2015 April - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Notes: Albert, Jets, Pats

April 12th, 2015 at 8:50am CST by Rory Parks

Branden Albert played in just nine games last year, his first in a Dolphins uniform after signing a five-year, $47MM free-agent contract with the club last March. He tore his ACL in a November matchup against the Lions, but as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald notes, Albert is already in “two-a-day mode” as he fights to return from his injury.

Beasley writes, “Most days, [Albert] wakes up early and either rehabs with the Dolphins’ medical staff or lifts with personal trainer Manning Sumner at Legacy Fit in Miami.” After that, Albert heads into the boxing ring for intense training sessions with Matt Baiamonte, a Wynwood-based boxing trainer. When Albert suffered the ACL tear, the original prognosis was that he would be sidelined for nine to 12 months. But although he will not join the team for on-field activities this spring, he has not had any complications in his recovery thus far, and he plans to suit up for Miami in Week 1.

Albert believes he was at the top of his game before his injury, and if he can get back to that level, the Dolphins, who have a real shot at being playoff contenders in 2015, will have a much-needed anchor on an offensive line that figures to include young guards Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC East:

Confirming what we have heard over the past few days, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets that Kevin White, Bryce Petty, and Dante Fowler, Jr. will be visiting with the Jets on Monday and Tuesday.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has done a nice job of infusing the team with new talent, but he also thinks that Maccagnan has spent too much time shopping in the Older/Injured Players aisle. As Cimini writes, eight of the team’s 16 new players will be at least 30 when the season opens, and six of the sixteen ended 2014 on IR.
In the same piece, Cimini examines the motivation behind the Jets‘ recent decision to exercise the fifth-year option for Quinton Coples.
Despite the presence of Tom Brady under center, the Patriots have drafted more quarterbacks–eight–than all but four teams since Bill Belichick took over prior to the 2000 season. Christopher Price of WEEI.com looks at the reasons behind New England’s decision to consistently add signal-callers despite their enviable quarterback situation.

Extra Points: Gregory, Texans, Peterson

April 11th, 2015 at 10:35pm CST by Rob DiRe

Some assorted notes as we wrap up the week…

The Chargers are bringing Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory in for an official visit after he tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine, writes Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. Gregory would not have been in the cards this late in the first round without the drug concerns, but the Chargers will be ready to make a decision on this top-10 talent should he fall in the draft.
The Texans re-signed backup guard Cody White on Thursday, and his one-year deal with the team will be worth $585K with no guaranteed money, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson writes that White has a split salary, which reduces the amount he is owed if he is forced onto the IR due to an injury.
Adrian Peterson “deserves” an exit and the Vikings “should grant his wish,” opines Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. The writer emphasizes that Peterson’s apparent resentment towards the organization (including his belief that they didn’t show enough support) is unwarranted. However, the running back could use a fresh start, and Renck believes that won’t happen in Minnesota.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

AFC Mailbags: Texans, Chiefs, Jets, Jags, Colts

April 11th, 2015 at 9:50pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now shift our focus to the AFC…

The Texans have historically made trades during the draft, so Tania Ganguli believes it’s a possibility the organization could move up this year. However, considering the depth at the position, she doesn’t think the Texans should trade up for a wideout.
Adam Teicher writes that “cornerback is a spot to watch” for the Chiefs during the first round. While the organization would be “delighted” with Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, Teicher says Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson or LSU’s Jalen Collins are more realistic targets.
Despite the team’s acquisition of Brandon Marshall, Rich Cimini says it would be hard for the Jets to pass on Alabama’s Amari Cooper if the receiver’s available at the sixth pick.
Chad Henne is entering the final year of his contract, and Michael DiRocco could envision the Jaguars re-signing the veteran quarterback following the 2015 season. The 29-year-old has compiled 27 touchdowns to 26 interceptions in his three seasons in Jacksonville.
Mike Wells says it’s “highly unlikely” that Ahmad Bradshaw returns to the Colts. The 29-year-old certainly provided a spark during his tenure in Indy, but he only managed to play 13 games between the two seasons. Futhermore, the addition of Frank Gore would leave Bradshaw without a clear role.

Notable Free Agents Still Available: Defense

April 11th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Luke Adams

A little over a week ago, we took a look at some of the most notable offensive free agents still available, rounding up the latest reports and rumors on those players. In the eight days since, a handful of those free agents have found new homes, with the Jets signing Stevan Ridley, the Browns securing Rob Housler, and the Broncos agreeing to terms with James Casey.

This weekend, we’ll shift our attention to the defensive side of the ball. Noteworthy veterans like cornerback Charles Tillman (Panthers) and edge defender Anthony Spencer (Saints) have come off the board in recent days, but there are still plenty of free agents worth checking in on, with 2015 free agency entering its second month.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable names remaining at the defensive positions, featuring the latest updates on those players:

Interior defensive lineman: Barry Cofield, Brett Keisel, Tommy Kelly, C.J. Mosley, Kevin Williams
Cofield and Keisel haven’t been the subject of any reports since being released by Washington and Pittsburgh respectively. It’s hard to imagine Keisel playing for any team except the Steelers if he continues his playing career, but he does have links to coaches in Arizona and Tennessee. Kelly played – and played well – for the Cardinals last season, but there’s been no indication yet that the club will re-sign him, and at age 34, he’s a potential candidate for retirement — the same can be said of Williams, who is also 34. Mosley would seem like a good fit in Detroit, after the Lions lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, but the team may be reluctant to bring him back after last year’s suspension for marijuana possession.

Edge defenders: John Abraham, Red Bryant, Dwight Freeney, Osi Umenyiora
Bryant, who turns 31 next week, is easily the youngest player of this group, so it’s not surprising that none of them have found homes for 2015 yet. Abraham, who missed nearly the entire 2014 season with concussion issues, may not return, but I could see Freeney and Umenyiora being effective situational pass rushers in the right situation. Umenyiora informally visited the Jets, but it doesn’t appear that anything is brewing on that front. As for Freeney, he won’t be back with the Chargers, but the Falcons and Buccaneers have been mentioned as potential fits.

Linebackers: Lance Briggs, Joe Mays, Brandon Spikes, Philip Wheeler, Jacquian Williams
Mays will likely come off this list on Monday, as he’s expected to sign with the Jets. The 49ers are in the market for linebackers and have been linked to several of these guys, including Briggs, Spikes, and Wheeler, and I doubt signing Nick Bellore ends the team’s search for ILB help. The Bills would also like to bring back Spikes. Williams, who is unlikely to re-sign with the Giants, said early in free agency that he had received interest from five teams, including the Rams, but nothing has come to fruition over the last few weeks.

Cornerbacks: Tarell Brown, Carlos Rogers, Ike Taylor
With Tillman no longer in play, cornerback is one of the weakest positions in free agency. Brown and Rogers started 21 games between them last year, but did so for the Raiders, and it doesn’t reflect all that well on them that even Oakland doesn’t have interest in retaining them. Brown, at least, drew some interest from the Patriots last month. As for Taylor, he doesn’t seem to be seeking contract offers, and all signs are pointing to him moving on to the next stage of his career.

Safeties: Stevie Brown, Dawan Landry, LaRon Landry, Danieal Manning, Bernard Pollard, George Wilson
While the cornerback ranks thin out, there are at least a handful of interesting names still on the board at safety. One Landry (Dawan) recently paid a visit to Buffalo to meet with the Bills and former head coach Rex Ryan, while the other (LaRon) may not find a job anytime soon, with a 10-game suspension hanging over his head. After Pollard received his release from the Titans, he explained that he preferred to play for a contender, but he doesn’t appear to be generating a ton of interest. Wilson started 10 games for the Titans last year, but his name has surfaced so little this offseason that he doesn’t even have his own PFR rumors page. Brown and Manning also haven’t been the subject of many reports, though one Giants beat writer predicted last month that New York would re-sign Brown.

NFC Notes: Wilson, Rams, Bears, Draft

April 11th, 2015 at 7:48pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Seahawks are preparing to give Russell Wilson a contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. However, Wilson hasn’t yet given up the dream of someday playing professional baseball, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Wilson told Bryant Gumbel of HBO Real Sports that he hasn’t closed the door on his baseball career just yet, and holds out hope of being a two-sport athlete like Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson. Of course, if Wilson receives a yearly salary topping the $22MM that Aaron Rodgers negotiated on his last contract, Condotta believes the Seattle signal-caller can kiss his baseball career goodbye.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

The Rams are not expected to have a chance to draft a quarterback at No.10, but the team will have both of the draft’s top passers in for a visit just in case, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). They will send a member of their front office to both Florida State and Oregon to meet with the prospects. Jameis Winston is projected to be off the board first overall, but some could see Marcus Mariota slipping past the Titans and Jets and possibly being available for St. Louis.
While the Rams are trying to find a way to stay in St. Louis, the city is fighting a lawsuit that could jeopardize the team’s future in Missouri, should St. Louis win, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The suit aims to avoid a public vote on using taxpayer money to help finance a new stadium for the Rams. If the city loses its battle against the lawsuit, it could actually help the team stay in St. Louis. “We’re going to defend the ordinance,” said Jeff Rainford, who is in charge of the city’s effort to build a new stadium. “It’s not going to be a pretend defense. The city will defend the ordinance, and we’ll live with the result.”
The Bears have a new coach and are looking to bounce back after a dismal season that sees them picking seventh in the NFL draft. While many have connected them to wide receivers with that selection, former coach and player Mike Ditka believes the best way to turn the team around would be to add some talent on the defensive side of the ball, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter).
In preparation for the 2015 NFL draft, the staff at CSNChicago.com is preparing draft profiles of a number prospects that could interest the Bears’ front office. Last night they took a look at defensive tackle Carl Davis of Iowa and safety Jermaine Whiteside of Auburn. Today they followed up with Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers and Towson defensive end Ryan Delaire.

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April 11th, 2015 at 6:58pm CST by Luke Adams

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AFC North Notes: Manziel, Reid, Peerman

April 11th, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier today we heard that Johnny Manziel was released from rehab, but he returns to a very different Browns’ team than he left, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. The offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and receivers coach all changed over, and quarterback Brian Hoyer has been replaced by Josh McCown and Thaddeus Lewis.

Should Manziel win a starting job, he will not have Miles Austin or Jordan Cameron to throw to. Instead, Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, and Rob Housler will be lining up for the Browns on offense.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC North:

While the Browns have a long way to go to improve at quarterback and on offense, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com writes that improving at punt returner will be an easy way to help the offense. Last year the team struggled to to find a player who could even successfully field punts, and eventually put Jim Leonhard back there giving up the hope of a big play return. With electric players like Tyler Lockette, Jamison Crowder, and Nelson Agholor likely to be available on day two or three in the draft, they could provide value as a returner while they work their way onto the field as receivers.
Prairie View quarterback Jerry Lovelocke will work out for the Ravens at their local prospect day on April 21st, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. He could be in consideration during the later rounds of the draft or as a rookie free agent.
Jah Reid‘s one-year deal with the Ravens is worth $745,000 and includes another $400,000 in playing time incentives that are not likely to be earned, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
With A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu all entering the final years of their respective contracts, the Bengals should be looking for a receiver early in the 2015 NFL Draft. Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com has outlined a number of top prospects that could be intriguing to the team, and picks out Devin Smith, Phillip Dorsett, and Tyler Lockette as logical fits if they are available in the second round.
Running back Cedric Peerman re-signed with the Bengals on Thursday with a two-year deal worth $2.13MM, according to Wilson (via Twitter). He will earn $745,000 and $885,000 in salaries over the next two seasons, plus an annual workout bonus of $50,000 and $300,000 in an unlikely to be earned rushing yards incentive foreach season (via Twitter). Wilson also passes along his salary-cap figures for the next two seasons (via Twitter).

NFC South Notes: Falcons, Winston, Parker, Tillman

April 11th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Falcons have visited the University of Miami to get a closer look at some of the draft’s most intriguing prospects. The team will workout Phillip Dorsett, Duke Johnson, Clive Walford, Ladarius Gunter, and Ereck Flowers, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). He also writes the team will meet with Denzel Perryman, who will not be working out for the team.

The team also worked out defensive lineman Anthony Chickillo while in Coral Gables, according to Ledbetter (via Twitter).

Here are a few more notes from around the NFC South:

The Buccaneers are expected to take Jameis Winston with the first-overall pick, and if there were any doubts about how the fans would react, those were put to rest Thursday. Winston’s appearance on a video board during the team’s Q&A session in front of fans drew a roar of applause, the loudest of the night according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
The Saints will host Louisville receiver DeVante Parker for a pre-draft visit, according to Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. Terrell outlines some of Parker’s strengths and weaknesses, noting that Parker will likely be drafted in the early-to-mid first round. The Saints select 13th overall, but after drafting Brandin Cooks last year, might look elsewhere early in the draft.
The Panthers attempted to bolster their secondary by signing cornerback Charles Tillman. Tillman’s one-year contract is worth $1.75MM, which includes a $350,000 signing bonus, $150,000 roster bonus, and $15,625 in per gamer roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson adds that the Tillman deal is expected to include incentives to increase the total value (via Twitter).

AFC East Notes: Winston, Peters, Williams

April 11th, 2015 at 3:38pm CST by Rob DiRe

Many reports and mock drafts have the Jets chasing a quarterback in round one, either by waiting to select Marcus Mariota at No. 6 or by trading up with the Titans to ensure they get their quarterback at No. 2.

However, projected first-overall pick Jameis Winston will visit the Jets prior to the draft according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. They were originally planning on meeting with Winston following his Pro Day, but decided it would be unnecessary after a thorough exhibition of his talents.

Something must have changed between his Pro Day and now, as the visit is back on. It is still unlikely Winston would fall to the Jets at No. 6, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes if the Buccaneers are actually planning to pass on the Heisman Trophy winner, they might look to trade the pick. In that case, the Jets could consider moving all the way up to No. 1 for Winston.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC East:

The Jets have shown interest in Washington cornerback Marcus Peters, according to Mehta (via Twitter). Peters will visit with the Jets before the draft, but it’s unlikely the team would target him with the sixth overall pick. The corner has had some off the field troubles, but is still widely regarded as a first-round talent.
The Patriots have been linked to two separate Williams in the NFL Draft, the first of which is tight end Maxx Williams from Minnesota. Nik Beimler of WEEI.com gives a draft profile of Williams, noting the Patriots could target him with the last pick of the first round to pair with Rob Gronkowski. Williams is expected to be the first tight end off the board.
The other Williams is P.J. Williams, the cornerback out of Florida State. Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com looks at whether or not the team would take a chance on the troubled defensive back, who was arrested earlier this month with a DUI. Although the team would be wary, Curran could see them taking a chance on Williams.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Harris, Cowboys, Williams

April 11th, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

Whether the decisions made by Chip Kelly over the past month and a half turn out to be good or bad, the Eagles had a strange offseason. One of the stranger developments was Frank Gore agreeing to join the team and then backing out before signing a deal. Gore ended up with the Colts, and the Eagles ended up with a reputation as a place free agents were not excited about playing for.

Some believed that Kelly’s rigorous practice schedule was one reason 31-year-old Gore chose Indianapolis over Philadelphia. However, Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer does not believe that Kelly’s practice methods are a real deterrent for free agents.

Here are a few other notes from around the NFC East:

Kelly is in New Hampshire to meet with R.J. Harris for a pre-draft workout, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). The receiver from the University of New Hampshire is a possible late-round pick for the Eagles.
The Cowboys have a number of needs along their defense, but have been linked to running back prospects with their top picks. If they pass on Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley in round one (and both might be off the board by the time the Cowboys pick), Boise State tailback Jay Ajayi could be an option somewhere in the second round. Ajayi worked out with the team on Friday, writes Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram. The team also met with T.J. Yeldon and Tevin Coleman.
Washington’s Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams has changed agents in preparation for his free agency, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Williams fired Ben Dogra who was himself fired by CAA before joining Relativity Sports, but the tackle retained Vincent Taylor of MS World LLC. The team still plans on attempting to reach an agreement on an extension with Williams.