HEADLINES

Month: April 2014

Poll: Which 2014 Free Agent Was The Most Overpaid?

April 20th, 2014 at 12:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Playing off of Bill Polian‘s assertion that ‘B’ players were seeking ‘A’ money, Mike Klis of the Denver Post compiled his list of the most overpaid free agents from this offseason. Klis lists 15 signees, and a staggering 14 of them inked deals with non-playoff teams. The writer attributes this to desperation, stating that some teams “didn’t know how to spend their newfound riches or were forced to overpay to lure players to their bad franchises.”

The first player on Klis’s list is Vikings‘ defensive end Everson Griffen, who will earn $13MM in 2014 despite only getting 5.5 sacks last season. The Falcons‘ Paul Soliai (5 year/$32 MM, $11MM in ’14) and Tyson Jackson (5 years/$25MM, $9.5MM), the Bears‘ Lamarr Houston (5 years/$35MM, $9MM) and the Jaguars‘ Toby Gerhart (3 years/$10.5MM, $4MM) round out his top-five.

Of course, this list doesn’t include some of the more high-profile contracts dished out this offseason, and those are often the contracts that are the most scrutinized. Eric Decker inked a five-year, $36.25MM deal including $15MM guaranteed with the Jets. The 27-year old has certainly had a handful of good seasons with the Broncos, but it’s unknown if he can lead a receiving core.

On defense, DeMarcus Ware got $20MM guaranteed from the Broncos even though the player will soon be 32. Darrelle Revis struggled in 2013 but still got $16MM to play with the Patriots for a season. We also can’t forget about Aqib Talib, who signed the largest contract based on overall base value at $57MM over six years.

Finally, there’s offensive tackle Branden Albert, who got $20MM guaranteed from the Dolphins. It wouldn’t be a list unless I added in the player who’ll be guaranteed to take home the most money.

Combining Klis’s top-five with my list of notable free agents signed to large contracts, who do you think was the most overpaid this offseason? Did I forget somebody? Are you offended by one of my suggestions? Sound off in the comment section.

Week In Review: 4/13/14 – 4/20/14

April 20th, 2014 at 11:44am CST by Ben Levine

It’s been a busy week on Pro Football Rumors. Here are the major headlines…

Signings:

2015 Options:

Release/Waivers:

Waiver Claims:

Reinstatement:

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions page.

NFC Draft Notes: Rams, Panthers, Eagles

April 20th, 2014 at 10:51am CST by Ben Levine

While there are never any guarantees in the NFL, it seems very likely that the Rams will select a quarterback in this year’s draft, writes Jim Thomas of The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Thomas points to a list of quarterbacks that the team has shown interest in, including Aaron Murray, Connor Shaw, Garrett Gilbert and Derek Carr. Thomas also lists Tajh Boyd, A.J. McCarron and Zach Mettenberger as potential fits. If the Rams do ultimately draft a quarterback, that player will likely be third on the depth chart behind starter Sam Bradford and veteran Shaun Hill.

Let’s explore some more NFL Draft notes from around the NFC…

  • While Nick Foles does not necessarily have the skill set for Chip Kelly’s offense, his success in 2013 should guarantee him the job this season. As a result, it would be a surprise if the Eagles selected a quarterback such as Teddy Bridgewater in the first round, said Charles Davis of the NFL Network (via Bo Wulf of PhiladelphiaEagles.com).
  • LSU wideout Odell Beckham Jr. told Sirius XM that he will meet with the Eagles this week, writes Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com. Beckham would join a list of receivers who have worked out for the team, including Mike Evans, Kelvin Benjamin, Marqise Lee and Cody Latimer.
  • Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer answers readers’ questions pertaining to the Panthers and the draft. Jones lists offensive tackle as the team’s biggest need, followed by cornerback and defensive end. He also says that quarterback isn’t really an option following the Panthers’ signings of Derek Anderson and Joe Webb.
  • USC tight end Xavier Grimble met with the Panthers and Falcons, reports Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The projected mid-round pick struggled through a shoulder injury this past season.

PFR Originals: 4/13/14 – 4/20/14

April 20th, 2014 at 9:16am CST by Ben Levine

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

AFC Draft Notes: Pats, Broncos, Browns, Ravens

April 20th, 2014 at 8:55am CST by Ben Levine

It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the Patriots to select a center in the first round, opines ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss. While the Pats may be passing over more talented prospects, it’s likely that top center prospects like Marcus Martin or Weston Richburg won’t be around for the Pats’ second pick. Additionally, we’ve seen examples in recent history that suggest that slightly reaching for a center isn’t a bad decision. Reiss refers to last year’s number-31 pick, Travis Frederick, as well as Tyron Smith and Alex Mack.

Let’s take a look at some more draft notes from around the AFC…

  • It wouldn’t be in the Broncos best interest to trade out of the first round, writes Mike Klis of The Denver Post. Klis points to the extra year of contract flexibility the team possesses with their first pick as opposed to a later pick. This played out this offseason, when Eric Decker (who was selected two rounds later than former teammate Demaryius Thomas) received his payday a season earlier.
  • It wouldn’t be shocking if the Browns select two quarterbacks in the draft, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com mentions in a mailbag. Grossi lists Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel as potential first-round targets.
  • The Ravens met with wide receiver Martavis Bryant as the combine, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The former Clemson standout caught 42 passes for 828 yards in 2013.

Draft Notes: Landry, Reilly, Thomas, Hoffman

April 19th, 2014 at 10:04pm CST by Peter Sowards

With 18 days until the 2014 NFL Draft kicks off at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, draft-eligible prospects are flying all over the country to meet with teams, and vice-versa. Here are the latest notes and rumors with regard to the upcoming NFL Players Selection Meeting, as it is officially called:

  • LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry will visit the Jets and Falcons this week, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Landry has previously worked out for the Patriots, Panthers and 49ers.
  • The Jaguars and Panthers have met with Utah outside linebacker Trevor Reilly, writes Aaron Wilson of National Football Post. Reilly, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, underwent knee surgery in January but healed up well enough to run a 4.66 second 40-yard dash at his pro day March 19.
  • Rich Tander of CSN Washington looks at the potential fit between the Redskins and Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas.
  • Finding starters every spring in the NFL Draft is the key for teams hoping to be competitive each season, writes Mark Kaboly of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  • A scouting report of BYU wide receiver Cody Hoffman and his potential fit with the Bears, by the staff at CSN Chicago.
  • A poll by the Minneapolis Star Tribune asking which quarterback is the best in the NFL draft.
  • Looking at size, accuracy, arm strength, mobility, decision making, leadership, level of competition and experience, Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union breaks down Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr.
  • Also by the Times-Union, a mock draft of the first two rounds.

AFC Notes: Beckham, Dolphins, Chiefs

April 19th, 2014 at 8:45pm CST by Peter Sowards

A source confirmed to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald today that the Dolphins will host LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham, using one one of the team’s 30 allotted non-local visits.

Beckham caught 59 passes for 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013 for the Tigers and is projected as a first-round pick.

Does Beckham’s visit mean Miami is souring on Mike Wallace just one year into his contract? That’s the logic argued by Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, noting that Wallace wasn’t signed by current GM Dennis Hickey and that Hickey “probably” doesn’t have any intentions with Wallace beyond this season. Or, the Dolphins are just doing their due diligence and trying to find out as much about as many worthy draft-eligible prospects as possible.

More news and notes from the American Football Conference…

  • A position-by-position look at the Chiefs‘ cap situation by Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star, as well as each player’s base salary, cap number, Pro Football Focus grade and contract expiration date.
  • The Chiefs may need to be prepared to draft a quarterback with the No. 23 pick, Paylor writes.
  • Four Patriots — Brandon Browner, Rob Gronkowski, Logan Mankins and Jerod Mayo — have an offseason workout bonus of $250K, and the team begins its offseason workouts on Monday, writes Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. 15 players are eligible to receive offseason workout bonuses if they participate in at least 80-90% of the workouts with a total possible payout of $1.74MM.

Vikings Beat Analyzes Draft’s Top QBs

April 19th, 2014 at 7:16pm CST by Peter Sowards

With just two quarterbacks currently under contract, the Minnesota Vikings most likely will come away from the 2014 NFL Draft with at least one new signal caller. Matt Cassel recently signed a two-year deal with the club, and Christian Ponder is under club control for at least one more season, but neither are franchise quarterbacks. In separate pieces for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Matt Vensel and Mark Craig break down the potential fits of the consensus top-three throwers: Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.

Vensel separates his thorough profile of Manziel into sections, analyzing Johnny Football’s dazzling play-making ability, his smallish stature, the rock star persona and other potential choices at the position Minnesota may make. Thanks to Michael Vick and other mobile quarterbacks who have had success in the league, Vensel contends that general manager Rick Spielman will have to reconsider the future of the position, which in the past has relied upon the tall, statuesque passers.

Craig looks in depth at Bortles and Bridgewater, speaking to David Gibbs, the University of Houston defensive coordinator who faced the two quarterbacks in consecutive weeks last season.

“I think they’re both going to be good NFL quarterbacks. How good? I’m not a quarterback guru,” Gibbs said. “But neither one of them is going to be a bust. They’re safe picks. In my opinion, because of the way they’ve been trained and coached, you’re not going to get a Ryan Leaf. You’re not going to get JaMarcus Russell. You’re not going to get a guy who just can’t play.”

Gibbs likes Bortles upside, but said he’s more prone to force a throw, whereas Bridgewater is content to check down on third-and-20 rather then turn the ball over.

For Manziel, Gibbs is reticent to give his full endorsement: “I do see him as a risk. And I don’t know him personally. I’m just watching him. He’s doing all of this stuff in college. What’s he going to do when he gets to pro football? You know the lifestyle changes. He’s saying all the right things now, and he should. He’s smart. But I don’t know about him.”

North Notes: Lions, Haden, Bears

April 19th, 2014 at 5:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a handful of Saturday afternoon updates out of the NFL’s two North divisions….

  • The Lions, who have been eyeing draft prospects likely to be off the board by No. 10, will host another one this week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who says Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack will visit the club. When we asked earlier in the week about the likelihood of the Lions trading up, more than half of you expected the team to do so, though you were split on exactly how far up.
  • According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the upcoming contract negotiations between the Browns and cornerback Joe Haden will be of particular interest to other teams and players around the NFL. If Haden gets less than $12MM per year, it will be harder for players like Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson to make a case for more.
  • Finding a safety next month in the draft looks like the Bears‘ top priority, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. It’s possible that one or both of the top safeties in this year’s class – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor – will still be on the board when Chicago picks 14th overall.

Largest Free Agent Contracts Of 2014

April 19th, 2014 at 4:31pm CST by Luke Adams

No NFL free agent signed a contract this offseason with a larger overall value than Aqib Talib‘s $57MM deal with the Broncos, which would keep the cornerback under contract through 2019 if he played out the entire pact. Of course, the odds of that are extremely slim. Talib’s deal includes just $11.5MM in guaranteed money, about 20% of the total value, so it’s a sort of pay-as-you-go arrangement for the Broncos, who could easily cut bait after a couple seasons without owing Talib anywhere near $57MM.

As Talib’s case exhibits, total overall value isn’t necessarily the best way to evaluate which free agent contracts were the most lucrative signed in a given offseason. But if we combine it with other factors and variables, it can help provide a more complete picture.

So rather than just looking at the 2014 free agent contracts with the largest overall value, let’s break down the deals with the most fully guaranteed money and the highest per-year value as well. With the help of OverTheCap.com’s free agent tracker, here are the top 10 contracts in each category signed by the members of the 2014 free agent class (not including deals signed prior to free agency):

Largest contracts by overall base value:

  1. Aqib Talib (CB, Broncos): $57MM, six years
  2. Jairus Byrd (S, Saints): $54MM, six years
  3. Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $47MM, five years
  4. Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers): $43.75MM, five years
  5. Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $42.5MM, five years
  6. Alex Mack (C, Browns): $42MM, five years
  7. Eugene Monroe (OT, Ravens): $37.5MM, five years
  8. Eric Decker (WR, Jets): $36.25MM, five years
  9. Vontae Davis (CB, Colts): $36MM, four years
  10. (tie) Jared Veldheer (OT, Cardinals), Lamarr Houston (DE, Bears), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB, Giants): $35MM, five years

Largest contracts by per-year average:

  1. Darrelle Revis (CB, Patriots): $16MM
  2. DeMarcus Ware (DE, Broncos): $10MM
  3. Aqib Talib (CB, Broncos): $9.5MM
  4. Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $9.4MM
  5. (tie) Jairus Byrd (S, Saints), Vontae Davis (CB, Colts): $9MM
  6. Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers): $8.75MM
  7. Julius Peppers (DE, Packers): $8.667MM
  8. Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $8.5MM
  9. Alex Mack (C, Browns): $8.4MM
  10. (tie) DeSean Jackson (WR, Redskins), Jared Allen (DE, Bears): $8MM

Largest contracts by fully guaranteed money:

  1. Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $20MM
  2. Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $19.8MM
  3. Eugene Monroe (OT, Ravens): $19MM
  4. Jairus Byrd (S, Saints): $18.3MM
  5. Alex Mack (C, Browns): $18MM
  6. DeMarcus Ware (DE, Broncos): $16.5MM
  7. (tie) Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers), DeSean Jackson (WR, Redskins): $16MM
  8. Jared Allen (DE, Bears): $15.5MM
  9. (tie) Vontae Davis (CB, Colts), Eric Decker (WR, Jets): $15MM
  10. Linval Joseph (DT, Vikings): $12.5MM
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