2015 April - Pro Football Rumors

NFC North Notes: Vikings, Draft, Lions, Levy

April 7th, 2015 at 12:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Following a failed drug test at the combine, it’s not clear where exactly Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory will land in this month’s draft. Previously viewed as a near lock to be a top-10 pick, Gregory is now receiving consideration from plenty of teams outside the top 10, and he’ll visit the Vikings (No. 11) this week, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney and TCU linebacker Paul Dawson are among the prospects visiting the Vikings today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. In a second tweet, Rapoport passes along another update on McKinney, noting that the linebacker had to reschedule his visit with the Cowboys due to illness, and also has the Ravens and Browns on his slate. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds (via Twitter) that McKinney will visit the Bears.
Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities passes along a couple more names of prospects making pre-draft visits to Minnesota today, reporting (via Twitter) that the Vikings are hosting Norfolk State defensive end Lynden Trail and Northern Iowa running back David Johnson.
Linebacker DeAndre Levy may be the Lions‘ best defensive player now that Ndamukong Suh is a Dolphin, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. However, as Meinke details, team president Tom Lewand says it’s premature to say whether or not the Lions will get a new deal done with Levy soon. “In the case of DeAndre, we haven’t even begun conversations with him, so I wouldn’t know where those would take us, and we’ll see where it goes, but every circumstance is a little bit different,” Lewand said. “We’ll see where those conversations, once they start, take us.”
The Lions hosted Auburn defensive tackle Angelo Blackson for a pre-draft visit today, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.

Joe Barksdale To Visit Titans

April 7th, 2015 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Joe Barksdale, one of the few players on PFR’s list of top 50 free agents who remains on the market, has a visit lined up with the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the visit will happen on Thursday.

When I placed Barksdale 36th on our list of 2015’s best free agents, I noted that the lack of reliable, consistent tackles with starting experience made the veteran a potentially attractive option. However, upside has trumped reliability in some cases — Jermey Parnell, who has made just seven career starts, landed a five-year, $32.5MM deal from the Jaguars, while Barksdale is still unsigned.

As our Dallas Robinson observed when he examined Barksdale’s free agent stock, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former Ram just 48th out of 84 qualified tackles. However, his +5.6 run-blocking grade placed him just outside the top 10 in that category.

Barksdale’s market may also have been slowed by the fact that he got married and went on his honeymoon within the last few weeks. Now that he’s back and focusing on football, we’ll see if he finds a job quickly, or if interested teams – such as the Titans and Rams – wait until after the draft to try to lock him up.

East Notes: Bills, Landry, Eagles, Biggers

April 7th, 2015 at 10:37am CST by Luke Adams

So far this offseason, one noteworthy free agent – wide receiver Percy Harvin – has moved from the Jets to the Bills, following Rex Ryan to Buffalo. Now, Ryan and the Bills are considering bringing in another player who played in New York a year ago. According to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), former Jets safety Dawan Landry is paying a visit to Buffalo.

The Jets don’t appear to have any interest in retaining Landry, but Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was fond of his 2014 performance, grading him as a top-10 safety in the NFL. We’ll have to see if the Bills have a spot for him in a secondary that has lost Jairus Byrd and Da’Norris Searcy in the last two offseasons.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

As the Eagles eye potential defensive backs, they’ll bring in former Washington cornerback E.J. Biggers for a visit today, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Biggers, who spent three seasons in Tampa Bay prior to his time in D.C., also has some experience at safety, a position of need for Philadelphia.
James Walker of ESPN.com wonders if Josh Freeman has a chance to unseat Matt Moore as the Dolphins‘ No. 2 quarterback. As Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted this morning, Freeman’s deal with Miami is a minimum salary pact with no guaranteed money, so it’s not as if the team has much invested in him.
Richie Incognito is grateful to the Bills for giving him a second chance in the NFL, and told reporters on Monday that there were times when he didn’t think he’d have the opportunity to continue his playing career (Associated Press link via USA Today).
Referring to the atmosphere at the Bills‘ facility, LeSean McCoy said there’s “more of a NFL type of feel,” as opposed to the “college feel” he’d experienced in Philadelphia during the last couple seasons, writes Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. The veteran running back also made some comments about Eagles head coach Chip Kelly yesterday.

Greg Jennings To Visit Dolphins

April 7th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins continue to eye free agent wideouts, and will bring another one in for a visit today, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. According to Salguero, former Viking Greg Jennings is paying a visit to the team.

The Dolphins are in the market for some veteran help at wideout after parting ways with Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson via trade or release so far this offseason. The receiving corps is currently led by youngsters Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills, who have plenty of talent, but only three combined years of NFL experience between them.

Miami previously brought in veteran free agent Michael Crabtree for a visit, and there were conflicting reports on whether or not the team made him a contract offer in the neighborhood of $3MM. Either way, it doesn’t appear the ex-Niner will be joining the Dolphins, so perhaps Jennings will be a better fit.

If he reaches an agreement with Miami, Jennings would be replacing the player who replaced him in Minnesota — Jennings was released by the Vikings after they acquired Wallace from the Dolphins. The 31-year-old, who has been linked to the Panthers and Jaguars since becoming a free agent, caught just 59 balls for 742 yards during his final season in Minnesota, prompting the team to cut him just two years into a massive five-year contract.

Stevan Ridley Visiting Washington

April 7th, 2015 at 8:45am CST by Luke Adams

As I noted last week when I examined the most notable free agents still available on the offensive side of the ball, former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley is one of the more intriguing players remaining on the market. While Ridley remains unsigned, he’s set to visit another potential suitor today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the back is meeting with Washington.

Ridley, 26, is returning from a season-ending knee injury and appears unlikely to sign with the Patriots, with whom he has spent his first four NFL seasons. His best season in New England came in 2012, when he rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns as the team’s feature back. Fumbling problems, injuries, and Bill Belichick‘s habit of rotating running backs limited Ridley’s production over the last two seasons.

As he continues to recover from last year’s knee injury, Ridley appears to be taking his time in deciding on a new team, paying visits last week to the Dolphins and Jets. Potential suitors for the former third-round pick are likely using these visits as an opportunity to get a closer look at how that knee is healing.

While Alfred Morris is the clear-cut starter in Washington, and is one of the more productive running backs in the league, the club is in the market for some depth at the position after seeing Roy Helu depart in free agency last month. Helu was an effective pass-catcher and a solid third-down back, and Ridley doesn’t exactly fit that bill, having totaled just 23 career receptions. If Washington is seeking a third-down back, a player like Pierre Thomas, who has drawn interest from the club, might be a better fit.

Vikings Extend John Sullivan Through 2017

April 7th, 2015 at 7:56am CST by Luke Adams

The Vikings have tacked on another year to the contract of center John Sullivan, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team extended Sullivan’s deal through the 2017 season. Per Yates, Sullivan’s new base salaries for the next three years are $7MM (2015), $5.5MM (2016), and $5.5MM (2017).

Sullivan, who will turn 30 in August, has been Minnesota’s full-time starting center since the 2009 season, missing only three games during that six-year stretch. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him as one of the league’s better centers in 2014, with a +7.5 run-blocking grade buoying him to a 12th-place finish among 41 qualified players at the position.

Based on the figures reported by Yates, Sullivan appears to have received a pay raise for the next two seasons in addition to earning an extra year on his contract. His deal previously called for base salaries of $4.65MM in each of the next two seasons.

Extra Points: A. Smith, Draft, Lions, Eagles

April 6th, 2015 at 10:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After being released by the Raiders on March 31, defensive lineman Antonio Smith received a phone call from the Broncos just hours later, according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Smith, who agreed with Denver on a one-year deal worth $2MM, is pleased to be joining a contender. “I am excited. Every piece that you need is on this team, and I know what [the coaching staff] can do with a good quarterback and good offense,” said Smith. “It will be a dangerous combination. I believe wholeheartedly we have a chance of making the last dance.”

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

Utah defensive back Eric Rowe is flying up draft boards, and while he’s already worked out for the Eagles, he has another workout planned with the Lions, per Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. The Packers are also interested, per Pauline, but they haven’t scheduled a visit.
We heard earlier tonight the Cowboys will visit with Arizona State safety Damarious Randall, and Pauline reports that the Lions and Falcons will do so, as well.
Oklahoma cornerback Julian Wilson has worked out for the Eagles and Patriots and is scheduled to work out for the Falcons, league sources Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. At the NFL scouting combine, Wilson ran a 4.58 40-yard-dash and had a 36-inch vertical leap.
Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson will is expected to visit the Cowboys, according to Wilson (Twitter link), who adds that Johnson has already worked out for Chargers, Falcons, and Eagles, and will work out for the Ravens, Patriots, and Cardinals. Per Wilson (link), Johnson also had a dinner meeting with the Steelers.
Using his expected contract value metric, Bryce Johnston of Over the Cap examines the free agent contracts handed out to quarterbacks this offseason.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFL Won’t Vote On LA Proposals For 6 Months

April 6th, 2015 at 10:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though a total of three clubs have produced two plans for stadiums in Los Angeles, — the Rams have proposed a location in Inglewood while the Chargers and Raiders have announced a joint proposal for a stadium in Carson — the NFL isn’t likely to vote on either project for at least six months, according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

NFL executive Eric Grubman, who had lead the LA efforts, confirmed the league won’t vote on the issue at the owners’ meeting next month. “…[T]here’s been an awful lot of progress made on the two sites in Los Angeles, and it’s beginning to be tangible,” said Grubman. “But the fact is we’re not planning for a vote in May or any time soon. We have a process. It’s deliberate. There are steps that need to be taken, and I think that’s much more likely to be later in this calendar year at the soonest.”

Per Farmer, Grubman presented the latest on the LA situation to NFL owners last month in Phoenix, and he’ll do the same in San Francisco next month. Proponents of both the Inglewood and Carson plans will brief the owners on their respective proposals. But the league won’t vote on anything until both design and financing plans are finished, and a temporary stadium has been decided upon. As such, a vote isn’t likely until later this year, possibly in October or November.

Sean Smith Willing To Play Out Contract

April 6th, 2015 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though he’s entering his contract year, Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith doesn’t seem too concerned about his expiring deal, as his agent told Brandon Kiley of KTGR that the 27-year-old Smith is “very comfortable” playing out the 2015 season (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).

A former Dolphin, Smith signed a three-year deal worth $18MM with Kansas City prior to the 2013 season. He’s been well worth the money, as he’s started 31 games during that span, improving greatly from year one to year two. After grading as the league’s 48th-best CB in ’13, Smith moved up to No. 5 in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required); he ranked third in terms of pure coverage.

Following the release of Brandon Flowers before last season, Smith is the Chiefs’ unquestioned No. 1 corner, and given his relative youth, he should be expected to find a large payday on his next deal, either in free agency or via an extension with Kansas City. If, as his agent alluded to, Smith plays out the 2015 season without signing a multi-year deal, his performance this season will obviously play a large part in determining his value. If he plays as well as he did in 2014, though, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to secure an average annual value of more than $9MM, putting him in line with Flowers, Leon Hall, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields.

NFC Notes: Staley, Draft, Cowboys, Lions

April 6th, 2015 at 9:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers converted Joe Staley‘s option bonus to a signing bonus, affecting his cap number for 2015, as CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry (Twitter links) explains. Staley’s cap number has gone from $6.4MM to $7.6MM after his $6MM option bonus was converted. San Francisco, meanwhile, will get a salary cap credit of $1.2MM in 2016. The accounting move won’t result in a salary increase for the offensive tackle. Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explicates the transaction.

Here’s more the NFC…

The Buccaneers‘ private workout with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota is set for tomorrow in Eugene, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.
The Cowboys have filled most their 30 allowed spots for draft visits, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who reports the following players have headed or will head to Valley Ranch in the coming days: running backs T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi, and Ameer Adbullah; defensive lineman Bud Dupree and Danielle Hunter; linebacker Benardrick McKinney; and defensive backs Josh Shaw and Damarious Randall.
The Cowboys will also take a look at a defensive lineman tomorrow, as they’ll meet with UCLA DE Owa Odighizuma, per Rapoport (Twitter link), who adds that the former Bruin will also visit with the Saints. Odighizuma has already visited the Eagles.
Dallas will be flush with prospects on Tuesday, as the Cowboys will also visit with both versatile Washington product Shaq Thompson and UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks, according to Rapoport (Twitter link).
Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com takes an overview of the Lions’ roster, noting that while linebacker is a deep position group, Detroit could afford to spend draft resources on the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines.

Zach Links contributed to this post.