2015 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Sunday Roundup: Sanchez, Cousins, Graham

November 22nd, 2015 at 12:48pm CST by Rory Parks

Just like Brock Osweiler in Denver, Mark Sanchez has the opportunity to secure a full-time starting job with the Eagles, and his audition starts today. As Sam Bradford continues to deal with a concussion and shoulder injury, Sanchez will get the start against the Buccaneers this afternoon, and per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (article via Kevin Patra) he will also start Thanksgiving Day against the Lions. Since the Eagles did not sign Bradford to an extension this offseason, it will be easy for Philadelphia to move on from him if it so chooses, and it would not be a surprise if Sanchez took hold of the job for the remainder of 2015. What happens beyond that, though, is anyone’s guess.

Now let’s take a look at some links from around the league:

Washington has had preliminary contract talks with Kirk Cousins, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). However, as former NFL agent Joel Corry tweets, there is no reason for Cousins to sign an extension anytime soon, as the rewards for not doing so outweigh the risks.
Rapoport tweets that the Cowboys‘ support for embattled DE Greg Hardy is waning. Hardy was late for practice last Thursday and late for a team meeting last Saturday, and it is unclear how much longer he can test the team’s patience. Of course, it would be strange if tardiness is the reason Dallas ultimately chooses to part ways with Hardy.
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald looks back at what went right for the Dolphins this offseason and what they should have done differently.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com details the reasons for Jimmy Graham‘s disappointing 2015 season and likens his tenure with the Seahawks to Randy Moss‘ time in Oakland. Fitzgerald believes that Graham’s statistical output is artificially low because of the offense he plays in, and although there are risks if a team should choose to pursue Graham in the offseason, the potential rewards outweigh those concerns.
In a separate piece, Fitzgerald explores why Nick Foles‘ benching does not mean he will be leaving the Rams next year.
Matt Vensel of The Star Tribune examines how the Vikings have successfully navigated the draft and deftly handled difficult personnel decisions to assemble one of the league’s best defenses.
Likewise, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle discusses how the Texans‘ youth movement on defense is giving the club hope for the future.
Although it does not come as much of surprise, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says that teams hoping to lure Alabama head coach Nick Saban back to the professional ranks are facing very steep odds, and La Canfora details why Saban will stay right where he is.
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reviews the performance of the 2015 draft class to date, observing that, with a few notable exceptions, the class has largely been a disappointment.
Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com explores some potential impacts of the NFL’s decision to make compensatory draft picks tradeable.

Colts Agree To Terms With Two Third-Rounders

July 24th, 2015 at 8:14pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Colts have agreed to terms with cornerback D’Joun Smith and defensive lineman Henry Anderson, their third-round picks from this year’s NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Mike Wells (Twitter link). Smith will get a four-year, $3.5MM deal (800k signing bonus), while Anderson will receive $2.9MM (610k bonus) over four years, Mike Chappell of CBS4 reports (via Twitter).

Smith and Anderson were the last two unsigned picks from the league’s 2015 draft class, meaning all 256 selections from this year are now under contract.

Smith, whom the Colts chose 65th overall out of Florida Atlantic, intercepted nine passes in college and is expected to vie for playing time in a cornerback corps that is shaky after No. 1 man Vontae Davis.

Anderson, who was first-team All-Pac-12 in 2014 before the Colts took him 93rd out of Stanford, could make an immediate impact along Indy’s D-line.

Titans Sign Marcus Mariota

July 21st, 2015 at 6:45pm CST by Zachary Links

6:45pm: The deal has partial offset language, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (on Twitter).

6:35pm: Finally, it’s a done deal. The Titans announced on Tuesday night that they have signed rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.

“We are glad to have the deal with Marcus done, and I’d like to thank both Marcus and his representatives for their diligence in working with us to finalize this contract,” said Titans Executive Vice President and General Manager Ruston Webster. “We were confident that Marcus would be under contract before training camp, and we look forward to him starting his career on time with his teammates when we open camp next week. This is an exciting time for the Tennessee Titans organization, and we look forward to a bright future.”

Negotiations between Tennessee and the No. 2 overall pick went on much, much longer than anyone anticipated. Eventually, it came to light that the dispute stemmed from whether the contract would include offset language. As explained by Luke Adams of PFR last summer, offset language relates to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the first four years of his career, while he’s still playing on his rookie contract. For the top 15 to 20 picks in the draft, those four-year salaries will be fully guaranteed, even if a player is waived at some point during those four seasons. For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.

However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. If there’s no offset language on that first deal, the old team would continue to be on the hook for the full $4MM, and the player would simply earn an additional $1MM from his new club.

No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston didn’t force the issue on offsets, choosing instead to agree to a contract with the Bucs the day after he was drafted. Only one player selected in the top 10 – third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. – has a deal without offset language.

In 2014, the Hawaii native directed the most efficient offense (23.5) in the country and led all quarterbacks nationally with a total quarterback rating of 90.9. Mariota finished the season ranked third among FBS quarterbacks with 4,454 passing yards and amassed 42 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 770 yards and 15 scores. The Oregon QB was regarded by some as the best signal caller in the draft, though the Bucs felt differently and selected Winston No. 1.

Now, only two draft picks remain unsigned: Colts cornerback D’Joun Smith and Colts defensive lineman Henry Anderson.

Titans Not Budging On Offsets For Mariota

July 14th, 2015 at 8:37pm CST by Zachary Links

For months, the Titans and No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota have been at an impasse over whether there would be offset language in his contract. Mariota remains unsigned, but Titans interim CEO and president Steve Underwood says that the team will not buckle on this issue, as ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky writes.

“We’ve always had offset language in our player contracts. It’s nothing new,” Underwood said. “I think it is important where a high first-round draft pick is concerned, because it’s the precedent. Everything that we do is precedential for the next round of contracts. “So keeping the offset in place is something we want to be able to do going forward. And the minute you back away from the contract principle then you no longer are able to assert it going forward.”

Underwood went on to explain that if he made an exception in Mariota’s case, it would “echo into eternity with player contracts.” Fearful of setting a player-friendly precedent going forward, Underwood says he’s willing to continue this standoff. Underwood also indicated that while missed time at the start of camp isn’t ideal, it also wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The good news for Titans fans is that Underwood says offset language is the last real sticking point in negotiations, so this should be a done deal once that issue is resolved. It’s surprising that the Titans are this adamant about offsets since the odds of it becoming relevant before the end of Mariota’s deal are slim, but the team is apparently more concerned about how it will affect future dealings than how it will affect the No. 2 overall pick.

As explained by Luke Adams of PFR last summer, offset language relates to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the first four years of his career, while he’s still playing on his rookie contract. For the top 15 to 20 picks in the draft, those four-year salaries will be fully guaranteed, even if a player is waived at some point during those four seasons. For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.

However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. If there’s no offset language on that first deal, the old team would continue to be on the hook for the full $4MM, and the player would simply earn an additional $1MM from his new club.

No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston didn’t force the issue on offsets, choosing instead to agree to a contract with the Bucs the day after he was drafted. Only one player selected in the top 10 – third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. – has a deal without offset language.

Mariota passed for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, leading Oregon to the National Championship Game against Ohio State.

AFC Notes: Browns, Mariota, Gordon

June 24th, 2015 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post looked at five big issues facing the Broncos in 2015. Chief among them, he says, is Peyton Manning‘s age. No quarterback has won the Super Bowl at age 39 and only five have played a full season at his age. This season he has a better ground game than before, but it remains to be seen if he can succeed with the schemes of Denver’s new regime. Here’s more from the AFC..

Prior to the draft, there was buzz that the Browns could make a play for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Recently, the No. 2 overall pick, now property of the Titans, confirmed that there was no conversation between him and Cleveland. “There was a lot of scenarios,” Mariota said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. “I never had any contact with the Browns. Um, so, yeah.” Cabot wonders if the Browns will come to regret that.
A Browns official has corresponded with suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon this offseason, according to a source who spoke with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Gordon is serving a one-year suspension for multiple violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, but it would seem that Cleveland hasn’t totally washed its hands of him. Despite all his problems, Gordon stands as one of the most naturally talented wide receivers in the NFL. In 2013, Gordon hauled in 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union took his best stab at predicting the Jaguars‘ initial 53-man roster. At running back, he believes that Corey Grant will edge Storm Johnson, who saw significant playing time in 2014, and NFL notable Bernard Pierce. Ultimately, he feels that Jacksonville won’t keep a fullback, but it also won’t hold on to five tailbacks.

Raiders Sign Mario Edwards Jr.

June 19th, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have signed second-round defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. to his rookie deal, the team announced today in a press release. Like the Giants and Patriots did earlier today, the Raiders have now finished locking up their 2015 draft class, with all 10 of their draftees now under contract.

According to Over the Cap, Edwards’ four-year pact will be worth a little over $6MM, and will feature a signing bonus of approximately $2.636MM. Edwards’ cap number for the 2015 season will be $1.094MM.

The 35th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Edwards spent three seasons at Florida State, and was named to the All-ACC First Team as a junior in 2014. He also played a role in helping the Seminoles win the 2013 BCS National Championship.

Only three 2015 draft picks have yet to agree to terms with their respective teams. First-round quarterback Marcus Mariota (Titans) third-round cornerback D’Joun Smith (Colts), and third-round defensive end Henry Anderson (Colts) remain unsigned.

Titans Sign Jeremiah Poutasi

June 19th, 2015 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The Titans have reached a deal with third-round offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). The agreement means that only four 2015 draft picks have yet to sign with their respective teams.

Poutasi, the 66th overall pick out of Utah, was the third consecutive offensive player selected by the Titans to start this year’s draft, after the club also nabbed quarterback Marcus Mariota and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. While DGB signed his rookie contract a few weeks ago, Mariota is one of those four players who has yet to agree to a deal. Still, that’s not a cause for concern for the Titans or GM Ruston Webster, who addressed the contract situation for the No. 2 overall pick today, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.

“We have had good conversations. We’ll continue to have good conversations,” Webster said. “Looking forward to getting that done and him being in here for camp. I personally don’t see there being a major issue. … I don’t concern myself too much with it if a guy misses a few days. We’ve had good talks. We’re motivated. Marcus is motivated. So I would expect that we would be able to get something done.”

As for Poutasi, his four-year contract with the Titans will be worth just over $3MM, including a signing bonus of about $802K. He’ll count for about $636K against Tennessee’s cap this season.

Malcom Brown, Patriots Agree To Terms

June 19th, 2015 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

The Patriots have reached an agreement on a rookie contract with first-round defensive tackle Malcom Brown, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal ensures that second overall pick Marcus Mariota is the only first-round pick who remains unsigned.

According to one post-draft report, the Patriots were very open to trading the 32nd overall pick, but opted to keep it when they didn’t the return they wanted. In fact, one erroneous report on draft night suggested that New England had agreed to move the pick, but landing Brown at No. 32 viewed as a good value, and a nice fit for the team.

Per Over The Cap, Brown’s four-year pact with the Patriots features a signing bonus worth about $3.797MM, and a four-year value of approximately $7.613MM. Landon Collins, the 33rd overall pick, agreed to terms earlier today and received a signing bonus worth about $1MM less than Brown’s, so the former Texas Longhorn was fortunate to be a first-rounder. Coming off the board in the first round means his contract will also include a fifth-year option for 2019.

The Patriots have now locked up all 11 of their draft picks, becoming the 29th of 32 NFL teams to finish signing their draftees. Only the Titans, Colts, and Raiders still have picks to sign.

Landon Collins, Giants Agree To Deal

June 19th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants have agreed to terms with second-round safety Landon Collins on his rookie contract, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). With first-rounder Ereck Flowers having signed his own deal yesterday, the team has now secured all its 2015 draft picks.

Collins, the 33rd overall pick in this year’s draft, narrowly missed being selected in the first round, meaning his contract won’t include a fifth-year option for the 2019 season. Instead, he’ll be eligible for free agency after playing out a four-year deal worth about $6.121MM. His signing bonus will be approximately $2.711MM, per Over The Cap.

Once Collins went undrafted in the first round, the Giants aggressively moved up at the start of the draft’s second day to land him. New York sent its second-, fourth-, and seventh-round picks to the Titans, moving up from No. 40 to No. 33 to secure the former Alabama safety.

Now that Collins had reached an agreement with the Giants, only the Colts, Patriots, Raiders, and Titans still have draftees to lock up — in total, six picks remain unsigned.

Giants Sign Ereck Flowers

June 18th, 2015 at 3:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants announced that they have signed first-round pick Ereck Flowers. Flowers, a product of the University of Miami, was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. According to his slot, Flowers should earn $14.4MM with a healthy $8.7MM signing bonus.

Flowers negotiated his own rookie contract with the Giants, which may have contributed to the delay in signing. Had Flowers hired an agent and been charged the maximum allowable 3% fee on his $14.4MM guaranteed contract, the fee would have worked out to $432K. Instead, he decided to keep that fee and use his family for guidance. Flowers’ camp did hire an attorney to review the contract, however.

Flowers was already expected to play a big role for the Giants, but when Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle lifting weights on May 18th, he became even more crucial to the team’s immediate success. Many expected the Giants to go hard after Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff, who is widely believed to be more NFL ready, but he was off the board by the time it was their turn to pick.

2015 NFL Draft News & Rumors