Eric Decker

NFC Rumors: Kaepernick, RG3, Eagles

June 16th, 2017 at 2:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Three NFL executives tell Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com that they see former 49ers signal caller Colin Kaepernick as the best backup quarterback option available. Of course, we have watched many other QBs come off of the board while Kaepernick remains unsigned.

“Kaep, [Shaun] Hill, Dan Orlovsky, Robert Griffin III,” said one AFC exec when asked to rank the best remaining options.

A fourth exec surveyed by Fowler opined that Griffin is actually the best QB left on the market. Meanwhile, one official in the group said he wouldn’t sign Griffin “under any circumstances.” It seems like teams agree more with the latter opinion as Griffin has drawn very little interest this offseason.

Here’s a look at the NFC:

After flirting with free agent receiver Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles are unlikely to pursue fellow pass-catcher Eric Decker, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Philadelphia, which was reportedly the runner-up in the Maclin sweepstakes, pursued the now-Raven because of their previous relationship with the wideout, per Garafolo. The Eagles don’t enjoy that sort of familiarity with Decker, and are comfortable with their current crop of wide receivers, which includes Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Jordan Matthews, and Nelson Agholor.
There’s “nothing new” to report on contract talks between the Rams and Aaron Donald, L.A. GM Les Snead told reporters (including Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com). Snead’s comments are notable since a deal appeared to be imminent just three weeks ago. Donald skipped OTAs while his reps negotiated a deal with the team, but it will apparently take some time before the two sides can finalize a deal. Naturally, the Rams are still working hard to get something done. “Aaron Donald is a priority for us,” Snead said. “That’s about all I can say.”
Former Lions receiver Anquan Boldin may be looking to play near his home in Florida in 2017. Meanwhile, the Lions are probably not interested in a reunion.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Browns Interested In Eric Decker?

June 15th, 2017 at 6:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns appear to have some level of interest in wide receiver Eric Decker, as the club has “done some work” on the free agent pass-catcher, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com.

Cleveland already made one addition to its receiving corps this offseason, inking former Rams wideout Kenny Britt to a four-year deal, but as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com recently noted, the Browns have made inquiries on nearly every free agent receiver that has hit the market in the past several months. The club’s interest in now-Raven Jeremy Maclin is indicative of that strategy, although Cleveland never set up a visit with Maclin before he signed with Baltimore.

At present, Britt and 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman are the Browns’ starting wideouts, and while the team has a number of intriguing options further down its depth chart, Cleveland’s pass-catching group is short on experience. Like Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, and Jordan Payton all entered the league in 2016, while Mario Alford, James Wright and Rannell Hall all have limited NFL exposure.

Decker, then, would offer the Browns another veteran receiver to play alongside Britt. The 30-year-old Decker has been linked to a number of clubs this offseason, including the Titans, with whom he met yesterday. The Broncos, however, are not interested in a reunion with Decker, while the Ravens are unlikely to sign another wideout after landing Maclin.

Titans Meeting With Eric Decker

June 14th, 2017 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

Eric Decker is meeting today with the Titans, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This marks Decker’s first known free agent visit since being released by the Jets earlier this month.

Living near Nashville, Tennessee has appeal for the Decker family, Schefter hears. Beyond the live music and great food, Decker is probably also excited about the promise of the Titans’ offense. Marcus Mariota might represent Decker’s best quarterback in some time. Meanwhile, opposing defenses should be kept honest by the running of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. If Decker can stay healthy, this is a situation in which the veteran could get back to his old 1,000-yard ways.

The Titans made a major investment at WR in April by drafting Corey Davis with the No. 5 overall pick. Tennessee also has Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe in the mix, but they could use another playmaker like Decker.

On Tuesday, we learned that the Broncos are not all that interested in reuniting with Decker. Surprisingly, the Ravens are not ruling out a Decker pursuit, even after signing Jeremy Maclin.

Broncos Not Interested In Eric Decker Reunion

June 13th, 2017 at 4:56pm CST by Ben Levine

A Broncos/Eric Decker reunion doesn’t sound like it’s in the cards. Earlier today, head coach Vance Joseph rejected the notion that the team would have interest in the veteran wideout, who was released by the Jets yesterday.

“We drafted two young guys that we’re excited about,” Joseph told reporters (including Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post). “It’s a full room of guys. It’s going to be tough to find space on our roster. We can’t add anyone now. We’re satisfied with who we got now. It’s a competitive room, it’s a young room. We’re satisfied.”

Joseph is referring to third-rounder Carlos Henderson and fifth-rounder Isaiah McKenzie, who figure to be in the mix for reps behind starters Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Besides those four, the team is also rostering wideouts Jordan Taylor, Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, Kalif Raymond, and Marlon Brown.

Despite the depth, a Decker signing would surely be embraced by the fans. The 30-year-old spent the first four years of his career in Denver, and he averaged 86 receptions for 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns between 2012 and 2013. Decker ended up inking a five-year deal worth more than $36MM with the Jets during the 2014 offseason, and he proceeded to appear in 33 games with New York over the next three years (including an 80-reception, 1,027-yard, 12-touchdown season in 2015).

The veteran missed the majority of the 2016 campaign as he struggled through a shoulder injury. The Jets were rumored to be shopping Decker before they ultimately released the wideout.

On the flip side, the Broncos seemingly have some level of interest in free agent tight end Gary Barnidge. The veteran was released by the Browns in late April, and subsequent reports indicated that Denver had reached out to the 31-year-old. While he was more dismissive of Decker, Joseph didn’t necessarily shoot down the idea that the team could add the tight end down the road.

“It’s early,” he said. “It could be later on. But right now, no.”

Barnidge disappointed following his 2015 breakout campaign. In 16 games last season, the tight end hauled in 55 receptions for 612 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, that was still significantly better than the Broncos tight ends, as Virgil Green led the unit with only 22 catches for 237 yards and one score.

Besides Green, the Broncos are also rostering tight ends Jeff Heuerman, A.J. Derby, Henry Krieger-Coble, and fifth-rounder Jake Butt.

Ravens Sign WR Jeremy Maclin

June 13th, 2017 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

The decision is in. Jeremy Maclin has signed with the Ravens, according to a team announcement. It’s a two-year deal for the wide receiver worth $11MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’ll earn $6MM in year one of the deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) says, adding that there isn’t a lot of “funny money” in the contract.

The Ravens aren’t done adding to the receiver group, either. Even though Maclin has been signed, the Ravens continue to be in the mix for Eric Decker, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Jets have informed Decker that he will either be released or traded in the coming days, but it is not clear whether the Ravens are looking to make a deal with Gang Green or wait to see if he is cut loose. The Ravens and the Jets had preliminary trade talks about Decker last week.

Baltimore surprised many during the draft when it did not select a wide receiver. The patient approach has paid off for the Ravens as they have landed a former Pro Bowler in the late stages of the offseason. The Ravens will now roll into 2017 with a receiver group led by Maclin, Mike Wallace, and Breshad Perriman. Joe Flacco will have nothing but speed at his disposal and that could mean big things for this Ravens offense.

The Ravens are hoping that the addition of Maclin will help to mitigate the loss of tight end Dennis Pitta. Pitta was released earlier this month after he suffered yet another hip dislocation. Last season, he returned to his old form and became one of Flacco’s top targets. Although Pitta will be missed, the Ravens passing attack is likely in better shape than it was in 2016.

In 2015, Maclin had 87 catches for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns for the Chiefs. Even though he is not far removed from that performance, KC cut him in order to avoid paying his $9.75MM base salary for 2017. Last season, Maclin had 44 catches for 536 yards and two scores in 12 games.

Jets Release WR Eric Decker

June 12th, 2017 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have released wide receiver Eric Decker, according to a team announcement. The Jets informed Decker last week that he would be either released or traded, so it seems that the Jets were unable to find a suitable trade.

The Jets worked hard to find something for Decker instead of releasing him for nothing, but a release was always the most likely outcome. The Jets were willing to eat money in a potential Decker trade, but they could not eat enough to make a deal work, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The Jets were reportedly waiting to see where Jeremy Maclin would sign before giving up and releasing Decker. After Maclin signed with the Ravens, the trade market for Decker still did not materialize. Interestingly, the Ravens are not ruling out a Decker signing even after adding Maclin, so Baltimore could pounce quickly. If the Ravens are able to lure in Decker and make everything work under the cap, they’ll have one of the most intriguing WR groups of any team in 2017.

Although the veteran may be poised for a bounce-back year, teams were probably unwilling to part with anything of value to take him on at a high salary. Now, contenders will vie for Decker’s services and likely offer deals that are less expensive than the two years that were left on his five-year, $36.25MM contract.

Decker never missed significant time in his NFL career until the 2016 season. Hip and shoulder injuries limited him to just three games last season. He finished out the year with nine grabs for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

By dumping Decker, the Jets will save $7.5MM in cap space in each of the next two seasons.

Jeremy Maclin To Choose Team Today

June 12th, 2017 at 8:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills and Ravens are expecting to hear from Jeremy Maclin today on his big free agent decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Maclin visited both teams last week and reportedly enjoyed his time in both cities.

Soon after the Chiefs released the wide receiver, running back LeSean McCoy started playing recruiter for the Bills. The Ravens also quickly scheduled a free agent visit with Maclin. The Eagles and Browns were said to have some degree of interest, but for one reason or another, the 29-year-old only met with Buffalo and Baltimore.

Maclin would make a great deal of sense for both teams. The Bills can’t rely on star Sammy Watkins to stay healthy and the cast of receivers following him leaves much to be desired. The Ravens could also use reinforcements for Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman since they did not address the position in the draft.

The Ravens may have a leg up on Maclin thanks to the Marty Mornhinweg connection. Mornhinweg, the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, coached Maclin from 2009 through 2012 in Philadelphia. On the other hand, PFR readers seem to think that the Bills are in the catbird seat. In a recent poll, the Bills were voted as Maclin’s most likely destination with 34% of the vote. The Ravens, at 26%, came in second.

Once Maclin decides on his team, that should start the ball rolling for Eric Decker, Rapoport tweets. The Jets will either trade or release the 30-year-old and there have been some discussions with the Ravens.

5 Key Stories: 6/4/17 – 6/11/17

June 11th, 2017 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Eric Decker‘s Jets tenure to end. Three seasons into the wide receiver’s five-year contract, the Jets are planning to move on from Decker — either by trade or release. The 30-year-old wideout missed most of last season due to hip and shoulder injuries but has been cleared to return to action, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Ravens have expressed interest. They also met with UFA Jeremy Maclin for two days this week, indicating the team’s desire for pass-catching help. Baltimore’s cap situation (less than $7MM in space) could be an issue, though. It’s possible the Jets wait until Maclin signs before moving on from Decker, however. Either way, two years after Gang Green saw both of its starting wideouts catch at least 12 touchdown passes, both Decker and Brandon Marshall will be gone. The Jets are in full-scale rebuilding mode, with just about every veteran the 2016 team employed no longer in the picture.

Taylor Decker‘s 2017 season could be shortened. After a standout rookie season, the Lions left tackle’s sophomore slate could be delayed. The 6-foot-7 edge blocker suffered a serious shoulder injury during OTAs and underwent surgery. After a four- to six-month recovery timetable emerged, Decker could be a candidate for the Reserve/PUP list. That would shelve him for the first six weeks of the Lions’ season. Decker played in all 17 Detroit games last season.

Odell Beckham Jr. contract rumors escalate. Heading into his fourth season, Beckham is still set to make less than $2MM in base salary despite turning in one of the best three-year stretches to open a career in NFL history. The former first-round pick, though, is under Giants control for two more years after they picked up his fifth-year option. Beckham stayed away from Giants OTAs due to the pursuit of a new deal, Schefter reports. Another report indicated Beckham is merely exercising his right to skip these voluntary workouts. Considering his age (24) and production, the three-time Pro Bowler would seemingly be in line to surpass Antonio Brown‘s Steelers extension from earlier this year and become the highest-paid receiver. Beckham could be in line for a contract exceeding $100MM in total value, but that fifth-year option worth $8.46MM could make matters tricky for now.

Patriots lock up Julian Edelman. Entering this summer as a contract-year player, Edelman will be tied to the Patriots through 2019 after a key transaction this week. The 31-year-old wideout signed a two-year, $11MM extension this week. So, Edelman’s reign as the Patriots’ top slot receiver could well match or exceed Wes Welker‘s six-year run. This contract comes with $9MM in guarantees and $7MM in full guarantees, and Edelman will have a chance to earn up to $3.5MM in incentives in 2019.

Bills, Ravens make Jeremy Maclin interest known. Maclin spent most of the week in two eastern cities, trekking to both Buffalo and Baltimore for two-day visits. The recently released wideout left both summits without a deal and has not yet visited another team, nor has a third suitor emerged. The Eagles were connected to Maclin, but Doug Pederson — who has a history with the 29-year-old wideout in both Philadelphia and Kansas City — said the team is not interested in Maclin at this time. Despite the prospect of both Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown moving on after this season, Bruce Arians said the Cardinals are not interested. The Browns, who have more than $60MM in cap space, are likely to inquire about Maclin as well. Both the Bills and Ravens possess less than $13MM in space.

AFC Notes: Hill, Ingram, Boyle

June 11th, 2017 at 11:59am CST by Rory Parks

Tyreek Hill was a revelation for the Chiefs last year, and his success as a rookie is one of the reasons the club was comfortable making the surprise decision to release Jeremy Maclin. And as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes, Hill’s role with Kansas City this year will evolve accordingly.

For one, Hill will not be used on kickoff returns, as the team cannot afford to risk his health any more than is strictly necessary (though he will still be deployed on punt returns). Secondly, because Hill is fairly small — Paylor says the 185-pounder is closer to 5-8 than the 5-10 he is listed as — the Chiefs will need to limit his workload to some degree, although head coach Andy Reid, who was generally successful in managing the workloads of players like DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook, is unconcerned about that aspect of Hill’s development. Finally, the team expects Hill to step into Maclin’s “Z” receiver spot, the spotlight position in Reid’s offense. The Chiefs believe Hill’s abilities make a Steve Smith-like trajectory — i.e. a small but electric return man becoming a similarly prolific wideout — a strong possibility.

Now for more from the AFC:

The Chargers are still negotiating a long-term deal with Melvin Ingram, who is one of two franchise-tagged players yet to sign their tenders or reach a long-term deal with their respective teams (Le’Veon Bell is the other). However, given that Ingram is likely looking for an Olivier Vernon-esque contract (five years, $85MM), Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com says it is more likely Ingram plays under the tag in 2017. That may end up being the best result for both sides, as Ingram would still collect a nice payday this year ($14.55MM), and he would hit the open market at age 29 next year, as Los Angeles is unlikely to tag him again. The Chargers, meanwhile, would get the benefit of Ingram’s services this season, and there is a good chance new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley can adequately develop one of the team’s young pass rushers to replace Ingram’s production in 2018.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes the Browns may get more involved in the Jeremy Maclin sweepstakes if he does not sign with either Baltimore or Buffalo — which seems like a long shot at the moment — and she says Cleveland will likely at least inquire on Eric Decker, which the team has done with every quality veteran receiver hitting the market.
Even without Dennis Pitta, the Ravens have a crowded tight end corps., but Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com believes little-known Nick Boyle could be the player to emerge as Joe Flacco‘s go-to target at the position. Boyle has size and good hands and is a capable blocker, and though he has already been suspended twice in his brief career for PED violations, health has not been an issue for him, as it has been for his fellow tight ends on the roster. The team has also discussed using him as a fullback.
We rounded up a number of Jets-related notes earlier today.

Community Tailgate: Where Will Eric Decker Play In 2017?

June 11th, 2017 at 10:19am CST by Rory Parks

Two talented wide receivers in Jeremy Maclin and Eric Decker are up for grabs, making receiver-needy clubs around the league smack their lips in anticipation. Given that Maclin is a free agent, has visited two clubs, and has been hypothetically linked to others, it’s a little easier to project where he might wind up, and yesterday, we asked our readers to weigh in on that very topic (which you can still do).

Decker, though, is still under contract with the Jets, which makes it a little more difficult to guess where he will be playing in 2017. New York and Baltimore have engaged in trade discussions concerning Decker, but it is unclear where the two teams stand at this point. It could be that the Ravens, who are one of the two teams that Maclin has visited, prefer Maclin and are waiting on him to make a decision. If he should choose to sign somewhere other than Baltimore, the Ravens could pursue a Decker swap with a little more urgency (although the Ravens would need to restructure Decker’s contract or release/restructure one of their own players in order to fit Decker under the salary cap).

The Jets, too, are probably waiting on Maclin to make a decision, because when Maclin is off the table, Decker becomes the undisputed top wideout available, thereby increasing New York’s leverage in trade talks (although Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes the Jets are unlikely to get more than a late-round draft choice for Decker regardless of what happens with Maclin).

Decker, a 2010 third-round pick who broke out in Denver from 2012-13, carried his strong production from the Mile High City to New York in his first two years with the Jets. The 6-3, 206-pounder combined for 154 catches, 1,989 yards and 17 touchdowns (including 12 in 2015) over 28 games during those seasons. And before injuries derailed him last September, Decker again looked on track for a big year, catching nine passes for a whopping 194 yards and two scores.

His physical presence, strong hands, and red-zone capabilities would make him an excellent complement to Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman in an otherwise thin receiving corps in Baltimore, and the Lions were also mentioned as a possible destination for Decker last week (although that was more speculation than anything else). Outside of those two clubs, though, we have not heard who else might be interested in Decker’s services.

So we will put the question to you. Where do you think Decker will wind up this year, and why? Let us know in the comment section below.

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