6.22.22: Gronk, Akers, Watson, Ridder, Ogunjobi, Davis-Price

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Gronk

Rob Gronkowski’s agent thinks retirement could be short-lived

Details: Shortly after Gronkowski announced his retirement on Tuesday, his agent (Drew Rosenhaus) told Adam Schefter that a comeback is possible.

• Rosenhaus: “It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call. This is just my opinion but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season.”

HOF Career: If Gronk’s retirement is permanent, he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer — when first eligible in 2027.

• Stats (11 seasons): 621 receptions, 9,286 yards, 92 touchdowns
• 4x Super Bowl Champion
• 5x Pro Bowl selection
• Most 100+ yard receiving games by a tight end in NFL history (32)

Bucs' TE Depth: Cameron Brate (2021 stats: 30 catches, 245 yards, 4 touchdowns) will assume starting tight end duties. He’ll be backed up by two rookies — Cade Otten (fourth round) and Ko Kieft (seventh-round).

TE Market: The Bucs are expected to add a veteran tight end. Free options include Kyle Rudolph (704 career receptions), Jared Cook (553 career receptions), Jimmy Graham (713 career receptions), and Eric Ebron (351 career receptions).

Passing Game Pivot: Gronk’s retirement should result in more targets for receiver Russell Gage and rookie running back Rashaad White (who specializes in pass-catching).

Image: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

Akers

Jourdan Rodrigue: Cam Akers is primed for a rebound in 2022

Details: Rodrigue (The Athletic) writes that she has “no reason to believe” that Akers won’t get back on track this season, as he is fully recovered from last July’s Achilles tear.

2021 Review: Akers made a miraculous return in Week 18 — only five months removed from the injury — but lacked explosiveness as a runner and only averaged 2.4 yards per carry in the five games he appeared in.

Unfair: Rodrigue thinks it’s unfair to judge Akers based on the disappointing 2021 numbers — as he had “zero live onboarding time” prior to returning.

Expanded Role: Akers is expected to be heavily featured in the passing game.

Upside: A fully healthy and conditioned version of Akers could pick up where he left off as a rookie in 2020 — he averaged 113 scrimmage yards over the Rams’ final seven games — which included 194 yards against the Patriots in Week 14 and 176 yards against the Seahawks in the playoffs.

Image: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire

Watson

Deshaun Watson has settled 20 of 24 lawsuits

Details: The lawyer representing the women stated that the cases will be dismissed once the paperwork is finalized. Financial details of the settlements will remain confidential.

• There is no public timeline for the resolution of the four remaining unsettled cases.

Impact: NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that the settlements will have “no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process.”

• The league is reportedly planning to levy a significant (possibly season-long) suspension under the personal conduct policy.

Image: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire

Ridder

Desmond Ridder is expected to push Marcus Mariota for the starting QB job

Details: The insight comes from Josh Kendall (The Athletic), who writes that it “won’t be surprising if Ridder takes over Mariota’s starting job at some point this season.”

• Though Kendall makes clear that Mariota will open training camp as the starter.

Intelligence: Falcons coach Arthur Smith recently told reporters that Ridder’s intelligence is “light years ahead of most young quarterbacks” and that the rookie has been very impressive “behind the scenes.”

Ridder Profile: Ridder had a career record of 44-6 at the University of Cincinnati. He completed 64.9% of his passes for 3,334 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions last season. He added 355 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.

More Falcons News:

• In an effort to take advantage of large playmakers like Kyle Pitts (6-6, 247) and Drake London (6-4, 219), Smith will scheme the passing game around yards after contact.
• The Falcons will cut LB Deion Jones (2017 Pro-Bowler) if they can’t find a trade partner.
• Cordarrelle Patterson could see more time at receiver and less time at running back.
• Rookie RB Tyler Allgeier (fifth-round) has been impressive.

Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

Ogunjobi

Steelers sign DT Larry Ogunjobi

Details: The deal is for one year. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

• Ogunjobi agreed to a 3-year, $40.5 million deal with the Bears in March — but the deal fell apart after he failed his physical (rumored to be over a foot injury).

Profile: Ogunjobi, 28, totaled 49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 7.0 sacks last season. He played a key role in a Bengals’ defense that allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards (102.5 per game) last season.

Reinforcement: Ogunjobi should strengthen a Steelers’ defense that allowed the most rushing yards in the league (146.1 per game) last season.

PIT DL Depth: Ogunjobi joins a defensive line that features Cameron Hayward, Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley, and third-round rookie DeMarvin Leal.

Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

Davis-Price

Rookie Ty Davis-Price is expected to emerge as a top-two option in the 49ers’ backfield

Details: The insight comes from Nick Wagoner (ESPN), who sees Davis-Price beating Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon, and JaMycal Hasty for the No. 2 job behind starter Elijah Mitchell.

Davis-Price Profile: Davis-Price rushed for 1,003 yards (4.8 ypc) and 6 touchdowns at LSU last season. He set LSU’s single-game rushing record with a 287-yard performance against Florida.

• Draft expert Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) calls Davis-Price a “big, athletic back offering an enticing blend of size and explosiveness to go with an SEC pedigree.”
• Davis-Price (6-0, 210) runs the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

49ers RBs in 2021: Mitchell led 49ers’ running backs with 1,110 scrimmage yards last season. He was followed by Wilson (325 scrimmage yards), Hasty (225 scrimmage yards), and Sermon (193 scrimmage yards).

Image: Ty Davis-Price (3_too_live) on Instagram

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More News

• Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson has passed away at age 26
• Rams CB Jalen Ramsey underwent shoulder surgery
• Packers OL Elgton Jenkins (ACL) could miss Week One
• Ndamukong Suh teased interest in playing for the Raiders