In addition to having a delightful name, Jaguars‘ receiver Cecil Shorts has been one of the few bright spots on the club over the past couple of seasons. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union examines the recent extension that Doug Baldwin signed with the Seahawks, and wonders if a similar contract would make sense for Shorts, who will become a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.
O’Halloran concludes that if Jacksonville were to offer Shorts a contract resembling the one that Baldwin received–the Seahawks added two years to Baldwin’s contract to create a three-year, $13MM with $8MM guaranteed–Shorts should jump at the opportunity. Both players have put up similar numbers during their three years in the league, but considering that the Jaguars drafted highly-touted receivers Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee last month, and given that rookie quarterback Blake Bortles will probably find himself under center at some point this season, Shorts’ stats may take a hit. This is not to mention the fact that Shorts has frequently been able to bolster his numbers in garbage time, when the Jaguars were forced to throw the football and opposing teams were willing to let them eat up big but meaningless chunks of yardage. If the Jaguars are more competitive this season, as they expect to be, those opportunities would decrease.
On the other hand, Shorts is doubtlessly a talented and sometimes electric playmaker, so he certainly could eclipse the 1,000-yard mark and drive up his price, particularly if he is able to stay healthy. As such, both sides would do well to consider an extension, and we will see if they enter into talks as we move closer to training camp.
Now a quick look at the AFC:
- Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com observes that, for the time being, Danny Amendola looks like the player that the Patriots thought they were getting when they signed him to a big free agent deal last year.
- Staying on the subject of the Patriots, Christopher Price of WEEI.com notes that the team is “taking it slowly” with the tackle position. Starters Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer have been limited this spring, so the team has been working out Marcus Cannon on the left side of the line and Jordan Devey on the right. Price notes that New England could be on the lookout for depth at tackle, especially since June 1 has come and gone.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com notes that Browns tight end Jordan Cameron‘s already-impressive numbers stand to improve in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense and in the absence of Josh Gordon, and that improvement–along with Cameron’s recent changing of agents–should make any long-term negotiations between the two parties very interesting.
- Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains why the Steelers, to the surprise of many, waited until the fifth round of last month’s draft to select a corner. In short, the team believes Antwon Blake and Brice McCain have a great deal to offer should the opportunity arise.
- Mike Klis of the Denver Post reexamines the 2011 draft-day trade between the Broncos and 49ers that landed Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco and Rahim Moore, Quinton Carter, and Julius Thomas in Denver.