HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Maurice Jones-Drew Visiting Raiders

March 27th, 2014 at 3:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Another suitor has entered the mix for Maurice Jones-Drew, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran running back will visit the Raiders tonight and tomorrow. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets that the two sides hope to close a deal quickly, while Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears from a source that there’s a “good chance” Oakland signs Jones-Drew.

A report earlier in the week suggested that the Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots were all in the mix for Jones-Drew, but the Dolphins have since agreed to sign Knowshon Moreno, and a separate report indicated that the Pats haven’t been in contact with MJD. Although the Steelers, and perhaps the Jets, remain in the hunt, Pittsburgh doesn’t have the cap space at the moment to meet the running back’s asking price. The Raiders, on the other hand, certainly aren’t lacking in cap room, even after a handful of free agent signings this month.

The Raiders have re-signed Darren McFadden, but have interest in adding at least one more running back to replace the departed Rashad Jennings. The team was linked to Andre Brown earlier in March, though it appears that possibility hasn’t gained much traction in the last couple weeks. Jones-Drew would make sense as an on-field fit for the Raiders, and a deal with Oakland would land him on the team he grew up rooting for — the California native still lives in the area, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).

AFC Notes: Titans, Dolphins, Browns, Steelers

March 27th, 2014 at 3:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Reports of free agents visiting teams have slowed down considerably over the last couple weeks, but the Titans are on of the clubs staying busy as they weigh options at several positions. The team brought offensive lineman Mike McGlynn in this week, and is also hosting former Charger and Bronco Shaun Phillips today, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Phillips will turn 33 in May, so his best years are probably behind him, but he’s coming off a 10-sack season, and could still be an asset for a defense, particularly if the price isn’t prohibitive.

As Phillips visits the Titans, let’s check out a few more items from around the AFC….

  • The Dolphins still haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing Bryant McKinnie to play right tackle, though a signing likely wouldn’t happen until after the draft, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • New GM Ray Farmer and the Browns haven’t tipped their hand when it comes to the fourth overall pick, but wide receiver Josh Gordon thinks the club will use the selection on a quarterback, as he said on SportsCenter today (link via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). Gordon also suggested that Johnny Manziel would probably be the top signal-caller on his personal draft board.
  • The Steelers will probably need to create some cap space if they hope to sign Maurice Jones-Drew or LeGarrette Blount, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who suggests that restructuring Lawrence Timmons‘ contract could do the trick.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explores whether the Broncos have mortgaged their future by going all-in on free agency this offseason. Corry concludes that most of Denver’s big contracts are flexible enough that the team may not be in bad shape long-term.
  • The Bills have officially named their seven representatives for a committee that will explore the possibility of building a new stadium in the area, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Erie County previously appointed seven members to the group, and New York State added five.
  • Indiana running back Stephen Houston worked out for nearly an hour with Patriots running back Ivan Fears today, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.

Ravens Acquire, Extend Jeremy Zuttah

March 27th, 2014 at 3:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

THURSDAY, 3:11pm: The new contract agreed to by Zuttah and the Ravens as part of the trade is a five-year deal, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

SUNDAY, 3:56pm: The Ravens will send a 2015 fifth-round pick to the Bucs, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

2:58pm: The team has officially announced the transaction on its website, with Ravens.com Garrett Downing writer opining that Zuttah could play either left guard or center.

2:47pm: The Ravens have acquired center Jeremy Zuttah from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2015 mid-round draft pick, tweets Paul Schrager of FoxSports.com. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun was the first to report the rumors of the trade. Zuttah will get a new long-term contract that will alleviate the Ravens salary cap situation, reports Wilson (via Twitter). The Bucs will save $4.5MM in both cap space and cash, tweets Brian McIntyre.

Zuttah, 26, was a third-round-pick of the Bucs in the 2008 draft. He has started 46 games over the past three seasons, but became expendable when Tampa signed fellow center Evan Dietrich-Smith. In 2013, Zuttah graded out as just the 22nd-best center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

However, that grade would be an improvement on the Ravens’ incumbent center, Gino Gradkowski, whom PFF rated as the worst center in football. Zuttah will add to a Baltimore offensive line that includes the recently re-signed Eugene Monroe and All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda.

Draft Notes: Manziel, Fiedorowicz, Lee, Latimer

March 27th, 2014 at 1:39pm CST by Luke Adams

While plenty of schools have held their Pro Days within the last few weeks, none have included more media members or notable guests than Texas A&M’s, which was attended by former president George H.W. Bush, among others. Johnny Manziel, Mike Evans, and the Aggies also attracted interest from most NFL teams, with representatives from 30 clubs showing up to check out the A&M prospects — only the Bears and Browns weren’t in attendance, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link).

According to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter links), GMs for the Jets, Texans, Vikings, Rams, Steelers, Jaguars, Bills, and Lions, along with head coaches for the Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Steelers, Lions, Buccaneers, Eagles, and Raiders were in attendance today.

Meanwhile, Manziel will meet privately with the Texans, Jaguars, Bucs, and Raiders today, as well as the Vikings tomorrow, says Breer (Twitter links). And although the Browns didn’t show up today, they have a private workout lined up with the young quarterback, according to Williams (via Twitter).

Here’s more on the 2014 draft class:

  • Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is scheduled to work out privately for the Cowboys and Texans on Friday, and also has plans to visit the Bucs, Lions, Falcons, and Patriots in the next few weeks, writes Jeff Arnold at ChicagoFootball.com. The Packers and Panthers have also expressed interest in Fiedorowicz, according to the tight end.
  • The Ravens are hosting USC wide receiver Marqise Lee for a visit this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Albany offensive tackle Kadeem Williams worked out for the Bucs and Chargers, and moved well in positional drills, a source tells Wilson (Twitter link).
  • Indiana receiver Cody Latimer has visits lined up with the Panthers, Raiders, Eagles, Bills, and Lions, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter links).
  • Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig will work out for the Falcons tomorrow, tweets Pauline.
  • The Dolphins are scheduled to work out a pair of Monmouth players, tight end Mike McLafferty and cornerback Tevrin Brandon, according to Pauline (Twitter link).
  • Syracuse cornerback Keon Lyn has visits scheduled with the Dolphins, Lions, and Raiders, says Pauline (via Twitter).

Bengals Sign Domata Peko To Extension

March 27th, 2014 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 1:04pm: The Bengals have officially signed Peko to an extension, the team announced today (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 1:16pm: The Bengals have agreed to extend the contract of defensive tackle Domata Peko, whose deal was initially set to expire after the 2014 season, reports Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com (via Twitter). According to Hobson, the new deal will tack two years onto Peko’s existing contract, locking him up through 2016.

Peko, a former fourth-round pick, has been with the Bengals since the team drafted him in 2006, racking up 108 starts and 123 total games for the franchise. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) haven’t been particularly kind to him, assigning him a negative grade every year since 2007, and placing him 66th among 69 qualified defensive tackles in 2013. However, the 29-year-old has been a defensive leader and a key cog in the middle for the Bengals, recording 54 tackles and three sacks last season.

Peko had been slated to earn $4.325MM in 2014, so the extension might lower that cap number a little, creating some additional 2014 flexibility for Cincinnati.

Contract Details: Schaub, Allen, Ihedigbo

March 27th, 2014 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Matt Schaub‘s reworked deal with the Raiders includes pay cuts in both 2014 and 2015, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), who identifies Schaub’s new cap numbers as $8MM (2014) and $5.5MM (2015). The contract now includes $3MM in performance-based incentives in both 2014 and 2015, but the 2016 season has been totally removed, according to Pelissero (Twitter links). Jason Fitzgerald breaks down the new-look deal in chart form at OverTheCap.com.

Here are a few more contract details from around the NFL:

  • Jared Allen‘s deal with the Bears includes guaranteed base salaries of $3MM in 2014 and $1MM for 2015, with an $11.5MM ’15 roster bonus guaranteed for skill and injury, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). As Breer notes, the $8.5MM and $8MM salaries for 2016 and 2017 essentially amount to team options, and if Allen posts 12+ sacks in any season between 2014 and 2016, the final year of the contract voids.
  • According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), James Ihedigbo‘s two-year pact with the Lions functions more like a one-year deal, with a roster bonus decision due in March 2015. The contract, which will be worth $3.15MM ($750K guaranteed) over two years, would see the safety earn $1.525MM in 2014 and $1.625MM in 2015, if he sticks.
  • Paul McQuistan‘s two-year, $3MM contract with the Browns features annual base salaries of $855K (2014) and $1.395MM (2015), with up to $1MM per year in incentives, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Wilson tweets that Marc Mariani‘s one-year deal with the Titans is a minimum salary contract, with an extra $40K workout bonus. It also features a split salary as an IR precaution for the oft-injured receiver.

Vikings Sign Vlad Ducasse

March 27th, 2014 at 11:33am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 11:33am: The Vikings have officially signed Ducasse, the team announced today.

MONDAY, 10:25am: The Vikings have agreed to terms on a contract with offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Caplan, it’ll be a one-year deal for the former Jet.

A former second-round pick, Ducasse never saw much playing time during his rookie contract in New York. He opened last season as the Jets’ starter at right guard, but struggled mightily with penalties and pass blocking, and was benched in Week 5. Ducasse finished the season with just 331 offensive snaps, which nonetheless represented a career-high.

Ducasse, 26, visited the Vikings and Bengals after free agency opened, and also received some interest from his previous team, the Jets. We heard yesterday that the four-year veteran was expected to make a decision this week on where he’d sign, and it looks like he opted for Minnesota on a short contract.

Poll: Best Bargain Of Free Agency

March 27th, 2014 at 10:05am CST by Luke Adams

There are still plenty of free agents on the market for teams looking to fortify positions of weakness, but most of the offseason’s biggest prizes came off the board earlier this month in a flurry of action. Unless Jimmy Graham or Alex Mack sign big long-term extensions with their respective teams, Jared Allen‘s deal with the Bears, which reportedly has a max value of $32MM, figures to be the largest contract signed by any remaining free agent.

Now that the free agent frenzy has died down a little, it’s time to take a look back at the month’s signings and see which teams made out better than others. Considering dozens and dozens of players inked new deals within the last two and a half weeks, there are a ton of potential bargains out there to make a case for, so we’ll limit our focus to players listed in PFR’s Top 25 Free Agents.

Of those 25 players on our list, only Mack, who was designated a transition player, remains unsigned, and most of the other 24 received more than $10MM in guaranteed money on their new deals. A notable handful of top free agents received a smaller guarantee though, including multiple players in our top 10. Examining that group of players, we’ll ask this question: Which of the following free agents represents the best bargain?

While our list of choices may be limited, feel free to weigh in below in the comments section on which players you felt were undervalued, and which deals you think flew under the radar.

Rams Sign Alex Carrington

March 27th, 2014 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 9:07am: Carrington’s one-year deal is worth $1.5MM, with $1MM in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

WEDNESDAY, 1:34pm: The Rams have officially announced the signing of Carrington.

TUESDAY, 4:57pm: It’s a one-year deal for Carrington, a source tells Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

3:17pm: The Rams have agreed to terms on a contract with free agent defensive lineman Alex Carrington, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Before reaching an agreement with the Rams, Carrington also drew interest from the Steelers, Raiders, and Browns.

Carrington, 26, started the first three games in 2013 for the Bills, and appeared to be in line for his most significant role yet, but a torn quad sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The former third-round pick, who is capable of playing both defensive tackle and end, played well in part-time action in 2012, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF’s metrics (subscription required) gave Carrington a +8.7 grade in just 352 defensive snaps in ’12, in large part due to his ability to rush the passer — he recorded a pair of sacks to go along with 18 total QB pressures that season.

The Rams’ defensive line, led by Robert Quinn, shouldn’t have a ton of turnover this offseason, with all of last season’s starters on track to return for 2014. As such, Carrington figures to return to a reserve role in St. Louis.

Brian Orakpo Signs Franchise Tender

March 27th, 2014 at 8:19am CST by Luke Adams

Redskins edge defender Brian Orakpo has signed his one-year franchise tender, the Redskins announced today (Twitter link). The two sides could still decide to work out a longer-term agreement at any point, but signing the tender ensures that Orakpo is under contract for the 2014 season on a one-year deal worth $11.455MM.

Orakpo started 15 games for the Redskins last season, recording 60 tackles, 10 sacks, and returning an interception for a touchdown. The 27-year-old ranked fourth among 3-4 outside linebackers according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), recording positive grades not only as a pass rusher, but also against the run and as a coverage man.

While a multiyear extension between the Redskins and Orakpo remains possible, it sounds like the team may prefer to see him play out his one-year deal before deciding whether to lock him up. New head coach Jay Gruden suggested as much to reporters in Orlando yesterday.

Now that Orakpo has signed his tender, three of the four players who received the franchise tag before this month’s deadline have officially come off the free agent market. Like Orako, Greg Hardy signed his franchise tender from the Panthers, while Nick Folk worked out a long-term contract with the Jets. Of 2014’s franchise players, only the Saints’ Jimmy Graham remains unsigned.

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