Eric Decker - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Notes: Bridgewater, Decker, Patriots

April 12th, 2014 at 2:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

As Louisville quarterback Terry Bridgewater continue’s to see his stock fall, teams in the mid-to-late first round have to be seriously considering the possibility of him being on the board when they draft. Once thought to be the potential top pick, GangGreenNation.com asks if the Jets should consider taking Bridgewater should he be on the board when they come up to the podium.

While the Jets have Geno Smith and Michael Vick in the fold, Bridgewater could represent the long-term solution at quarterback that some fans and pundits hope Smith can still become. It also increases the trade value of the pick should the Jets decide to move down in the draft, as teams moving up to take a quarterback are often willing to overpay in a trade.

Here are some other notes from the AFC East:

GangGreenNation.com also notes the despite the Jets’ improvement the quarterback situation should experience, that adding Eric Decker would not adequately fix the depth chart at receiver. They note that while Decker is an upgrade, he is not the elite type receiver that would be able to change the offense. Also, the belief that Stephen hill will be the second receiver would give pause, as he has not proven himself as a viable option in his first two seasons.
In a series of tweets, Albert Breer of the NFL Network discusses the Patriots’ offseason. He notes that the team has made a focused effort to be good in 2014, although the team says they are all in for the Super Bowl every year. Breer notes that Nate Solder and Devin McCourty are the top priorities going forward, and that interior line play and backup tight end will be priorities in the draft.
The Dolphins are set at running back after signing Knowshon Moreno, and they will not pursue free agent Chris Johnson, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. However, the team has a backlog at the position, and while Lamar Miller is safe, Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee will fight for a roster spot.

Broncos Expected To Sign Emmanuel Sanders

March 16th, 2014 at 10:48am CST by Peter Sowards

SUNDAY, 10:48am: The Broncos intend to proceed with the Sanders deal, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Mike Klis of the Denver Post tweeted that Sanders will take his physical at Dove Valley this morning and is expected to sign a three-year deal.

SUNDAY, 9:08am: In an interesting twist to the Sanders saga, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport writes that Sanders’ agent, Steve Weinberg, had originally accepted a deal with the Chiefs on his client’s behalf. However, Weinberg then shopped Kansas City’s offer to Tampa Bay without telling the Buccaneers that the offer had already been accepted. Ultimately, of course, Sanders agreed to sign with Denver.

Weinberg declined to comment, but there will undoubtedly be more fallout from this development in the coming days. For instance, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star wonders (via Twitter) who the Chiefs might have missed out on because they thought they had Sanders locked up. Paylor notes that Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell both signed with New England on Saturday.

SATURDAY, 8:34pm: A source has confirmed to FOX Sports 1 that the Broncos agreed to contract terms with Sanders, Alex Marvez reports (via Twitter).

SATURDAY, 8:18pm: After losing Eric Decker to the Jets in free agency, the Broncos are expected to fill the void by signing former Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The ESPN article notes that Sanders is looking for a contract similar to the one Golden Tate signed with the Lions (five years, $31.5MM, $13.25MM guaranteed).

Denver has been the biggest newsmaker in free agency thus far, with high-profile signings of Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward. Now it seems that general manager John Elway is setting his sights on the offense, and Sanders brings a skill set that figures to be well-utilized by Peyton Manning. The fourth-year receiver from Southern Methodist set career highs in receptions (67), yards (740) and touchdowns (six) in 2013 with the Steelers, starting 11 games.

Sanders’ name had been associated with a multitude of teams since free agency began. Schefter reported that the 49ers were to host Sanders today after being hosted by the Chiefs yesterday. Before that, he’d been linked to or visited with the Jets, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Ravens and Browns.

The Broncos appear to have just under $12MM in cap room before the Sanders signing, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.

Jets Sign Eric Decker To Five-Year Deal

March 13th, 2014 at 10:26am CST by Ben Levine

THURSDAY, 10:26am: The Jets have officially signed Decker, the team announced today (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the financial details of the contract, which includes a $7.5MM signing bonus. Decker’s base salaries in 2014 and 2015 are guaranteed, so the deal essentially becomes pay-as-you-go beyond ’15.

WEDNESDAY, 10:44pm: It’s a five-year, $36.25MM deal including $15MM guaranteed, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter).

10:30pm: The Jets have agreed to a contract with free agent wide receiver Eric Decker, tweets Eric Allen of newyorkjets.com. The news was confirmed on the team’s Twitter account.

It was a relatively quiet start to the offseason for Gang Green, but they got in the game in a big way tonight. In Decker, the Jets have nabbed one of the very best wide receivers available on the open market this winter. The Jets and two other clubs reportedly had very serious interest in signing the former Broncos standout, but Decker wanted to give the Jets the first opportunity to sign him. After hosting Decker, Rex Ryan & Co. were quickly able to seal the deal.

Last season, in Peyton Manning‘s pass-happy Denver offense, Decker registered 87 catches for 1,288 yards (career high) and 11 touchdowns. At 6’3″, Decker can give the Jets another tall passing target capable of huge plays. It’s a void that needed to be filled after the Jets said goodbye to Santonio Holmes earlier this week. The Jets reportedly want to come away with two free agent wide receivers, so other targets such as Packers free agent James Jones are still in play.

Jets, Two Other Teams Interested In Decker

March 12th, 2014 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

9:02am: Two other teams have interest in Decker, but the free agent receiver opted to give the Jets the first chance at signing him, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

8:40am: Eric Decker‘s first visit of free agency will be with the Jets, according to Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Manish Mehta and Seth Walder of the New York Daily News first reported the possibility of a Decker visit after doing some sleuthing involving a flight from Denver to Newark.

While the majority of my top 25 free agents came off the board early in free agency yesterday, Decker and fellow free agent receiver Hakeem Nicks were among the players who didn’t generate a whole lot of buzz. While Decker’s numbers, combined with recent contracts signed by top free agent receivers, suggests he should be in line for a huge payday, there are question marks about his ability to produce outside of the explosive Broncos’ offense, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of offers he receives.

As for the Jets, they had been expected to be a suitor for Decker after compiling some of the league’s worst receiving numbers in 2013. With Santonio Holmes cut and no potential No. 1 options on the roster, the Jets could pursue receiving help in free agency and the draft whether or not they land Decker.

Jaguars Pursuing Beadles, Eyeing Decker

March 11th, 2014 at 1:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent guard Zane Beadles has narrowed his free agent options down to the Jaguars and one other team, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. That second team isn’t the Broncos, according to Klis, who says Beadles won’t be returning to Denver. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard also won’t be re-signing with the Broncos, Klis adds.

While it’s not clear what sort of contracts the Jaguars and the mystery suitor are offering Beadles, the guard figures to command a salary in the neighborhood of $5MM per year, says Klis. Considering the Broncos are already heavily invested in left tackle Ryan Clady and right guard Louis Vasquez, the team wasn’t comfortable making a big offer to Beadles as well.

As the Jaguars pursue Beadles, the team is also eyeing another one of the Broncos’ prospective free agents. According to Klis, Jacksonville has expressed interest in wide receiver Eric Decker.

King On Albert, Monroe, Raiders, Byrd, Vick

March 10th, 2014 at 7:28am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column at TheMMQB.com, Peter King tackles free agency, writing that cornerbacks and offensive tackles look poised to become the biggest beneficiaries of the extra cap space around the NFL. As King writes, Sam Shields‘ four-year deal from the Packers improves the negotiating positions of the top corners on the market, meaning Alterraun Verner, Vontae Davis, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Aqib Talib should all get $8MM+ per year. Here’s more from King on free agency:

While the Giants are pursuing Verner, King is skeptical they’d pay the free agent cornerback $10MM per year, which is what he may cost.
The Dolphins look ready to “blow the opposition out of the water” for offensive tackle Branden Albert, perhaps with a long-term offer worth $10-11MM year. In that event, the Cardinals would strongly pursue Jared Veldheer, and the Raiders would likely shift their attention to Rodger Saffold, according to King, who adds that the tackles will likely be the first free agent dominoes to fall.
The offensive tackle shuffle could leave the Ravens with the player they’ve wanted all along: Incumbent starter Eugene Monroe. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reported last night that the Ravens remain in contact with Monroe and are still hopeful they can re-sign him.
King hears that Veldheer and fellow Raiders free agent Lamarr Houston are very interested in testing the free agent market and “getting a golden parachute out of Oakland.”
Jairus Byrd is seeking $9MM per year, but King can’t figure out which team will be willing to pay him that.
King identifies the 49ers as a dark horse candidate for Michael Vick, if Vick doesn’t find an opportunity to start.
Discussing receivers, King writes that the Browns should be in the mix for Eric Decker and also could be a good landing spot for Julian Edelman. He adds that Golden Tate will likely “get more action” than expected.

Broncos Rumors: DRC, Holliday, Decker

March 7th, 2014 at 10:12am CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos made their first major roster move of the offseason yesterday, finalizing the release of cornerback Champ Bailey. Our latest round of Broncos links includes a look at what Bailey’s departure could mean for the team’s pursuit of secondary help, so let’s check out Friday’s updates….

With Bailey already gone and several other players eligible for free agency, the Broncos figure to add at least two cornerbacks to their roster for 2014, and one will be signed in free agency, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is among the Denver corners eligible for free agency, and the Broncos will make “a serious attempt” to re-sign him, says Klis.
Return specialist Trindon Holliday isn’t expected to return to the Broncos next season, writes Klis in a separate Post piece. While Holliday could still return to Denver if he doesn’t garner much interest on the open market, the Broncos have informed the 27-year-old that they won’t offer him a contract tender. As a restricted free agent, Holliday’s tender would’ve been worth $1.431MM for one year, and would’ve given Denver the right of first refusal if the return man signed an offer sheet with another club.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an excellent in-depth look at Eric Decker’s looming free agency, concluding that it would be a surprise if the wide receiver didn’t sign a deal worth more than Mike Williams’ contract with the Bucs, perhaps with a per-year value of $8MM and $15MM+ in guaranteed money. However, if Decker encounters a soft market, the Broncos could benefit, since the 26-year-old may prefer to remain in Denver if no big-money offer is available. When I examined Decker’s free agent stock last month, I predicted a deal worth close to $10MM annually with $15-20MM in guaranteed money.

Broncos Links: RBs, Decker, DRC, Miller

March 5th, 2014 at 8:35am CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos signed eight practice squad players to futures contracts and extended the contract of GM John Elway last month, but otherwise the team has been fairly quiet since the Super Bowl. With several prospective free agents seemingly on their way to the open market, let’s check in on the latest Broncos updates….

The Broncos appear likely to let Knowshon Moreno walk in free agency, and while the team plans to sign a free agent running back for depth purposes, Denver wants to give Montee Ball a chance to earn the No. 1 job, says Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Klis names Donald Brown and James Starks as a couple free agents who the Broncos could target as Ball’s backup.
Some people in league circles believe the Broncos are hoping to see Eric Decker get a lucrative offer from another team, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That way, the Broncos won’t have to decide between making Decker a below-market offer or “politely telling him they’re not interested.” As we wrote yesterday, the team will be wary about investing in Decker with long-term extensions for Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas due soon.
In a mailbag for the Post, Klis writes that he thinks the Broncos would bring Decker back if his price doesn’t exceed $7MM. Klis also addresses the team’s top free agent priority (re-signing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and says Denver should be patient with Von Miller rather than considering trading him.

FA Rumors: Tatupu, Graham, Shaughnessy

March 4th, 2014 at 3:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Seahawks linebacker and three-time Pro Bowler Lofa Tatupu is working out today for the Broncos, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Knee and pectoral injuries derailed the career of Tatupu, who hasn’t played a regular season game since 2010, but he’s still just 31 years old, so a comeback isn’t out of the question. The former All-Pro linebacker is an unrestricted free agent right now, but the rest of the players in this roundup will have to wait another week before getting the chance to hit the open market. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….

While Jimmy Graham will have the ability to field offers from suitors in free agency, the franchise tag will limit his options. In any case, Saints GM Mickey Loomis is confident that his club will find a way to reach a long-term deal with the star tight end, as he said today on SiriusXM NFL Radio (link via Pro Football Talk). “I had hoped and I’m sure he had hoped we’d come to some conclusion on a longer-term deal before this,” Loomis said. “But we haven’t yet, and hopefully we will…. We’ll just let it play out, and I’m sure we’ll get something resolved.”
The Cardinals are in talks with Matt Shaughnessy‘s agent Rick Rosa in hopes of signing the free agent DE/LB to a new deal, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. “They are actively trying to re-sign him,” Rosa said. “He wants to be there, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Although cornerback Alterraun Verner acknowledges that he loves Tennessee and his Titans teammates, he sounds lukewarm on the idea of giving the club a “hometown discount” in free agency, as Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes.
The Broncos have the cap room in 2014 to bring back prospective free agent Eric Decker, but future obligations to Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas will make the team wary about investing too heavily in Decker, says Mike Klis of the Denver Post, who spoke to the wide receiver about his impending free agency.

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs

March 3rd, 2014 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

D’Qwell Jackson was very impressed after meeting with the Broncos, but isn’t ready to make a decision, tweets Mike Klis of the Denver Post. In another tweet, Klis mentions that Jackson is heading to Miami to meet with the Dolphins before also meeting with an unknown team. Jackson should make a decision by the end of the week, Klis says in a final tweet.

A couple of notes from around the AFC West…

Eric Decker is not an elite player and the Broncos likely won’t pay him like one, says Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com. According to Chadiha, Decker’s disappearance in the Super Bowl confirmed that Decker is a number two receiver, not a number one. The writer refers to a number of receivers who cashed in and then struggled with new teams, like Mike Wallace last season.
Chad Rinehart and Richard Marshall should receive attention from the Chargers, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Neither player would break the bank and they’d also fill holes in the team’s lineup, Williams says.
The Chiefs signed receiver Weston Dressler about a month ago, and Adam Teicher of ESPN.com warns to not overlook the acquisition. Teicher says that Dressler is insurance in case the team cannot retain free agent Dexter McCluster, but he also quotes coach Andy Reid saying “If you told me I could have two Dexter McClusters, that would be a good thing. I wouldn’t mind that at all.’’