Jeremy Maclin - Pro Football Rumors

Riley Cooper, Eagles Nearing Agreement

February 26th, 2014 at 4:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles and prospective free agent Riley Cooper are close to reaching an agreement on a new contract, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. According to McLane, the team and the wide receiver could officially strike a deal on a multiyear contract within the next few days.

Cooper, 26, had a breakout season in 2013, the final year of his rookie contract. After being at the center of a preseason controversy when he used a racial slur, Cooper looked very good on the field, setting career-highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (835), and receiving touchdowns (8). A report last week suggested the former fifth-round pick was expected to have several interested suitors if he reached free agency, perhaps receiving multiyear offers in the $5MM per year range. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of figures Cooper and the Eagles agree upon, if he’s content not to test the open market.

In addition to Cooper, Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin is also eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, creating what GM Howie Roseman called a “complicated” situation. There have been conflicting reports on which player the team has prioritized this offseason, but according to McLane, a new deal for Cooper doesn’t necessarily mean the club will let Maclin walk. McLane still expects Philadelphia to sign Maclin to a one-year, make-good pact. The Eagles freed up a little cap room earlier today when they extended Jason Peters‘ contract, so perhaps the club will take advantage of that extra flexibility to retain both its key free agent receivers.

This year’s deep class of free agent receivers had the potential to create a buyer’s market, particularly with several more attractive alternatives available in May’s draft. However, at least a couple of the top-tier options seem likely to come off the board before March 11. Anquan Boldin and the 49ers are also reportedly nearing an agreement that will keep Boldin off the market.

Extra Points: Revis, Falcons, Eagles, Cap

February 26th, 2014 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that rival teams are calling the Buccaneers to inquire on the availability of Darrelle Revis, with a number of execs believing a trade is possible. However, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Times is skeptical. Speaking to Cummings, new head coach Lovie Smith said the Bucs will rely heavily on man coverage: “Whether we win or lose is going to be based on how we play man coverage” (Twitter links). That approach suggests that the team is likely to keep the league’s best cover corner on the roster, though we’ll have to wait to see if new GM Jason Licht is in agreement.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

In an article examining the likelihood of the Falcons releasing safety Thomas DeCoud, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggests that if the team can’t secure a free agent safety by DeCoud’s guarantee date (March 15), hanging on to him remains possible.
While multiple reports have suggested the Eagles will likely prioritize re-signing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that it’s the other way around, and based on what he’s hearing, “it’s not even close.”
Not many agents and teams were close to reaching free agent or extension agreements at this year’s combine, according to Jack Bechta at the National Football Post. Bechta, who represents multiple free agents himself, speculates that the increased gap in between the combine and the free agent period this year may be contributing to slower-than-usual negotiations.
With 2014’s projected cap number up to $132MM, or perhaps even higher, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert has updated his look at the salary cap space each team is expected to have heading into the new league year. As Seifert’s chart shows, the new cap projections mean that the Raiders now have $66MM+ of space.
Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt explains a few aspects of the NFL’s salary cap in a piece for TheMMQB.com.

Poll: Which WR Will Eagles Keep?

February 22nd, 2014 at 9:19pm CST by Peter Sowards

With the news from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane that the Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, we’re interested to see if you think either receiver — or possibly both — will be back next season.

Cooper’s 2013 season was well-documented, starting with video evidence of the fourth-year receiver from Florida using a racial slur at a country music concert in late July. He apologized vehemently, was accepted back by his teammates, and then went on to set career highs in receptions (47), yards (835) and touchdowns (eight). He played in all 16 games, starting 15, and totaled six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia’s 26-24 playoff loss to New Orleans.

Maclin’s season was over before it started. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in training camp. A first-round pick from Missouri in 2009, Maclin has put up consistently good numbers for the, hovering between 55-70 catches in each season. He has never failed to surpass 750 receiving yards, but he’s never topped 1,000, either.

What do you believe to be the fates of Maclin and Cooper? Feel free to defend your vote in the comments section below.

Free Agency Notes: Pitta, Maclin, Cooper

February 22nd, 2014 at 7:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

Taking care of free agent tight end Dennis Pitta is the top priority for the Ravens, according to Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore.

With the contract extension for linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs in the books, GM Ozzie Newsome said at his Scouting Combine news conference that Baltimore is “concentrating” on locking up the fourth-year BYU player for the foreseeable future.

Smolka notes that Baltimore has until March 3 to apply the franchise tag on Pitta, and they can expect a fight if they do so — Pitta lined up as an in-line tight end less than 25% of the time and will argue he deserves the $11.6MM wide receiver designation, as opposed to the $6.8MM tight end figure.

We talked yesterday about Ravens coach John Harbaugh being optimistic that the team can retain Pitta, as well as offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. Newsome is arguably the finest general manager in the league, so don’t bet against the possibility of him bringing back both players at team-friendly prices.

Some other free agent notes to pass along, in particular dealing with Philadelphia…

The Eagles are prioritizing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, NFL sources have told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a perfect world, McClane says Philadelphia would sign Maclin to a one-year deal, then try to sign another receiver with starting ability.
In his Thursday interview at the NFL Combine, GM Howie Roseman said it would be a tough sell to keep both players. “You can only put a limited amount of resources into the position before it starts taking out from other places,” he said.
This previous PFR post takes an in-depth look at the two receivers with the help of Pro Football Focus.

NFC East Links: Eagles, Cowboys, Marinelli

February 21st, 2014 at 7:25pm CST by Ben Levine

A few notes from the NFC East…

Don’t expect to see the Eagles add a big-name safety, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. In the article, Frank speaks to Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who has appeared to have learned from the failed 2011 Dream Team. While the team may not go after T.J. Ward or Jairus Byrd, Frank says the team knows it needs to upgrade at the position.
The Eagles have made re-signing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin a priority over fellow free agent Riley Cooper, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. McLane says the team’s ideal plan is to keep Maclin and then sign a starting-caliber receiver in free agency.
Newly appointed Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli will have much more freedom now that he doesn’t have to defer to Monte Kiffin on decisions, writes Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys have informed agent Jordan Woy that they’d like to re-sign defensive linemen Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer, according to Hill (Twitter link). Hill adds that the club will let the market dictate the offer, which suggests Dallas will wait until after March 11 to try to reach agreements.

Active Market Expected For Riley Cooper

February 18th, 2014 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Coming off a breakout 2013 season, Riley Cooper is poised to hit unrestricted free agency next month, and the wide receiver is expected to draw significant interest if and when he hits the open market, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While Eagles GM Howie Roseman has referred to the team’s receiving situation as “complicated,” the team would like to bring back Cooper, according to Florio.

Cooper, 26, became a full-time starter for the Eagles in 2013 in the absence of the injured Jeremy Maclin, and notched career-highs in virtually every category. Cooper finished the year with 47 receptions, 835 yards, and eight touchdowns. Still, with Maclin headed to free agency as well, the club may not have the cap flexibility to re-sign both players. There’s a belief among Eagles beat writers that the team will try to re-sign one of the two, then draft a receiver, though there’s no consensus on which veteran will return.

Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer expects Maclin to be a priority for the Eagles, while suggesting that Cooper could earn in the neighborhood of $5MM per year on the open market. ESPN.com’s Phil Sheridan, meanwhile, is skeptical of Cooper’s free agent value, predicting that the club is more likely to re-sign Cooper than Maclin. Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com also weighed in this morning, writing that if the market for Cooper is as active as Florio suggests it will be, the Eagles would be wise to move on and focus on Maclin.

There’s a good chance that the Eagles will meet with reps for both free agent receivers at this week’s scouting combine.

Eagles WR Notes: Maclin, Cooper, McCluster

February 16th, 2014 at 2:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles face a difficult decision this offseason when it comes to their wide receiver group, as both Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper enter free agency. Each player offers promise, but each also carries considerable risk, as the team at Pro Football Focus notes in their latest “Free Agent Duel” piece.

Maclin, who missed the 2013 season with a torn ACL, has the higher pedigree as a former first-round pick, and his speed would fit nicely in Chip Kelly’s offense, which features many screens and quick out patterns. However, Maclin has always been higher on promise than productivity, as he has never surpassed 1,000 yards receiving, and graded out poorly in 2012 by PFF’s metrics. Cooper, whose roster spot was in peril due to offseason drama until Maclin’s injury, had a breakout season as the number two option for the Eagles in 2013. He was even better at catching deep passes than fellow receiver DeSean Jackson, and he built rapport with quarterback Nick Foles. Cooper has only produced at this level for one season, however, while Maclin has offered roughly the same results for a few more years.

Their price tags figure to be roughly similar, as Maclin will be forced to take a discount due to his recent injury, and Cooper may be seen as having only succeeded in a stats-friendly system. Maclin has shown a willingness to return to the Eagles, so perhaps that will swing the pendulum in his favor. Ultimately, it seems unlikely the Eagles will be able to retain both, as they have other needs, specifically on defense, that need to be met.

A few other Eagles morsels:

Phil Sheridan chimes on the receiver situation as well, noting that he believes Cooper is the most likely to remain with the Eagles. Cooper might find that his league-wide value is not as high as thinks, and staying in Philadelphia will be the most logical decision.
Maclin, meanwhile, could end up with the Chiefs or the Jets, where he would have familiarity with Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinwheg, respectively.
Sheridan thinks that receiver Dexter McCluster could be an interesting add for the Eagles, as he could offer some versatility on offense, as well as help on special teams.
Finally, Sheridan speculates that the top four options on the 2014 Eagles receiver depth chart will be Jackson, Cooper, a first-round pick, and Arrelious Benn.

WR Notes: Holmes, Burleson, Broncos

February 16th, 2014 at 10:08am CST by Rory Parks

Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes that that Jets will cut Santonio Holmes. Holmes has been a disappointment both on and off the field since coming to New York from Pittsburgh, and he would cost the Jets $10.75MM against the cap this year if he were to be retained. However, the Jets will save $8.25MM by cutting Holmes, and Cimini believes the team will use at least a significant portion of that money to bring in a new wideout. As our own Luke Adams wrote last week, the Jets “covet” the Steelers’ Emmanuel Sanders and the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin, both of whom are eligible for unrestricted free agency.

It is a buyer’s market for receivers this year, with over 50 wideouts set to hit the open market. Some more notes on the wide receiver carousel:

Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com writes that Nate Burleson would make sense for the Cowboys, given the imminent release of Miles Austin and the limitations of players like Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley. Archer believes Burleson’s skill-set, veteran leadership, and connection with new Cowboys’ play-caller Scott Linehan could add up to a nice complement to top receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.
Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com believes the Broncos will have to grab at least one receiver in the draft. Eric Decker and Andre Caldwell are both unrestricted free agents, but the Broncos will want to make sure they have enough money to pay Demaryius Thomas when he hits free agency after the 2014 season, and that will limit what they could give to Decker, Caldwell, or any other free agent receiver this season. As such, Denver will be left with only two receivers on the roster who have started an NFL game: Thomas and Wes Welker. For a team that uses a three-wide set about 70% of the time, that is simply not enough depth.
Joe Kaiser of ESPN.com examines the chatter surrounding Anquan Boldin‘s return to the 49ers, all of which indicates Boldin will be back in the Bay Area next year.
In a recent interview with Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, NFL Films’ Greg Cosell confirms the general consensus that Clemson’s Sammy Watkins is the best receiver in this year’s draft, but Cosell doesn’t stop there. He believes that Watkins is the best receiver available since the 2010 draft, when Julio Jones and A.J. Green were taken in the first round.

NFC East Notes: Joseph, Austin, Maclin

February 15th, 2014 at 5:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

Giants’ defensive tackle Linval Joseph took to Twitter on Friday to express his feelings on his impending free agency, writes Dan Benton of SportsMedia101.com. “I want to be back with the Giants next year,” said Joseph. “This where it all started; just want to take care of my family and put on that blue every Sunday.” This announcement was in response to the Redskins saying they would pursue him one free agency begins on March 11. While he is looking to command a very large contract, he would like to get that deal agreed upon with the Giants before he hits free agency. Here are some other rumors from across the NFC East:

The Giants‘ biggest need in free agency needs to be the offensive line, writes Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The team is likely to cut Chris Snee and David Bass, and could let Kevin Boothe walk in free agency. They will also need to replace David Diehl, who retired this offseason, and despite not being the stalwart left tackle he once was, still provided value in his versatility. Graziano believes with all of these changes, the team will not be able to wait until the draft to retool, and therefore must be active in free agency to replace these players.
Miles Austin and Kyle Orton are likely cap casualties for the Cowboys, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. While the team may be able to restructure Orton’s deal if he still wants to remain with the team, Archer believes the writing has been on the wall for a while regarding Austin’s departure.
While earlier today our own Matt Feminis wrote about Jeremy Maclin‘s intentions to return to the Eagles in 2014, Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com was less than convinced. He writes that Riley Cooper is much more likely to return to the team as a cheaper option, and that the team will look to draft a receiver as well. Sheridan sees Maclin securing a long-term deal elsewhere, possibly with Chiefs or Jets, where he has more familiarity with the coaching staff.
With the likely retirement of London Fletcher and Perry Riley‘s free agency, the Redskins need to look outside the organization to replace their inside linebackers, writes Tarik El Bashir of CSNWashington.com. Bashir lists Karlos Dansby as the best available at the position, but believes the younger Donald Butler would be the best fit. Other notable options could be Brandon Spikes and Jon Beason, among others.

Jeremy Maclin Wants To Stay Put

February 15th, 2014 at 12:12pm CST by Matt Feminis

While much of the Eagles’ off-season speculation has centered around the uncertainty of the receiving corps, free agent Jeremy Maclin desires to stay in Philadelphia. Speaking with Zach Berman of Philly.com, Maclin said, “I’ve always stated, this is where I want to be. The Eagles have stated the same thing. We’ll continue to get on the same page with all that and get something done.”

Berman also took to Twitter, reiterating Maclin’s genuineness: “FWIW, Maclin has remained in Philly area this offseason to work out and has been around team facility. Desire to stay is not lip service.”

Maclin, recovering from the second tear of his right ACL, will not be 100% when free agency opens in March, but his rehab is progressing well and the injury will not deter suitors wanting a 26-year-old playmaker. He expects to be cleared for non-contact activity in the spring and believes there is “no question” he’ll be ready for training camp. Berman explains the free agent’s looming decision by writing, “Maclin must decide between taking a short-term “show-me” deal, or sign a long-term deal that likely won’t be of the same value he would have earned had he been healthy in 2013.”