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New York Jets sign trio of 2020 draft picks (Report)

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DL/LB Jabari Zuniga, QB James Morgan, and P Braden Mann are the latest New York Jets draft picks to officially sign their rookie deals.

The New York Jets revealed that two more draft picks signed with the team on Monday evening. New York confirmed that they signed defender Jabari Zuniga and quarterback James Morgan, while Manish Mehta of the New York has stated that the team has also officially added punter Braden Mann.

Mehta also had the financial terms for each first-year. Each is worth four seasons, with Zuniga earning $4.73 million, Morgan getting $4 million, and Mann rounding it off with $3.47 million.

Zuniga was the latter of the Jets’ pair of third-round picks, chosen 79th overall out of Florida. Injuries limited Zuniga to five games in his senior season, but he nonetheless managed 33 sacks over four seasons in Gainesville. Capable of playing on both the line and at linebacker, Zuniga was placed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist (awarded to the nation’s top defensive lineman) during a junior campaign that saw him earn 45 tackles, including 11 for a loss, and 6.5 sacks.

Morgan is set to partake in the Jets’ competition for the backup quarterback job behind Sam Darnold. He was chosen in the fourth round (125th overall) out of Florida International. Despite spending only two seasons with the Golden Panthers, having transferred there from Bowling Green, Morgan ranks second in FIU history in passing yardage (5,312) and touchdowns (40).

Mann was the Jets’ final pick of the April proceedings, having his name called with the 191st overall pick. The Texas A&M product was one of the most prolific punters in college football history, earning unanimous All-American honors and the Ray Guy Award (bestowed to the nation’s top punter) after his junior season. His 51.0 average is the best in NCAA history.

With these signings, first-round pick Mekhi Becton and third-rounder Ashtyn Davis are the only Jets selections who have yet to sign.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags 

Veteran New York Jets blocker Kelvin Beachum has found a new home

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The New York Jets’ offensive line mainstay has agreed to a new deal with the Arizona Cardinals to protect Kyler Murray.

It’ll be the same spot, but a new first-round commodity to protect for Kelvin Beachum.

The former New York Jets blocker has signed with the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC West team confirmed on Friday. Thus ends Beachum’s three-year tenure with the Jets, one saw that him miss only three games.

Beachum, 31, joined the Jets on a three-year, $24 million deal during the 2017 offseason. He previously entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, spending four years there before a single season with Jacksonville. Beachum became known for protecting the blindside of quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh McCown.

It’s likely he’ll help fill a similar role for 2019’s top overall draft pick and Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. The veteran Beachum will possibly serve as a depth option behind DJ Humphries.

Off the field, Beachum made a name for himself in the New York community. He was the Jets’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award during the 2018 season. His efforts centered on eradicating hunger and providing STEM education for minority youths.

“You trust him, you know he’s extremely reliable, you know he’s going to execute his assignment, and he’s going to help other guys up front,” Jets head coach Adam Gase said of Beachum in November, per Olivia Landis of NewYorkJets.com. “I think he’s a guy that’s played a lot of football, he’s seen a lot of different blitzes and he can help our group in a lot of different ways.”

Beachum perhaps became expendable once the Jets added both George Fant in free agency and Mekhi Becton with their first pick in April’s draft. Fellow starting blocker Brandon Shell also left this offseason, inking a two-year deal with Seattle in March. The Jets also added Greg Van Roten and Connor McGovern in free agency and likewise drafted Cameron Clark during the draft’s day three proceedings.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets: WRs Quincy Enunwa and Josh Bellamy placed on PUP list, among other roster moves

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New York Jets

The New York Jets placed two receivers on the PUP list on Tuesday, including Quincy Enunwa, whose New York career may be over.

The New York Jets announced on Tuesday that receiver Quincy Enunwa and Josh Bellamy have been placed on reserve/physically unable to perform list. New York also waived receiver Keon Hatcher, running back Jalin Moore, cornerback Kyron Brown, and defensive lineman Charles Tapper.

This marks the latest injury blow for Enunwa, who will turn 28 later this month. After inking a four-year, $36 million contract extension at the end of the 2018 season, the Nebraska alum missed all but one quarter of last year after suffering a neck injury during the Jets’ Week 1 tilt against Buffalo. This ailment came two years after bulging discs in his neck cost Enunwa the entire 2017 campaign. Enunwa has since been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, the same condition that forced New York Mets third baseman David Wright into an abbreviated career. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, Enunwa put up 1,172 yards on 80 receptions, respectively good for third and fourth in the Jets’ ledgers in that span.

With 2020 activity likely out of the question, Enunwa will nonetheless likely remain on the team, at least for this season. The Jets face $11.4 million in dead cap money if they release him now, but that number lowers to $3.6 million next year (and they will also save $6 million in cap space).

Bellamy signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the Jets last offseason. He partook in seven games, mostly on special teams, in his first Jets season, earning 20 yards on a pair of receptions before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder ailment in early November. The Jets would save $2.25 million in cap space if they release Bellamy prior to June 1.

Of the players released, only Brown partook in regular season action in New York. Injuries pressed him into service in a Week 14 game against Miami, where he earned five tackles in a 22-21 Jets victory.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

 

 

NFL Draft: New York Jets deal final day two pick to New England

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The New York Jets earned three picks from the New England Patriots, in exchange for a pick they previously wrangled from Seattle.

The New York Jets ended the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft with a little bit of history.

For the second time in their respective timelines, the Jets engaged in a trade with the New England Patriots. New York sent over the 101st over pick, the 37th selection in Friday’s third round proceedings. The yield was a pair of choices in Saturday’s fourth round (Nos. 125 and 129), as well as a sixth-round pick in 2021.

New England subsequently used the pick on the latter of back-to-back tight ends, Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene. They previously chose Devin Asiasi out of UCLA with the 91st pick.

Though trades between the AFC East rivals are indeed rare, this is the second deal they’ve made over the past seven months. In September, the Jets ironically sent over a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for receiver Demaryius Thomas.

The Jets now own six selections over the final four rounds of the virtual draft, which will finish up on Saturday (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/NFL Network). In addition to the newly acquired Patriots picks, they own their bestowed slots in the fourth (No. 120), fifth (158th), and sixth rounds (191st) and a sixth-round choice from Kansas City (via the 2019 Darron Lee trade). Their seventh-round pick was sent to Baltimore in a trade for offensive lineman Alex Lewis made late last offseason.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets trade No. 48 pick to Seattle Seahawks

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Right before they went on the clock for the first time on Friday, the New York Jets dealt the 48th pick of the 2020 draft to Seattle.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New York Jets traded the 48th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks. New York will get back the 59th and 101st selections.

Seattle would use the pick on Tennessee defensive Darrell Taylor. The Knoxville alum and Hopewell, Virginia native had 19.5 sacks over the past three seasons, including a career-best 8.5 last year. He notably put up six tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Volunteers’ narrow victory over Indiana in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl in January.

The Jets now own four picks during Friday’s proceedings. They will choose in the 59th, 68th, 78th, and 101st. The most latter pick was a compensatory pick for the Seahawks after safety Earl Thomas left in free agency.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Opening Weekend New York Yankees Injury and Transaction Updates

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Injury updates:

Jacoby Ellsbury: He was placed on the 10-day DL to begin the season with a strained oblique. Ellsbury was hurt in the first week of Spring Training games. He has been taking at-bats in minor league games in Tampa and if all goes well can be possibly reinstated back from the DL on Thursday against the Orioles. As of now the Yankees do not have a real center fielder on their active roster and will welcome Ellsbury back with open arms so, that Judge can go back to playing right field.

Clint Frazier: Frazier sustained a concussion against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Spring Training game on February 24. He started the season on the 7-day concussion DL and has only recently started to get back into baseball activities. Frazier is still a ways away as he not played in any games in Tampa. When he finally is fully healthy again he will be sent to Scranton, unless the Yankees need him, to get in regular at-bats as a starter.

Greg Bird: Bird had successful surgery on Tuesday morning to remove a bone spur in his right ankle. Bird will not be participating in any baseball activities for at least six to eight weeks. The earliest that Bird will be back in the Bronx is early June.

Aaron Hicks: Hicks was injured in the Yankees Opening Day game. He had felt some soreness between his third and fourth at-bat and it was discovered that he had a strained right intercostal muscle. Hicks pleaded with Aaron Boone not to be placed on the DL ,but Boone felt it was necessary as to avoid any further injury. Hicks is available to be activated next Sunday against the Orioles in the series finale in the Bronx.

Billy McKinney: After being recalled and making his debut on Friday, McKinney was injured in the bottom of the first in last nights game. While tracking a ball in left field hit by Josh Donaldson, McKinney slammed into the left field video board. He looked shaken up and pleaded to stay in. Boone allowed him to continue playing until McKinney threw a ball in and he clearly seemed hurt. He was then replaced by Brett Gardner who finished the game in left. McKinney was diagnosed with a left shoulder sprain after X-rays came back negative. He will be placed on the 10-day DL and third base prospect Miguel Andujar will take his spot on the roster.

Adam Warren: Warren was struck with a comeback in his right ankle during last nights game. There is no update if he will be placed on the DL. He did go for X-Rays which were negative and was diagnosed with a right ankle contusion.

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The Yankees signed veteran reliever lefty reliever Oliver Perez to a minor league deal on Saturday.

The Yankees have placed OF Billy McKinney on the 10-day DL and have recalled 3rd baseman Miguel Andujar.