2016 April - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Bengals Hope To Extend Tyler Eifert

April 16th, 2016 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Tight end Tyler Eifert was the second first-round rookie from 2013 to see his fifth-year option exercised, as the Bengals picked up their 2017 option for Eifert on Thursday. As such, Cincinnati will control Eifert for the next two seasons, but the club wants to keep the young pass-catcher around beyond that, as Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Bengals want to eventually sign Eifert to a long-term contract.

The news doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as most teams would probably like to extend their young stars. However, the key word in Dehner’s report is “eventually” — as the Enquirer scribe details, the Bengals will likely follow a similar timetable to the one used with wide receiver A.J. Green. Green, a first-round pick in 2011, had his fifth-year option exercised prior to the 2014 season, but didn’t agree to a long-term deal until September 2015. If the Bengals employ the same schedule with Eifert, he won’t be extended until next fall.

The Bengals have enough cap space (more than $16MM) that they could get a deal done now — and take on some Eifert’s prorated signing bonus on their 2016 cap — but they also have more than $54MM in 2017, good for 17th in the NFL. For his part, Eifert will count just $2.623MM against the cap in 2016 and $4.782MM in 2017, at which point (barring an extension) he could reach free agency or be offered the franchise tag.

Eifert, 25, had a breakout season in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl nod since entering the league as the 21st overall pick in 2013. After spending the majority of the 2014 season on injured reserve, the Notre Dame alum hauled in 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 13 regular season contests last year.

Eifert may take on an even larger role in the Bengals’ passing game in the 2016 season, with secondary receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones no longer in the mix. Cincinnati signed Brandon LaFell as a free agent to help complement Eifert and A.J. Green, and the team figures to address the wide receiver position in the draft as well, but Eifert may be in line for a career high in targets next season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rams Notes: No. 1 Pick, Adams, Rose, Palacio

April 16th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams unquestionably made the most notable move of the week, trading away a collection of picks to the Titans in order to move up to No. 1. Since then, there’s been a number of conflicting reports about exactly which quarterback prospect — Cal’s Jared Goff or North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz — Los Angeles is targeting. While we wait for news to rise to the surface, let’s take a look at a few notes out of LA, both about the Rams’ choice at No. 1 and the draft overall…

The Rams could find a way to both secure their quarterback of the future and acquire more picks, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk lays out. If Los Angeles indicates that they’ll be happy with either Goff or Wentz, they could convince a team that is certain it wants one or the other to move up to No. 1 via a three-way deal with the Browns — such a move would allow the Rams to select the remaining QB at No. 2 while giving Cleveland a cache of picks. It’s an unlikely scenario, though the thought process could help explain why Los Angeles hasn’t yet indicated which signal-caller it wants (though GM Les Snead did say he’s “97% sure” which quarterback he’s taking).
While the Rams debate which quarterback to select first overall, they worked out another QB at their local pro day, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (Twitter link) that Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams‘ workout went “very well.” Adams, who is expected to be drafted in the later rounds, could be an option for Los Angeles if they want to secure a long-term backup.
New Mexico State cornerback Winston Rose also participated in the Rams’ local pro day, as Wilson writes in a piece for the National Football Post. Rose posted three interceptions over 23 games during his career with the Aggies.
Washington State’s Kache Palacio met with and worked out for the Rams today, as his agent Brett Tessler tweets. Palacio, who started 36 games at linebacker for the Cougars, is also capable of playing fullback and works on special teams, as Tessler notes.

South Notes: Norman, Falcons, Texans, Bucs

April 16th, 2016 at 5:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We learned earlier today that one franchise-tagged player — Broncos linebacker Von Miller — won’t be attending his club’s offseason program, and it sounds like another franchise player will take the same approach, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter link) that Panthers cornerback Josh Norman won’t join Carolina’s conditioning program. As Rapoport notes, it’s standard practice for unsigned franchise players to stay away from team activities until a deal is worked out.

Here’s the latest from the NFL’s two South divisions…

Because they only have five picks in this year’s draft, the Falcons are going to have to take a different approach when targeting players, Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We think the draft is going to be interesting for us and creative for us,” said Dimitroff, and Ledbetter notes that the club might explore trading down from the No. 17 pick. Additionally, the Falcons are said to be one of a number of teams that are “very interested” in Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith‘s medical recheck, presumably because Smith could prove to be a draft-day steal if he slips.
Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo will visit the Texans on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Carroo, a favorite of some NFL draftniks, has already met with the Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, and Giants. PFR’s Rob DiRe projected Carroo to come off the board at the end of the second round in the first edition of PFR’s Mock Draft.
Texans left tackle Duane Brown is progressing nicely as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn quadriceps muscle, and Wilson details Brown’s rehab in a separate piece at the Chronicle. As Wilson notes, Houston has no incentive to rush Brown back to the field given that they re-signed swing tackle Chris Clark to a two-year deal.
After working out for the Buccaneers yesterday, USF tight end Sean Price is expected to meet with the Texans on Friday, tweets Jenna Laine.

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Charles

April 16th, 2016 at 4:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Unlike C.J. Anderson, the Broncos placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent Brandon Marshall. The emerging inside linebacker has not yet signed the $2.55MM tender and is unsure he’ll attend the Broncos’ offseason workouts that begin Monday, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.

The fifth-year ‘backer doesn’t have a lot of leverage in this case, and his situation is similar to Tashaun Gipson‘s with the Browns last year. After June 15, the Broncos can withdraw the tender and pay Marshall 110% of his 2015 salary, which was $585K. The Broncos currently carry just more than $8.2MM worth of cap space.

With the champions preoccupied in negotiating an extension for confirmed workout-skipper Von Miller and making a potential deal for a starting quarterback, it’s unlikely Marshall sees a long-term contract offer before that mid-June date. Gipson reported to the Browns before his former team could withdraw that tender last June.

Here are some notes from some of the league’s western contingent, beginning with another starter from the Super Bowl champions’ No. 1 defense.

The Broncos have also yet to make a decision regarding Sylvester Williams‘ fifth-year option and have until May 2 to do so. “No, I haven’t heard anything about it — still waiting,” the fourth-year defensive tackle told Renck. “Either way this will be my best year yet!” Given the starting nose job after Denver elected not to retain Terrance Knighton, Williams played better in 2015 than he did in ’14, grading out as a middle-of-the-pack performer, according to Pro Football Focus. It would cost the Broncos $6.7MM to pick up Williams’ option, and as of now, no pure 3-4 nose is set to earn close to that amount in 2017. Brandon Mebane‘s $4.5MM salary with the Chargers is the highest at this spot currently on a team’s 2017 projected books. Williams will turn 28 this season, but significant cap relief stands to come the Broncos’ way after this season — no team has more projected space than Denver’s $80MM+ in 2017 — so the team could probably manage Williams’ option should it choose to exercise it now.
San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer wrote a letter to the Chargers asking some difficult questions centering around the team’s downtown stadium proposal, Dan McSwain of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Faulconer told the newspaper he sent the letter, on which the Chargers declined to comment, after meeting with members of the hotel industry. One of the centerpieces to the Chargers’ stadium proposal involves a hotel tax hike. Much of the mayor’s queries also involved the design of the stadium/convention center project, McSwain reports.
Rehabbing from his second torn ACL in five years, Jamaal Charles carries about the only contract that the Chiefs can shed in the next two years that will save them big money. Kansas City extending both Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware also secures the team’s backups who filled in for Charles last season, and Adam Teicher of ESPN.com wonders if now is the best time to trade the 29-year-old Charles. Teicher argues the two-time All-Pro’s value will never be higher going forward, with the dynamic ball-carrier turning 30 in December, and the fact the Chiefs don’t have a third-round pick this year in light of the Jeremy Maclin tampering penalties makes a trade worth discussing. Possessing close to the least amount of cap space currently and, along with scant projected space in 2017, the Chiefs are committed to most of their high-priced talent for the next two years. But Charles has two nonguaranteed years left — at $5.3MM and $7MM, respectively.

East Rumors: McCoy, Fins, Pats, Jets, Cowboys

April 16th, 2016 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although LeSean McCoy was cleared of wrongdoing from the alleged brawl that took place involving the Bills running back and off-duty Philadelphia police officers, the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office will review the Philadelphia district attorney’s decision not to charge McCoy for the Feb. 7 incident, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

State Solicitor General Bruce Castor said McCoy and others possibly involved in the fight “are not totally cleared” of charges despite Philadelphia DA Seth Williams’ decision earlier this month not to charge the former Eagles ball-carrier. If the Pennsylvania DA’s office determines McCoy should have been charged for his role in the melee, Rodak reports it could ask a court to overturn Williams’ decision.

Citing insufficient evidence, Williams cleared McCoy of potential charges. Although we heard earlier this week McCoy is unlikely to face an NFL suspension despite the league conducting its own investigation, an overturn of Williams’ decision would increase the likelihood the Bills’ starting running back would miss time this season.

Here’s more from the Eastern divisions.

Ezekiel Elliott will visit the Dolphins on Monday and Tuesday, James Walker of ESPN.com reports. Miami having lost Lamar Miller and missed out on signing C.J. Anderson and Chris Johnson makes the team’s interest in backfield help fairly clear. “They do have a hole at running back, and they do have some good people around on offense,” Elliott said. “It seems like the running back is the spot that they’re missing out on. So I think it would be a pretty good fit.”
The Patriots do not treat their 30 allotted pre-draft visits like recruiting trips as some of their NFL brethren do, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports, with the six-time 21st-century AFC champions devoting an entire work day (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) to meeting with the prospect(s) in their facility rather than taking the player(s) to dinner. The secretive organization also prefers the players it’s serious about drafting not to leak word of the visit. The Pats abruptly cancelled Nate Solder‘s 2011 meeting when details of the summit surfaced, but New England drafted the tackle anyway.
Recently released defensive tackle Dominique Easley sent out an Instagram post thanking the Patriots for his time there, Volin relays. The Globe reporter notes upon Easley being drafted in the first round two years ago, he soon wanted nothing to do with the organization, refusing to listen to the team regarding his knee rehab process.
Former Patriots practice squad quarterback Garrett Gilbert will count $9K toward New England’s 2016 salary cap after winning a grievance related to a roster bonus that the team didn’t pay when the Lions claimed him last June, Volin reports. Gilbert has yet to throw a regular-season pass but did collect a Super Bowl ring from his work with the 2014 Patriots.
A Manhattan federal judge ordered the video from a 2012 incident involving Brandon Marshall to be made public, Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports. A federal jury last week found the Jets wideout not liable for one count of assault and one count of battery in the civil case in which a woman claimed the then-Dolphins wideout punched her in the face.
Tony Romo said Saturday he’s resumed throwing and has been delivering passes using his full throwing motion for nearly two weeks, per the Cowboys website. Recovery time from the Mumford procedure Romo underwent for his troublesome collarbone issues March 8 was slated at six-to-eight weeks.
Cowboys personnel worked out Jared Goff on Saturday morning in Berkley, Calif. Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones were among the team’s representatives there, and Jones, per Peter King (on Twitter), loved what he saw from the Cal quarterback. The Cowboys pick fourth, and after the Rams’ trade that allowed them to vault from No. 15 to No. 1, and may not be in position to take Goff any longer.

Latest On Von Miller

April 16th, 2016 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two days away from the Broncos convening for their initial voluntary workouts of the offseason, Von Miller called Gary Kubiak to inform him he won’t be in attendance for the summer program, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Slapped with the exclusive franchise tag worth $14.129MM, Miller expressed regret to the second-year head coach during the conversation due to the fact he doesn’t have a long-term contract with the Broncos yet, sources told Klis.

But the sixth-year linebacker’s absence isn’t surprising. He has not signed his tenure and is pursuing a landmark contract for a defensive player. We heard last week the Broncos’ best offer so far to Miller was more than $17MM per year. Denver hasn’t moved far off that number, with its latest proposal hovering around $18MM AAV, Klis reports. The Broncos have been resonant in wanting to keep his price tag below Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06MM-per-season accord, per Klis.

The Broncos and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, have continued negotiations this week, Klis writes.

Miller finds himself in the on the same terrain as Muhammad Wilkerson. Both pass-rushing dynamos have observed many of their fellow 2011 draft picks — from Cam Newton, to J.J. Watt, to Marcell Dareus, to A.J. Green — receive lucrative extensions, while both the Jets’ and Broncos’ stars from that class played their 2015 seasons on the team-friendly fifth-year options and are currently among the franchise-tagged contingent.

Although, Miller hasn’t been connected with any trade rumors like Wilkerson. The Broncos have signed each of their three prior tagged performers under sixth-year GM John Elway.

Miller’s stance remains that he’s worth far more than what the Giants paid for Olivier Vernon, whose $17MM-per-year deal is structured so the former Dolphins standout receives $29MM in Year 1. New York could afford to structure Vernon’s deal this way due to a cap situation far friendlier than what Denver was working with going into the offseason.

The Broncos currently possess $8.2MM, according to OverTheCap, but that is with Miller on their books for $14.129MM. A long-term deal would bring this 2016 figure down, and Denver could afford to pay out more of Miller’s presumptive contract down the road. The team’s $80MM+ in space available in 2017, as of now, represents the most in the league.

None of the Broncos’ three previous franchise-tagged players under Elway’s regime — Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas — participated in offseason workouts, so despite his expectation that Miller would be back in Denver on Monday for the start of the 2016 program, it’s hardly shocking that the Dancing with the Stars participant won’t be.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Extra Points: Jack, Fitzpatrick, 49ers, Texans

April 16th, 2016 at 12:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL on this Saturday afternoon…

Former NFL team physician David J. Chao tweeted that he wouldn’t be surprised if NFL prospect Myles Jack falls in the draft due to medical concerns. While the linebacker has recovered from a meniscus tear, Chao notes that there will still be worries of articular cartilage.
If the Jets make a move into the top-10 to select either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini is skeptical that Ryan Fitzpatrick would want to return. By giving up an assortment of assets, the team would essentially be handing the rookie quarterback the keys to the organization. However, Cimini notes that the Jets could also take the unconventional route and let their young signal-caller sit on the bench.
There are already rumblings that 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly aren’t getting along. However, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee isn’t buying these rumors, noting that the pair looked relatively “chummy” at a recent pro day.
The Texans have interest in Oklahoma wideout Sterling Shepard, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The senior compiled 86 catches for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final season at Baylor. Houston has also expressed interest in Baylor receiver Corey Coleman and Notre Dame wideout Will Fuller.

NFC Draft Notes: Eagles, Lions, Falcons, Bucs

April 16th, 2016 at 12:15pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at some AFC draft notes earlier today. Let’s now shift our focus to the NFC…

Jeff McLane of Philly.com backs a previous report that the Eagles had discussed a trade for the Titans‘ top pick. McLane believes the Rams are targeting California quarterback Jared Goff with the first selection, meaning the Eagles could still make a deal to acquire North Dakota quarterback Carson Wentz.
ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein can’t envision the Lions trading up for Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The writer has a hard time seeing the talented lineman falling past the Chargers at the third pick, and considering Detroit’s need for depth, he ultimately concludes that it wouldn’t be worth the cost of assets. As an alternative, Rothstein points to Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley as a potential target with the 16th pick.
The Falcons only have five picks heading into the draft, so D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the team will have to be creative with their approach. The writer wonders if the front office could potentially trade the 17th pick for additional assets. Atlanta could also target Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has fallen from the top-five following a knee injury at the Fiesta Bowl.
William & Mary linebacker Luke Rhodes has “drawn significant interest” from the Buccaneers, tweets Jenna Laine.

AFC Draft Notes: Broncos, Jaguars, Patriots, Jets

April 16th, 2016 at 10:53am CST by Ben Levine

The Broncos have pitched a bid to host the 2019 NFL draft. Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post writes that team president and CEO Joe Ellis met with commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials to discuss the proposal.

“The NFL sent out some requests to a lot of cities and we expressed our interest. They reciprocated in saying that they, of course, like Denver as a city,” said Matthew Payne, the executive director of Denver Sports Commission. “And now it’s just really a chance for us to invite them to our city within the year to kind of do a site inspection and talk further about how we can make it work.”

The organization would be open to hosting the draft in 2017 or 2018, although Jhabvala writes that 2019 “fits better.” The draft would presumably be held at Bellco Theatre inside the Colorado Convention Center.

Let’s check out some more draft notes from around the AFC…

Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley traveled to Los Angeles today to meet with UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, tweets Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network. Ian Rapoport later tweeted that Jack is “under consideration” for the fifth overall pick.
Considering the defensive tackle depth in this year’s draft, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss believes it’d be best if the Patriots improved their defensive line depth with rookies. After having selected Malcom Brown last year, the writer wonders if they could pursue his former teammate, Texas defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway.
Jets coach Todd Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers flew to Georgia to work out Bulldogs linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).

Jason Jones Visited Dolphins

April 16th, 2016 at 9:57am CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins are continuing their pursuit of defensive line help, and they’re reportedly eyeing one of the more versatile options on the market. According to Zac Jackson of ProFootballTalk.com, defensive end Jason Jones visited with the organization yesterday. This would be the 29-year-old’s second meeting with the team, as Jones also visited Miami in early March.

The former second-rounder spent the past three seasons with the Lions, where he started each of his 34 games. Ignoring an injury-riddle 2013 campaign, Jones totaled 53 tackles, 9.5 sacks, four passes defended, and three forced fumbles through his two healthy seasons. Pro Football Focus was generally happy with his 2015 performance, ranking him 43rd among the league’s edge defenders. The Eastern Michigan product also played for the Seahawks and Titans.

As our own Luke Adams previously noted, Jones would provide a burst of youth to an aging Dolphins defensive line. The unit is currently anchored by Mario Williams (31) and Cameron Wake (34).

Since his initial trip to Miami, Jones also met with the Steelers and Cowboys.

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