HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Steelers Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag

February 17th, 2021 at 1:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers have one the NFL’s higher-profile groups of pending free agents but are well over the projected 2021 salary cap. They also have yet to determine how they will proceed with Ben Roethlisberger and his $41MM cap number, further complicating matters.

Longtime starters Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Alejandro Villanueva and Mike Hilton are a month from free agency. The Steelers could keep one of these players off the market with the franchise tag, but GM Kevin Colbert said Wednesday (via Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola, on Twitter) it is doubtful the team uses the tag this year

Dupree received the tag last year but suffered a torn ACL midway through the season. The Steelers had a worse tag experience in 2018, when Le’Veon Bell did not report and skipped the season. The team has used its franchise tag in three of the past four years, with Bell being tagged twice.

Prior to any Roethlisberger resolution, the Steelers are $30MM-plus over a projected $180MM cap. While the cap may come in a bit higher, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to precede a significant cap reduction. This will be only the second time the cap has gone down in its near-30-year history. Barring extensions in the next month, the free agent market will be flush with recent Steeler first-stringers.

Latest On Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger

February 17th, 2021 at 12:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers remain somewhat confident in Ben Roethlisberger going forward, and after a meeting with the future Hall of Fame quarterback, the consensus was that he intends to return for an 18th season. But GM Kevin Colbert stopped short of fully committing to the 17-year veteran for 2021.

Colbert said Wednesday, via NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, Roethlisberger communicated to them he wants to return for an 18th season. His contract runs through 2021. But Colbert said he, Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin informed the passer “quite frankly, we need to look at the situation” (Twitter link).

Roethlisberger said recently he is willing to restructure his contract to help the Steelers, but they are well over the projected 2020 salary cap. The Steelers and Big Ben are not currently negotiating, per Colbert, who added (via Steelers.com’s Missi Matthews, (on Twitter), “As we sit here today, Ben Roethlisberger is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.” That sort of statement certainly qualifies as eyebrow-raising, especially considering the Steelers’ lack of a surefire QB plan that does not involve Big Ben.

“It involves the players around him. I’m sure he’s going to to want to see what type of team we can keep together under our current situation,” Colbert said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com (Twitter links). “Then we’re making guesstimates as to what we can do to put the best team together for our sake and for Ben’s sake. What kind of team can he anticipate being around him if we decide we can move forward together.”

Colbert said he believes Roethlisberger can “absolutely” still do special things, despite going into his age-39 season and coming off a four-INT playoff game. But he was less bullish on his quarterback than he was during the 2020 offseason, when Roethlisberger was coming off a severe elbow injury. As of Wednesday, Roethlisberger’s 2021 cap number sits at an NFL-high $41.3MM. He is due a $15MM roster bonus March 19.

Roethlisberger would still count $22MM against Pittsburgh’s cap if he retired, and a $27MM cap figure would be the lowest possible if the Steelers extended him, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter). Even if he returned for the league minimum in base salary, Ben’s contract would still produce a cap number north of $23MM next season.

“Hopefully there’s a way we can figure out what’s best for the organization,” Colbert said, via Kinkhabwala (on Twitter). “Hopefully he can see that and feel the same way.”

The Steelers will also look quite different than they did in January. They have JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton and Alejandro Villanueva a month from free agency. Without any of these players factoring into the equation, the Steelers are $30MM over the projected $180MM salary cap. Pittsburgh has Mason Rudolph going into a contract year and signed Dwayne Haskins recently, but the team has not made a true investment in a long-term quarterback since selecting Roethlisberger in the 2004 first round.

49ers, Richard Sherman To Part Ways

February 17th, 2021 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Richard Sherman said in December that he was likely to finish his career elsewhere, barring a miraculous turn of events that could keep him in San Francisco. No miracle will occur.

The 49ers and Sherman are set to part ways soon, with Sherman becoming a free agent in March. A discussion with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch confirmed the 49ers will move on from Sherman after his three-year run with the team.

“It’s been made pretty clear,” Sherman said, via the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman, on the reality he will leave the 49ers in March. “It was a good conversation, nothing crazy. Just a good conversation about where they are and where I am, and their plans. We were both very positive and as good as you can be in a situation like this.”

After an underwhelming 2018 season, Sherman returned to his elite level in 2019 and helped the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV. One of the many 49ers to suffer a significant injury last season, Sherman played in only five games. His coverage numbers regressed, with the 32-year-old cover man allowing a 116.2 passer rating (after posting a 63.0 figure in 2019) in his limited 2020 action.

Even though he is only planning to play two more seasons, the All-Decade cornerback should generate considerable interest from contending teams. He was notably connected to the defense-needy Raiders earlier this month.

As for the 49ers, they may be starting over at corner. While Shanahan’s team still has impact front-seven defenders and Jimmie Ward returning, its cornerback contingent has Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon unsigned for 2021. The team could well opt to keep some of these players off the market, but Sherman will not be one of them.

Latest On Patriots, Stephon Gilmore

February 17th, 2021 at 11:45am CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Ramsey, Marlon Humphrey and Tre’Davious White signed extensions last year to move a long-stagnant cornerback market. This will undoubtedly affect the Patriots, who employ the only active cornerback to earn Defensive Player of the Year acclaim.

The Patriots discussed Stephon Gilmore in trades last year, doing so around draft time and before the trade deadline, but held onto him. The Pats sought a first-round pick for their standout corner, but Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes no one offered such compensation (subscription required) and a trade never became a realistic possibility.

Gilmore is heading into the final year of his deal. While the Patriots gave him a substantial pay raise for last season, the 30-year-old defender is due just a $7MM base salary in 2021. A 2019 restructure also elevated Gilmore’s 2021 cap charge to $16.3MM. Gilmore and the Patriots are expected to discuss his contract soon, Howe adds. While the Pats have more cap space (nearly $63MM) than almost every other team, they also have young corners who have played well and have never been shy about dealing high-profile talent under Bill Belichick.

After a five-year Bills run, Gilmore signed a five-year Patriots deal worth $65MM in 2017. He became the top cover man on two Super Bowl teams and claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award after a dominant 2019 campaign. The former first-round pick missed time last season due to a COVID-19 contraction and a season-ending injury. His coverage numbers slipped a bit from 2019, and Pro Football Focus slotted him 61st among corners last season. Ramsey, Humphrey and White all secured extensions worth north of $17MM per season, changing a market that had been stuck for several years.

Gilmore would still fetch the Pats something of value, were they to trade him. A second-round pick seems like the best realistic haul, per Howe. The upcoming talks between Gilmore and the Patriots will be interesting, given the team’s reliance on its defense after its offense’s significant decline over the past two years.

Panthers Planning Big Deshaun Watson Push

February 17th, 2021 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

Previously linked to a Deshaun Watson pursuit, the Panthers appear prepared to pry the superstar passer from the Texans. If the Texans make Watson available, Panthers owner David Tepper is “fixed on” the prospect of landing him in a trade, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes.

After seeing the Panthers limited at quarterback during his short tenure in power, the Carolina owner wants to see the franchise acquire a game-changing talent at this position. The Panthers are “beyond smitten” with Watson, with Tepper prepared to do what it takes to land the four-year Houston starter, La Canfora adds.

The Panthers do not have the extra 2021 first-round pick that would help them in such a deal, putting them at a disadvantage compared to the Dolphins and Jets, but JLC indicates the Tepper-run franchise would be prepared to offer its next three first-rounders and possibly young players if that is what it required to acquire Watson. If nothing else, the Panthers appear prepared to make other Watson suitors bid highly to land him.

While the Texans have yet to make Watson available, the quarterback is dug in on his stance to leave Houston. The Panthers join the Broncos and 49ers as teams preparing for a Watson run, but thus far, Carolina’s reported level of interest surpasses that of Denver or San Francisco. The Jets and Dolphins have also been linked to Watson, who has Miami and San Francisco atop his destination list. It is unclear how the 25-year-old QB feels about Carolina, but he is not expected to be veto-happy with his no-trade clause and did have a rather notable college career in the region. The Panthers are also set to move their practice facility to South Carolina, the state in which Watson won a national championship while at Clemson.

The Panthers offered Teddy Bridgewater and their No. 8 overall pick in a deal for Matthew Stafford, giving more credence to the idea Tepper is seeking an immediate upgrade at quarterback. But Watson is “far and away” the player the owner covets, according to La Canfora. The Texans, should they grant their passer’s trade request, would certainly prefer to ship him to the NFC. But it is unclear at this point what the Jets and/or Dolphins would offer. It sounds like those teams will have to surrender plenty to outbid the Panthers.

Cardinals To Let Patrick Peterson Walk?

February 17th, 2021 at 10:20am CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top defenders in Cardinals history may be on the move next month. The Cardinals bringing Patrick Peterson back on a third contract stands as an unlikely scenario, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

The former top-five pick was linked to trades in 2018 and ’19 and a possible Cardinals extension last year, but he remained with the Cardinals on a contract he signed way back in 2014. Peterson played out that deal last year and is one month from unrestricted free agency for the first time.

However, Peterson has seen his play slip a bit over the past two seasons. The All-Decade performer made eight Pro Bowls to start his career but was slapped with a six-game PED suspension to start the 2019 season. After Pro Football Focus graded Peterson fifth among corners in 2018, he slipped to 41st in ’19 and 83rd in ’20. Quarterbacks throwing in Peterson’s direction last season collectively completed passes at a 67% clip — nearly 10 points higher than they did in 2018.

The Cards’ extension talks with Peterson stalled in May of last year and did not regain steam ahead of his age-30 season. Peterson, who will turn 31 in June, said last week no final decision has been made between he and the Cardinals about a separation. Were Peterson to leave, the Cardinals would need immediate help at corner. They also have Dre Kirkpatrick bound for free agency and have seen 2019 acquisition Robert Alford miss two full seasons. Byron Murphy‘s rookie deal runs through 2022, but Arizona may need multiple new cogs to join him soon.

Peterson hitting the market would mean two members of the 2010s All-Decade corner contingent would be free agents, with fellow 2011 draftee Richard Sherman on track for free agency.

Eagles, Colts Still Discussing Carson Wentz

February 17th, 2021 at 9:16am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears may have a slight lead in the Carson Wentz pursuit, which could be a two-horse race. But the Colts are not bowing out of this process. They continue to engage in dialogue with the Eagles on a trade for the disgruntled quarterback, Zak Keefer of The Athletic tweets.

Wentz is believed to prefer the Colts as a destination, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). But the Bears have Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace on hot seats going into their fourth year together. That may bring out a better offer compared to what the Colts are proposing.

The Colts, however, are not budging on their offer, with Keefer adding the Indy-Philly talks have not included a major compensation upgrade. It is not believed a first-round pick has yet emerged in a Wentz proposal.

Three ex-Eagles coaches on their offensive staff — Frank Reich, Mike Groh, Press Taylor — reside on the Colts’ staff, while the Bears have former Wentz position coach John DeFilippo in place as their quarterbacks coach. Chicago also recently promoted DeFilippo to passing-game coordinator.

Wentz has $47MM guaranteed going to him over the next two seasons, but the Eagles extending him at $32MM per year through the 2024 season, the quarterback would not carry a cap figure north of $27MM after he’s traded.

The Eagles were seeking a Matthew Stafford-type trade haul for Wentz, who has shown immense promise but is coming off his worst season. With these talks dragging on, it is clear Philly has not received such an offer for the former No. 2 overall pick. The Broncos and Patriots are not believed to be interested in Wentz, with SI.com’s Albert Breer noting the Stafford-type haul request prompted multiple teams to withdraw from this pursuit from the start. But the Colts and Bears appear to still be in it. One of them could have a new starting quarterback soon.

Bears Notes: Desai, Robinson, Massie, Skrine

February 16th, 2021 at 10:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Earlier this week, Sean Desai met with the media for the first time since being promoted to the role of defensive coordinator. While the 37-year-old will take over a defense that has ranked as a top-10 DVOA unit in each of the past three seasons, they’ve also seen some regression since peaking in 2018. However, Desai doesn’t believe the defensive needs a significant overhaul.

“I’m not a big car guy, so my analogies may not be great, but this is like a tune up,” Desai said (via the team’s website). “We’re going to refine some things and we’re going to make sure our players are playing to their strengths on a consistent basis and they’re going to buy into the system and the whys and the hows of why we’re doing certain things. But we’ve got a good defense. We’ve got really good players here.”

“There was some regression, and we’re going to overcome that,” Desai added. “But we’re going to do it in a positive way and we’re going to do it where the players are going to be able to shine through that defense. So I think we’ll build some depth and we’ll continue with our tough, physical mindset of play and do that over a 16- to 20-week season.”

Some more notes out of Chicago…

  • CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes that the Bears are “prepared” to tag wideout Allen Robinson with the hope of eventually signing him to a long-term deal. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that it will be difficult to fit a franchised Robinson into a reduced 2021 cap, but the writer also admits that replacing Robinson would be a more daunting task.
  • Speaking of the cap, Biggs provided some cost-cutting options for the Bears. The team could move on from right tackle Bobby Massie, although that would open a spot on the offensive line. Cornerback Buster Skrine could also lose his roster spot, especially since he has a $500K roster bonus due in March. Finally, Biggs also whether the front office will be receptive to paying tight end Jimmy Graham $7MM this season.
  • As for restructured contracts, Biggs points to pass rusher Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson, and he notes that the team could also extend cornerback Kyle Fuller. Alternatively, the team could look to retain free agents like Cairo Santos and Cordarrelle Patterson on low-money pacts.
  • Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic passed along a few Bears players who have increased their 2021 salaries via proven performance escalators (Twitter links): defensive end Bilal Nichols (from $920K to $2.183MM) and guard James Daniels ($1.437MM to $2.183MM),. Their new salaries are contingent on the final 2021 cap number.

Latest On Packers RB Jamaal Williams

February 16th, 2021 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

While Aaron Jones will set the market for running backs this offseason, another major member of the Packers backfield will also be entering free agency. As Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal writes, running back Jamaal Williams “never received an in-season offer from the Packers” and is set to hit free agency. Wilde also reports that Williams recently changed representation, hiring agent Bardia Ghahremani.

The 25-year-old running back has had a consistent role in the Packers offense since entering the league in 2017. This included a 2020 campaign where he ran for 505 yards and two touchdowns on 119 carries while adding 31 receptions for 236 yards and one score. He compiled another 110 yards from scrimmage in the playoffs.

Perhaps most importantly, Williams has also served as Aaron Rodgers‘ top blocking running back, with the quarterback praising the production of the fourth-year pro.

“Obviously I’m a big Jamaal Williams fan, not just his play but his energy and the person he is,” Rodgers said (via Wilde). “He’s a do-it-all guy. He’s a slasher, he hits the hole, he’s also great out of the backfield, he’s got really good feet.”

The Packers have leaned heavily on the Jones/Williams tandem in recent years, but the team could be forced to look for cheaper alternatives to fill out their depth chart. In the event that both running backs end up leaving for big-money deals, Green Bay would likely give the reigns to 2020 second-rounder AJ Dillon.

Dolphins To Consider Extension For TE Durham Smythe?

February 16th, 2021 at 8:40pm CST by Ben Levine

The 2018 draft class will be in line for extensions this offseason. In Miami, that means there will be plenty of focus on the future deals for Jerome Baker and Mike Gesicki. However, another player who could end up garnering a long-term fontract is tight end Durham Smythe, per Adam Beasley and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The reporters note that an extension for Smythe “would not be surprising.” After all, the 25-year-old has continually received praise from his coaches for his versatility, especially as a blocker. Plus, the former fourth-rounder proved that he could be an actual offensive weapon in 2020, an important development for a young and emerging Dolphins squad.

Smythe caught only 13 receptions through his first two seasons in the NFL, but he put up bigger numbers in 2020. The tight end ultimately started 13 of his 15 games, hauling in 26 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Smythe also saw consistent time on special teams, collecting seven tackles.

Beasley and Jackson also briefly preview the potential negotiations for Baker and Gesicki. If the two players aren’t extended, they’ll hit free agency during the 2022 offseason. The reporters opine that the organization could ultimately use the franchise tag on Gesicki, adding that it’s unlikely that the organization would go that route with Baker. Either way, the organization will have plenty of financial flexibility, especially this offseason; the reporters estimated that Miami will have around $34MM to spend.

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