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Offseason Outlook: Dallas Cowboys

February 3rd, 2016 at 7:22pm CST by Rory Parks

Pending free agents:

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

  1. Tony Romo, QB: $20,835,000
  2. Tyron Smith, T: $14,000,000
  3. Brandon Carr, CB: $13,817,000
  4. Dez Bryant, WR: $13,000,000
  5. Tyrone Crawford, DT: $8,750,000
  6. Jason Witten, TE: $8,612,000
  7. Orlando Scandrick, CB: $7,782,271
  8. Sean Lee, LB: $5,950,000
  9. Doug Free, T: $5,500,000
  10. Barry Church, S: $4,750,000
  11. Cole Beasley, WR: $3,356,000
  12. Dan Bailey, K: $3,300,000
  13. Zack Martin, G: $2,445,763
  14. Travis Frederick, C: $2,185,918
  15. Darren McFadden, RB: $2,150,000

Notable coaching/front office changes:

  • Defensive staff: Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson left to become Falcons’ defensive passing game coordinator.

Draft:

Other:

Overview:

Tony RomoThe Cowboys, fresh off an NFC East title and a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, came into 2015 with high expectations. But when Dez Bryant broke his foot in the second half of the team’s Week 1 contest against the Giants, and when Tony Romo fractured his collarbone in Week 2, Dallas’ fate seemed all but sealed, even after the team managed to cobble together a 2-0 record to open the season. Romo would return to the field in Week 11, leading his struggling club to a victory over Miami, but he re-injured his collarbone in Dallas’ Thanksgiving game a few days later, ending his season.

Bryant, meanwhile, returned to the field in Week 8, but the injury sapped some of his usual explosiveness and he was hampered by the mediocre play of the quarterbacks who filled in for Romo. After finishing 2014 among the league’s five most efficient offenses, the Cowboys were the second-worst in 2015, per Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. They were, however, a slightly better defensive club in 2015 than they were in 2014, but they were still below league average, further proving that as the offense goes, so goes the team.

Nonetheless, the NFC East should again be a wide open division in 2016, and as long as the Cowboys can stay healthy, they should compete for the division crown.

Key Free Agents:

There aren’t a ton of invaluable names on this list, which is good news for Cowboys fans. Morris Claiborne didn’t escape the injury bug in 2015 — his entire career, in fact, has been beset by injury. He has not lived up to the promise that comes with a former sixth overall pick, and he finished last season ranked as the 106th-best corner out of 113 eligible players per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

However, there is still some upside there, and Claiborne is probably not as bad as his PFF rating would suggest. And considering the state of the Dallas secondary, “not bad” might be as good as the team can hope for. We heard in late November that the Cowboys planned to move Byron Jones to safety in 2016, which increases the likelihood that Claiborne will stay in Dallas. He would probably not command a great deal of money on the open market, so unless he wants a change of scenery, it seems like a reunion is in the cards.

Greg HardyThe same cannot be said for Greg Hardy, who continued to find his name in the headlines for the wrong reasons even as he was playing out his 2015 season under a fairly lucrative contract from a team willing to take a chance on him. Hardy was not the same player for Dallas that he was for Carolina, but he still had a strong season as a pass rusher, recording six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 12 games and ranking as the league’s 28th-best edge defender out of 110 qualified players, according to PFF. Dallas, whose defense is in desperate need of playmakers, would love to have that production back, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club will try to find that production elsewhere. Hardy, for his part, will probably have to settle for another short-term, incentive-laden contract.

Rolando McClain, on the other hand, could be back. Another player who has struggled to stay out of off-field trouble, McClain was a revelation for Dallas in 2014, but he was suspended for the first four games of 2015. When he returned to the field, McClain was noticeably rusty, but he seemed to get his legs back under him as the season rolled along and played some of his best football down the stretch. Given his history, McClain will not find a big-money deal in free agency, and he could probably be retained for a modest, one- or two-year contract. I would expect Dallas to do what it can to keep McClain in the fold.

Lance Dunbar, one of the candidates to help replace DeMarco Murray in 2015, was put on injured reserve on October 10, but he demonstrated skill as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 215 yards in a little more than three games. If nothing else, Dunbar is a nice option as a change-of-pace back, and his receiving ability could make him a valuable part of the team’s offense moving forward. The Cowboys, though, will certainly need to address their running back situation in some capacity, as the injury-prone and aging Darren McFadden probably can’t be expected to replicate his 2015 performance in 2016. There are some intriguing names both in free agency (Lamar Miller, Matt Forte) and in the draft (Ezekiel Elliott, DeVontae Booker) that could interest the Cowboys.

The team will also look to address the backup quarterback situation, a position that let the Cowboys down in a big way in 2015. They may look to a mid-round QB prospect like Dak Prescott in this year’s draft to serve as a backup and potential successor to Romo.

RFAs Ronald Leary and Jeff Heath will almost certainly receive tenders.

Possible Cap Casualties:Brandon Carr

Brandon Carr is perhaps the biggest name on the roster that could find himself as a cap casualty this offseason. Luckily for him though, he also plays a premium position, one which happens to be among the Cowboys’ bigger weaknesses. He remains, however, a prime restructure candidate, as we will discuss below.

Other potential cap casualties include Doug Free and Barry Church, but the problem is that they are both starters who are valued for their leadership (Church, in fact, is a team captain). Free is seen as the weakest link on an otherwise dominant offensive line, but that does not mean he is a bad player, and there is no way of knowing whether or not Chaz Green, who did not play a down in his rookie season, is a capable replacement.

On the other hand, if the Cowboys do, in fact, move Jones to safety, then they would have a replacement for Church, who performs well as an in-the-box safety but who tends to struggle in coverage. He has just one year remaining on his current contract, and if the team were to cut him, it would save $4.25MM in cap space.

Longtime stalwart Jason Witten could conceivably be a cap casualty, considering he will be 34 when the 2016 regular season opens and given that the Cowboys could create up to $6.5MM in cap space by cutting him. But again, there is no obvious replacement for Witten on the field or in the locker room. He remains one of the most durable players in the game, and despite playing most of the 2015 season with a parade of backup quarterbacks, he still managed to grab 77 passes for over 700 yards and three scores. Assuming Romo returns fully healthy, Witten may have another strong season or two left in him.

Positions Of Need:

As noted above, the Cowboys need to address their running back corps. They would presumably like to bring back Dunbar, and even if they don’t add one of the bigger names in free agency – a luxury they probably would be unable to afford – a mid-round draft selection or second-tier free agent like Alfred Morris could put up good numbers behind Dallas’ talented offensive front.

Dallas will also likely invest a draft pick on a quarterback, especially since the free agent class of quarterbacks as it currently stands will likely be devoid of any meaningful talent after some of the more intriguing names, such as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brock Osweiler, re-sign with their current clubs. Johnny Manziel, of course, is believed to have interest in playing for the Cowboys, and so is Robert Griffin III (the assumption is that both players will be cut by their current teams). After Manziel’s latest off-field incident, I would not expect him to wind up in Dallas, but Griffin might be a possibility. RGIII has significant starting experience, but is young enough to still have some upside.

All in all, though, the offense should be in pretty good shape, as long as Romo stays healthy. The bigger concerns will be the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys need defensive playmakers, and although they are counting on the return of Orlando Scandrick from injury, the secondary remains suspect at best. First-tier free agents like Josh Norman may be out of Dallas’ price range, but even a player like Phillip Adams or Tracy Porter would provide a nice boost.

If Dallas is to make a big splash in free agency, it is likely happen along the defensive line. Whether or not Hardy returns, the Cowboys would still like to fortify their defensive line the same way they strengthened their offensive line. Olivier Vernon, who could reach the open market, might be a realistic option, and the Cowboys will surely monitor whether longtime Dallas tormentor Jason Pierre-Paul re-ups with the Giants or tests the free agent waters. But the Cowboys could use some help at every position in the front seven, especially if McClain were to depart. Potential draft targets that could immediately impact the team in that regard include Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The Cowboys have been in so-called salary cap hell in recent years, but as Todd Archer of ESPN.com points out,Tyron Smith they should be in decent shape moving into 2016. They still, though, will need to create some cap room to sign their draft picks, retain their own free agents, and to add a couple of impact players from other clubs. Again, it is unlikely that the team will cut Carr, and as Archer observes, it would be problematic to restructure Romo’s or Bryant’s contracts, given Romo’s age and both players’ recent injuries.

That leaves Tyron Smith and Tyrone Crawford as the most likely restructure candidates. The Cowboys can create roughly $7MM in cap space by converting Smith’s $10MM base salary to $1MM and turning the rest into a signing bonus, and when Crawford signed his deal last season, it was set up to be restructured to give the Cowboys more flexibility. The team could also give Carr a completely new deal, which would serve the same purpose. And again, Church is a candidate to be released. Any combination of those maneuvers, along with one or two less dramatic restructures, should give Dallas enough flexibility to accomplish its offseason goals.

Overall Outlook:

All in all, then, the Cowboys appear to be in pretty good shape, and they will enjoy some continuity in the coaching staff, as defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson is the only notable coach to be heading elsewhere (the team is reportedly considering Mike Nolan and Tim Lewis, among others, to replace Henderson).

Romo is not getting any younger, and although his recent injury history is a bit troubling, all signs point to his being ready to go well in advance of the 2016 regular season opener. Dallas will look to add depth behind him, as the team went 1-11 in Romo’s absence in 2015, but it’s not as though many other clubs in the league could lose a starting signal-caller of that caliber for over 12 games and stay afloat. I would expect the Cowboys to sign a veteran like Chad Henne or Matt Moore while adding a prospect like Prescott in the middle rounds of the draft.

Defense has been a problem the last several seasons, and unless the team hits big on a couple of draft picks, it will probably remain so. Any splash signings would certainly come on the defensive side of the ball, with Vernon representing perhaps the most realistic option. But a few lesser-profile acquisitions would make sense, particularly in the secondary. Given the potential value for money, the Cowboys may also want to revisit their stance on Hardy, assuming they can deal with the persistent off-field headache he creates.

If I had to bet on the 2016 NFC East champion today, I’d be very tempted to put my money on Dallas.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: Tennessee Titans

February 1st, 2016 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Pending free agents:

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

  1. Jason McCourty, CB: $8,800,000
  2. Michael Griffin, S: $8,300,000
  3. Brian Orakpo, OLB: $8,250,000
  4. Jurrell Casey, DE: $8,120,000
  5. Kendall Wright, WR: $7,320,000
  6. Derrick Morgan, OLB: $6,312,500
  7. Da’Norris Searcy, S: $6,312,500
  8. Perrish Cox, CB: $5,833,333
  9. Marcus Mariota, QB: $5,503,176
  10. Delanie Walker, TE: $5,275,000
  11. Harry Douglas, WR: $4,483,333
  12. Wesley Woodyard, ILB: $4,250,000
  13. Andy Levitre, G: $4,200,000 (dead money)
  14. Chance Warmack, G: $3,871,205
  15. Ropati Pitoitua, DE: $3,803,125

Notable coaching/front office changes:

Draft:

  • No. 1 overall pick
  • Acquired sixth-round pick from Falcons in deal for G Andy Levitre.

Other:

Overview:

After reportedly turning down multiple offers from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, the Titans had to be happy they did so, as they player selected at that slot, quarterback Marcus Mariota, looks like the club’s franchise signal-caller. But Mariota’s play wasn’t enough to save the job of head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after less than two years with the team.Mike Mularkey (Vertical)

Tennessee posted a 2-7 record under interim head coach Mike Mularkey, and its 3-13 overall mark means it owns the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. The man making the decision on draft day will be new general manager Jon Robinson, hired away from the Patriots after a long search process. His first move as GM was to install Mularkey as the full-time head coach, inking him to a three-year deal.

The Titans opted for continuity on their coaching staff, but for a club that’s finished a combined 5-27 over the past two seasons, settling for more of the same isn’t going to be an option going forward, at least from a roster standpoint. Some observers have argued that Tennessee possesses the worst 53-man roster in the league, so Robinson, Mularkey, & Co. will have their work cut out for them as they aim to overhaul the club’s personnel in the coming months.

Key Free Agents:

Unsurprisingly, for a club that finished 3-13, there aren’t a ton of impending free agents on the Titans’ roster who must be retained. In fact, it could be argued that none of the free agents listed above are locks to be re-signed, at least based on their 2015 performance.

Among the Titans’ offensive free agents, right tackle Byron Bell was the most oft-used contributor, as he played on 99% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps. Bell, 27, isn’t a star by any means, and his (below-average) time spent protecting Cam Newton‘s blindside in Carolina might affect his value around the NFL. But the Titans’ offensive line was one of the worst in 2015 (No. 32 in pass protection per Football Outsiders’ metrics), so the club can use any modicum of talent it can get. Bell has the ability to play both tackle and guard, and isn’t expected to cost much, so he could be brought back on short-term deal.Byron Bell (Vertical)

29-year-old Jamon Meredith is very similar to Bell in that he can play tackle and guard, but simply put, he’s just not as talented as Bell. Tennessee needs to get younger up front, and if they do decide to keep a veteran swing tackle/guard, they should probably opt for Bell, making Meredith redundant. The Titans were Meredith’s ninth NFL stop, and could be his last.

Guard/center Joe Looney does have youth on his side — the former 49er is just 25 years old — but he probably doesn’t have a role on the Titans going forward. Although he started six games last season, Chance Warmack and Quinton Spain figure to open the 2016 season at guard, with Jeremiah Poutasi backing up both spots. At best, Looney would be the club’s fourth option.

On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Coty Sensabaugh saw the most action of any Tennessee free agent, playing on 95% of the team’s defensive snaps. Miscast as a No. 1 corner in the absence of Jason McCourty, Sensabaugh struggled mightily, grading as league’s No. 89 corner, among 113 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The 27-year-old has experience, to be sure, but at this point, the Titans can only be comfortable retaining Sensabaugh as a depth piece.

Elsewhere on defense, linebacker Zach Brown probably has the strongest argument of any Titans free agent to be re-signed. A former second-round pick, Brown missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 1, but rebounded in 2015, staying healthy for the duration of the year, starting five games, and playing on nearly half of the team’s snaps. Still, with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard manning the middle in Dick LeBeau‘s 3-4 defense, Brown can probably find a larger role elsewhere.

Along the defensive line, the Titans have two veterans — Al Woods and Sammie Lee Hill — heading for free agency. Both contributed last season (34% snap percentage for Woods, 18% for Hill), but both are also closing in on 30 years old. On a team that needs an infusion of youth, defensive line is a solid place to start, because the club can set up a rotation of young talent. Neither Woods nor Hill figure to be retained.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Michael Griffin has been a solid force in the Titans’ secondary for a long time, but at 31 years old, it’s probably time for the club to move on. Griffin finished as just the 60th-best safety in the league last season, among 88 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s set to count $8.3MM against the cap in the final year of his deal. Cutting him would save Tennessee $6.5MM.Michael Griffin (Vertical)

Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, Jason McCourty is also a candidate for release, as the Titans could save $7MM by releasing the 28-year-old. Underrated for much of his career, McCourty played in just four games in 2015 as he dealt with injury. The team could ask him to rework his contract and lower his cap charge, but if he balks, they might have no other option but to keep him. As noted below, the Titans’ secondary is so porous that hoping for a rebound season from McCourty might be worth the (expensive) risk. If he is cut, the Patriots might have interest, as they reportedly considered dealing for him near the trade deadline.

Defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua played only 31 defensive snaps during the entirety of last season, so as outside observers, we can take that as a clear indication of how Tennessee’s coaching staff feels about him. Despite the Titans’ need for depth along their defensive line, there’s no way the 30-year-old Pitoitua is coming back with his 2016 cap charge of about $3.1MM.

On offense, wide receiver Harry Douglas and tight end Anthony Fasano both look like potential cap casualties, but I’d argue that neither is a foregone conclusion. Douglas knows new offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie from their Atlanta days, so while Douglas is due a a $4.48MM cap charge, he might stick around due to his knowledge of the offensive system. Fasano isn’t quite as expensive (about $3.2MM), and he’s an excellent run blocker. Tennessee needs to establish the run in order to help quarterback Marcus Mariota, so I could see Fasano being retained.

Running back Dexter McCluster had a nice season in 2016, but a third-down back isn’t worth $3.65MM. I expect the Titans to either try to lower his base salary or release him.

Positions Of Need:

The most pressing area of need on the Titans’ roster is offensive line, as the front five gave up a league-leading 54 sacks and finished last in adjusted sack rate. Outside of left tackle Taylor Lewan, Tennessee could arguably seek upgrades at every other position along the line, but since that that’s unlikely, we’ll start with the most urgent area: right tackle.

As noted above, Byron Bell isn’t the answer as a starting right tackle, but luckily, the upcoming free agent market is flush with tackles. Mitchell Schwartz, Andre Smith, Bobby Massie, and Joe Barksdale top the available right tackles, while Russell Okung, Cordy Glenn, and Kelechi Osemele (who could help at a number of positions) are left tackle options. (If the Titans did sign an Okung or Glenn, for example, I’d guess that they’d shift Lewan to the right side.) Via the draft, the club could also pick up Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil with the No. 1 pick, or if they trade down, someone like Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.

The Titans could use an upgrade at center, but there aren’t many free agent options (unless Alex Mack opts out of his Browns contract), so the team will probably stick with some combination of Brian Schwenke and Andy Gallik for the time being. At guard, former first round pick Chance Warmack will likely get another chance to start on the right side, but left guard could be an area where improvement is needed. Alex Boone, Amini Silatolu, and Jeff Allen are a few impending free agents that could make sense for the Titans.

If Tennessee is able to bring in some talent to better protect Marcus Mariota, the club might also find him more weapons at the skill positions. The Titans’ No. 1 receiver in 2015 was tight end Delanie Walker, so it’s clear that the Titans need other options besides Kendall Wright, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Justin Hunter.

Again, youth should be a primary consideration for the Titans, so pass-catchers like Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, or Brian Quick could be of interest. The Dolphins’ Rishard Matthews might also make sense, but I wonder if he’s too similar to Wright, as both are possession-type receivers. While he’s not certainly not young, Roddy White would be a candidate to follow offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie to Tennessee if he’s cut by the Falcons.

The Titans’ running game was putrid last season — 32nd in DVOA — but I’m not sure I’d invest any money (or draft capital) on a running back if I were Tennessee. Improving the offensive line should help matters immensely, so the club could probably just use a rotation of Antonio Andrews and David Cobb — and take a final look at former second-rounder Bishop Sankey — instead of bringing in new blood.

On defense, Tennessee can afford to revamp much of its secondary, and the first step might be spending big on a No. 1 corner. The Titans did give a large contract to Perrish Cox last offseason, and given how that’s worked out so far, they might be reticent to do so again. Nonetheless, there are so many high-quality options available that I think the club needs to bite the bullet and use some its $40MM+ in cap space on a new cornerback. I’d target one of Sean Smith, Janoris Jenkins, and Trumaine Johnson, each of whom finished inside the top 30 of Pro Football Focus’ CB rankings. If none of those three bite (or even if one does), the Titans should also take a long look at Casey Hayward, who would shut down opposing teams’ slot receiver. At the lower end of the market, Prince Amukamara might have to take a discounted deal given that he missed a significant portion of the season with injury.

Safety could also be an area of need, especially if the Titans release Michael Griffin. Like cornerback, safety has a number of intriguing free agent options available. George Iloka makes a lot of sense, as he’s a young, ball-hawking safety capable of manning center field while Da’Norris Searcy plays closer to the action. Rodney McLeod would be my second choice, but if Tennessee wants a veteran in the back end, Eric Weddle and Reggie Nelson are also on the market.

The Titans could add depth to both their defensive line and their linebacking unit, but those are positions they can target in the draft, rather than exhausting their cap space on high-end deals.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

Delanie Walker turned into the Titans’ No. 1 receiving threat last season, and his contract expires after the 2016 season. The club would obviously like to keep him around, but with his recent track record, he’s going to ask for $7MM+ per season. Walker is already 31 years old, so Tennessee might be better off playing out the string.Kendall Wright (Vertical)

On the other hand, receiver Kendall Wright is the type of player the Titans should look into extending right now. He’s still only 26, and coming off a down season riddled with injuries, meaning he shouldn’t break the bank — and he’s probably not the type of pass-catcher who would secure a large deal even if he does hit the open market. Tennessee would be smart to lock up Wright now, and hope for a big season between him and Marcus Mariota in 2016.

While Wright will play under a fifth-year option in 2016, the Titans have to make a fifth-year option decision on guard Chance Warmack for 2017. Warmack has been thoroughly uninspiring to this point in his career, but because he was a top-10 pick, his fifth-year option is likely to going be worth $11MM+. The Titans are unlikely to risk that type of money on Warmack, even though it’s guaranteed for injury only.

Overall Outlook:

The AFC South is a perennially winnable division, but with the Texans looking like they’re just a quarterback away from being solid contenders, Andrew Luck returning to help the Colts, and the Jaguars expected to take another leap, the Titans might be stuck in fourth place again in 2016. There’s no question that Tennessee is in the middle of a rebuild, but a smart offseason will help ensure that it’s not a perpetual remaking.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2015 NFL Offseason Outlook Series

March 8th, 2015 at 11:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Since last month’s Super Bowl, the Pro Football Rumors writing staff has been taking a closer look at each of the NFL’s 32 teams, exploring their cap situations, key free agents, and possible positions of need. Our Offseason Outlook series wrapped up this weekend, just in time for the official start of free agency on Tuesday, and you can check out any and all of our team-by-team recaps below.

Since many teams have been busy making moves in recent weeks, not all of our pieces will reflect those latest moves, but for the most part, a team’s overall plan for the offseason remains the same — in a few cases, we’ll even have predicted roster cuts or signings before they happened.

Here’s the full breakdown of our 32 Offseason Outlook pieces for the 2015 offseason, sorted by division:

AFC East:

AFC North:

AFC South:

AFC West:

NFC East:

NFC North:

NFC South:

NFC West:

Offseason Outlook: Green Bay Packers

March 7th, 2015 at 11:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Aaron Rodgers, QB: $18,250,000
  2. Clay Matthews, OLB: $12,700,000
  3. Julius Peppers, OLB: $12,000,000
  4. Sam Shields, CB: $9,062,500
  5. Josh Sitton, G: $7,000,000
  6. T.J. Lang, G: $5,800,000
  7. Morgan Burnett, S: $5,131,250
  8. Jordy Nelson, WR: $4,600,000
  9. Mike Neal, DL: $4,250,000
  10. Mason Crosby, K: $3,550,000

*Randall Cobb‘s new contract will likely place him in the Packers’ top 10, but specifics of the deal aren’t yet known.

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 30 overall pick
  • No traded picks

Other:

Overview

For most teams in most years, finishing with a 12-4 record and winning the NFC North for the fourth consecutive season would be considered a resounding success. But in Green Bay, the final snap of the 2014 season is all that posterity will remember, as the Packers coughed up a 12-point fourth quarter lead to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game before losing in overtime. One of the main culprits in that loss — tight end Brandon Bostick, who mishandled an onside kick recovery — has already been waived, but that surely wasn’t enough to appease disgruntled Packers fans.

The Packers have already been active this offeason — earlier tonight, the club agreed to a four-year, $40MM contract with pending free agent receiver Randall Cobb, keeping PFR’s No. 3 free agent from hitting the open market. The versatile 24-year-old was Green Bay’s top free agent, but the team has other need areas to upgrade. Free agency is anathema to general manager Ted Thompson (although he did sign big-ticket item Julius Peppers last offseason), so while the Packers likely won’t make many outside additions, they will look to retain their own FAs, and perhaps explore a few long-term extensions.

Key Free Agents

Now that Cobb has been taken care of, the Packers can focus on Bryan Bulaga, the club’s other key free agent. Bulaga may not have the name value of Cobb, but along with Denver’s Orlando Franklin, he represents the cream of the crop amBryan Bulaga (Vertical)ong free agent tackles, a FA position group that has already been thinned by King Dunlap and Derek Newton re-signing with their respective clubs. Bulaga, who will turn 26 later this month, graded as the league’s 16th-best tackle among 84 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), with most of his value coming from his exceptional pass-blocking.

Green Bay wants to keep its right tackle, and even with Cobb’s new deal in place, the Packers should still have the cap room available to get something done. But there will definitely be other suitors, and I can’t shake the feeling that another interested team will ink Bulaga with the intention of transitioning him back to left tackle, the position he played in college. With next to no free agent talent available on the left side, could a team like the Panthers sign Bulaga and throw him on Cam Newton‘s blindside? It’s possible, and given that Bulaga is likely to match or exceed the five-year, $35MM deal PFR’s Rory Parks projected for him last month, the Packers will have to compete to keep him.

While Bulaga will generate most of the headlines, the Packers have other key players headed for free agency, and two reside in the defensive backfield. Tramon Williams is the elder of two, and the soon-to-be 32-year-old has already drawn interest from the Seahawks as they plan for life after Byron Maxwell. Green Bay is said to have offered Williams, who’s spent his entire career with the Packers, a two-year deal worth $8MM — an unserious price which makes it appear as though the club has no intention of retaining him.

The Packers’ other free agent corner — the 25-year-old Davon House — doesn’t have the track record of Williams, but could ultimately command more dollars thanks to his youth. In House’s entry on PFR’s Top 50 list, our Luke Adams expressed some optimism that House, who saw only 411 snaps in 2014, could experience a breakout if given a larger role, and I share the feeling that House has some untapped potential. Green Bay will need to replace Williams in some fashion, and there’s no reason House shouldn’t be the one to fill his shoes.

Elsewhere on the defense, defensive lineman Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji are both scheduled to become free agents on Tuesday, and each faces a unique circumstance. Guion was arrested on drug charges in February, and though probation could reportedly be in the cards, his future is certainly cloudy. If his legal issues are resolved, however, the Packers should look to re-sign him (they expressed interest in doing so in January, before Guion’s arrest), as he was invaluable in ’14 while playing nose tackle.

Raji, meanwhile, faces similarly uncertain prospects, but for an entirely different reason — the former first-round pick missed the entire season after tearing his bicep during the preseason. Last month, we heard that Raji is expected to re-sign with Green Bay on a one-year deal, and he’ll presumably have to take a pay cut from his 2014 net of $4MM. The BC alum was shifting back to nose tackle during last year’s training camp, so we’ll have to see if his status affects that of Guion.

None of the remainder of the Packers’ impending free agents played more than 300 snaps last season, but the club will have to make a decision on a backup quarterback. It seems as though Matt Flynn is more comfortable in Green Bay than he was in either Seattle, Oakland, or Buffalo, and given his play at those other stops, he won’t garner any interest as a starter. Scott Tolzien, meanwhile, has now been in Green Bay for two seasons, and is two years younger, so the Packers could opt to promote him to the No. 2 role. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both are retained.

Possible Cap Casualties

The Packers have already been active in clearing out cap space, as they’ve released linebackers A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones, saving more than $7MM in the process. Green Bay does an excellent job of managing its cap, so unless it wants to cut Mason Crosby ($3.55MM cap hit) and find a new kicker, the club’s only realistic cap casualty could be linebacker Mike Neal.

According to PFF’s metrics, the 27-year-old Neal was the Packers’ worst defender in 2014, and was second-worst in 2013. His 2015 cap charge of $4.25MM is the ninth-highest on Green Bay’s roster, while the team would save $3MM by releasing him. There haven’t been any reports of Neal being on the chopping block, but this is a case where the production doesn’t match the compensation.

Positions Of Need

Through our Outlook series, we’ve now previewed all 32 teams’ offseasons — the following “positions of need” section might feature the least mentions of external pending free agents of any entry so far. Not that the Packers don’t have needs (every club does), but Green Bay simply doesn’t utilize free agency. As detailed by Bill Barnwell of Grantland in a July 2013 article, Thompson had signed just six veteran free agents since taking over as Packers GM in 2005 (adding Peppers and Guion last offseason brings the total to eight).

The one major area where Green Bay could look to upgrade is tight end, where the current depth chart consists of Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers — entering his second season, Rodgers could show some improvement, but the position lacks a true playmaker. That could change with the addition of Julius Thomas or Jordan Cameron, the top two TEs available, but neither seems like a Packers-type addition. More likely, Green Bay could take a look at players like Jermaine Gresham or Lance Kendricks, who figure to be more affordable options.

The front seven could also use a few new additions, especially at linebacker — though Hawk and Jones weren’t impact players, they certainly made contributions. The inside linebacker free agent class doesn’t have much to offer, so while GB could target Jasper Brinkley (Vikings) or Kelvin Sheppard (Dolphins), I’d expect them to wait until more notable players are cut during the summer, and snatch up a viable starter. The same goes for the defensive line, where Thompson won’t pay the price of bringing in an big-name addition.

Of course, the Packers could face two new needs — offensive line and corner — pending the outcomes of the Bulaga, Williams, and House negotiations. Each position could become an area of concern if other clubs poach Green Bay’s free agents, but I’d expect the Packers to target both positions through the draft (GB’s offensive line vacancies, in particular, are almost always filled by NCAA players). Along the O-line, Iowa’s Brandon Scherff figures to be off the board by the time Green Bay picks at No. 30, but Stanford’s Andrus Peat, Pitt’s T.J. Clemmings, or Texas A&M’s La’el Collins, each of whom would be an option at right tackle. At corner, the Packers could look at Marcus Peters (Washington) or Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest) in the first round, or perhaps target combine wonder Byron Jones in the second or third round.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues

Green Bay has a fifth-year option on linebacker Nick Perry, the club’s first-round draft choice in 2012. The 24-year-old Perry hasn’t lived up to expectations, as he has yet to top 500 snaps in any one season and has posted just nine sacks in three seasons. The USC product isn’t an integral part of the Packers’ defense, and I doubt that they’ll want to exercise the option and pay Perry more than $7MM.

The Packers could look to sign a pair of other young players to extensions, however, starting with cornerback Casey Hayward. At first glance, Hayward’s future might appear to be tied to that of Williams and/or House — if GB re-signs either one, the need for Hayward might be lessened. However, Hayward is almost exclusively a slot corner, so his role shouldn’t be altered by Green Bay keeping one of its other corners. When healthy, Hayward is one of the most effective slot corners in the NFL — injury concerns have limited his production in recent years, however, so perhaps the Packers could use that missed time as leverage, and re-sign him to a below-market deal now.

Another defender, lineman Mike Daniels, could also be a candidate for a multi-year deal. The 25-year-old Daniels enjoyed his first season as a starter in 2014, finishing as the league’s eighth-best 3-4 defensive end per PFF. The role of a 3-4 DE often isn’t to generate pressure, but for what it’s worth, Daniels has accrued 12 sacks over the past two seasons. He plays a position that doesn’t get paid on the open market, but he could potentially target the five-year, $34MM deal Desmond Bryant signed with the Browns last March.

Overall Outlook

In re-signing Cobb, the Packers have already met this offseason’s most formidable challenge. They have the cap space to keep Bulaga, as well, and new contracts for either Williams or House (or both) would be the next items on the table. The free agent period usually isn’t exciting in Green Bay — but with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Packers will be considered division (and perhaps conference) favorites no matter how little they spend in March.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: Cleveland Browns

March 7th, 2015 at 8:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Joe Haden, CB: $11,700,000
  2. Joe Thomas, T: $10,200,000
  3. Paul Kruger, OLB: $8,200,000
  4. Alex Mack, C: $8,000,000
  5. Desmond Bryant, DL: $7,000,000
  6. Donte Whitner, S: $6,750,000
  7. Karlos Dansby, LB: $5,500,000
  8. Phil Taylor, DT: $5,477,000
  9. Andrew Hawkins, WR: $5,000,000
  10. Barkevious Mingo, OLB: $4,458,273

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 12 overall pick
  • Acquired first-round pick (No. 19 overall) from Bills in deal for Sammy Watkins.
  • Acquired fourth-round pick from Bills in deal for Sammy Watkins.
  • Acquired sixth-round pick from Ravens in deal for Michael Campanaro.

Other:

Overview:

Things were looking good for Cleveland in late November, and it had nothing to do with LeBron James. The Browns were 7-4. Star wide receiver Josh Gordon was coming off of a 120-yard season debut. A talented (but very inconsistent) defensive line had allowed only a pair of 100-yard rushing games. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was getting the most from journeyman quarterback Brian Hoyer, but the biggest hype of all surrounded a different quarterback, as the fan base was anticipating Johnny Manziel’s inevitable first start.

It’s hard to believe that was only three months ago. The Browns finished the season 0-5. Gordon failed yet another drug test, resulting in at least a one-year suspension. The defensive line finished the season as the worst run-stopping unit in the league. Both Shanahan and Hoyer are gone, and the rookie quarterback landed on the IR and in rehab.

Much has changed in that brief period of time, but the Browns will still retain much of the roster that marched out to a strong start in 2014. Despite a strong division, the team can expect to be competitive again in 2015, as long as they don’t do anything drastic this offseason.

Coaching Changes:

Perhaps the most embarrassing Browns story of the past 12 months didn’t come from any of their players. Instead, the humiliation came via one of their coaches.

Shanahan was rumored to be involved in nearly every coaching vacancy earlier this offseason, and he ultimately ended up with the Falcons in the same role. However, this only came after the 35-year-old was allowed out of his contract, and that only came after he presented a 32-point list on why he should be allowed to leave.

The organization eventually replaced Shanahan with another young mind, former Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. Sure, the Raiders offense wasn’t very good last season, but the coach reportedly impressed the organization with his interview last year. That has to count for something, right?

Key Free Agents:

None of the Browns free agents are the class of their respective positions, but several of the players should attract plenty of suitors as alternatives to the big names.

Perhaps the biggest name in the group is tight end Jordan Cameron. Early reports indicated that the 26-year-old had little desire to re-sign with Cleveland, but coach Mike Pettine recently hinted that Cameron could return for the right price. Coming off a breakout 2013 season, when he Jordan Cameronestablished career highs in receptions (80), receiving yards (917) and touchdowns (seven), the former fourth-rounder disappointed in 2014. His lack of production could be partially attributed to multiple concussions, as well as subpar play from the Browns’ quarterbacks, but Cameron’s struggles went beyond the passing game. Pro Football Focus advanced metrics rated Cameron as one of the worst blockers at the position, and those same numbers indicate that blocking has been an issue throughout his brief career. As our own Luke Adams suggested, Cameron could be considered a cheaper alternative to Julius Thomas, which could (ironically) boost his price a bit. Even if Cameron does relent on his assertion that he’s done playing in Cleveland, the organization may be knocked out of the running as the bidding gets higher.

There was a time when Jabaal Sheard was counted on to be a contributing member of the Browns defense for years to come. That plan changed a bit in 2014, as the former second-rounder lost his starting gig, the first time he was sent to the second unit since entering the league in 2011. Despite the limited role, Sheard still produced via PFF’s standards, as the website ranked the 25-year-old in the top half of the league’s 3-4 outside linebackers. The versatile defender is still plenty young, and he averaged seven sacks a season over the first three years of his career. With a number of linebackers on the roster, Sheard may be on the outside looking in with Cleveland. However, it may be in the team’s best interest to at least explore the possibility of bringing him back.

Buster Skrine is in perhaps the most interesting situation of any of the Browns’ free agents. The presence of Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden, as well as last year’s first-rounder Justin Gilbert, would likely indicate that Skrine doesn’t have as much of an opportunity to contribute in Cleveland as he would elsewhere. The 25-year-old certainly disproved that notion last season, playing in the second-most snaps on the team, while also establishing a career-high in interceptions (four). PFF gave the former fifth-round pick a negative rating for his performance (interestingly enough, they rated him lower than the much-maligned Gilbert), so the cornerback’s playing time may have really been a matter of circumstances. It’d be surprising if the Browns gave up on Gilbert so quickly, and Skrine probably recognizes that fact. Unless he’s willing to accept a reduced role, Skrine could very well bolt this offseason.

Besides that trio, the majority of the Browns unrestricted free agents are among the second-tier (or lower) of available players. Veteran wideout Miles Austin had a relatively productive year, and the 30-year-old could continue to produce with the Browns if Gordon indeed misses the entire season (more on that later). Brian Hoyer won’t return following the signing of Josh McCown (more on that later, as well), but Tyler Thigpen could theoretically return, assuming both sides are interested in a reunion.

Safety Jim Leonhard and nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin both spent time in the starting lineup last season, but neither veteran topped 600 snaps. Leonhard played particularly well in his reduced role, but he indicated that 2014 would be his last year in the NFL. Meanwhile, Rubin may be hard pressed to regain his starting role following a dreadful 2014, when he missed three games and was ranked among the worst defensive tackles in the league by PFF. Sione Fua, a former third-round pick, has bounced around a lot in his brief career, and his lack of production for the Browns may indicate that he’ll be seeking his fourth employer since 2014.

The team’s group of restricted free agents certainly have potential, especially safety Tashaun Gipson. The Browns have indicated that they want to keep him, and they’re expected to slap him with a high tender. Linebacker Craig Robertson could also garner some interest, but there doesn’t seem to be much worry in losing the 27-year-old.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Phil Taylor would be the clear candidate to be cut, as his nearly $5.5MM cap hit ranks eighth on the team. The former first-rounder has looked dominant at times, particularly during his rookie season in 2011. However, the defensive tackle has struggled since, culminating in him being placed on the injured reserve after making only five appearances in 2014. PFF’s metrics have never been particularly fond of Taylor, and his overall rating this past season placed him among the five-worst Browns defenders. Still, the team’s defensive line struggled last season, and unless the organization decides to pursue an elite defensive lineman, Taylor could be needed for 2015.

Andrew Hawkins and his $5MM cap hit could also be cut loose, but that isn’t a ridiculous amount of money for that production (63 receptions, 824 yards, two touchdowns). Futhermore, Hawkins may be relied on even more based on Gordon’s status going forward.

Otherwise, many of the Browns highest-paid players have a solid grasp on their starting role, but the team could still clear up some small chunks of change by cutting some of their lesser-paid players. This could include tight ends Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge, and the duo would save the organization more than $1MM each by being let go. However, the tight ends may be in line for bigger roles next season based on where Cameron ends up.

Positions Of Need:

Despite the team’s lack of production on defense, many of the team’s biggest holes are on offense.

The organization addressed their need at quarterback early on in the offseason, agreeing to a deal with former Buccaneers signal-caller Josh McCown. No one will confuse the 35-year-old with a Pro Bowler, but given the options in free agency, the veteran should provide some competition for Manziel. Even if the 13-year veteran doesn’t see one snap, he is still expected to contribute as a mentor for the young, embattled quarterback.

The team will certainly be seeking a wideout, as Gordon is set to be suspended for the entirety of the 2015 season. Hawkins and Travis Benjamin are essentially the only wideouts currently on the roster that have any real experience, and if the Browns are hoping to see something from Manziel this season, they’d have to provide him with at least a couple more weapons. Earlier today, Luke Adams suggested that Cleveland could be a landing spot for Ravens receiver Torrey Smith.

Based on where Cameron ends up, the team could be seeking a new tight end. Luke mentioned that Julius Thomas could potentially make sense with the Browns, and the Broncos threat could essentially be the Browns’ only option. The team could presumably pursue Dolphins tight end Charles Clay, but the transition tag could ultimately scare the organization away.

The Browns don’t need much help in their secondary, so the team should focus on shoring up their defensive line. The only member of the Browns defensive line to receive a positive rating from PFF in 2014 was John Hughes, and that was in limited snaps. The majority of the team’s linemen struggled, particularly Desmond Bryant and Billy Winn, so if the team was looking to make one splash this offseason, that’d probably be a place to look. As Luke pointed out, Pettine’s tenure in Buffalo could make Cleveland a landing spot for Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes, and the 26-year-old would certainly be a welcome addition.

For any below-.500 team, many big-name free agents would certainly help the product on the field. The front office has to distinguish whether the length of a contract would justify the player’s production. It’s difficult to imagine the Browns adding one of the elite free agents (Ndamukong Suh, Devin McCourty, Randall Cobb), so the team needs to be financially conscious as they look to acquire some reinforcement.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

Mitchell Schwartz burst onto the scene as a second-round pick in 2012. The offensive tackle has started in every game since entering the league, and he’s topped 1,000 snaps in each of his three seasons. According to PFF, his best season came during his rookie year, when he was ranked 23rd among 80 offensive tackle candidates. Those same numbers suggest that Schwartz has only been average the last two seasons, but his consistency and health certainly make a commodity.

The team could also look to extend Gipson, assuming the safety isn’t stolen in restricted free agency. The team hasn’t formally announced which tender they’ll assign to the safety, but assuming it’s a first or second rounder, the Browns should be able to retain the former Wyoming standout. After that, the team can focus on extending the talented defensive back and keeping him in Cleveland longterm.

Overall Outlook:

The team had seemed to be making some real progress under Pettine, and there’s still reason for optimism in Cleveland. The coach has had an entire year to evaluate his roster, and he certainly has some franchise cornerstones on his squad. With a boatload of cap room and multiple first round picks, it should be expected that the organization takes another step forward this offseason. Granted, that implies the front office doesn’t repeat their mistakes from last year, including whiffing on both of their draft choices.

The Browns should have some money to spend, so the team could certainly add some talent wherever they think best. As long as the Browns can get some production from their free agents and rookies, the team should be able to build on their 7-9 record from 2014.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: Seattle Seahawks

March 6th, 2015 at 6:05pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Richard Sherman, CB: $12,200,000
  2. Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000
  3. Michael Bennett, DE: $8,000,000
  4. Cliff Avril, DE: $8,000,000
  5. Earl Thomas, S: $7,400,000
  6. Russell Okung, T: $7,280,000
  7. Brandon Mebane, DT: $5,700,000
  8. Kam Chancellor, S: $5,650,000
  9. Max Unger, C: $5,600,000
  10. K.J. Wright, LB: $4,750,000

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 31 overall pick
  • Conditionally acquired fourth-round pick from Jets in deal for Percy Harvin; pick becomes a sixth-rounder if Harvin is cut by March 19.
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Colts in deal for Marcus Burley.

Other:

Overview:

Despite a heartbreaking conclusion, the 2014 season was another enormous success for the Seahawks. After a so-so start, USATSI_8381310_168380616_lowresthe reigning Super Bowl champions closed the regular season with six victories in a row, finished 12-4 and earned a second consecutive NFC West crown. The team went on to pull off a miraculous rally against the Packers in the NFC championship game, overcoming a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit before winning dramatically in overtime and clinching a second straight conference title.

Unfortunately for Seattle, as exhilarating as its triumph over Green Bay was, its Super Bowl XLIX loss to the Patriots was at least as deflating. The Seahawks, just 26 seconds and a single yard from another Lombardi Trophy, looked like shoo-ins to repeat as champs. However, a questionable second-down play call and shoddy execution combined for their undoing when the Pats’ Malcolm Butler intercepted quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line to seal a 28-24 victory for New England.

How well the Seahawks will bounce back from such a shattering defeat won’t be found out until next season, of course. In the meantime, general manager John Schneider will use the offseason to lock up key talent for the foreseeable future and supplement an already formidable roster. Although Schneider’s squad won’t require much help, it does have some areas that could use his attention.

Key Free Agents:

When the free agent market opens March 10, the likelihood is that the Seahawks will lose starting cornerback Byron Maxwell. In fact, a source told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Seattle has “little or no chance” to retain the 27-year-old. Maxwell, a four-year veteran, began garnering extensive playing time in 2013 and has intercepted six passes since. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 45th among 108 qualifying corners last season and an impressive 16th out of 110 the year prior. Now it appears he’ll parlay his success with the Seahawks into a sizable payday from another franchise.

None of Seattle’s other pending defensive free agents make the impact Maxwell does, but the group has some useful role players in linebacker Malcolm Smith, end O’Brien Schofield and tackle Kevin Williams. The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta wrote earlier this week that Smith, the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP, will “probably get better offers elsewhere.” Thanks to injuries and the players in front of him on the depth chart, Smith didn’t leave much of a mark last season. The two linemen, Schofield and Williams, were both valuable depth for Seattle in 2014. Schofield has previously spoken of a desire for more money and could be “tough” to keep, per Condotta, while the Seahawks would be interested in getting the soon-to-be 35-year-old Williams back on a second straight cheap, one-year contract.

The most significant offensive UFA the Seahawks have is left guard James Carpenter, who has started 39 games since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011. The injury-prone Carpenter set a career high with 13 starts last season, but Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t enamored with his play: The site rated him 47th out of 78 qualifying guards, which came on the heels of an even worse ranking the year prior (65th out of 81). Nevertheless, ESPN’s John Clayton told 710 ESPN Seattle radio last month that the team would take Carpenter back on a deal worth $3MM or less annually. Carpenter is seeking yearly value in the $4MM range, however, according to Clayton.

Like Carpenter, wide receiver Jermaine Kearse is also unsigned. However, the 25-year-old is a restricted free agent and received a tender offer from the team today. Given his team-controlled status, Kearse is a safe bet to return to receiver-needy Seattle, for which the three-year veteran finished second in both catches (38) and yards (537) last season.

Positions Of Need:

With Maxwell’s time in a Seahawks uniform expiring, they’re about to find themselves in need of a starting cornerback to pair with Richard Sherman and help maintain their top-ranked pass defense for a third year in a row. The Seahawks are prepared for Maxwell’s departure and have already begun turning their attention toward keeping the position strong. On Thursday, they visited with Cary Williams – whom the Eagles released earlier this week in a cost-cutting move. The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a game since 2010 and has tallied nine interceptions over the last three years. Moreover, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) liked Williams nearly as much as Maxwell last season, ranking the two four spots apart (Williams 49th, Maxwell 45th). Williams has visits with other teams scheduled and there’s no timetable on when he’ll sign.

Seattle also has its eyes on another corner named Williams – the Packers’ Tramon Williams – McGinn wrote Wednesday. As a pending free agent, Williams won’t be allowed to start negotiating with teams until Saturday. The eight-year veteran has spent his entire career in Green Bay, where Schneider worked as a front office assistant when Williams entered the NFL. According to McGinn, Schneider “views him as an ideal fit for coach Pete Carroll’s aggressive Cover 3 coverage scheme.” Multiple NFC personnel executives informed McGinn that Williams should net anywhere from $4MM to $6MM per annum on the open market. The 31-year-old has proven himself a durable playmaker, missing a mere one game out of a possible 128 and totaling a prolific 28 interceptions.

Offensively, the Seahawks’ receiver situation is mediocre at best. With the Percy Harvin experiment having failed, the Seahawks continue to be in need of game-breaking talent at the position. At the very least, they have to find another starting-caliber player to complement Doug Baldwin, who hauled in 66 passes for 825 yards last year.

While the odds of the Seahawks splurging on the Packers’ Randall Cobb, the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin or the Ravens’ Torrey Smith are low, there are some satisfactory receivers available who are expected to sign more modest contracts. Among several candidates are the 49ers’ Michael Crabtree (if the front office is willing to overlook the differences between him and Sherman) and the Chargers’ Eddie Royal. Though neither is a world-beater – and the same is applicable to fellow free agents like Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks – adding one would give Wilson a third decent receiver to team with Baldwin and Kearse.

Seattle could otherwise turn to the draft, where it has the 31st overall pick. In his latest mock draft, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has the Seahawks taking Dorial Green-Beckham, formerly of Missouri, with their first-round selection. Green-Beckham offers an enticing blend of size (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) and 4.49 speed, but has dealt with numerous off-field issues.

Bettering their offensive line should also be on the Seahawks’ to-do list this offseason, especially with Carpenter’s possible exit. Football Outsiders graded Seattle’s O-line as the fourth best in the league last year at run blocking, though it struggled in pass protection – evidenced by a 24th-ranked adjusted sack rate. Although the Seahawks have two outstanding linemen in left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger, they’ve combined to miss 23 regular-season games during the previous two years. Further, Okung hasn’t played a 16-game season since the Seahawks drafted him in 2010. Right guard J.R. Sweezy and right tackle Justin Britt aren’t nearly as good as Okung or Unger, but they’re cheap and they’ve been able to stay on the field. Therefore, they’re likely to retain their starting jobs.

The one open spot is seemingly at left guard, where the Seahawks are going to have trouble making considerable strides if they aren’t willing to throw money at the 49ers’ Mike Iupati, the Broncos’ Orlando Franklin or the Bengals’ Clint Boling. Like some of the aforementioned receivers, the three top left guards on the market are going to cost a lot – perhaps too much for a team that will soon have crucial contract decisions to make on in-house talent.

Ultimately, should Carpenter walk and the big-time free agents price themselves out of the Seahawks’ range, they could simply plug in backup Alvin Bailey as a starter. That would enable them to focus on bolstering their O-line depth with lesser signings and adding potential future starters by way of the draft.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Entering the offseason, many viewed tight end Zach Miller as someone whose roster spot with the Seahawks was in jeopardy. The eight-year veteran missed 13 games last season with an ankle injury and sophomore Luke Wilson showed promise in his place. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks elected Friday to release Miller, ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted, and save $2.39MM on their 2015 cap.

Moving to the defensive line, Seattle has an expensive tackle, Brandon Mebane, who missed most of last season with a torn hamstring. Releasing him would save the Seahawks $5.5MM. It’s improbable to think the team will part with Mebane because he’s a quality player and, as Condotta wrote earlier this week, a respected figure in the locker room. With that said, Schneider could always decide there’s a more alluring way to spend $5.5MM.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The status of five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch was up in the air as recently as Friday, when he agreed to a new deal with the Seahawks that shouldn’t affect his 2015 cap number. With Lynch’s situation taken care of, at least briefly, the Seahawks can begin to focus on some of their other players with uncertain futures.

During their three-year run as a premier team, one of the major luxuries the Seahawks have had is top-notch quarterback play for a relative pittance. Wilson has played the first three years of his career on his rookie deal – and he was only a third-rounder, remember – while throwing 72 touchdowns against 26 interceptions and helping lead Seattle to a 36-12 regular-season record, two NFC championships and a Super Bowl title. Wilson’s stellar play at a minimal price has allowed Schneider to stack the team around his QB with high-cost players. Those days are nearing an end, however, to at least an extent.

Wilson’s contract runs through next season. Between now and this time next year, the Seahawks are going to have to pay him a substantial amount of money. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported in January that Wilson’s next deal would make him the highest-paid QB in the league, surpassing the five-year, $110MM pact Aaron Rodgers inked with Green Bay in 2013. Schneider said last month that the Seahawks would use an “outside-the-box” approach with Wilson’s contract, according to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, implying they’ll find a way to generously compensate the 26-year-old without damaging the rest of the roster.

Okung is also a year from free agency. Despite his injury issues (he has missed 21 of 80 regular-season games), Okung will be in for a hefty payday. It’ll be his second one – the ex-Oklahoma State standout signed a $48MM deal with $29MM in guarantees when he entered the league – and CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, a former agent, opined that Okung “probably won’t be interested in a new contract” worth less than his rookie deal. A raise might be out of range for the Seahawks, considering their other upcoming contractual priorities.

The centerpiece players scheduled for free agency in 2016 don’t stop on offense, unfortunately for Seattle. Bobby Wagner, who has been one of the league’s foremost defenders during his first three seasons, is a year from hitting the open market. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has ranked Wagner as the second-, 12th-and fifth-best 3-4 inside linebacker during his first three years. In 2014, he made 100-plus tackles in only 11 games and was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl invitation and First-Team All-Pro status. Wagner will be just 25 if he becomes a free agent next March and, between now and then, could approach or pass the Texans’ Brian Cushing as the league’s richest 3-4 ILB in terms of total value. Cushing signed for $52.5MM in 2013.

The Seahawks will also have to make a decision soon on pass-rushing linebacker Bruce Irvin, who has amassed 16.5 sacks in his three-year career. The team has until May to choose whether to pick up Irvin’s fifth-year option for 2016. That option is the value of the highest-paid 25 players at his position, excluding the top three players. The exact sum isn’t yet known, but it will be appreciably more than the $2.90MM Irvin is set to rake in next season.

Overall Outlook:

Regardless of its Super Bowl gaffe, Seattle is a battle-tested, uber-talented club led by an excellent coaching staff. Most of that talent and the majority of the coaches will return next season. Thus, with a productive offseason, the redemption-driven Seahawks should find themselves back in the championship hunt in 2015. Things will get trickier thereafter, though – as salaries for integral players markedly increase, Schneider’s mission to field an elite team will become more taxing.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: New England Patriots

March 5th, 2015 at 7:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Darrelle Revis, CB: $25,000,000 (option)
  2. Tom Brady, QB: $14,000,000
  3. Jerod Mayo, LB: $10,287,500
  4. Rob Gronkowski, TE: $8,650,000
  5. Nate Solder, T: $7,438,000
  6. Sebastian Vollmer, T: $7,020,833
  7. Danny Amendola, WR: $5,700,000
  8. Brandon Browner, CB: $5,500,000
  9. Julian Edelman, WR: $4,656,250
  10. Kyle Arrington, CB: $4,625,000

Notable coaching changes:

  • None

Draft:

  • No. 32 overall pick
  • Acquired fourth-round pick from Buccaneers in deal for Logan Mankins.
  • Acquired sixth-round pick from Buccaneers in deal for Jonathan Casillas.
  • Acquired seventh-round pick from Titans in deal for Akeem Ayers.
  • Owe fifth-round pick to Buccaneers in deal for Jonathan Casillas.
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Titans in deal for Akeem Ayers.
  • Owe seventh-round pick to Rams in deal for Greg Salas.

Other:

Overview:

The hype surrounding the Patriots last offseason was in regards to their additions, and the buildup proved to be warranted. Several pickups, including wideout Brandon LaFell and cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, helped put the team over the top as they won their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.

The story this offseason may be the complete opposite, as the team could potentially lose several key contributors, including safety Devin McCourty.

The team’s biggest decision surrounds a player the Patriots could realistically keep. The Patriots hold a pricey team option on Revis, but all signs are pointing to the team declining the one-year deal. That would mean the team would have to address two sizable holes in the secondary.

If New England hopes to retain its premier defensive backs, the team will have to do some finagling to make the necessary cap room. This will mean veterans will be asked to take a pay cut, and if they refuse, their tenure with the Patriots may be finished.

As always, it should be an exciting offseason in New England.

Key Free Agents:

McCourty has established himself as one of the top safeties in the league since switching to the position in 2012. The former first-rounder has consistently finished atop Pro Football Focus’ rankings, and the 27-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, as he’s missed only one game over the past three seasons.

Devin McCourtyThe Patriots surprised some earlier this week when they opted to not tag the All-Pro safety, instead opting for kicker Stephen Gostkowski. McCourty said it’s now “realistic” that he could be playing elsewhere in 2015, and that was the risk the Patriots were taking when the decided to not franchise the former first-rounder. As the bona fide top safety available this offseason, McCourty should have plenty of suitors to choose from.

The Patriots will presumably be in on the player, but it’s uncertain what they’d be willing to offer. Conventional wisdom would suggest that McCourty is less valuable to the Patriots considering the presence of Revis, who can be relied on to shut down the opponent’s top receiver. This allows McCourty to shadow the Patriots’ No. 2 cornerback or linebackers, while also spying on the quarterback. That’s not a ridiculous task to expect from any safety, meaning the Patriots could reasonably replace McCourty will a less expensive (albeit less talented) alternative.

Of course, that final point is made moot if Revis decides to bolt from New England. The cornerback’s cap hit would be worth $25MM if the Patriots opt to pick up his option, and at that price, such a move would be a bit of a surprise. The ideal situation for the team would be to decline the option, and re-sign the veteran to a deal that satisfies both parties. Of course, there’s plenty of risk in letting Revis test the free agent waters, especially with potential suitors, including Rex Ryan’s Bills, licking their chops at the prospect of signing the Pro Bowler. PFR’s Luke Adams had examined the various options the Patriots have in regards to the All-Pro cornerback last month.

If the Patriots decide to decline the option, it has to be assumed that Revis would instantly become the team’s top priority in free agency. The cornerback had perhaps the biggest impact of any free agent addition in 2014, and his presence was a big reason why the Patriots won the Super Bowl.

The Patriots also made news today when they declined to pick up the option on defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, making the 33-year-old an unrestricted free agent. The former first-rounder was limited by a torn Achilles in 2013, but the lineman seemed to be back to full strength in 2014. PFF’s advanced metrics ranked Wilfork as the sixth-best defender on the Patriots, and his run defense rating was far and away the best score on the team. Of course, the defensive tackle isn’t getting any younger, and his $8.9MM cap hit for next season would have been hard to justify, especially considering the players the Patriots may be looking to re-sign. Wilfork could very well return to New England on a cheaper contract, but based on his reaction to taking a pay cut last season, it seems unlikely that he’ll take too much of a discount.

The Patriots will also be looking to bring back several offensive contributors from last season. Running back Shane Vereen had his best season in 2014, playing in all 16 games for the first time in his career. The former second-rounder is a proven threat catching the ball, recording 52 receptions for 447 yards last season. Meanwhile, fellow running Stevan Ridley is also a free agent. The 26-year-old is only two seasons removed from a 1,200-yard season, but the presence of LeGarrette Blount could mean that Ridley’s time in New England has come to an end.

Offensive lineman Dan Connolly proved to be a reliable presence in multiple spots, and the Patriots seem to value his versatility.

Finally, mid-season additions Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas are still young enough to deserve a second look.

Possible Cap Casualties:

If the Patriots hope to keep both Revis and McCourty, someone is going to have to either take a pay cut or move on. The Patriots already cleared up some room by declining Wilfork’s option, and the team could clear up an additional $7MM by releasing another defensive veteran, linebacker Jerod Mayo.

The former first-round pick has only played 12 games over the past two seasons as he’s recovered from a torn pectoral muscle and a torn patellar tendon. While the 29-year-old could now be considered an “injury risk,” there’s no denying his impact on the defense. Despite missing more than half his team’s games last season, Mayo still played the 14th-most snaps on the Patriots defense, and PFF ranked him as a top-11 defender on the squad. Given the presence of linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones, Mayo is certainly expendable. However, considering the versatility of the Patriots defenders, Mayo could still have a major impact on the team if he sticks around.

Other than Mayo, no other Patriots would immediately create an abundance of cap room if they were released. Receiver Danny Amendola’s $5.7MM cap hit doesn’t necessarily reflect his production (81 receptions, 833 yards, three touchdowns in two seasons with Patriots), but his postseason performance may indicate that he’s getting more comfortable with the team’s offense. Cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington combine for a $10MM cap hit, and the team has enough depth in the secondary to move on from the duo. Of course, those potential moves would depend on where Revis and McCourty end up.

Positions Of Need:

Many of the Patriots’ offseason “needs” will depend on where their own free agents land. If Revis and McCourty sign elsewhere, the team will certainly be seeking some reinforcement in their secondary. Both players are the class of their respective positions, so it’s unlikely the situation will resemble last offseason, when the Patriots replaced the departing Aqib Talib with Revis.

With Wilfork presumably moving on, the team may be looking to fill a 325-pound hole on their defensive line. 24-year-old Sealver Siliga played well in limited snaps last season, and the former undrafted rookie could be ready for a bigger role in the defense. The Patriots essentially red shirted their first-round pick from last season, defensive lineman Dominique Easley. The 23-year-old is presumably a key piece for the future of the franchise, but it’s uncertain if the Florida alumnus is ready for a full-time role in the NFL.

On offense, the Patriots could potentially lose a pair of running backs in Vereen and Ridley. While there are plenty of buy-low candidates for the team to consider, Bill Belichick could be just as content going forward with his current group. Besides Blount, the team could turn to Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White, or Tyler Gaffney. Based on the Patriots unpredictability at the position, there doesn’t need to be any panic in retaining the pair of free agents.

The team has been rumored to be looking for a “deep threat” receiver in recent years, but the success of the offense in 2014 may indicate that the team doesn’t need any additional weapons. The team knew what they had in Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, and the team got some much-needed production from LaFell in 2014, as the wideout finished with career-highs in receptions (74), yards (953) and touchdowns (seven). Amendola came on strong during the postseason, and tight end Tim Wright (acquired in the Logan Mankins trade) proved to be a red-zone threat with seven touchdowns last season.

The offensive line is one area where the team could certainly use some depth. The group received plenty of criticism following the Patriots’ slow start in 2014, and their production down the stretch was a big reason for the team’s turnaround. However, the squad still featured a number of unheralded players, as half of the offensive line were originally undrafted rookies (and another three, Marcus Cannon, Bryan Stork and Cameron Fleming, were drafted in the fourth round or later). While the team got some unexpected production from this group (particularly from Ryan Wendell and Stork), the line could use an additional veteran presence.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

If the Patriots wanted to clear up additional cap room for this offseason, the team could work on an extension with offensive lineman Nate Solder. The former first-round pick has a cap hit worth $7.5MM next season, and while the team could get most of that money back by cutting him after June 1st, it seems unlikely that they’d just cut bait with the 26-year-old. Solder is entering the final year of his contract, so it may be in the Patriots best interest to work on an extension now.

Overall Outlook:

When Belichick has opted to let his veteran talent exit via free agency or trade, he’s typically been correct with his assessment. Ty Law, Richard Seymour, and even Logan Mankins failed to show the type of talent they displayed in New England following their departures, allowing the coach some leeway when he opts to let a beloved or contributing member of the team loose.

However, considering the talent the Patriots may be losing, it would be tough for Belichick to justify losing two key members of the secondary. Revis and McCourty had a significant impact on the Super Bowl-winning defense, and their presence would be difficult to replace, whether via trade, free agency or the draft.

Of course, the Patriots have plenty of flexibility in how they can approach the offseason. Regardless of their moves, with Belichick and Tom Brady back for another season, the Pats should still be considered the class of the AFC.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: Oakland Raiders

March 5th, 2015 at 9:31am CST by Zachary Links

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Austin Howard, T: $6,400,000
  2. Matt Schaub, QB: $5,500,000
  3. Donald Penn, T: $5,400,000
  4. Justin Tuck, DE: $4,968,750
  5. Khalil Mack, LB: $4,244,773
  6. Charles Woodson, S: $4,200,000
  7. Antonio Smith, DT: $4,000,000
  8. Nick Roach, LB: $3,721,250
  9. Sebastian Janikowski, K: $3,610,000
  10. Marcel Reece, RB: $3,580,838

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 4 overall pick
  • No traded picks

Other:

Overview:

Last offseason, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie put his team under major reconstruction to try and turn the tide. Things didn’t exactly work out as planned. The Raiders got off to an 0-4 start that had players speaking out off the record and some, like veteran Charles Woodson, speaking out on the record. After the Raiders endured a grueling flight across the pond only to get blown out by the Dolphins, head coach Dennis Allen was shown the door. Eventually, Allen’s gig was handed over to his former second in command, Tony Sparano. Sparano got more out of his players, but only got 3 wins out of his 9 at the helm, leading the team to turn things over to Jack Del Rio after the season.

The year wasn’t without its bright spots, of course, and the biggest silver lining (get it?!?) was the play of rookie quarterback Derek Carr. While other teams are scheming to get one of the top two picks in this year’s draft in order to get a capable young quarterback, Oakland has no such need and they can focus on other areas.

Coaching Changes:

The Raiders were eyeing Del Rio early on in their offseason search and he ultimately won out over the incumbent Sparano. Of course, the Broncos’ defense never got the same kind of love as the team’s offense, but the Denver defense finished fourth in DVOA in 2014 after placing in the middle of the pack in 2013 under Del Rio’s guidance. Other teams with coaching vacancies seemed to flock to the sexiest names of the bunch like flies to a bug zapper. Every other team clamored to interview guys like Dan Quinn and Rex Ryan, but the Raiders more or less went by the beat of their own drum, save for their overtures towards new Jets coach Todd Bowles. With Del Rio comes two new coordinators in Bill Musgrave (replacing Greg Olson) and Ken Norton Jr. (taking over for Jason Tarver).

Some expected that McKenzie wouldn’t return, but his job was spared in the team’s shakeup. One has to imagine that he won’t have a very long leash, however.

Key Free Agents:

The Raiders acted quickly to re-sign one of their biggest name free agents in Woodson. The veteran, who celebrates his 39th birthday in October, started all 16 games for the club, grabbing four interceptions to go along with a career-high 111 tackles. The advanced metrics didn’t love his performance as Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 68th out of 87 qualified safeties, thanks in large part to the 355 yards after catch he allowed. Still, the Raiders were obviously satisfied with his performance and rewarded him with another one-year deal that carries base value of $3.2MM. Ultimately, the deal will count for $4.2MM against Oakland’s cap after taking into account the likely-to-be-earned incentives.

Still, there are more free agents to go, including center Stefen Wisniewski. Wisniewski stands as Oakland’s most important free agent on their docket, but they opted not to use the franchise tag to retain him. The reasoning there is fairly straight forward: while the soon-to-be 26-year-old is highly valued, all offensive linemen are grouped together when it comes to the pricing of the tag, so keeping him that way would have meant paying him like a top-tier left tackle. At last check, the two sides are talking but there appears to be a decent-sized gulf between the two. PFR’s Luke Adams recently suggested that Wisniewski could land a deal worth between $5-7MM annually.

Last month, McKenzie divulged that will let both Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown hit the open market as the Raiders look to go younger at cornerback. That doesn’t automatically mean that they won’t be back in Oakland, however.

“I’m going to let those guys hit the market and we’ll see what happens there,” McKenzie said, according to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. “We like what our young corners have done. I think veterans like that are here on the team to bring those young guys along. And I think they kind of did that. Carlos was a savvy veteran that they leaned on. Tarell did a good job with those guys. I think it’s their turn.”

Rogers and Brown might have value as mentors, but they both graded out as below average in 2014 according to PFF, coming in at 69th and 75th amongst qualified corners, respectively. The door is open for them, but probably only slightly, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in different uniforms in 2015.

Last offseason, the Raiders brought back running back Darren McFadden on an inexpensive one-year deal. This time around, McKenzie doesn’t sound inclined to do the same thing.

“To me, this year’s a little different because Latavius [Murray], in 2013 he spent the whole season rehabbing an injury,” McKenzie said in February, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Last year, I think he showed that he can be a player.”

McFadden began the year as the No. 2 back behind Maurice Jones-Drew, started 12 games and gained 534 yards on 155 carries. However, they eventually gave the bulk of the work to Latavius Murray and the exciting youngster is widely viewed as the team’s feature back of the future.

The Raiders have four wide receivers – Denarius Moore, Vincent Brown, Rod Streater, and Andre Holmes – all eligible for either unrestricted or restricted free agency. Moore’s burn has fluctuated over the last four years thanks to some stints in the doghouse, but he’s a solid athlete who can help round out the team’s receiving corps behind James Jones. Holmes, 27 this summer, should stick around since he’s an RFA. Streater, who led the team with 60 catches for 888 yards and four touchdowns in 2013, played just three games in 2014 due to a foot injury. Assuming he’s healthy, the Raiders will probably exercise their power to match any offer for him.

Pat Sims, a defensive tackle who is vicious against the run, could be brought back to Oakland on an affordable one-year deal.

Possible Cap Casualties:

The Raiders started their spring cleaning a bit early by letting go of safety Tyvon Branch and edge defender LaMarr Woodley.

Branch, 28, was with the Raiders for seven seasons. He started 62 out of a possible 64 games in his first four years but he missed all but five games over the past two seasons. The Raiders saved $2.9MM by releasing the strong safety but they’ll carry $7MM in dead money for the luxury of dropping his remaining three seasons on the deal. Branch was the 11th-highest-paid safety in the NFL, but his production just hasn’t matched that thanks to his injury troubles.

Days later, the Raiders decided to release Woodley. The 30-year-old spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Steelers and his first season in silver-and-black didn’t go as planned. Woodley, who went from playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 set to a 4-3 defensive end, placed 44th out of 59 qualified 4-3 DEs per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In total, his season lasted six games before a biceps tear knocked him out for the year. Woodley had no guaranteed money coming in 2015, so Oakland was able to clear his entire cap figure off its books, saving ~$5.2MM.

Jones-Drew, once one of the league’s top rushers, was signed to be the starter in Oakland. Things didn’t go as planned, however, and MJD finished with just 96 yards off of 43 carries. As Jones-Drew approaches his 30th birthday towards the end of March, it’d be hard to see the Raiders keeping him and his $2.5MM cap number for 2015. If you’re thinking that Del Rio could show some favoritism and keep him around at that price, think again, as the coach expressed serious doubts about how much the diminutive back has left in the tank. If Jones-Drew returns, I’d expect it to be at a greatly reduced price, but there’s no guarantee that offer would even be there.

Veteran quarterback Matt Schaub isn’t expected to be back in the fold with Carr firmly entrenched as the No 1 quarterback and Matt McGloin capable of handling the duties as the No. 2 QB on the depth chart. The Raiders won’t hesitate to shed Schaub and his $5.5MM cap number. Offensive lineman Kevin Boothe, who has experience at both center and guard, is set to carry a cap number of $1.3MM and could be let go.

Austin Howard theoretically could be let go after finishing as one of the league’s worst regularly playing right guards (per PFF), but the dead money on his deal will probably keep him around for this upcoming season. Del Rio let everyone know last month that Howard will change positions and compete at right tackle with third-year player Menelik Watson. Sebastian Janikowski ain’t cheap with a cap hit of $3.6MM, but he missed only three field goal attempts in 2014. Besides, dropping the soon-to-be 37-year-old would be like taking the eye patch off of the Raiders’ logo.

Positions Of Need:

With Nick Roach already ruled out for the season, the Raiders’ top need is probably finding a starting middle linebacker. Miles Burris could theoretically be called upon again, but he wasn’t all that effective when given the opportunity. Brandon Spikes, who is rather profiecient as a run stopper, probably stands as the best available MLB on the open market. Meanwhile, new defensive coordinator Norton is extremely familiar with Rey Maualuga from their time shared together at USC and the 28-year-old is coming off of his best season to date. Maualuga still graded out as being just a tick below average, according to PFF, but he’d represent a cheaper solution at the position if the Raiders wanted to direct more money elsewhere.

As mentioned earlier, the Raiders have three key receivers who could potentially reach the open market. Regardless of how things shake out there, they can be expected to look into finding a true top target for Carr. Armed with the No. 4 pick in the draft, the Raiders are in prime position to grab Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper doesn’t boast the insane athleticism of last year’s top rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but he’s a very advanced route runner for a player at his age and could make a major impact right off the bat in Oakland. While Cooper’s name has been thrown around as the top wideout in this class for some time, there are some who have made the case for DeVante Parker (Louisville) and Kevin White (West Virginia). Sounds surprising, but you only have to look back to last year where Sammy Watkins was almost universally regarded as the best talent over the rest of the crop, including Beckham. The jury is still out on that race as we’re only one year in, but Beckham just might prove to be the best WR out of that class, despite being the third one off the board.

With Howard going over to tackle and Wisniewski set to hit free agency, the Raiders will be looking to fill in their offensive line. In the draft, At the top of the draft, there’s Iowa’s Brandon Scherff, who could play tackle or guard. Taking him at No. 4 might be something of a reach, however, and they’ve got other needs. Tafur recently suggested that Florida’s Cam Erving could make a lot of sense for Oakland and he projects more as a second-round prospect. An added bonus: scouts feel that Erving could work as a guard, tackle, or center. In free agency, Oakland could make a play for 49ers guard Mike Iupati or Broncos guard/tackle Orlando Franklin. Neither one will be cheap, but the Raiders don’t have to be with a great deal of cap room to work with.

The Raiders could use a defensive tackle and, as is the case with every team seeking a DT, they’ve been connected heavily to Ndamukong Suh. After all, the Raiders are cash flush and there’s no better way to upgrade the D-Line than adding one of the league’s most feared players. There are options outside of Suh in free agency, of course. Broncos notable Terrance Knighton would cost a whole lot less, as would Henry Melton, who was looking pretty solid in 2014 before his injury. Nick Fairley is understandably overshadowed by Suh this offseason, but he’s slated to hit the open market and he’d move the needle for any team that signs him.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

Donald Penn signed a two-year contract with the Raiders around this time last year and he’s set to earn $4.6MM in his walk year. You can beat up Oakland for a lot of their decisions in the spring of 2014, but Penn’s deal is not one of them. He more than earned his contract with his play last year which resulted in him being ranked as the No. 7 ranked tackle in the league by PFF (subscription required). Great tackles don’t grow on trees and Penn has a history of being one of the better ones in the league, earning a positive grade from PFF in every season since 2011.

Overall Outlook:

The Raiders have a boatload of cap room to work with this offseason, the No. 4 overall pick, and they’ll have every opportunity to vault themselves into the playoff mix in 2015. The question is whether they’ll utilize those resources properly. Their recent history says they won’t, but nothing is constant in the NFL. Maybe this year is the year that the Raiders get things right.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

March 4th, 2015 at 7:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Gerald McCoy, DT: $14,595,000
  2. Vincent Jackson, WR: $12,209,777
  3. Michael Johnson, DE: $9,000,000
  4. Dashon Goldson, S: $8,000,000
  5. Logan Mankins, G: $7,000,000
  6. Anthony Collins, T: $6,000,000
  7. Alterraun Verner, CB: $4,250,000
  8. Evan Dietrich-Smith, C: $3,750,000
  9. Mike Evans, WR: $3,325,341
  10. Michael Koenen, P / Clinton McDonald, DT: $3,250,000 (tie)

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

Other:

Overview:

Picked by some as a possible surprise playoff contender, the Buccaneers completely collapsed under new head coach Lovie Smith en route to winning just two games, their lowest win total since 1986. Veteran quarterback Josh McCown, signeLavonte Davidd to a curious multi-year contract during the offseason, couldn’t replicate his 2013 success, and ended up splitting time at QB with second-year player Mike Glennon. A revamped offensive line also struggled, leaving rookie receiver Mike Evans as the sole bright spot on offense.

Tampa Bay’s defense, expected to be the stronger side of the club, also played below expectations, finishing 25th in both yard and points allowed. The unit was especially poor against the pass — after releasing Darrelle Revis prior to the season, the Bucs finished 28th in passing yards allowed. On a positive note, Tampa did lock up star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to a seven-year extension worth more than $95MM.

Key Free Agents:

Like most teams who performed badly enough to be holding the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the Buccaneers don’t have a ton of free agents who they need to worry about retaining. Oniel Cousins played at both tackle spots, ultimately starting seven contests, but wasn’t effective, posting a -21.0 Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required), struggling especially in pass-blocking. At 31, Cousins’ best days are behind him, and he shouldn’t be a priority in free agency.

At tight end, Luke Stocker was also below-average in his 331 snaps, but he’s been decent in prior seasons. He’s just 27 years old, and not a terrible option as the No. 3 TE behind Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Brandon Myers. Stocker shouldn’t require much of a commitment to be re-signed, so I’d expect him to be brought back.

The Bucs field one of the best outside linebackers in football in Lavonte David, but Mason Foster has been manning the middle since being drafted in 2011. He had been steadily improving as his career progressed, but after being slowed last season by a shoulder injury (and ultimately missing six games), he regressed. Still, Foster just turned 26 on Sunday, so he has youth and experience (54 career starts) on his side. He’s worth re-signing, but with the Dolphins reportedly showing interest, the Bucs shouldn’t get into a bidding war.

After following Smith from Chicago, Major Wright started seven games at free safety, rating as a perfectly average player (+0.4 PFF grade). He was among the worst safeties in the league in 2013, so there’s a concern that he could slide back to his prior levels of production. Wright earned only the minimum salary benefit last season, however, so if Smith feels comfortable with him in the back end, he’ll probably return (especially if Dashon Goldson doesn’t).

Since being selected 51st overall in the 2011 draft, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been nothing short of a bust, starting just 10 games in four seasons and never posting more than three sacks in any one year. Fellow end Adrian Clayborn, picked No. 20 in that ’11 draft, hasn’t disappointed to the same level, but he certainly hasn’t lived up to his draft status. Both players can probably survive in reserve roles elsewhere, but a return to Tampa shouldn’t be a priority.

Elsewhere on the defense, reserve linebacker Dane Fletcher is a key contributor on special teams and will probably be retained to serve in that capacity once again. Defensive end Larry English, a former first-rounder, struggled in his part-time pass-rushing duty, and could be running out of NFL opportunities.

Possible Cap Casualties:

After signing a five-year deal prior to the 2013 season, Goldson was supposed to team with Revis to give Tampa Bay one of the most feared secondaries in the league. Goldson, now 30 years old, hasn’t held up his end of the bargain, as he’s been among the worst safeties in the NFL, including grading out as the second-worst at his position in 2014, according to PFF. He’s been floated as a trade candidate, but the Buccaneers would be hard-pressed to find another team willing to take on Goldon’s contract, which contains a $7.5MM base salary for this season ($4MM of which is guaranteed). Tampa would have to carry that $4MM in dead money if it cuts Goldson, but his play has dropped to the point where a release seems inevitable, although the two sides could agree to a pay cut.

Michael Koenen is a decent punter, but he is still a specialist, making his 2015 $3.25MM cap hit hard to justify. He ranked just 29th in net punting average, so the Bucs should at least make a move to reduce his salary. Or, if Tampa thinks is can find a better option through the draft or free agency, it can release Koenen, clearing his entire cap charge.

There have been rumblings that defensive end Michael Johnson could be on the chopping block, as his first season in Tampa was disappointing. He’s not a great fit for Smith’s defensive scheme, but he was a very productive player with the Bengals as recently as two years ago. Johnson is only 28 years old, and he’d count $7MM in dead money if he were cut (juxtaposed against just $2MM in savings). He’s probably safe for 2015.

Two other Buccaneers would have been listed here had the club not already made a decision on their respective fates. Tampa will retain veteran receiver Vincent Jackson at his $12.2MM cap charge, a somewhat surprising decision given the trade rumors that had swirled around him last season. On the other hand, the Bucs will either trade or release failed 2014 signee Anthony Collins, who never worked out in his transition to a full-time role at left tackle.

Positions Of Need:

The most glaring need on Tampa’s roster is obviously at quarterback, where McCown has already been released and the club is reportedly open to trading Glennon. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, they shouldn’t have to delve into an extremely weak free agent QB market, because as holders of the No. 1 overall selection, they can have their choice of successful NCAA signal-callers — but will it be Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota?

With about eight weeks left until the draft, the early returns show Winston as the favorite to hear his name called first. Speaking at the combine, Smith said he would be comfortable with the FSU alum as the “face of the franchise,” and today Winston visited with the club’s owners in Tampa. Winston looks like the pick, but as we’ve learned in previous drafts, anything can happen when the process begins.

After playing the majority of the year on the right side, Demar Dotson flipped to left tackle near the end of season and proved to be at least competent. Still, tackle is a need area for the Bucs — with Dotson in tow, the club can probably seek out the best tackle available, regardless of side, and plug Dotson in at the other spot. There aren’t many free agent options at left tackle, so Tampa is probably safer looking for a right-sider. Bryan Bulaga is the best choice available at RT, but the Bucs could also take a look at Doug Free or Jermey Parnell, both of whom played for the Cowboys last season. They could take a chance on the recently-released Michael Oher, but after striking out on Collins last year, they might not want to take another swing on a risky free agent.

Center and left guard are spoken for by Evan Dietrich-Smith and Logan Mankins, respectively, but right guard could be upgraded — Patrick Omameh rated as the No. 55 guard among 78 qualifiers, per PFF. Tampa could make a play for the top-name guards, like Mike Iupati or Orlando Franklin, or settle for a lesser-known player like Detriot’s Rob Sims. The Bucs could also take the veteran route and look at older players such as Daryn Colledge or Davin Joseph (a longtime Buc). The draft is said to be chock-full of offensive lineman, however, meaning the club could look to fill holes at tackle and/or guard with younger players.

On defense, Tampa Bay’s scheme requires pressure up front, something that was hard to come by last season (outside of McCoy’s production). Both the draft and free agency have plenty of options on the edge, so the Bucs should be able to find some help. From an on-the-field standpoint, Greg Hardy might be the perfect fit, as he could bring pressure from outside while McCoy dominates from the interior. But with his off-the-field baggage, Tampa might be uncomfortable making a play for the 26-year-old end. Instead, the club could target the Eagles’ Brandon Graham, who would fit better in a 4-3 look than he does in Philadelphia’s 3-4, or a veteran like Dwight Freeney. Ultimately, I expect the Bucs to add at least one top-notch edge rusher, plus several lower-tier depth options.

Elsewhere, the Buccaneers could aim to find a middle linebacker to replace Foster, but the FA market doesn’t have much to offer, meaning the draft might be the way to go. Additionally, Tampa could use another safety simply because Goldson’s play has been so detrimental. But with his large cap figure, I doubt the club would feel comfortable spending so much on the position. If they can pawn Goldson off to another team, maybe Tampa takes a run at Devin McCourty, or ex-Smith pupil Charles Tillman (if he’s willing to convert to safety), but it’s more likely they stay with their current crop.

Smith has made it clear that the Buccaneers don’t intend to sit out free agency, and with more than $33MM in cap space to use, they should be major players as they look for upgrades to their roster.

Extension Candidates/Contract Decisions:

The only viable extension candidate on Tampa Bay’s roster is David, who has quickly become one of the league’s best defenders since being drafted in 2012. The 25-year-old has topped 100 tackles in each of his first three seasons, and placed among the top-seven at his position (according to PFF) during that same span. Unfortunately for David, 4-3 outside linebackers aren’t highly-valued on the open market, and even though David is perhaps the best overall player at said position, he doesn’t have the earning potential of, say, a 3-4 outside ‘backer.

However, there’s no reason David shouldn’t earn the top salary among 4-3 OLBs, where Lance Briggs‘ $7MM per year average is the figure to beat. K.J. Wright and the Seahawks recently agreed to an extension that pays him $6.75MM per season, and David should be able to top that. I’d be surprised if David doesn’t at least match Briggs’ figure, and if pressed, I’d wager he’ll earn more.

Tampa Bay also has a fifth-year option on running back Doug Martin. Ever since his electrifying rookie season, the 2012 first-rounder has dealt with injuries and slowly been phased out of the offense. Even while starting 11 games last year, he failed to top 500 yards rushing, posting just 3.7 yards per carry. The Bucs will decline the option.

Overall Outlook:

The Buccaneers figure to be one of the more interesting teams in the league next season, especially if they choose Winston to be their quarterback of the future. The roster has holes to be sure, but the overall makeup of the club isn’t that different from the one that had observers predicting a postseason appearance prior to last season. Armed with ample space, the Bucs could make a few solid additions, and with a bit of luck, the playoffs aren’t completely out of reach — but it’s probably safer to view 2015 as a rebuilding year in Tampa Bay.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason Outlook: St. Louis Rams

March 4th, 2015 at 9:34am CST by Luke Adams

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Robert Quinn, DE: $16,744,110
  2. Sam Bradford, QB: $16,580,000
  3. Chris Long, DE: $12,500,000
  4. Jake Long, T: $10,500,000
  5. Jared Cook, TE: $8,300,441
  6. Rodger Saffold, OL: $8,250,000
  7. Greg Robinson, T: $4,837,295
  8. Scott Wells, C: $4,750,000
  9. William Hayes, DE: $4,355,000
  10. James Laurinaitis, LB: $4,275,000

Notable coaching changes:

Draft:

  • No. 10 overall pick
  • Owe fourth-round pick to Buccaneers in deal for Mark Barron.
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Buccaneers in deal for Mark Barron.
  • Owe seventh-round pick to Falcons in deal for Alec Ogletree.
  • Acquired seventh-round pick from Patriots in deal for Greg Salas.

Other:

Overview:

Even in a hyper-competitive NFC West division, the Rams entered the summer of 2014 as a potential dark horse postseason candidate. The team didn’t have much offensive firepower to speak of, but the addition of Aaron Donald made the defensive line the scariest in the NFL, and pairing a healthy Sam Bradford with 2013 breakout running back Zac Stacy looked like it would, at the very least, make the offense competent.

That optimism quickly took a turn south though, when Bradford was sidelined for a second straight season with an ACL injury. Following Bradford’s injury, the hits kept on coming: the defensive line took some time to gel, Stacy wasn’t nearly as effective, second overall pick Greg Robinson had some growing pains as he adjusted to the NFL, and key contributors like Chris Long and Jake Long went down with injuries.

Given all that went wrong in St. Louis, it’s a little surprising the team even managed to win six games, but a disappointing 2014 season means the club could once again head into 2015 as a sleeper. Armed with another top-10 draft pick, the Rams are prepared to add more talent to a roster that already features a handful of promising young players. There are plenty of question marks – particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where the club looks set to give Bradford one more shot – but there are plenty of solid building blocks already in place.

Key Free Agents:

A pair of quarterbacks who started games for the team last season – Shaun Hill and Austin Davis – are eligible for free agency, and even with Bradford due back, I’d expect to see the club try to re-sign one or both of those signal-callers. Hill, who will be entering his age-35 season is the sort of veteran backup who can at least give a team a chance to win if its starter goes down — he had a respectable 63.3% completion percentage and an 83.9 passer rating in his eight starts last season, and should be fairly inexpensive.Sam Bradford

If the Rams prefer not to retain both quarterbacks, it may make more sense to bring back Davis. His numbers in his own eight starts were extremely similar to Hill’s across the board, and at age 25, there’s presumably some room for improvement. Davis is also a restricted free agent, so the club could tender him a one-year offer at an affordable rate, and perhaps put off a more permanent decision on his future with the club for another season.

Besides the quarterbacks, the offense has a few more notable free agents, with tight end Lance Kendricks, offensive tackle Joe Barksdale, and wide receiver Kenny Britt all eligible to hit the open market. The Rams initiated extension discussions with Britt’s camp quite early, which is a sign the club would like to bring him back, and that makes sense. The former first-round pick had a nice bounce-back season in 2014 after reuniting with Jeff Fisher, establishing a new career high with 48 receptions, despite catching balls from a pair of backup QBs.

Britt will almost certainly be more expensive this time around than he was a year ago, when St. Louis was able to ink him to a one-year, $1.4MM pact. But for an offense that’s a little thin on playmakers, spending a few million on a 26-year-old wideout with big-play potential (he averaged 15.6 yards per catch in 2014, right in line with his career mark) looks like a worthwhile investment.

Barksdale’s future in St. Louis, on the other hand, looks more uncertain. The veteran tackle is reportedly set to test the open market after three years with the Rams, and I’m not sure the club will aggressively engage in a bidding war to retain him. Even though offensive line is an area of need for the Rams, the team may view the right tackle position as the best fit for Jake Long, now that Robinson has assumed the left tackle role. If that’s the case, there may not be a spot for Barksdale, who hasn’t played a whole lot of guard since entering the NFL. On the other hand, if the Rams end up parting ways with Long, or deciding to try him at guard, locking up Barksdale would become a greater priority.

As for Kendricks, with $8MM+ already committed to No. 1 tight end Jared Cook, it seems unlikely that the Rams would be willing to spend $4MM on a second tight end, and that’s Kendricks’ rumored asking price. While he could be back, it wouldn’t surprise me if Kendricks signed elsewhere, and the Rams brought back restricted free agent Cory Harkey and perhaps added another tight end in the draft.

Among the Rams’ other free agents, safety Rodney McLeod looks like the only key player the team will absolutely make an effort to retain. Appearing in more than 1,050 defensive snaps in 2014, the 24-year-old continued to establish himself as a solid NFL starter, and the arrival of former first-round pick Mark Barron shouldn’t jeopardize McLeod’s role in the secondary. As a restricted free agent, McLeod will be eligible for a one-year tender, and I expect he’ll get one.

Possible Cap Casualties:

The Rams have already begun cutting ties with overpriced players, parting ways with defensive tackle Kendall Langford, who became expendable when Donald immediately established himself as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Releasing Lanford created $6MM in cap savings for the club.

Next up? It may be Jake Long. As discussed earlier, the former first overall pick has been supplanted at left tackle by Robinson, and his $10.5MM cap number doesn’t really play anywhere else. Restructuring Long’s deal and trying him at a new position remains a possibility, but releasing him would save $8MM in cap room, which could be put toward signing one or two younger – and likely healthier – offensive linemen.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, Scott Wells looks like a logical cap casualty as well. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), among players who played at least 25% of their teams’ snaps in 2014, no center performed worse than Wells, who graded well below average as a run blocker and was even worse in pass protection. The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his deal, and cutting him would create $3.75MM in cap savings for St. Louis.

Among the other veteran players with sizable cap hits, defensive lineman Eugene Sims may also be on the chopping block. At around $3MM, it wouldn’t cost the Rams a whole lot to keep Sims in the mix, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the team chooses to do so, since he has been effective as a run stopper and can occasionally get to the quarterback. Still, he’s only a part-time contributor, and cutting him would clear nearly his entire cap number from the books — if the opportunity arises to add a cheaper replacement, I believe the team would explore that possibility.

Positions Of Need:

The Rams’ defense was once again its strength in 2014, ranking ninth in overall DVOA, according to Football Outsiders. With no key pending free agents set to hit the market, St. Louis is in fairly good shape on that side of the ball. Upgrading at linebacker and/or cornerback is a possibility this offseason, but it would be a luxury, rather than a necessity. For the most part, the team should focus on its offense, where a number of positions must be addressed.

First and foremost, the Rams will be on the lookout once again for a long-term answer at quarterback. A former first overall pick, Bradford was supposed to be that long-term solution, but injuries have limited him to just seven games in his last two seasons, and even when he has been healthy, his performance on the field early in his career has been up and down. Fisher and general manager Les Snead have spoken highly of the 27-year-old, with both men downplaying or outright dismissing trade rumors that swirled around at last month’s combine. Bradford also played a role in the team’s promotion of Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator, and the hiring of Chris Weinke as quarterbacks coach, which is a sign that the club expects him to stick around.

It appears likely that Bradford will head into the 2015 season as the team’s No. 1 quarterback, assuming he’s healthy enough to do so, but it will be the final year of his contract, so the club will eventually have to decide whether to go in a different direction. Of course, if the team ultimately opts to replace Bradford with someone else, that replacement may not be added to the roster this offseason, given the lack of viable options on the free agent market and in the draft.

If the Rams don’t add a new quarterback this offseason, they can at least give their old QB a few more receiving options with which to work. Brian Quick flashed some real potential in 2014, but former first-rounder Tavon Austin still hasn’t shown a whole lot, and there’s no guarantee Britt will return. I wouldn’t expect the Rams to make a major play in free agency for someone like Jeremy Maclin or Randall Cobb, but adding a second-tier veteran is realistic. Nate Washington, who played for Fisher in Tennessee, is one possibility, and I could imagine Cecil Shorts being a fit in St. Louis. Selecting a wideout during the first day or two of the draft is also in play for the Rams.

While adding talent at the skill positions would be nice, the Rams’ more pressing needs are in the trenches — Robinson will be given every opportunity to make the left tackle position his own for the remainder of his rookie contract, and perhaps well beyond that. And last season’s big free agent signee, Rodger Saffold, was solid at left guard in 2014. However, the team could end up overhauling its other three offensive line positions this offseason.

Wells, as mentioned above, was ineffective at center, and Davin Joseph – who PFF ranked as a bottom-five guard in the league – was nearly as bad beside him. Barksdale was solid enough at right tackle, but both he and Joseph are on expiring contracts, while Wells is a strong candidate to be cut.

If the Rams do make a splash in free agency, I’d expect it to be somewhere on the offensive line. Interior options include Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, who would be a nice fit in St. Louis, as well as Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski, 49ers guard Mike Iupati, former Falcons guard Justin Blalock, and Bengals guard Clint Boling. Potential targets on the outside include Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga and Cowboys tackle Doug Free. Adding anyone from that list, and then drafting a lineman with the No. 10 overall pick, would go a long way toward solidifying the group that will be tasked with keeping Bradford upright in 2015.

The Rams are no lock to use that No. 10 pick on an offensive lineman — if a receiver like Amari Cooper or Kevin White falls that far, or if one of the top quarterbacks somehow slips, it would be hard to pass up on that sort of talent. Still, the same could be said of Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff, who would be a very nice addition if he’s available when the Rams are on the clock. Stanford’s Andrus Peat, LSU’s La’el Collins, and Miami’s Ereck Flowers also figure to receive consideration from St. Louis’ brass.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The Rams don’t have a ton of cap room at the moment, and are the only NFL team that didn’t carry over any cap space from 2014. They should be able to create some flexibility by cutting (or significantly restructuring) Long and Wells, as noted earlier, and Bradford’s contract is another one that figures to be addressed. He’s currently set to count for $16.58MM against the cap in the final year of his deal.

Asking Bradford flat out to accept a pay cut may not be the best course of action for the Rams, even if a player coming off consecutive ACL injuries probably isn’t worth a $13MM base salary. Restructuring his deal in a way that reduces Bradford’s 2015 salary and cap hit while also giving him some bonus money up front, and tacking another year or two onto the contract, would seem like a logical solution, given how much the Rams’ brass likes the veteran signal-caller. If Bradford looks at this year’s dismal free agent class and believes he could cash in on the open market a year from now, he may drive a hard bargain, but working out a short-term contract extension seems like a mutually beneficial move for the two sides.

Besides Bradford, there are no extension candidates on the roster that need to urgently be addressed. The Rams locked up their top pass rusher, Robert Quinn, to a long-term deal last year, earning a big check mark on their to-do list. While the team could approach defensive tackle Michael Brockers about a new contract this summer, he has a fifth-year option for 2016, so there’s no hurry to get anything done with him quite yet.

Greg Zuerlein will be eligible for free agency after the 2015 season, but he’s coming off a year in which he missed three field goals from inside the 40-yard line, despite making five of seven from 50+. Although he may sign a new deal in the fall, I’d expect the Rams to want to make sure he’s back on track in the 2015 season before investing $3MM+ annually in him on a multiyear contract.

If the team needs to create additional cap room for 2015, Quinn, Cook, and Chris Long are among the players whose contracts could be restructured.

Overall Outlook:

PFR’s Rob DiRe wrote back in November that the Rams are only a quarterback away from contention, and while there’s some truth to that, I’d argue that the team is perhaps a couple offensive linemen away from contention as well — even if St. Louis were to add the next Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, that QB would need some solid players in front of him to keep him on his feet.

Without a real shot at Mariota or Winston, and with no free agent quarterbacks worth a significant investment, Bradford looks like the Rams’ best option heading into 2015, meaning the club can perhaps put its search for a new QB on the back burner temporarily. The defense looks good, and adding some new blood at wide receiver, offensive line, and perhaps tight end would give Bradford a greater opportunity to succeed, and to stay healthy. The former No. 1 pick may prove not to be the long-term solution at the position in St. Louis (or, potentially, Los Angeles), but assuming they can patch up their other holes, there may just be enough talent elsewhere on the roster to make the Rams a playoff contender in 2014.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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