UDFA Aaron Brewer are the most likely replacements for Saffold, who should generate significant interest on the open market.

Washington

The Commanders swapped picks 42 and 47 in this year’s draft and sent this year’s third round and next year’s third (that can become a second if Wentz plays 70% of the 2022 snaps) to Indianapolis for Carson Wentz

Why It Matters: The Commanders saw Wentz up close and personal when he was with the Eagles, so they are very familiar with the player they saw as the best solution to their quarterback woes after Russell Wilson reportedly would not waive his no-trade clause to go to Washington even though they offered a better package of picks than Denver. The value of players like Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin is largely unchanged, and bookmakers did not make any significant adjustment to Washington’s Super Bowl odds. Washington will assume Wentz’s entire $28 million 2022 compensation and should be out of the draft quarterback derby at #11.

The Commanders are expected to release Landon Collins

Why It Matters: Collins always seemed a bit overpaid as a box safety commanding top dollar. He tore an Achilles in 2020 and his play dropped off in 2021 until the team moved him to a hybrid safety/linebacker role that he didn’t want, so it’s not a shocking move. The move frees up 6.6 million in cap room but will cost the team 9.6 million in dead money. Washington reportedly tried to negotiate a deal to lower Collins' cap liability this year.