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Month: April 2024

Poll: DeSean Jackson’s Landing Spot

March 30th, 2014 at 5:52pm CST by Peter Sowards

Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson was released by the club on Friday, and the rumors have since been streaming in nonstop. In fact, the PFR team had posts rounding up the rumors surrounding the former Cal standout for over a week now, including this article with a link saying the Jets have had internal discussions about adding Jackson.

Now that Jackson is a free agent and is free to choose his landing spot as he so pleases, the football world is waiting with bated breath. Rarely does a player of Jackson’s caliber make it to free agency in his prime, but in the aftermath of the Aaron Hernandez-saga and Jackson’s prohibitive salary, the Eagles simply made a business decision to move on without one of the most talented players in football.

Here are Pro Football Rumors’ most recent Jackson-related rumors roundup posts:

Now, based on the information we have presented in prior rumors posts, we want to know where you think Jackson will be spending next season (and potentially beyond). Does he stay in the NFC East with the Redskins? Does Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie bring Jackson back to the Bay Area?

You decide.

AFC South Notes: Locker, Draft, Nicks, Jags

March 30th, 2014 at 4:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans are unlikely to pick up their 2015 option on quarterback Jake Locker, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. As a first-round-pick under the new CBA, Locker would be entitled to a one-year salary at the average of the top-ten highest-paid quarterbacks, which would amount to roughly $14MM. If Locker performs well this season, the Titans could look to sign him to an extension, but if not, the team needs more insurance than the recently-signed Charlie Whitehurst. Wyatt argues the team should draft Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray in the 4th-5th round of the draft, and ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky agrees, noting the team should select “one of the injured SEC guys.”

More from the AFC South:

  • In the above piece, and in a similar article summarizing the Titans defensive unit, Wyatt points to running back, offensive line depth, and speed on the defensive edge as the primary needs for Tennessee in the draft.
  • In his mailbag (linked above), Kuharsky agrees that a running back is needed in Tennessee, writing that the backfield plan is “draft pick + Shonn Greene + Dexter McCluster.”
  • The Colts would be interested in retaining receiver Hakeem Nicks if he plays well this season, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. The Colts signed Nicks to one-year deal worth ~$4MM.
  • Wells also thinks that the Colts will use a running-back-by-committee approach, cycling through Trent Richardson, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Vick Ballard.
  • In his mailbag segment, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com notes that he believes the Jaguars will select Jadeveon Clowney if he is available. If not, he thinks their preferences are (in order) Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins.

PFR Originals: 3/24/14 – 3/30/14

March 30th, 2014 at 4:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here’s the original content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

  • The complete order of the 2014 NFL draft, which the Texans will kick off on May 8 with the first overall selection.
  • A look at draft picks by team, with the Rams and the Jets leading the way with 12 picks each.
  • A poll regarding the best value signing in free agency, with the Colts acquisition of receiver Hakeem Nicks taking the top spot with about 32% of the vote.
  • Rory Parks wrote an excellent piece, synthesizing several recent articles and looking at the devaluation of the running back, fullback, and the in-line tight end in the modern NFL.

Week In Review: 3/24/14 – 3/30/14

March 30th, 2014 at 4:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key Signings:

Extensions/Options:

Waiver Claims:

Released:

Rumors:

Other:

  • Bills owner Ralph Wilson passed away at the age of 95.

View the PFR Transactions page for more news and notes.

NFC Notes: Johnson, Eagles, Sanchez, Jackson

March 30th, 2014 at 3:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have no interest in Titans running back Chris Johnson, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. On Friday, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean tweeted that Atlanta would be a prime destination for Johnson, but a source tells Florio that this union will not come to fruition. It seemed dubious that the Falcons would want to invest in another aging running back to pair with veteran Steven Jackson, and the draft seems like a more viable way for Atlanta to infuse talent into their backfield. For his part, Johnson is widely expected to be released within the coming weeks.

More notes from the NFC:

  • Following the release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles are thin at wide receiver, writes Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Besides Riley Cooper, Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn are both coming off torn ACLs, and Damaris Johnson is unproven. Newly-acquired Darren Sproles, with his acumen in the passing game, could play a key role in the Eagles offense this season.
  • The Eagles signing of Mark Sanchez doesn’t figure to start any type of quarterback controversy, but that doesn’t mean Sanchez has lost his competitive edge, notes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. “I’m always going to want to start,” said the quarterback. “It doesn’t matter where you are, you want to play. There’s nothing wrong with having that drive. I’ll keep that fire going and try to help this team the best I can.” A nice preseason, followed by competency in the case of a Nick Foles injury would the best way for Sanchez to rehabilitate his value.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com mentioned the 49ers as a team that could be in play for Jackson (podcast link). We noted earlier this week that the 49ers may not be able to fit him on their roster financially, but Fitzgerald argues that Anquan Boldin will likely be cut after this season, and that Jackson could be signed to contract with a low first-year base salary.

DeSean Jackson Rumors: Sunday

March 30th, 2014 at 2:19pm CST by Rory Parks

More speculation regarding the DeSean Jackson saga:

  • The Chiefs “would’ve loved” to sign Jackson, but they simply don’t have the cap space available to compete with other suitors, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
  • We noted earlier that the Redskins are very interested in Jackson, but Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that cap room might be a problem in Washington, as well. The Redskins have roughly $7MM in space, while other potential bidders such as the Bills and Raiders have about $14MM available. If Washington is serious about making a legitimate offer to Jackson, a backloaded deal with a low first-year salary might make the most sense.
  • In a couplet of tweets, Albert Breer of NFL.com writes that Jackson, unsurprisingly, is expected to “follow the money,” but also notes that the receiver market has been relatively modest, noting the lower-than-expected salaries of Eric Decker, Golden Tate, and others. Breer also opines that a strong receiver draft class works against Jackson’s demands.

Earlier Updates:

  • Citing multiple reports, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com writes that the Redskins intend to make a serious bid to sign Jackson during his visit tomorrow, and Jackson is excited about the prospect of playing for the ‘Skins.
  • NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweets that the number of serious suitors for Jackson could be relatively small. With the Jets seemingly out and the Chiefs out, the Redskins, Raiders, and Bills would seem to comprise the current class of “serious suitors.”
  • Breer also tweets that the Raiders are “still doing background work” on Jackson and realize there is a risk in bringing him to Oakland.
  • Although the Redskins get the first shot at Jackson and the Raiders have plenty of cap space, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Bills should not be ruled out, and he implies that they are serious in their interest. Rapoport also tweeted that Buffalo is quietly researching and recruiting Jackson.
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer offers his take as to why Jackson was let go.
  • Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a similar opinion on Jackson’s release.
  • Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine offers a useful roundup of national media rumblings on the Jackson story.

Browns Sign Ben Tate To Two-Year Deal

March 30th, 2014 at 1:58pm CST by Rob DiRe

MARCH 30: The specifics of Tate’s contract have come in, and it appears that the deal’s actual value has been “puffed up,” writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Tate gets a $1.5MM signing bonus, a fully-guaranteed 2014 base salary of $1MM, and a 2015 base salary of $2.2MM. He can earn up to $750K each season in roster bonuses, but he will only earn that money on a per-game basis for each contest for which he is active. So, as Florio notes, if Tate is injured or struggles, this could easily become a one-year, $2.5MM contract, far from the two-year, ~$7MM deal that was originally reported.

MARCH 18: The base value of Tate’s deal is $6.2MM, with $2.5MM in guaranteed money, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

MARCH 15, 2:08pm: Tate’ deal is worth $7MM over two years, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). For being one of the top young players at the position on the market, it is a relatively cheap deal, especially compared to the other recently signed tailbacks.

1:38pm: Ben Tate and the Browns have agreed to terms on a two-year deal, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). The Browns announced that the deal has been signed (via Twitter).

Tate has been stuck behind Arian Foster for his short career so far, but was able to put together a nice season as a secondary ball carrier and injury replacement, amassing 771 yards and four touchdowns last season. His career average of 4.7 yards per carry, along with his relatively fresh legs have made him a potential breakout star for his next team.

The former Texan had been considered the top free agent running back on the market, but the position has been ignored this offseason. Toby Gerhart, Rashad Jennings, and Darren McFadden all received modest deals so far, and other veteran running backs have yet to find a home.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Wendell, Jackson

March 30th, 2014 at 1:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After the Dolphins’ signing of Knowshon Moreno, at least one running back is set to lose his roster spot in Miami, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. Moreno and second-year-pro Lamar Miller are guaranteed to make the squad, so that leaves a competition between Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, and Marcus Thigpen for the final two RB roster spots (assuming the ‘Fins keep four backs). Thigpen offers special teams value, so the last slot will likely come down to Thomas or Gillislee. A training camp battle will determine the final outcome, but my guess would be that Thomas stays. He has the higher pedigree as a former second-round-pick, and Gillislee saw just nine snaps last season.

More from the AFC East, with notes from ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss:

  • Center Ryan Wendell‘s underwhelming market was due to two factors. First, Wendell was viewed as nothing more than a fallback option for teams who couldn’t land their top option. Second, Wendell’s main backer in New England was offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, who recently retired. Wendell, who eventually re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal, is expected to face competition for his starting spot on the offensive line.
  • Reiss does not believe the Patriots can sign DeSean Jackson due to his reported gang ties, especially after the Aaron Hernandez situation unfolded last offseason.
  • The Patriots simply don’t believe in financial commitments to running backs, as evidenced last season by the loss of Danny Woodhead to the Chargers, and this offseason when they allowed LeGarrette Blount to sign with the Steelers.
  • Although Vince Wilfork is viewed as a prototypical run-stuffing nose tackle, he will be a part of some sub packages. Wilfork’s ability to stay on the field is personally crucial — breaking the 70% snap threshold is one of three requirements for him to earn all $8MM of his 2014 salary.

49ers Notes: WRs, Culliver, Verrett

March 30th, 2014 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

Michael Crabtree is entering the final year of his contract, and although the 49ers have expressed their desire to sign him to a long-term deal, they have to at least prepare for his departure, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Similarly, although Anquan Boldin just signed a two-year deal with the team, his age suggests that the 49ers have to start looking for his eventual replacement as well.

Furthermore, neither of those players offer much of a speed element to the 49ers vertical attack–which helps to explain the natural links that pundits drew connecting DeSean Jackson to San Francisco–so Barrows believes the 49ers need to add both a strong, sturdy receiver as well as a speedster. He notes that the team has the resources–six draft picks in the first three rounds–to fill those needs in this deep class of wide receivers.

Some more notes from the NFC West powerhouse:

  • Needless to say, Clemson WR Sammy Watkins would be a “beautiful fit” in the 49ers receiving corps, but Bill Williamson of ESPN.com thinks the price will just be too steep for the 49ers to trade up high enough to draft him. Williamson does not, however, rule it out, given that the team does not have many other holes to fill.
  • In a separate piece, Williamson notes that the 49ers were always going to take a cornerback early in the draft, but the uncertainty that Chris Culliver‘s arrest has created makes the team’s need for a corner even more pressing. It was his presence that allowed the 49ers to let Tarell Brown leave for Oakland and stopped them from pushing harder for a free agent like Walter Thurmond. That said, San Francisco may use one or more of its six picks in the first three rounds to move up not for a top-flight receiver, but a top-flight corner.
  • In keeping with those sentiments, after projecting the 49ers to draft a receiver in his first several mock drafts, Williamson is now mocking TCU cornerback Jason Verrett to the 49ers with the No. 30 overall selection.

Extra Points: Browns, Latimer, Dolphins

March 30th, 2014 at 11:56am CST by Rory Parks

It is typically true that a poor showing during an NFL prospect’s pro day is a great deal more noteworthy than a strong one. After all, pro days are arranged to optimize performance, with familiar conditions, familiar targets, etc. So when Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater delivered an underwhelming audition at his pro day, it created a bit of a stir among national writers who were suddenly more quick to point out his faults than his strengths.

In a recent mailbag, Tony Grossi of ESPN.com expressed his belief that the Browns will not only pass on Bridgewater with their No. 4 overall pick, but with their No. 26 overall pick as well. Instead, Grossi projects the Browns to take Clemson WR Sammy Watkins with the fourth pick in the draft (although he does tweet that the Browns have to consider a QB in the first three rounds). Now for some more notes around the league:

  • Despite using the transition tag, rather than the franchise tag, on free agent center Alex Mack, the Browns seem to have kept him off the market just the same. Grossi tweets that Mack has not received offers from any other club.
  • Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer looks at five positions the Panthers need to address in the rest of the offseason, beginning with a No. 1 wideout.
  • Indiana WR Cody Latimer has a private visit scheduled with the Ravens and Seahawks, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Latimer is considered a rising prospect and caught 72 passes for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns last season. As we saw in a piece that our Luke Adams wrote on Thursday, Latimer will be a very busy young man, with at least seven teams having scheduled a visit with him.
  • Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel put together a very detailed mailbag post, beginning with an examination of what the Dolphins might do if one of the top QB prospects falls to them with the No. 19 overall pick in the draft.
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