HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Panthers’ Williams Likely To Hit Free Agency

March 6th, 2019 at 12:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Contract talks have stalled between the Panthers and right tackle Daryl Williams, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Williams is now on course to explore the open market when free agency begins on March 13, barring a shift in negotiations. 

Williams, 27 in August, played in only one game last season after undergoing knee surgery. However, he was solid in 2017 and earned a second-team All-Pro nod.

If Williams walks, Person speculates that the Panthers may lean towards keeping left tackle Matt Kalil, a long rumored potential salary cap casualty. Kalil missed the entire 2018 season a knee issue of his own and is set to carry a $12.15MM cap hit in 2019. On March 15, $1MM of Kalil’s $7MM base salary will become fully guaranteed. Ultimately, Taylor Moton could be the club’s only tackle of note to return.

Also of note – on the whole, Person hears from league sources that the Panthers will apply their limited funds to the second wave of free agency rather than going big on one or two free agents.

Teams Inquiring On Jaguars’ Tashaun Gipson

March 6th, 2019 at 10:05am CST by Zachary Links

Teams have called the Jaguars to inquire about safety Tashaun Gipson, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The belief around the league is that he is available, Rapoport adds. 

Gipson is due upwards of $8MM in 2019 and the Jaguars are in a bit of a cap crunch. On the other hand, Gipson has proven to be a reliable starter so the Jags, ideally, would like to keep him.

Gipson, 29 in August, has started in every possible game for the Jaguars since joining the squad in 2016. Last year, he racked up 54 tackles, one interception, and seven passes defensed playing primarily at free safety. In 2018, Pro Football Focus ranked Gipson as the No. 37 safety in the NFL, placing him ahead of notables like T.J. McDonald, Landon Collins, and Duron Harmon.

There are still two years to go on Gipson’s five-year, $36MM contract with cap numbers of $9.05MM and $9.3MM in each of the next two seasons. He’s scheduled to collect on a $500K roster bonus on March 17, so the Jaguars will probably aim to make something happen in the next eleven days or not trade him at all.

Steelers To Trade Antonio Brown By Friday?

March 6th, 2019 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like Antonio Brown won’t be with the Steelers for much longer. Teams that have spoken to the Steelers about a potential Brown trade have been told that a deal is expected to be in place by Friday, league sources tell Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 

This week, the Raiders and Redskins emerged as real contenders for Brown while the Broncos, Cardinals, and Eagles appear to be out of the mix. The Jets, who were previously linked to Brown, are no longer interested, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Still, Rapoport hears that three new teams have joined the fray in the last 48 hours.

It’s surprising to hear that the Jets are pulling out of the Brown sweepstakes given their ample cap room and clear need for a playmaker. Mike Maccagnan, a GM who was given a reprieve despite a spotty track record in the draft and free agency, needs to show results in 2019 in order to keep his job, and a Brown trade would have been a clear move towards winning right now.

At this time, it certainly appears the Raiders are in the lead for Brown given their consistent interest throughout the process and their clear need for receivers. They also have $72MM in cap space – giving them the room necessary to absorb AB’s sizable contract – and a stockpile of draft picks that can be used to outbid other suitors.

Extra Points: Tags, Haskins, Jets, Bucs

March 5th, 2019 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both the Chiefs and Texans may be in for grievances. Both teams used their franchise tags on edge defenders — Dee Ford and Jadeveon Clowney, respectively — and each team officially classified its tag recipient as a linebacker. The linebacker tag comes at a $15.443MM price. Both players have cases to be tagged as defensive ends, with Clowney frequently lining up as a lineman for Houston and Ford set to play end in Kansas City’s new 4-3 scheme. The defensive end price: $17.128MM — the second-highest tag figure. Clowney already received just more than $1MM from the Texans to resolve a dispute about what position he was categorized as in regards to his fifth-year option. That may go toward preempting a grievance here, but it’s not certain. A Ford grievance seems likely. He spends more time rushing from the defensive end position in the Chiefs’ sub-packages. Terrell Suggs filed a grievance about a linebacker tag in 2008, and an arbitrator ruled the parties to split the difference between the linebacker and end tags. But this is a case-by-case process.

Here is the latest from the pre-free agency news cycle:

  • While Janoris Jenkins is set to avoid cap-casualty status, another member of the Giants‘ 2016 free agency defender splurge may not. Whether Olivier Vernon is traded or cut, the veteran edge rusher is a near-certainty to be jettisoned from the Giants’ defense, Tom Rock of Newsday notes. As is the case with Landon Collins‘ exit, a Vernon departure would create a massive need on a New York defense that has several need areas.
  • Dwayne Haskins has been a popular mock pick for the Giants, and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes Big Blue indeed has been “all over” the Ohio State-developed quarterback, researching his viability as Eli Manning‘s successor. Dave Gettleman does not plan to turn the keys over to a later-round pick, with Vacchiano adding the heir apparent will be a first-round choice. So if the Giants balk at a passer with another top-10 pick, they may be willing to roll the dice one more time and wait until 2020.
  • Mike Maccagnan has said the Jets will be aggressive in free agency, which would make sense given the team’s plethora of needs and $100MM-plus in cap space. Gang Green will attempt to find a center and a guard in free agency, per Vacchiano. This comes after the Jets cut 2018 center Spencer Long. There are some interesting center options, with Matt Paradis and Mitch Morse set to hit the market. At guard, there aren’t as many younger free agents; the top options are deeper into their careers.
  • Donovan Smith‘s 2019 cap figure will still be hefty, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com, who notes the Buccaneers‘ left tackle will carry a $12.5MM figure next season. Although it is not the $14.1MM figure Smith was briefly attached to via the franchise tag, that is still a large number for a team that does not have much cap space. Smith’s 2020 and ’21 base salaries will be $14.5MM and $14.25MM, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.
  • Former Bears head coach Mark Trestman will return to coach in the States. He’s been hired as HC of the XFL’s Tampa Bay team. He joins Bob Stoops, Jim Zorn and Pep Hamilton as coaches to have signed on with the rebooting league. An acclaimed CFL coach prior to his two-season Bears stay, Trestman went back to Canada and was the Toronto Argonauts’ HC for the past two seasons.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/19

March 5th, 2019 at 8:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions:

ERFAs

Tendered:

RFAs

Tendered at original-round level:

Non-tendered:

Safety Notes: Weddle, Mathieu, Collins

March 5th, 2019 at 7:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

In somewhat of a surprising sequence on Tuesday — some Ravens staffers were surprised by this move, per NFL.com’s Peter Schrager (on Twitter) — Eric Weddle is now a free agent. Although the 34-year-old safety said in January he would retire if he was not part of the 2019 Ravens, he backtracked on that. His stance remains to continue his career, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter). On the heels of three Pro Bowl slates in Baltimore, Weddle stands to generate interest as a short-term fix. It will, however, be interesting to see how teams proceed at this position this year — after oddly brushing it aside in 2018. There are far more safeties available this year, giving this the feel of another buyers’ market.

Here is the latest from the safety marketplace:

  • One player whose market may be in better position than it was last year, Tyrann Mathieu will have options. The Texans are trying to re-sign the seventh-year safety, and this process has now produced a preliminary offer, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Mathieu is believed to still want to remain in Houston, Wilson writes, and the parties have been linked to a reunion for months. But with less than a week until the legal tampering period, the 26-year-old defender is a threat to depart.
  • The Ravens already have several veteran contracts in their secondary, helping explain their reasoning to cut Weddle, but Jason La Canfora tweets they may be interested in Mathieu. Tony Jefferson‘s former back-line mate in Arizona, Mathieu would fit Baltimore’s desire for another playmaker at this position, JLC adds.
  • The Giants‘ decision to let Landon Collins hit free agency shocked much of the football-following world, and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports there will be an extensive market awaiting the three-time Pro Bowler and 2016 All-Pro. The Chiefs, Colts and Redskins profile as potential suitors, per Raanan. This move also may affect future Giants negotiations, reminding of how Dave Gettleman‘s tactics as Carolina’s GM rubbed some Panthers the wrong way, with Raanan adding the team made no serious attempt to discuss a long-term deal with its high-profile safety.
  • New York received multiple offers for Collins prior to last year’s deadline, most notably a third-rounder from the Buccaneers, but Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes the Giants were holding out for a second-rounder and possibly another late-round pick as well. Now, they will lose the safety for a compensatory pick — possibly a 2020 third-rounder, but that depends on what the Giants do in free agency.
  • Collins hitting the market should prompt the Colts to pursue him, with Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star writing the team — which uses a system that values safeties more than most teams — needs a strong safety to pair with Malik Hooker. The Colts engaged in discussions with Clayton Geathers‘ reps at the Combine, but it’s not clear where the sides stand in talks on a Geathers return to Indianapolis. The Colts have already re-signed Mark Glowinski and Margus Hunt, but both players were initially Chris Ballard-era additions. Geathers was a Ryan Grigson second-round pick. The Colts still hold more than $100MM in cap space, putting them in strong position to land Collins if they choose.
  • The 49ers remain in the market for a starting-caliber safety, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). With former Seahawks assistant Robert Saleh running their defense, Earl Thomas is a natural fit. But Maiocco notes the team may not be willing to meet a massive asking price. There are, however, plenty of available candidates beyond Thomas to fill this role.

Latest On Antonio Brown Market

March 5th, 2019 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ options may be narrowing. More teams are either bowing out of the Antonio Brown sweepstakes or not too serious about a push to acquire the All-Pro wide receiver.

After reports indicated the Broncos and Eagles were not going to make proposals, the Cardinals, too, will not enter the mix, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Suitors do remain, however.

The Raiders are the team most consistently linked to staying in this pursuit the whole way, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Washington has also shown interest, though its cap situation ($16.9MM in space) obviously limits the franchise’s ability to take on Brown’s contract. Washington’s front office is also believed to be divided on Brown.

As for the Jets’ interest: it depends. Mike Maccagnan said he would probably contact the Steelers about Brown, and Rapoport notes the Jets are in the mix. The team had previous done internal work on a possible Brown offer. However, the Jets’ entrance into this derby may be cautious, with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweeting Gang Green does not have strong interest in trading for Brown.

New York has the most cap space of any team connected to Brown, at $102MM-plus, and could accommodate a new contract. But the soon-to-be 31-year-old wideout’s odd offseason may make a long-term investment difficult, especially considering the Steelers are set to eat $21MM-plus in dead money two years after authorizing a Brown extension.

The Raiders, however, hold more than $72MM in space and are desperate for receiver help. Their three first-round picks also puts them in position to outmuscle other buyers, but this might not be an extensive market.

Ravens To Release Eric Weddle

March 5th, 2019 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens are following through with a rumored cost-cutting move. They will release Eric Weddle, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

This move will save the team $7.25MM. Weddle was going into the final year of his contract. He is about to join a crowded safety market.

Eric DeCosta was not definitive about keeping Weddle or fellow secondary 30-something Jimmy Smith. Baltimore’s secondary has been one of the NFL’s best during Weddle’s run, and he made three Pro Bowls during his three Ravens seasons. Weddle, 34, said at the offseason’s outset he would retire if he wasn’t a Raven, but the former first-round pick subsequently walked that back.

Tuesday will add Weddle and Landon Collins to the market. Barring pre-free agency deals, they will join Earl Thomas, Adrian Amos, Lamarcus Joyner, Tre Boston, Tyrann Mathieu, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Glover Quin and others in free agency’s deepest position.

Weddle did not miss a game during his Ravens run and combined for 10 interceptions between the 2016-17 seasons. The Ravens, who did not use their franchise tag on C.J. Mosley, will now hold more than $25MM in cap space. Their acclaimed defense may lose multiple big names, however.

Rams To Release LB Mark Barron

March 5th, 2019 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Rams starter since their St. Louis days, Mark Barron will be looking for a new team. The defending NFC champions are releasing the veteran linebacker, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

While this move will create another need on Los Angeles’ defensive second level, it will free up $6.3MM in cap space. Barron becomes the second starter the Rams made the decision to jettison on Tuesday, joining center John Sullivan.

The No. 7 overall pick in 2012, Barron signed a five-year, $45MM deal to stay with the Rams after the 2016 season. Following the team’s trades of Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, Barron became the preeminent veteran on Los Angeles’ linebacking corps — a group otherwise stripped of high salaries to cover costs elsewhere. Now, with Dante Fowler also expected to hit the market, the Rams do not have a veteran contract at any linebacker spot.

No guaranteed money remained on Barron’s deal, which called for him to play for a $5MM base salary. This move also comes before Barron, who accepted a $500K pay cut last year, was due a $3MM roster bonus. The 29-year-old defender started 12 regular-season games last season and 56 as a Ram.

A former safety, Barron revived his career as a Rams linebacker, peaking between the 2015-16 seasons. He registered more than 110 tackles in each and made 16 stops for loss in 2015. The Rams have only second-year player Micah Kiser under contract at inside ‘backer, though it should be expected the team will tender and retain 2o18 starter Cory Littleton, who is an RFA.

Six Players Receive Franchise Tag

March 5th, 2019 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The franchise tag window closed on Tuesday afternoon with six players receiving the restrictive one-year tender: 

The tags, as expected, took some of this year’s top players out of the free agent frenzy, which begins on March 13. There were also some notable absences, including Giants safety Landon Collins, Patriots linebacker Landon Collins, and Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. All of those players figure to strike it rich with new teams.

From here, these six teams have until July 15 to work out extensions with their franchise tagged players. If no deal is struck, the players will be bound by the terms of the tender. Of course, as we saw with Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell in 2018, players can skip mandatory workouts and even games, if they are willing to forfeit cash and hold off on signing.

Potential holdouts aside, you can expect to see most of these players back with their respective clubs in 2019. The key exception, of course, is Ford, who has been dangled in trade talks.

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