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Football

2019 Season Concludes

2019 NFL Season Recap

Joey Alfieri • OLB • San Francisco • First season • @jalfieri4

Alfieri was signed to San Francisco's practice squad on Dec. 10 after being released by the New York Giants on Aug. 31.

Henry Anderson • DE • New York Jets • Fifth season • @HenryAnderson91

Anderson registered one sack on 18 pressures one year into a three-year, $25 million contract he earned after registering seven sacks on 48 pressures in 2018. Appearing on 446 total snaps, Anderson finished with 25 tackles, eight quarterback hits and 12 run stops.

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside • WR • Philadelphia Eagles • First season • @jjarcega_22

Arcega-Whiteside appeared in all 16 games as a rookie with Philadelphia, catching 10 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets and 331 total snaps. Arcega-Whiteside has three years remaining on his four-year, $4.9 million rookie deal.

Johnson Bademosi • CB/ST • Miami Dolphins/New Orleans Saints • Eighth season • @J_Bademosi24

Bademosi made six tackles in 10 appearances, four with Miami and six with New Orleans. After finishing 2019 on injured reserve, Bademosi, one of the league's premier special teamers, will be an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020.

Jake Bailey • P • New England Patriots • First season • @jakebailey__

Bailey earned notoriety for being the first right-footed punter to kick for New England in Bill Belichick's 20-year stay in Foxboro but made a name for himself as one of the league's better punters in 2019. The rookie finished in the middle of the pack in yards per attempt (44.9) and net average (41.3) but showed why the Patriots used a fifth-round pick on him one year ago. During the regular season, Bailey's 45 punts downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line were the most in the NFL while his 34.6 return percentage was the sixth-fewest among punters who accounted for at least 50 percent of his team's punts.

Doug Baldwin • WR • Retired • Eight seasons

Baldwin announced his retirement from professional football on May 13 after eight NFL seasons, all with Seattle. A former undrafted free agent and winner of Super Bowl XLVIII as a member of the Seahawks, Baldwin led the league in touchdowns in 2015 and earned Pro Bowl berths in 2016 and 2017. According to Pro Football Focus, Baldwin, who finishes his career with 493 receptions for 6,563 yards and 49 touchdowns, dropped just two passes while being targeted 191 times over his final two seasons (2017-18).

David Bright • OL • Cleveland Browns • Second season

Bright joined Cleveland during the offseason after missing the entire 2018 season due to injury and was released on May 1.

Jesse Burkett • C • Jacksonville Jaguars/San Francisco 49ers • First season

Burkett participated in rookie minicamps with Jacksonville and San Francisco but did not receive a training camp invitation.

Eric Cotton • DE • Tennesse Titans • First season

Cotton was released by Tennessee on Aug. 31 as part of final cuts after spending the final three weeks of preseason with the Titans, appearing on 27 total snaps during preseason Weeks 2-4.

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • Eighth season

DeCastro earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl berth while appearing in all 16 games for Pittsburgh. Finishing with an 82.7 grade in pass blocking from Pro Football Focus, DeCastro's sack allowed on Nov. 11 was the first since January 8, 2017. DeCastro has appeared on at least 950 snaps in each of his last seven seasons with 6,523 total snaps during that span. DeCastro has two years remaining on a five-year, $50 million contract he signed in 2017.

Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Seventh season • @ZErtz_86

A year after setting the single-season receptions record for tight ends (116), Ertz followed it up with another Pro Bowl-caliber season. He earned his third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl while ranking third among tight ends with 88 receptions to with 916 yards and six touchdowns, which tied for fourth at his position. Ertz has two years remaining on a five-year, $42.5 million contract he signed in 2017.

Brandon Fanaika • OL • Detroit Lions/Oakland Raiders • First season • @BFanaika

Fanaika participated in rookie minicamps with Detroit and Oakland but did not receive a training camp invitation.

Cameron Fleming • T • Dallas Cowboys • Sixth season • @CammyJFresh

Fleming appeared on 258 total snaps in his second season with Dallas after signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension last offseason.

Joshua Garnett • G • Free agent • Fourth season • @IAmJoshG

The former first-round pick was released by San Francisco on Aug. 29 following the team's preseason finale. Garnett is a free agent entering his fifth year as a professional.

A.T. Hall • T • Free agent • First season

Hall spent training camp and preseason with Tennessee before his release on Aug. 31. In 120 total snaps in four preseason appearances, Hall earned a 71.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, including an 81.0 grade in run blocking.

Nate Herbig • G • Philadelphia Eagles • First season @nate_herbig

Herbig appeared in two games for Philadelphia, making his regular-season debut in Week 15 against Washington. He has two years remaining on his three-year, $1.8 million rookie deal.

Ryan Hewitt • TE/FB • Tennessee Titans • Sixth season @Huey_85

Hewitt was released on Aug. 31 as part of Tennessee's final cuts. The sixth-year fullback signed a one-year, $805,000 contract with the Titans after appearing in 12 games with Indianapolis in 2018.

Kevin Hogan • QB • Denver Broncos • Fourth season • @KHoagie8

Hogan was released by Denver after appearing in all of the Broncos' preseason contests, finishing 33-for-65 with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Alijah Holder • CB • Denver Broncos • First season • @alijahholder96

Holder was promoted to Denver's active roster for the final two games of the season, appearing on 23 total special teams snaps in Weeks 16-17.

Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • Fourth season • @AustinHooper18

Hooper's status as one of the NFL's budding stars at tight end was solidified with a second straight Pro Bowl appearance after catching 75 balls for 787 yards and six touchdowns for Atlanta in 2019. In 13 games, Hooper ranked fifth among tight ends in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and tied for fourth in touchdowns. Hooper, whose 78.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 10th among tight ends, is due for a lucrative extension when he hits the open market this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Trenton Irwin • WR • Cincinnati Bengals • First season • @trenton_4

Irwin appeared on nine total snaps in Cincinnati's Week-17 win against Cleveland in his NFL regular-season debut after being signed to the Bengals practice squad in October. Irwin spent the preseason with Miami, appearing on 59 total snaps across four preseason contests before being released as part of final cuts.

Peter Kalambayi • OLB • Houston Texans • Second season • @Kalambayi34

Kalambayi made 19 tackles in 18 total appearances, helping Houston reach the AFC divisional round. He appeared on 91 total defensive snaps and 328 special teams snaps with two years remaining on his four-year, $2.6 million rookie contract.

Bryce Love • RB • Washington Redskins • First season • @Blovee_20

Love spent the entire 2019 season on the active/non-football injury list after being drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Love, who rushed for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns for Stanford in 2017, is expected to be fully healthy for the 2020 season.

Andrew Luck • QB • Retired • Seven seasons  • @ALBookClub

Luck announced his retirement from the NFL on Aug. 24 after seven seasons in Indianapolis. The 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year finishes his career with 2,000 completions, a 60.8 pass percentage, 23,671 passing yards, 171 touchdown passes and an 89.5 quarterback rating, including a career-high 98.7 rating in 2018. Fittingly, Luck and his wife, Nicole, gave birth to their daughter, Lucy, on November 12th, 2019.

Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Fourth season • @Big__Blake50

Green Bay's defensive signal caller, Martinez finished with a career-high 155 tackles during the regular season, the second most in the NFL behind All-Pro Bobby Wagner. While appearing on 1,024 defensive snaps, the ninth-most of 179 linebackers, Martinez finished the year with three sacks and 57 run stops. Martinez is due a hefty contract as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, having made 443 tackles while starting all 48 games during the last three seasons.

Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Oakland Raiders • Sixth season • @JustJoshin90

Mauro made seven starts across 13 total appearances in his first season with Oakland, finishing the year with 19 tackles on 282 defensive snaps. Mauro is an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020.

Quenton Meeks • CB • Jacksonville/Los Angeles Chargers • Second season • @ShowTimeQM

Meeks was released by Jacksonville on Aug. 31 after appearing on 124 total snaps in the Jaguars' four preseason games. He eventually signed with the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad on Oct. 1, inking a futures contract with the Chargers entering 2020.

Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • Third season • @run__cmc

Where to begin? McCaffrey put forth one of the most uniquely productive seasons in NFL history despite franchise quarterback Cam Newton playing just 75 snaps in 2019 and Carolina finishing 5-11 with a dismal eight-game losing streak to end the year. McCaffrey joined Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig as the only players in NFL history with 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a season, registering 2,392 yards from scrimmage, the third-most in league history behind Chris Johnson (2,509) and Faulk (2,429) with a league-leading 19 touchdowns. With the Panthers' change in leadership and the future of the franchise uncertain, McCaffrey would land a kings' ransom in any offseason trade deal with one year plus a fifth-year option remaining on his rookie contract.

Ty Montgomery • RB • New York Jets • Fifth season • @TyMontgomery2

Montgomery appeared in all 16 games for the New York Jets, making a pair of starts behind Le'Veon Bell. Montgomery, an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020, finished the season with 32 carries for 103 yards while catching 13 passes for 90 yards.

Alameen Murphy • DB • San Francisco • First season • @KingLeonidus23

Murphy participated in San Francisco's rookie minicamp but did not receive a training camp invitation.

Kyle Murphy • T • Los Angeles Rams/Houston Texans • Fourth season • @KyleMurphy78

Murphy started the league year as a part of the Los Angeles Rams organization but was released in April prior to the 2019 NFL Draft. On Oct. 16, Murphy signed a futures contract with Houston for 2020.

Trent Murphy • DE/OLB • Buffalo Bills • Sixth season • @TMurphy_93

Murphy had a solid season for Buffalo, posting 5.0 sacks to go with a career-high 76.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the 32nd-highest of 187 edge defenders. Murphy doubled his total pressures (42) from 2018, adding a career-high three passes defensed and 22 run stops. He enters the final year of a three-year, $22.5 million contract he signed in 2018, having registered 2.0 sacks in his final two appearances of the season.

Bobby Okereke • LB • Indianapolis Colts • First season • @BobbyOkereke

Okereke quietly put together an impressive rookie season in Indianapolis, totaling 65 tackles, a pair of forced fumbles and one sack on 472 total defensive snaps. Okereke's overall grade from Pro Football Focus (77.2) ranked eighth among the 66 linebackers to appear on at least 450 of his team's defensive snaps while his grade in coverage (79.2) ranked eighth. Look for Okereke to thrive alongside All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard for the remainder of his four-year, $3.6 million contract.

David Parry • DT • New England Patriots • Fifth season • @DavidParry58

Parry, an unrestricted free agent, appeared on 117 snaps during the preseason with New England but was released on Aug. 31 prior to the start of the regular season.

Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Fifth season • @AndrusPeat

Peat fought through nagging injuries to appear on 628 snaps in 11 total games for New Orleans in 2019. Playing in the final year of his five-year, $11.3 million rookie deal, the former first-round pick will likely land a sizeable contract this offseason when he hits the open market.

Harrison Phillips • DT • Buffalo Bills • Second season • @HorribleHarry99

Phillips' season was cut short after a season-ending knee injury in a Week-3 win against Cincinnati, registering five tackles on 77 total snaps up until that point. Phillips has two years remaining on his four-year, $3.3 million deal he signed as a rookie in 2018.

Justin Reid • S • Houston Texans • Second season • @jreid_viii

Reid backed up his rookie campaign with another impactful season for Houston, finishing the season with a pair of interceptions and 78 combined tackles on 1,060 total snaps. Reid's 76.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 21st out of 175 safeties. Of the 19 safeties who appeared on at least 80 percent of his team's defensive snaps, Reid's overall grade ranked third while his coverage grade (79.6) ranked fourth. Reid has two years remaining on his four-year, $4 million rookie deal.

Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots/Baltimore Ravens • Fifth season

Richards signed with New England on Oct. 2, appearing in three games before his release. Richards then signed with Baltimore prior to Week 5, appearing on one defensive snap and 230 special teams snaps for the AFC North Champion Ravens. Richards is an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020.

Brennan Scarlett • OLB • Houston Texans • Fourth season • @BScarlett17

Scarlett made 10 starts in 15 total appearances for Houston in 2020 after inking a two-year, $5.8 million extension in the offseason. Appearing on 553 defensive snaps, Scarlett finished the year with 3.5 sacks on 19 quarterback pressures, 51 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles.

Dalton Schultz • TE • Dallas Cowboys • Second season • @BinghamBaller9

Schultz appeared in all 16 games for Dallas, catching one pass for six yards on 117 offensive snaps and 94 special teams snaps. Schultz has two years remaining on his four-year, $2.9 million rookie deal from 2018.

Richard Sherman • CB • San Francisco 49ers • Ninth season • @R_Sherman25

Although San Francisco came up short in Super Bowl LIV, Sherman's play in 2020 made it clear the cornerback is far from finished. On 1,074 total defensive snaps, Sherman was targeted 61 times, allowing 34 catches for 373 yards and a 45.3 passer rating, the second-lowest of corners to appear on at least 50 percent of his team's coverage snaps. Sherman missed just one game, finishing the season with 61 tackles and three interceptions – Sherman's 35 interceptions since 2011 are the most in the NFL. Sherman has one season remaining on a three-year, $27.2 million deal he signed in 2018.

Aziz Shittu • DL • Philadelphia Eagles • Third season • @AzizShittu

Shittu was waived from Philadelphia's injured reserve on Oct. 5 after appearing in three preseason games for the Eagles.

Kaden Smith • TE • San Francisco 49ers/New York GIants • First season • @TheKadenSmith

Smith broke out in the second half of the season, leading rookie tight ends in catches per game (3.44) while ranking second in touchdowns (3), despite appearing in just nine games. After starting the season on San Francisco's practice squad, Smith was picked up by the New York Giants on Sept. 16, appearing on 421 offensive snaps starting in Week 10 and starting the final six games of the season. The rookie finished with 31 total receptions for 268 yards, capping the season with an eight-catch, 98-yard performance in Week 17.

Michael Thomas • S • New York Giants • Seventh season • @Michael31Thomas

Thomas appeared on 698 total snaps in 2019, including 396 special teams snaps, the second-most in the NFL. Of special teamers who appeared on at least 50 percent of his team's special teams snaps, Thomas' 82.7 special teams grade was the 13th-best out of 190 eligible players. Thomas is an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020.

Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • Third season • @SollyThomas90

Thomas played 24 defensive snaps in San Francisco's Super Bowl loss against Kansas City, finishing the season with 21 tackles and two sacks on 482 defensive snaps. Thomas has one season remaining on his four-year, $28.2 million rookie contract.

Levine Toilolo • TE • San Francisco 49ers • Sixth season • @LevineToilolo

Toilolo appeared on 232 total snaps across 15 total games for San Francisco, catching two passes for 10 yards as San Francisco's season ended with a loss in Super Bowl LIV. Toilolo is an unrestricted free agent heading into 2020.

James Vaughters • LB • Chicago Bears • First season • @javaughters

Vaughters' journey to the NFL was completed in November when he made his regular season debut for Chicago, making three tackles on 26 total defensive snaps from Weeks 9-11. Vaughters is one of two outside linebackers under contract for 2020 alongside All-Pro Khalil Mack.