Top 3 Offseason Needs News & Rumors

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Tampa Bay Bucs

February 20th, 2017 at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who added three wins to their 2015 record to finish 9-7 under first-year head coach Dirk Koetter.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Jude Adjei-Barimah, CB (ERFA)
Cameron Brate, TE (ERFA)
Gosder Cherilus, T
Chris Conte, S
Andrew DePaola, LS (RFA)
William Gholston, DE
Adarius Glanton, LB (ERFA)
Mike Glennon, QB
Ryan Griffin, QB (RFA)
Joe Hawley, C
John Hughes, DT
Adam Humphries, WR (ERFA)
Vincent Jackson, WR
Howard Jones, LB (ERFA)
Freddie Martino, WR (ERFA)
Bradley McDougald, S
Brandon Myers, TE
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB
Josh Robinson, CB
Russell Shepard, WR
Cecil Shorts, WR
Sealver Siliga, DT
Antone Smith, RB
Jacquies Smith, DE (RFA)
Daryl Smith, LB
Akeem Spence, DT

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Gerald McCoy, DT: $13,750,000
Brent Grimes, CB: $8,000,000
Doug Martin, RB: $7,000,000
Jameis Winston, QB: $6,913,985
Alterraun Verner, CB: $6,500,000
Robert Ayers, DE: $6,250,000
Lavonte David, LB: $6,000,000
J.R. Sweezy, G: $5,000,000
Mike Evans, WR: $4,655,478
Evan Smith, OL: $4,500,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $61,926,718
19th pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for WR Mike Evans

Three Needs:

1. Grab a No. 2 wide receiver: The Buccaneers’ offense had its successes in 2016, as quarterback Jameis Winston took a leap in his sophomore campaign, wide receiver Mike Evans ranked among the NFL’s top-six receivers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, and the offense as a whole finished 18th in DVOA. Tampa Bay’s running game struggled — we’ll address ways to fix that facet of the club a bit later — but the more pressing need for the Bucs is at receiver, where the team lacks depth beyond Evans.

Tight end Cameron Brate ranked second among Tampa receivers in catches, yards, and scores, and adds a solid dimension to the Buccaneers offense, while Adam Humphries managed 55 receptions for 622 yards and two touchdowns. Humphries, 24, garnered the second-most targets in Tampa Bay’s offense, and while he’s a reliable security blanket for Winston, Humphries is best served in the slot. Veteran Cecil Shorts, meanwhile, suffered a potentially career-ending injury last December and won’t be back, meaning the rest of the Buccaneers wide receiver depth chart is comprised of Josh Huff, Freddie Martino, Donteea Dye, and Bernard Reedy.

In addition to Shorts, other internal free agents exist at the wideout position. Veteran Vincent Jackson, now 34 years old, is coming off a partial ACL tear and could theoretically opt for retirement given that he’s only played in 15 games over the past two seasons. Jackson, though, is a respected presence in the Tampa Bay locker room, and a cheap re-signing isn’t out of the question, as Roy Cummings of FanRag Sports recently detailed. Russell Shepard, too, is heading for the open market, but is viewed as a “priority” free agent after another campaign as an excellent special-teamer.

Even if Jackson and Shepard return, though, the Buccaneers will still have a need for a standout No. 2 receiver who can help Evans threaten opposing defenses. In free agency, Redskins pass-catcher DeSean Jackson stands out as one option who could interest Tampa Bay. Jackson, 30, is expected to garner a double-digit yearly salary, but could add another feature to Tampa’s offense. While averaging 17.9 yards per reception, Jackson led the league in yards per catch for the second time in three seasons, evidence of his deep-ball acumen. Jackson’s teammate Pierre Garcon could also be on the Buccaneers’ radar, though he’s more of a possession receiver, and the Bucs weren’t among the recent list of teams expected to express interest in Garcon.

Elsewhere on the free agent market, Michael Floyd looks like an obvious fit for Tampa Bay, especially given that Bucs general manager Jason Licht was a member of the Cardinals’ front office when Arizona made Floyd a top-15 overall pick in 2012. Even with Floyd’s off-field concerns, the Buccaneers would face competition for Floyd’s services, including from the Patriots, who hope to re-sign the pending free agent. Tampa could eye Vikings’ wideout Cordarrelle Patterson as it looks to improve its special teams unit — the Bucs lost 8.7 points of field position on kick returns and 2.1 points of field position on punt returns in 2016 — while Terrance Williams, Kamar Aiken, and Robert Woods might also interest the club.

The Buccaneers could also pursue a few pass-catchers who aren’t actually on the open market just yet: if the Jets release either of Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker, Tampa might jump at the chance to add a dependable veteran to play opposite Evans in “12” personnel. Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap recently placed both Marshall and Decker on his list of potential wide receiver cuts, and while Marshall says he hasn’t heard anything from New York about his future with the team, he could certainly hit free agency in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the 49ers may be willing to trade Torrey Smith, who could offer a Jackson-like deep threat to the Bucs’ offense.

The draft represents yet another avenue by which Tampa Bay can acquire wide receiver talent, and while the club likely won’t be able to land Clemson’s Mike Williams barring a trade up in the first round, Western Michigan’s Corey Davis is a legitimate target at pick No. 19, and was recently mocked to the Buccaneers by Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com. Davis will miss the scouting combine after undergoing ankle surgery, while fellow Round 1 option John Ross (Washington) is expected to go under the knife after the combine, but both receivers should be ready for training camp. Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Zay Jones (East Carolina), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC) could figure into Tampa’s Day 2 plans.

2. Solve the running game: Just last spring, the Buccaneers re-signed Doug Martin to a five-year, $35.75MM contract that contained $15MM in full guarantees. Given that he’d rushed for more than 1,400 yards the season prior, Martin was expected to carry Tampa Bay’s offense once again, but injuries and a PED suspension derailed his 2016 campaign, as the 28-year-old ultimately played in only eight games and posted just 2.9 yards per carry.

Tampa Bay hardly ever uses signing bonuses, and given that Martin’s aforementioned drug ban voided his remaining guaranteed money, the Bucs could theoretically part ways with Martin without incurring any dead money. That doesn’t appear to be the team’s strategy, however, as Tampa might hold onto Martin for the time being. It’s a smart approach given Martin’s lack of guarantees, and because he’s suspended for the first three weeks of the 2017 season, the Bucs can hold off on making a decision on his future until nearly a month into the campaign.

Not only does retaining Martin (for now) make fiscal sense, but the Buccaneers don’t have another viable running back readily available to step into the starting role. Longtime NFL backup Jacquizz Rodgers handled the lion’s share of the carries in Martin’s absence and finished with 560 yards on the ground, but he’s a free agent and Tampa reportedly hasn’t begun negotiations at present. Second-year pro Peyton Barber managed only 55 carries last year, while Russell Hansbrough is essentially a complete unknown.

If Martin is ultimately released, the Buccaneers will almost be forced to add another back, either through free agency or the draft. Tampa probably wouldn’t go after another pricey runner such as Latavius Murray, but Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy could be a fit (especially if he is only able to garner a $2MM deal, as one agent recently speculated). If the Buccaneers want to find an RB who can handle early down, between the tackles work, LeGarrette Blount or Tim Hightower could be in the cards. But if the club wants to run a more uptempo, passing-based offense, a receiving back such like Rex Burkhead, Travaris Cadet, or Danny Woodhead might be of intrigue.

Free agency may not offer what Tampa Bay is looking for, meaning the team could look to collegiate prospects at it searches for a backfield solution. LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Florida State’s Dalvin Cook will almost certainly be off the board by the time the Bucs pick in Round 1, and while Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com recently mocked Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara to Tampa at pick No. 19, the Buccaneers may not want to reach for a back that few rank as a clear first-rounder. Instead, the club could wait until Day 2 or 3 and target someone like D’Onta Foreman (Texas), Matthew Dayes (NC State), or even take a risk on Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon (though targeting a runner with off-field question marks might not be tenable given Martin’s recent uncertainty).

Improving the offensive line also needs to be on Tampa Bay’s itinerary, as the club’s front five ranked 21st in adjusted line yards and dead last in stuffed percentage, which ranks how often running backs were stopped behind the line of scrimmage (both are Football Outsiders metrics). Donovan Smith was probably the Buccaneers’ worst offensive lineman last season, but the team will likely give the former second-round pick at least one more year to right the ship. The return of 2016 free agent acquisition J.R. Sweezy — who missed all of 2016 due to injury — should help, but Tampa still needs help on the interior.

Center Joe Hawley is a free agent and could be replaced, but outside of J.C. Tretter and Stefen Wisniewski, there aren’t a ton of pivots on the open market. One option could be shifting guard Ali Marpet to the middle, and drafting/signing a new guard. 25-year-old Larry Warford, formerly of the Lions, would make sense for an up-and-coming Buccaneers roster, while Brandon Fusco could add a veteran presence to a young front five. Draft prospects Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky), Cam Robinson (Alabama), Antonio Garcia (Troy), and Dan Feeney (Indiana) should be in consideration for Tampa in Round 1 or 2.

3. Solidify the defensive backfield: The Buccaneers might have employed the NFL’s worst safety tandem last year in the form of Chris Conte and Bradley McDougald, and now that both are unrestricted free agents, Tampa Bay should take the opportunity to improve its secondary by adding fresh faces. Internal option Keith Tandy shined after taking over for Conte midway through the 2016 campaign, grading as the league’s No. 22 safety on 402 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, so the 28-year-old may have played his way into a starting role.

Tandy’s ascension would still leave one safety vacancy to be filled, however, but Tampa is unlikely to find a starting safety in the first round of the draft, especially given that LSU’s Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker are expected to be top-15 selections (at worst). Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers is a fringe first-round prospect, but given that he may have to convert to linebacker at the NFL level, he’s probably not the type of center field defender the Bucs are looking for. Washington’s Budda Baker (whom Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com compares to Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu), Utah’s Marcus Williams, and Florida’s Marcus Maye are among the defensive backs that could be on the board on Day 2.

More likely, the Buccaneers will go the free agent route as it hunts for a new back-end defender, and one available player that could fit Tampa’s needs like a glove is Cardinals defensive back Tony Jefferson, who is set to hit the unrestricted free agent market for the first time in his career. Like Michael Floyd, Jefferson joined Arizona while current Tampa GM Jason Licht was on the Cards’ staff, meaning the Buccaneers’ front office has some level of familiarity with the 25-year-old. Jefferson, who ranked as PFF’s No. 5 safety last year, is expected to become the second-highest paid player at his position behind Eric Berry.

In addition to Jefferson, other free agents that may receive calls from Tampa Bay include fellow Cardinal D.J. Swearinger (who’s already had one stint with the Bucs), Barry Church, Micah Hyde, or Quintin Demps, who has said he won’t offer a hometown discount to stay in Houston. Other safeties may hit the market in the coming weeks after being released, and Jairus Byrd (Saints), Tyvon Branch (Cardinals), and Marcus Gilchrist (Jets) should expect interest from the Buccaneers.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Detroit Lions

February 19th, 2017 at 8:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Detroit Lions, who managed to make the playoffs for the second time in three years and third time this decade. But the team backed into the NFC bracket, closing the regular season with three losses, and did not fare well in a wild-card loss to the Seahawks. This leaves many offseason questions ahead.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Joique Bell, RB
Anquan Boldin, WR
Jonathan Bostic, LB
Rafael Bush, S
Crezdon Butler, CB
Josh Bynes, LB
Stefan Charles, DT
Brandon Copeland, LB (ERFA)
Clay Harbor, TE
Kerry Hyder, DL (ERFA)
Asa Jackson, CB
T.J. Jones, WR (ERFA)
Cornelius Lucas, T (RFA)
Don Muhlbach, LS
Matthew Mulligan, TE
Dan Orlovsky, QB
Riley Reiff, T
Garrett Reynolds, T
Andre Roberts, WR
Khyri Thornton, DT (RFA)
Tyrunn Walker, DL
Larry Warford, G
Tim Wright, TE

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Matthew Stafford, QB: $22,000,000
Ezekiel Ansah, DE: $12,734,000
Darius Slay, CB: $10,681,250
Marvin Jones, WR: $8,600,000
Golden Tate, WR: $8,351,250
DeAndre Levy, LB: $8,225,000
Glover Quin, S: $7,827,500
Haloti Ngata, DT: $7,703,125
Tahir Whitehead, LB: $4,550,000
Matt Prater, K: $4,325,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via OverTheCap): $32,797,575
Twenty-first pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for TE Eric Ebron

Three Needs:

1.) Stock the second level: Since signing the four-year, $33.74MM extension prior to the 2015 season, DeAndre Levy has contributed staggeringly little to the Lions’ cause. Playing in just six games and making only 21 tackles the past two seasons, Levy can no longer be counted on to be available. But he’s still Detroit’s best linebacker and has three years and almost $19MM remaining on his deal. The Lions will likely see if Levy can retain the form that led the team to extend him, but Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes a Levy pay cut request could be forthcoming after the soon-to-be 30-year-old weak-side man’s observed his value depreciate. Levy, however, won’t need further surgery on his right knee, which plagued him in 2016 after a hip injury harpooned his 2015 slate. Just $1.75MM of Levy’s 2017 salary ($5.75MM) is guaranteed against injury for 2017, becoming fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year. But thoughts of cutting the previous outside standout would basically mean starting over at linebacker, because the Lions are reeling here.

Levy’s extension thus far burning the Lions gives them no surefire answers on their defensive second level. Despite his 122 tackles far and away leading the team, Tahir Whitehead encountered mixed reviews. Pro Football Focus did not think the statistics gelled with Whitehead’s play level, ranking the 26-year-old as the league’s second-worst full-time linebacker last season. Whitehead is signed through 2017 after inking a two-year, $8MM extension last March. The Lions’ second-leading tackler among linebackers, Josh Bynes, is a pending UFA. A fifth-round pick from 2016, Antwione Williams, and a former waiver claim (Thurston Armbrister) represent the only other ‘backers under contract.

A group that appeared solid a couple of seasons ago, with Levy and the since-released Stephen Tulloch manning positions, could use reinforcements. Football Outsiders ranked the Lions last in defensive DVOA in 2016, and although Detroit’s defense ranked 18th in terms of rushing yards allowed, this is a primary need area.

It’s not a great year to need a non-rush linebacker, particularly if a team is seeking outside help in a 4-3. Assuming Levy returns to commandeer the weak-side spot (big if, obviously), the Lions may need two new starters. As far as 4-3 OLBs go, it’s an incredibly thin contingent.

Malcolm Smith now profiles as player with significant starting experience compared to his initial free agency foray in 2015, when he was coming off a stay as a Seahawks contributor. Smith, though, did not impress much in Oakland despite being the Raiders’ most-used pure linebacker the past two seasons. Beyond that, Bynes, Keenan Robinson and Barkevious Mingo loom as undesirable options. Bob Quinn‘s former team traded for Mingo last year, but the former No. 6 overall pick made little impact. The 27-year-old Bynes could conceivably be back on a cheap deal. He signed a two-year pact with Detroit in 2015 but saw an injury lead to his release. The Kyle Van Noy trade re-routed Bynes to the Motor City, where he started eight games last season and earned a middling PFF grade — but tops among Lions linebackers. The Lions still may be better off targeting a rookie in the early rounds to fill this need.

If the team would be open to converting a 3-4 inside man to the outside, more options are available. Zach Brown and Kevin Minter are each coming off quality seasons and will be looking to cash in, Brown (149 tackles with the Bills in 2016) especially after settling for a one-year deal as a UFA last year. A middle linebacker in the Raiders’ base 4-3 set but a player used on passing downs as well, Perry Riley stands to be available after re-emerging last season. Settling for one of the other talents here — unless it’s Lawrence Timmons, whom the Steelers are considering keeping — doesn’t make much sense. It could be time for an early-round investment.

The Lions have mostly avoided linebackers in Round 1, with Ernie Sims (2006) representing the last such selection. They went for Van Noy in Round 2 three years ago, but he’s the only second-rounder the franchise has used on this position in the past nine years. A 2009 third-round choice, Levy joins many modern non-rush linebackers in showing that filling this spot with later-round draft picks can work. However, his own standing with the team presently could induce an early selection to help tilt the odds in the Lions’ favor.

Most mainstream mock drafts do not have the Lions going for a linebacker with their No. 1 pick, but Detroit has talent at every other level of its defense that will return. Be it Ziggy Ansah, Darius Slay, or Glover Quin. This defense needs help at multiple spots, but if Levy can’t return to regular duty, no such cornerstone cog exists at linebacker. And even if the ninth-year player does return to form, counting on it to last may be asking too much.

A chasm exists between Reuben Foster and the rest of the traditional linebackers in this rookie class. Jarrad Davis could be the No. 2 pure ‘backer on the board by the time No. 21 comes around, and the ex-Florida talent’s ankle troubles — which will force him to miss Combine workouts — could scare off teams in the teens from making that pick. Of course, the Lions themselves dealing with a chronically injured linebacker may make drafting Davis a difficult proposition. He of 125 tackles (16.5 for loss) in 13 games, Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham is viewed as a late-first-round talent as well. It’s doubtful Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan will be there when the Lions’ second-round window opens. Foster’s lesser-regarded teammate, Ryan Anderson, could be, however.

This is not a bad need to have when it comes to bringing in young talent, as recent Day 2 picks Deion Jones and Jordan Hicks showed in becoming instant contributors the past two years.

2.) Give Ansah some help: The Lions may have located an Ansah sidekick out of nowhere in Kerry Hyder, an ex-UDFA who came off the bench for the most part and led the team with eight sacks in his second season. No other Lion currently under contract finished with more than two. Hyder will be back as an ERFA, but the Lions’ D-line is thin both inside and outside. Devin Taylor, Tyrunn Walker and Armonty Bryant are UFAs for a team with middling cap space, and Haloti Ngata is going into his age-34 season and another contract campaign. Detroit drafted Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson in the second round last year. He saw 446 snaps, but the jury’s still out.

Nevertheless, the Lions could lose a sizable sect of their rotation up front. This could be construed as a greater need due to the resources required to make pass-rush fortifications.

Detroit’s 26 sacks ranked in a tie for the second-fewest in the league, and Ansah’s troubles with a high ankle sprain contributed to that number. However, the talented edge player only missed three games and regressed from a standout 2015 (14.5 sacks). Detroit needs assistance here while being cognizant obviously of Ansah (two sacks in 2016) entering his fifth-year option season. Currently, the Lions don’t have any defensive linemen signed through 2018 making more than $1.5MM. That should change once Ansah is extended or franchise-tagged, but if Quinn is going to authorize a big outside payment this offseason, this would be the spot to do so.

There are options at 4-3 defensive end. Jason Pierre-Paul fronts the group, but his salary demands could easily make a team that likely has Ansah extension plans balk. PFR’s Zach Links regards Pierre-Paul as a strong franchise tag candidate as well. Beyond JPP, Jabaal Sheard makes sense to investigate. He arrived in New England during Quinn’s stay with the team, making a big difference for the 2015 Patriots as a role player before regressing to the level of being a game-day inactive at one point this season. Sheard still made 13 sacks with the Patriots in two seasons and registered at least 7.5 during three of his six NFL slates. The 27-year-old Sheard’s contract-year issues may make teams wary of paying him, but reasonable upside exists.

Panthers defensive ends Mario Addison and Charles Johnson could hit the market, with Dave Gettleman‘s top priority being Kawann Short. Both edge players want to stay in Charlotte, but Addison in particular may be eager to test the market after breaking out with a 9.5-sack slate. As a reserve, Addison registered 22 sacks over the past three years. He will turn 30 before the season, though, presumably intensifying a desire to get paid now even on a medium-length deal.

Lions mock drafts have the team eyeing this spot. Tennessee’s Derek Barnett (32 sacks in three seasons), Michigan’s Taco Charlton (15.5 sacks between 2015-16) and Alabama’s Tim Williams (16 tackles for loss in ’16) comprise three pass-rushers linked to the Motor City. Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley and Michigan State’s Malik McDowell would be in range as well, representing a path Detroit would have to consider given that only two DTs reside on its offseason roster.

Some 4-3 defensive tackles make sense on the market, with Alan Branch spending two years with the Patriots during Quinn’s stay. The 32-year-old would be a stopgap solution, though, which isn’t exactly what the Lions need since Ngata now qualifies as such. Just 24, Johnathan Hankins has shown flashes as an interior pass-rusher. He racked up seven sacks in 2014, and the Giants may have a difficult time keeping him now that Pierre-Paul looms as a tag candidate (thus, a $16MM-plus payment). Hankins resides in a class with Kawann Short, Dontari Poe, Bennie Logan and Brandon Williams, which would ordinarily be a loaded contingent if each was going to hit the market. Since that won’t be the case, Hankins makes sense as a scheme fit, having always played in a 4-3.

Nonetheless, multiple contributors will be sought to help here. What remains to be seen are the kind of funds Quinn will allocate to this spot.

3.) Replenish the offensive front: The two offensive linemen most associated with the Lions’ intermittent run of success during the mid-2010s, Riley Reiff and Larry Warford, are UFAs. Warford is likely to test free agency and will join a talented group of guards as unattached veterans. Nothing much has emerged on the Reiff front, but the sixth-year lineman saw the Lions relocate him to right tackle in 2016. He may be looking to return to the better-compensated tackle spot. Reiff had a decent season, but in a weak class of tackles, the former first-round pick could see his price rise. At 28, this could be the edge blocker’s lone chance at a lucrative payday on the market, so the Lions could be looking at having to fill two spots up front, at least.

Detroit already ranked 31st in adjusted line yards last season, with that evidence showing in Theo Riddick‘s Lions-leading 357 rushing yards (in just 10 games). This section could be dedicated to improving the ground game as a whole, but Ameer Abdullah figures to be given another chance — although, 2017 might be his last opportunity as a starter — and Riddick is a proven change-of-pace back. What lies in front of the team’s top ball-carriers will be an issue if both aforementioned incumbents leave.

Now that Reiff’s fifth-year option season concluded, Lions’ line does not house a veteran salary. This leaves some potential for funding to be routed here.

Warford’s potential defection and Laken Tomlinson‘s shaky start puts the Lions in the market for one of the talented guards. Of course, signing one of them might take money most teams are unaccustomed to paying an interior blocker. Kevin Zeitler, T.J. Lang and Ronald Leary are set to join Warford on the market, and $10MM per year will be a realistic target since Kyle Long and David DeCastro raised the bar for non-Kelechi Osemele guards via 2016 extensions. Chris Chester, Chance Warmack and now Brandon Fusco loom as fallback options for those teams too squeamish to go big in the guard derby. If Warford leaves, the Lions are going to require an experienced replacement since Tomlinson hasn’t proven he can be counted on yet but may again be counted on to start.

Beyond Taylor Decker, 2015 seventh-rounder Corey Robinson is the only tackle on the Lions’ roster. It doesn’t seem likely the team goes after a guard and tackle in free agency with big money considering its defensive needs. Beyond Reiff, Ricky Wagner will be coveted by teams seeking right-edge help. Decker being entrenched on the left side after a quality rookie season makes Detroit’s tackle search rather focused. Andre Smith, Mike Remmers and Jordan Mills are second-tier right tackle options if the team wants to spend at guard. ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Broncos taking Utah’s Garrett Bolles (ESPN Insider link) one spot ahead of the Lions but places Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk — once thought to be the top tackle in a weak class — within range, sending him to the Seahawks at 26. NFL.com’s Charley Casserly mocks Alabama’s Cam Robinson to Detroit at 21. The team could have to weigh this need against those within its defensive front seven.

There are a number of ways the Lions could go in Round 1 and in free agency, because for a team that’s coming off a playoff berth, there are a healthy amount of areas that require attention.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: San Francisco 49ers

February 17th, 2017 at 9:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the San Francisco 49ers, who managed only two wins in 2016 and have since hired a new general manager (John Lynch) and a new head coach (Kyle Shanahan).

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Nick Bellore, LB
Carl Bradford, LB (ERFA)
Marcus Cromartie, CB (RFA)
Chris Davis, CB (RFA)
Phil Dawson, K
Shaun Draughn, RB
Jim Dray, TE
Glenn Dorsey, DL
Blaine Gabbert, QB
Andrew Gardner, G
DuJuan Harris, RB (RFA)
Gerald Hodges, LB
Tony Jerod-Eddie, DL
Chris Jones, DL
Jeremy Kerley, WR
Thaddeus Lewis, QB
Quinton Patton, WR
Christian Ponder, QB
Mike Purcell, DT (ERFA)
Rod Streater, WR
Andrew Tiller, G
Michael Wilhoite, LB

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Colin Kaepernick, QB: $19,365,753
Joe Staley, T: $11,056,250
NaVorro Bowman, LB: $9,591,500
Torrey Smith, WR: $9,475,000
Antoine Bethea, S: $7,000,000
Ahmad Brooks, LB: $6,148,750
Eric Reid, S: $5,676,000
Tramaine Brock, CB: $4,300,000
Vance McDonald, TE: $4,165,625
DeForest Buckner, DL: $4,134,316

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $78,688,264
Second pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for CB Jimmie Ward

Three Needs:

1. Solve the quarterback position: The 49ers may have the most needs of any club in the NFL, but the most important void is still at the top of the roster, where San Francisco needs to find a franchise quarterback. Colin Kaepernick is still on the team’s books for now, but he’s considering an opt-out provision that would allow him to reach free agency this spring. Even if he doesn’t opt out, the 49ers could still cut Kaepernick — a move that would save nearly $17MM in cap space — and seek to negotiate a less expensive contract.

While Kaepernick’s fate is still up in the air, new head coach Kyle Shanahan likely wants to put his stamp on the 49ers roster in the form of a new signal-caller, and his No. 1 target figures to be Washington’s Kirk Cousins. Cousins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March, but the Redskins aren’t going to let him get away without compensation. If Washington deploys the franchise tag on Cousins, San Francisco would be forced to sacrifice two first-round picks (including the second overall selection in 2017) to sign the sixth-year quarterback.

The Redskins prefer to reach a long-term agreement with Cousins, but recent reports have indicated little progress between the two sides. The franchise tender looms as the most likely option, then, and though Shanahan has exhibited an affinity for Cousins ever since he served as Washington’s offensive coordinator, the 49ers aren’t going to give up two first-rounders given all the holes on their roster. A more conventional trade is possible, as the Redskins could franchise Cousins and then consummate a deal for a something fewer than two first-round picks, but San Francisco is probably going to have to look elsewhere to find its next quarterback.

Elsewhere on the trade market, the Patriots’ Jimmy Garoppolo is thought to be next-up on the 49ers’ wishlist, although the price tag could be steep. San Francisco is extremely unlikely to package the No. 2 pick for Garoppolo, so any deal would likely include the club’s early second-rounder. Shanahan was interested in Garoppolo during the 2014 draft, but the 49ers won’t be the only club pushing to acquire the New England backup, as both the Browns and Bears will likely be in the running, as well.

Other veterans that could end up on San Francisco’s radar include the Bengals’ A.J. McCarron (who is open to being traded), the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor (who is likely to be released), or the Falcons’ Matt Schaub, who spent last season as a backup in Atlanta under Shanahan’s tutelage. Schaub, 35, also worked with Shanahan during the pair’s run with the Texans, and is said to be seeking a starting job this offseason. That opportunity could come in San Francisco, where Schaub would likely act as something of a bridge quarterback while the Niners develop a long-term passer.

If the 49ers bring in a late-career veteran like Schaub, Brian Hoyer, or Jay Cutler (to whom the club has already been linked), general manager John Lynch & Co. figure to select a young QB early in the draft. The 2017 class doesn’t feature an outstanding crop of quarterbacks, but San Francisco will have its choice of several signal-callers at the top of Round 1 or even Round 2. Mock drafts have been all over the place, as Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com projects the 49ers to draft UNC’s Mitch Trubisky while fellow ESPN scribe Todd McShay sees San Francisco going after Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame) could also be in consideration, while Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech) might even be a surprise top pick.

2. Add new offensive weapons: Acquiring a new quarterback should be priority one for the 49ers, but bringing in a new signal-caller won’t have the desired effect if he has no receivers who can get open with regularity. With Jeremy Kerley, Quinton Patton, and Rod Streater headed for free agency, San Francisco’s WR depth chart is comprised of Torrey Smith and bunch of no-names. Aaron Burbridge, Chris Harper, DeAndre Smelter, Bruce Ellington, and Eric Rogers all have youth on their side (at 26, Rogers is the oldest of the group), but the Niners can’t presume any of them will develop into starting-caliber wideouts.

The 49ers should deal with Smith’s status before moving on to wide receiver additions, and while the 28-year-old likely won’t be released (he still has value and San Francisco doesn’t need any extra cap space), Smith is a candidate to be traded when the new league year begins. Philadelphia reportedly inquired on Smith at last year’s trade deadline, and given that they’ve been linked to Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Stills, and others already this year, the Eagles are clearly going after wideout upgrades. If the Niners decide Smith isn’t part of their long-term plans, the Eagles could make for an intriguing trade partner, and a player-for-player deal involving linebacker Mychal Kendricks might interest both clubs.

Smith doesn’t have to be on the move, as he could theoretically fill the Andre Johnson/Julio Jones role in Shanahan’s new offense (a topic addressed by Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com earlier this week). Even if Smith is retained, however, the 49ers need to add several other pass-catching options either through free agency or the draft. One veteran who’s already been linked to San Francisco is Redskins wideout Pierre Garcon, who played under Shanahan in Washington from 2012-13. The definition of a dependable No. 2 receiver, the 30-year-old Garcon could serve as a security blanket for a hypothetically youthful 49ers quarterback.

Taylor Gabriel also has a working relationship with Shanahan, having posted 35 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns last year in Atlanta. A restricted free agent, Gabriel won’t be able to reach the free agent market unfettered, as the Falcons have the option of tendering him an RFA offer. With the knowledge that Shanahan would jump at the chance to sign Gabriel, Atlanta will likely tender Gabriel at the first- or second-round level, making a San Francisco acquisition untenable. If the Falcons somehow only tender Gabriel at the original round level, however, he should book his ticket to the Bay Area immediately.

Aside from Gabriel, the restricted free agent market boasts a number of other potential Falcons targets who could come at a lower cost than their unrestricted brethren. Adam Thielen, Dontrelle Inman, Corey Brown, and Albert Wilson are among the pass-catchers who won’t reach the open market without some restriction, and while some members of that group (namely Thielen) will be tendered at a level that discourages pursuit, others could be available draft compensation-free. The Chiefs and Chargers are both in the bottom-10 of clubs in terms of 2017 cap space, so if they try to sneak Wilson and Inman, respectively, through restricted free agency with a low tender, San Francisco should be ready to pounce.

The 49ers boast plenty of cap space, and because they don’t necessarily need to worry about every dollar, they could target a few wide receivers on the unrestricted free agent market. While Alshon Jeffery seems like a lavish investment for a rebuilding team, San Francisco could look at younger free agents such as Kenny Stills (24), Robert Woods (24), Cordarrelle Patterson (26), Kamar Aiken (27), or Markus Wheaton (26). At 30 years old, the Bengals’ Brandon LaFell is entering the twilight of his career, but he was relatively productive in Cincinnati last season, and his excellent run-blocking skills could come in handy in a San Francisco offense that figures to lean on Carlos Hyde.

3. Fill in the gaps on a new 4-3 defense: After running a 3-4 front for more than a decade, the 49ers will switch to 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who’s spent the past few years as a linebackers coach under Gus Bradley. The secondary could use some work in future years — especially if Saleh wants to target the large-bodied corners Bradley and the Seahawks typically employed — but the for the most part, the back end should be passable for the 2017 season. The safety position, especially, shouldn’t be an issue, as incumbent slot corner Jimmie Ward is likely to join Eric Reid at safety, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee detailed last November.

San Francisco’s front seven, though, needs reinforcements, and the first step will be determining whether former first-round picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner stay at defensive end in the 4-3 look or instead move inside to tackle. It’s not a huge concern, as most defensive lines are malleable and run on rotations, but the presence of Armstead and Buckner could dissuade the 49ers from drafting Alabama’s Jonathan Allen or Stanford’s Solomon Thomas at the top of Round 1. Instead, pure edge rushers could be on the mind of San Francisco management when the No. 2 pick rolls around.

If the Browns pass on Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett in favor of a quarterback, the 49ers would likely run to turn in their card with the former Aggie’s name on it. Adding an pass rusher such as Garrett should take precedence over finding a signal-caller given the weak 2017 crops of passers, which means it’s not out of the question for San Francisco to go defense with the second overall pick even if Garrett is selected by Cleveland. Allen and Thomas may not be perfect fits given the needs on the Niners’ roster, but they’ll still be in consideration at pick No. 2, while Tennessee’s Derek Barnett could be another option.

Defensive lineman/edge rushers could be of interest to the 49ers during free agency, as well, especially because line players are among the strongest position groups in this year’s free agent class. Among defensive ends, Jason Pierre-Paul stands out as a potential target thanks to San Francisco’s cap situation, the fact that New York is unlikely to use the franchise tag on JPP, and the presence of former Giants assistant Jeff Zgonina as the 49ers’ defensive line coach. Melvin Ingram, Nick Perry, Datone Jones, and Jabaal Sheard are all under 30 years old and should hit the open market, while San Francisco has also been connected to Lorenzo Alexander, although he’d seem to be an odd fit for the 49ers in their current state.

Zgonina’s presence could also lead the 49ers to pursue Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who is only 24 years old. New York witnessed the effect of a dominant interior player last year after signing Damon Harrison, and while Hankins isn’t yet on Harrison’s level, he’d make for a worthwhile investment. Dontari Poe is another potential target for the Niners if he’s not franchised by the Chiefs, while the club could also invest a draft pick on the interior. Michigan State’s Malik McDowell is a candidate for a draft day tumble and may be available at pick No. 34, as could Caleb Brantley (Florida), Jaleel Johnson (Iowa), and Chris Wormley (Michigan).

Other need areas abound on San Francisco’s defense: if Ward stays in the slot the club could use another to play opposite Reid, and the 49ers could also invest a pick or a minor contract on a off-ball linebacker, where NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks are aging (ex-Falcon Paul Worrilow, 26, would make some sense). And although, as noted, the Niners can probably get through the 2017 campaign with their current crop of cornerbacks, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report believes San Francisco could surprise and take a CB at No. 2, while Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com recently mocked Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore to the 49ers.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Atlanta Falcons

February 15th, 2017 at 9:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Atlanta Falcons, who capped off an 11-5 season with a Super Bowl appearance that ended in devastating fashion.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Ricardo Allen, S (ERFA)
Jonathan Babineaux, DT
Chris Chester, G
Tom Compton, T
Patrick DiMarco, FB
Dwight Freeney, DE
Taylor Gabriel, WR (RFA)
Ben Garland, C (ERFA)
Dashon Goldson, S
Kemal Ishmael, S
Akeem King, S (ERFA)
LaRoy Reynolds, LB
Aldrick Robinson, WR
Matt Schaub, QB
Tyler Starr, LB (ERFA)
Jacob Tamme, TE
Levine Toilolo, TE
Courtney Upshaw, LB/DE
Sean Weatherspoon, LB
Eric Weems, WR
Philip Wheeler, LB
Paul Worrilow, LB
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB (RFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Matt Ryan, QB: $23,750,000
Julio Jones, WR: $13,900,000
Robert Alford, CB: $9,600,000
Alex Mack, C: $9,050,000
Desmond Trufant, CB: $8,026,000
Mohamed Sanu, WR: $7,400,000
Ryan Schraeder, T: $7,100,000
Andy Levitre, G: $6,625,000
Tyson Jackson, DL: $5,850,000
Adrian Clayborn, DE: $5,406,250

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $22,435,713
31st pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for T Jake Matthews

Three Needs:

1. Fortify right guard: For the most part, the Falcons’ offensive line was a strength in 2016. While the unit ranked just 23rd in adjusted sack rate, Atlanta’s front five placed tenth in adjusted line yards and was named the sixth-best offensive line in the league in Pro Football Focus’ year-end rankings. The club has certainly invested in its line, using a first-round pick on left tackle Jake Matthews, spending heavily in free agency to land center Alex Mack, and rewarding a formerly anonymous undrafted free agent — right tackle Ryan Schraeder — with a multi-year extension.

Indeed, every one of Atlanta’s offensive lineman graded out as a starting-caliber player, according to PFF, with the exception of veteran right guard Chris Chester, who ranked as the No. 56 guard among 72 qualifiers. Chester is scheduled to hit the open market next month after his one-year deal expires, so the Falcons won’t have to worry about the prospect of incurring dead money if forced to release him. Instead, the team has the option of simply letting him walk, and given that Chester is entering his age-34 season, the Falcons should do just that.

Atlanta doesn’t have a ton of cap space (ninth-least in the NFL), but it also doesn’t have a ton of needs. As such, it’s fair to wonder if general manager Thomas Dimitroff & Co. will target a top-notch guard right out of the free agent gate, adding a new player that could transform the Falcons’ offensive line into a truly elite unit. And while the free agent tackle and center markets are relatively barren, the list of available guards should intrigue Atlanta.

Kevin Zeitler, 26, looks to be the top guard headed for free agency, and appears increasingly unlikely to return to the Bengals. If he does reach the open market, Zeitler figures to be in for a massive payday. Even though right guards typically earn less than their left side counterparts, Zeitler should be able to blow past the $10MM averages landed by Kyle Long and David DeCastro, especially since each of those players inked extensions, not free agent pacts. Zeitler, who ranked as PFF’s No. 7 guard, would immediately convert Atlanta’s offensive line into one of the best units in the league.

Though he may represent the best option, Zeitler is far from the only interior lineman the Falcons could go after. The Packers’ T.J. Lang placed just one spot behind Zeitler in PFF’s rankings, and given that he’s more than two years older than the Bengals free agent, could come at a much cheaper cost. Green Bay prefers to retain its own free agents, but it hasn’t placed much emphasis on the interior of the offensive line lately, as evidenced by their surprising 2016 release of Josh Sitton. Fellow Packer J.C. Tretter, the Lions’ Larry Warford, and the Cowboys’ Ronald Leary could also catch the eye of Atlanta this offseason.

If the Falcons want to conserve their limited cap space for other position upgrades, they could instead target guard help in the draft. This year’s crop of prospects is thought to be short on offensive lineman, so Atlanta may want to use their first-round pick (No. 31 overall) on a guard lest in miss out on interior help later in the draft. Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp looks like the best guard available in 2017, and Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com favorably compares Lamp to the Cowboys’ Zack Martin, who — like Lamp — played tackle in college before moving inside in the pros. Dan Feeney (Indiana), Dorian Johnson (Pittsburgh), and Nico Siragusa (San Diego State) are among the other guards the Falcons could consider on Day 1 or 2.

2. Add to the defensive line: 2016 first-round pick Vic Beasley broke out during his second season playing defensive end for the Falcons, leading the league in both sacks (15.5) and forced fumbles (six). Veteran Dwight Freeney, once again relegated to a late-summer signing, contributed off the edge, while young players such as Grady Jarrett and Ra’Shede Hageman shined down the stretch.

Atlanta’s defensive line figures to see some upheaval in 2017 under new coach Bryant Young, however, as Jonathan Babineaux could walk during free agency (or, at age 35, consider retirement), while fellow interior lineman Tyson Jackson will likely be designated as a post-June 1 release, a move that would save the Falcons more than $4MM in cap space. Returning members of the line include Brooks Reed, Adrian Clayborn, and Derrick Shelby (who missed the majority of season with injury), but overall, Atlanta’s front four can be labeled as something near the middle of the pack.

Reinforcing the defensive line by placing another big body in the middle should be a priority for the Falcons this offseason, and if the club doesn’t spend its available funds on a guard, it could look to free agency to find another defensive tackle. Brandon Williams fits Atlanta’s needs like a glove, and while he could plug up holes and help Falcons linebackers Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell get free, the Ravens are prioritizing Williams, so he might not even reach free agency. Chris Baker, meanwhile, is a little older than Williams, but given that the Redskins are “lukewarm” on retaining him, Baker could be more available to Atlanta. Dontari Poe and Johnathan Hankins represent other expensive tackle options, while John Jenkins, Stephen Paea, Sylvester Williams, and Glenn Dorsey will come at a lower cost.

Alternatively, if the Falcons are confident Jarrett and Hageman will continue to grow, the club could instead choose to add another elite pass-rusher to play opposite Beasley. The top free agent edge player, Arizona’s Chandler Jones, is extremely unlikely to hit the market, as the Cardinals will franchise Jones if no long-term deal is reached. The Chargers’ Melvin Ingram could see a similar fate, but he’d be a worthwhile investment for Atlanta if he does reach free agency. If the Falcons do sign one of the top-notch pass rushers, they likely won’t be able to make any other significant moves this offseason. Datone Jones and DeMarcus Ware could also be on the Falcons’ radar, and the team should also take a look at re-signing Freeney for one more go-round.

At the tail end of the first round of the draft, Atlanta is in prime position to pick up any defensive linemen that may fall come draft day. Michigan State’s Malik McDowell, for one, was viewed as the top interior lineman available for much of the winter, but Eric Galko of the Sporting News recently reported that clubs have character concerns about McDowell based on his effort level and poor attitude. Those worries could cause McDowell to tumble down draft boards, but perhaps the Falcons feel their strong veteran locker room could be a safe landing spot for the former Spartan.

Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley never played under Young or Dan Quinn (a former Gators defensive coordinator) in Gainesville, but the two coaches could potentially have an affinity for players that come out of UF based on their professional history. Meanwhile, Daniel Jermiah of NFL.com and Josh Norris of Rotoworld each sent defensive lineman to Atlanta in their most recent mock drafts, with the scribes mocking Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) and Jaleel Johnson (Iowa), respectively, to the Falcons.

3. Lock up the roster’s core: The Falcons are something of a “stars and scrubs” roster, relying less on depth than on a small number of elite players at the top of the depth chart. It’s not necessarily a poor approach to team-building, and it’s a strategy that worked in 2016 as evidenced by Atlanta’s Super Bowl run. But it does mean the Falcons need to work quickly to hammer out extensions with their core talent.

That list begins, naturally, with quarterback Matt Ryan, who is signed through 2018 with cap charges north of $21MM in each season. Falcons owner Arthur Blank has already confirmed his club will attempt to extend Ryan this summer, and a new deal could potentially make Ryan the highest-paid quarterback in the league. The Colts’ Andrew Luck currently holds that honor on a per season basis, with a yearly salary of $24.594MM. Ryan, 31, has a cap hit of $23.75MM in 2017, and a long-term deal could actually lower that cap hit by folding guarantees into a prorated signing bonus.

Elsewhere on offense, running back Devonta Freeman is in line for a new contract after earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2016. The 24-year-old Freeman is said to be looking for “elite” money, but as Zach Links noted in Monday’s PFR chat, a “definite limit” exists among running back contracts, so despite Freeman’s demands, he’s not going to reach a double digit annual salary. Atlanta’s front office says it’s “on the same page” with Freeman’s agent, and the two sides could eventually agree to a pact that pays in between Doug Martin‘s $7.15MM and whatever Le’Veon Bell earns through a potential new deal with the Steelers. Freeman will earn roughly $1.8MM in 2017 thanks to the NFL’s proven performance escalator.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff has also been adamant Atlanta will sign cornerback Desmond Trufant to a long-term deal, noting the fifth-year pro is a “very valuable asset.” Trufant, 26, will earn $8.026MM during the 2017 campaign under the terms of his fifth-year option before becoming a free agent in the spring of 2018. Although he missed the Falcons’ final six regular season games (and the club’s postseason run) with a pectoral injury, Trufant ranked as a top-15 cornerback as recently as 2015, per PFF. Trufant pushed for an extension last summer, and now that he looks to poised to cash in, he’ll likely keep a close eye on free agent pacts signed by fellow CBs Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, and Stephon Gilmore in the coming weeks.

Finally, the Falcons could take a look at extending left tackle Jake Matthews, who will soon be locked up through the 2018 campaign after Atlanta makes the easy decision to exercise his fifth-year option. Matthews took a small step back during his third NFL season, as he ranked as only the No. 36 tackle in the league, according to PFF. Still, he’s only 25 years old and has flashed elite level talent in the past, so the Falcons could be smart to ink Matthews to a new deal now before his value rises again. Recent $12MM per year contracts signed by fellow left tackles David Bakhtiari, Cordy Glenn, and Eric Fisher could serve as the basis for talks between Matthews and Atlanta management.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Jacksonville Jaguars

February 10th, 2017 at 9:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who failed to live up to their preseason sleeper status and finished with a 3-13 record.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Tyson Alualu, DE
Prince Amukamara, CB
Joe Banyard, RB (RFA)
Arrelious Benn, WR
Jonathan Cyprien, S
Jordan Hill, DT
Luke Joeckel, OL
Abry Jones, DT
Patrick Omameh, G
Denard Robinson, RB
Tyler Shatley, C (RFA)
Peyton Thompson, S (ERFA)
Bryan Walters, WR
Josh Wells, T (RFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Malik Jackson, DL: $15,500,000
Kelvin Beachum, T: $8,500,000
Jared Odrick, DL: $8,500,000
Julius Thomas, TE: $8,300,000
Allen Hurns, WR: $7,000,000
Blake Bortles, QB: $6,571,983
Jermey Parnell, T: $6,500,000
Dante Fowler Jr., DE: $6,406,429
Tashaun Gipson, S: $6,300,000
Davon House, CB: $6,000,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $64,357,959
Fourth pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for QB Blake Bortles

Top Three Needs:

1) Bolster the offensive line: Blake Bortles isn’t going anywhere. That seems readily apparent based on comments from Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell, who believes his club can win a Super Bowl with Bortles under center, and new executive vice president Tom Coughlin, who headed off complaints about the fourth-year pro by saying “Blake Bortles is our quarterback.” Jacksonville could certainly draft another signal-caller or add a low-tier veteran such as Brian Hoyer or Josh McCown this offseason, but it’s fair to assume that Bortles — who reportedly dealt with shoulder and wrist injuries throughout the year — will return as the Jaguars’ starter.

With the club unlikely to change quarterbacks, Jacksonville will have to look to other avenues to improve an offense that ranked just 27th in DVOA. Having already fired head coach Gus Bradley and offensive coordinator Greg Olson, the Jaguars have formally installed Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett in those respective roles with the hope the two offensive minds will be able to overhaul their offensive unit. With Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, T.J. Yeldon, Chris Ivory, and Julius Thomas in tow, Jacksonville’s skill positions don’t need to be immediately addressed. That leaves the offensive line as an obvious area of focus for the Jaguars in the coming weeks.

While the Jags have all offseason to repair their front five, they do face one immediate decision that will affect their plans for the offensive line as a whole. Jacksonville has until February 15 to exercise or decline a $5MM option bonus on left tackle Kelvin Beachum. If the Jaguars pick up the option, Beachum would be guaranteed an additional $13MM in base salary, making it extremely difficult for the club to release him at any point during the next two seasons. The 27-year-old Beachum wasn’t very effective in 2016 as he continued to recover from an ACL injury suffered the year prior, grading as the league’s No. 63 tackle among 78 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus, but he was an elite blindside protector for the Steelers before going down with that knee issue.

The ideal course of action for the Jaguars would entail the club declining the option, and subsequently working out a new, more team-friendly deal that includes less guaranteed money. The problem, however, is that the left tackle market is already barren, meaning a) Beachum could garner significant interest from around the NFL and potentially price himself out of Jacksonville’s range, and b) if a new pact can’t be agreed to, the Jaguars would have limited options to replace Beachum.

Andrew Whitworth and Riley Reiff are the only two reliable left tackles available on the free agent market, and even Reiff has flaws given that he was shifted to right tackle for the 2016 campaign. Otherwise, the Jaguars would be looking at subpar options such as Matt Kalil, Mike Remmers, or Will Beatty, none of whom would represent an upgrade over Beachum. In the draft, the top offensive tackle prospects — Alabama’s Cam Robinson, Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, and Utah’s Garett Bolles — are considered mid-to-late first-round picks, and would be reaches at fourth overall.

After assessing the alternatives, the Jaguars may simply exercise their option on Beachum and lock in their starting left tackle for the next couple of seasons, and instead turn their attention to addressing the interior of the offensive line. Center is well-handled by Brandon Linder, but Jacksonville could use at least one, and potentially two, new starting guards, depending on how the club views A.J. Cann, who played every offensive snap in 2016 and graded as PFF’s No. 48 guard among 72 qualifiers.

Unlike tackle, the free agent guard market is flush with talent, and the Jaguars could spend some of their ample cap space on a top-flight lineman such as Kevin Zeitler or T.J. Lang, each of whom are right guards and would likely force Cann to shift to the left side. Zeitler and Lang could each command north of $10MM per year, but cheaper options such as Larry Warford, J.C. Tretter, and Ronald Leary should also be available. Former second overall pick Luke Joeckel could return, but it’s difficult to imagine the Jaguars handing him a starting job.

2) Add to the defensive front: The Jaguars certainly haven’t been shy about investing in their defensive line during the past few offseasons, as they’ve signed or drafted Malik Jackson, Jared Odrick, Dante Fowler Jr., Yannick Ngakoue, Sheldon Day, Michael Bennett, and Jonathan Woodard since 2015. But the unit, which ranked 19th in sacks and 17th in adjusted sack rate, will likely see a good deal of overhaul before the 2017 campaign gets underway, as Odrick and Roy Miller look like clear release candidates, while contributors Abry Jones and Tyson Alualu are unrestricted free agents.

Jones, 25, didn’t generate any sacks from the interior last year, but he did perform well against the run and graded as the NFL’s No. 21 defensive tackle per PFF. Jacksonville clearly values him, as the club placed a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $2.553MM on Jones prior to last season. He’s worth at least that amount as a free agent, and could see his salary tick up into the $3-4MM range. Odrick and Miller, meanwhile, are scheduled to count for more than $12.5MM on the Jaguars’ 2017 salary cap, an untenable total given the duo played a combined 417 snaps last season. Because Jacksonville rarely employs extravagant signing bonuses, Odrick and Miller’s dead money charges would amount to pocket change.

Even if they cut bait with some of their overpaid defenders, the Jaguars will still have a good group of lineman up front, but another body — preferably, a player with the versatility to move between tackle and end — would be ideal. Luckily for Jacksonville, that prospect exists in the former of Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, whom many mock drafts, including that of Rotoworld’s Josh Norris, have sent to the Jags at pick No. 4. In his ranking of the draft’s top 50 players, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com says Allen — whom ranks fifth overall — has “very strong, violent hands and he generates a lot of push with his bull rush,” but noted that Allen is more of a complete defender than a straight pass-rusher.

Allen isn’t the only defensive lineman who could be available to Jacksonville, and though it’s unlikely, a scenario does exist where the Jaguars could have a shot at Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, who is universally ranked as the draft’s top player. Each of the three teams selecting ahead of the Jaguars — Cleveland, San Francisco, and Chicago — could use a quarterback, so if signal-callers come off the board at pick Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Garrett could be there for Jacksonville.

Again, that situation is pretty implausible, but the Jags could instead be interested in Solomon Thomas (Stanford), Taco Charlton (Michigan), or Derek Barnett (Tennessee), either at fourth overall or later in the round following a trade down. Clemson’s Carlos Watkins could also be on the table given that new Jacksonville defensive line coach Marion Hobby spent the past six seasons with the Tigers.

Coaching connections could factor into the Jaguars’ free agent (or trade) pursuits, as well. Jacksonville recently hired Mark Collins — who spent the past two years coaching the Jets’ outside linebackers — as its new LBs coach, and his familiarity with DL/LB Sheldon Richardson could potentially lead to trade speculation. The Jaguars weren’t among the clubs that expressed interest in Richardson last season, and although New York reportedly asked for a first-round pick in exchange for its mercurial pass rusher, that price tag could have since softened. If the Jets are now willing to accept, say, an early third-rounder for Richardson, a deal could make some sense.

Free agency offers a variety of line options depending on what the Jaguars are looking for. If the club wants a big body to stick in the middle of the defense and play next to Jackson, Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Bennie Logan will be available. Interior rushing free agents include Nick Fairley and Charles Johnson, while the list of edge rushers on the market includes Melvin Ingram, Jabaal Sheard, or, if Jacksonville is willing to break the bank, Jason Pierre-Paul. Veteran defender Chris Baker stands out as a possible target, as well, given that new Jags coach Perry Fewell was with the Redskins for the past two years.

3) Figure out who’s playing opposite Jalen Ramsey: Jacksonville’s pass defense was among its better attributes in 2016, as the club ranked fifth in passing yards allowed and 16th in both opponent quarterback rating and pass defense DVOA. Jalen Ramsey fell into the Jaguars’ lap at pick No. 5, and proceeded to play like a shutdown cornerback for much of the season, while free agent signee Prince Amukamara produced dividends after signing a one-year, $5.5MM contract.

The Jaguars figure to see some changes in the secondary, however, as Amukamara is now a pending free agent. Entering his age-28 season, and coming off a campaign in which he graded out as an above-average corner per PFF, Amukamara is probably looking at his last chance to land a hefty free agent contract. A three- or four-year deal at $7MM per season isn’t out the question, and it’s unclear if Jacksonville would be willing to meet that demand. Elsewhere, 2015 free agent addition Davon House appears to be an obvious release candidate given his $6MM cap charges in 2017-18 and his limited playing time (25% of snaps) in 2016.

If Amukamara doesn’t return, Jacksonville needs to find a defender to play opposite Ramsey, and it doesn’t figure to spend much money on the position given that it’s already investing ample funds along the defensive line, at linebacker, and at safety. If they’re searching for bargains on the free agent market, the Jaguars won’t be in the running for the available elite corners, a list that includes Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, and Stephon Gilmore. Cowboys cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr could both be on the Jags’ radar depending on cost, while the club could also take a shot on veteran Sam Shields, whom the Packers earlier this week. Marcus Cooper, Leodis McKelvin, and Coty Sensabaugh represent options even further down the free agent rankings.

The Jaguars don’t seem likely to use a high first-round pick for the second consecutive season, but Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore could conceivably be a fit at fourth overall. The second round is a more probable area for Jacksonville to expend resources on its secondary, and given that defensive backs are plentiful in this year’s draft, the Jags should be able to find a decent corner. After Lattimore, Teez Tabor (Florida), Tre’Davious White (LSU), Sidney Jones (Washington), Quincy Wilson (Florida), and Marlon Humphrey (Alabama) rank as the next-best options in the seconday, according to Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com, and at least one of those prospects figures to fall to the part of Day 2.

Safety could also be a concern for Jacksonville this offseason, as fourth-year pro Jonathan Cyprien broke out just in time for free agency, grading as the league’s No. 7 safety per PFF. The 26-year-old figures to be one of the more attractive safeties on the open market, joining a free agent class that also includes the likes of Eric Berry, Tony Jefferson, and Barry Church. The Jaguars should make an effort to extend him, but if that fails, Donte Whitner and/or Duke Ihenacho could be options given that new Jacksonville secondary coach Perry Fewell worked with the pair in Washington last year. Adding a safety early in the draft is also a possibility, and Todd McShay of ESPN.com recently mocked LSU’s Jamal Adams to the Jaguars at fourth overall.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Indianapolis Colts

February 9th, 2017 at 8:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Indianapolis Colts, who have now followed up three straight playoff seasons with back-to-back 8-8 slates. The Colts fired GM Ryan Grigson and hired Chris Ballard, and Jim Irsay will retain Chuck Pagano. But Indianapolis must address some on-the-field needs as well.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Mike Adams, S
Quan Bray, WR (ERFA)
Darius Butler, CB
Chris Carter, LB
Trent Cole, LB
Jack Doyle, TE
Jonotthan Harrison, C (RFA)
Zach Kerr, DE (RFA)
Josh McNary, LB
Erik Swoope, TE (RFA)
Hugh Thornton, G
Jordan Todman, RB
Robert Turbin, RB
Erik Walden, LB

Top Cap Hits for 2017:

Andrew Luck, QB: $19,400,000
Anthony Castonzo, T: $12,800,000
Vontae Davis, CB: $10,250,000
T.Y. Hilton, WR: $10,000,000
Arthur Jones, DE: $7,350,000
Dwayne Allen, TE: $5,937,500
Patrick Robinson, CB: $4,500,000
Kendall Langford, DE: $4.250,000
Frank Gore, RB: $3,500,000
Adam Vinatieri, K: $2,750,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via OverTheCap): $55,371,812
Fourteenth or 15th pick in draft (will be determined by coin flip between Colts and Eagles)

Three Needs:

1.) Locate linebackers: Both parts of the Colts’ linebacking corps need help, now even more so after Thursday’s D’Qwell Jackson release leaves the team without much at any of the spots on the second level. But the pass-rushing stable is hurting the most. Robert Mathis‘ retirement signals the end of a special era for Indianapolis pass-rushers, with both he and Dwight Freeney ranking as two of the best players in franchise history. Almost every relevant pass-rusher on last year’s roster either plans to retire or will be a free agent. The Colts finished as a middle-of-the-pack team with 33 sacks last season (19th), but more than half of those came from players no longer attached to the roster. Erik Walden registered a team-high 11 despite recording 12 in his three prior Colts campaigns, and entering his age-32 season, his best football could well be behind him.

The franchise hired Chris Ballard, who’s respected for his draft acumen, having helped the Bears and Chiefs land many gems. He’ll be tasked with making this crucial repair. The potential exodus here is somewhat staggering given what the Colts have on their roster.

The Colts do not have an outside pass-rusher on their roster who recorded a sack in 2016. Entering free agency, Indianapolis employs Akeem Ayers and a host of UDFAs. The Ryan Grigson-era Colts were not shy about throwing money around in March, and the John Dorsey-led Chiefs haven’t been either. Although, the Chiefs’ buys have benefited the team more. The Colts need outside help here. Walden could be retained, but that’s a risky proposition after he nearly doubled his single-season sack best in a contract year. As for the UFA market, there are options. It’s unclear, however, if the impact players will make it to the market.

Chandler Jones and Melvin Ingram headline this class of 3-4 pass-rushers, while Jason Pierre-Paul and Nick Perry profile as other high-end performers. The Cardinals are reportedly willing to apply the franchise tag (projected at $14.754MM for linebackers) to keep Jones after his third double-digit-sack season. PFR’s No. 2 overall free agent, Jones joins Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson as Arizona UFAs, so the Cardinals have some tough decisions to make. The former Patriot will likely be the Cards’ top priority.

Not much has surfaced on Ingram’s status in Los Angeles, but he’s the Chargers’ top outside rusher and is now free of his five-year rookie contract. The Bolts are also moving to a 4-3 set under Gus Bradley, potentially leaving Ingram without a natural position. That’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but Ingram could be a more realistic target for the Colts as a result of that philosophical change. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap notes Ingram could ask for Ryan Kerrigan money (five years, $57.5MM) but could also be franchised and placed at defensive end in Bradley’s 4-3.

Pierre-Paul wants to match or top Olivier Vernon‘s contract. He’s a tougher sell due to the injury history, position change, and the demands he’s making. Perry has played exclusively in the Packers’ 3-4 and would be an obvious fit. He’s a similar contract-year story to Walden, recording 11 sacks last year after a nondescript statistical history previously, but he differs in being set for just his age-27 season in 2017. Perry did not receive abundant interest as a UFA last year but will after his 2016 emergence. The Packers like to retain their own but have talents like Jared Cook and T.J. Lang residing as impending UFAs as well, complicating their equation.

Venturing off the top tier, the Colts could target DeMarcus Ware or Julius Peppers on a short-term deal, but having employed three 30-somethings outside in ’16, Indy could be in the market for a reboot. That said, the Colts are a perennial contender in the AFC South because of Andrew Luck, so veterans can’t be considered off the table. Another 30-something who would be interesting is Lorenzo Alexander, a strange belated breakout who surpassed his previous career sack total last season, accruing 12.5 for the Bills. Expressing a desire to test the waters in what could be his only chance for a reasonable NFL payday, Alexander will be 34 in May. He qualifies as a short-term answer as a result. As for younger talent, Jabaal Sheard, Alex Okafor (eight sacks in 2014, but two biceps tears in his career) and suspension risk Armonty Bryant stand as cheaper choices than the edge players who run the risk of being tagged. Regardless, the Colts will need to address this position via veterans or rookies.

Since choosing Freeney in 2002, the Colts have not had much luck identifying pass-rushers in the first round. Jerry Hughes (2010) did not blossom in Indianapolis, and Bjoern Werner (2013) has already retired. ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. (Insider link) has the Colts selecting UCLA outside linebacker Takkarist McKinley, who recorded 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks last season. The Colts are not going to be able to select Myles Garrett without a major trade, and the likes of Solomon Thomas (Stanford) and Derek Barnett (Tennessee) are viewed as top-12 picks, per Chad Reuter of NFL.com. Todd McShay of ESPN.com has Michigan’s Taco Charleton (10 sacks in ’16) in that realm as well, viewing the ex-Wolverines edge man as an option for a 4-3 or 3-4 team. The Colts are likely to have edge-rushing options picking 14th or 15th, but it may come down to choosing whichever one of these talents remains on the board by the time they pick.

Their need at inside linebacker isn’t as glaring, if only because this position does not require the same kind of investment to upgrade. But Jackson’s release, following an inconsistent tenure and some off-the-field trouble, leaves the team without much experience. Cutting the 33-year-old veteran saves more than $5.5MM, helping the team potentially pursue younger free agents. But beyond Jackson and aside from safety/hybrid ‘backer Clayton Geathers, Indianapolis houses a fourth-round pick and UDFA — each possessing one year of NFL seasoning.

In their initial full-season stays in Indiana, Edwin Jackson and Antonio Morrison excelled in disparate fashion, according to Pro Football Focus. While neither linebacker graded particularly well, Edwin Jackson showed promise in coverage while Morrison fared better as a run defender. These two now representing the Colts’ top inside incumbents, each will be given another chance to make an impact.

Without much money tied up in the linebacker position (as of now), the Colts could target a free agent as they did D’Qwell Jackson. The likes of Lawrence Timmons, Zach Brown, Kevin Minter and Perry Riley stand to be available as UFAs. Dont’a Hightower is no lock to be franchised given the Patriots’ ways of operation, but he will cost eight figures per year. That’s not the best way to allocate funds at linebacker if no pass-rushing threats are on the roster. So, this could be an auxiliary need that could see more attention in April than March. The Colts’ first-round window doesn’t lend itself to inside-linebacking help, at least not the way this draft class breaks down so far, but by the time Round 2 rolls around, Indianapolis could be in the market for help here. That is, if the Colts don’t see a running back they covet.

2.) Figure out Frank Gore‘s successor: One of the most enduring backs in NFL history, Frank Gore will enter the final season of his Colts contract. He became the oldest running back since John Riggins in 1984 to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season and will finish his career as one of the NFL’s all-time leading rushers. A second franchise will now have to formulate a succession strategy after the 49ers took Carlos Hyde to replace Gore three years ago.

A massive reliability chasm existed between Gore and his backups last season, with the Colts entrusting change-of-pace duties to Robert Turbin. Gore will turn 34 in May and enter his 13th season soon, and contrary to everything he’s shown in his career, the former Miami Hurricane will slow down at some point. A pending UFA, Turbin would like a chance at succeeding Gore, but he’s already 27 and averaged fewer yards per carry (3.5) than did Gore last season. The journeyman is not a long-term option based on what he’s shown.

The Colts have a window to draft their next starting running back, with so many early-entry prospects becoming part of the 2017 pool. While they should strongly consider a pass-rusher in Round 1, a Day 2 back selection is in play. With Gore set for at least one more year, 2017 would represent a chance to groom said back as a reserve option before turning over the 2018 reins to him.

If Indianapolis’ rearranged power structure doesn’t believe a pass-rusher provides solid first-round value, Dalvin Cook (2,253 total yards last season) profiles as a flashy consolation prize. Reuter envisions this future for the Colts. A Round 2 or 3 pick could see the likes of Alvin Kamara (Tennessee) and D’Onta Foreman (Texas) available at those respective middle-round junctures. A third-round selection of Joe Mixon could be a route as well, but the Oklahoma standout will obviously come with baggage. Mixon’s backstory makes projecting when he’ll be selected somewhat difficult as well.

While a rookie makes more sense given Gore’s timeline, finding a pass-catching back in free agency would be another way to go as a means of supplementing the starter.

Likely cap casualty Jamaal Charles, 30, is coming off consecutive knee injury-marred seasons, but the two-time All-Pro may be amenable to being a part-time back to stay in the league. He earned his second All-Pro honor during Ballard and Dorsey’s first year in Kansas City, and the Colts’ new personnel chief is familiar with the yards-per-carry dynamo. Danny Woodhead looms as a UFA but is nearly two years older than Charles. Younger options for this specific role include Lance Dunbar, Fozzy Whittaker and Andre Ellington. The latter averaged 5.5 yards per carry as a rookie before largely fading out of the Cardinals’ backfield. None of these options would be expensive, if the Colts sought a temporary change-of-pace player instead of a high- or middle-round draft pick to team with Gore.

3.) Strengthen the offensive front: The Colts have some nice pieces up front in Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort and Ryan Kelly, and they used several draft choices last year on their O-line. But Luck still took 41 sacks last season, and Colts QBs as a whole absorbed 44 — fifth-most in the league. Colts passers also took 128 hits, which was No. 31 in the league — ahead of only the Browns’ 140 allowed. The team selected Kelly in Round 1, Le’Raven Clark in Round 3 and Joe Haeg in Round 5 last year, so this could be an area where only one additional starter is needed. The right side of Indy’s line needs a patch job, and it could be an interesting year for it on the market. Considering the Colts have just one veteran contract on their front, Castonzo, they can afford a second. Although, Mewhort is entering his contract year.

It’s a good year to need a guard in free agency, with several upper-echelon starters potentially available. Kevin Zeitler, Ronald Leary, T.J. Lang and Larry Warford. All four were top-25 PFF guards in 2016, and each has an extensive history as a starter. Zeitler and the Bengals have yet to enter contract talks, with the Packers lagging behind in discussions with Lang as well. Although, the longtime Green Bay guard wants to stay. PFR’s Zach Links rated Zeitler as the No. 8 UFA overall and tabbed the 29-year-old Lang as an honorable mention. Considering the capital the Cowboys have tied up in their line, Leary seems a great bet to leave. Warford has his eyes on free agency as well, creating what could be a hotly contested pursuit of players who don’t receive a ton of in-game notoriety.

Gore managed 1,025 yards, but they came on just 3.9 per carry. That’s the second-lowest mark of his career, with his worst yards-per-handoff number coming in 2015. This group at least needs supplementation.

Ravens right tackle Ricky Wagner seems likely to hit the market, with Baltimore prioritizing nose man Brandon Williams, but this UFA tackle class doesn’t quite possess the depth of the guard group. A Warford Lions mate, Riley Reiff could be available and has experience at both left and right tackle. Andre Smith is coming off injury, so the former longtime Bengals blocker could be had on a short-term pact.

The Colts used Haeg at both guard and tackle last season. He made eight starts at right tackle, four at right guard and two at left guard. Slotting Haeg at tackle would line up better if the Colts wanted to pursue a veteran guard, but it remains to be seen where he’s going to land. Clark could still be the answer at right tackle, but he was inactive for eight games.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Cincinnati Bengals

February 1st, 2017 at 8:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Cincinnati Bengals, who missed the postseason for the first time in six years after finishing with a 6-9-1 record.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Chykie Brown, CB
Rex Burkhead, RB
Karlos Dansby, LB
Wallace Gilberry, DE
Margus Hunt, DE
T.J. Johnson, C
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB
Brandon LaFell, WR
Cedric Peerman, RB
Domata Peko, DT
Andrew Whitworth, T
Eric Winston, T
Kevin Zeitler, G

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Andy Dalton, QB: $15,700,000
A.J. Green, WR: $13,500,000
Geno Atkins, DT: $10,600,000
Adam Jones, CB: $8,166,666
Carlos Dunlap, DE: $7,250,000
George Iloka, S: $5,400,000
Michael Johnson, DE: $5,125,000
Clint Boling, G: $4,925,000
Tyler Eifert, TE: $4,782,000
Vontaze Burfict, LB: $4,725,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $44,293,339
Ninth pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for CB Darqueze Dennard

Three Needs:

1) Add an edge defender: The Bengals are now two years removed from a 2014 campaign in which they finished dead last in the NFL with only 20 sacks, and thanks to the return and gradual recovery of All Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who suffered a torn ACL halfway through the 2013 season, the club’s pass rushing attack is now league average, as the unit ranked 15th in adjusted sack percentage and 19th in sacks. Much of that production (52% of Cincinnati’s 30 sacks in 2016), however, comes from Atkins and defensive end Carlos Dunlap, and given the lack of other high-quality edge rushers on the roster, and the fact that Dunlap and Atkins will both be nearing 30 years old when the 2017 season gets underway, the Bengals need to invest in another pass rushing force.

To be sure, the interior of Cincinnati’s defensive line could use some work as well, but the presence of Atkins makes up for a lot. Veteran nose tackle Domata Peko is a pending free agent and is unlikely to be re-signed, but the club does have other options up the middle. 2016 fourth-round pick Andrew Billings should be ready to contribute after missing his entire rookie season with injury, Brandon Thompson‘s one-year contract will toll after he spent all of last year on the physically unable to perform list, and Pat Sims and Marcus Hardison are still under team control for 2017.

The edge, however, is relatively barren outside of Dunlap. Michael Johnson has never been a prototypical defensive end, as his prowess in the run game far outweighs his ability to take down opposing quarterbacks, and the 29-year-old is coming off arguably the worst season of his career. The Bengals are loathe to release veterans in the midst of multi-year deals, but cutting Johnson has to be in consideration this offseason. At the very least, he’ll need to see far fewer snaps than the 831 he played in 2016. Failed second-round pick Margus Hunt and multi-stint Bengal Wallace Gilberry are both heading for the open market, and it would be a surprise to see either return to Cincinnati. As such, Will Clarke — a former third-rounder who played on roughly a third of the Bengals’ defensive snaps last year — could be the only other defensive end available to play opposite Dunlap.

The free agent market for pass rushers isn’t exactly overflowing with options, and the Bengals won’t even think about adding a high-priced player such as Chandler Jones or Jason Pierre-Paul. The most expensive free agent Cincinnati might contemplate is the Patriots’ Jabaal Sheard, who spent four seasons in the AFC North with the Browns before defecting to New England. Sheard, 27, is capable against the pass but is excellent in the run game, a trait the Bengals value immensely. Datone Jones (Packers) could also be on the table, and could benefit from playing in a 4-3 scheme, while Courtney Upshaw (Falcons) and Andre Branch (Dolphins) may also make sense.

More likely, though, Cincinnati will instead target a veteran on a low-cost one-year contract, attempting to fill the edge void on the cheap (the club has used a similar strategy over the past two seasons at linebacker by signing Karlos Dansby and A.J. Hawk). Dwight Freeney is the most obvious candidate for such a deal, as the Bengals worked out the 36-year-old last May before he signed with the Falcons. It’s possible Freeney will retire at season’s end, especially if Atlanta wins the Super Bowl, but he was still effective in 2016 while playing on nearly 40% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps.

A reunion with former Bengal Frostee Rucker could also be in the cards, especially given that Rucker offers the versatility to move inside on passing downs. Rucker, who spent 2007-11 in the Queen City, shouldn’t be expensive as he enters his age-34 season. Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be surprising if Cincinnati called Chris Long about a contract, while fellow veterans Jason Jones, Mario Addison, and Charles Johnson could all be available with various price tags. If released, Mario Williams, Jared Odrick, and Connor Barwin could also be on the Bengals’ radar.

If the Bengals do opt for a one-year stop gap at end, the club will almost certainly devote additional resources to the position in the form of draft picks. Sitting within the top-10 for the first time in years, Cincinnati should have the opportunity to select a near-elite prospect who can contribute immediately. While Myles Garrett will be off the board, the Bengals should have a shot at one of Jonathan Allen (Arkansas), Derek Barnett (Tennessee), Tim Williams (Alabama), or Solomon Thomas (Stanford), the latter of whom was mocked to Cincinnati by both Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com and Josh Norris of Rotoworld. Michigan’s Taco Charlton, Missouri’s Charles Harris, and Auburn’s Carl Lawson, meanwhile, could be available in the early part of Day 2.

2) Sort out the offensive line: In 2015, with starting offensive tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith set to become unrestricted free agents the following offseason, the Bengals used their first- and second-round picks on collegiate tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, respectively. Though Cincinnati had other — and perhaps more pressing — needs at the time, the club stuck to its normally forward-thinking approach and should have set itself up along the offensive line for years to come.

That hasn’t happened. Whitworth eventually agreed to a one-year extension and has continued to play at an exceptionally high level, but is now headed for free agency once again, while Smith did leave when he hit the open market, agreeing to a deal with the Vikings. Ogbuehi, recovering from an ACL injury suffered during his final season at Texas A&M, barely played during his rookie season and face-planted after being handed the starting right tackle job in 2016, eventually being relegated to backup duty behind journeyman Eric Winston. Fisher, meanwhile, has mostly been deployed as an extra offensive lineman in jumbo packages.

While the Bengals have issues at tackle, changes could be coming on the interior, too, as right guard Kevin Zeitler will become an unrestricted free agent in March. As of mid-January, Cincinnati had not begun talking extension with Zeitler, but the two sides will surely speak about a long-term deal in advance of free agency. Zeitler, who earned the eighth spot on PFR’s most recent Free Agent Power Rankings, isn’t going to come cheap, though, especially given that fellow right guards Kyle Long and David DeCastro recently inked pacts that pay $10MM annually. And given that the NFL frustratingly still assigns one franchise tender amount to all offensive lineman instead of separating interior players from tackles, the tag isn’t an option given that it’s expected to be worth north of $14MM.

So what would an ideal outcome look like for Cincinnati? Re-signing both Whitworth and Zeitler would be a home run, but given that both offensive linemen are the best available free agents at their respective position, there will be plenty of other suitors around the league. As such, if pressed to choose between the two, the Bengals need to prioritize Zeitler, not only because he’s more than eight years younger than Whitworth, but because retaining Zeitler would give the club more options going forward.

Re-signing Zeitler — and letting Whitworth walk — would allow the Bengals to move Ogbuehi to left tackle while placing Fisher on the right side. Given that Ogbuehi has struggled at right tackle, moving him Andy Dalton‘s blindside may seem like a odd solution, but Ogbuehi has been adamant that left tackle is his “natural position,” and indicated that he simply doesn’t feel comfortable on the right side. Of course, handing left tackle to a player who has thus far given no indication that he’s a starting-caliber NFL lineman is a risky strategy, but it might be the best chance the Bengals have to begin a youth movement up front.

Keeping Whitworth for another few years (likely at a cost of more than $10MM per season) is another potential avenue, and Cincinnati does have options to replace Zeitler at right guard in such a scenario. 2016 fifth-round pick Christian Westerman would be involved in the competition, as would both Ogbuehi and Fisher. A free agent could be in consideration as well, either at tackle or guard. Reuniting with Smith, who barely played with Minnesota before landing on injured reserve, would allow the Bengals to stage an all-out battle at right guard while Smith locks down right tackle. Adding an interior lineman such as Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack would likely mean full-fledged competition at multiple positions along the line.

Clearly, there are number of multi-forked roads the Bengals can travel down this offseason in regards to the construction of the offensive line, and we haven’t even discussed the play of center Russell Bodine, who has steadily improved but still ranks as one of the league’s worst starting pivots. But one way or another, Cincinnati needs to stabilize its front five, which ranked 26th in adjusted sack rate after perennially placing as a top-10 unit during the club’s recent run of success.

3) Go young at cornerback: Given that they’ve used three of their last five first-round picks on defensive backs, the Bengals have accrued a stockpile of youthful cornerback talent on their roster. However, thanks to the club’s developmental schedule (which moves at a glacial pace), those corners receive scant amounts of playing time until they’ve put in a few years as backups. By that time, their rookie contracts have nearly expired, and Cincinnati has wasted the advantages of having first-round talents on cheap deals.

Take Darqueze Dennard, for example: Drafted 24th overall in 2014, Dennard was oozing with pedigree. In his final season at Michigan State, Dennard was a unanimous All-American and received the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate defensive back. But he still couldn’t get on the field with the Bengals. In three seasons with Cincinnati, he’s averaged less than 20% playtime, spending most of his snaps on special teams. Injuries have certainly played a factor in his limited action, but Dennard has admitted that his time with the Bengals has been frustrating.

The Bengals have until this May to decide on Dennard’s 2018 fifth-year option, but they have essentially no basis on which to make their decision. And this isn’t the first time Cincinnati has taken this approach. Fellow first-round corner Dre Kirkpatrick didn’t become a full-time starter until his fourth season in the NFL, and it’s still unclear if he’s capable of being a reliable No. 1 cornerback. (2016 first-rounder William Jackson III can be thrown in here, but his rookie year absence was neither the fault of the Bengals nor Jackson, as a torn pectoral cost him all of last season).

Kirkpatrick, Dennard, and Jackson need to be Cincinnati’s starting corners next season, and given that Kirkpatrick is an unrestricted free agent, that obviously means he needs to be re-signed. Though Kirkpatrick should be one of the top corners on the market, behind the top-tier group comprised of A.J. Bouye, Trumaine Johnson, and Stephon Gilmore, the Bengals should be able to retain Kirkpatrick at a decent price. The rest of the league simply hasn’t seen enough from Kirkpatrick that would entice competing teams to outbid Cincinnati, which intimately knows Kirkpatrick and would presumably feel comfortable retaining him. Even if the price tag approaches $10MM/year, the Bengals should take the plunge.

Cincinnati could make a dent in Kirkpatrick’s cost by releasing veteran Adam Jones, as cutting him loose this offseason would create nearly $7MM in 2017 cap space. We won’t delve into Jones’ entire history of off-field incidents here, and it’s only fair to note that — until recently — Jones had stayed out of trouble for a good amount of time. But his most recent incident, which included an alleged assault, disorderly conduct, and an extremely unbecoming encounter while in police custody, was especially disturbing, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Jones will likely face a suspension in 2017, but the Bengals reportedly haven’t decided whether they’ll release him this spring. The club doesn’t need the headache, could use the cap room, and needs to find out what they have in their younger cornerbacks, all of which points to Cincinnati cutting ties within the next few months.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Kansas City Chiefs

January 29th, 2017 at 9:38am CST by Sam Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Kansas City Chiefs, who continued their steady run under Andy Reid and John Dorsey by winning the AFC West for the first time in six years and qualifying for the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight season.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Eric Berry, S
Kenny Cook, WR (ERFA)
Knile Davis, RB
Jarvis Jenkins, DE
Josh Mauga, LB
Trey Millard, RB (RFA)
Dontari Poe, DT
Kendall Reyes, DE
Cairo Santos, K (RFA)
Daniel Sorensen, S (RFA)
Albert Wilson, WR (RFA)

Top Cap Hits for 2017:

Justin Houston, LB: $22,100,000
Alex Smith, QB: $16,900,000
Jeremy Maclin, WR: $12,400,000
Nick Foles, QB: $10,750,000
Eric Fisher, T: $9,457,777
Tamba Hali, LB: $8,583,333
Derrick Johnson, LB: $7,562,500
Mitchell Schwartz, T: $6,900,000
Jaye Howard, DL: $6,375,000
Jamaal Charles, RB: $6,187,500

Other:

Projected cap space (via OverTheCap): $4,678,573
Twenty-seventh pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option on Dee Ford

Three Needs:

1.) Finalize secondary plans: Eric Berry‘s situation will once again be at the forefront of Kansas City’s offseason, but the Chiefs also could use some assistance at their right cornerback spot opposite Marcus Peters. The AFC West champions bent constantly but didn’t break often, as best evidenced by the unique divisional-round loss to the Steelers, but they have a decision to make regarding their defensive leader.

Among active safeties, only Earl Thomas matches Berry’s three first-team All-Pro honors, and Eric Weddle is the only one to have two such distinctions on his resume. So, Berry has a legitimate case to be the league’s highest-paid safety. He has not been underpaid by any stretch of the imagination, being one of the league’s three players to make it from the 2010 first round — the last featuring the old CBA setup friendlier towards first-rounders — to the end of the 2015 season on his rookie deal. And after the Chiefs couldn’t come to an agreement with Berry last July, he earned $10.806MM on the franchise tag. Long-term security eludes Berry, but he remains in position to cash in.

The Chiefs can shed more than $17MM in cap space by releasing Jamaal Charles and Nick Foles, creating some room for a Berry re-up. Retaining both Berry and Dontari Poe could be a stretch, but the Chiefs under John Dorsey and Andy Reid are known for backloading deals. That’s allowed them to sign Jeremy Maclin and Mitchell Schwartz despite not being cap-rich the past two offseasons. As for Berry, he will be set for his age-28 season in 2017, so a long-term deal should be reasonable.

The former No. 5 overall pick won comeback player of the year honors in 2015 but was even better in 2016, intercepting four passes and scoring two seminal defensive touchdowns — without which the Chiefs may have lost two more games this season — and is a darkhorse Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He also returned to a full-season workload after being gradually worked back into his old role in 2015 following his triumphant cancer comeback. Thanks to his on-field success and his successful battle with cancer, Berry has become the team’s most popular player. The sides weren’t close on a deal last summer but may be more in sync this year after Berry’s full-season performance. Reid lists Berry high on the Chiefs’ priority list, but the safety landscape has changed since the sides last negotiated.

Tyrann Mathieu became the highest-paid safety on a five-year, $62.5MM deal late last summer. Berry’s camp could state his case by citing his All-Pro honors and relative durability, along with the fact that the cap is expected to approach $170MM this year. The Chiefs would likely argue the Cardinals use Mathieu more as a cornerback than a safety, plus they will point out that Mathieu is four years younger than Berry. Regardless, Berry won’t be settling for a deal worth less than Harrison Smith‘s five-year, $51.25MM pact.

Kansas City has locked up many core defenders in the recent past — re-signing Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali — and ancillary parts like Ron Parker, Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard, illustrating Dorsey’s build-from-within model. A Berry deal — or a season in which the cornerstone safety plays on another franchise tag, which would be projected at $12.967MM — would limit the Chiefs’ ability to fortify the rest of their secondary. But it would be interesting to see Dorsey re-sign so many roster linchpins — re-upping Johnson and Hali from the Carl Peterson era, retaining Houston from the Scott Pioli period, and then locking up current-regime-acquired Travis Kelce — but fail to come to terms with the most popular player the Chiefs have employed this decade.

Kansas City has only rookie-deal players signed at corner, and recent third-round investments — Phillip Gaines (2014), Steven Nelson (2015), and KeiVarae Russell (2016) — have not produced a surefire starter. Nelson’s been the best of the bunch, operating as their slot corner, with Gaines playing his way out of the lineup during his third season. Russell, meanwhile, became a rare Day 2 pick to be cut as a rookie. Practice squad promotion Terrance Mitchell served as K.C.’s right cornerback down the stretch, despite the fact that the team drafting three corners last year. The Chiefs could target some second-tier UFA cogs or continue to try their hand with rookies.

They had this same need last year but didn’t pursue Prince Amukamara aggressively. Now that he stands to be back on the market, the 27-year-old looks like a second-tier candidate in a fairly well-stocked cornerback market. He’ll be seeking a multiyear deal after showcasing some durability that his Giants years lacked, but the former first-rounder doesn’t figure to be out of Kansas City’s price range. The cornerback market also features Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, Dre Kirkpatrick, Stephon Gilmore, Logan Ryan, and Darius Butler. Not all of those players are going to sign $10MM-per-year pacts. If a veteran like Poe comes off the Chiefs’ books, finding an additional boundary corner would be a place to reinvest that money on a team without many glaring needs.

If the Chiefs want to take the route the Bengals have in recent years, fortifying the position through the first round, that would obviously be a cheaper option. LSU’s Tre’Davious White, Florida’s Quincy Wilson, Clemson’s Cordrea Tankersley, or Peters’ college teammate Sidney Jones could be options by the time the Chiefs’ pick with No. 27 overall selection. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter believes standout Gators stopper Teez Tabor could fall to the Chiefs at 27, and Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo sees 5-foot-10 Michigan corner Jourdan Lewis going to the Chiefs in his mock draft. This position looks to be deep for the teams with late-first-round choices, and that could be the route the Chiefs take, both for financial considerations and because some key members of their core either older than 30 or approaching it. The Chiefs need a promising contributor at this spot to keep teams from avoiding Peters.

2.) Figure out a post-Derrick Johnson future: The inside linebacker has enjoyed a long and productive career for the Chiefs, having signed a contract with three Kansas City regimes and serving as an 11-year starter. But Johnson will turn 35 next season and sustained a severe Achilles injury for the second time in three years. Kansas City’s run defense did not perform well in 2016, ranking 26th against the rush, and that became an even more glaring problem after Johnson’s mid-December injury. Le’Veon Bell consistently marched the Steelers into field goal range in the teams’ divisional-round meeting, and the running back’s methodical sojourns into the red zone led to to the Chiefs’ elimination.

Johnson has stood as the rock of the Chiefs’ run defense for years, most recently evidenced by its rapid improvement in 2015 upon his return. But it’s time to fortify this position, because the Chiefs don’t have much else there.

In addition to the four-time Pro Bowler, the Chiefs boast bottom-end investments at inside linebacker. Ramik Wilson, a 2015 fourth-rounder, and Justin March-Lillard, a 2015 UDFA, represent the team’s top prospects. Josh Mauga suffered a season-ending injury over the summer, and when Johnson couldn’t play in the final four games, the Chiefs were down to their spare parts in crucial spots. A two-year starter, Mauga is a UFA. Johnson will almost certainly be on the roster in 2017 since he signed a three-year, $21MM deal to stay in western Missouri last March. The dead money/cap savings ratio does not add up for an early cut, and Johnson could still make an impact as he did coming off the 2014 Achilles injury. He’s not considering retirement.

But this remains an area in desperate need of a young talent, because Johnson’s latest injury may render him unable to return to his previous level. The options aren’t plentiful in free agency, but the Chiefs should probably be looking to the draft for help here. They need a long-term successor. If the Chiefs believe this is a bigger issue than CB2, there are are a few ILBs who could be had at the back end of the first round.

Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham dominated as a sideline-to-sideline player, finishing with 125 tackles (16.5 for loss) in 13 games last season. Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan (102 stops last year) and Northwestern’s Anthony Walker (29 TFLs since 2015) fit the profile as well. Of course, quality 3-4 inside linebackers can be acquired later in the draft, as the likes of AFC West rivals Brandon Marshall and Denzel Perryman prove. With inside ‘backers not the most coveted of commodities come April, the Chiefs could see one of those aforementioned three prospects potentially fall to them in the second round, where they hold the No. 59 overall choice.

3.) Assess Alex Smith‘s viability: In a town known for employing polarizing quarterbacks, Smith has served as a lightning rod during most of his tenure. The latest narrow Chiefs postseason defeat continued to cast doubt on Smith’s ability to lead this team deep into the playoffs. However, Kansas City remains committed to him on what’s become one of the lower-end deals for a franchise quarterback. The former No. 1 overall pick has two years left on his contract and will only turn 33 in May, but the Chiefs are 1-3 in the playoffs behind Smith. Smith’s outing against the Steelers may have been the worst of his playoff performances in Kansas City, which has a veteran nucleus whose window depends on the middling passer.

While a report identified the Broncos as Tony Romo‘s top target, they would only be interested in him if he were to be released. The Texans, too, have emerged as a speculative landing spot, but the Broncos just invested a first-round pick in Paxton Lynch, and the Texans would incur a $25MM dead money blow by moving on from Brock Osweiler. The Chiefs have a steadier option than both teams from a short-term perspective, with Smith having quarterbacked the team during its mid-2010s resurgence. But they may be a stealth Romo candidate due to their status in the NFL pecking order.

The Chiefs’ 43 wins since 2013 trail only the Patriots, Seahawks and Broncos. But as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes, the team may have gone as far as it could with Smith under center. This echoes a sentiment Chiefs sources expressed during the Chiefs’ march to the AFC West crown. In 15 starts in 2016, the risk-averse passer threw just 15 touchdown passes. It would cost the franchise less to separate from Smith this year, at $7.2MM in dead money. The Chiefs would not be able to afford a Romo trade on his current deal (league-high $24.7MM cap number in 2017), but on a renegotiated contract, this landing spot makes sense for the 37-year-old passer.

If healthy, Romo is an upgrade over Smith. The other passers who figure to be available via trade or as UFAs probably are not. However, the Chiefs have an incredibly long track record of failing to develop a passer. From the four 49ers-honed quarterbacks over the past 20-plus years, to Trent Green and Matt Cassel, the Hunt family and their GMs have a long track-record of pursuing veterans. Of course, if management determines the best way to keep this core’s championship window open is to further strengthen the roster around Smith, then a prospect passer could be considered.

The Chiefs have drafted Day 3 quarterbacks in two of the past three years, Aaron Murray and Kevin Hogan, but neither is currently on the team. UDFA Tyler Bray is currently the Chiefs’ third-stringer. They haven’t selected a quarterback in the first round since the Todd Blackledge misfire in 1983 and haven’t spent a second-round selection on this position in 25 years. This quarterback class might see three polarizing passers — Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky, and DeShone Kizer — go off the board before the Chiefs pick in Round 1. But they could consider Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, either via first-round pick or second-round trade-up, or Miami’s Brad Kaaya in Round 2. Neither would likely be ready for a bit, keeping the Chiefs a Smith-run operation for at least 2017 and possibly 2018.

The franchise sits at a crossroads after its fourth consecutive home playoff loss. How it operates in the coming months here, either supplying Smith with more help or bringing in his replacement/successor, will be critical to changing this enduring trajectory.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Los Angeles Chargers

January 27th, 2017 at 8:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Los Angeles Chargers, who posted a 5-11 record in 2016 and have since hired a new head coach and relocated north up the I-5.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Jahleel Addae, S
Isaiah Burse, WR (ERFA)
Jeremy Butler, WR (RFA)
Kellen Clemens, QB
Asante Cleveland, TE (ERFA)
Jeff Cumberland, TE
Geremy Davis, WR (ERFA)
Javontee Herndon, WR (ERFA)
Ronnie Hillman, RB
Melvin Ingram, LB
Dontrelle Inman, WR (RFA)
Sean Lissemore, DT
Robert McClain, CB
Dexter McCluster, RB
Sean McGrath, TE (ERFA)
Branden Oliver, RB (RFA)
Tenny Palepoi, DE (RFA)
Adrian Phillips, S (ERFA)
Damion Square, DL
Manti Te’o, LB
Korey Toomer, WR (RFA)
Kenny Wiggins, G (RFA)
Andre Williams, RB (ERFA)
Tourek Williams, LB
Mike Windt, LS
Danny Woodhead, RB

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Philip Rivers, QB: $20,000,000
Brandon Flowers, CB: $11,000,000
Corey Liuget, DL: $9,500,000
D.J. Fluker, G: $8,821,000
Keenan Allen, WR: $8,650,000
King Dunlap, T: $8,125,000
Orlando Franklin, G: $7,600,000
Travis Benjamin, WR: $6,500,000
Joey Bosa, DE: $5,880,380
Joe Barksdale, T: $5,546,875

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $20,231,314
Seventh pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for CB Jason Verrett

Three Needs:

1) Fix the offensive line: Los Angeles’ front five has been a problem for some time, but given the contract structures of the club’s offensive linemen, the Chargers were essentially locked into most of their starting group, including tackles King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale and guards Orlando Franklin and D.J. Fluker. Now that another season has passed, the effects of cutting ties with several of those players (specifically, the dead money charges that would accelerate onto Los Angeles’ salary cap) have become minimized, meaning the Chargers could rework the line this offseason.

Barksdale, 29, probably isn’t going anywhere, as he just signed an extension with the Bolts in the spring of 2016. As such, it would cost the Chargers more to release Barksdale than it would to retain him. Franklin, too, will likely be kept for at least one more campaign, as Los Angeles would incur nearly $5MM in dead money by cutting ties. Though he struggled last season, Franklin was a significant free agent signing just two years ago, and the Chargers will likely give him one more year to turn things around.

Changes could take place at other spots along the line, however, including left tackle, where Dunlap is currently atop the depth chart. Dunlap, who agreed to a $1.2MM paycut last offseason, has missed 13 games over the past two years, and hasn’t been especially effective when on the field. Los Angeles would clear out $6.5MM in cap space by designating Dunlap a post-June 1 cut, and that looks like the best course of action at present.

Of course, releasing Dunlap would leave a hole on Philip Rivers‘ blindside, but the Chargers could use some of their newfound cap room to pursue a free agent left tackle. The market for offensive tackles isn’t exactly abundant, and the only two starting options that are readily available are the Bengals’ Andrew Whitworth and the Lions’ Riley Reiff. Other players could soon become free agents, as Russell Okung and Kelvin Beachum are tied to options that are likely to be declined, while Ryan Clady could simply be released even after reworking his contract with the Jets.

More likely, the Bolts would need to target their next left tackle through the draft, and while this year’s class of tackles isn’t strong, Los Angeles should have a few choices when the seventh pick comes up. In his initial mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com sent Alabama OT Cam Robinson to the Chargers, and while Robinson has generally been viewed as this year’s No. 1 blindside protector, there’s been a recent wave of support for Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, whom Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks as his 14th overall player. In a typical draft, neither Robinson nor Ramczyk might be worth a top-10 selection, but it would behoove Los Angeles to draft for need this year.

Guard could also be addressed in the coming months, and although Franklin will be probably be retained, the same can’t be said about D.J. Fluker, who has spent the past two seasons on the interior after playing right tackle during his first two NFL campaigns. Because he is a former first-round pick, Fluker is scheduled to earn $8.821MM under the terms of his fifth-year option, a total that would give him the league’s fifth-highest cap hit among guards. That figure isn’t fully guaranteed until the start of the new league year in March, meaning the Chargers can release Fluker without any fiscal consequences.

Los Angeles should do just that, both due to Fluker’s uninspiring play and the fact that the Chargers have a ready-made solution on the interior. Veteran Matt Slauson is entering the second season of a two-year, $3MM deal (quietly one of the better bargains in the NFL), and although he spent the 2016 campaign at center, he could shift back to his native guard position for 2017. Such a transition would allow 2016 third-round pick Max Tuerk — who used his rookie season as something of a redshirt year (zero snaps) — to take over at center.

Depth has become an issue for the Chargers’ offensive line in recent years, so the club should take a hard look at the veteran market — as well as invest a pick or two — on assets that could step up in the event of injuries up front. If the Panthers’ Mike Remmers can’t find a starting job in free agency, he’d make for a fine swing tackle in southern California. Same goes for Stefen Wisniewski, Tim Lelito, and Brian Schwenke along the interior, all of whom could be paid a slight premium in exchange for accepting backup roles with Los Angeles.

2) Find a dynamic safety: The Chargers’ secondary was a bright spot during a disappointing 2016 campaign, as the club ranked ninth in DVOA against the pass and allowed an 83.8 rating to opposing quarterbacks, good for sixth in the league. Cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett both missed most of the season due to injury, but Casey Hayward proved to be one of the best free agent signings of 2016 as he morphed into a shutdown corner.

The back end of the defense, however, could afford to be reworked under new coordinator Gus Bradley, and that process should start with the re-signing of Jahleel Addae. Although he missed eight games with a broken collarbone and managed to play only 510 defensive snaps, the 27-year-old Addae graded as the league’s 12th-best safety, according to Pro Football Focus, which gave Addae strong marks against both the run and pass. Addae, whose positive attributes were highlighted last year in an excellent piece by SB Nation’s Jamie Sewell, is a pending free agent, but shouldn’t come at a high cost given his recent injury history and limited track record.

Los Angeles still needs another playmaker next to Addae (who typically plays close to the line of scrimmage), and veteran Dwight Lowery, signed last offseason to replace franchise legend Eric Weddle, isn’t the answer. Lowery is actually signed to a reasonable enough contract — with cap hits of $2.5MM and $3MM in 2017 and 2018, respectively — that he could be retained as depth. More likely, however, the Chargers will part ways with him, creating $2MM if they make Lowery a post-June 1 cut.

If the Bolts don’t opt for an offensive lineman with the seventh overall selection, the club should use the pick on a safety to pair with Addae, and they should get a shot at one of the top defensive backs in this year’s class. Ohio State’s Malik Hooker is viewed as a more rangy safety than LSU’s Jamal Adams, who is thought to be more of an enforcer type, but both should be in consideration for the Chargers. Of course, given that Hooker and Adams are looked at as top-five players in the 2017 class, both could be selected before LA gets its chance. In that event, the Chargers could go with Budda Baker (Washington), whom Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com compares to the Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu, in the early second round.

During the free agent period, the Chargers are unlikely to be involved in the Eric Berry market, but Tony Jefferson would seem to be an ideal fit next to Addae. Jefferson, 25, surprisingly wasn’t signed to an offer sheet by a rival club in 2016 despite playing extremely well the year prior, and instead returned to Arizona on a cheap RFA tender. He improved even further, ranking as PFF’s No. 5 safety last season, but it’s possible the rest of the league views Jefferson as a product of the Cardinals’ defense. Still, he’d be a worthwhile risk for Los Angeles.

Other free agent targets for the Chargers could include Barry Church (Cowboys) or Micah Hyde (Packers), but another interesting crop of safeties could soon hit the market after being released by their current clubs. Marcus Gilchrist, notably, could soon be cut loose by the Jets, and a reunion between he and the Chargers would make a lot of sense. The Cardinals’ Tyvon Branch and the Saints’ Jairus Byrd could also come aboard if they’re released in the coming months. Finally, Bears restricted free agent Demontre Hurst might be viewed as a valuable depth option given that Chargers assistant defensive backs coach Chris Harris previously worked with Hurst in Chicago.

3) Add depth at the skill positions: Los Angeles’ 2016 offense was, in a word, average: the club finished 19th in offensive DVOA, 14th in yards, and ninth in scoring. Quarterback Philip Rivers posted a quarterback rating of 87.9, a tick below his career average of 94.7, but the Chargers did boast four breakout offensive assets in running back Melvin Gordon, wide receivers Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman, and tight end Hunter Henry.

The Chargers’ offensive outlook should be positive going forward — especially if their offensive line is corrected — but questions remain about No. 1 wideout Keenan Allen, who suffered a season-ending injury for the second consecutive season, going down in Week 1 with a torn ACL. Allen was taken out by a lacerated kidney in 2015, so it’s probably not fair to call him injury-prone given the nature of that freak injury. However, it’s fair to wonder if Los Angeles, new head coach Anthony Lynn, and holdover offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt have questions about Allen’s long-term availability.

Given that, LA could stand to add another pass-catcher this offseason, whether it be through free agency or the draft. Most players who’ve hit the open market are, obviously, veterans in their late-twenties, but Marquess Wilson (24) and Justin Hunter (25) will hit free agency with youth still on their side. Neither has offered much production during their short respective careers — Hunter’s 498 receiving yards in 2014 represents the career-high between the pair — but perhaps receivers coach Nick Sirianni could mold them into a useful parts. The Chargers ranked 29th in special teams DVOA last season, so a potent returner such as Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook would be a valuable addition early on Day 2 of the draft.

Running back, meanwhile, clearly doesn’t need to be addressed with an early pick after Gordon rebounded from a poor rookie season to post 10 touchdowns in 2016, but the Chargers may target a backup — especially one capable of playing in the passing game — in order to give Gordon the occasional breather. Gordon handled 254 carries last year (10th in the league), and famously rushed the ball nearly 350 times during his senior year at Wisconsin, so he can certainly take a beating. But adding a veteran back such as Travaris Cadet, Jacquizz Rodgers, or Andre Ellington might help the offense as a whole. Re-signing Danny Woodhead, who is coming off his second major leg injury in three seasons, is also a possibility, while a late-round draft pick — such as Boise State’s Jeremy McNichols or UL-Lafayette’s Elijah McGuire — could be in the cards.

Finally, given that Rivers isn’t getting any younger, the Chargers might look to select a developmental quarterback in this year’s draft. Now 35, Rivers is signed through the 2019 campaign and likely isn’t going anywhere soon, but San Diego would do well to plan ahead at the QB position rather than waiting until it becomes a necessity. Davis Webb (Cal), Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee), Seth Russell (Baylor), and Sefo Liufau (Colorado) are among the signal-callers that could be on the board when Los Angeles turns it its card on Day 3.

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Los Angeles Rams

January 27th, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. This year’s series continues with the Rams, whose second act in Los Angeles began horrifically this season. The Rams sputtered to a 4-12 showing, which led to the in-season firing of the embattled Jeff Fisher and the postseason hiring of the youngest head coach in the modern era, 31-year-old Sean McVay.

Previously a successful offensive coordinator with the Redskins, McVay is inheriting a 22-year-old quarterback, Jared Goff, who underwhelmed as a rookie after the Rams traded up to select him first overall in the draft. The Rams don’t have either a first- or third-round pick this year because of that trade, which is a painful reality for a franchise that would have otherwise chosen fifth overall. Goff could begin to realize his vast potential under McVay, of course, and that would make the deal much easier to accept.

As the Rams wait to see how the two wunderkinds will fare in Year 1 of their partnership, their Les Snead-led front office will work to improve a roster that scored the fewest points and allowed the third-highest total in the NFL in 2016.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Kenny Britt, WR
Blake Countess, S (ERFA)
Benny Cunningham, RB
Dominique Easley, DT (RFA)
Isaiah Johnson, S (ERFA)
Trumaine Johnson, CB
Case Keenum, QB
Matt Longacre, DT (ERFA)
T.J. McDonald, S
Brian Quick, WR
Chase Reynolds, RB
Cam Thomas, DE
Louis Trinca-Pasat, DT (ERFA)
Trey Watts, RB (RFA)
Ethan Westbrooks, DT (RFA)
Greg Zuerlein, K (UFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits For 2017:

Tavon Austin, WR: $14,977,116
Mark Barron, LB: $11,000,000
Michael Brockers, DT: $11,000,000
Robert Quinn, DE: $10,750,334
Alec Ogletree, LB: $8,369,000
Greg Robinson, OT: $6,772,213
Jared Goff, QB: $6,349,471
Rodger Saffold, G: $6,222,233
William Hayes, DE: $5,500,000
Lance Kendricks, TE: $4,250,000

Current Projected Cap Room (via Over the Cap): $40,203,030

Other:

No first- or third-round pick (traded to Tennessee)
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year options for DT Aaron Donald and OT Greg Robinson

Three Needs:

1.) Repair the offensive line: If you’re building around youth at quarterback and running back, two places the Rams have invested heavily over the past couple years, common sense says you should possess a strong group of blockers. That wasn’t the case in 2016 for the Rams, whose offensive line graded as Football Outsiders’ fourth-worst group and Pro Football Focus’ sixth-worst unit. Only lowly Cleveland allowed more sacks than Los Angeles (49), whose rushers posted the league’s 10th-lowest yards-per-carry mark (3.9). Dual-threat wide receiver Tavon Austin drove up the latter figure, averaging 5.7 yards on 28 rushes. The Rams’ actual backs, including 2015 rookie sensation Todd Gurley, were far less impressive. Gurley shockingly stumbled to a 3.2 YPC – down 50 percent from his 4.8 the prior season – on 278 attempts and failed to eclipse the 85-yard mark in any of his 16 games. He certainly isn’t blameless for his dreadful second season, but it’s clear he and Goff need more support up front.

While the Rams are fine at left guard (Rodger Saffold) and right tackle (Rob Havenstein), they’d be wise to seek upgrades along the remainder of the line. That includes left tackle, where Greg Robinson has busted since going second overall in the 2014 draft. It’s doubtful the Rams will move on this offseason from Robinson, as he’s still young (24) and will be on their books at his full cap hit ($6.77MM-plus) even if they release him. They’ll surely decline his fifth-year option for 2018, however, and ought to look for a starting-caliber replacement for at least next season. Unfortunately, neither free agency nor the draft will brim with blindside options this offseason.

The open market’s top solution could be the Bengals’ Andrew Whitworth, who’s stellar but also aging (35). Otherwise, tackles scheduled to reach free agency include less capable protectors like Riley Reiff (Lions), Matt Kalil (Vikings) and Luke Joeckel (Jaguars). As is the case with Robinson, both Kalil and Joeckel have been letdowns since their respective teams used top five picks on them in recent years, though it might be worth pointing out that Kalil is a California native who formerly thrived in the Rams’ temporary stadium, the LA Coliseum, as a member of the USC Trojans. Past success aside, he’s certainly not a premier blocker these days.

In the event the Rams wait until the draft, where they’re scheduled to pick 37th, they could end up in contention for any of Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, Utah’s Garrett Bolles or Alabama’s Cam Robinson. All three tackles currently reside in the top 50 prospect rankings of draft gurus Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) and Matt Miller (Bleacher Report).

Moving to the interior, where the Rams should add a second high-end guard to complement Saffold and make life easier for Gurley, T.J. Lang (Packers), Kevin Zeitler (Bengals) and Ronald Leary (Cowboys) stand out as the foremost soon-to-be free agents. While all figure to rake in sizable contracts in the coming months, any would significantly improve the Rams’ line.

It would behoove the Rams to land one of those three, as the early second round doesn’t seem as if it’ll overflow with possibilities. Jeremiah and Miller only have one guard apiece in their top 50 – Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp is the former’s 16th-ranked player, while the latter’s list includes Indiana’s Dan Feeney at No. 37 (which matches LA’s pick).

Lastly, it’s possible the Rams will search for a superior center to Tim Barnes, who, to his credit, is coming off back-to-back 16-start seasons. For Gurley’s sake, it would make sense to target a better run blocker like A.Q. Shipley (Cardinals) or J.C. Tretter (Packers) on the open market. Jason Kelce could also become available if the Eagles release him, which looks like a legitimate possibility.

2.) Acquire more weapons for Goff: Wideouts Kenny Britt and Brian Quick finished first and second among Rams in receiving yards in 2016, and now they’re headed toward free agency. It’ll be more difficult to retain the 28-year-old Britt, who registered a career campaign in leading the team in receptions (68), targets (111), yards (1,002), yards per catch (14.2) and aerial touchdowns (five). Quick, 27, was decidedly less productive, though he did eclipse the 40-catch plateau and average nearly 14 yards per reception. Like the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Britt, Quick (6-3, 218) also offers size. That isn’t true of any other Rams receiver – their No. 1 signed pass catcher, Austin, is just 5-8, 176 pounds.

A big target, which could come in the form of re-signing Britt and/or Quick, would be nice, but the Rams can’t necessarily discriminate based on size. They (and Goff) are in dire need of weaponry to complement Austin and tight end Lance Kendricks, and there will be several names to watch in free agency.

It doesn’t look as though Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor will get to the market, but a large, proven, in-his-prime WR like the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery would be perfect for Goff. That might be a pipe dream for LA, though – the 26-year-old would first have to leave Chicago, which would mean no franchise tag, and then the Rams would have to win a bidding war for his services.

More realistic than coming out on top in the Jeffery sweepstakes, perhaps, would be reeling in any of DeSean Jackson and/or Pierre Garcon of the Redskins, Kenny Stills (Dolphins), Ted Ginn (Panthers), Robert Woods (Bills), Kamar Aiken (Ravens), Jeremy Kerley (49ers), Terrance Williams (Cowboys), Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), Kendall Wright (Titans) or Markus Wheaton (Steelers). McVay has clear connections to both Jackson and Garcon, having coached the pair to terrific results in Washington over the past three years. Woods, meanwhile, is a local product who starred at USC and has emerged as a solid four-year NFLer who’s still young (25 in April).

The Rams seem like shoo-ins to chase receivers in free agency, but they could also look at the position early in the draft. Chad Hansen jumps to the fore as both a Cal standout and someone who was once college teammates with Goff. The two played together in 2015, though Hansen didn’t break out until last season. Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp, who Jeremiah opines “is prepared to make an immediate impact” in the pros, may also be on the board when the Rams’ first selection rolls around during the spring. So could USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster, a 6-2, 220-pounder who had an excellent three-year run with the Trojans.

3.) Make a decision on Trumaine Johnson’s future: The Rams’ new defensive coordinator, mastermind Wade Phillips, emigrated from Denver, which possesses elite cornerbacks in Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib. He could end up in a situation without a corner who’s anywhere close to that level if the Rams let Johnson walk in free agency. Los Angeles already lost one superb corner, Janoris Jenkins, to the open market a year ago. At the same time, the team managed to keep Johnson for 2016 via the $13.9MM franchise tag. The two sides were unable to work out a long-term pact before the July deadline, though, so Johnson’s future is once again uncertain as March looms.

The Rams could tag Johnson this year, but doing so would cost them $16.68MM – a bloated chunk of cap space for a deeply flawed team with other problems to address. A multiyear contract wouldn’t exactly be cheap, either, evidenced by the five-year, $62MM deal with $29MM in guarantees Jenkins signed with the Giants last winter.

If the Rams are unable to pay Johnson, they’d be down to the capable Lamarcus Joyner and uninspiring defenders behind him at the corner position. Not only has Johnson been a ball hawk (16 interceptions during his half-decade as a Ram), but the 6-2, 208-pounder also brings far more size than any of LA’s other corners. Given Johnson’s track record, it stands to reason he’s champing at the bit to cash in, so bringing him back could be unrealistic for the Rams.

Should Johnson end up out of LA’s price range, free agency is set to offer other No. 1 types in A.J. Bouye (Texans), Stephon Gilmore (Bills) and Logan Ryan (Patriots), but they’re also in line for massive paydays. Thus, presumably less expensive veterans such as Morris Claiborne (Cowboys), Dre Kirkpatrick (Bengals), Prince Amukamara (Jaguars) and Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings) might be of interest to the Rams if they become free agents. So, too, could any of USC’s Adoree Jackson, Ohio State’s Gareon Conley, Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey or Washington’s Kevin King, among several others in a corner-rich draft class.

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