HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC Notes: Peters, Panthers, Saints

February 25th, 2018 at 11:38am CST by Rory Parks

The Rams were one of only two teams to express legitimate interest in acquiring CB Marcus Peters, and while Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay cannot yet talk about Peters or the trade specifically, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star says it is no surprise that the Rams would be the team to land the former first-rounder. Although Peters is now eligible for a long-term extension and is likely to be on his best behavior anyway as a result, Paylor notes that McVay has quickly established a strong presence in LA, and he and DC Wade Phillips have full command and respect of the locker room. Paylor suggests that the Rams’ trade for Peters demonstrates their faith in their culture, and that culture, combined with the fact that they play on the West Coast — where Peters has long indicated he wants to be — made it a perfect fit.

Now let’s take a look at a few more NFC notes:

  • The Rams are hiring Holy Cross offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their assistant WRs coach, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter).
  • Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer takes a look at the Panthers‘ plans for the offseason, and he says Carolina will likely release DE Charles Johnson, though it is difficult to say whether Julius Peppers will be back or will call it a career. Person also does not expect Andrew Norwell to be back, so the Panthers will need to draft or sign a defensive end and a guard this offseason, and the hope is that whatever guard they acquire will also be capable of playing center.
  • The Saints have a few interesting calls to make with respect to their restricted free agents, as Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune observes. Willie Snead, Delvin Breaux, and Brandon Coleman are all RFAs, and although Holder does not make any specific predictions, it sounds as if Snead may be playing elsewhere in 2018, but Breaux and Coleman could be back.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says Lions GM Bob Quinn has shown a few noticeable draft tendencies in his first several years on the job, including his apparent preferences to draft for need, to draft high-floor prospects (even if those prospects don’t have the potential to be stars), and to draft high-character players with track records at major collegiate programs. In light of that, Birkett predicts that Detroit will select Boston College DE Harold Landry in the first round of the 2018 draft.
  • We learned earlier today that it does not look like Anthony Hitchens will be back with the Cowboys.

AFC Notes: Bortles, Jets, Patriots

February 25th, 2018 at 9:55am CST by Rory Parks

The big news of the weekend broke last night, when the Jaguars and Blake Bortles struck an extension that will keep the former No. 3 overall pick in Jacksonville through the 2020 campaign. Bortles was already under club control through the 2018 season thanks to the fifth-year option that the Jags had previously exercised, but the new deal — which includes a fairly modest amount of guaranteed money — will give Bortles the ability to realize his potential in Jacksonville while not precluding the team from pursuing other QB options if it needs to. Plus, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported this morning, Bortles’ cap number for 2018 will be reduced from the $19MM fifth-year option number to just $10MM, thereby giving the Jags more room to work this offseason (Twitter link).

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) adds more details on Bortles’ deal, reporting that the entire $26.5MM in guaranteed money is guaranteed at signing, that Bortles will get $20MM in the first year of the deal and $16MM in the second year, and that incentives like earning Super Bowl MVP honors can push the total value of the contract to $66.5MM.

Now for more from the AFC, starting with another item on Bortles:

  • Bortles played the entire 2017 campaign with a wrist injury, and he underwent surgery on the wrist after the season. Per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, the injury consisted of a partially torn ligament on the outside of the wrist and inflammation on the top of it, but Bortles said he is on schedule in his recovery and expects to be cleared with no restrictions in early March. Given what transpired last night, the Jaguars are obviously comfortable with Bortles’ progress.
  • The Jets are expected to be aggressive in the bidding for Kirk Cousins, but as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com observes, Cousins has compiled a meager 4-19 mark against teams with winning records, and Cimini says if the Jets view him as a savior and open up the vault for him, they are letting desperation cloud their judgment. In any event, New York should have a pretty good idea of where it stands with respect to its own free agents and players from other clubs (like Cousins) at the end of this week. The NFL scouting combine begins on Tuesday, and in addition to evaluating collegiate prospects, teams use that time to meet with player agents.
  • The Patriots are currently near the bottom of the league in terms of salary cap space, but with most of their key players under contract, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says New England will have plenty of room to operate as it sees fit this offseson. Plus, as Volin notes, the team can add another $17MM of cap space by cutting ties with some obvious release candidates like tight ends Martellus Bennett and Dwayne Allen. Volin also lays out a roadmap for the rest of the Pats’ offseason, which includes keeping Rob Gronkowski happy, re-signing Nate Solder, and letting Malcolm Butler walk.
  • We learned yesterday that the Steelers and Martavis Bryant may be headed for a parting of the ways.

Cowboys Not Expected To Re-Sign Anthony Hitchens?

February 25th, 2018 at 8:52am CST by Rory Parks

The Cowboys have a number of objectives this offseason, but they will certainly prioritize signing Zack Martin and Demarcus Lawrence to long-term deals. Lawrence will get hit with the franchise tag at some point prior to the March 6 deadline, which will give the two sides until July 16 to work out a multi-year contract. Martin, meanwhile, is still under club control through the 2018 season, but Dallas has been talking about extending him for some time now.

Anthony Hitchens (Vertical)

Anthony Hitchens, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in a couple of weeks, is not the same caliber of player as Lawrence and Martin. However, he is a quality linebacker who will surely generate plenty of interest on the open market, and neither David Moore of the Dallas Morning News nor Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram believe the Cowboys will be able to retain him.

Both scribes point to recent comments from executive VP Stephen Jones to suggest that Hitchens will not be in Dallas next season. Jones said of Hitchens, “I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s one of those guys who is available. You can count on him. He understands this game is a tough game. He put himself in harm’s way out there when a lot of players wouldn’t do it. He’s the type of guy you want on your football team … At the same time, we all know he’s not the ‘quote, unquote’ Pro Bowl football player. He’s not the guy who’s getting all the accolades but he’s the type of guy you want on your football team so it does make it hard.”

Hill believes that, if Hitchens wants to stay in Dallas, he will have to take a team-friendly deal and turn down more money elsewhere. After all, the Cowboys have just $19MM in cap room at the moment, while other potentially interested teams — like the Colts — are considerably more flush.

Former Dallas LBs coach Matt Eberflus was recently named the Colts’ new defensive coordinator, and Hill believes a Colts-Hitchens union makes perfect sense. Indeed, Indianapolis will be moving from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 under Eberflus, and Hitchens would help the team make that transition.

Assuming Hitchens does leave, Hill says Dallas will need to prioritize the linebacker position in the draft, but as the 2018 draft class is rife with quality LB prospects, the Cowboys should be able to adequately replace Hitchens’ production.

AFC Notes: Jaguars, Landry, Titans, Cuts

February 24th, 2018 at 9:40pm CST by Ryan Posner

With Blake Bortles locked up through 2020, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco dives into the next biggest questions facing the Jaguars this offseason. DiRocco believes that providing Bortles with a game-changing receiver in the form of re-signing Allen Robinson should be the team’s first priority going forward. Robinson missed all of last season due to a torn left ACL.

While Jacksonville could look sign the 24-year-old wideout to a long-term deal, DiRocco speculates the team could also target a one-year incentive-laden deal for Robinson, similar to what the Eagles gave Alshon Jeffery last offseason before signing him to a four-year extension in December. A franchise tag is also an option for Robinson, with the wide receiver tag expected to be around $16MM.

That franchise tag becomes a lot more affordable now that the Jaguars aren’t on the books to pay Bortles $19MM next season. Fellow wideout Marqise Lee is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason as well. Other spots on the roster DiRocco believes the team needs to address is adding another pass-catching tight end to work with Marcedes Lewis and adding an interior lineman, with Andrew Norwell, Justin Pugh and Josh Sitton serving as options in free agency.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali, Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and others were identified by the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin as players who could be cut in cap-saving measures this offseason.
  • The Titans are set to unveil new uniforms for the upcoming season at a festival in Nashville on April 4, the team announced in a release. The team did reveal its new logo Saturday for the upcoming season, which is set to commemorate the franchise’s 20th season since moving to Tennessee from Houston.
  • Florida Football Insiders wonders whether Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry is giving signs that he may not be with the team for much longer, despite being designated with the team’s franchise tag earlier this week. While purely speculative, Landry’s official website has been taken down, and before that, his official merchandise on the site had been priced down, signaling it may be lesser in value in the near future. These items should certainly be taken with a grain of salt but could help piece together the puzzle on whether Landry will be back with the Dolphins, or if they’re planning to ship him out via trade before long.

West Notes: Seahawks, Sanders, 49ers, Rams

February 24th, 2018 at 8:30pm CST by Ryan Posner

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com believes neither Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman or safety Earl Thomas will be on the move via trade anytime soon (video link).

For Sherman, 29, his Achilles injury which forced him to miss the final nine games of the regular season — the first game’s he’s missed through his seven-year NFL career — will keep from being traded in the near future. The three-time All-Pro is set to enter the final year of his contract and is due to earn $11MM in non-guaranteed base salary, with a $13.2MM cap hit.

As for Thomas, Rapoport believed it was more likely the team would agree to a new deal with the standout safety rather than deal him. Thomas, 28, is also entering the final year of his new contract, which will earn him $8.5MM in base salary, along with a $10.4MM cap hit. Rapoport did go on to say that the Seahawks could obviously look to deal Thomas — a three-time All-Pro as well — if they are blown away by an offer.

Earl and Thomas have been centerpieces of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom,” helping lead the team to a Super Bowl XLVII title in 2013, which is the only Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Here’s more from out West:

  • Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders‘ name has been tossed around trade rumors this offseason but Rapoport doesn’t see the team dealing him anytime soon either. Sanders is set to make $8.25MM in base salary next year but has a cap hit of $10.94MM, Rapoport considered that a high number for a player who’ll be 31 when the 2018 season begins and has seen a decline in his reception and yardage numbers since signing with the Broncos in 2014. However, Rapoport points out that the Broncos’ receiver tandem of Sanders and Demaryius Thomas could help lure a quarterback such as Kirk Cousins this offseason.
  • Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at some players the 49ers may be targeting ahead of next week’s NFL Scouting Combine. The 49ers are awaiting a coin flip against the Raiders to see if they’ll be picking at No. 9 or 10 but Branch believes cornerback will be a top priority for the team in the draft. Ohio State’s Denzel Ward was a player he identified could help in the secondary, with Vontae Davis and Marcus Peters serving as options through free agency and trade. A pass-rusher may be hard to come by, as North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb is expected to go in the top five with a major gap in between the next-highest rated pass rushers. Branch also pointed to Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson as an option in the first round.
  • Sticking with the draft, Rams vice president Kevin Demoff discussed how the team uses analytic when it comes to the draft while speaking at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (Youtube link, starting around 38-minute mark). Demoff said the team leans on its analytics more heavily in the sixth and seventh rounds, as well as undrafted free agents. A question was posed to Demoff centered around Cooper Kupp, who was limited from an analytics standpoint due to playing at Eastern Washington, but was still chosen by the Rams in the third round of last year’s draft. Demoff said that watching Kupp in individual workouts was the kicker in making the decision to pick him, though other available receivers graded higher.

Jaguars Sign Blake Bortles Through 2020

February 24th, 2018 at 6:24pm CST by Ryan Posner

The Jaguars look to be out of the market for a quarterback agreeing to a three-year, $54MM contract extension with Blake Bortles, which includes $26.5MM guaranteed and could reach $66.5MM in total with incentives. The team confirmed the move Saturday night (Twitter link).

“Blake’s growth and development last season was a key to the success we had as a team,” said Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin said in a team release. “Blake has proven, with toughness and dependability, that he can be the leader this team needs going forward. Along with this contract come high expectations that he will continue to improve and help our team accomplish its ultimate goal.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the terms of the deal and ESPN colleague Josina Anderson first reported that the two sides were working on a deal. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was first to report the deal could be done as early as Saturday night.

"<strong

With the incentives in the deal, Bortles could make up to $22.5MM annually over the next three seasons. Without the incentives in place, the deal would net Bortles $18MM per year, placing him right behind Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill ($19.25MM) in average annual salary. The 49ers made Jimmy Garoppolo the highest paid player in the NFL on average annually this offseason at $27.5MM.

Bortles, 25, was already under contract with the Jaguars for 2018 and was due to make $19MM as the team picked up his fifth-year non-guaranteed option last May. But Bortles’ reported new deal will keep him in Jacksonville through 2020 and eliminates a team from a crowded group that’ll be seeking new quarterbacks this offseason.

Schefter points out that the extension gives the Jaguars a chance to see if Bortles can flourish into the player they imagined when they selected him third overall in 2014. It also gives them an extended chance to seek out other long-term options at quarterback with Bortles under contract. ESPN’s Field Yates also identified that Bortles is the first player from the 2014 draft class to receive an extension. Players such as Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald and Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack could join Bortles in that aspect in the near future.

The Jaguars made it to the AFC Championship last season with Bortles under center and were winners of the AFC South, snapping a nine-year postseason drought, but he’s dealt with consistency issues throughout his career. Bortles has started all 16 games in each of the last three seasons for the Jaguars. He threw a career-low 13 interceptions in last year’s regular season while completing a career-best 60.2% of his passes. Bortles also underwent right wrist surgery this offseason, confirming the move Saturday (Twitter link), with the injury reportedly affecting him starting in December 2016.

As for as the receiving corps Bortles will be working with, top targets Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson are both set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. The team still has the likes of Allen Hurns and Dede Westbrook under contract for next year, along with tight end Marcedes Lewis.

AFC East Notes: Suh, Jets, Bills, Cousins

February 24th, 2018 at 5:51pm CST by Ryan Posner

The Dolphins need for current-year cap space is undeniable and the team has already reportedly made the decision to cut linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas when the new league year begins.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported earlier this week that the team was looking at all options when it came to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and how to create space with his current deal. That included cutting the five-time Pro Bowler with a post-June 1 designation, saving the team $17MM as of June 2, or trading him, which would open $3.9MM in cap space.

There is an option in which the team could open some cap space next year with Suh’s deal, while also keeping him on the roster, which Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk broke down Saturday.

The Dolphins could essentially turn Suh’s deal into a signing bonus, reducing his salary this season to $1MM while dividing the other $15.95MM he’s set to make this season over the next three seasons. The move would immediately create $10.66MM in cap space. But Florio does note that the would move would place Suh’s 2019 cap hit at $33.5MM but it does give them an option to keep him this season while getting their desired cap room.

Here’s more from around the AFC East:

  • With Jets center Wesley Johnson due to hit free agency, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News identified Iowa center James Daniels as someone the team should keep an eye on at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. Mehta believes that Daniels could present the Jets with a second-day option in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Mehta does point out that Daniels is on the lighter side for a center but thinks he could still be a high-caliber player within the Jets’ scheme. Mehta broke down four other players the team should be looking at as well.
  • The Bills are reportedly unwilling to cut quarterback Tyrod Taylor before the league year begins on March 16, meaning his $6MM roster bonus would go into effect. But both Florio and Joe Buscaglia of WKBW Buffalo opine that the move doesn’t mean the Bills are committed to hanging on to Taylor. By taking on the $6MM, they allow themselves the chance to let free agency play out, possibly opening up trade opportunities for Taylor.
  • We learned earlier Saturday that while the Jets are set to pursue Kirk Cousins aggressively in free agency, they reportedly won’t give him a record-breaking $60MM in his first year, which has been suggested.

North Rumors: Bryant, Packers, Fisher, Lions

February 24th, 2018 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Steelers are not believed to be making calls about Martavis Bryant, they are expected to discuss the wide receiver with teams at the Combine, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Rapoport does, in fact, note the Steelers are open to listening to offers for Bryant but don’t appear to be too aggressive about that at this juncture. However, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes Bryant has expressed desire to be a No. 1 receiver, and that’s not going to happen with likely Hall of Fame candidate Antonio Brown on the Steelers. This helps explain why the sides have not discussed a long-term extension or bridge contract. Bryant is entering his contract year, and the Steelers like their trio of wideouts. But Fowler writes the franchise doesn’t want Bryant causing any problems this season, which would make a trade logical. Fowler writes it would not be a surprise for Bryant to skip offseason workouts to display his frustration with his status.

Here’s the latest from some North teams as Combine itineraries are being finalized.

  • An irregular heartbeat shelved Jake Fisher midway through the season, inducing the Bengals to place their right tackle on the Reserve/NFI list. But the fourth-year blocker has been cleared to return to action, the Bengals announced. A 2015 second-rounder, Fisher is entering a contract year. He started a career-high seven games in 2017 prior to the heart problem sidelining him. The franchise is optimistic Fisher can have a strong season.
  • The Packers‘ strategy at backup quarterback put them in danger in 2013, when Aaron Rodgers‘ first collarbone injury occurred, and burned them last season after Rodgers suffered a similar malady. Multiple scouts who spoke with Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette said the Packers need to prioritize their backup quarterback more appropriately, with one making a notable claim the position was on par with left tackle in terms of importance. While that seems extreme, Rodgers has now missed 16 games between those two seasons. Dougherty mentions Sam Bradford as a possibility while one scout named Matt Moore and Ryan Fitzpatrick as superior options to Brett Hundley. Bradford indicated he plans to play in 2018 despite his injury history, but teams pining for Kirk Cousins may view he or A.J. McCarron as contingency plans as starters.
  • Teams are now free to place their respective franchise tags on players, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes this makes the most sense for the Lions. While $17.5MM is steep for a player with Ansah’s inconsistent track record, the former first-rounder is Detroit’s best pass rusher. And on a market light on proven edge help, the Lions might be wise to keep Ansah for at least another season.

South Notes: Jags, Colts, Glennon, Falcons

February 24th, 2018 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

After their most successful season this century, the Jaguars are firmly committed to their power structure. The Tom Coughlin/Dave Caldwell/Doug Marrone triumvirate is now signed through 2021 after the extensions announced Friday, and this season looks to have played a key part in Shad Khan‘s decision. The owner approached his top staffers about these extensions shortly after the Jags’ AFC championship game loss to the Patriots, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports.

For Caldwell, this marks the second two-year extension in as many offseasons. The GM signed one in January 2017 on the same day he was stripped of some of his decision-making abilities, but he’ll continue to work with Coughlin for the foreseeable future. This comes after some in league circles believed Coughlin would attempt to push Caldwell out of the picture, per O’Halloran, if last season did not go well. In particular, Blake Bortles‘ play was key in this scenario, O’Halloran writes. Caldwell had overseen four straight losing seasons since taking over the Jags’ reins in 2013.

Here’s the latest out of the South divisions:

  • The Colts continue to add to Frank Reich‘s first staff. They’ve hired Tom Manning as their tight ends coach, reports Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register. The former Iowa State offensive coordinator led the Cyclones to two of the best offensive seasons in team history. He previously served as the offensive line coach at Toledo and Mount Union.
  • Regarding Reich’s first offense, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star notes it’s expected to be a significant change from Rob Chudzinski‘s attack. Reich is expected to install an uptempo setup to help a Colts offense that ranked 31st last season. However, Andrew Luck being at the controls had the Colts at No. 10 offensively in 2016. So, improvement will largely come from Indianapolis’ starter being back in the fold.
  • A Buccaneers/Mike Glennon reunion will likely be on the Tampa Bay brass’ radar, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes. The Bears are expected to cut Glennon, whom Mitch Trubisky quickly supplanted in Chicago’s starting lineup, and Stroud notes the Bucs will be watching carefully to see if their former backup will wind up in need of a job. Glennon served as Jameis Winston‘s backup in 2015 and ’16, and with a possible suspension for Winston looming because of an alleged groping of an Uber driver, Stroud notes Tampa Bay’s backup could play a key role in the 2018 season. The Bucs were ready to pay Glennon like a top-market backup at $8MM per year, but the Bears’ offer easily won out last March.
  • Sean Weatherspoon has played in just six games for the Falcons the past two seasons and has missed all five of Atlanta’s playoff contests in that span. The 30-year-old linebacker is now a free agent. He would like to return to Atlanta but acknowledged a connection to former Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who now has a first-time opportunity as an NFL DC with the Colts. “My college coach, who recruited me to Missouri, is the (defensive) coordinator for the Colts now,” Weatherspoon said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There are a lot of things, I love Atlanta, but I’m just looking for an opportunity. I’d love to be here. If things work out, this is where I’ll be.” Prior to his injury trouble during his second Falcons stint, the former first-round pick started 40 games with the Falcons from 2010-13. Given where he is in his career, Weatherspoon would likely be available for the veteran minimum.

Ben Levine contributed to this report.

Jets Not Preparing To “Wildly Overspend” For Kirk Cousins

February 24th, 2018 at 2:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are planning to aggressively pursue Kirk Cousins in free agency, but their intentions don’t appear to include changing the way NFL contracts work.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports the Jets are not planning a history-making contract offer that would include $60MM in the first year. This was recently suggested, but Mehta reports the franchise is not prepared to wildly overspend to land the 29-year-old quarterback.

However, sources informed Mehta the Jets would “absolutely love” to add Cousins. But they won’t be radically changing the NFL landscape by offering the passer a fully guaranteed deal.

Another recent report indicated Gang Green was willing to spend “whatever it takes” to land Cousins, and while the Jets are in position to outmuscle the Broncos or Cardinals or Vikings or other possible suitors that aren’t the Browns (who are projected to hold $110MM-plus in cap space), Mehta reports the Jets are not planning to wildly overspend for Cousins. The Jets could have more than $90MM in space if they are to make certain logical cuts — which they’ve already started to do after not picking up Ben Ijalana‘s option — and the gap between Cousins and other veteran UFA quarterback solutions does look wide considering the former Redskins QB’s experience and lack of injury history.

Talk about how crazy the Jets are going to get in the Cousins sweepstakes has amused some at team headquarters, per Mehta, who adds the team does expect a few other teams to join them in chasing the seventh-year passer. The Jets expect three other teams to be strong suitors, but of the Broncos/Browns/Cardinals/Vikings/Bills group, Mehta notes the team doesn’t anticipate all of those teams being aggressive buyers here. The Jaguars may be considering a foray, but they could be hamstrung by Blake Bortles‘ physical.

Cousins has repeatedly said he wants to join a team that can contend immediately. The young Jets roster may take some time to move into position to do so, but if New York’s offer is well north of the competition’s, a decision to turn it down would obviously be difficult. Although it doesn’t appear the Jets are as full-speed-ahead intent on winning this race as has been suggested, they still may be the most aggressive team in this unique derby.

Load More Posts