HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/17

August 27th, 2017 at 4:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

  • Waived: DE Caleb Kidder
  • Waived/injured: TE Matt Lengel

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jets Claim DE Kony Ealy From Patriots

August 27th, 2017 at 3:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have claimed defensive end Kony Ealy off waivers from the Patriots, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).Kony Ealy

New York owned the sixth slot in the waiver priority list, meaning Ealy didn’t slide far before being claimed. Indeed, Garafolo reports a number of clubs were putting in research into Ealy before the waiver window closed (Twitter link). Given that teams can roster as many as 90 players until this weekend, the Jets felt it worthwhile to acquire a player with a second-round pedigree at no cost.

Ealy, 25, doesn’t look like a contender for a starting role along the Jets’ talented defensive line, but he could compete for backup snaps. New York, of course, already boats Leonard Williams, Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Steve McLendon, but Ealy could see playing time as a rotational edge rusher.

Last season, Ealy appeared in all 16 games (six starts) for the Panthers and managed six sacks in that time. Carolina traded him to the Patriots following the season, moving up eight spots in the draft in exchange for sending Ealy to New England. Expected to play a large role for the Pats, Ealy didn’t even make to final cuts, and was waived on Saturday.

Ealy’s 2017 base salary is not guaranteed, and his signing bonus proration is still the responsibility of the Panthers, so adding him is a complete no-risk move for the Jets.

Cowboys LB Anthony Hitchens Out 8 Weeks

August 27th, 2017 at 3:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee in last night’s preseason game against the Raiders and will be sidelined for eight weeks, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Anthony Hitchens (Vertical)

While a two-month absence is certainly not ideal, it’s far better news than a torn ACL, which is what Dallas initially feared Hitchens had suffered. Now, Hitchens could be placed on injured reserve but be designated to return later this season.

Losing Hitchens for the season would’ve constituted a large blow for a Dallas defense that can’t afford to take a step back after ranking 18th in DVOA a year ago. Hitchens, 25, started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2016, and played the second-most defensive snaps (581) of any Cowboys linebacker. In that time, Hitchens posted 78 tackles and 1.5 sacks while grading as the NFL’s No. 49 linebacker among 86 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

Dallas has several options to cover for the loss of Hitchens at middle linebacker, and one course of action could be Sean Lee moving to the middle, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. Veteran Justin Durant is also capable of playing middle linebacker, while second-year defender Jaylon Smith had been set to serve as Hitchens’ direct backup. Smith, still recovering from a gruesome 2016 knee injury, won’t be inserted into the starting lineup, as Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones explained to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.

PFR Originals: 8/20/17 – 8/27/17

August 27th, 2017 at 3:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

Dolphins Open To Offers For Jarvis Landry?

August 27th, 2017 at 2:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins are willing to “seriously listen” to offers for wide receiver Jarvis Landry, according to Michael Lombardi of the Ringer (Twitter links). However, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that any trade rumors involving Landry are “zero percent” accurate, although one club did inquire on Landry in the spring. Jarvis Landry (vertical)

Landry, 24, is scheduled to earn roughly $900K for the 2017 campaign before becoming an unrestricted free agent next spring. Miami still hasn’t made an extension offer to Landry, and per Lombardi, the club doesn’t believe it will be able to re-sign the former second-round pick. The franchise tag probably isn’t an option for Landry, as the $16MM+ figure is likely untenable for a receiver who primarily plays in the slot.

While Landry has certainly performed admirably during his three-year run in South Beach, the Dolphins and head coach Adam Gase may not value slot receiver as a position. Since 2014, Landry has averaged 96 receptions and 1,017 yards per season, but that production has mostly been reached through short passes. Miami might prefer outside receiver DeVante Parker, who is eligible for an extension following the 2017 season.

There’s no indication that the two clubs have talked, but the Browns are reportedly searching for wide receiver help, and could be a potential trade partner for the Dolphins. Cleveland has more than enough draft capital to acquire a player such as Landry, as the club owns two 2018 first-round picks, plus three second-rounders, one third-rounder, and two fourth-rouders.

Steelers, OT Marcus Gilbert Discussing Deal

August 27th, 2017 at 2:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have discussed offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert‘s contract with agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. However, those talks are “exploratory” in nature given that Gilbert is currently signed through the 2019 season, per Fowler.Marcus Gilbert

Gilbert, 29, agreed to a five-year, $30MM extension prior to the 2014 campaign — he’s already reworked that deal twice, including just before the 2016 season, when he agreed to convert a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus in order to create cap space for the Steelers. At present, Gilbert has cap charges north of $6.5MM in each of the next three years, including ~$7.3MM for the upcoming season.

“Of course, as a player you like to say you don’t look at the [contractual] numbers — saying that is complete BS,” Gilbert tells Fowler. “But at the same time, you have to go play like you’re worth it. Until they reward you, you have to continue to show that. My thing is, as long as I want to continue to be here, I have to do whatever it is on the field to get better and better every year. That’s my whole focus, just being here, being the best right tackle in the game.”

Gilbert is one of the league’s best right tackles, at least in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, which graded Gilbert as the NFL’s No. 11 tackle among 76 total qualifiers. A former second-round pick, Gilbert has started 75 games over six seasons in Pittsburgh, and last year helped the Steelers offensive line finish third in adjusted line yards and fourth in adjusted sack rate, both Football Outsiders metrics.

Cameron Meredith Suffers Torn ACL

August 27th, 2017 at 1:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith suffered a torn ACL during today’s preseason game against the Titans, according to Pam Oliver of FOX Sports (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). Although no official announcement has been made, Meredith will presumably miss the 2017 season."<strong

Losing Meredith represents a massive blow for a Chicago pass offense that ranked a below-average 20th in DVOA a season ago. Meredith, 24, came out of nowhere to lead the Bears in receptions (66), receiving yards (888), and receiving touchdowns (four). The former undrafted free agent had been scheduled to serve as Chicago’s top wide receiver following the free agent defection of Alshon Jeffery.

Instead, the Bears will now be forced to rely on a parade of mediocre pass-catching options, several of which were signed this offseason. Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, and Victor Cruz will all be in the mix to catch passes from quarterback Mike Glennon, while former first-round selection Kevin White will also presumably take on a larger role. Chicago’s other receivers include Josh Bellamy, Deonte Thompson, and Daniel Braverman.

If the Bears want to look outside the organization for a wide receiver, there are options on the free agent market. Veterans such as Vincent Jackson, Steve Johnson, and former Bears Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson are still available, as is mercurial former second-rounder Dorial Green-Beckham. Alternatively, the Dolphins are reportedly open to trading slot weapon Jarvis Landry, although acquiring Landry and his expiring contract would represent a win-now transaction for the quasi-rebuilding Bears.

Meredith’s injury will also have financial effects for the wide receiver, who’d been on track to become an restricted free agent next spring. While he’ll still reach that designation, Meredith will now likely be tendered at the lowest RFA level given that no other club is likely to attempt to poach him. Had he repeated his 2017 performance, Meredith could have offered a first-round tender next offseason — the difference between the two tenders may be greater than $2MM.

Packers To Host LB Ahmad Brooks

August 27th, 2017 at 1:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Packers will meet with free agent linebacker Ahmad Brooks on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who reports the Broncos also have interest in the former 49er.Ahmad Brooks (Vertical)

While Green Bay is theoretically set at outside linebacker with Nick Perry and Clay Matthews Jr., signing an edge rusher like Brooks would allow the Packers to move Matthews inside, where he’d likely be an upgrade over Jake Ryan and/or Blake Martinez in nickel packages. Entering his age-33 campaign, Brooks could also be a candidate to play a Julius Peppers-esque role for Green Bay: in such a capacity, Brooks would serve in a rotational basis (Peppers played about a third of the Packers’ snaps in 2016) and focus on pass rushing.

Denver, meanwhile, is in need of depth on the edge given that Shane Ray is doubtful to play in Week 1 due to a wrist injury. Fellow outside ‘backer Shaquil Barrett could hypothetically return from a hip issue in time to play in the Broncos’ season opener, but his availability isn’t a given. While Von Miller clearly locks up one side of the Denver defense, the club would turn to Kasim Edebali, Danny Mason, or Vontarrius Dora, or potentially use second-round rookie DeMarcus Walker in a stand-up role, if Ray/Barrett can’t play Week 1.

Brooks, who was released by San Francisco last week, has 10 years of NFL experience and 98 starts under his belt. Last season, Brooks played the most defensive snaps of any 49ers linebacker (981) and posted 53 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble. However, he graded as just the 87th-best edge rusher in the NFL out of 110 qualified players, per Pro Football Focus, has not ranked among the top-20 at his position since 2012.

5 Key Stories: 8/20/17 – 8/27/17

August 27th, 2017 at 12:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots lose Julian Edelman for the year. On track to stand head-and-shoulders above the rest of the AFC, the Patriots will have to defend the Super Bowl title without the help of Edelman, who will miss the 2017 campaign after tearing his ACL in New England’s third preseason contest. Edelman, who posted 98 receptions and 1,106 yards a year ago, signed an extension this spring that will keep him with the Patriots though 2019. While Edelman is clearly a loss, most executives seem to believe New England will get by without him.

Quarterback battles take shape. The Broncos will use Trevor Siemian as their starting quarterback for the second consecutive season after he beat out 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch for the gig, but other clubs around the NFL are still deciding who will be under center come Week 1. The Jaguars have officially named Blake Bortles as their starter after opening their quarterback competition to a battle that included veteran Chad Henne. And with the Browns going with rookie DeShone Kizer, Cleveland is attempting to trade Brock Osweiler.Le'Veon Bell (Vertical)

Le’Veon Bell to report to Steelers. Pittsburgh should have its full complement of weapons in 2017, as Bell announced his intention to report to the Steelers on Friday, September 1, one day after the club’s final preseason game and nine days prior to Pittsburgh’s regular season opener. Bell, 25, will earn north of $12MM on the franchise tag (which he’ll presumably sign when he reports), meaning he’ll be the league’s highest-paid running back by a wide margin. One of the more dynamic backs in the NFL, Bell has topped 1,200 total yards in three of his four professional seasons.

Surprise personnel moves in the AFC East. Fewer than two weeks after signing with the Bills, veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin announced his retirement from the NFL, leaving Buffalo with Zay Jones and Jordan Matthews as its starting wideouts. While Boldin claimed he would’ve signed with the Bills with or without the now-traded Sammy Watkins on the roster, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane admitted it’s a “fair question” as to whether the Bills would’ve dealt Watkins had they known Boldin would hang up his cleats. The Patriots, too, will be without a notable player in 2017, but that’s of their own choosing — New England waived defensive end Kony Ealy Saturday after acquiring him from Carolina earlier this year.

Jaguars owner open to Colin Kaepernick. While some clubs may shy away from Kaepernick due to his social activism, the Jaguars aren’t one of the teams, as owner Shad Kahn said he’d give his front office approval to sign the former 49ers quarterback. However, Jacksonville decision-makers Tom Coughlin and David Caldwell haven’t given any indication they want to add Kaepernick (or any other external quarterback option).

Branden Albert Has “No Desire” For NFL Return

August 27th, 2017 at 12:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Branden Albert has already retired and un-retired once this offseason, but that course of events likely won’t repeat in the coming weeks. Albert has “no desire” to play football again and is content with his retirement, sources tell Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.Branden Albert (vertical)

Albert, of course, has been the focus of scrutiny in recent months as he seemingly vacillated between an interest in NFL employment and hanging up his cleats. Shipped from Miami to Jacksonville in the spring for a late-round pick, Albert first held out for a new contract, then shockingly announced his retirement. A week later, Albert attempted to report to Jaguars training camp, but the club’s decision-makers had apparently seen enough — Jacksonville placed Albert on the reserve/retired list and subsequently released him.

Because the Jaguars cut ties, Albert is free to sign with any club immediately, but clubs that could use offensive line help — such as the Dolphins, who employed Albert from 2014-16 — are under the impression that he’s completely retired, per Beasley. If he did opt to return to the NFL, Albert could probably find work, as he offers 118 games of quality starting experience and can play both tackle and guard.

Load More Posts