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NFC East Notes: Orakpo, Eagles, Cowboys

February 21st, 2014 at 8:25am CST by Luke Adams

As we look forward to another busy day at the combine in Indianapolis, let’s check in on a few Friday morning updates on all four NFC East squads:

  • Redskins general manager Bruce Allen confirmed that the club will meet with the agent for free agent linebacker Brian Orakpo this weekend, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • Although the Eagles will have to make offseason decisions on about a third of the players on their roster, GM Howie Roseman was fairly noncommittal when asked about those decisions, as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer details.
  • In the last couple offseasons, the Eagles have made modest free agent expenditures, but the team is still willing to spend big on the right player, says Roseman (link via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I think unique situations call for unique action,” Roseman said. “If there is a unique player in free agency that is hard to find other than top of draft and fits all the criteria that we outlined, some publicly and some privately, you have to look at it. We still view ourselves as aggressive and risk-takers. Sometimes you have to take risks to get better.”
  • With Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper facing free agency and Jason Avant‘s contract making him a potential cap casualty, Roseman sounds like he’s “willing to shuffle the [Eagles‘] deck at wide receiver,” writes Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com.
  • The odds are very slim that the Cowboys will draft quarterback Johnny Manziel, but they’ll meet with him at the combine today, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • The Giants are well-positioned to get Eli Manning some help on offense in this year’s draft, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News, who suggests a few offensive linemen and pass-catchers the team may target at the combine.
  • Earlier this morning, we heard that the Redskins have no plans to trade Kirk Cousins.

Browns Keeping Options Open At No. 4

February 20th, 2014 at 9:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

To say that the Cleveland Browns have struggled to find a franchise quarterback since their reinstatement in 1999 would be the grossest of understatements. 20 different men have started under center for the much-maligned franchise in the past 15 seasons, most in the league during that time. One would assume that the team would be locked in on one of the clear top three QB prospects in the upcoming player selection meeting: Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, UCF’s Blake Bortles or Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.

Such may not be the case. Speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, Browns GM Ray Farmer said he may go against conventional wisdom and ignore his team’s direst need.

“It could be safe [to say we’ll draft a quarterback], but we might not go that direction,” Farmer said, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It may not be what everybody thinks it’s going to be. There is an opportunity for some curveballs.”

Of course, it wouldn’t do any good for Farmer to come right out and declare his draft strategy with more than two months to go. And there are still evaluations to be done, with combine workouts, pro days and individual workouts still yet to have taken place. Farmer identified winning as the No. 1 quality he’s looking for in a potential quarterback.

“First and foremost, I’m looking for a winner. He can help translate what we’re trying to do offensively to the field. People will talk about arm strength. They’ll talk about different athletic aspects, can he move in the pocket, etcetera. But I truly believe that a guy being able to accurately throw the football, make quick decisions and process [information] and throw from a crowded pocket, those are critical factors in my mind of what the quarterback needs to be able to demonstrate he can do.”

With regard to Brian Hoyer, who went 3-0 in limited play last season before being lost with a torn ACL in his right knee, Farmer said he believes in Hoyer’s traits but is looking to push him with some competition.

Ulrich names Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney as draftable candidates at No. 4 if the team does not go in the quarterback direction. Or, Ulrich suggests the Browns trade down and select a second-tier quarterback such as Fresno State’s Derek Carr, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo or Alabama’s AJ McCarron.

Like Jaguars GM David Caldwell, Farmer said he’s willing to trade down and give his team more opportunities “to go to bat” in the draft.

Raiders Notes: Jennings, McFadden, Houston, Draft

February 20th, 2014 at 5:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have an important offseason ahead of them, as general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen try to turn the franchise around. Here are some notes from Oakland:

  • Allen identified running back Rashad Jennings as an important piece for the Raiders to re-sign this offseason, while failing to mention fellow ball-carrier Darren McFadden, also a free agent, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. McFadden struggled with in 2013 not only with his usual array of injuries, but with ineffectiveness. Jennings picked up the slack on his way to rushing for 733 yards and six touchdowns. We learned this morning that McFadden’s representatives will speak with Raiders management at the combine on Saturday.
  • In addition to Jennings, defensive end Lamarr Houston and offensive tackle Jared Veldheer are offseason priorities, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Allen noted that the trio’s mindset will be key during negotiations. “They want to be here, and we want them here,” said the Raiders coach. “And I think when you add those two elements together, usually you’re able to get something done.”
  • In a separate piece, Bair reports the Raiders are leaning towards taking a quarterback with the fifth overall selection in the draft. Allen did note that the Raiders won’t pick a signal caller just for the sake of doing so, saying that “when you try to force a quarterback, it really sets your franchise back.” But if a QB the team likes is available at No. 5, will the Raiders take him? “Oh, sure, yeah. If they’re at the same page, if we were drafting tomorrow, probably,” said Allen, which is about as much “certainty” as a coach will offer at draft time.
  • Continuing on the quarterback theme, Allen said former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel will be a “fun guy to…evaluate,” according to Paul Sheridan of ESPN.com.

Combine Updates: Boldin, Jags, Dolphins

February 20th, 2014 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

“It’s not just me who wants Anquan Boldin back,” 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said today of the team’s No. 1 receiver in 2013, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Suggesting that the San Francisco decision-makers are unanimous in wanting to re-sign Boldin, Harbaugh added that negotiations are heading in a “positive direction.” The Niners coach wasn’t the only one providing noteworthy quotes this afternoon at the combine. Here are several more notable updates from Indianapolis:

  • The Jaguars intend to meet with the top three quarterback prospects – Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, and Blake Bortles – this weekend, according to GM Dave Caldwell (Twitter link via Ryan O’Hallaran of the Florida Times-Union). However, Caldwell also suggested it would be beneficial for the team to trade down from No. 3 overall, since the draft is so deep (Twitter link via Hays Carlyon of the Times-Union).
  • Asked if he expected prospective free agent Chad Henne to hit the open market, Caldwell replied, “I don’t think so,” suggesting that the Jaguars could reach an agreement with their incumbent starter prior to March 11 (Twitter link via O’Hallaran).
  • Broncos head coach John Fox is comfortable with the idea of moving forward with running Montee Ball if Knowshon Moreno leaves Denver in free agency, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
  • Responding to a report that suggested the Dolphins might bench Ryan Tannehill for Matt Moore at some point in 2014, new Miami GM Dennis Hickey expressed confidence in Tannehill. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald has that quote and several more from Hickey, who insisted that free agents will be attracted to the organization despite the recent controversy surrounding the team.
  • The Bears head into the 2014 season carrying three punters on their roster, meaning veteran Adam Podlesh will have to fight for the job, according to GM Phil Emery. Drew Butler and Tress Way will also be in the mix, as Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago details.
  • Projected first-round tight end Eric Ebron confirmed to reporters, including Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter link), that the Ravens and Packers are among the teams with whom he’ll interview today. Tight end Jace Amaro will also meet with the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), while ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky writes that Wisconsin offensive lineman Ryan Groy met with the Packers.

AFC Notes: Monroe, Texans, Jaguars, Talib

February 19th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard earlier this week, re-signing offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will be a priority for the Ravens this offseason. However, the team shouldn’t expect to bring back Monroe at a discount. As Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details, Monroe recently told WNST-AM in Baltimore that he intends to maximize his value — either on the open market in March, or before that, if he and the Ravens can reach an agreement.

“Everyone in the business should understand – even coaches when they’re going through their deals negotiating contracts – you have to get the absolute best because you put forth your best effort all the time, every single day in this league,” Monroe said. “So there are definitely no discounts, and you have to have you and your family’s best interests at heart in terms of negotiating these deals.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • League sources “increasingly believe” that the Texans are leaning toward Johnny Manziel with the first overall pick, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, who hears that the team has been “quietly falling in lust” with the Texas A&M signal-caller. With over two and a half months still to go until the draft though, nothing is close to being set in stone yet.
  • Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com spoke extensively to Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell about his team’s future, and the piece produced several noteworthy quotes from the Jacksonville GM. Among them: Caldwell suggested he’d rather deal with the backlash for not drafting a quarterback third overall in May than pick the wrong guy.
  • While it’s still possible that the Redskins will make a play for free-agent-to-be Aqib Talib, their new contract agreement with DeAngelo Hall reduces their need for a cornerback, which could be good news for the Patriots, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes.
  • Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explores whether Eric Decker might be for a fit for the Chargers, but concludes that the free agent receiver figures to be too expensive for San Diego.
  • In an open letter to Joe Philbin, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald questions why the Dolphins’ head coach has been silent throughout the offseason, even since the publication of the Ted Wells report.

AFC Notes: Steelers, Patriots, Browns

February 16th, 2014 at 9:03am CST by Rory Parks

There has been a great deal of speculation regarding what the Steelers will do with their talented duo of LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds, but Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives the most definitive prediction to date. He writes that “it is just not conceivable” that the team will be able to retain both players for the 2014 season, and he believes Woodley will be odd-man out. By cutting Woodley now, the Steelers would suffer a $14.17MM cap hit this year, which is not significantly more than the $13.59MM hit they would take if they kept him. Plus, after 2014, he would be off the books entirely, which is a tantalizing prospect for a team that has backed itself into a difficult salary-cap situation.

Of course, as has been noted previously, Pittsburgh could designate Woodley as a post-June 1 release, which would spread out the $14.17MM hit over the 2014 and 2015 seasons and give the team an extra $8MM to spend this year. However, that $8MM would not become available until after June 1, which would limit what the Steelers could do in free agency (either with their own free agents or with those from other clubs). Whichever route the team takes, Bouchette believes Woodley has played his last game as a Steeler.

Other notes from the AFC:

  • Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Steelers will not re-sign Emmanuel Sanders, and Christopher Price of WEEI.com thinks the Patriots would take another shot at Sanders if he is, in fact, still available when free agency begins in March. New England, of course, signed Sanders to an offer sheet last offseason when he was a restricted free agent, prompting Pittsburgh to match the offer to retain the speedy wideout. If New England were to re-sign Julian Edelman, then the Patriots would likely not pursue Sanders, as the two players offer similar skill-sets. But if Edelman finds greener pastures elsewhere, Sanders may become a top free-agent priority for New England.
  • Meanwhile, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald thinks that, now the Larry Fitzgerald-to-New England dream is dead, the Patriots will not look outside its own roster to find the big-play outside receiver the team covets. The answer, she writes, could be second-year man Aaron Dobson, who has all the physical tools and who looked better and better as the 2013 season progressed.
  • In a recent Q & A with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, new Browns GM Ray Farmer indicates that he has a favorite quarterback in this year’s draft class, but that quarterback may not be Johnny Manziel. In fact, Farmer said the QB he likes “may not be the name that everybody thinks is the latest, greatest, and the easy one to spot,” and he suggested that Cleveland’s No. 4 overall pick may be too high for this unnamed player. Farmer is already adept at “GM-speak,” as the rest of his answers consisted primarily of the vague generalities one would expect from a high-ranking executive at this time of the year, but his musings about his favorite QB are nonetheless intriguing.

Manziel Says Texans Would Regret Passing On Him

February 14th, 2014 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has maintained for several weeks that the Texans will use the first overall pick in the 2014 draft to select a quarterback, and for his latest Chronicle piece, he got a chance to speak extensively with one of the top candidates for that No. 1 pick: Johnny Manziel. The former Heisman winner expressed in strong terms that he hoped and expected to be picked No. 1 by the Texans in May. Here are a few notable quotes from Manziel, as detailed by McClain:

On how he wants the Texans to feel about drafting him:
“I want them to say absolutely, without a doubt, with 100% certainty, that I’m who they want. I want everybody from the janitor at Reliant Stadium to the front office executive assistant all the way up to (owner) Bob McNair to say, ‘This kid is 100%, can’t miss. This is who we want being the face of our program. We want the Texas kid staying in Texas and leading the Texans.'”

On how the Texans should feel if they pass on him and he’s drafted by the Jaguars (No. 3):
“It would be the worst decision they’ve ever made. I’d be in the same division playing against them twice a year. Sorry, but you just turned that chip on my shoulder from a Frito into a Dorito.”

On his expectations for his NFL career:
“People can call me crazy, and it’s not cockiness — I’m going to put myself in (position) to win the Super Bowl every single year. A 5’10” guy (Russell Wilson) just won the Super Bowl in his second year in the NFL. That’s unreal. I want to be the first rookie to win the Super Bowl.”

On the possibility of being drafted by the Browns:
“If something happens, and it’s the Cleveland Browns, I’m going to pour my heart out for the Dawg Pound and try to win a Super Bowl for Cleveland. I don’t care if they’ve had 20 starting quarterbacks since 1999. I’m going to be the 21st and the guy that brought them the Super Bowl.”

On leaving the ‘Johnny Football’ moniker behind and simply becoming Johnny Manziel:
“Johnny Football is the stuff you see on TMZ. There’s part of that folktale that goes along with it and tries to twist me into somebody I’m not all the time. I feel like now there’s kind of like this frozen food package — a prewrapped, precooked package of who I am. Johnny Manziel is the guy that – whether it’s Houston, Jacksonville, Cleveland or Oakland – you’ll have to drag off that field before I stop playing for those guys. Those are my teammates. Those are my brothers from now on. I’m going to fight until there’s no time left on the clock. That’s Johnny Manziel.”

Kiper On Manziel, Clowney, Watkins, Jets

February 6th, 2014 at 10:13am CST by Luke Adams

Draft day is still more than three months away, but with the offseason underway and the scouting combine around the corner, it’s not too early to start looking ahead. Before he revealed his newest mock (Insider link), ESPN.com draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. appeared on a teleconference today to discuss the 2014 NFL draft, and plenty of reporters passed along the highlights. Here’s a recap of several of Kiper’s notable comments (all links go to Twitter):

  • After talking to people around the league, Kiper believes that Johnny Manziel is the consensus top QB in the draft, at least for now. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s atop every team’s board.
  • Wide receivers and offensive tackles are likely to dominate the first round, according to Kiper. However, in addition to being top-heavy, the WR class is also expected to be deep, so a team like the Steelers could land a good player there later in the draft.
  • There should also be plenty of cornerback depth in the draft, so clubs like the Steelers and Bears can afford to wait on that position, though Chicago will likely have to address its defensive line in the early rounds, says Kiper.
  • Kiper believes Jadeveon Clowney will be picked either first overall by the Texans or third overall by the Jaguars, with both teams in need of a pass rusher to get after Andrew Luck twice a season.
  • Whichever of those clubs doesn’t take Clowney will probably draft Manziel, according to Kiper, who foresees the Texas A&M signal-caller going first or third, with Teddy Bridgewater coming off the board at No. 4, to the Browns.
  • Wide receiver Sammy Watkins is unlikely to be picked outside of the top five, in Kiper’s view.
  • Kiper doesn’t expect any running backs to be selected in the first round this year.
  • The Chiefs figure to target receivers, safeties, or defensive linemen in the first round, says Kiper.
  • Kiper has the Jets using the No. 18 pick on receiver Marqise Lee, and suggests the club should draft a QB in the middle rounds as an insurance policy for Geno Smith.

Texans Leaning Toward Manziel, Bortles?

February 4th, 2014 at 12:18pm CST by Luke Adams

After a disappointing 2013 campaign, the Texans will have the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the team currently appears to be eyeing a pair of top college quarterbacks, according to Russ Lande of SportsOnEarth.com. Citing “trusted sources,” Lande reports that the Texans are initially leaning toward selecting either Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles with the top pick.

We’re still more than three months away from draft night, so teams and players will complete plenty of evaluations and workouts before that point, which could affect players’ stocks significantly. As such, any present-day assessments should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has repeatedly reported that the Texans will draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick, and Manziel and Bortles represent two out of the consensus top three names at the position — Teddy Bridgewater is the third.

According to Lande, Texans owner Bob McNair prefers Manziel, but new head coach Bill O’Brien isn’t 100% sure that the former Texas A&M signal-caller possesses “the work ethic and intangibles necessary” to lead an NFL franchise.

Assuming the Texans become comfortable with the idea of selecting one of the top QBs in the 2014 draft, former starter Matt Schaub figures to be a cap casualty. Cutting Schaub would clear about $3.6MM in ’14 cap space for the Texans.