HEADLINES

Jairus Byrd

Redskins Inquiring On Defensive Backs

March 10th, 2014 at 9:49am CST by Luke Adams

9:49am: The Redskins have also inquired on cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, according to Jones (via Twitter).

9:25am: The Redskins re-signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall last month, but still need to add more pieces to a secondary that was below average in 2013. With that need in mind, the team has expressed interest in prospective free agents Jairus Byrd and Corey Graham, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter links).

Byrd, considered the top safety available this offseason, has also reportedly received inquiries from the Rams and Dolphins, and is expected to draw interest from plenty of other clubs, including the Eagles and Browns. The Redskins’ talk with Byrd’s camp haven’t reached a serious point, according to Jones.

As for Graham, he had a positive grade in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics for cornerbacks (subscription required). However, having played primarily as a nickel back, he isn’t expected to command the lucrative long-term contracts that 2014’s top free agent corners will receive. One of those top corners, Aqib Talib, is considered a major target for the Redskins, so perhaps the club views Graham as a Plan B if Talib and other first-tier free agents sign elsewhere, or if they’re simply out of Washington’s price range.

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.

FA Roundup: Veldheer, Ward, Byrd, Jets

March 9th, 2014 at 4:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals are expected to heavily pursue free agent offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, according to Kent Somers of AZCentral.com. The team is looking to improve their offensive line by upgrading at left tackle, where incumbent Bradley Sowell struggled mightily last season. Veldheer, 26, was somewhat surprisingly not franchise-tagged by the Raiders, who have ample cap space and could have aimed to sign him to a long-term contract. Now the Cardinals (whose top target, Branden Albert, will likely sign with the Dolphins) will look to swoop in and sign the young lineman.

Other free agent notes:

AFC Notes: Albert, Verner, Clabo, Byrd

March 9th, 2014 at 3:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Branden Albert is likely to sign with the Dolphins when free agency officially begins on Tuesday, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Albert, 29, was the Chiefs first-round-pick in 2008, and as Florio notes, was nearly traded to the Dolphins last offseason.

The Dolphins need to rebuild a porous offensive line, and they essentially need four starters to team with center Mike Pouncey. The unit was decimated by the controversies relating to Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, neither of whom is expected to return to Miami. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will fill Albert’s shoes at left tackle with either Eric Fisher or Donald Stephenson, with the other manning the right tackle position.

Other news from the AFC:

FA Rumors Roundup: Verner, Byrd, Jones

March 8th, 2014 at 8:36pm CST by Peter Sowards

The period for agents of free agents to negotiate with NFL teams began today at 11:00am CT, and the rumors have been steadily pouring in.

Free agent cornerback Alterraun Verner has been the topic of a good portion of those rumors. Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports that the Lions, Steelers and Giants have been added to the mix of teams interested in the former UCLA Bruin’s services (via Twitter).

Verner has previously drawn interest from the Vikings, Jets and Rams, and is apparently lukewarm of giving the Titans a hometown discount.

Widely regarded among the top free agent cornerbacks, Verner surely was pleased to see fellow FA corner Sam Shields sign a four-year contract with the Packers for $39MM earlier today. PFR’s Luke Adams ranked Verner as the No. 8 overall free agent and No. 2 corner behind Aqib Talib at No. 7. Shields ranks 12 spots behind Verner at No. 20. ProFootballFocus.com rated Verner as the No. 12 cornerback in football last season (subscription required).

More free agent rumors from around the league…

  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press confirmed Wyatt’s report of the Lions having interest in Verner (via Twitter), though he can’t see it happening, citing safety as a bigger need.
  • Among the teams to inquire on safety Jairus Byrd today were the Rams, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter). Rapoport called the interest “unexpected and interesting.”
  • The Giants have expressed interest in former Ravens defensive lineman Arthur Jones, reports Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • Wilson also reported that the Falcons are “extremely” interested in free agent offensive guard Jon Asamoah, who has played 59 games for the Chiefs the past four seasons, with 41 starts.

AFC East Notes: Byrd, Verner, Dolphins

March 8th, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bills did not place the franchise tag on safety Jairus Byrd, electing to instead sign safety Aaron Williams to a long-term contract. However, Williams says that Byrd still wants to return to the Bills, writes Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk.

Williams said that the two safeties have a great friendship and talk all the time. Byrd and the Bills are still able to come to an agreement on a deal to keep him in Buffalo for a long time.

Here are some other free agency notes from around the AFC East:

AFC East Notes: Spikes, Colon, Byrd

March 7th, 2014 at 9:09am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this morning, we passed along word that the Jets, unsurprisingly, intend to exercise their fifth-year 2015 option on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. We’ve got a few more updates and notes from out of the AFC East, so let’s dive in and check them out…

  • Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes said this morning on NFL Network that, while he hasn’t entirely ruled out the possibility of re-signing in New England, he thinks he and the Patriots could both “benefit from a fresh start,” tweets Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. We heard earlier this week that the two sides aren’t discussing a new deal and that Spikes is expected to hit the open market.
  • Also apparently headed to the open market: Jets guard Willie Colon, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). Colon is recovering from biceps surgery and has had problems with penalties throughout his career, but he’s also a very good pass blocker, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of interest he receives.
  • Aaron Williams, who signed a long-term contract extension with the Bills this week, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that fellow Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd also remains interested in re-signing with the team, as far as he knows (hat tip to Pro Football Talk): “I know that they’re still negotiating. I don’t want to speak on their situation because I have no say, nor do I know the full story on it, but I know Jairus does want to come back and wants to be a part of something special.”

AFC Notes: Brinkley, Cassel, Bailey, Byrd

March 6th, 2014 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

The Bills are getting an early start on perusing this year’s crop of free agent linebackers. After meeting with Jameel McClain, who was released last week by the Ravens, Buffalo is hosting another free agent LB today, as Jasper Brinkley comes to town, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. Brinkley was cut last Friday by the Cardinals.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Matt Cassel, who opted out of his contract with the Vikings, has an old Patriots connection with new Houston head coach Bill O’Brien, and the interest between Cassel and the Texans is mutual and real, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links).
  • Rapoport also hears that before D’Qwell Jackson signed with the Colts, the free agent linebacker turned down more money elsewhere (Twitter link).
  • Veteran defensive back Champ Bailey, who is being released by the Broncos, tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post (Twitter link) that GM John Elway didn’t present a pay cut as an option. “There was no discussions about it,” Bailey said. “It was like, ‘We’re ready to move on.'”
  • The Broncos will look to add a pass rusher this offseason to play opposite Von Miller, and free agency may be a better bet for the club than the draft, according to Klis, who identifies Jared Allen as one possible target.
  • In a Q&A with John Kryk of the Toronto Sun, Bills GM Doug Whaley suggested that not franchising Jairus Byrd earlier this week set up a “more amicable” negotiation with the free agent safety. Said Whaley, in noting that the team franchised Byrd a year ago: “This year we said, ‘For the betterment of the Buffalo Bills, and to show you more or less good faith, we’re not going to use that option to restrict you from hitting the market. Let’s try to go full bore, with both of us focused on trying to get a deal done.'”
  • Ben Volin of the Boston Globe explains why he thinks it make sense for the Patriots to pass on re-signing prospective free agent Aqib Talib and instead try to trade for Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Pompei On Byrd, Graham, Joseph, McCown

March 6th, 2014 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report leads off his latest column by discussing Bills safety Jairus Byrd, who looks poised to reach the open market in the next few days. Many front office executives around the league view Byrd as the top difference-maker of this year’s free agent class, so the 27-year-old figures to draw plenty of interest, even if he won’t come cheap — Pompei suggests the “word on the street” is that Byrd will seek $9MM+ per year. Here’s more from the BR piece:

  • The Seahawks are unlikely to pursue franchised Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, since the investment required in Graham could preclude deals for one or more of the team’s own young players.
  • Others clubs around the league believe Buccaneers guard Davin Joseph could be available via trade, says Pompei. Joseph is a two-time Pro Bowler, but is owed $6MM in 2014 and turns 31 later this year.
  • Josh McCown‘s market is “developing quite nicely,” according to Pompeti, who suggests that it’s starting to look like the free-agent-to-be won’t return to the Bears. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted something similar today, indicating that it looks like the signal-caller will hit the open market next week. The Buccaneers, Jets, and Vikings could be among McCown’s suitors, writes Pompei.
  • Don’t expect Greg Schiano to join the Patriots‘ staff, despite the time he spent with Bill Belichick at last month’s combine. A source tells Pompei that New England doesn’t have a spot on the staff for the former Bucs head coach, and isn’t likely to create one.
  • The 49ers front office “thinks very highly” of defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, according to Pompei, who suggests that if the reported tension between the club and Jim Harbaugh develops into anything real, Tomsula could be next in line for the head coaching job.

Bills Sign Aaron Williams To Extension

March 5th, 2014 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The Bills have officially locked up safety Aaron Williams with a contract extension, the team announced today (Twitter link). As a member of the 2011 draft class, Williams had one year remaining on his rookie contract, and was eligible for a new deal for the first time this offseason.

Mike Garafolo of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that Williams’ new pact is a four-year contract worth $26MM, which will keep the young safety under contract through 2018. The deal also includes another $1.25MM in incentives, so it could max out at a total of $27.25MM. According to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), $14.625MM of the contract is guaranteed, including a $6.5MM signing bonus.

Williams, who turns 24 in April, started 14 games for the Bills in 2013, grabbing four interceptions and logging 82 tackles, both easily career highs. The former second-round pick also ranked 28th among 86 qualified safeties according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, giving Buffalo a formidable safety duo consisting of Williams and Jairus Byrd.

With Byrd seemingly set to hit the open market, Williams looks like the most logical in-house replacement, as ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak noted earlier this week. However, Bills CEO Russ Brandon stressed that Williams’ deal is “completely independent” of any other negotiations involving the team (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550). In other words, the extension doesn’t preclude a return to Buffalo for Byrd, even if that possibility is looking increasingly less likely. Re-signing Byrd would likely mean committing $15MM+ per year to the team’s two starting safeties, which probably wouldn’t be the best use of the Bills’ money.

Williams, the 34th overall pick in 2011, is the fourth member of the draft class to sign an extension this offseason. Center Jason Kelce (Eagles), center Daniel Kilgore (49ers), and defensive back Taiwan Jones (Raiders) have also inked new deals.

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