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Kelechi Osemele

AFC North Notes: Harrison, Manziel, Steelers

December 9th, 2015 at 11:49am CST by Luke Adams

Following an up-and-down 2013 season with the Bengals, veteran linebacker James Harrison looked like he was on his way to retirement. However, he changed course when an opportunity arose to rejoin the Steelers, and in his last two seasons, Harrison has been an effective part-time player for the club, most recently racking up three sacks against the Colts on Sunday night.

There aren’t many NFL players born in the 1970s who are still active, and it’s possible that this year could be Harrison’s latest. However, the 37-year-old doesn’t sound ready to call it a career quite yet, as Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes.

“You know, I still got another year on the contract,” Harrison said. “So we will play this year out; I’m not even thinking about that at this point to be honest with you. I can’t think any further ahead than the next game. We’re right now in a situation where we have to.”

As Harrison and the Steelers prepare for an AFC North showdown against the Bengals, and attempt to continue their push for a playoff spot, let’s check in on the latest out of the division:

  • While head coach Mike Pettine wouldn’t go so far as to say that the Browns will have a zero-tolerance policy for Johnny Manziel going forward, he did admit that repercussions would likely be harsh if the quarterback has another off-field incident (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).
  • In his examination of the NFL’s most underpaid extension-eligible players, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com identifies Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, Browns tight end Gary Barnidge, and Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele as a few AFC North players who fit the bill. Barnidge and Osemele are headed for unrestricted free agency, and Brown could very well get an extension from Pittsburgh this offseason, so I don’t expect the trio to remain underpaid for long.
  • Veteran running back DeAngelo Williams has been excellent in an increased role for the Steelers, having averaged 137.2 yards from scrimmage over his last five games. As Corry observes (via Twitter), Williams’ performance not only helps Pittsburgh win now — it also provides the team some leverage in upcoming extension negotiations with starting running back Le’Veon Bell, who will be entering a contract year in 2016.

AFC Notes: Yanda, Bills, Chiefs

October 18th, 2015 at 6:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s look at some of the news coming out of the AFC as Week 6’s late-afternoon games wind down.

  • Marshal Yanda‘s extension showed the Ravens prioritizing a top-quality player as opposed to trying to pay for the future of a younger, less-proven performer in Kelechi Osemele, CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry tweets. The 31-year-old Yanda is five years Osemele’s senior but has four Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro honor to his credit. Corry notes Osemele, the Baltimore left guard, will now have a set price to re-sign with the Ravens or seek his second contract elsewhere like so many of his former teammates have in recent years.
  • In extending the All-Pro right guard, the Ravens showed not only a belief that Yanda will continue to play at a high level as his 30s progress but loyalty to one of the performers that’s exemplified their franchise, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley writes. In calling Yanda the best Ravens offensive lineman since Jonathan Ogden, Hensley notes keeping Yanda marks a change in course from the franchise that parted ways with Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata, but listed Yanda’s dominant level of play as the difference-making factor here.
  • Kyle Williams likely won’t play in next week’s Bills-Jaguars tilt, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak, after suffering a knee injury. The veteran defensive tackle is believed to have suffered a PCL malady, which won’t require surgery but could sideline him for as long as four weeks, 550 WGR’s Sal Capaccio reports (on Twitter).
  • Mario Williams expressed confusion with a Bills defense that forced him to drop into coverage on numerous occasions, Syracuse.com’s Matthew Fairburn reports. Although the veteran who’s vacillated between defensive end and outside linebacker throughout his 10-year career denied being frustrated, Fairburn notes he used the phrase “plays that are called” more than a dozen times in a four-minute interview. “A lot is put on (the defensive line’s) shoulders as far as the amount given out to players on this team as far as income,” Williams said. “I would assume, those four guys, a lot is on their shoulders to go after the quarterback or stop the run, be disruptive. Like I say, if the call is three-man this or that, dropping, things like that, that’s the call.”
  • Both Jeremy Maclin and Mike DeVito sustained concussions in the Chiefs‘ loss to the Vikings, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports. Maclin’s totaled 37 receptions this season; the remainder of the Chiefs’ receiving corps has 28 combined.

Ravens Notes: Yanda, Osemele, Flacco, Tucker

July 10th, 2015 at 6:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the Ravens took care of one impending free agent contract yesterday — locking up punter Sam Koch to a five-year extension worth $18.75MM — the club’s roster still contains several key players who will head into the year on expiring contracts, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. I profiled the two most prominent FAs-to-be, guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele, earlier this year, and Wilson adds that while no deal is imminent with either player, Osemele could end up being the odd man out given his injury history, including a significant back ailment suffered just last season.

Let’s take a look at some more notes out of Baltimore…

  • Kicker Justin Tucker is another candidate for a multi-year deal, according to Wilson, who writes that the former undrafted free agent could eventually become the highest-paid kicker in the league, garnering more than $9MM in guarantees. At the minimum, the Ravens would use the franchise tag on Tucker next season, but it sounds like the two sides would like to work to come to an agreement.
  • The Ravens are expected to attempt to restructure the contract of quarterback Joe Flacco between now and the start of the new league year in March 2016, writes Wilson within his story on Koch’s extension yesterday. The news is unsurprising, as Flacco’s 2016 cap number of $28.55MM is projected to be the second-highest in the league. Flacco obviously wouldn’t be sacrificing any money, but a simple restructure — converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus — should be able to give Baltimore some breathing room.
  • The primary motive in negotiating a long-term deal with Koch wasn’t to clear out cap space for 2015, per Wilson. I had included Koch among the AFC North candidates for release earlier this week, speculating that the Ravens might to like to clear out, or at least reduce, Koch’s 2015 cap charge of $3.1MM (although I ultimately predicted he would not be cut). However, Wilson reports that the extension was instead aimed at solidifying the contract status of a well-respected veteran, meaning the deal can be viewed more as a reward than a financial maneuver. (It should be noted, though, that Koch’s cap number for next year will decrease by $700K; Wilson has the entire breakdown of the deal here.)

AFC North Notes: Bell, Steelers, Ravens

June 17th, 2015 at 8:43pm CST by Zachary Links

For the past two years, veteran defensive end Chris Canty has lined up with the Ravens‘ starting defense. He anticipates continuing that in 2015. “I’ve been a starter in this league for a decade, I don’t really see that changing,” Canty said, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. “That’s what I foresee. Things change. It’s a very fluid situation, but that’s what I have in mind for my role being on this football team on our defensive unit.” Canty, a 10-year veteran, signed a two-year deal worth $4.65MM with Baltimore back in March. Here’s more from the AFC North..

  • The three-game suspension for Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was announced more than two months ago, but Bell says his appeal has yet to be heard, and he’s not sure when it will be, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In most cases, an appeal hearing takes place within a few weeks of the appeal being filed, so I’m not sure why there’s such a delay for Bell’s case.
  • Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele says that he feels good about his body of work as he enters his contract year, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. The former second-round draft pick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, when his four-year rookie deal expires. “I feel really good about what I’ve shown,” said Osemele. “Obviously, it helps to come in here and win a Super Bowl. That’s always a good thing, but, on top of that, I’ve had great teammates and a great coaching staff behind me.” Wilson hears that no deal is imminent for Osemele or teammate Marshal Yanda.
  • After restructuring his deal earlier this offseason, cornerback Lardarius Webb is passionate about taking on a special teams role as the Ravens‘ primary punt returner, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. However, it remains to be seen whether Baltimore will greenlight that given his injury history. Webb’s new deal takes him through 2017 but his base pay in 2016 and 2017 is non-guaranteed.

Extension Candidate(s): The Ravens’ Guards

June 6th, 2015 at 7:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Under new offensive coaches Gary Kubiak, Rick Dennison, and Juan Castillo, the Ravens offensive line of 2014 displayed perhaps the greatest improvement of any front five in the league from the season prior. After ranking as the NFL’s worst run-blocking unit and exactly average — No. 16 — in terms of pass-blocking in 2013 (according to Football Outsiders), Baltimore’s line graded as third-best in the pass game and No. 4 in the run game last season.

That level of success can be attributed to several factors, including Kubiak’s implementation of a zone-blocking scheme, the excellent play of center Jeremy Zuttah (acquired from the Buccaneers during the offseason), or the fact rookies John Urschel and James Hurst performed capably as fill-ins when injuries struck. But the foremost component that lead to Baltimore’sOct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda (73) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals defeated the Ravens 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports front five turnaround was the preeminent play of its interior lineman — left guard Kelechi Osemele and right guard Marshal Yanda — each of whom enters the final season of his contract.

The 30-year-old Yanda is the elder statesman of the two, having been drafted in 2007 and already having negotiated one extension with the Ravens (a five-year, $32MM deal signed in 2011). He’s probably also the better player — his +43.8 Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required) placed him atop the guard rankings, was nearly double that of the next highest guard, and put him well above Osemele, whose +21.6 mark placed him sixth at the position.

While Yanda does have the edge in experience, that also means that Osemele hasn’t yet endured the wear and tear of many 1,000-snap seasons along the interior. Osemele, a former second-round draft pick, won’t even turn 26 years old until later this month, and has has only 37 NFL games (all starts) on his ledger. Yanda, meanwhile, has played in 115 contests, but his only major injury scare came during his second season in the league, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Because of Yanda’s longer track record, we can be more sure that his success is no fluke. He’s never finished outside the top-25 at his position per PFF — including 2010, when he started 15 games at right tackle — and he’s ranked among the top three guards in three of the past four seasons. Osemele, obviously, was impressive last season, but had little to no success during his first two NFL seasons. He was below-average as a tackle in 2012, and wasn’t much better in seven games at guard in 2013. Injuries sapped much of Osemele’s ’13 campaign, so perhaps now that he’s settled at one position and injury-free, his true talent is able to shine. But it’s hard to argue that Yanda is more a sure thing at this point.

Though the Ravens would surely like to retain both players, reports have indicated that the club will probably only be able to re-sign one, and for now, it seems like Yanda is the favorite to land a long-term deal. General manager Ozzie Newsome mentioned Yanda by name in May, but also seemed to leave the door open for Osemele. “If we don’t get it done [with Yanda],” said Newsome, “we’ll move on to the next.” Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reported the same last week, noting that Yanda would be the team’s primary target, with Osemele being a secondary option.

The fact that the Ravens would only retain one of their guards makes sense in that it fits in with NFL contractual trends. Most clubs seem averse to spending large chunks of cap space on two quality guards. Only four teams — the Falcons, Titans, Cardinals, and Packers — will employ two guards who have a 2015 cap hit in excess of $2.5MM. Tennessee and Arizona are only on that list because they spent first-round picks on guards, meaning only Atlanta and Green Bay will pay two veteran guards any sort of large sum.

Though it would be tough for any club to shell out long-term deals to both its starting guards, it could be especially difficult for Baltimore given the cap concerns it will face starting in 2016. Quarterback Joe Flacco‘s cap hit will jump to an astounding $28.55MM (second only to Ndamukong Suh‘s figure), while cornerback Jimmy Smith‘s extension will begin, increasing his cap figure to $9.6MM. The Ravens project to have just under $21.5MM in cap space available for 2016 (10th-least in the league), and while the club can make moves to create space — Flacco’s deal will likely be restructured, while Lardarius Webb and others could be released — financial room could be tight.

If they do hit the free agent market next March, both Yanda and Osemele will look to top the five-year, $40MM deal Mike Iupati signed with the Cardinals this offseason. Left guards, like Osemele and Iupati, earn more than their counterparts on the right, so Osemele will have an advantage in that regard. Osemele will be entering his age-27 campaign next year, while Iupati is already 28, and the former’s recent track record is superior to that of Iupati’s in his platform season. If Osemele maintains his production from 2014, there is no reason he shouldn’t match or exceed Iupati’s deal, especially given that he doesn’t intend to give Baltimore a hometown discount.

For his part, Yanda is already the highest-paid right guard, earning $6.4MM annually. Given his age and position, I think he’ll have a much more difficult time matching Iupati’s deal. Certainly, he is one the best (if not the best) at his position, but it’s hard to imagine a club spending ~$40MM on a lineman who will be entering his age-32 season in 2015. Hensley suggested in February that a four-year, $30MM pact would make sense for all parties involved, and while I agree on the length, I think Yanda could push for a higher AAV, perhaps asking for $8MM per, with $16-18M in guarantees.

Much of Yanda and Osemele’s value could be derived by maintaining their consistent play through this season. Will Osemele post another above-average campaign, cementing his status among the elite guards? Will Yanda stay healthy as he enters his thirties, and maintain his production as he ages? The answer to those questions will go a long way towards determining not only which guard scores a larger contract, but which stays in Baltimore long-term.

Photo courtesy of USA Sports Images.

Extra Points: Mack, Jags, Ravens, Yanda, Carr

May 30th, 2015 at 8:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

It’s not out of the question that Browns center Alex Mack could end up with the Jaguars in 2016, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Mack can opt out of his contract, the terms of which were outlined in Jacksonville’s 2014 offer sheet to Mack when he was designated as Cleveland’s transition player, after the upcoming season. The Jags will probably have interest in trying to sign Mack once again, but for now, free agent signee Stefen Wisniewski will compete with incumbent Luke Bowanko for the center job.

Here’s more from around the league…

Extra Points: Yanda, McGlynn, Peterson, Jets

May 22nd, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

With the week winding down and Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, let’s round up a few odds and ends from around the NFL….

  • With Marshal Yanda heading into the final year of his five-year contract with the Ravens, the team is exploring what a contract extension for the veteran guard would look like, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. As Zrebiec points out, it may not be feasible for Baltimore to keep both Yanda and Kelechi Osemele, who are both eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.
  • Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has the details on Mike McGlynn‘s contract with the Saints, tweeting that the offensive lineman will get a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract with a $30K signing bonus.
  • It’s not clear when Adrian Peterson will report to the Vikings, but head coach Mike Zimmer told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities this week that he thinks he has “an indication” of when his running back will show up, as Andrew Krammer details.
  • Former Rams scout Brian Shields has accepted a scouting job with the Jets under GM Mike Maccagnan, reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Maccagnan has made several changes to his club’s scouting department since this year’s draft.
  • The Saints are retooling their own scouting department under the influence of Jeff Ireland, and will likely part ways with some employees soon, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports.

Hensley On Ravens: Thomas, Torrey Smith, Hill

January 18th, 2015 at 10:45am CST by Rory Parks

ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley’s latest mailbag includes his take on a number of issues facing the Ravens this offseason. Let’s dive in:

  • Hensley was asked what the most surprising development of the Ravens’ offseason would be, and he responded with his prediction that Baltimore will pursue a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver in free agency. Such a move would represent a significant departure from the Ravens’ typically low-key approach to free agency, and the team currently does not have enough cap room to make such a splash, but Baltimore needs a big-bodied, athletic receiver to continue the offensive momentum it established under Gary Kubiak in 2014. Quarterback Joe Flacco has never had such a weapon at his disposal, and Hensley believes the time is right to bring in a player like Demaryius Thomas.
  • Of course, if the Ravens do make such a move, they may part ways with Torrey Smith and Marlon Brown may see a much-deserved increased role in the offense.
  • Hensley believes the Ravens should give extensions to starting guards Kelechi Osemele and Marshal Yanda, and that John Urschel will probably take Jeremy Zuttah‘s job as the starting center in 2016.
  • Echoing Conor Orr of NFL.com, Hensley writes that the Ravens are factoring restricted free agent Will Hill into their 2015 plans, and they hope he will win the starting free safety job. However,given the mediocre play of Matt Elam and Darian Stewart, strong safety is still a big question mark.
  • Even if Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb can remain healthy in 2015–a very big “if” considering their injury histories–Hensley believes the team’s biggest weakness is at cornerback, and he believes the Ravens should draft a corner in the first three rounds of this year’s draft.
  • Hensley does not see the team using the franchise tag this year.

Ravens Notes: Harbaugh, Zuttah, Jensen, Rice

May 31st, 2014 at 10:16am CST by Matt Feminis

The Ravens organization is “exasperated, as it should be, after receiving too many middle-of-the-night phone calls,” says BaltimoreRavens.com Columnist John Eisenberg, who passes along an “ominous warning shot” to his players: “…when the negativity over-balances your ability to help our football team, you’re not going to be here anymore. Or if we can’t trust your character anymore, then you can’t be a part of what we’re doing anymore.”

In other Ravens news and notes…

  • The Ravens have shifted Ryan Jensen, a 2013 sixth-rounder out of Colorado State-Pueblo, from guard-center to right tackle, reports Aaron Wilson in the Baltimore Sun. Jensen started 44 games as a college left tackle, but suffered a broken foot during training camp and did not play in any games last season. He will provide competition/insurance at right tackle, where Ricky Wagner appears to have the inside track on the starting job. The Ravens have a history of successfully converting offensive line prospects, as their starting interior — center Jeremy Zuttah and guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele — is comprised of players who were college tackles.
  • Speaking of Zuttah, early reports suggest he’s fitting in very well after signing a five-year, $18MM deal, writes Wilson. Harbaugh praised the 27-year-old for his intelligence and maturity, while former NFL executive Louis Riddick said, “Jeremy’s a perfect fit for them. Based on what Gary Kubiak wants to do… that all plays right to Jeremy’s strengths. He’s very athletic… He can do all the things that won’t allow him to get exposed one-on-one as he did at times in the Tampa scheme.”
  • In terms of depth, A.Q. Shipley‘s roster spot “is probably more in jeopardy” than Gino Gradkowski‘s, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
  • Ray Rice has had a tumultuous offseason, but perhaps lost in the shuffle is his weight change. According to Wilson (via Twitter), the veteran running back has shed 20 pounds.
  • In a minor move, the team signed undrafted outside linebacker D.J. Roberts, who tried out during rookie minicamp. To make room, quarterback Nick Stephens was cut, reports Wilson.

Ravens Notes: Smith, Rice, Harbaugh

March 24th, 2014 at 5:42pm CST by Matt Feminis

With NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun provided an assessment of the Ravens following their busy month thus far. At this stage, the team is mostly monitoring the market in search of budget-friendly opportunities, but they’re not done spending. According to Zrebiec, the Ravens still need a starting offensive lineman, be it right tackle or left guard, as well as depth at running back, tight end, inside linebacker, defensive back and defensive line.

In other Ravens news:

  • Also prominent on the agenda is Torrey Smith, whose contract owner Steve Bisciotti wants to extend prior to the draft, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (via Twitter). Zenitz says Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is scheduled to speak with team brass during this week’s meetings.
  • Head coach John Harbaugh got a year tacked onto his contract, which now has four years remaining, per Zrebiec (via Twitter).
  • Owner Steve Bisciotti told Zrebiec there is no circumstance in which Ray Rice is not a Raven in 2014 (via Twitter).
  • Kelechi Osemele, who is recovering from back surgery and could play left guard or right tackle next season, is progressing well if a recent Instagram video is any indication.
  • Finally, the team was awarded four compensatory picks (max allowed) in the upcoming draft: a third-round pick (No. 99 overall), two fourths (Nos. 134 and 138) and a fifth (No. 175). Since Ozzie Newsome’s arrival in 1996, the Ravens have been awarded 41 compensatory picks, eight more than any other team, points out Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter).
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