HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

PFR Originals: 1/20/19 – 1/27/19

January 27th, 2019 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

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

  • With all of the next head coaches either having been hired or set to be hired, I asked which franchise did the best job choosing its next sideline leader. The Buccaneers making Bruce Arians the oldest HC hire in NFL history, at 66, leads the way. Cleveland and Denver’s respective Freddie Kitchens and Vic Fangio choices sit second and third. The Bengals’ and Cardinals’ decisions were not praised nearly as much.
  • Nick Foles will end up as one of the key figures this offseason, and Andrew Ortenberg took a look at where the Super Bowl LII MVP will play in 2019. A job in Jacksonville leads the pack over Foles landing with the Broncos, Redskins or Dolphins.

Extra Points: Trade Candidates, Jets, Raiders

January 27th, 2019 at 4:53pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

With the Super Bowl just one week away, free agency is fast approaching. It should be a busy March and in addition to the free agency frenzy, there could be an active trade market this Spring. A potential Antonio Brown trade has dominated headlines, but there a bunch of other high profile guys who could be moved. With that in mind, former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry recently took a look at the top ten trade candidates for this offseason.

The whole piece is worth a read, as it’s always great to get an agent’s perspective on these matters. Among the big names that Corry lists as trade possibilities are Joe Flacco, Brown, and Eli Manning. Blockbuster trades didn’t used to be too common in the NFL, but teams have slowly been coming around to making bigger deals the past few years. Odds are there will be at least a couple of splash trades before training camp rolls around.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Jets desperately need pass-rush help, and they “almost certainly will be interested” in Rams defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. when free agency starts, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Vacchiano writes that the Jets “tried several times to trade for him” from the Jaguars before they ultimately dealt him to Los Angeles. Fowler, an impending free agent, wasn’t great in the regular season, but he’s come alive in the playoffs with 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits through two playoff games. Vacchiano’s piece also highlights Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers as a potential target for the Jets, as he writes that New England isn’t “likely to pay him” this offseason.
  • Speaking of teams looking for pass-rush help, the Raiders are in a similar boat. New Raiders GM Mike Mayock didn’t try to hide the fact that the team is looking for some help on the outside of their defensive line this week at the Senior Bowl, telling reporters “are we focused in on defensive ends at [the Senior Bowl]? Of course”, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports, adding “we’d be dumb if we weren’t”. The Raiders had only 13 sacks as a team this past year, by far the fewest of any team in the league. In fact the second worse total was 30, more than twice as many as Oakland had, so it wouldn’t be at all surprising if they go with a pass-rusher at number four overall in this April’s draft.
  • In case you missed it, Cowboys star pass-rusher Demarcus Lawrence is set to undergo shoulder surgery.

Poll: Where Will Nick Foles Land?

January 27th, 2019 at 3:45pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Eagles’ loss to the Saints in the divisional round started a countdown clock to what appears to be an inevitable divorce between the team and Nick Foles. The team still views Carson Wentz as its quarterback of the future, which means Foles will very likely be suiting up somewhere other than Philadelphia next season. Foles can pay a $2MM fee to essentially buy his free agency, but the team could then still franchise tag him and attempt to trade him. Whether it’s through free agency or in a trade, today we’ll be taking a look at his most likely destinations:

The Jaguars are widely seen as being a competent quarterback away from being a contender, and might be the most likely team to pursue a veteran quarterback this offseason. The team made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game last year, but regressed heavily in 2018 and finished the season 5-11. Jacksonville is looking to make the most out of the window that it has with their elite defense, and is a natural contender for Foles.

The team appears set to move on from Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler, and could have an entirely new quarterback room in 2019. If Foles were to be traded the Eagles would likely see the Jaguars as an appealing option, as they’re in a different conference and won’t play each other for another four years. On the other hand, the Jags’ cap situation isn’t the best, and they’d need to shed some salary to be able to offer what Foles is likely to be seeking. The Jaguars have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, and could use that to select a quarterback like Dwayne Haskins instead of pursuing a veteran.

Another AFC team that could be interested is the Dolphins. The team isn’t going to be bringing back Ryan Tannehill, and Foles could be a nice option as a bridge quarterback. Tannehill hasn’t been able to stay healthy the past few seasons, and this year wasn’t any exception as he missed five games with a shoulder injury. The team is looking to get younger, and they might want a capable veteran signal caller to help them transition.

With Tannehill’s salary off the books they’ll have plenty of money to offer him a deal, and Miami doesn’t have many other options for a starter next year. On the other hand, the Dolphins have signaled that they plan on going all in on tanking 2019, so they might not be interested in winning too many games with Foles. If the plan is to lose as many games as possible, it wouldn’t make much sense for them to give up draft assets for Foles if the Eagles do end up tagging him.

The Broncos already have a Foles-esque placeholder in Case Keenum, but there’s been some chatter that they might want to move on from Keenum this offseason. Denver could get out of Keenum’s contract fairly easily, and he has no ties to the new coaching staff led by Vic Fangio. If Fangio and his new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello decide they don’t love Keenum, they could ask Broncos GM John Elway to look elsewhere.

Elway has aggressively pursued veteran quarterbacks in free agency in the past, most notably Peyton Manning a handful of years ago and Keenum last offseason, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s interested in Foles. Denver doesn’t appear to be rebuilding and thinks it has the pieces to win with the right quarterback, and Foles could be what they’re looking for.

A slightly more out of the box possibility is the Redskins. The Eagles would surely prefer he didn’t go to their division rival, but if they don’t tag him they might not have any say. It was reported earlier today that Washington was expecting Alex Smith to miss the entire 2019 season, so the Redskins will very likely be in the market for a quarterback.

The Redskins know him well, and Foles beat them easily in Week 17 this year. While the Eagles might do all they can to prevent it, this would certainly be the most entertaining scenario of all. Foles playing Wentz twice a year would be great, and it would be surprising if the Redskins don’t at least look into it.

So, what do you think? Where will Foles end up next season as he looks to continue his magic? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!

Tom Brady Rules Out Retirement

January 27th, 2019 at 2:27pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Tom Brady isn’t going anywhere. The longtime Patriots quarterback will be back in New England no matter what next season, he told Jeff Darlington of ESPN in a recent sit-down (Twitter link).

There had been some speculation, as there has been for a couple of years now, that Brady could choose to ride off into the sunset a la Peyton Manning, but that won’t be happening this year. Brady said there was “zero” chance that the upcoming game against the Rams would be his last game ever. Assuming he doesn’t change his mind, 2019 will be Brady’s 20th season in the league.

He’s 41 now, but the drop-off in play that many have been waiting for has never materialized. Brady had another great season this year, throwing for 4,355 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 65.8 percent of his masses and making his tenth consecutive Pro Bowl. There were rumors last year about a thawing in the relationship between Brady and Bill Belichick but true or not, they’ve been able to make things work.

With only Brian Hoyer behind him on the roster, the Patriots have no clear successor in-house for Brady, and it’s possible they could look to draft one in the near future. On the other hand, Brady has said in the past that he wants to play until he’s 45, so they might not have to worry about a replacement any time soon.

Redskins Expect Alex Smith To Miss The Entire 2019 Season

January 27th, 2019 at 12:56pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Redskins are expecting Alex Smith to miss the entire 2019 season with his leg injury, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Washington’s team president Bruce Allen recently gave an update on Smith’s status to the media, and he didn’t sound overly positive, so this isn’t shocking news.

Allen said the team is going to explore all options with respect to potential new quarterbacks, and also added that the team still likes Colt McCoy. McCoy was initially inserted as the starter when Smith got hurt, but soon went down with a season-ending leg injury of his own. Smith recently made his first public appearance since the gruesome injury, and had a bulky apparatus on his leg.

Soon after Smith got hurt in a Week 11 game against the Texans, news came out that he was battling an infection in his leg. The updates only got worse from there, and we heard last month that he was unlikely to be ready for Week 1 of 2019. With the news that the team is expecting him to miss the entire season, it’s fair to wonder if Smith will ever be able to return, as there has been consistent concern since the injury that it could be career-threatening.

Thanks to the four-year contract extension he signed in 2018 shortly after he was acquired from the Chiefs, Smith is under contract with the Redskins through the 2022 season. The 34-year-old is set to carry a $20.4MM cap number in 2019. The Redskins pick 15th in this Aprils’ draft, and could be a candidate to draft a signal caller. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins is currently projected to be off the board by then, but Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and Missouri’s Drew Lock could be potential targets at 15.

 

Colts GM Discusses Free Agency Strategy

January 27th, 2019 at 11:56am CST by Ben Levine

Colts general manager Chris Ballard is known for valuing the draft over free agency. The executive prefers building his team via the draft and then extending his own players, much to the dismay of fans and media who are eyeing a big splash. While the Colts have been active in free agency, they prefer to avoid the bigger names. This has led to the team adding a few gems over the past few years, including tight end Eric Ebron and defensive ends Denico Autry and Jabaal Sheard.

Still, the Colts will be eyeing more than $100MM in cap space heading into free agency, and the team has an opportunity to build off their first playoff appearance since 2014. Considering the team’s cap space and 2018 success, the organization has been connected to a number of big-name free agents.

Ballard recently sat down with Joel A. Erickson of IndyStar.com to discuss the team’s offseason plans and strategy. While he still cautioned that the organization would value the draft over free agency, he did acknowledge that the organization would make a big splash if the price was right. While the entire article is worth reading, we’ve compiled some of the notable soundbites below:

On the perception that he’s not particularly active in free agency:

“I guess I disagree with everybody who says we are not aggressive in free agency…In every other spot I’ve been in, we’ve participated in free agency. I just think it’s got to be the right fit.”

On the team’s philosophy heading into free agency:

“We put a value on a player. When it gets out of our reach, I just think we are comfortable enough to sleep at night saying that we are going to find an answer. Sometimes it might not be the household name that everybody wants us to sign, and that’s OK, I get it, but we are going to find an answer.

“If we think from a free-agent standpoint that we are going to get one of the high-priced (guys), we have a very strict guideline that he’s got to fit. He’s got to fit into the locker room, he is going to have to earn the salary he’s making, not only with his play, but with his impact and his presence within the locker room.”

On why maintaining cap flexibility will be important over the next few years:

“Just look at the roster and look at the contracts that are going to be coming up over the next two- to three-year period. Eventually, what you’d like to happen is you’re paying your own guys, you’re rewarding the guys in the locker room who have done the right things for you.”

On the team’s recent free agent moves:

“Denico Autry, we targeted him from Day 1, and we signed him. Denico Autry ended up being a pretty good player. Just because it might not be who the media is writing about, who the fans are talking about, that doesn’t mean that guy is not a really good player.

“We dabbled into free agency (last year), we just couldn’t find a match. It wasn’t like people were beating our door down to come to Indianapolis. Do I think we are an attractive place? Absolutely, I do.”

Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

January 27th, 2019 at 11:02am CST by Ben Levine

Another day, another report regarding Antonio Brown‘s future. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport provides the latest update (via Twitter): the Steelers have yet to give Brown and/or his agent permission to pursue a trade. While a “fresh start is preferred” by the wideout, the team is still in complete control of the situation.

However, while the team hasn’t allowed Brown’s party to seek a trade, it doesn’t sound like the team is against a deal. Rapoport notes that the Steelers are “exploring trade options,” and the wideout will predictably “draw significant interest” on the market. To add more confusion to the situation, Brown apparently hasn’t closed the door on returning to the organization; Rapoport notes that the wideout has expressed that sentiment to those he’s close with in the organization.

Our last Brown update came earlier this week, when owner Art Rooney II seemingly softened his tone on the receiver’s potential return. Previously, Rooney seemed to close the door on Brown playing in Pittsburgh next season, telling reporters that it’s “hard to envision” Brown being with the team in training camp.

As our own Dallas Robinson noted earlier this week, the Steelers will incur more than $21MM in dead money on their salary cap and gain just over $1MM in new space if the cut or trade Brown before June 1st. If he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut or traded after that date, Pittsburgh will take on roughly $7MM in dead money in 2019 and ~$14MM in 2020. Brown is also due a $2.5MM roster bonus on March 17, so the team could look to deal him before that date.

The 30-year-old had another productive season in 2018, hauling in 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, he was benched for Week 17 after missing the team’s Saturday walkthrough, and subsequent reports indicated that there was major tension between the player and the franchise.

Veteran K Nick Folk Joining AAF

January 27th, 2019 at 10:03am CST by Ben Levine

The Alliance of American Football has recruited another veteran kicker. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein reports that the Arizona Hotshots have signed former Pro Bowler Nick Folk. The 34-year-old will be joining fellow veteran kicker Nick Novak in the inaugural season of the league.

“The biggest thing, I still have a passion to play. I still want to prove I can play,” Folk told ESPN on Saturday night. “And it’s a good opportunity for me to show that. I ended my time in Tampa with that injury, and my last game being hurt I wasn’t able to perform at my best, and I want to show people that I’m back to kicking well.”

The former sixth-rounder will now have an opportunity to return to Arizona, where he played in college. He’ll also have a chance to return to competitive football after having sat out the entire 2018 campaign. Folk last appeared in four games with the Buccaneers during the 2017 season, converting six of his 11 field goal attempts and seven of his nine extra point tries. He was placed on the injured reserve after his knee tendinitis required surgery, and he was released several months later.

While the injury was more severe than anticipated, Folk told ESPN that he’s been healthy for a bit more than a year. The veteran had previously discussed joining the AAF, but he kept his options open during the NFL’s regular season. The veteran was among a group of kickers to audition for the Bears earlier this week.

Folk is 50th on the NFL’s all-time points list, and he’s the second-leading scorer in Jets history. He’s converted 98.8-percent of his extra point attempts in his career; however, as Rothstein notes, this won’t matter much in the AAF, as there are no extra points (nor kickoffs) in the league.

Patriots Eyeing Bret Bielema For DC Role?

January 27th, 2019 at 8:51am CST by Ben Levine

Following rumors that the Patriots were planning to hire Greg Schiano, many assumed that the long-time Rutgers head coach would become New England’s next defensive coordinator. However, that might not be the case. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes that Bret Bielema “has been telling people that he is going to become the Patriots’ defensive coordinator.”

The Patriots will have an opening at defensive coordinator following Brian Flores‘ forthcoming defection to the Dolphins. Even if Schiano didn’t take on the definitive title of defensive coordinator (similar to Flores), his experience and connection with coach Bill Belichick made it seem like he’d be a natural fit to oversee New England’s defense.

On the flip side, Belichick hasn’t traditionally followed this route. As Volin points out, the organization rarely makes an outside hire when it comes to coordinator positions. For instance, Bill O’Brien and Dean Pees both had to work their way through the organization before they had a chance at a coordinator gig (Pees had to take a job elsewhere for the opportunity).

That’s why Bielema would seemingly make more sense to take over the defensive coordinator role, although it’s worth noting that he hasn’t been with the organization all that long. The 49-year-old previously served as the head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas, and he was hired as a consultant to Belichick earlier this season. There were rumors that Flores could end up taking Bielema to Miami to serve as the Dolphins new defensive coordinator, but the team ended up opting for Packers linebackers coach/run game coordinator Patrick Graham.

Demarcus Lawrence To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

January 26th, 2019 at 9:13pm CST by Micah Powell

Cowboys Pro Bowl defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is expected to undergo offseason surgery on his shoulder, though a time and place has yet to be discussed, the Dallas Morning News’ Jon Machota tweets. 

Lawrence has reportedly played with a torn labrum for the past two seasons, and he is now going to get it fixed.

Lawrence’s name will be a popular one this coming offseason. Not for his rehab of this likely minor injury, but for his contract status with the Cowboys. After playing the 2017 campaign on the franchise tag, the pass-rushing end will be looking to ink a long-term deal with the Cowboys in the coming weeks.

Dallas has substantial cap space — a projected $54MM — and Jerry Jones hinted they are more comfortable giving Lawrence a long-term deal following his standout 2018 campaign. If a deal cannot be reached, however, the Cowboys would likely use the franchise tag again, which would likely not sit well with Lawrence, who has professed his desire with the Cowboys.

“If they don’t want this energy and intensity and this focus every day to get better, then make your move. The ball is in their hands. I feel like I’ve prepared for this moment and showed them I’m here for the long haul.”

Should the Cowboys place the tag on him again in 2019, Lawrence would stand to make around $20.5MM.

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