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Ndamukong Suh

AFC Notes: Tucker, Gordon, D. Thomas

January 29th, 2015 at 5:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is eligible for restricted free agency for the first time this winter, but will be restricted rather than unrestricted, meaning a one-year deal is possible. Still, if it were up to him, Tucker wouldn’t mind signing a long-term deal to stay in Baltimore, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

“I think when you take a step back and look at it from the big picture and think long-term, that would just be great to know what’s going to go on for the next several years as opposed to the next few months or next year,” Tucker said. “When you think about it from a general perspective, it feels and sounds great for me personally. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Baltimore and would to continue it. I think it’s just a matter of everybody getting something together and discussing it.”

Here are a few more Thursday updates from all over the AFC:

  • In an open letter published on The Cauldron, Browns wideout Josh Gordon addresses Charles Barkley, Stephen A. Smith, Cris Carter, and other media members and fans who have criticized him for his problems with substance abuse, explaining his side of the story. Gordon’s account provides an interesting perspective, and is a reminder that, at age 23, he shouldn’t be written off as an NFL player. Still, he has vowed in the past to make better decisions, so he’ll have to actually make good on those promises this time around.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link), Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said he hadn’t talked to the team about a new contract since before the season started, and is letting his agent handle any discussions at this point. Thomas added that he plans to “go about his business” whether he returns to Denver or ultimately lands with another club.
  • Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis explained today on ESPN’s NFL Insiders that team owner Mike Brown sees defensive backs coach Vance Joseph as a rising star, which is why the club was unwilling to let Joseph take the Broncos‘ defensive coordinator job. Coley Harvey of ESPN.com has the details and quotes from Lewis, who said Joseph “could be sitting in my chair very quickly.”
  • Ndamukong Suh’s name should be atop the Colts‘ winter wish list as the team prepares to enter the offseason armed with a ton of cap room, writes Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. Meanwhile, Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck says Suh seems like a player that would fit in well in Oakland, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press details.

Schefter, Caplan On Suh, Bucs, Peterson, QBs

January 29th, 2015 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

While most reporters continue to focus on the Super Bowl, which is now just three days away, NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan turn their attention to the offseason in a pair of stories for ESPN.com today, providing a handful of interesting tidbits about coaches, free agency, and the draft. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from Schefter and Caplan….

  • Many of Schefter’s sources around the league don’t expect the Lions to assign the franchise tag to Ndamukong Suh, since the price ($26.87MM) would simply be too high for one player. Per Schefter, those who know Suh think that the idea of playing in a big market like New York, Chicago, or Dallas has always appealed to him. The Jets, Giants, Bears, and Cowboys could all certainly use a player like Suh, though you could say that about nearly every team in the NFL.
  • There’s a “real sense” that the Buccaneers have their sights set on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota as the No. 1 pick in April, says Schefter, though he cautions that many NFL execs and scouts consider Jameis Winston the best QB prospect in the draft. We still have three months until draft night, so plenty can – and will – change in between now and then.
  • While the Vikings seem comfortable with the idea of bringing back Adrian Peterson, the veteran running back may not want to return to Minnesota. According to Schefter, at least six teams have already done background work on Peterson to prepare for the possibility that he becomes available.
  • Multiple executives told Caplan at the Senior Bowl that Washington‘s Kirk Cousins and Mike Glennon of the Buccaneers are viable trade candidates, especially for teams looking for stopgap starters for the 2015 season. One NFC team exec said he thought both Cousins and Glennon would be worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick in a trade.
  • Although former Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is coming off a successful season in Buffalo, he’s no lock to coach anywhere in 2015, says Caplan. We’ve heard all along that Schwartz will be patient when it comes to picking his next job, and Caplan notes that there’s still $6MM left on his deal with the Bills, which gives him the flexibility to take his time.
  • Caplan identifies six free-agents-to-be who may fly under the radar this offseason but could really help a team, including running back Roy Helu, linebacker Dan Skuta, and safety Jeron Johnson.

Poll: Best Potential 2015 Free Agent?

January 27th, 2015 at 11:17am CST by Luke Adams

Six weeks from today, the NFL’s free agent period for 2015 will officially open. By that point, a number of the more notable names on our 2015 free agent list may be off the board, having reached new agreements with their current clubs, or perhaps receiving the franchise or transition tag.

That certainly applies to the players at the very top of teams’ free agent boards for the coming offseason — it’s hard to imagine the Cowboys letting Dez Bryant reach the open market, or the Broncos allowing Demaryius Thomas to test the free agent waters. Still, for now, those players are eligible for unrestricted free agency, and there’s no indication that they’re on the verge of long-term extensions.

Even though players like Bryant and Thomas may not ultimately reach the open market, we can still examine how they’d stack up against the year’s other top free-agents-to-be. In PFR’s most recent free agent power rankings, Dallas Robinson listed those receivers third and fourth respectively, trailing a pair of formidable defenders, in Ndamukong Suh and Justin Houston — Suh is arguably the NFL’s best defensive tackle, while Houston may be the league’s top pass rusher not named J.J. Watt.

The same four players topped the first edition of our FA power rankings as well, and seem to make up the first tier of 2015’s free agent class. Putting aside the fact that they won’t all actually become available, which of these four players would you consider the best free-agent-to-be of 2015?

Obviously, a team stacked on defense may prefer one of the wideouts, while a club heavy on receiving talent would lean toward one of the defenders, but if we assume all else is equal, who do you like best going forward? Suh, Houston, Bryant, or Thomas? After submitting your vote, feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

NFC Links: Cowboys, Britt, Maclin

January 24th, 2015 at 12:33pm CST by Ben Levine

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo would prefer his organization holds on to All-Pro teammates DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant. The 34-year-old told 103.3 [KESN-FM] that he’s been hounding owner Jerry Jones and members of the front office to bring the duo back. Via Jon Machota of the Dallas News:

“I’m pretty consistently [talking to Jones], and everyone around the building, about bringing them both back. I think everybody understands how great these guys are and how lucky we are to have them.

“Any time you get talented guys where you can put more than two on one side of the ball, you get three, four, if you’re lucky enough to ever get five, it’s one of those things where if you can put a group like that together you can make a run and be very difficult for teams to deal with for years.

“I think that’s what you’re trying to build ultimately is to have sustained success. We have an opportunity to have that.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC…

  • Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas News writes that the Cowboys will be unable to pursue some of the top defensive free agents unless they clear cap room. As of right now, the writer believes Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul are out of the team’s price range.
  • After only one season with the club, upcoming free agent wideout Kenny Britt is looking to stay in St. Louis. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that the 26-year-old’s agents have already started discussions with the Rams regarding a new contract.
  • ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan made an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philly on Friday, and the writer discussed Jeremy Maclin‘s impending free agency. Caplan had previously sounded optimistic about the receiver’s return to the Eagles, but the writer clarified that a lot has changed since that time. “That was before Maclin changed his agent from Ben Dogra,” Caplan said (via Brandon Lee Gowton of BleedingGreenNation.com). “I mean he must have easily done two dozen contracts with the Eagles over the years. The Eagles have a great working relationship with him…Now, Dogra broke off from CAA, and his partner was Tom Condon. Ironically, Tom Condon now represents Maclin. And Condon… I just get the sense he doesn’t have the same relationship with that Dogra did. I’m not saying the deal won’t get done, I’m just not nearly as optimistic as I was before.”

NFC Mailbags: Panthers, Suh, Rodgers, Giants

January 24th, 2015 at 11:53am CST by Ben Levine

We checked out ESPN.com’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now switch focus to the NFC…

  • David Newton still believes the Panthers could re-sign Byron Bell, even following the offensive lineman’s subpar season. Even if the 26-year-old proves that he can’t cut it as a starter, the writer believes the former undrafted free agent could still contribute as a depth piece.
  • Michael C. Wright would choose a safety in the first round if he was in charge of the Bears. However, the writer notes that general manager Ryan Pace believes in selecting the best player available, regardless of position.
  • If Ndamukong Suh ultimately leaves Detroit, Michael Rothstein thinks the Lions have the flexibility to move to a 3-4 defensive scheme. If the team decides to stick with a 4-3, then Rothstein suggests the team could look to sign Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton as Suh’s replacement.
  • It’s not necessary for Aaron Rodgers to restructure his contract, writes Rob Demovsky. With more than $18MM in projected cap room, the Packers shouldn’t have an issue retaining free agents such as Randall Cobb.
  • Dan Graziano explores potential cap casualties for the Giants. The writer points to defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka as the most likely to be released, while linebacker Jon Beason and center J.D. Walton are also candidates.

NFC Mailbags: Panthers, Saints, Bears, Vikings

January 17th, 2015 at 8:43am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start off the morning by checking out some notes from the NFC…

FA Notes: Cowboys, Houston, Suh, Rams

January 16th, 2015 at 12:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Tony Romo and the Cowboys had two of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons at their disposal in 2014, with Dez Bryant leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns and DeMarco Murray running away with the rushing title. However, both players are eligible for free agency this offseason, and owner Jerry Jones acknowledged yesterday that it’s unlikely both of them return to the team.

“Is it possible [to re-sign both players]? Yes,” Jones said, per DallasCowboys.com. “But if you just look at it from the standpoint of dollars and cents, it probably doesn’t look reasonable.”

Considering Jones has stated in the past that the Cowboys intend to keep Bryant around by any means necessary, including the franchise tag, that doesn’t bode particularly well for Murray’s future with in Dallas. We heard earlier this week that the league’s leading rusher appeared likely to reach the open market.

Here’s more on this year’s free-agents-to-be:

  • There have been “zero talks” between the Chiefs and outside linebacker Justin Houston on a new contract since the regular season ended, a source tells Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com. If Houston and the Chiefs don’t work out a long-term deal within the next few weeks, the franchise tag looks like a very realistic possibility for the NFL’s sack leader.
  • In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Field Yates examines Ndamukong Suh’s potential free agency, identifying the Raiders, Browns, and Bengals as the best non-Lions fits for the star defensive tackle.
  • In his preview of the Rams‘ offseason, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com identifies tackle Joe Barksdale, quarterback Shaun Hill, and wide receiver Kenny Britt as a few potential free agents the team should consider re-signing.
  • Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor sees his rookie contract expire this winter, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency. He spoke to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun about the next step in his career, suggesting that returning to the Ravens or signing with another club could both be “good options.”
  • The NFL will introduce a veteran free agent combine this March, scheduled for a couple weeks after free agency opens, writes Conor Orr of NFL.com, passing along a report from colleague Ian Rapoport. According to a memo sent out by the league, the combine will “serve to isolate and consolidate veteran free-agent talent for more focused evaluation on a comparative basis.”

NFC Mailbags: Brees, Cutler, Suh, Giants

January 10th, 2015 at 12:22pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now switch focus to the NFC…

  • With so many veterans on the offensive line, Mike Triplett writes that the Saints need to address that area in their upcoming drafts. Meanwhile, the writer hasn’t seen any real regression out of Drew Brees, leading him to believe the team doesn’t need to draft a quarterback unless there’s a player they really like.
  • Michael C. Wright believes if the Bears want to move on from quarterback Jay Cutler, then they need to have a plan in place. However, there doesn’t seem to be any strategy in handling the embattled veteran, and Wright believes this in an indication that Cutler will return next season.
  • The Lions handling of Ndamukong Suh will have an impact on practically all of the team’s free agency decisions, opines Michael Rothstein. Most notably, defensive tackle Nick Fairley would likely be playing elsewhere in 2015 if the team retains Suh.
  • Alabama safety Landon Collins is as “good a guess as any” to be selected by the Giants in the first round, according to Dan Graziano. Looking for an improvement at safety will be an even bigger priority if the team can solidify it’s pass-rush and offensive line depth via free agency.
  • It wouldn’t surprise David Newton if Panthers veteran running back DeAngelo Williams is cut by the squad in June. The team could pursue a replacement in the draft, but Newton notes that the team likes Fozzy Whittaker.

AFC Mailbags: Ravens, Dolphins, Jets, Jags

January 10th, 2015 at 10:56am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags to answer questions from readers. Let’s first take a look at some of the rumbling coming out of the AFC…

  • The Ravens can’t realistically expect rookie defensive back Rashaan Melvin to continue exceeding expectations. As a result, Jamison Hensley believes the team should still draft a defensive back, forcing Melvin to compete with Asa Jackson for the fourth cornerback spot.
  • If the Dolphins struggle next season, James Walker expects the organization to “clean house.” This would allow new executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum to bring in his own staff.
  • When asked which Jets coaches could ultimately stick around for 2015, Rich Cimini points to defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, quarterbacks coach David Lee and running backs coach Anthony Lynn.
  • Meanwhile, Cimini has no interest in paying Jets wideout Percy Harvin his $10.5MM salary next season, with the writer suggesting a more reasonable $6MM deal.
  • When it comes to some of the notable free agents, Michael DiRocco would support the Jaguars pursuit of wideout Randall Cobb or safety Devin McCourty. However, the writer isn’t as high on Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

NFC North Links: Suh, Briggs, Pace

January 9th, 2015 at 2:01pm CST by Ben Levine

There seemed to be a belief that Ndamukong Suh‘s tenure with the Lions was over. General manager Martin Mayhew hushed those rumors, saying the team would do whatever it could to keep the defensive tackle in Detroit.

“We’re going to leave every option open,” Mayhew said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “We’re not going to get into the plusses and minuses of anything in terms of working this out. I think it’s important for you guys to know that we want him back and we are willing to franchise him, transition him, whatever, but not get into the details of each tactic.”

Meanwhile, Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press opines that the Lions shouldn’t throw all of their money at Suh, suggesting the team would be better off spreading the money around.

Let’s check out more notes from the NFC North…

  • Suh and Bears linebacker Lance Briggs headline Field Yates’ list of big-name free agents who could change teams this offseason (Insider-only link via ESPN.com).
  • It was a bit of a surprise when the Bears hired Ryan Pace as their next general manager. Many believed Chris Ballard was the favorite for the position, but Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times says the executive’s familiarity with the franchise may have actually hurt his chances.
  • Pace wouldn’t discuss the value of his contract with the Bears, but Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets that the pact is for five years.
  • Following the hiring of Pace, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if the Bears will interview former Bills head coach Doug Marrone for the same position. The two previously worked together in New Orleans, and Florio says members of the Saints organization believe Marrone will be considered.
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