Wes Welker - Pro Football Rumors

WR Rumors: Welker, D. Thomas, J. Jones

June 12th, 2015 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and James Jones spent the 2014 season playing in the AFC West, but now all three receivers are free agents. Thomas, of course, isn’t on the unrestricted market like Welker and Jones, but he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, meaning he’s not yet officially under contract with the Broncos.

Here’s the latest on the trio of wideouts:

A general manager tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that his team strongly considered signing Welker, but “there was great concern” about his history of concussions. As Freeman writes, teams familiar with Welker’s medical history say they think the ex-Bronco has sustained at least six concussions during his NFL career.
Despite the concern about Welker’s head injuries, which will keep many suitors away, there are still teams interested in adding him. According to Freeman, the Patriots and Broncos aren’t interested in a reunion with Welker, but the Ravens and Dolphins could be good fits.
Thomas, Welker’s old Denver teammate, has until July 15 to sign a long-term contract with the Broncos, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says Thomas may not report to training camp if the two sides don’t strike a deal.
While the Broncos consider Thomas’ asking price too high, some league executives have suggested to Rapoport that Thomas deserves a Calvin Johnson-esque deal, based on Thomas’ recent production and the salary cap increases over the last couple years. When Johnson inked his eight-year, $130MM extension in 2012, the cap was $120.6MM. Three years later, it’s up to $143.28MM.
Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) today, Jones identified the Jaguars as a potential fit for him. He also mentioned the Chiefs, Giants, and Seahawks, three teams that reportedly inquired on him when he became a free agent last month.

East Notes: Welker, Eagles, Boykin, JPP

June 2nd, 2015 at 5:16pm CST by Luke Adams

As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, free agent wideout Wes Welker told Toucher and Rich of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston that he wants to continue his playing career, and wouldn’t be opposed to rejoining the Patriots.

Examining potential fits for Welker, Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) agrees that perhaps New England could be a match, though he gets the sense that it’s unlikely to happen. Yates also identifies the Ravens and Texans as potential landing spots for the veteran receiver.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFL’s two East divisions….

Two Eagles players who were the subject of trade rumors in Philadelphia this offseason addressed those rumors recently. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the quotes from defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, while Mark Eckel of NJ.com passes along linebacker Mychal Kendricks‘ thoughts on the matter. Kendricks said he expects to still be on Philadelphia’s roster by the time the season gets underway, but admitted there haven’t been any extension talks with the team.
Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin is expecting to continue to play in the slot this season rather than getting a chance to start on the outside, and says that story is “getting real old,” writes McLane in a separate Inquirer piece. As Zach Berman of the Inquirer tweets, Boykin says if he plays well in his contract year, he expects he’ll get the chance to play a bigger role when free agency hits.
Cameron Jordan and Jason Pierre-Paul aren’t entirely comparable, but Jordan’s new five-year, $55MM contract (worth up to $60MM) could have an impact on JPP’s negotiations with the Giants, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Extra Points: Mariota, Welker, Forte, Gurley

April 30th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans will not trade Marcus Mariota after selecting him second overall, GM Ruston Webster said, per Paul Kuharksy of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Moreover, he’ll be the Week 1 starter, says head coach Ken Whisenhunt (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean). Additionally, despite reports that Zach Mettenberger wants to be traded, Webster says he think the incumbent QB will come to embrace his new backup role, adding that Mettenberger won’t be traded (link).

Free agent receiver Wes Welker has been cleared to play by a top concussion expert, according to Mike Klis of 9 News, who writes that Dr. Stanley Herring (a member of the NFL’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee) has given Welker the green light. The 33-year-old Welker indicated in February that he intends to play in 2015 despite a myriad of health concerns.
Despite the fact that he wasn’t present at voluntary workouts, Bears running back Matt Forte doesn’t intend to stage a training camp holdout as he angles for a new contract, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Though Forte admits he wants an extension, and says he and GM Ryan Pace discussed such a deal earlier this offseason, Forte realizes he has little to no leverage in the situation.
Todd Gurley was the No. 1 player on the Rams’ board, so choosing him at No. 10 was an easy call, per Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
The Eagles apparently aren’t interested in players with character concerns, as neither Marcus Peters nor Dorial Green-Beckham is on their board, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

AFC Links: Ravens, Welker, Raiders, Patriots

April 8th, 2015 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Eric DeCosta is one of the hottest up-and-coming general manager candidates in the league. The Ravens assistant GM was asked to interview with the Jets and Bears this offseason, but the 43-year-old declined, just as he had previously with the Seahawks and Raiders. Why refuse an opportunity to become a general manager just to remain an assistant? DeCosta answered that question earlier today (via Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun):

“I get a chance to work with my friends. Every day, I come in and work with my friends. I think it’s a relationship business. In the end, personal ambitions aside, all you have is really your reputation and your friends and your enjoyment in life. And I love Baltimore, the community.

“My wife is from Baltimore. I’ve been here 20 years, my kids go to school here. It’s great. I sit with these guys every day and give everybody a hard time, get a chance to play jokes on everybody every day, and it’s just fun. I enjoy work. I enjoy coming in here. We have a great owner, awesome stadium and best fan base in the country. So, what more do you want?”

There may be another reason for DeCosta to stay put, as Wilson says the executive is “[d]esignated contractually as the Ravens’ general-manager-in-waiting behind Ozzie Newsome.”

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

Wes Welker‘s visit with the Dolphins ended without a deal, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The 33-year-old spent three seasons in Miami prior to his tenure with the Patriots. He finished last season with 49 catches for 464 yards and two touchdowns, the lowest totals since his rookie campaign.
While it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Vic Tafur confirms (via Twitter) that Michael Crabtree wrapped up his visit with the Raiders without a contract. The former first-round pick met with the organization on Monday.
Stevan Ridley spurned the Dolphins and Washington to sign with the Jets earlier this evening. As the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe notes on Twitter, the Patriots didn’t make “a significant enough push” to retain their free agent running back.

Wes Welker Visiting Dolphins

April 8th, 2015 at 8:16am CST by Luke Adams

Nearly a month after the 2015 free agent period officially got underway, veteran wideout Wes Welker has finally been linked to a potential suitor, and it’s a team he has played for in the past. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Welker is paying a visit to Miami today to meet with the Dolphins.

It appeared through the first few weeks of free agency that Welker’s age (34 next month) and injury history might be scaring off potentially interested teams, and there was some uncertainty about whether or not he’d continue his playing career. However, the Dolphins are one club in need of a veteran receiver. Miami parted ways with Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson this offseason, and has hosted Michael Crabtree and Greg Jennings for visits recently, as the team considers potential complements for Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.

According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Jennings – who visited the Dolphins yesterday – left the club’s facility without a contract, though an agreement between the two sides remains “very much a possibility.” Of course, the Fins may not return to negotiations with Jennings until they talk to Welker and get a sense of the former Bronco’s asking price.

Welker, an 11-year veteran, spent some time with the Dolphins near the start of his career, before the team sent him to New England in a 2007 trade. Since that deal, Welker has racked up 794 receptions in eight seasons for the Patriots and Broncos, and earned five Pro Bowl nods. 2014 was by far his worst season during that stretch, however, as injuries limited him to 14 games, in which he totaled 49 catches and just 464 receiving yards.

Per Salguero, the Texans showed “mild interest” in Welker prior to the start of free agency, but the Dolphins are believed to be the first team to host him for a visit.

AFC Notes: Welker, Colts, Jaguars, Draft

March 31st, 2015 at 10:05am CST by Luke Adams

As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes, there haven’t been any reports linking Wes Welker to any teams, which suggests the veteran free agent isn’t drawing much interest on the open market. Welker indicated earlier in the offseason that he has no plans to retire, despite a history of head injuries, but the Broncos don’t seem to be all that enthusiastic about a reunion, and the receiver’s injury history may be scaring off other potential suitors.

While we wait to see if April brings better news for Welker, let’s round up a few more items out of the AFC….

Although they locked up veteran safety Mike Adams at the start of this year’s free agent period, the Colts remain on the lookout for more help at the position, writes Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. According to Bowen, the club is still “actively pursuing” another safety to help fortify the secondary.
It’s only been a little more than two years since general manager Dave Caldwell assumed control of the Jaguars, but just seven players remain from the roster that he inherited in 2013, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.
Speaking of those Jaguars, they likely won’t be all that active in free agency in the weeks leading up to next month’s draft, but Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union points to a few positions where the team may still consider veteran options, including center and wide receiver.
Memphis cornerback Bobby McCain has had private workouts for the Patriots and the Colts, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. McCain projects as a probable late-round pick.
Wilson also passes along an update on Indiana wide receiver Shane Wynn, reporting that Wynn has visits lined up with the Browns and Raiders. The Cleveland native ran the 40-yard dash in 4.23 seconds, making him one of the fastest players in this year’s draft class.

Veteran WRs Drawing Little Interest

March 17th, 2015 at 9:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Some receivers have cashed in big this offseason, but that’s not the case for everyone. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that there’s currently little or no market for some notable names, including Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks. Meanwhile, there has been no buzz over Reggie Wayne and Wes Welker.

Last week, it was reported that Washington had interest in Crabtree while the Chargers appeared to be a “stronger possibility” for the 49ers free agent. Nicks, 27, hasn’t been on the pages of PFR at all over the past few months after a rather pedestrian season in which he caught 38 passes for 405 yards.

Both Wayne and Welker have said that they plan on playing in 2015, but it sounds like they’ve yet to hear much from teams that want to help facilitate that. Wayne, for his part, sounds open to joining up with another contender after learning that he won’t be welcomed back by the Colts.

Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, and other wide receivers have found riches in the month of March, but several others find themselves still waiting by the phone as April approaches.

Combine Pressers: Steelers, Bucs, Broncos, 49ers

February 18th, 2015 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

48 head coaches or general managers are scheduled to speak today, tomorrow, and Friday at the NFL’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, with the Eagles, Saints, and Patriots the only teams not represented on this year’s schedule. Those mini-pressers are already underway, so let’s round up a few of the notable comments made by the men who have spoken to the media so far. All links go to the Twitter accounts of various NFL reporters in attendance….

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert:

Contract talks between Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers are “progressing,” according to Colbert. With Big Ben heading into the final year of his current deal, the two sides are expected to work out a new agreement at some point during the offseason, and the GM is very confident it can be done within a traditional cap structure.
Despite the fact that LeGarrette Blount ultimately played a major role for the Super Bowl champion Patriots, Colbert said today that he and his club have no regrets about parting ways with the running back during the season.
While Colbert said he’d love to bring back free-agent-to-be Jason Worilds, he didn’t convey a ton of confidence that something will get done, telling reporters, “Maybe he comes back, maybe he moves on.” Per Colbert, the outside linebacker may need to test the open market to gauge his value.

Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith:

Calling Josh McCown a “lifelong friend,” Smith said he thought it was in both the team’s and the quarterback’s interests to part ways earlier this month.
The Buccaneers’ new coaches like Mike Glennon, so the plan right now is to move forward with Glennon at quarterback — he’s the only signal-caller on the roster at the moment, but Smith thinks he has the potential to be a solid NFL starter.
While Glennon may be atop the Tampa Bay depth chart by default for now, Smith also addressed the idea of selecting a quarterback with the first overall pick in April. According to the head coach, the Bucs aren’t put off by Jameis Winston‘s off-field issues, and would be comfortable with the idea of making him the face of their franchise. The vetting process for both Winston and Marcus Mariota is ongoing, and Smith says the team has already “talked to a lot of people” about both prospects.
Asked about Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs, two potential free agents whom used to play for Smith in Chicago, the head coach said he’s not sure how much interest they’ll generate, but he believes they can still be positive contributors.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak:

Although Kubiak said he has received no assurances that Peyton Manning will be back with the Broncos, all indications are pointing toward him returning. The new Denver head coach talked about adjusting his offense to suit Manning’s skills, which strongly suggest he expects to be coaching the future Hall-of-Famer.
According to Kubiak, he had a “good conversation” with Wes Welker, who says he’s feeling good and wants to play in 2015. Of course, the receiver doesn’t have a contract yet, so there’s no guarantee he’ll continue playing for the Broncos. Denver would “love to have him back” though, says Kubiak.
Kubiak expects the transition from a 4-3 defense under Jack Del Rio to a 3-4 scheme under Wade Phillips to go fairly smoothly.

49ers GM Trent Baalke:

Baalke intends to meet with veteran defensive end Justin Smith after the combine to determine whether or not Smith wants to return for a 15th NFL season in 2015.
Asked about wide receiver prospects at the combine and in the draft, Baalke said, “It’s no mystery, we’re looking for guys who can run.”
Baalke declined to comment on Jim Harbaugh‘s recent suggestion that the former head coach’s departure from the 49ers was the team’s decision and not his own. “He’s moved on and we’ve moved on,” the GM said.
According to the Niners GM, the team’s head coaching job was offered to “one person and one person only” (Jim Tomsula), meaning the club never officially offered the position to Adam Gase. Baalke did confirm that the Niners made an effort to retain defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but that was dependent on who became the head coach.

Wes Welker Plans To Play In 2015

February 16th, 2015 at 4:42pm CST by Luke Adams

A report last week indicated that Wes Welker was mulling the possibility of retiring this offseason, but it looks as if the veteran wideout will continue his NFL career for at least one more season. Welker tells Mike Klis of the Denver Post that he fully intends to return to the field for 2015.

“Just getting ready for 2015,” Welker said in a text message to Klis. Asked about last week’s report about the possibility of retirement, the receiver added: “Never ever came out of my mouth.”

Mike Garafolo’s report last Tuesday suggested that, although Welker had told friends, family, and associates that he was giving some thought to the idea of retirement, he had not yet made his decision. Now, it appears he has. Of course, even if the 33-year-old plans to return to action next season, his future is still a little uncertain. He’s not under contract with the Broncos for 2015, and Denver has a handful of key free agents to retain, including Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Terrance Knighton. Welker could be the odd man out, depending on how the team’s offseason develops.

After averaging about 106 receptions in his previous seven seasons, Welker caught just 49 passes in 2014. The dip in production coincided with increasing concerns about the veteran’s health — he suffered at least three concussions during his stint with the Broncos, prompting multiple former teammates to express some concern about his injury history.

Welker’s expiring contract with Denver was a two-year, $12MM pact. Assuming he does indeed continue his playing career, he’ll almost certainly take a paycut for the 2015 season.

Wes Welker Mulling Retirement

February 10th, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker is considering retirement, according to Mike Garafolo of FOXSports.com. Years of head injuries and declining production have led the 33-year-old wide receiver to consider walking away from the game.

One of the sources said no final decision has been made by the pending free agent but Welker has told friends, family, and associates that he’s giving the notion some serious thought. The veteran has hauled in 122 catches for 1,242 yards and 12 touchdowns over the last two seasons with Denver, though his reception total dropped from 73 in 2013 to 49 in 2014. Welker had only two touchdowns this past season, a campaign where he wound up playing in just nine regular season contests. The most important number of all might be 3: the number of concussions Welker has suffered during his two years in Denver. His most recent documented concussion came in the 2014 preseason.

If Welker’s career is truly over, then he’ll have left the sport with one heck of a resume. Welker, an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, burst out of relative obscurity in 2006 with the Dolphins when he caught 67 balls for 687 yards. The next year, he landed with the Patriots where his career really took off. Serving as a trusted receiver for Tom Brady, Welker became a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro. With the unlikely 5’9 target as an integral part of the offensive attack, the Pats captured two AFC Championship trophies.