PFR Originals: 6/23/19 – 6/30/19

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

• PFR’s Extension Candidate series moved along this week, with five new entries.
  • With both A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd entering contract years, we looked at the statuses of each Bengals starting wide receiver. Zach Links expects Green’s next deal to end up around the Odell Beckham Jr. range ($18MM per year), but whether Green gets his money from Cincinnati may come down to what kind of hometown discount Green, who has said he wants to stay in southwest Ohio, is willing to take. As for the Bengals’ WR2, recent deals for Sterling Shepard — which Boyd pointed to — and Tyrell Williams coming in just north of $11MM annually make be Boyd’s extension price point, per Ben Levine.
  • While Sean McVay said the Rams want to extend Marcus Peters, Zach wonders if their recent history of letting corners walk — as they did with Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson — and Peters’ history of clashing with coaches will impede that. If not, it would stand to be a pricey extension.
  • PFR’s second extension candidate entry on Bobby Wagner popped up, and this time, Rory Parks tied the Seahawks linebacker to the mammoth, $17MM-AAV deal the Jets gave C.J. Mosley. Wagner has said he wants Mosley money, considering how much more accomplished the Seahawk is. This will be a fascinating negotiation.
  • Lastly, the NFL’s most famous player is entering a contract year. Tom Brady is set to take up $27MM of the Patriots‘ 2019 cap, and Zach looked at the rare case of a soon-to-be 42-year-old player lined up for a re-up. Another team-friendly discount, perhaps one that comes in between $20-$25MM AAV, could be on tap.
• On the other side, teams’ new acquisitions have some holdover players in danger of being cut. PFR’s Release Candidate series featured four new chapters:
  • The Steelers‘ additions of Steven Nelson and third-rounder Justin Layne may make 2016 first-rounder Artie Burns expendable. Zach looked at the Steelers corner’s status, which includes a key summer date regarding Burns’ contract.
  • Despite being a second-round pick, Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Walker has not seen much playing time. The Broncos added third-rounder Dre’Mont Jones this year and return three key veterans up front, leading Zach to wonder if this will be Walker’s final training camp in Denver.
  • A player who was just added this year will be battling for a roster spot as well, and Zach looked at the potentially tenuous status of Darren Fells in Houston. The Texans drafted Kahale Warring in Round 3 and have two 2018 draftees on their team already.
  • The Chargers used a late-round pick on Carson Wentz‘s North Dakota State successor, and Easton Stick‘s arrival could mean the end of Cardale Jones‘ Los Angeles stay. The Bolts signed Tyrod Taylor this offseason, and Zach examines whether he could be waived or stashed on the practice squad.
• PFR’s This Date in Transactions History series looked at more past summer moves:
  • Despite not playing college football, future WWE and MMA superstar Brock Lesnar tried out for the Vikings in 2004. Zach looked at how that experiment went. The Vikings ended up offering Lesnar an opportunity, but the mammoth would-have-been defensive lineman had big plans off the gridiron.
  • A higher-profile NFL player also had an eventful summer of ’04, and Zach recalled the process that led to the Dolphins losing their starting running back. Ricky Williams did later return, but his career changed after his initial retirement.
  • The Steelers‘ pre-Chris Boswell kicker, Shaun Suisham, hung up his cleats three years ago this week. As Zach details, an ACL recovery setback led to the veteran specialist ending his career.
  • Julius Peppers recently concluded his second stint with the Panthers, but 10 years ago this week, the future Hall of Fame defensive end’s first was coming to a close. Peppers signed his franchise tag in 2009, and Zach looked at what it meant for both parties.
• The PFR NFL glossary featured some updates as well:
  • Dallas Robinson looked at the physically unable to perform list, an entry which made the distinction between the active/PUP list — which applies to players who are not ready for training camp — and the more significant reserve/PUP list, which requires a six-week absence to start the regular season.
  • Detailing a glossary item that will soon become quite relevant, Zach went over the intricacies of the NFL’s waiver system.
• On the subject of the waiver system, Dallas went through the Cardinals‘ offseason usage of their No. 1 spot in the 2019 waiver priority. Arizona began taking advantage of this late last season, with its most notable waiver claim coming in grabbing former Washington starter D.J. Swearinger.
• The Raiders shelled out plenty of money to revamp their roster this offseason. With all their new starters, which figures to include each of their three first-round picks, Zach asked the PFR community how the Silver and Black’s overhaul will work out. The bulk of the readers assigned Oakland a “B” grade.
• The Jets also doled out big sums this year, but they went through GM turmoil as well. Will the deals for Mosley, Le’Veon Bell and Co. pay off? Zach asked the PFR community if the Joe Douglas–Adam Gase partnership will produce an eight-plus-win 2019 season. The answer was no.
• As we enter training camp month, some high-profile names remain unsigned. Dallas looked at the list that includes Michael Crabtree, Jay Ajayi, Tre Boston, Nick Perry and Co.
• While Todd Gurley‘s Rams contract tops the market presently, the Cardinals’ subsequent 2018 deal for David Johnson leads all running backs in 2019 cost. Zach looked at what teams are paying the best backs in the league.
• Concluding a busy week for original content, Zach used Bo Jackson’s 1986 tale — being drafted by the Buccaneers at No. 1 overall but instead opting for a Kansas City Royals path — to show the options rookies have when they don’t sign their NFL contracts.