Roquan, Julio, Becton, CeeDee, Patriots, Eno

Latest on the Roquan Smith trade situation + a Tom Brady-to-Julio Jones update ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ August 10, 2022 [Sign up]( [Legit Football]( Roquan [Roquan Smith] Chargers listed as a potential landing spot for Roquan Smith after trade request Background: Smith publicly requested a [trade]( from the Bears on Tuesday, citing disrespectful contract negotiations. - Smith claims that the Bears' front office refuses to “negotiate in good faith” and “doesn’t value him.” $$$: According to Ian Rapoport, Smith wants to [top]( the extension Shaquille Leonard (5-year, $98.5 million) signed with the Colts last year. Polarizing: There are differing opinions on Smith around the league. Supporters point to a stuffed stat sheet — he totaled 163 tackles last season — while critics point to an atrocious 47.8 PFF grade. Value: Rapoport believes the Bears can get a first-round pick (and possibly more) for Smith, so it looks like he has more fans than critics. Chargers: Eric Edholm (NFL.com) [views]( the Chargers as an ideal fit for Smith, as they have an underwhelming linebacker depth chart, more than enough cap space, and a personal connection (Brandon Staley coached Smith in 2018). - Edholm also lists the Falcons, Ravens, and Broncos as potential landing spots. Not Giving Up: Bears GM Ryan Poles addressed the situation after Smith went public and told reporters that the organization still intends to [keep]( the All-Pro linebacker in Chicago. Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire Julio [Julio Jones] Julio Jones is showing instant chemistry with Tom Brady Details: Jones has made at least one big play per practice since joining the Buccaneers. On Tuesday, he made a “[beautiful diving catch](” against top corner Carlton Davis and later scored during a goal-line drill. Slot: Interestingly, Jones was lined up in the [slot]( before catching the touchdown… considering slot corners tend to be on the smaller (and slower) side, such an arrangement could present major issues for opposing secondaries. WR1: Jones has stepped into an expanded role with Mike Evans nursing a hamstring injury and Chris Godwin limited in his return from ACL surgery. More Buccaneers News... - Backup QB Kyle Trask has had a [rough]( camp. - Rookie RB Rachaad White scored [two]( touchdowns during full-contact goal line drills on Monday. Image: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire Becton [Mekhi Becton] Jets LT Mekhi Becton will miss the entire 2022 season with a knee injury Details: Becton suffered a chip fracture in his right kneecap that is expected to require [season-ending]( surgery. - The 6-foot-7, 363-pounder missed virtually all of last season with a dislocation of the same kneecap. Future: Becton, who the Jets selected eleventh overall in 2019, will be entering the final year of his rookie contract when he returns in 2023. Rich Cimini (ESPN) writes that there is “virtually no chance the team will exercise his fifth year option for 2024.” Right Tackle: The Jets had Becton penciled in as the starting right tackle, a role that will now fall to 2019 third-rounder Chuma Edoga (57.7 PFF grade). Duane: The team has shown interest in 37-year-old free agent tackle Duane Brown (71.5 PFF grade). Though Cimini is reporting that they have competition for his services. Image: John Jones/Icon Sportswire Lamb [CeeDee Lamb] Matt Harmon projects 170 targets for CeeDee Lamb in 2022 Details: Harmon, a fantasy expert who specializes in wide receiver analytics, believes Lamb is going to handle a [massive]( workload now that he no longer has to share the field with Amari Cooper. 26%: Harmon projects that Lamb will see a 26% target share in 2022. He thinks that will result in 170 targets because the Cowboys have ranked second and seventh in plays and second and sixth in pass attempts over the past two seasons. - Harmon also notes that Lamb is in the 91st percentile when it comes to success rate vs. man coverage. 2022 Line: Lamb averaged 0.66 catches, 9.2 yards, and 0.05 touchdowns per target on 120 targets in 2021. If he maintains those averages on 170 targets, he’d finish the 2022 season with an elite stat line — 122 catches for 1,564 yards and 9 touchdowns. Kupp: According to Harmon’s projection, only Cooper Kupp is slated for more targets next season. Image: George Walker/Icon Sportswire Patriots [Mac Jones] Patriots' offense shows signs of life after a rough practice on Monday Details: According to Greg Bedard (Boston Sports Journal), only [3 of 26]( (11.5%) plays during competitive drills went for five yards or more on Monday. Nearly every Patriots reporter who observed the practice blasted the offense’s performance. - Some analysts are already [questioning]( Bill Belichick’s unorthodox decision to allow Matt Patricia and Joe Judge — neither of whom come from an offensive/play-calling background — to co-coordinate the offense. Tuesday: Reporters did notice some [improvement]( on Tuesday. Mac Jones completed 71% of his passes during 11-on-11 drills and the running backs broke off some nice runs. - Though ineffective offensive line play and drops continued to plague the offense. Confident: After practice, Jones [told]( reporters: “I’m going to figure it out. I always have. I always will. At the end of the day, you’re going to have your ups and downs with anything new… When there’s 10 people that look into my eyes, I know they’re going to trust me to do the right thing on game day.” Defense: The flip side to the offensive struggles is that the defense is thriving. DT Christian Barmore and OLB Matthew Judon have apparently been unblockable, while rookie CB Marcus Jones is beginning to ascend into the starting lineup. Image: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire Eno [Chandler Jones] Eno Benjamin is set to take on the Chase Edmonds role Details: The insight comes from Darren Urban (Cardinals.com) who writes that Benjamin is well positioned to become James Conner’s “[tag-teammate](.” - Edmonds, who signed with the Dolphins in March, totaled 903 scrimmage yards on 159 touches in the RB2 role last season. Benjamin Profile: Benjamin, a 2020 seventh-rounder, totaled 160 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 40 touches (34 carries, 6 receptions) last season. He ran for 1,725 yards and 26 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Arizona State (2018-2019). Praise: Urban added that “no player on the roster has been praised more this offseason than Benjamin. And not the baseline coach-speak praise (Kliff) Kingsbury can sometimes dole out, but legitimate compliments to a player who he wouldn't have before.” Kingsbury: Kingsbury recently said of Benjamin: “Each year he has just gotten progressively better. He's one of the hardest workers on the team now… I've been really impressed with Eno every time he's had a chance to run the football and he's really improved in the pass game." Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire More News - [Geno Smith]( will start the Seahawks' first preseason game - [Rams]( signed Sean McVay to an extension - [Dolphins]( traded TE Adam Shaheen to the Texans - [Chiefs]( signed DT Danny Shelton - [Browns]( fear WR/KR Jakeem Grant tore his Achilles - [Broncos]( $4.65 billion sale to Rob Walton has become official - [Eagles]( C Jason Kelce had elbow surgery Share SHARE LEGIT FOOTBALL WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS [CLICK TO SHARE]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. [Unsubscribe]( Copyright © 2022 Legit Football. All rights reserved. 710 Main Street South #572, Southbury CT 06488