Transactions were fast and furious again Tuesday and into Wednesday morning around the NFL – here’s what we’re hearing, and what we’ve got confirmed.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers were very active on Tuesday, picking up a couple of new starters. Read about one of them in a trade below, but the other?
How about a former Baltimore Raven?
Outside linebacker Patrick Queen and the Steelers have agreed on a deal that will pair the former Raven with T.J. Watt, the Associated Press reported here: Patrick Queen leaving Baltimore for rival Pittsburgh on 3-year deal, AP sources say.
Queen has been one of Baltimore’s best defenders, is coming off his best season (133 tackles, 3 ½ sacks) and is only 24.
- Bye-bye, Seattle.
Quarterback Drew Lock, who has served as Geno Smith’s back-up the last couple of seasons since the departure of longtime starter Russell Wilson, won’t be in that role anymore. In fact, he won’t be there, period. He’ll be in the Big Apple.
Lock is headed for the New York Giants, according to several reports, including this one, from the Associated Press (Giants agree to deal with quarterback Drew Lock).
It seems everyone’s wanting out of Seattle these days.
The Giants are looking for stability at quarterback after Daniel Jones suffered a torn ACL against the Las Vegas Raiders, and had season-ending surgery in November.
Tyrod Taylor left the Giants and signed a deal this week with the Jets, and Tommy DeVito is expected to remain on the roster, along with Lock, a former second-round pick by the Denver Broncos who was traded to Seattle as a part of the deal between the teams for Wilson two years ago.
- Linebacker Willie Gay is relocating yet again. The former Kansas City Chief and Oakland Raider is moving to the New Orleans Saints, the Associated Press is reporting, having agreed to terms on Tuesday night (Saints and ex-Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay agree on 1-year deal, AP source says).
- Here’s something different, something that’s not free agent news but trade news. The Steelers are sending wide receiver Diontae Jackson to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson (Steelers sending WR Diontae Johnson to Carolina for DB Donte Jackson) and a late-round pick swap in this year’s draft.
Johnson is still in his 20s (he’s 28) and has 4,363 career yards and 25 touchdowns on 391 catches over five years, and heck, we all know the Steelers can draft receivers – they’ll probably draft someone in his place. But his two-year extension was running out this year, and apparently they decided they couldn’t re-sign him, and had to get something for him. It obviously gives quarterback Bryce Young another target to go with Adam Thielen.
Jackson has 14 career interceptions but didn’t have one last year.
- Well, we don’t know for absolutely sure if it’ll be Justin Fields starting or Caleb Williams, but we do know they’ll have a pretty solid tight end situation in Chicago this year. The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with former Los Angeles Charger Gerald Everett on Tuesday (Bears agree to 2-year, $12 million deal with tight end Gerald Everett), obviously planning on pairing him up with Cole Kmet for a fairly formidable duo.
This is actually Everett’s fourth NFL franchise (the Rams, Seahawks, Chargers and now the Bears).
- For all the news about someone leaving, how about some news about someone staying?
Indianapolis cornerback Kenny Moore II will remain with the Colts on a deal expected to make him the league’s highest-paid nickel corner (Colts make Kenny Moore II NFL’s highest-paid nickel corner).
I’ve always wondered: do you guys really care about who’s getting paid what?
I really don’t, as long as they’re good, and playing hard for my team, and healthy. I’ve never understood the people who keep up with others’ salaries. Maybe that’s just me.
