HEADLINES

Marcus Gilchrist

Safety Marcus Gilchrist To Be Cleared Soon

July 6th, 2017 at 1:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Soon, Marcus Gilchrist will be ready to audition for NFL teams. The free agent safety will be cleared for action in early August, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.co (on Twitter). Marcus Gilchrist (vertical)

[RELATED: Darrelle Revis Wants To Play 2017]

Gilchrist, a six-year vet, tore his patellar tendon last season and wound up on the injured reserve in mid-December. The safety has started in all of his appearances for Gang Green all the way back to 2013 and coach Todd Bowles says he’s open to a reunion once Gilchrist’s knee heals up. If he winds up back with the Jets, it will probably be as a reserve behind rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

In his injury-shortened season, Gilchrist graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 53 ranked safety out of 90 qualified players. His overall score of 77.1 roughly matched his work across the previous three seasons. Gilchrist might not find another starting job for 2017, but he’s clearly deserving of a roster spot if he’s back to full health.

Extra Points: Vikes, Lions, Jets, Cards

May 5th, 2017 at 9:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thanks to the brutal knee injury he suffered last summer, there’s no guarantee Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will play football again. Nevertheless, head coach Mike Zimmer spoke encouragingly about Bridgewater’s future Friday, telling Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that he’s optimistic the 24-year-old will be a Viking for the long haul (Twitter link). While Bridgewater is technically entering a contract year (the Vikings declined his fifth-year option for 2018 earlier this week), he won’t necessarily be a free agent next offseason. If Bridgewater starts the season on the physically unable to prepare list, he’d miss at least six games, causing his contract to toll, reports Mike Florio of the Pro Football Talk. Thus, Bridgewater would remain a Viking in 2018 for the same salary he’ll make this year ($1.354MM).

More from around the league:

  • The odds of the Lions re-signing free agent wide receiver Anquan Boldin continue to decrease, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. The two sides haven’t had contact in over a month, notes Meinke, who points out that recent developments suggest Boldin won’t return to Detroit for a second year. The Lions used a third-round pick on wideout Kenny Golladay in last week’s draft, for one, and then gave away Boldin’s No. 80 to fourth-round tight end Michael Roberts. (Theoretically, Boldin could get that number back in a negotiation with Roberts, but Meinke regards it as a sign that the Lions are going in another direction.)
  • The Jets released safety Marcus Gilchrist on Thursday, but they aren’t ruling out re-signing him “once he heals” from his knee injury, head coach Todd Bowles said Friday (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY). The six-year veteran tore his patellar tendon last season, which limited him to 13 games and forced him to injured reserve in mid-December. Gilchrist has started in all of his appearances dating back to 2013, but it seems doubtful that streak would continue if he were to return to the Jets. Gang Green, after all, used its first- and second-round picks in the draft on safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.
  • Before signing with the 49ers, notable undrafted free agent tight end Cole Hikutini drew interest from the Saints, Lions, Patriots, and Texans, tweets Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Hikutini, a Louisville product, was a favorite of many draftniks — Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, for instance, graded Hikutini as a fifth- or sixth-round selection. Ultimately, Hikutini landed a $20K guarantee from San Francisco.
  • The possibility of free agent quarterback Blaine Gabbert signing with the Cardinals “remains alive,” tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Gabbert has an important fan in Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, per Somers.

Zach Links and Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Jets Release S Marcus Gilchrist

May 4th, 2017 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets announced that they have released safety Marcus Gilchrist. Gilchrist tore his patellar tendon last season, causing him to finish the year on IR. "<strong

[RELATED: Jets To Have Open QB Competition]

Gilchrist was believed to be on the chopping block this offseason and the drafting of two safeties with the Jets’ first two picks cemented his fate. Gilchrist has now been let go midway through the four-year, $22MM deal he signed with the Jets prior to the 2015 season.

The Jets have designated Gilchrist as a post-June 1 cut, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets, meaning that the team will save more on this year’s cap while deferring $1.375MM into the ’18 cap. All in all, the Jets are saving $4.625MM against the books with the dead money spread out across two seasons.

In his injury-shortened season, Gilchrist graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 53 ranked safety out of 90 qualified players. His overall score of 77.1 roughly matched his work across the previous three seasons.

In addition to cutting Gilchrist, the Jets also waived cornerback Nick Marshall and fullback Chris Swain. Marshall was hit with a four-game suspension for PEDs earlier this offseason.

Jets To Cut Richardson, Skrine?

March 3rd, 2017 at 2:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets aren’t done cleaning house. Sheldon Richardson, Buster Skrine, Marcus Gilchrist, and Calvin Pryor are among the players that are in danger of losing their roster spots, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets. As previously reported, Eric Decker may be in the same boat. Sheldon Richardson (vertical)

Cimini writes that David Harris seems safe for now, but that could change if they add a free agent at inside linebacker. Gang Green could also try to deal Pryor and Richardson since the former first-round picks still have some trade value. The Jets once shopped Richardson with the hope of netting a first-round pick, but it now seems like they might have to settle for a third-round choice given Richardson’s down year and off-field red flags. Pryor, a big hitter in the secondary, has yet to really break out in his three NFL seasons. This past season, Pro Football Focus rated the Louisville slugger as the No. 73 safety in the NFL out of 89 qualified players.

In recent days, the Jets have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, cornerback Darrelle Revis, center Nick Mangold, offensive tackles Ryan Clady and Breno Giacomini, kicker Nick Folk, and linebacker Erin Henderson. It sounds like that list is about to grow even more.

Jets Place OT Breno Giacomini On IR

December 13th, 2016 at 6:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets announced today that that they’ve placed right tackle Breno Giacomini and safety Marcus Gilchrist (who was thought to be in danger of missing the rest of the season) on injured reserve. To fill their roster spots, New York has signed safety Ronald Martin and offensive lineman Craig Watts from its practice squad.Breno Giacomini (vertical)

[RELATED: Matt Forte Likely Avoided Ligament Damage]

Giacomini, 31, started the season on the physically unable to perform list while dealing with back issues, and now that same injury is knocking him out for the rest of the 2016 campaign. The ailment will force Giacomini to undergo surgery, Jets head coach Todd Bowles told the media today. Giacomini is signed through the 2017 season at a base salary of $4.5MM, but New York can — and probably will — clear out most of that figure by releasing Giacomini in the spring.

Meanwhile, the Jets also worked out running back Bernard Pierce today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Pierce signed with Gang Green this summer, but never played a game for the club and was ultimately waived off IR. The former Baltimore draft pick has also auditioned for Seattle and Denver in recent weeks.

Jets’ Marcus Gilchrist Out For Season

December 11th, 2016 at 6:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets picked up their first win since October in beating the 49ers in overtime but will be finishing the season without the services of one of their starting safeties.

Marcus Gilchrist will miss the rest of the season after tearing his patella tendon, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports (on Twitter). The sixth-year player will undergo surgery, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

Gang Green signed Gilchrist to a four-year, $22MM deal — one that was lost amid the spending spree of 2015 but one that gave the team a solid back-line defender. The former Charger has started in all 29 games in which he’s played since joining the Jets last year and rates as the team’s best safety in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, which slots him at No. 51.

Gilchrist made five solo tackles against the 49ers and now has 53 this season to go along with two interceptions. Now set to attempt a recovery from one of the toughest injuries to surmount, the 28-year-old defender is due to make $6MM in base salary in 2017 and see his cap number rise from $4.125MM to $7.375MM as well.

The Jets waived Antonio Allen with an injury settlement Saturday, so their safety corps is now much thinner. They have Rontez Miles and rookie UDFA Doug Middleton residing as the current second-stringers who will likely see more time as the team closes out a lost season.

Jets Notes: Decker, Trades, Revis

October 22nd, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Ben Levine

Jets wideout Eric Decker recently underwent hip surgery, and the 29-year-old is also awaiting an operation to repair his partially torn rotator cuff. Despite these setbacks, Decker said he wouldn’t miss any games in 2017.

“I’m not worried about missing any time next year,” Decker said on ESPN New York (via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). “I’ll be fine by the start of next year.”

Decker will be on crutches for a few more weeks, and he’ll have his shoulder surgery once he’s recovered from his hip operation. The shoulder should take about eight months to recover, which should line up perfectly with offseason workouts.

“I think they say eight months is kind of the time frame where you’re back to full strength lifting,” Decker said. “But there are a lot of guys that say after six weeks, after eight weeks, they feel pretty good. And then it’s a matter of obviously strengthening the shoulder.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the Gang Green…

Extra Points: Brees, Packers, Bills, Jets

July 8th, 2016 at 4:26pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

This is a contract year for quarterback Drew Brees, and if he and the Saints don’t reach an agreement on a new deal by next offseason, the franchise tag probably won’t be an option for the team. Tagging Brees would leave the Saints with an unpalatable $43.09MM cap hit for 2017. Given that fact, the future Hall of Famer might have the leverage to land a fully guaranteed, multiyear contract by next winter, Andrew Brandt of The MMQB.com suggests. In the meantime, the 37-year-old is slated to play 2016 on a $19.75MM salary and count a quarterback-leading $30MM against New Orleans’ cap. As of last month, multiple sources projected Brees’ next pact would be a four-year, $95MM accord featuring $65MM in guarantees.

More from around the NFL:

  • The Packers’ signing of Julius Peppers in 2014 was the beginning of their shift toward pursuing hybrid linebackers with “elephant” body types, details Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Along with the 6-foot-7, 296-pound Peppers, the rest of the Packers’ prominent linebackers – Clay Matthews, Datone Jones, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, and rookies Kyler Fackrell and Dean Lowry – range from 6-3 to 6-6 in height and 245 to 296 in weight, and each member of the group has long arms. “The advantage is when you do have some bigger guys they have the ability to be either an inside or outside pass rusher in pass situations,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers told Silverstein.
  • Bills head coach Rex Ryan, known for getting the best out of cornerbacks, has a potential shutdown option on his hands in second-year man Ronald Darby, Kevin Patra of NFL.com contends. The 2015 second-round pick from Florida State was sensational in his first taste of NFL action, racking up 68 tackles and two sacks while taking home defensive rookie of the year honors from Pro Football Focus. Darby drew the fifth-most targets in the league (107), but just 50.5 percent of those passes went for completions, per Patra. Further, he allowed a 67.0 passer rating against, thereby turning opposing quarterbacks into something resembling the 2015 version of Peyton Manning. Going forward, Darby will need to improve on deep routes and make more plays, notes Patra, who expects QBs to test him less.
  • Versatile safety Marcus Gilchrist reminds the Jets of Cardinals superstar Tyrann Mathieu, writes Brian Costello of the New York. Head coach Todd Bowles is familiar with Mathieu from his stint as Arizona’s defensive coordinator, and while Gilchrist isn’t as effective, he’s still a significant asset. After leaving San Diego for the Jets in March 2015, Gilchrist’s first season with Gang Green was a clear success. The 27-year-old played all but five of the Jets’ 1,053 defensive snaps, picked up three INTs and ranked as PFF’s 19th-best safety.

Contract Details: Revis, Cromartie, Spiller

March 18th, 2015 at 4:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few notable details from some of the contracts signed by free agents within the last several days:

AFC deals:

  • Darrelle Revis, CB (Jets): Five years, $70MM base value. $39MM fully guaranteed. Options for 2018 and 2019 (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • Antonio Cromartie, CB (Jets): Four years, $32MM base value. Can be worth up to $35MM (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
  • Marcus Gilchrist, S (Jets): Four years, $22MM base value. $3.5MM fully guaranteed. $3.125MM cap number in 2015 (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com).
  • Tramon Williams, CB (Browns): Three years, $21MM base value. $10MM fully guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $2MM roster bonus due this month (Twitter links via Wilson).
  • Scott Chandler, TE (Patriots): Two years, $5.3MM base value. $2MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald).
  • Christian Ponder, QB (Raiders): One year, $2.25MM base value. $1.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Bill Williamson of ESPN.com).

NFC deals:

  • C.J. Spiller, RB (Saints): Four years, $16MM. $7.3MM fully guaranteed. $2MM available in escalators. Voids after three years if Spiller makes it to two Pro Bowls (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
  • Rashean Mathis, CB (Lions): Two years, $3.5MM base value. $750K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
  • Chykie Brown, S (Giants): Two years, $1.8MM base value. $200K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Tyrunn Walker, DT (Lions): One year, $1.75MM base value. $550K signing bonus (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

Jets Sign Marcus Gilchrist

March 18th, 2015 at 12:16pm CST by Rory Parks

MARCH 18th, 12:16pm: The Jets announced that the signing is official, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).

MARCH 12th, 10:23pm: The Jets are not done adding to their secondary, as they are finalizing a four-year deal with former Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Gilchrist was drafted by San Diego in the second round of the 2011 draft, and he started all 16 games for the club in each of the past two seasons. He fared poorly according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) in 2014, ranking 72nd out of 87 eligible safeties. However, he graded out much better in 2013, finishing as the 20th-best safety out of 88. He has tallied five interceptions in his four-year career, so he has not been much of a playmaker despite his strong tackling abilities and mentally-sound play.

But he does further bolster a unit that has already been rejuvenated with the recent additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie,and Buster Skrine. As Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork tweets, Gilchrist’s versatility is especially appealing to the Jets. Gilchrist played 401 snaps in the slot, 306 snaps at strong safety, and 201 snaps at free safety last season, and he and Calvin Pryor will team up to create a fairly strong pair of interchangeable safeties. Of course, the secondary as a whole has been transformed from an embarrassingly undermanned group to perhaps the best set of defensive backs in the league in just a couple of days.

 

 

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