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Month: November 2024

Ravens Offered Torrey Smith Five-Year Deal

February 3rd, 2015 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Prior to the 2014 season, the Ravens offered wide receiver Torrey Smith a five-year, $35MM contract extension, which included $19MM guaranteed, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). It’s not clear if such an offer remains on the table, but clearly Smith decided to pass at the time it was proposed.

Coming off a 2013 season in which he established new career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,128), Smith took a step backward in ’14, with just 49 catches for 767 yards. Still, he scored 11 touchdowns, and led the league in pass interference penalties drawn (12), which resulted in another 261 yards. Additionally, his presence on one side of the field likely played a large part in Steve Smith having a bounce-back year across from him.

When our Rory Parks examined Smith as an extension candidate before the season, he suggested that Baltimore would likely have to commit between $40-60MM on a five-year offer for Smith, so it makes sense that the wideout would turn down an offer worth just $35MM. Still, that proposal may look a bit more appealing now. Structurally, it’s fairly similar to the contract Eric Decker signed with the Jets a year ago — Decker’s deal included a little more overall money ($36.25MM), but a slightly smaller guarantee ($15MM).

If Smith reaches the open market, he should draw plenty of interest from teams in need of receivers, such as the Raiders, Panthers, and Chiefs. His value would be particularly strong if potential free agents like Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and Randall Cobb were locked up by their current teams prior to March 10. Still, Smith has indicated that he’d like to work out an extension with the Ravens before that point, so we’ll see if the two sides reach an agreement in the next few weeks.

Cole’s Latest: Browns, Draft, Revis, Wilfork

February 3rd, 2015 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

As free agency and the draft inch closer, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report figures to be busy, providing the latest buzz from around the NFL. Today, he has posted two videos passing along the whispers he’s hearing regarding the Browns’ plans at quarterback and what lies ahead for two key Patriots defenders. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights….

  • Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported yesterday that the Browns are optimistic that Johnny Manziel, currently in rehab, will be ready to go for training camp, and don’t plan to walk away from the young quarterback. Still, according to Cole, it sounds as if the team is mulling the possibility of trying to trade up for one of the top two signal-callers in this spring’s draft. Cole reports that Cleveland prefers Marcus Mariota to Jameis Winston, and may be well-positioned to make a move, since no other team has two 2015 first-round picks to dangle in an offer.
  • Cole echoes a weekend report from Adam Schefter, indicating that the Jets and Bills will have interest in Darrelle Revis if he reaches the open market. According to Cole, the Jets will be a “major player,” particularly since Revis loves New York and would seriously consider a reunion with the team. Before Revis hits free agency though, the Patriots will likely try to work out a long-term agreement, and Cole says the cornerback will take a couple weeks to decide whether or not he wants to continue going year to year as he approaches age 30. Of course, the Pats could also simply pick up Revis’ 2015 option, but that would result in a $25MM cap hit.
  • Vince Wilfork‘s cap number for 2015 jumps up to nearly $9MM, and the Patriots could save most of that total by cutting him this offseason, as Cole observes. Given Wilfork’s shaky performance down the stretch (he recorded a -6.0 grade in the postseason, per Pro Football Focus) and New England’s tendency to cut ties with longtime contributors when they’re no longer providing value, that doesn’t necessarily bode well for the big defensive lineman. However, Cole says Wilfork likes the idea of going out on top, so it’s possible he’ll decide to retire.

South Notes: Falcons, Colts, Saints, Texans

February 3rd, 2015 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to announcing Dan Quinn as their new head coach today, the Falcons confirmed several other members of their coaching staff, via a team release. As previously reported, Kyle Shanahan will serve as the offensive coordinator in Atlanta, while Richard Smith will be the defensive coordinator and Raheem Morris will hold the title of assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator.

Other members of Quinn’s staff include Bobby Turner (RBs coach), Mike LaFleur (offensive assistant), Keith Armstrong (ST coordinator), Bryan Cox (DL coach), Wade Harman (TEs coach), Terry Robiskie (WRs coach), and Eric Sutulovich (assistant ST coach).

Here’s more on the Falcons and a few other teams from the NFC South and AFC South:

  • Perhaps more interesting than any of the Falcons‘ assistant coach announcements was the revelation that Quinn will indeed have control of the 53-man roster, as had been speculated (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution). As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, GM Thomas Dimitroff still has final say over the draft and free agency, so it’s a setup similar to the one in Seattle.
  • Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will get paid, but Stephen Holder of the Indy Star doesn’t necessarily see it happening this offseason. When Luck does get that fat contract, likely worth $20-$25MM annually, it won’t leave the Colts completely thin across the board as the team has been anticipating this for quite some time. The Colts currently rank in the bottom half of the league in current spending, giving them significant flexibility both this year and in years to come.
  • Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune writes that the Saints will still have to do some serious financial maneuvering this offseason beyond turning roster bonuses into signing bonuses. That maneuvering, while keeping the Saints “legal” for the start of the new league year on March 10, would leave no room for signing new players or improving the roster. Many have said that the Saints will be impeded by their big spending, but Woodbery notes that they have found themselves in this spot before. Last offseason, they didn’t find themselves with a lot of breathing room, but they still found a way to sign safety Jairus Byrd to a large multi-year deal.
  • The Texans have hired Mike Devlin (OL coach), Pat O’Hara (offensive assistant), and Paul Pasqualoni (DL coach), and promoted Anthony Pleasant to a defensive assistant role, the team announced today in a press release.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

2015 NFL Draft Order Set For First Round

February 3rd, 2015 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Following Sunday’s Super Bowl, the order for the first round of the 2015 NFL draft has officially been set, with the Buccaneers kicking things off at No. 1, and the Patriots wrapping things up at No. 32.

The first-round order will dictate how the order for the remaining rounds plays out, with teams that finished with the same records rotating choices in subsequent rounds — for instance, while the 2-14 Buccaneers pick ahead of the Titans in the first round, the Titans will get the first selection in the second round. This provision doesn’t apply to some playoff teams, however. For example, despite both finishing 12-4, the Packers and Patriots are locked into the 30th and 32nd picks, respectively, based on how far they advanced in the postseason.

So far, only one first-round pick has been traded. The Browns acquired the Bills’ first-rounder in last year’s Sammy Watkins deal. When the NFL officially releases the full draft order later in the offseason, it will include all compensatory picks, and every traded pick. In the meantime, our round-up of 2015’s traded picks can be found right here.

Here’s the full 2015 first round draft order, via the NFL:

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  2. Tennessee Titans
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Oakland Raiders
  5. Washington
  6. New York Jets
  7. Chicago Bears
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. New York Giants
  10. St. Louis Rams
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Cleveland Browns
  13. New Orleans Saints
  14. Miami Dolphins
  15. San Francisco 49ers
  16. Houston Texans
  17. San Diego Chargers
  18. Kansas City Chiefs
  19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo)
  20. Philadelphia Eagles
  21. Cincinnati Bengals
  22. Pittsburgh Steelers
  23. Detroit Lions
  24. Arizona Cardinals
  25. Carolina Panthers
  26. Baltimore Ravens
  27. Dallas Cowboys
  28. Denver Broncos
  29. Indianapolis Colts
  30. Green Bay Packers
  31. Seattle Seahawks
  32. New England Patriots

Poll: Best Head Coaching Hire Of 2015?

February 3rd, 2015 at 11:56am CST by Luke Adams

As our head coaching search tracker shows, all seven NFL teams that parted ways with their head coaches at season’s end have now hired replacements, with the Falcons formally announcing today that Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn would take over Mike Smith‘s old job. The Bills, Bears, Broncos, Jets, Raiders, and 49ers all made coaching changes as well.

While Quinn was one of the most highly-regarded assistants in the league, there are a number of other intriguing names among this year’s group of seven new coaches. A pair of head coaches – John Fox and Rex Ryan – who have had success in the past jumped from one team to another, while other top coordinators like Gary Kubiak and Todd Bowles also landed new jobs leading their own teams.

Time will tell which of these seven teams made the best move, but based on what we know right now, which hiring do you like the most?

East Notes: Revis, Washington, Butler, Jets

February 3rd, 2015 at 10:27am CST by Luke Adams

Cornerback Darrelle Revis technically remains under contract with the Patriots for a second season for now, but with a $25MM cap hit looming, it seems awfully unlikely that the star corner will actually play out the second year of that deal, despite recent reports that suggest the Pats will consider picking up the option. If Revis were to become a free agent, he’d be one of the most coveted players on the market, but would he be the top defender available? Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press asked seven current or former players whether they’d prefer to sign Revis or Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and Suh narrowly edged Revis, by a 4-3 margin.

Here’s more from around the league’s two East divisions:

  • Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com and John Keim of ESPN.com each take a look at Washington‘s offseason today, with Tandler delving into GM Scot McCloughan‘s potential approach to free agency, while Keim identifies a few players who could become cap casualties this winter.
  • In addition to saving the Super Bowl with his last-minute interception on Sunday, Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler practically saved Derek Simpson’s career as an agent as well, writes Natalie Pierre of AL.com. As Pierre explains, Butler was Simpson’s only client in three years to sign an NFL contract and stick on a 53-man roster, saving the agent from having to restart the certification process.
  • Former Jets tight ends coach Steve Hagen has shifted to assistant special teams coach on Todd Bowles‘ staff, a source tells Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (Twitter link).
  • ESPN.com’s Todd Archer examines how a possible lucrative contract extension for Marshawn Lynch could affect the stock of Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray this offseason.

2015 NFL Franchise Tag Candidates: NFC East

February 3rd, 2015 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

The deadline for assigning a franchise or transition tag on a 2015 free-agent-to-be is less than a month away, and we’re in the process of taking a look at players who are candidates to be tagged this year. Last week, we examined all four AFC divisions, covering the East, North, South, and West. This week, we’re shifting our focus to the NFC, starting with the East. Here’s a breakdown of the franchise and transition tag candidates for Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington:

Dallas Cowboys:

  • Candidates: Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray
  • Odds of being used: Likely
  • Rolando McClain, another Cowboys free-agent-to-be, might be a viable candidate for a tag at another position, but as an inside linebacker, he’d be subject to the pricier franchise salary assigned to an outside linebacker, making it too expensive to really consider. That leaves Bryant and Murray as possible candidates, and it seems probable that one of the two will receive a tag. Bryant, who will be Dallas’ No. 1 priority in free agency, is the likelier option, but if he and the Cowboys work out a long-term extension within the next few weeks, it would make sense to consider franchising Murray.

New York Giants:

  • Candidates: Jason Pierre-Paul
  • Odds of being used: Possible
  • Pierre-Paul came on strong in the season’s second half, increasing his overall sack total to 12.5. JPP was having a good year even without the sacks, playing particularly well against the run, but that sack figure is what improved his earning potential as he neared free agency. A former first-round pick, Pierre-Paul only turns 26 this month, and has a chance to be the best pass rusher to reach the open market, depending on what happens with Ndamukong Suh and Justin Houston. That’s a valuable asset to keep around, so if the Giants can’t work out a long-term deal with him, franchising him could be the team’s best course of action.

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • Candidates: Jeremy Maclin, Brandon Graham
  • Odds of being used: Possible
  • Maclin perhaps isn’t in the same tier as top free-agent-to-be wideouts Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, but he certainly should head up the second tier, along with Randall Cobb. A year ago, Maclin turned down a five-year offer from the Eagles, choosing to bet on himself with a one-year contract that could significantly increase the value of a multiyear deal this offseason. That decision paid off, as the 26-year-old posted career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,318), and touchdowns (10), and now it might be the Eagles that prefer to just stick to one year. If it comes down to having to offer Maclin a five-year, $50MM+ deal or locking him up at the franchise salary for one year, the club may favor the latter. As for Graham, he’s probably not a truly realistic candidate for a tag, since he still hasn’t become more than a part-time player in Philadelphia, but when he sees the field, he has played very well — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had Graham down for 53 total quarterback pressures this year in just 524 defensive snaps, ranking him as the league’s third-best 3-4 outside linebacker.

Washington:

  • Candidates: Brian Orakpo
  • Odds of being used: Very unlikely
  • As I observed when I discussed the Steelers and Jason Worilds, if a team is willing to tag a player once, and he plays well in the following season, it makes sense to at least consider it again. In Orakpo’s case though, the edge defender was struggling even before a torn pectoral wiped out the second half of his season, recording just 0.5 sacks in his first seven games. 2014 second-round pick Trent Murphy is a younger, cheaper alternative to Orakpo, so more likely than not, Washington will simply let Orakpo walk if he wants a lucrative deal.

Minor Moves: Monday

February 2nd, 2015 at 10:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The day after Super Bowl XLIX proved to be a busy one around the NFL. The Colts finally announced the signing of CFL receiver Duron Carter, Chargers center Nick Hardwick decided to hang up his cleats, the Raiders re-signed veteran cornerback Charles Woodson and the Ravens released Terrence Cody.

Of course, there are always additional moves that fly under the radar, and we’ve got today’s minor transaction below:

  • The Bengals announced (on Twitter) that they have signed offensive tackle Matthew O’Donnell. O’Donnell, 25, has spent time in the CFL and even garnered some NBA interest back in 2011. The British Columbia native originally signed with Cincinnati back in 2011, and he was on the team’s practice squad for more than a year.

NFC Links: Seahawks, Dez, Evans, Washington

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Seahawks safety Earl Thomas suffered a dislocated shoulder during the NFC Championship, and according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the player will seek a second opinion on the injury. Regardless of the 25-year-old’s decision, Rapoport believes the All-Pro safety is heading towards surgery.

Meanwhile, ‘Hawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed that cornerback Richard Sherman will need to undergo Tommy John surgery for his injured left elbow (via the team’s Twitter account). Carroll also mentioned that cornerback Jeremy Lane has a “significant” broken arm.

If there’s a bright side, it doesn’t sound like the injuries will impact the team next season. According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (via Twitter), Carroll doesn’t believe any of injuries will prevent the trio from being ready for 2015.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFC…

  • Wide receiver Dez Bryant is confident that he will get a long-term deal done with the Cowboys. “Regardless, I’m a Cowboy,” Bryant told NBCDFW.com, according to Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk. “But it is what it is. It’s business. I am a free agent. I’m very confident that something is going to happen, something is going to get done, and have these Cowboys fans excited for a long time. I’m a Cowboy at heart. It’s Cowboys forever.”
  • Saints guard Jahri Evans played the second half of the season with a partially torn triangular fibrocartilage complex in his wrist, tweets Lyons Yellin of WWL-TV in Louisana. The reporter adds that the player underwent surgery in early January and is expected to be ready for OTAs.
  • CSNWashington.com insiders Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler discussed whether veteran linebacker Brian Orakpo would be back with Washington next season. Ultimately, the writers decided it’s best for the franchise to move on from the 28-year-old, with El-Bashir citing the player’s injury history and Tandler noting the team’s need for a younger playmaker at linebacker.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Coaching Notes: Seahawks, Cardinals, Washington, Falcons

February 2nd, 2015 at 8:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Following the Falcons hiring of former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, a former league executive wondered what could have been. Former Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said that he twice tried to hire Quinn to become Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator, according to Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com (via Twitter). Instead, Dominik settled for Bill Sheridan and Raheem Morris.

Let’s check out some more coaching notes from around the league…

  • The Seahawks plan is to promote defensive backs coach Kris Richard to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy, but they may conduct a wider search first, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • The Falcons will hire Seahawks assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan as their new offensive line coach, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Morgan, of course, is following friend Dan Quinn to Atlanta.
  • The Cardinals are scheduled to hire Bob Sanders as one of their linebacker coaches, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 AM (on Twitter). Sanders 61, served as the defensive coordinator of the Packers from 2006-08. He spent last year on the Raiders‘ staff.
  • Washington (on Twitter) announced the hiring of Robb Akey as their defensive line coach. Akey, who has 26 years of coaching experience, served as the assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings in 2014.
  • Furthermore, Washington is likely finished adding defensive assistants, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

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