Goodell tells teams draft will proceed
In a memo sent out Thursday to all 32 teams, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the draft would go on, as scheduled, April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
After a meeting with the Commissioner’s Executive Committee, Goodell said the decision was ‘‘unanimous and unequivocal’’ that the draft would go on as originally planned despite the coronavirus.
He reiterated that the draft will be conducted without public events and that prospects and their families won’t be invited to the event in a reflection of ‘‘current conditions.’’
Goodell further told teams ‘‘to conduct draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present and with sufficient technology resources to allow you to communicate internally, with other clubs and with draft headquarters.’’
Bucs bring back DT Suh
The Buccaneers re-signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a one-year, $8 million contract to ensure their entire front seven will remain intact next season.
The move comes on the heels of the Bucs putting the franchise tag on reigning NFL sacks leader Shaquil Barrett and re-signing edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul to a two-year, $27 million deal, not to mention luring quarterback Tom Brady from the Patriots with a fully guaranteed two-year, $50 million contract.
The Bucs led the NFL in run defense last season, with Suh starting all 16 games after helping the Rams reach the Super Bowl the previous season. His streak of 131 consecutive starts is the longest among defensive linemen.
Jaguars-Dennard deal falls apart
The Jaguars and cornerback Darqueze Dennard parted ways nine days after agreeing to a three-year, $13.5 million contract in free agency. The Jaguars said ‘‘the two sides could not come to an agreement on the final contract terms.’’
Dennard agreed to the deal — which included $6 million in guaranteed money — March 17, the night before the official start of the new league year. But it never got signed, and the Jaguars decided to move in a different direction by agreeing to terms Tuesday with cornerback Rashaan Melvin on a oneyear, $2.25 million deal.
This and that
Multiple outlets reported the Colts agreed to terms with former Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes on a one-year contract worth about $5 million. He was selected to three Pro Bowls in seven seasons with the Vikings.
♦ The Bills agreed to terms with cornerback E.J. Gaines on a one-year contract. They signed him to a one-year deal last offseason, but he didn’t play after suffering a core-muscle injury during training camp.