With the Browns’ minicamp in the books, head coach Hue Jackson said Thursday he’s “not even close” to naming a starting quarterback and acknowledged that there will be an open competition in training camp, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Offseason free agent pickup Robert Griffin III seems like a good bet to win the job, but he’ll have to beat out a group headlined by fellow veteran Josh McCown – who was impressive last season.
Elsewhere around the NFL…
- Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore believes he’s a member of the premier TE corps in the NFL. “I’m not afraid to say it. It’s hands down [the best group],” he said, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. New England undoubtedly has the preeminent one-two punch at the position with Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, but from the top down, Hensley writes that Gillmore has a valid argument. The Ravens also employ Ben Watson, Maxx Williams and Dennis Pitta, though Pitta missed most of the last two seasons because of hip injuries. Gillmore, Watson and Williams, meanwhile, combined for 139 receptions, 11 touchdowns and 1,500-plus yards in 2015.
- Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker is entering a contract year and would like to sign an extension, but he told JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic that he hasn’t discussed a new deal with the team. “If you go out and you’re producing, they’re gonna keep me,” he said. As Finlay notes, with quarterback Kirk Cousins also going into a contract year and tight end Jordan Reed having signed a mega-deal last month, Baker could end up out of the Redskins’ price range. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he amassed career highs in appearances (16, to go with 11 starts), tackles (53), sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). Thanks to his output in 2015, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Baker a solid 22nd out of 83 qualifying interior defenders.
- The Ravens worked out two free agents – receiver Jimmie Hunt and running back/linebacker/safety Cabrinni Goncalves – on Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links). Hunt joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri last year, but the team cut him in September and he didn’t latch on elsewhere. Goncalves, formerly of Maine, went undrafted this year.
redskins will have close to 53 million in space next year. They will have plenty of cash, besides theres one very important thing you didn’t mention, the redskins gm told Baker next year i have your back. he’s honest and that’s why players trust him.