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Poll: Best Remaining Free Agent

May 24th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Ben Levine

In March, PFR’s Peter Sowards took a look at the best remaining free agents. Each of those players has since found a new home, as have many of their peers. With that said, team’s don’t need to necessarily scrape the bottom of the barrel if they’re still looking to add a veteran presence.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jermichael Finley is certainly the most intriguing player available. The 6-5 tight end caught 55 passes for 767 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011, following by a solid 2012 campaign. He appeared in only six games this past season after suffering a spinal cord injury.

Teams may also be interested in former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. He has only appeared in 15 games over the past two seasons, but he was certainly a productive wideout prior to that. On the line, two-time Pro Bowler Davin Joseph seemed to have recovered nicely from a 2012 knee injury, appearing in all 16 games this past season.

Linebacker James Anderson led the 2013 Bears in tackles, but has yet to sign with a team. The 30-year-old had compiled more than 100 tackles in three of the last four seasons. Six-time Pro Bowler Kevin Williams is also on the market. The big defensive tackle is certainly slowing down, but he still appeared in 15 games for the Vikings last season. In the secondary, Terrell Thomas could be a good option for teams lacking depth. Thomas returned from ACL tears in 2011 and 2012 and ultimately played 16 games for the Giants.

Who do you think is the best remaining free agent? Did I forget anybody? Let us know in the comments.

Poll: Jimmy Graham’s Contract Situation

May 23rd, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The most exciting stretches of the NFL offseason are behind us, with only a handful of notable free agents still on the market and teams signing their draft picks in time for training camp. Still, there will be a handful of storylines worth keeping an eye on over the next several weeks, and perhaps none are bigger than Jimmy Graham‘s upcoming hearing related to the positional designation on his franchise tag.

The Saints used their franchise tag on Graham earlier in the offseason, locking in a one-year contract offer worth the amount for a tight end: $7.035MM. However, now that a grievance has been filed, an arbitrator will be tasked with determining whether Graham should actually be considered a wide receiver, since he lined up as a wideout for about two-thirds of his snaps in 2013.

Graham’s side will point to a section of the CBA that states a franchise player’s position is the one “at which the franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior league year,” arguing the standout pass-catcher should be eligible for the franchise salary for a receiver, which is expected to be about $11.5MM. That hearing is scheduled for June 17-18.

It’s possible that the two sides reach a multiyear agreement before a ruling on Graham’s position comes down, but if they don’t, the decision made at June’s hearing will significantly affect what sort of long-term money the Saints’ star could receive. Depending on how things play out, a handful of different scenarios are possible: Graham could play the 2014 season on the one-year franchise tag, he and the Saints could agree to a long-term contract, or a rival suitor could swoop in and sign Graham to an offer sheet, which New Orleans would have the opportunity to match.

That last outcome may seem unlikely, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report recently reported that multiple clubs are still “strongly considering” extending an offer sheet to Graham. If New Orleans elected not to match such an offer, the club would receive two future first-round picks from Graham’s new team. In my view, that’s probably too significant a price to pay for a tight end, particularly since you’d probably be committing to paying Graham $10MM annually in addition to losing the picks. Still, a contender expecting to be near the back of the first round for the next couple years could decide it’s worth the risk. At this point in the year, a deal could conceivably be structured in a way that would make it difficult for the capped-out Saints to match it.

I still think the most likely scenario sees Graham and the Saints eventually agree to multiyear contract, like Drew Brees did with the team a couple years ago. But that’s not a given yet, and the positional hearing in June adds a unique wrinkle to the situation. What do you think? How will this play out?

Poll: Most Interesting Rookie Storyline?

May 18th, 2014 at 7:09pm CST by David Kipke

The 2014 NFL draft was surely never short of intrigue. The draft featured defensive Jadeveon Clowney, described by Todd McShay as “the most physically talented defensive lineman I’ve ever evaluated.” It saw Johnny Manziel, the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, fall to the Browns at the 22nd overall pick — the same exact pick that they used to take eventual bust Brady Quinn out of Notre Dame in the 2007 draft. Brandin Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner for college football’s best wide receiver, was drafted by Saints. Many speculate that the explosive Cooks could mesh very quickly with the Saints’ signature offensive air attack.

Additionally, Teddy Bridgewater, considered a year ago to be a near-lock to go at the very top of the first round, slipped to the Vikings, who traded up for the 32nd overall pick to select the Louisville product. To top it all off, on the draft’s third and final day, Michael Sam, the first openly gay man ever to enter the NFL draft, was selected by the Rams 249th overall in the seventh round.

With the draft over, the eyes of the NFL shift to September and the upcoming season. Which of these rookie storylines do you find most compelling as we approach the 2014 season? If you think another rookie storyline will be even more compelling next season, please share and discuss below!

Poll: Best Late Round Quarterback?

May 10th, 2014 at 3:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

Just because they don’t have the fanfare of a Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t mean the day three quarterbacks are destined to be career backups. A handful of high-caliber NFL quarterbacks do get selected in the later rounds.

Not every quarterback drafted in the sixth round is going to turn into Tom Brady–most first-round quarterbacks won’t accomplish half of what Brady has–but many if not all of these fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-round quarterbacks will have a chance to push for a starting job at some point in their career, either by performance or by injury.

The question is, which of these quarterbacks is going to have the best chance to find success as a starter in the NFL? That takes a combination of talent and opportunity, where some of these draftees have definite roadblocks in front of them in the form of quarterbacks entrenched as starters.

Of course, a few more quarterbacks will still come off the board in the next 50+ picks, and a couple more will be snagged as undrafted free agents. Maybe Stephen Morris of Miami, Tahj Boyd of Clemson, Garrett Gilbert of SMU, Keith Price of Washington, Brett Smith of Wyoming, or Connor Shaw of South Carolina ends up being the best of the group, although they are still waiting to hear their names called.

Poll: Best Player Left In Draft?

May 9th, 2014 at 10:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Over the past few years, many noteworthy players have been selected in the fourth round, with Geno Atkins, Alterraun Verner, and Julius Thomas among them. Even after two days, three rounds, and 100 picks, the odds are that at least a few players selected early tomorrow will turn out to be Pro Bowlers. With that in mind, we ask you: who is the best player left on the board? Is it a quarterback like A.J. McCarron or Tom Savage? A receiver such as Martavis Bryant or Bruce Ellington? Corner Pierre Desir? Or perhaps a defensive lineman like DaQuan Jones? Vote below!

Poll: Best Trade Up In First Round?

May 8th, 2014 at 11:40pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Texans stayed put at No. 1, and many teams frequently mentioned as possible traders – including the Lions, Cowboys, Dolphins, and 49ers – also stood pat, there were a handful of intriguing moves in tonight’s first round. Five teams made deals that saw them move up in the first round, as follows:

  • The Bills acquired the No. 4 overall pick from the Browns in exchange for the No. 9 pick, a 2015 first-rounder, and a 2015 fourth-rounder. Drafted wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
  • The Browns acquired the No. 8 overall pick from the Vikings in exchange for the No. 9 pick and the No. 145 pick. Drafted cornerback Justin Gilbert.
  • The Saints acquired the No. 20 overall pick from the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 27 pick and the No. 91 pick. Drafted wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
  • The Browns acquired the No. 22 overall pick from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 26 pick and the No. 83 pick. Drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel.
  • The Vikings acquired the No. 32 overall pick from the Seahawks in exchange for the No. 40 pick and the No. 108 pick. Drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Taking into account how far each team moved up, the price they had to pay to do so, and the player they ultimately landed, which trade up do you think represents the best deal of the night?

Poll: What Will Falcons Do In Draft?

April 30th, 2014 at 2:29pm CST by Luke Adams

While recent reports have suggested the Bills are strongly considering a move up in the draft, and the Lions have also been frequently cited as a candidate to trade up, the Falcons are viewed as perhaps the most likely team to jump up into the top five. Atlanta has long been linked to South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, and look like a natural trade partner for the Texans, who hold the first overall pick and don’t appear to have made a decision on their pick yet.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who is no stranger to blockbuster draft trades, spoke to reporters today about his club’s plans for that sixth overall pick, and dropped a few morsels of information. Dimitroff admitted he has talked trade with a few teams, and while he declined to identify those specific clubs, the GM said there have been some “interesting discussions” (Twitter links via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com).

Still, while Dimitroff certainly left the door open to the possibility of trading up, he didn’t give any signal that he’s leaning in that direction. The GM referred to this year’s top 10 prospects as “top-notch,” hinting that he’d be happy to end up with a player in the back half of that top 10 (Twitter link). He added that Atlanta has also explored the possibility of trading down from No. 6, and that the club “won’t sit on [its] hands” when it comes to landing the player it wants (Twitter links).

It’s a little tricky to separate the signal from the noise in Dimitroff’s comments, but it sounds like plenty of options are still in play for the Falcons. If the price is right, I could see the team moving up to snag Clowney, but landing an offensive tackle such as Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, or Taylor Lewan – either at No. 6 or lower – seems like a feasible option as well. For what it’s worth, Dimitroff said he doesn’t expect to complete a “massive deal” before the draft, though that doesn’t necessarily preclude a major trade on draft night (Twitter link).

So what do you think? Will the Falcons make another big splash on draft night, like they did three years ago when they moved up to land Julio Jones, or will the team take a quieter approach this time around?

Poll: Which Embattled QB Will Have Most Success?

April 28th, 2014 at 9:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Vince Young is set to work out for the Browns, and if he catches on he’d join a list of quarterbacks looking for a restart.

A number of embattled quarterbacks found new homes this offseason, each hoping to resurrect their once-promising careers. The majority of them will likely be serving as backups, but that also means an injury could suddenly thrust them into a starting role.

Mark Sanchez inked a one-year, $2.25MM deal to sit on the bench with the Eagles. He could be Nick Foles‘ backup, but the team could also select a quarterback in the draft. If that’s the case, Sanchez’s opportunity diminishes even more.

Brandon Weeden will have another opportunity to showcase the talent that (debatably) justified his first-round selection in 2012. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, minimum deal with the Cowboys where he will serve as a backup to Tony Romo. Considering Romo’s injury history, Weeden may have a chance to start next season (assuming Kyle Orton is not on the team).

It seemed inevitable that Matt Schaub‘s tenure in Houston would come to a close, and he was traded by the Texans to the Raiders last month. Following the trade of Terrelle Pryor, the starting gig seems to be Schaub’s. Barring the team drafting a top quarterback, he’ll likely be atop the depth chart heading into next season.

Josh Freeman was the starter for the Buccaneers from 2009 to 2012, but he completely unraveled prior to his release. After finishing the season with the Vikings, he signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Giants this offseason. Eli Manning is one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL, but Freeman is certainly a competent backup.

Which embattled quarterback do you expect to have the best season in 2014?

Poll: NFL Considering Developmental League

April 27th, 2014 at 8:14pm CST by Peter Sowards

In August 2007, the NFL ceased operation of NFL Europa, issuing a press release that “The Time is right to re-focus the NFL’s strategy on initiatives with global impact, including worldwide media coverage of our sport and the staging of live regular-season NFL games.”

And thus ended the NFL’s developmental league, in place since 1991 save for a two-year hiatus from 1993-94.

However, the league’s new director of football operations, Troy Vincent, told the Associated Press today that he sees the installation of a developmental league as a way to preserve and grow the game.

“We need to keep the pipeline of talent flowing, and that means for all areas of our game: players, coaches, scouts, game officials,” Vincent said. “I am responsible to look at whatever the competition committee looks at, and that includes a developmental league. 

“For all this football talent around, we have to create another platform for developing it. Maybe it’s an academy — at would it look like? Maybe it’s a spring league; we’ll look to see if there is an appetite for it.” 

Vincent also mentioned adding an eighth official to the referee crew for games and coaches using tablets on the sidelines.

Vote in the poll below and feel free to add your opinion in the comments section.

Poll: Which QB Should Be Drafted First?

April 22nd, 2014 at 3:43pm CST by Luke Adams

With so many teams near the top of the draft lacking a long-term answer at the quarterback position, it seemed as if we might see a run on signal-callers early in the evening on May 8, with Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, and Teddy Bridgewater all coming off the board within the first few picks.

In recent weeks though, the perception of this year’s quarterback class has shifted, with the general consensus now suggesting there are significant question marks about every QB in the class. Some players, like Pitt’s Tom Savage, have seen their stocks rise, but the players at or near the top of the board, like Manziel and Bridgewater, are no longer viewed as locks to be selected in the top 10, or – in Bridgewater’s case – even the top 25.

A piece from Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com this week suggested that Bortles is considered the quarterback most likely to come off the board first. The UCF product may not have the upside of others in the draft, but he’s considered a safer pick than most of his fellow signal-callers. In a league where the job security of coaches and general managers is often directly tied to the performance of first-round quarterbacks, opting for the choice with the least risk could look awfully appealing on draft night.

Still, with the draft a little over two weeks away, we still have no idea where those big three will land, and guys like Savage, Derek Carr, A.J. McCarron, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Zach Mettenberger are wild cards as well. What do you think? Which of these guys would you draft if all of them were still on the board and you needed a quarterback? Which QB should be drafted first?

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