NFL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Deebo Samuel, Kyle Rudolph and More

NFL training camps are getting off to a bit of a slow start, but they've finally arrived (at least for some players). Rookies for the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders have to report Monday, beginning the leadup to the 2022 season.

More first-year players will report throughout the week, and the Raiders will even begin their full camp on Wednesday. But most teams don't have their veteran report dates until next week. Still, the arrival of rookies is a welcome sign that football is just around the corner.

It's been an eventful offseason that featured plenty of notable players switching teams. More major transactions could still be on the way, though. Stars could be traded over the next few months, and some noteworthy players are still available free agents.

So with more moves possible throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall, here's some of the latest buzz from around the NFL.

Samuel's Situation with 49ers Remains 'Murky'

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel walks on the field at the NFL football team's practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Earlier this offseason, Deebo Samuel made it known that he'd like to be traded from the San Francisco 49ers. The 26-year-old wide receiver still showed up to the team's mandatory minicamp last month, but that decision appears to have been a financial one.

According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, Samuel reported to minicamp to avoid getting fined, and there still hasn't been much buzz regarding any potential extension talks. So his status in San Francisco seems to remain uncertain.

"He doesn’t have the contract. He has not necessarily lifted his desire to be traded at this point. It’s still murky there," Darlington said on SportsCenter last week (h/t Tom Dierberger of NBC Sports Bay Area). "I know there was optimism from 49ers camp based on the fact that he reported to mandatory minicamp. I would honestly remove that from the equation here. Whether he reports or not will play a role in his relationship with the 49ers. It definitely went sideways, I can tell you that."

San Francisco's mandatory report date for returning players is July 26. If Samuel doesn't show up and holds out, it will be interesting to see how the situation develops, as well as whether he could be traded or work out an extension with the 49ers.

Without Samuel, San Francisco's offense would be much less dynamic. Last season, he had 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns, making him one of the most exciting players in the league.

Rudolph Getting Interest from Multiple Teams

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph (80) warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

For teams looking to add a tight end either before training camp or once it opens, there are quite a few proven veterans still on the free-agent market. That includes Kyle Rudolph, who remains unsigned after spending one season with the New York Giants in 2021.

Rudolph, an 11-year NFL veteran, could sign with a team soon, though. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the 32-year-old "has interest from multiple teams ahead of training camp." And according to Fowler, among those potential suitors is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement earlier this offseason.

Fowler also reported that Rudolph returning to the Minnesota Vikings is "not off the table." Rudolph spent his first 10 seasons in Minnesota, earning two Pro Bowl selections (in 2012 and 2017) during his tenure. He also started every game for the Vikings from 2015-19.

Rudolph could provide valuable depth to a group of Minnesota tight ends led by Irv Smith Jr., who missed all of the 2021 season due to a knee injury. The Vikings didn't bring back Tyler Conklin, who signed with the New York Jets in March.

Bates Not Coming to Bengals' Camp 'Anytime Soon'

AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File

FILE - Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) walks on the field before the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, March 7, 2022, placed the franchise tag on safety Jessie Bates III, keeping him with the team for the 2022 season.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)

Jessie Bates III received the franchise tag from the Cincinnati Bengals in March. Then, the 25-year-old safety didn't work out a new contract with the team prior to the deadline to do so on Friday. Now, there's some uncertainty regarding Bates' status for the 2022 season.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bates is unlikely to show up to training camp "anytime soon" and "certainly not at the beginning." Cincinnati's mandatory report date is set for July 26.

When Bates and the Bengals were trying to come to terms in recent weeks, he received a five-year contract offer that would have paid him only a total of $4 million more than what he'd make while playing on the franchise tag in 2022 ($12.91 million). However, Bates has "no intentions of reporting to training camp, nor playing on the franchise tag," according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.

So for now, it's unclear what's next for Bates, who has been a key member of Cincinnati's secondary over his first four NFL seasons. From 2018-20, he never missed a game, recording more than 100 tackles and exactly three interceptions each of those years. Last season, he had 88 tackles and one interception in 15 games.