2018 May - Pro Football Rumors

Deadline Passes For Free Agents To Count Against Compensatory Pick Formula

May 8th, 2018 at 7:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Any club that signs an unrestricted free agent during the remainder of the offseason will no longer have to consider the loss of a 2019 compensatory pick. The second Tuesday after the draft marks the deadline for UFAs to factor into the compensatory pick formula, as Nick Korte of Over the Cap points out in an analysis of where the 2019 comp selection process stands.

Compensatory picks are given to teams that lose a greater number of compensatory free agents (or, a greater quality of free agents) than they acquire. The complicated formula that dictates how the picks are dispersed is not disclosed to the public, but teams are wary of signing even lower impact UFAs while it is in effect.

Any player that inks a new contract won’t be entered into the 2019 formula, but that doesn’t mean the compensatory picks have already been distributed. Contract terms and annual value play the most important role in determining which clubs earn which selections, but playtime and postseason honors are also considered. Additionally, any previously qualifying UFA that is cut before Week 10 will not factor into the 2019 formula.

That being said, Korte has an excellent track record of predicting future compensatory selections, as he’s reverse-engineered the private formula used by the league. At present, Korte projects both the Rams and Patriots to collect two 2019 third-round comp picks (the highest possible selection), while the Redskins, Panthers, and Vikings should each earn one third-rounder. The full 2019 projected comp pick slate is available at the link above.

Colts Sign DE Chris McCain

May 8th, 2018 at 5:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have signed former Chargers edge rusher Chris McCain and and waived tight end Randall Telfer with a failed physical designation, the club announced today.

McCain, 26, spent the past four years with the Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014, but has never started a game. Indeed, the ex-Cal Bear’s playing time on the defensive side of the ball has been extremely limited: McCain’s 25% snap percentage in 2017 was by far the highest of his career, as he’d never before topped 8% playtime on defense. McCain managed five sacks in a backup role, and also saw action on roughly a quarter of Los Angeles’ special teams snaps.

McCain, notably, seemed to thrive in the Chargers’ 4-3 scheme, and he’ll now be moving to an Indianapolis roster that is moving to a 4-3 look for the 2017 campaign. Although he’ll have his work cut out for him as he attempts to get snaps behind Jabaal Sheard, Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis, and Tarell Basham, McCain could find his way into a regular role if injuries or ineffectiveness strike.

Telfer, meanwhile, had just been claimed off waivers on Monday. He’d originally been part of a trade that would have sent him from the Browns to the Chiefs, but that deal was called off, likely for the same health issue that is now causing him to lose his Colts roster spot.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/18

May 8th, 2018 at 4:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Claimed: RB Elijah Hood (from Raiders)

Cincinnati Bengals

Claimed: WR Ka’Raun White (from Seahawks)

Detroit Lions

Waived: LB Brandon Chubb

New Orleans Saints

Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
Waived: LB Sae Tautu

Saints Open To Trading Mark Ingram?

May 8th, 2018 at 4:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints “may” have been shopping running back Mark Ingram this offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The Saints may have to wait a bit to trade Ingram following his four-game suspension for PEDs, but it sounds like they could explore a deal once he is cleared to play.

Rapoport hears that Ingram has been staying away from team in order to push for new deal. He is still after a new contract as he heads into his walk year, despite the ban, which he and his new representatives have been aware of for weeks.

Ingram was largely overshadowed by rising star Alvin Kamara last year, but he still turned in a solid season with new career highs in all major categories. Ingram also ranked seventh in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA, meaning he was effective on a per-play basis, and also finished as a top-15 pass-blocker among running backs, per Pro Football Focus.

Considering that Ingram is a 29-year-old running back who is entering a contract year and won’t be available to play for the first month of the season, there probably won’t be much of a market for his services. However, their reluctance to give him a new deal and willingness to trade him probably means that there won’t be a long-term future for him in New Orleans.

Eagles Meet With Courtney Upshaw

May 8th, 2018 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw visited the Eagles, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Upshaw spent 2017 with the Falcons and saw time on on the interior and has played defensive end and linebacker in the past.

Upshaw joined the Falcons on a one-year, $1.25MM deal in 2016. In his first year with Atlanta, he recorded 23 tackles, one forced fumble, and a half-sack in 13 appearances (five starts). Last year, Upshaw had nine total tackles and one sack and played on just 226 snaps.

The Eagles already boast an impressive front four of Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, and Michael Bennett. Haloti Ngata figures to fill in for the injured Jernigan to start the year and Derek Barnett and Chris Long are also among those in reserve. Upshaw could compete for time on the D-Line depth chart and also help out at linebacker, though the LB group was strengthened with free agents Corey Nelson and Paul Worrilow plus rookie Josh Sweat this offseason.

NFL Reinstates DL Sammie Lee Hill

May 8th, 2018 at 4:10pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has reinstated former Lions and Titans defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hill has been suspended since November 2016.

Given that Hill has been away from the game for more than a full season, it’s not clear what kind of market he’ll find for his services. The former fourth-round pick is 31 years old and turns 32 in November.

Hill served a four-game suspension as a free agent in 2016 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Months later, he was hit with a one-year ban for an undisclosed violation.

In the past, the Seahawks and Jets showed interest in Hill, so they could be candidates to reach out to him this time around.

Hill, an Alabama native, has 97 games with 48 starts to his credit. Over the years, he has amasses seven sacks and nearly 160 total tackles.

NFL Suspends Saints RB Mark Ingram

May 8th, 2018 at 3:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has suspended Saints running back Mark Ingram four games. Ingram, per a league announcement, has violated the league’s PED policy.

Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Ingram will be permitted to take part in all of the Saints’ offseason work, training camp, and the preseason, but he will not be able to practice or play in the first four weeks of the season. Ingram did not show up for the Saints’ voluntary offseason workouts to this point, so he could be rather rusty by the time the fifth game of the season rolls around.

Ingram posted arguably the best campaign of his seven-year career in 2017. Pairing with dynamic rookie Alvin Kamara, Ingram managed career-highs in carries (230), yards (1,124), rushing touchdowns (12), and receptions (58). Ingram ranked seventh in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA, meaning he was effective on a per-play basis, and also finished as a top-15 pass-blocker among running backs, per Pro Football Focus.

Fortunately for the Saints, they have Kamara to pick up the slack in Ingram’s absence, though they may want to take a closer look at other running backs to help bridge the gap in reserve. Trey Edmunds, Daniel Lasco, Jonathan Williams, and sixth-round pick Boston Scott are also under contract.

For Ingram, it’s a bad look as he heads into his contract year. He was already looking at an uphill battle given that he is entering his age-29 season and the free agent market for running backs is weaker than most other position groups.

Ingram will miss games home games against the Buccaneers and Browns and road contests against the Falcons and Giants. He’s now slated to make his season debut in a Week 5 contest in New Orleans against the Redskins.

Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid Working Out

May 8th, 2018 at 2:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Former 49ers teammates Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid are training together as they look to get back into the NFL, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group writes. The duo was spotted working out at Cal State East Bay, but declined to offer specifics on their plans.

“We’re not doing interviews,” Kaepernick said. “We’re just here getting in a workout.”

From a talent perspective, both players should be rostered by NFL teams. However, their participation in anthem protests has apparently kept them from finding employment. Kaepernick, of course, sat out the entire 2017 season without drawing a concrete offer. Reid, meanwhile, has garnered very little interest this offseason outside of a meeting with the Bengals. The Bengals asked Reid about his plans regarding the anthem in 2018 and did not offer him a deal, prompting him to follow Kaepernick in his collusion grievance against the league. This week, the NFLPA backed the safety in his case.

Reid, 26, has made 69 starts in his career. The 49ers experimented with using him at linebacker at times, but the bulk of his work has come at safety since being taken in the first round of the 2013 draft.

Eagles Meet With RB Terrance West

May 8th, 2018 at 2:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Terrance West took a free agent visit with the Eagles on Tuesday, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). West, a former third-round pick of the Browns, has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Ravens.

The 2016 season marked West’s first campaign in Baltimore and he led the team’s ball carriers in attempts (193), yards (774) and touchdowns (five) in that campaign. Last year, he had 39 carries until a calf injury in October took him out of the equation. Wets averaged just 3.5 yards per tote in 2017 after a respectable 4.0 yards-per-carry average in the previous year.

The Eagles seem fairly set at running back with Jay Ajayi as their main carrier and Corey Clement, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, and D.J. Pumphrey in support. However, Sproles is looking to return from a a torn ACL and his status for the start of the season is unclear.

There hasn’t been much buzz around West this offseason, but he could see an uptick in interest this week along with other low-priority unrestricted free agents. Per league rules, UFAs no longer count against the compensatory pick formula once the second Tuesday after the NFL draft arrives.

Kurt Warner Considered NFL Comeback

May 8th, 2018 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Plenty of NFL players have retired and un-retired, but Kurt Warner considered doing something unprecedented. The Hall of Fame quarterback pondered a return for this season as he nears his 47th birthday (video link via Patrick Daugherty of NBC Sports).

“I was actually ready to, for this coming season, I actually talked to a coach and my wife said, ‘Go for it, I think it would be great,‘” Warner said during a St. Louis Cardinals telecast. “So I actually talked to a coach about possibly doing it if they needed someone, but then they went out and signed somebody. I don’t think they thought I was serious. So I think we’re completely done now.”

Warner, a former Super Bowl champion and MVP, last took the field in the 2009 season with the Cardinals. He left the game on a high note after leading Arizona to a victory in the opening round of the playoffs, but he has also been out of action for nearly a decade. It’s not clear if any team would have given real consideration to signing Warner, but it sounds like he was fairly serious about the idea on his end.

Running back Herschel Walker famously claimed that he could still play in the NFL when he was in his 50s. He never did make his way back to the gridiron, but he did compete as a professional mixed martial artist in the now defunct Strikeforce promotion.

It’s unlikely that Warner would have garnered real consideration for his planned return, but it’s a fun what-if scenario to ponder.