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Month: November 2024

AFC Notes: Hunter, Heyward, Texans, Raiders

July 24th, 2015 at 11:17am CST by Zachary Links

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk doesn’t understand why Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter hasn’t been put on paid leave after allegedly punching a man in the face and breaking his jaw. Hunter currently faces five to 20 years in prison and a $100K fine, but the Titans are reportedly expected to have him in camp.

Technically, the conduct policy only says that a player may be placed on paid leave if he is charged with a crime or if a league investigation “leads the commissioner to believe that [the player] may have violated this policy.” Still, Florio feels that the NFL should show some consistency and sideline Hunter.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post has the complete breakdown of Cameron Heyward‘s extension. The Steelers defensive end will earn a $12MM signing bonus and a $15MM guarantee on his deal. He carries respective cap hits of $6.4MM, $10.4MM, $10.4MM, $11.4MM, $11.15MM, and $9.5MM from 2015 to 2020.
  • The Texans are working out former Boston College offensive tackle Matt Patchan, a league source tells Wilson. After going undrafted in 2014, Patchan signed with the Bucs, and spent time on the club’s practice squad last year.
  • Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com identifies one or two players for each AFC team who are at some sort of career crossroads, or are facing make-or-break type seasons in 2015.
  • The Raiders wanted to upgrade the safety spot, and believe they did so by signing Nate Allen from Philadelphia this offseason, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. The Raiders hope that Allen can play center field and free up Charles Woodson to make big plays down field. Of course, Allen has given up some big plays in the past and a skeptic might wonder if he’s the man for the job.
  • Adam Caplan of ESPN.com joined Mighty 1090 in San Diego (audio link) to discuss Ladarius Green‘s opportunity in the wake of Antonio Gates‘ suspension. The young Chargers tight end was widely expected to break out in 2014, but Gates was as good as ever to start the year and didn’t cede his starting job. Now, Green has an opportunity to shine with Gates sidelined.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Sean Smith Suspended Three Games

July 24th, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

11:14am: The Chiefs issued their own statement confirming the three-game suspension for Smith, adding that they “respect and support the league’s decision in this matter and will have no further comment on the situation.”

8:52am: The NFL has suspended Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith for three games to open the 2015 regular season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The penalty comes as a result of Smith pleading guilty in March to driving under the influence, for which he received two years probation.

The league’s new drug policy, which was jointly approved by the NFL and the NFLPA last September, calls for a two-game ban to be levied upon a player after a “conviction or plea agreement for violations of law involving alcohol and driving.” However, the policy also allows for longer suspensions in the case of “aggravating circumstances,” such as property damage — so the fact that Smith allegedly drove into a light pole could have given the league the leeway to tack on an extra game.

Entering the season without Smith may not have a huge impact on the Chiefs in Week 1, when they’ll face either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett in Houston. But the team will certainly miss its standout cornerback in its next two games, as Kansas City plays Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Week 2, then Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 3.

Smith, who is entering the final year of a three-year deal with the Chiefs, had been set to earn a base salary of $4.25MM, so a three-week suspension will cost him $750K. The 28-year-old has been a solid investment for Kansas City so far, having ranked as the league’s fifth-best cornerback in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Per PFF’s data, Smith allowed a 57.0% completion rate on passes thrown into his coverage, and didn’t commit a single penalty all season.

QB Rumors: Brady, E. Manning, Wilson

July 24th, 2015 at 9:34am CST by Luke Adams

A handful of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks are in the news this Friday morning, so let’s dive in and round up the latest on the Patriots, Giants, and Seahawks signal-callers….

  • A source tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that there’s “zero chance” of a ruling on Tom Brady‘s appeal being announced today, meaning the saga figures to drag on until at least next week. As a point of comparison, arbitrator Harold Henderson took 43 days following Greg Hardy‘s appeal to make a decision — so far, it has been 31 days since the appeal hearing for the Patriots quarterback.
  • Contract talks between Eli Manning and the Giants have “intensified” within the last few days, with the team making an effort to see if something can get done before training camp begins, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
  • Graziano’s report echoes one from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com earlier this week, suggesting that the Giants are confident they’ll get Manning locked up “at some point.” Per Graziano, New York would prefer to get it done before training camp, but the club doesn’t mind waiting until after the season, if necessary. According to Graziano, the Giants are comfortable with the idea of paying Manning an annual salary in the range of the $21.75MM Ben Roethlisberger got on his new deal with the Steelers.
  • According to Werder (via Twitter), one reason the Seahawks may be reluctant to pay Russell Wilson like a franchise quarterback is the team’s emphasis on its running game and defense. As Werder observes, Wilson’s 26.8 pass attempts per game over the last two years represents the lowest mark in the NFL.
  • Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren believes Wilson should accept Seattle’s offer, suggesting that the team has definitely not “lowballed” the quarterback. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the details on Holmgren’s comments, made during an appearance on The Erik Kuselias Show on NBC Sports Radio.

NFC Notes: Bucs, David, Winston, JPP

July 23rd, 2015 at 9:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers and linebacker Lavonte David are working towards a long-term deal, but there’s still a sizable gap between the two sides, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. David, 25, recorded 145 tackles, one sack, and four forced fumbles in 2014 for the Bucs. In 2013, he had even gaudier tackle numbers to go with 7.0 sacks and a First-Team All-Pro selection. GM Jason Licht, he adds (link), has stated publicly that keeping David in Tampa Bay is a franchise priority. Here’s more out of the NFC..

  • If the lawsuit brought against Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston by the woman who says he raped her goes to trial, it won’t be for quite a white. Winston’s reps and the accuser’s attorneys agreed to set a deadline of October 14, 2016, for discovery and a jury trial date of April 3, 2017, according to Brendan Sonnone of The Orlando Sentinel.
  • While acknowledging that the team’s current relationship with Jason Pierre-Paul is “complicated,” Giants owner Steve Tisch says that his main focus is seeing the defensive end make a full recovery. “It’s been printed and it’s very sincere: Above anything else I hope he’s healing,” Tisch said, according to Neil Best of Newsday. “I hope he will play great football in the future. I hope he’s getting the best medical care available to him and I really personally and from my position with the Giants wish him all the best and I look forward to seeing him sooner than later. It’s complicated, as you know, but [co-owner] John Mara and I, coach [Tom] Coughlin, [General Manager] Jerry Reese, all the team, his teammates, wish only the best for him.”
  • Justin Terranova of the New York Post spoke with former Giants offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara about a number of topics, including how he would play JPP if he lined up against him. “If I was playing against him, the thing I would want to figure out right away is: Is he scared to use the hand? I would be pretty aggressive with him, get my hands on him and see if he’s willing to use his hand or is favoring it. It’s going to take him time to be pain-free, but the biggest thing with him is to get in football shape because it’s going to take awhile. He hasn’t taken a football snap since the last game last year because he wasn’t there this spring,” O’Hara said.
  • Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com debated whether Washington kicker Kai Forbath could be pushed in camp by offseason pickup Ty Long, a Alabama-Birmingham product. Forbath is a clutch, accurate field goal kicker but he struggles on kickoffs and doesn’t offer a big leg. Long has shown that he can nail attempts from deep, but both seem to agree that Forbath is probably safe as long as he keeps booting the short field goals..
  • The 49ers‘ group of outside linebackers should be considerably stronger than it was a year ago, assuming Aldon Smith is on the field when the season begins and remains there, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. Meanwhile, they’ll be going ahead without Dan Skuta, who signed with the Jaguars in free agency.

Packers Hosting Jermaine Gresham

July 23rd, 2015 at 9:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham is visiting with the Packers, a source tells Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (on Twitter). Gresham is an intriguing option for a Green Bay team with questions at the tight end position.

Andrew Quarless was viewed by many as the favorite to start at tight end, but a July arrest has thrown his status into flux. Quarless reportedly fired a pair of rounds following an argument with two women at a South Beach parking garage. When police pursued the vehicle he was riding in, the 26-year-old tried to hide outside a restaurant and conceal his weapon in a potted plant. The gun, reportedly, was legally registered to Quarless. If Quarless is suspended to start the year, the Packers could turn to second-year tight end Richard Rodgers, who caught 20 passes for the team in 2014. However, a proven commodity like Gresham could make more sense.

Gresham visited with the Cardinals on Tuesday but left without a deal. Arizona is apparently weighing other tight end options too after expressing interest in former Washington notable Chris Cooley. The Saints also hosted Gresham on a visit back in June and they could be a solid fit for his services. New Orleans, of course, traded dynamic tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle in March and would probably like an established veteran to fill his shoes.

Gresham, a former Oklahoma product, never lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the 2010 draft, but he has a history of consistent production, averaging about 56 catches, 544 yards, and five touchdowns per year. He is also a capable blocker, and although there is no chance he will return to the Bengals, he now has a handful of clubs to choose from as he enters the next stage of his career.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 23rd, 2015 at 7:56pm CST by Zachary Links

After going 9-7 in 2014, the Texans have been widely praised for their offseason moves. Did they do enough to establish themselves as the favorites in the AFC South?

Notable signings:

One of the Texans’ top priorities this offseason was retaining cornerback Kareem Jackson and they got that accomplished days before the start of free agency. Jackson landed himself at number 21 on Pro Football Rumors Top 50 Free Agents, and figured to be highly sought after as one of the top free agent corners on the market. The Texans selected Jackson 20th overall out of Alabama in the 2010 NFL Draft. He struggled during his first two NFL seasons, but improved and was considered the team’s top corner last season, surpassing veteran Johnathan Joseph. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had Jackson rated as the eleventh-best corner in the league last season, putting him ahead of notables such as Rashean Mathis, Brandon Flowers, Aqib Talib, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The Texans also got a deal done with offensive tackle Derek Newton before March 10th. The former seventh-round pick has established himself as one of the most reliable members of the Texans offense, as he’s started 46 of a possible 48 games since 2012 (the two missed games were a result of a knee injury). Newton wasn’t rated favorably by Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) during his first two years as a starter, but the statistics favored the 27-year-old’s performance this past season. Newton ranked 19th among 84 offensive tackle candidates, and his run blocking skills earned him the fourth-best ranking for that particular attribute. However, his pass blocking rating left some to be desired, as he finished in the bottom half of the league in that ranking.

Houston’s defensive line will feature young star J.J. Watt and a possible rising young(er) star in Jadeveon Clowney. This offseason, the Texans added some veteran leadership to the mix. The Texans inked Vince Wilfork to a two-year deal in March after the Pats declined his option. Wilfork, 33, spent all previous 11 years of his NFL career in New England, playing 158 regular season games for the Pats, and starting 148 of those. Second-year pro Louis Nix may be the future for the Texans at nose tackle, but Wilfork represents a very nice stopgap option until Nix is ready to assume the role.

After going through three starting quarterbacks in 2014, the Texans badly needed to make a change under center. Coach Bill O’Brien & Co. are hoping that Brian Hoyer can be that difference maker. Hoyer, 29, saw his first extended run as a starter in 2014, and though his overall numbers – including a 55.3% completion percentage, 12 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, and a 76.5 passer rating – weren’t overly impressive, he led the Browns to a 7-6 record in his starts before giving way to Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw near the end of the season.

The Texans also retained Ryan Mallett and the two signal callers will battle it out for the starting job this summer. Mallett, 26, was acquired by the Texans in a trade with the Patriots last offseason, and got a chance to start a couple games for Houston in 2014 before landing on injured reserve due to a pectoral injury. Mallett’s 54.7% completion percentage and 67.6 passer rating likely didn’t have teams burning up his agent’s phone this weekend, but Texans GM Rick Smith and O’Brien both spoke highly of him in the offseason.

Rahim Moore initially ranked as the 28th-best overall free agent and the second-best safety in this year’s class, in our estimation. However, once Devin McCourty re-signed with New England and players like Antrel Rolle and Da’Norris Searcy came off the board, Moore became the most-coveted safety on the market. The UCLA product was Denver’s free safety for the majority of the last four seasons, and was very impressive in 2014, racking up 51 tackles to go along with four interceptions.

Cecil Shorts spent the first four years of his NFL career in Jacksonville, totaling 176 receptions for the Jaguars. His best season came in 2012, when he racked up 979 yards on just 55 receptions, reaching the end zone seven times. The former fourth-round pick has been nagged by injuries over the last two years, and averaged just 10.5 yards per catch in 2014. If he stays healthy, he could be a beast for Houston. If not, he might not be much of a factor at all.

Akeem Dent spent the 2014 season with the Texans after playing for the Falcons for three years. In his first year in Houston, the former third-round pick recorded 38 tackles and a sack in part-time action, earning playing time at multiple linebacker spots.

Notable losses:

The Andre Johnson saga made headlines all offseason long in Houston until March 9th when the Texans agreed to release him. The Texans reportedly wanted the wide receiver to take a pay cut and Johnson was reportedly open to it, until he came out on the record and made it clear that he wasn’t. Whatever the case was, the two sides parted ways just prior to the official start of free agency. Johnson, who is entering his age-34 season, caught a team-high 85 balls in 2014, but that was his lowest total for a full season in about a decade. The former third overall pick also averaged just 62.4 yards per game, the third-lowest mark of his 12-year career.

While the Texans spent big to keep Derek Newton on the offensive line, they said goodbye to fellow tackle Tyson Clabo in May. Clabo, 33, signed a two-year contract last July with the Texans, but after starting each and every one of his 116 career NFL games prior to the 2014 season, he was a reserve for Houston. For the season, Clabo logged just 101 offensive snaps, with 73 of those coming in Week 16 against the Ravens. Before he joined the Texans, Clabo spent most of his career with the Falcons, earning a Pro Bowl berth following the 2010 season, and also spent a single season in Miami in 2013.

Daniel Manning, who will turn 33 next month, announced his retirement roughly one week ago. In 2011, he joined the Texans, where he played out the final four years of his NFL career. While Manning never developed into an elite defender in Chicago or Houston, he was a solid complementary piece for both teams, appearing in a total of 128 regular season games (96 starts) over the course of his nine-year career. During that span, the Abilene Christian product recorded 549 tackles, grabbed 11 interceptions, and forced 10 fumbles. Manning also contributed as a kick returner during his last few years in Chicago, averaging a league-best 29.7 yards per return in 2008.

The Texans wanted to keep Kendrick Lewis in Houston, but he was not interested in backing up Moore in 2015, so he decided to pursue a starting role elsewhere. He eventually found that opportunity with the Ravens. Lewis graded out positively in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus, leading the Texans’ secondary in snap count (subscription required).

Brooks Reed spent the first four years of his career in Houston, where he started 52 of a possible 60 games and racked up 14.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated him the 26th-best 3-4 OLB in the NFL out of 46 qualifiers last season. While the Texans didn’t make a great effort to keep him, new Falcons coach Dan Quinn obviously sees something in him.

Trades:

  • Acquired a 2016 seventh-round pick from the Rams in exchange for QB Case Keenum.
  • Acquired a 2016 seventh-round pick from the Jets in exchange for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
    • Texans’ pick could turn into a sixth-rounder based on Fitzpatrick’s playing time in 2015.
  • Acquired a 2015 second-round pick (No. 43; ILB Benardrick McKinney) and a 2015 seventh-round pick (No. 229) from the Browns in exchange for a 2015 second-round pick (No. 51; DE/OLB Nate Orchard), a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 116), and a 2015 sixth-round pick (No. 195; FB/TE Malcolm Johnson.
  • Acquired a 2015 third-round pick (No. 70; WR Jaelen Strong) from the Jets in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick (No. 82; OLB Lorenzo Mauldin), a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 152; G Jarvis Harrison), a 2015 seventh-round pick (No. 229), and WR DeVier Posey.

Out with the old, in with the new at quarterback. Having signed Brian Hoyer, the Texans didn’t have much use for QBs Case Keenum and Ryan Fitzpatrick, so they parlayed both players into late-round draft picks.

Extensions/Restructures:

Last month, the Texans tacked another two years onto Johnathan Joseph‘s deal. Joseph was a Pro Bowler in 2011 and 2012, but didn’t play at his best in 2013 due to injury. The nine-year vet was on the field for all 16 regular season games in 2014, however. Last year, Joseph pulled down two interceptions, caused two fumbles, and racked up a total of 75 tackles. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had him as an above average corner in 2014, giving him a 5.0 overall grade good for 23rd amongst all qualified corners. The No. 23 ranking at cornerback might not put him up there with elite corners like Darrelle Revis, but it was his best showing since he finished No. 11 on PFF in 2011.

The Texans declined their fifth-year option on outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus in order to sign him to a long-term deal. The new pact keeps Mercilus in Houston through the 2019 season. The 25-year-old has played in all but one of the Texans’ regular season games across the last three seasons. Playing primarily as a starter for the last two, Mercilus has racked up a combined 12 sacks, 97 tackles, and two forced fumbles. The Texans obviously are happy with Mercilus, but the advanced metrics aren’t so wild about him. In 2014, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him as just the 35th best outside linebacker in a 3-4 set out of 46 qualified players. In 2013, his overall rating of -18.1 put him dead last (42nd out of 42) amongst 3-4 OLBs.

 

Draft picks:

  • 1-16: Kevin Johnson, CB (Wake Forest): Signed
  • 2-43: Benardrick McKinney, ILB (Mississippi State): Signed
  • 3-70: Jaelen Strong, WR (Arizona State): Signed
  • 5-175: Keith Mumphery, WR (Michigan State): Signed
  • 6-211: Reshard Cliett, OLB (South Florida): Signed
  • 6-216: Christian Covington, DT (Rice): Signed
  • 7-235: Kenny Hilliard, RB (LSU): Signed

Many were surprised to see Johnathan Joseph get a lucrative extension following the selection of Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson. Even though Joseph is slated to be around for another three seasons, Johnson is clearly being looked at as the team’s future at the position. Johnson is blessed with tremendous athleticism and could have a bright future ahead of him if he can add weight to his lanky frame.

Other:

  • Promoted George Godsey to vacant offensive coordinator role.
    • Godsey and head coach Bill O’Brien called plays in 2014.
  • Signed 10 players to reserve/futures contracts.
  • Signed 16 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

  1. J.J. Watt, DL: $13,969,000
  2. Johnathan Joseph, CB: $11,750,000
  3. Duane Brown, LT: $9,500,000
  4. Arian Foster, RB: $8,706,250
  5. Brian Cushing, LB: $7,891,250
  6. Kareem Jackson, CB: $7,453,125
  7. Andre Johnson, WR: $7,319,585 (dead money)
  8. Brian Hoyer, QB: $5,218,750
  9. Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB: $5,062,045
  10. Derek Newton, RT: $4,500,000

One of the Texans’ biggest problems last season was the quarterback position and the signing of Hoyer should go a long way towards fixing that. With defensive reinforcements like Moore, Kevin Johnson, second-round pick Benardrick McKinney, and Wilfork, it’s not hard to see the Texans as an elite team in 2015.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

Community Tailgate: 7/23/15

July 23rd, 2015 at 6:00pm CST by Zachary Links

We’re still several weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched 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 weekday, 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, we’ll be taking your pulse on the Tom Brady appeal in light of word that settlement discussions for Brady have occurred between the NFL and the Players Association. The commissioner is being pushed by “a small handful of influential owners” to uphold Brady’s four-game suspension, but the league’s participation in settlement talks could be an indication that they are fearful of how a judge would rule on the matter in court.

NFLPA president Eric Winston, meanwhile, sounds fed up with the whole process. When asked how long it might take for Goodell to render his verdict, Winston said it’s “not even worth trying to guess” when Goodell will make his decision. The union prez hopes that Brady’s appeal is successful, but if he’s not, the union is prepared to take the next step, which would mean legal action.

With the possibility of a showdown in court becoming more and more realistic, how do you see Brady’s situation playing out? Do you think he could have his entire suspension overturned? Let us know in the comments!

AFC East Notes: Brady, Brown, Dolphins, Vick

July 23rd, 2015 at 5:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Negotiating with Tom Brady makes commissioner Roger Goodell look soft, Gary Tanguay of CSNNE.com opines. Tanguay believes that news of the talks was leaked by the Patriots quarterback’s camp in an attempt to force Goodell to fold and wipe Brady’s suspension to zero games. Goodell is reportedly being pushed by “a small handful of influential owners” to uphold Brady’s four-game suspension, but attorney Gregg Levy, who participated in the appeal as a legal consultant to Goodell, has been warning the commissioner that it will be hard to make a suspension stick in court. Here’s more from the AFC East..

  • Mike Reiss of ESPN.com gives his full endorsement to the Patriots’ signing of cornerback Tarell Brown. If healthy, Reiss believes that Brown can compete for a starting job or, at the very least, he can provide the Pats with veteran depth. Brown broke his foot last December and landed on season-ending injured reserve.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com looked at the best values on the Dolphins‘ defense. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins, earning $585K this year, tops the list after he came out of nowhere in 2014, replaced injured linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, and led the Dolphins with 110 tackles. Defensive end Olivier Vernon, making $1.552MM with 21.5 sacks in three seasons, is rated as the second-best value. Cornerback Jamar Taylor, who could wind up as a starter, comes in at No. 3 with his meager salary of $734K.
  • Free agent quarterback Michael Vick took to Twitter this week to let teams know that he’s ready to go. The veteran has said that he wants to play for three more seasons, but it’s telling that he remains unsigned in late July. There is reportedly some skepticism around the league that Vick is ready to accept a backup role and to put in the work necessary even when he doesn’t expect to play. The former No. 1 overall pick supposedly didn’t study up on the Jets‘ playbook last season and yielded many of his practice reps to Matt Simms.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/15

July 23rd, 2015 at 4:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Giants will re-sign undrafted rookie safety Justin Currie, a source tells Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. Currie, a Western Michigan product, was released last week when the Giants signed veteran safety Jeromy Miles. Currie’s release came as a surprise to some as he shined during OTAs and minicamp.
  • Washington announced that running back Michael Hill has been released from the 90-man roster, according to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Washington’s roster now stands at 89 players.
  • The Patriots re-signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Zach D’Orazio, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Akron product, who is effective out of the slot, was with the team from May 26th through June 11th.
  • The Dolphins announced that undrafted rookie offensive tackle Mickey Baucus will retire, as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets.

Offseason In Review: Jacksonville Jaguars

July 23rd, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars had their work cut out for them this offseason but they also had the most cap space of any team in the league.

Notable signings:

The Jaguars prioritized finding a playmaker this offseason and they did that by pouncing early on tight end Julius Thomas. In fact, Jacksonville reportedly had an agreement in place with him days before the official start of free agency. Thomas, a 2011 draftee, broke out during his third season in Denver, emerging as a key target for Peyton Manning in 2013. His reception and yards totals both decreased last season as he dealt with injuries (ultimately missing six games), but he still finished with 12 touchdowns. Many believed that Thomas, the No. 4 free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list, would receive heavy interest from the Seahawks, but he chose instead to sign with Jacksonville where he’ll catch passes from second-year quarterback Blake Bortles.

After landing Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins had little use for fellow defensive tackle Jared Odrick. At that point, the Jaguars pounced on the 27-year-old and kept him in the state of Florida. When Luke Adams of PFR listed his top 50 free agents in March, he ranked Odrick 23rd, as the fourth defensive tackle on the board behind Suh, Terrance Knighton, and Nick Fairley. At the time, he estimated that the asking price would be in the neighborhood of $6MM annually. However, Odrick actually got a deal worth $8.5MM per season with $22MM guaranteed overall.

Doug Free started eleven games at right tackle for the Cowboys in 2014, but Jermey Parnell started seven, including the two playoff games while Free was out with injuries. While Parnell wasn’t viewed as a first tier free agent tackle with the likes of Free, Bryan Bulaga, King Dunlap, and Byron Bell, Parnell was in the second tier of attractive options thanks to his solid play in limited time as a starter. Parnell’s deal is worth $6.5MM per year over five years, a big bump from what he was getting in Dallas.

It was reported that several teams were pushing to land Davon House, but ultimately the corner signed a lucrative deal with the Jags. House only saw part-time action in nickel and dime packages with the Packers, but quarterbacks only completed 46.8% of their passes into his coverage last season, per Pro Football Focus. PFF’s advanced stats, by the way, placed him fourth among all qualified cornerbacks. The Packers, Jets, Seahawks, Bears, Cowboys, and Vikings had also been viewed as potential players for House.

Skuta, 29, also drew interest from the Dolphins and Eagles, the latter of whom would have had a “ton of interest” in signing him had they not retained Brandon Graham. A key contributor on special teams for the 49ers, Skuta also saw more than 300 snaps at outside linebacker for San Francisco, racking up five sacks. He spent four seasons with the Bengals before joining the Niners in 2013. Skuta’s deal came out to $20.5MM over five years, somewhat surprising given his body of work to date.

It took a while, but former center Stefen Wisniewski found an NFL home when he signed with the Jags in mid-April. Wisniewski had spent his entire four-year career with the Raiders, starting 61 games. The Penn State product missed only three games in those four seasons, and he managed to play 16 games in 2014 in spite of a torn labrum. The injury resulted in Wisniewski undergoing surgery this offseason, and it also provided a possible explanation for the player remaining unsigned for so long. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave Wisniewski high marks for his performance during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as the center ranked in the top-20 among eligible center candidates. He received his first negative rating in 2014, but he still ranked 22nd among 41 candidates.

The Jaguars did a lot of free agent shopping this year but they also retained a notable player of their own in defensive lineman Tyson Alualu. Alualu was the first-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was considered to be a reach at 10th overall at the time of the pick, and has been underwhelming at best during his tenure with the team. Clearly, however, they believe that the 28-year-old is capable of doing much more going forward.

Sergio Brown, 27, made a career-high eight starts in 2014. All in all, the free safety recorded 34 tackles, 6 pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one sack on the year. Last year, Brown re-signed with the Colts on a one-year deal worth $1.4MM with a $300K signing bonus.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was pretty impressed with Brown’s work in 2014, ranking him as the 24th best safety in the NFL with a 5.3 score.

Notable losses:

Will Blackmon, who has spent the last two seasons with the Jaguars, was one of the top three cornerbacks for the team during his time in Jacksonville, starting 12 of 23 games. His 2014 campaign was cut short by a broken finger, which landed him on the injured reserve list with about two months left in the season. The 30-year-old was notified of his pending release in February as the team opted to go younger in the secondary.

Bryant, 31, was long rumored to be a cap casualty. Bryant saw time in all 16 games in his first and only season for the Jaguars. In total, he racked up 23 tackles to go with one pass deflection and one sack. Bryant graded out as being just below average according to Pro Football Focus‘ (subscription required) metrics, coming in with a -1.6 grade. Overall, that placed him No. 31 out of 59 qualified 4-3 defensive ends. Bryant’s contract called for him to earn $19MM in total between the years of 2014 and 2017. However, his only guaranteed money came in year one between his $3.5MM roster bonus and $1.225MM base salary in ’14.

Cecil Shorts, 27, spent the first four years of his NFL career in Jacksonville, totaling 176 receptions for the Jaguars. His best season came in 2012, when he racked up 979 yards on just 55 receptions, reaching the end zone seven times. The former fourth-round pick has been nagged by injuries over the last two years, and averaged just 10.5 yards per catch in 2014. Now, he’s in Houston and if he’s healthy, he could be a difference maker for the Texans.

Alan Ball, 30, spent the last two seasons in Jacksonville and was quietly one of the best parts of the Jaguars’ secondary. In 2013, Ball recorded a +7.5 Pro Football Focus grade in over 1,000 snaps, ranking 22nd among 110 qualified cornerbacks (subscription required). His 2014 season was cut short by a biceps injury, which landed him on injured reserve after seven games, but he still held his own in the first half of the season, recording 22 tackles and an interception.

J.T. Thomas, 27 in August, appeared in all 16 games for the Jaguars last season and made ten starts. In total, he had a career-high 85 tackles to go with five pass deflections and two forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t all that impressed with Thomas’ play in 2014, giving him an overall grade of -16.1, placing him as one of the worst inside linebackers in the NFL.

Jordan Todman played for Jacksonville from 2012 through 2014, totaling 450 rushing yards on 111 carries and 314 receiving yards on 40 catches during his 33 games with the Jags. The Panthers inked him a one-year deal in late March.

Just days ago the Jaguars released Ace Sanders, a player who once looked like he could be a focal point of the team’s offense. The 23-year-old, selected 101st overall in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Jaguars, had a decent rookie season, hauling in 51 balls, though he only averaged 9.5 yards per catch and reached the end zone just once. However, Sanders wasn’t a major part of the offense last season, after Jacksonville used multiple 2014 draft picks to add receiving help. Sanders saw just seven targets in 2014, earning most of his playing time on special teams, where he returned 32 punts, averaging 7.1 yards per return.

Trades:

  • Acquired a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 104; S James Sample) and a 2015 seventh-round pick (No. 229; TE Ben Koyack) from the Jets in exchange for a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 103; QB Bryce Petty).

Extensions/Restructures:

Draft picks:

  • 1-3: Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB (Florida): Signed
  • 2-36: T.J. Yeldon, RB (Alabama): Signed
  • 3-67: A.J. Cann, OL (South Carolina): Signed
  • 4-104: James Sample, S (Louisville): Signed
  • 5-139: Rashad Greene, WR (Florida State): Signed
  • 6-180: Michael Bennett, DT (Ohio State): Signed
  • 7-220: Neal Sterling, WR (Monmouth): Signed
  • 7-229: Ben Koyack, TE (Notre Dame): Signed

At No. 3 overall, the Jaguars grabbed the most gifted edge rusher in the draft in Florida’s Dante Fowler. Unfortunately, Jags fans will have to wait a while to see their rising star after Fowler suffered an ACL tear in his first practice. Fowler notched 15 sacks last season and finished his three-year Gators career with 33. Picking No. 3 for the second straight year, the Jaguars were counting on Fowler to elevate their pass pursuit. Jacksonville boasted the seventh-best sack total in the league last season with 45 but finished 22nd in pass defense.

In the second round, the Jags selected Alabama tailback T.J. Yeldon. Of course, the Jaguars have been disappointed by the production of Toby Gerhart and they’re hoping to reignite the running game with Yeldon. Yeldon is a tough back who has grimaced his way through a fair share of injuries in college. Mike Mayock of NFL.com pointed out that a lack of speed is the big knock on the youngster, but injuries may have played a part in that.

Other:

Greg Olson’s two-year stint with the Raiders wasn’t overly successful, with his offense finishing in the bottom five in the NFL in DVOA both years, including 30th overall in 2014. Still, Olson didn’t have a ton of talent to work with in Oakland — in 2013, Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin split time at quarterback, and this past season, second-round rookie Derek Carr took the reins, with James Jones and Andre Holmes acting as his top receivers. The Jags are hoping that he’ll click with Bortles and give them a powerful offense in the AFC South.

Doug Marrone, who led the Bills to a 9-7 record in 2014, narrowly missing a playoff spot, opted out of his contract following the team’s final regular season game. Marrone’s agreement with the Bills allowed him to receive his full $4MM salary for 2015 despite the fact that he’s no longer coaching the team. Many figured that Marrone already had another head coaching gig lined up but, as it turns out, that was not the case.

A day after he was cut by the Ravens following his DUI arrest, running back Bernard Pierce was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars. Last season, Pierce appeared in 13 regular season games for the Ravens, rushing for a career-low 366 yards off of 93 attempts with two touchdowns. Even with Baltimore’s backfield situation in flux, Pierce was unable to become a major part of the rushing attack, slipping down the depth chart after Justin Forsett emerged as the team’s No. 1 back.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

  1. Julius Thomas, TE: $10,300,000
  2. Jared Odrick, DL: $9,000,000
  3. Jermey Parnell, RT: $8,000,000
  4. Paul Posluszny, LB: $6,885,416
  5. Davon House, CB: $6,500,000
  6. Luke Joeckel, LT: $5,782,254
  7. Sen’Derrick Marks, DT: $5,425,000
  8. Zane Beadles, G: $5,000,000
  9. Chris Clemons, DE: $5,000,000
  10. Blake Bortles, QB: $4,694,273

Can the Jaguars turn things around after going 3-13 last season? Much of that will depend on the growth of rising sophomore Bortles, but then again, few quarterbacks could have thrived behind the Jaguars’ weak offensive line last season. Defensively, a big season out of Sen’Derrick Marks plus strong play from new pickup Odrick would go a long way towards helping their cause.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

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