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Month: December 2024

Jags Sign A.J. Cann, Lock Up Draft Class

June 17th, 2015 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jaguars have signed third-round offensive lineman A.J. Cann, the last of the team’s 2015 draft picks to officially ink his rookie contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). With Cann under contract, Jacksonville becomes the 27th club to finish locking up its draft class.

Cann, the 67th overall pick in this year’s draft, was one of a handful of players selected at the start of the third round who had yet to sign their contracts heading into June minicamps. Raiders tight end Clive Walford, the 68th overall pick, put pen to paper yesterday. Meanwhile, Colts cornerback D’Joun Smith (No. 65) and Titans offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi (No. 66) remain unsigned.

According to Over the Cap’s data, Cann will get a four-year contract of about $3.082MM, including a signing bonus worth just shy of $802K. He’ll count for approximately $635K against Jacksonville’s cap for the 2015 league year.

Now that the Jaguars have finished signing their draftees, only the Colts, Patriots, Giants, Raiders, and Titans need to do the same, per our tracker.

Largest 2015 Cap Hits By Position: Special Teams

June 17th, 2015 at 10:14am CST by Luke Adams

Within the last couple weeks, I’ve taken a look at the top 10 cap hits by position around the NFL, focusing first on offense before shifting last week to defense. This week, we’ll turn our attention to special teams, a list that will be considerably shorter than the first two, but should still be addressed for the sake of completion.

While most teams use the majority of their cap room on offensive and defensive players, it’s interesting to consider whether successful clubs devote a decent chunk of space to special teams as well, or whether they’re able to get by with inexpensive contributors at those positions, freeing up more cap room for offense and defense.

Considering the top two cap charges for kickers in 2015 belong to the Patriots, the defending Super Bowl champs, and the Jaguars, who have won 14 games over the last four seasons, there may be no clear correlation between team success and cap room devoted to special teams. But our lists below will be accompanied by various observations related to the top 10 cap numbers for each position. Let’s dive in…

Kickers:

  1. Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots): $4.59MM
  2. Josh Scobee (Jaguars): $4.388MM
  3. Phil Dawson (49ers): $4.134MM
  4. Shaun Suisham (Steelers): $3.665MM
  5. Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders): $3.61MM
  6. Robbie Gould (Bears): $3.6MM
  7. Mason Crosby (Packers): $3.55MM
  8. Steven Hauschka (Seahawks): $3.325MM
  9. Graham Gano (Panthers): $3.1MM
  10. Adam Vinatieri (Colts): $2.75MM
  • I was surprised when the Patriots used their franchise tag on Gostkowski, since no other kicker is making more than $3.775MM annually. However, his cap charge for 2015 isn’t an outlier, with Scobee and Dawson also over $4MM as they near the end of their deals. If you think of Gostkowski’s 2015 season as the final year of his previous contract with the team, his cap hit and salary don’t look outrageous. Besides, who better to spend on at the position than Gostkowski, who made 35 of 37 field goals in 2014.
  • As is the case at most positions, this list of cap numbers provides a mix of standout contributors and players who look slightly out of place — only three of these players (Gostkowski, Suisham, and Vinatieri) ranked among the NFL’s top 10 most accurate field-goal kickers last season.
  • No kicker is locked up for longer than Dan Bailey, who is under the Cowboys‘ control through the 2020 season. Bailey’s cap hit in 2015 is just $2.5MM, but he’ll likely make this list in future seasons, as his figures continue to increase — he’ll peak at $4.2MM in 2018.
  • Half of these players will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2015 season. Only Suisham, Janikowski, Gould, Hauschka, and Gano are under contract beyond this year.

Punters:

  1. Mike Scifres (Chargers): $4.348MM
  2. Dustin Colquitt (Chiefs): $3.8MM
  3. Britton Colquitt (Broncos): $3.75MM
  4. Thomas Morstead (Saints): $3.4MM
  5. Matt Bosher (Falcons): $3.355MM
  6. Michael Koenen (Buccaneers): $3.25MM
  7. Pat McAfee (Colts): $3.2MM
  8. Sam Koch (Ravens): $3.1MM
  9. Steve Weatherford (Giants): $3.075MM
  10. Kevin Huber (Bengals): $2.77MM
  • A handful of these punters are under contract for several more years, but their contracts are structured very differently. Morstead will see his cap hits rise above $4MM for each of the next three seasons (2016-2018), while Bosher’s and McAfee’s cap charges over the same period will dip below $3MM.
  • Koenen may not be on this list by the time the regular season begins. His contract includes no prorated bonus money, meaning the Buccaneers could clear his entire cap charge from their books, and the club has brought in Spencer Lanning from the Browns to compete for the job.
  • Although I suggested earlier that we may not be able to draw any conclusions from these lists, it’s interesting to consider the teams represented here. Outside of the Bucs – and the Giants, who have had a couple down years after an extended run of success – nearly all these clubs were 2014 playoff teams or just missed the cut.

Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.

East Notes: Bryant, Williams, Henderson, Jets

June 17th, 2015 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

With a couple dozen June minicamps around the NFL taking place this week, let’s check in on a few East teams whose sessions got underway yesterday….

  • A Cowboys source tells Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) that the Dez Bryant holdout threat is “not in our control.” Of course, the team certainly will play a part in determining whether or not the star wideout gets a new contract by the July 15 deadline. If that deadline passes without an agreement though, there’s not much the Cowboys can do for Bryant until after the season.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link), Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said that there’s currently “too big of a divide” between the team and Bryant. Jones also indicated that it’s difficult to ascertain Bryant’s value since other top wide receivers around the league are also waiting for new deals. It’s possible that once A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, or Bryant signs a new contract, the others will follow suit.
  • We heard yesterday that offensive lineman Chris Williams and Seantrel Henderson were absent for the start of the Bills‘ minicamp. In a pair of pieces for ESPN.com, Mike Rodak explains that Williams did show up and participate on Tuesday, while “travel issues” kept Henderson away.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com identifies outside linebacker Calvin Pace, running back Stevan Ridley, and guard Willie Colon as a few Jets veterans who could be on shaky ground once training camp rolls around.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Jets and Mark Sanchez of the Eagles rank as the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks heading into training camp, in the view of John Clayton of ESPN.com. New York acquired Fitzpatrick in a trade this offseason, while Sanchez signed a new contract to remain in Philadelphia.

West Notes: Foles, Gates, Chargers, Chiefs

June 16th, 2015 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

At this point, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) is much more bullish on Bobby Wagner reaching a new deal with the Seahawks than Russell Wilson doing the same. The linebacker is seeking a deal in the range of $10MM per season and Seattle’s evaluation of him likely isn’t far off from that. Wagner, who will turn 25 near the end of this month,graded out as fifth out of 60 qualified inside linebackers according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Earlier this month, the two sides began talks on a new deal. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC West..

  • Rams coach Jeff Fisher acknowledged that the club has engaged in contract discussions with quarterback Nick Foles, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (on Twitter). Earlier today, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reported that the quarterback loves being in St. Louis, but he’ll let agent David Dunn handle negotiations. The Rams are also talking to a few other potential 2016 free agents about new contracts, so it doesn’t sound like they’re focused exclusively on Foles.
  • Antonio Gates, the Chargers‘ all-time leader in catches, receiving yardage, and touchdowns, isn’t thinking about retirement after this season, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego writes. “As you get older, people say things,” Gates said. “They make speculations about where you’re going, about how much you have in the tank. To me, it’s all about how I feel as a person, how my body feels physically and mentally. As of right now, I feel great physically. I’m in a great place mentally. So, we’ll see how it goes. I have no expectations for how long I’ll play or if this is my last year. Right now, my main focus is just being around the guys … and working to bring a championship here to San Diego.”
  • Kealoha Pilares (WR, Hawaii), Kenneth Penny (CB, UNLV), and Derek Dennis (G, Temple) were at Kansas City’s minicamp today to try out for the Chiefs, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.

North Notes: Yanda, Bears, Ravens

June 16th, 2015 at 8:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Marshal Yanda told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter), that he’s not worried about working out a new contract with the Ravens.

“We’ll get it done when we get it done,” Yanda said.

The 30-year-old is entering the final season of his contract, a five-year, $32MM deal signed in 2011. Yanda’s +43.8 Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required) placed him atop the guard rankings in 2014 and was nearly double that of the next highest guard. Recently, PFR’s Dallas Robinson looked at Yanda and left guard Kelechi Osemele as extension candidates. Here’s more from the North divisions..

NFC South Notes: Panthers, Davis, Saints

June 16th, 2015 at 8:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Jameis Winston worked with the second-team offense Tuesday on the opening day of the Buccaneers‘ minicamp, but coach Lovie Smith says it has no bearing on who will be the team’s starting QB, Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com writes. For his part, the No. 1 overall pick says that he doesn’t feel entitled to anything. “I haven’t earned [the starting job] until I get it,” Winston said. Here’s more from the NFC South..

  • Panthers coach Ron Rivera can’t see outside linebacker Thomas Davis retiring after his contract extension ends in 2017, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. “I really can’t,” Rivera said. “Knowing him, it’ll be, ‘We’ll see how I am every year?’ … I know we talked about he’s going to retire a Panther. Maybe in three, four or five years, knowing him. As long as he stays healthy he’s got a great chance to extend his career.” The 14th overall pick out of Georgia back in 2005, Davis has been a key piece of the Panthers’ defense since entering the league, appearing in 117 games (99 starts) for the team over the last decade. For his career, he has racked up nearly 750 tackles to go along with 17.5 sacks, six interceptions, and 13 forced fumbles.
  • It took Kevin Williams a while to sign with a new team this summer, but he wasted little time getting acclimated to the Saints, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. Still, he’s already gotten plenty of reminders about his age. “Man, you’d be surprised the stories I’ve gotten. They made me feel old, like, ‘We used to play with you on Madden,’ and all these things,” Williams said. “So I really didn’t have to do much introducing. The guys already knew who I was.” Williams hooked on with New Orleans last week.
  • In addition to working out wide receiver Matt James today, as was previously reported, the Saints also took a look at punter Chase Tenpenny and long snapper Chris Highland, writes Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

June 16th, 2015 at 7:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Raiders have agreed to terms with third-round pick Clive Walford, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The University of Miami tight end has received praise for his soft hands and run-blocking ability.
  • The Browns signed third round running back Duke Johnson, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Johnson is expected to become the team’s new kick returner, though Justin Gilbert will likely be given a chance to do so as well.
  • The Chiefs announced (on Twitter) that they have waived tackle Kelvin Palmer and wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers.
  • The Chiefs have claimed guard Marcus Reed off waivers from the Packers, according to the NFL transactions report, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
  • The Chargers waived Ricky Tjong-a-Toe, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter). The defensive end tore his ACL last year.

Eric Weddle Addresses Contract Situation

June 16th, 2015 at 6:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Eric Weddle has never been one to beat around the bush. Now at odds with the Chargers over his contract situation, he’s staying true to form. The safety read a prepared statement to Bolts beat writers and then conducted a 15 minute Q&A, as Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego writes.

“Contrary to what has recently been said by upper management, there has never been any financial numbers discussed and the Chargers have never put an offer on the table for us to consider,” Weddle said as part of the statement. “It is obvious to me I am not part of this organization’s long-term plans. The NFL is a business, and I can accept that. I just wish the organization had been upfront with me from day one.”

The veteran went on to reiterate the position of agent David Canter, explaining that he is prepared play his final season in San Diego. If there is no agreement on a multi-year extension before training camp, Weddle says that his agent will not “speak to the Chargers again.”

Weddle, who skipped all of the Chargers voluntary workouts, is scheduled to make $7.5MM in base salary in the final year of a five-year, $40MM deal, making him the fourth-highest paid safety in terms of total compensation in 2015. In late April, GM Tom Telesco indicated that, while he was focused on the draft at that point, he eventually wanted to discuss Weddle’s contract. Ultimately, that didn’t wind up happening.

Weddle has been the Chargers’ starting safety since 2008 and he has not missed a regular season start since the 2009 season. In 2014, Weddle racked up 114 total tackles to go along with eight pass deflections and an interception. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated the three-time Pro Bowler as the best overall safety in the NFL last season with a +18.9 overall grade.

 

Community Tailgate: Where Will Evan Mathis Sign?

June 16th, 2015 at 5:10pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still a few months away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Today, we’re launching a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every day, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.

Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.

Today’s discussion will center on the NFL’s hottest free agent, guard Evan Mathis. Mathis, of course, was embroiled in an ugly battle with the Eagles over his contract situation. For much of the offseason, it seemed as though Mathis was simply looking to renegotiate the terms of his deal, which called for him to earn $13.5MM between 2015 and 2016. Last week, however, a new wrinkle in the saga emerged: Mathis claimed that former GM Howie Roseman offered to bump up his salary in 2014. When Mathis told the Eagles in 2015 that he was ready to take them up on that pitch, he was informed that the coupon had effectively expired since Roseman was no longer in the GM role. Ultimately, despite talk of trade interest for the last few months, the Eagles decided it was in their best interest to release Mathis outright.

The move was surprising since Mathis is considered one of the league’s best interior linemen. In 2014, despite playing just 608 offensive snaps, the former third-round pick ranked as the league’s best left guard, performing particularly well as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). PFF had previously graded Mathis as the NFL’s No. 1 guard in 2011, 2012, and 2013. While his age and salary ostensibly scared teams off from giving up value for him, he can be expected to find a number of interested suitors now that he won’t require the forfeiture of a draft pick.

The Bills, Vikings, Dolphins, Rams, and Patriots were among the teams said to have varying levels of trade interest in him. The Colts, Giants, and Cardinals apparently won’t make a play for Mathis, but agent Drew Rosenhaus said over the weekend that he heard from at least six teams with interest in his client. The Jets could use some help on the interior of their offensive line and Mathis probably wouldn’t have to relocate if he signs with them.

We want to hear from you, the PFR reader: Where do you think Evan Mathis will sign? Head to the comments section below to place your bets and voice your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

 

Seahawks Re-Sign Tarvaris Jackson

June 16th, 2015 at 5:09pm CST by Zachary Links

5:09pm: The Seahawks officially announced that they have re-signed Jackson. To make room, defensive end Ryan Robinson was waived with an Achilles injury. Robinson has already cleared waivers and is now on Seattle’s IR.

3:22pm: The Seahawks have agreed to re-sign quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Jackson has served as Wilson’s backup for the last two years but has gone unsigned until now.

The 31-year-old Jackson earned $1.25MM in 2014, which was right around the middle of the pack in terms of backup quarterbacks. Earlier this month, Seattle moved quarterback B.J. Daniels to wide receiver, leaving just two QBs on their 90-man offseason roster.  R.J. Archer, who spent time with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota, has limited NFL experience.

Jackson attempted just one pass in 2014 (a completion), but he’s started 34 games during his nine-year career, so he would offer valuable experience in the event Wilson was injured. The Alabama State alum visited the Dolphins in March before they re-signed Matt Moore, and was reportedly discussed internally by the Eagles early in the offseason.

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