Brandon Williams (DT) - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens Trying To Re-Sign Ricky Wagner

February 13th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Ravens right tackle Ricky Wagner could be the best soon-to-be free agent bookend in the NFL, but the club is trying to keep him off the open market, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link). While Wagner “rebuffed” the Ravens’ initial offer, the team is motivated to re-up both him and nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Wagner, whom the Ravens chose in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, is coming off a 14-start season – his third straight campaign with at least that many. Along the way, the 27-year-old ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 18th-best tackle among 78 qualifiers, and he could seek a deal worth around $10MM per annum as a result. That would be a bank-breaking amount for a right tackle, as would the $14.4MM-plus franchise tag, and either route could prove too rich for a Baltimore club which currently only has in the neighborhood of $15MM in spending room.

As for Williams, it has been known since last month that the Ravens are going to make a strong effort to prevent him from hitting free agency March 9. Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta called Williams an “‘A’ player” for the Ravens a couple weeks ago.

Ravens To Prioritize Brandon Williams Re-Up

January 28th, 2017 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens have lost several starters in free agency over the past few years and may be set to see more depart this year, but they appear intent on keeping at least one. Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta said from the Senior Bowl the Ravens “have to try and retain” defensive tackle Brandon Williams.”

“He’s an ‘A’ player for us; he’s one of our best defensive players,” said DeCosta, who earlier this week declined a Colts GM interview request to continue with the Ravens. “He’s a rock inside. This guy can stuff the run, he can rush the quarterback, he can do everything we want him to do.”

Williams and right tackle Ricky Wagner profile as Baltimore’s top UFAs, but Wagner’s price might escalate past the Ravens’ comfort zone. Williams’ could as well, but the team has the franchise tag it could use in the meantime. Williams comprises part of a loaded defensive tackle class, with Kawann Short, Dontari Poe and Johnathan Hankins all sitting as UFAs. After Fletcher Cox‘s 2016 deal raised the AAV bar north of $17MM for DTs, this could be a pricey offseason for teams who want to acquire top talent on the defensive interior. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com projects the defensive tackle franchise tag to cost $13.468MM. The Ravens stand to possess just more than $15MM in cap space.

The soon-to-be 28-year-old Williams has started for the Ravens the past three seasons after arriving from Division II Missouri Southern. His run-stopping ability graded out well on Pro Football Focus in 2016, anchoring what the site called a top-flight run-defending front seven. The 335-pound talent doesn’t have quite the high profile of Short or Poe but is still set to cash in, and the Ravens aren’t exactly playing it coy about his importance to their team.

“[Williams] fits in with the tradition of Ravens defensive tackles and nose tackles, whether it’s Haloti [Ngata], Kelly Gregg, even going further back to Kemo [Ma’ake Kemoeatu], Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa,” DeCosta said. “Brandon’s right there with all those guys.”

AFC North Notes: Browns, Steelers, Ravens

January 26th, 2017 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Should the Browns‘ newly assembled power structure consult the team’s franchise player about a plan for the No. 1 overall pick, Joe Thomas would not use it on a quarterback. Going into his 11th year, the perennial All-Pro left tackle would rather see his team use the selection to bolster the pass rush.

“I think you need to get a pass-rusher,” Thomas said on the Dan Patrick Show today (via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). “… You gotta be careful reaching for a quarterback at No. 1 because if they fail, they don’t help your team at all. Whereas if you pick a defensive lineman and maybe they don’t live up to the hype, you can still find a place to get him on the field and to have an impact. We need guys that can come in and start and that can contribute.”

Thomas, who has two years left on his Browns deal and will turn 33 during the 2017 season, said in the past the Browns need to identify a franchise quarterback. There isn’t a better spot to do that than the No. 1 pick. But this quarterback class — fronted by Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer and Cleveland-area product Mitch Trubisky — has divided scouts. The Browns have been reportedly coveting Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett at No. 1 and considering a Watson pick at No. 12. But obviously, the versatile Clemson talent is no lock to be there when Cleveland’s second first-round window opens, given quarterback prospects’ rises as drafts near.

Here’s more from northeast Ohio and some other regions housing AFC North franchises.

Jamie Collins‘ four-year, $50MM extension will pay $37.5MM in its first three years before containing no guaranteed money during the 2020 season, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Collins will also receive a $5MM signing bonus as part of the deal (per Howe, on Twitter) which includes $26.5MM guaranteed.
Negotiations between the Ravens and UFA nose tackle Brandon Williams have not yet begun but are expected to commence before he hits the market, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun notes. Even before Zach Orr‘s retirement, Williams was set to be the top priority, per Preston, for a Ravens team that’s lost numerous talents in free agency in recent years. It’s a big year for free agent defensive tackles, with Dontari Poe and Kawann Short residing as impending UFAs.
The Ravens tied up some loose ends on their coaching staff today, per the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zreibec (on Twitter). Chris Hewitt will take over new Bills DC Leslie Frazier‘s position as secondary coach, and Mike MacDonald will assist him, Zreibec tweets. Craig Ver Steeg, a nine-year Ravens offensive assistant, will coach quarterbacks, will slide over from skill-position assistance to helping QBs coach/OC Marty Mornhinweg with the signal-callers, Zreibec notes (on Twitter). Drew Wilkins will serve as the assistant defensive line coach. Each of these staffers’ assignment changes represents an internal promotion.
The Steelers could determine another year with Ladarius Green is too risky, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. Green will enter his sixth season after experiencing a disastrous fifth, playing in just six games. However, he averaged 50.7 yards per game and made several big plays when healthy. But concussion issues dogged Green to the point Mike Tomlin said a decision needs to be made about the tight end. “I don’t have an assessment, long-term, of where he is,” Tomlin said. “I think that’s one of the chief medical decisions and questions that we have to have moving forward, in terms of guys getting an assessment of their overall health and what it means for 2017.” A Green cut will cost the Steelers $3.56MM in dead money while saving the team barely $2MM. Green said earlier this week he does not intend to retire.
Antonio Brown‘s constant desire for targets has rubbed many teammates the wrong way, but his occasionally selfish ways aren’t viewed as detrimental to the team, Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette writes. Ben Roethlisberger has told the All-Pro wideout to “shut up” multiple times on the field, and since-retired tight end Heath Miller told Brown to “stop complaining about not getting the ball” at a 2015 practice. However, Dulac notes Brown not a problem in the locker room. This could be a key point as Brown’s payday looms.

AFC Notes: Fitz, Jets, Ravens, Williams, Colts

July 19th, 2016 at 7:37pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight to the months-long contract standoff between the Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even though training camp is fast approaching, the two sides haven’t spoken in over a month, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Similarly, Fitzpatrick and the Jets’ Brandon Marshall haven’t talked in multiple weeks, the concerned receiver stated Monday. And whether it means anything remains to be seen, but Fitzpatrick put his New Jersey house up for rent last week, per Darryl Slater of NJ.com. He and the Jets have been at odds since March over the club’s three-year, $24MM offer that features $15MM in guarantees.

Elsewhere around the AFC…

Nose tackle Brandon Williams is the most obvious extension candidate on the Ravens’ roster, opines Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. However, Zrebiec doesn’t see any real incentive for Williams to discuss a new deal now, writing that his next contract could rival the five-year, $46.25MM pact fellow nose tackle Damon Harrison signed as a free agent with the Giants over the winter. Williams, 27, is coming off his third NFL season, one in which he started all 16 of Baltimore’s games, amassed 53 tackles and two sacks, and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 21st-best interior defender (fourth overall against the run) among 123 qualifiers. He’s scheduled to make $1.67MM in 2016, the final year of his rookie accord.
Right guard and inside linebacker are two positions that will feature interesting battles for the Colts this summer, per Kevin Bowen of the team’s website. Incumbent Hugh Thornton, who has started in 32 of 37 career appearances, will try to fend off Denzelle Good, former No. 1 center Jonotthan Harrison and fifth-round rookie Joe Haeg at right guard. With Jerrell Freeman having departed as a free agent, Nate Irving and Sio Moore will fight for starting ILB duties next to D’Qwell Jackson. Irving (14) and Moore (22) have a combined 36 NFL starts between them.
The Colts don’t have a clear long-term solution at running back, where 33-year-old starter Frank Gore is ancient for a rusher and coming off the worst season of his decorated 11-year career. But the club is bullish on undrafted rookie Josh Ferguson, writes Mike Chappell of CBS4. “He’s very, very athletic,’’ head coach Chuck Pagano said of the ex-Illinois back. “He’s a great receiver out of the backfield. We can split him wide. We can displace him formationally. He’s a mismatch out in space. He’s got juice. He can go. He’s got great vision. Just not a third-down back, but he’s a good runner.” Offered owner Jim Irsay, “We think guys like Josh Ferguson have a chance to be special. Time will tell.’’ Notably, draft guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades, lavished praise on Ferguson when assessing the Colts’ rookie class for PFR earlier this month.
Earlier Tuesday, Dave-Te Thomas analyzed some Baltimore rookies who could make significant impacts this year.

2016 Proven Performance Escalators

February 12th, 2016 at 5:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure is projected to be $1.696MM in 2016. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2016 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:

49ers: Gerald Hodges, LB

Bears: Marquess Wilson, WR

Buccaneers: William Gholston, DE; Mike Glennon, QB; Akeem Spence, DT

Cardinals: Andre Ellington, RB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S; Alex Okafor, LB

Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR

Colts: Sio Moore, LB; Hugh Thornton, G

Cowboys: J.J. Wilcox, S; Terrance Williams, WR

Dolphins: Jelani Jenkins, LB; Dallas Thomas, T; Dion Sims, TE; Kenny Stills, WR

Eagles: Bennie Logan, DT

Falcons: Kemal Ishmael, S; Levine Toilolo, TE

Jaguars: Josh Evans, S; Dwayne Gratz, CB

Jets: Brian Winters, G

Lions: Larry Warford, G

Packers: David Bakhtiari, T; Micah Hyde, S

Patriots: Duron Harmon, S; Chris Jones, DT; Logan Ryan, CB

Raiders: Mychal Rivera, TE

Rams: T.J. McDonald, S

Ravens: Ricky Wagner, T; Brandon Williams, DT

Saints: Terron Armstead, T; John Jenkins, DT

Seahawks: Luke Willson, TE

Steelers: Markus Wheaton, WR

Titans: Brian Schwenke, C

Washington: Jordan Reed, TE

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Dalton, Mack, Spikes

May 30th, 2015 at 2:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

If the Eagles trade two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis prior to the season, it likely won’t be to the Dolphins – who have been a rumored candidate to land the 34-year-old – according to Drew Rosenhaus, Mathis’ agent. “We thought we had a trade with another team leading up to the draft. It was not the Dolphins,” Rosenhaus told the Joe Rose Show, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. “We’ve never really gotten close on a trade with the Dolphins.”

Here’s more on some other AFC clubs:

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has become a much-maligned figure during his four years in Cincinnati, but Coley Harvey of ESPN.com doesn’t expect him to be in another uniform in the near future. Harvey notes that releasing Dalton doesn’t become particularly favorable for the Bengals until after 2018, when the six-year, $115MM extension he signed last year won’t have any dead money left on it. Even if Dalton struggles before then, the likelihood of the team cutting the cord is low because finding a replacement would be difficult and entering a rebuild isn’t on the horizon for Cincy.
Browns center Alex Mack‘s contract has him in a unique situation, writes Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. The 29-year-old has both an opt-out clause in his contract, which he can take advantage of next offseason, and one that prevents the Browns from placing either the franchise or transition tag on him. Mack is mum about his future for the time being, saying that he’ll “talk about that at the end of the season,” but it might be difficult for the Browns to retain him if they don’t turn it around on the field. Since drafting Mack in 2009, the team hasn’t sniffed the playoffs. “I think I definitely want to win games,” Mack said. “It’s very important to me.”
Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes left the team in acrimonious fashion last offseason and then signed a one-year contract with AFC East rival Buffalo. Back in New England after inking another one-year deal earlier this month, Spikes says he and head coach Bill Belichick are ready to put past drama behind them. “I think we’re both happy that I’m here and we were able to put things aside and let bygones be bygones,” Spikes said, according to Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. “We’re all moving forward. The 2015 season is right around the corner and we’re just trying, each and every day, to get better. I’m happy to be home.”
The Ravens parted with longtime defensive staple Haloti Ngata earlier this offseason, trading him to Detroit, and it’s going to take a team effort (led by Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams) to replace the five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. For his part, Williams is confident the Ravens won’t be adversely affected by the loss of Ngata. “It tells me I just have to step up,” said Williams. “We have to do more. I accept the challenge, willingly, to get out there and do everything I have to do to be my best player, be my best self. And that goes for everybody else on the defensive line. We don’t need anybody to be Haloti. We just need everybody to be their best selves, and we’ll be fine.”

John Harbaugh On D-Line, Player Development, Rule Changes

May 23rd, 2015 at 9:33am CST by Ben Levine

Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave the keynote speech at Stevenson University in Maryland on Thursday. While the former Super Bowl winner barely mentioned the Ravens during his address, he discussed his team with reporters following the ceremony. Harbaugh mostly focused on the defensive line, including the players returning from injury, the team’s loss of veteran leadership, and the team’s apparent depth among defensive ends and tackles. Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun collected these soundbites, and we have some of the more notable quotes below:

On the recovery of Brent Urban and Kapron Lewis-Moore, who both suffered season-ending injuries during last year’s training camp:

“It’s really important that Brent Urban and Kapron Lewis-Moore come on. Brent looks like he’s 100 percent, Kap looks like he’s really close to 100 percent.”

On the changes to the defensive line, including the loss of veteran leadership in Haloti Ngata:

“The young D-linemen are obviously going to be huge for us. We’ve gotten younger there really quickly, capped off by the move of Haloti. We still have Chris Canty, so that’s a plus for us. He’ll be the sage veteran in the locker room.”

On the development of talented defensive tackle Brandon Williams:

“I talked to Brandon Williams about stacking another year. You come back better than before. He took last year and got everyone’s attention. Now everybody is going to be watching.

“You’re not going to surprise anybody. The expectations are up. What an opportunity to build on that and really make a name for himself. He seems motivated to do that as well.”

On the team’s depth on the defensive line:

“DeAngelo Tyson is still a big part of us, Lawrence Guy is a big part of us, Christo Bilukidi is another veteran player. There’s going to be some major competition on the D-line.”

On the NFL’s new extra-point rule:

“The effort to move the line of scrimmage back on the point after touchdown, to me, is a good thing. I think it’s a positive thing. We’re for it. We were fine with it the other way. I know Justin Tucker was kind of like saying stuff about it. But I think he realizes that it’s going to give the better kickers an opportunity to shine a little bit. So, move it back and make it a little bit tougher. Make it more of a challenge, make that point mean more.

“It is going to encourage more two-point conversion tries. There’s no question about it, especially in windy stadiums. Maybe later in the year when it means the most will probably see the most attempts. I know one thing, we’re going to spend more time defending two-point conversions and practicing two-point conversions because it’s going to be a bigger part of the game.”

Minor Notes: Tomsula, Rivera, Ravens

February 8th, 2015 at 8:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

New 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula will bring Adam Henry back to the Bay Area after he mentored two of the NFL’s most explosive rookies while at LSU the past three seasons, reports Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Henry will coach the 49ers’ wide receivers alongside Ronald Curry after coaching Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in 2012 and 2013 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Beckham earned offensive rookie of the year honors last season, and Landry came on strong late last season in Miami. Prior to re-entering the college ranks — Henry coached at Division I-FCS McNeese State for 10 years — Henry worked as a Raiders assistant from 2007-11, the last three as the tight ends coach. Curry, who the 49ers recently denied permission to follow former offensive coordinator Greg Roman to the Buffalo Bills, served as an offensive assistant the past two years under Jim Harbaugh. A former Raiders wide receiver, Curry’s final two years as an active player overlapped with Henry’s initial two seasons on the Raiders’ staff.

In other NFC coaching news…

The Panthers made a legacy choice as their latest assistant-coaching hire, bringing in Cam Turner as assistant wide receivers coach, the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person notes. The nephew of Norv Turner, Cam Turner spent the past two seasons coaching at Florida International under his father, Ron Turner. Cam Turner will assist Ricky Proehl on Ron Rivera‘s staff.
The Ravens have formed an extensive pipeline into the small-school ranks and may continue to do so, writes Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore. In addition to selecting Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco out of Division I-FCS Delaware in 2008, the Ravens drafted four small-school prospects in the 2013 draft — including defensive tackle Brandon Williams (Division II Missouri Southern, Round 3) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (Harvard, Round 4). Last year, they nabbed backup running back Lorenzo Taliaferro in the fourth round from Delaware. Both Williams and Juszczyk played extensively in 2014.
“We’ve tried to find value by more closely looking at small-school players,” assistant general manager Eric DeCosta said to Smolka.

Panthers Notes: Newton, Webb, Receivers

June 21st, 2014 at 6:56pm CST by Ben Levine

After Panthers minicamp wrapped up on Thursday, the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person compiled his 20 observations from the team’s OTA. Let’s take a look at some of those notes…

Cam Newton made an unexpected appearance at camp on Thursday, throwing in three seven-on-seven drills. The quarterback had a rough start, missing on seven of his first ten throws. Person notes how important it is for Newton to be ready for training camp so he can “develop timing” with all of his new receivers.
Two of the team’s offseason signings at wideout, Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant, are very similar and the writer can’t see the players playing together in two-receiver sets.
Receiver Kealoha Pilares is “almost a lock” to make the roster because of his receiving skills.
Quarterback Joe Webb looked good on some runs, but he failed to show the consistency demonstrated by likely number-two quarterback Derek Anderson. Still, Webb’s experience at receiver makes him an “intriguing candidate” for a final roster spot.
The team is going to have some difficult decisions to make when choosing the backups for tight end Greg Olsen. Veteran Ed Dickson had some success with the Ravens and Brandon Williams has shown improvement in training camp. The team also has blocking tight ends Mike McNeill and D.C. Jefferson.

AFC Notes: Titans, Ravens, Browns, Revis

May 26th, 2014 at 2:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

Let’s take a Memorial Day look around the AFC:

There a number of Titans who may see their starting jobs, and even roster spots in general, in jeopardy come training camp, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Shonn Greene, Michael Oher, and Jake Locker are among the notable names who may not see as much action as expected for the Titans in 2014.
The Ravens selected quarterback Keith Wenning in this month’s draft to compete with Tyrod Taylor to be the backup to Joe Flacco, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore,com. However, Brown writes that he is unsure if the Ravens will devote three roster spots to the position, meaning the two might not only be battling for a backup job, but a spot on the roster.
Ravens defensive lineman Brandon Williams is determined to come back in 2014 with more success after a toe injury kept him out of nine games as a rookie, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Williams, a third-round pick in 2013, has dedicated himself to being in better shape this season. “I’ve had a good offseason, I’ve been working out doing cardio and a bunch of other stuff,” Williams said. “I’m lighter and leaner. I’ve gotten a little stronger.”
Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer speculates that neither Brian Hoyer nor Johnny Manziel will win the Browns‘ quarterback job until later this summer. Reed thinks that while Hoyer is perhaps the favorite to start to open the 2014 season, if Manziel performs like he did at Texas A&M during the preseason, it will put significant pressure on the Browns’ organization to start the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Darrelle Revis will have a positive impact on the Patriots‘ offense this upcoming season, writes Brent Sobleski of USA Today. Tom Brady told Peter King of The Monday Morning Quarterback that he’s already tired of throwing against Revis in practice everyday. The former first-round pick out of Pittsburgh has been described by former teammate Jim Leonard as “the best practice player” he’s ever seen. Sobleski thinks that having such a worthy practice adversary will only serve to improve Brady’s game.

David Kipke contributed to this post.