AFC Notes: Colts, Raiders, Chiefs, Draft
Colts GM Ryan Grigson is keeping his options open at center, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. The Colts released last season’s starting center, Samson Satele, in March and Phil Costa suddenly retired last month, leaving Khaled Holmes, the likely starter, and Thomas Austin as the centers on the roster. Guard Donald Thomas, who was signed a year ago, can also play some center but has question marks after suffering a torn tendon in his quad and a torn bicep last season.
Here are a few more Friday evening items from around the AFC:
- The Raiders haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver in eight seasons, so it only makes sense for Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com to run down the most intriguing wide receiver options for the club in the upcoming draft. The list starts with (who else?) Sammy Watkins, but also highlights Mississippi’s Donte Moncrief, Penn State’s Allen Robinson, Indiana’s Cody Latimer, Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin, and Fresno State’s Davante Adams as solid options outside of the first round.
- Count the Chiefs as a sleeper team to potentially draft a quarterback in the first three rounds next week, tweets Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. Of course, unless Kansas City makes a trade, the club won’t have a second-round pick.
- Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter) gets the sense that the Chiefs will focus on offensive lineman, cornerbacks, wide receivers, and outside linebackers in the first round. However, studs who fall at other positions like tight end and – as Mortensen suggests – quarterback could be in play.
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that Nebraska wide receiver Quincy Enunwa visited the Raiders and Steelers, and also writes that Stony Brook wideout Malcolm Eugene worked out for the Raiders, Colts, and Jets.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Texans Owner Talks No. 1 Pick, QBs, Clowney
Texans GM Rick Smith hasn’t been overly forthcoming when discussing his team’s approach to the first overall pick in next week’s draft, though it sounds as if he and his staff at least have a specific target in mind if the club doesn’t trade down. Owner Bob McNair divulged a few more details in a conversation with Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, providing a couple interesting quotes on the top quarterbacks in this year’s class and on Jadeveon Clowney, who McNair calls “obviously the best player” available.
Let’s dive in and check out a few of McNair’s more noteworthy comments….
On what the team will do with the first overall pick:
“Really at this point we don’t know and we really won’t know until right up at the time we have to make a decision because people are talking to us about the possibility of trading down and it’s a question of what people offer, whether their offer is such that it’s worthwhile to trade down.”
On trading down from No. 1:
“If somebody wants you to drop down and they give you two or three more picks that would let you get two or three more quality players, are you a stronger team dropping down a little bit, getting these additional picks and getting more depth? …. I think that we’re going to greatly strengthen our team as a result of the draft. We’ve got 11 picks now in the draft and it’s a deep draft. So we’re going to get some good players regardless as to what we do. If we trade down and pick up two or three more players, we’d have 13 or 14 [picks]. So you’re going to see some significant strengthening of our team as a result of this draft.”
On the top quarterback prospects:
“You got three quarterbacks and all of them have some holes in their resumé…. You drop down and there’s another group close behind [the top three], not exactly where they are, and maybe one of those quarterbacks will become better than one of these other three…. There are no slam dunks. There are no Andrew Lucks out there, no Peyton Mannings. If there were it would be an easy decision, but that’s not the case.”
On Clowney:
“He’s obviously the best player in the draft, but he’s a defensive end. He’s not a quarterback. If he’s a quarterback and the best player it’s easy, but that’s not the case. So can that defensive player have a greater impact on the success of your team than one of these quarterbacks? It’s not a sure thing that he is.”
On doing what’s in the best interest of the team:
“We did that in ’06 when public opinion was that we should pick [Reggie] Bush. We said then that we’re going to do what’s in the best interest of the team and ultimately public opinion will recognize that if we’re correct. In ’06 it was easier because you had a top defensive player (Mario Williams) versus a running back and an outstanding running back is not as valuable as an outstanding quarterback. That was I think an easier decision for us and I think we made the right decision. I think it proved out. I think that’s an indication of how we go about doing our business.”
No Offer Sheets For Doug Baldwin, Byron Bell
Today’s afternoon deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets came and went without any news on wide receiver Doug Baldwin or offensive lineman Byron Bell, the only two remaining RFAs. As such, Baldwin should return to Seattle and Bell should return to Carolina for the 2014 season. Baldwin and Bell received $2.187MM tenders from their respective teams, so they can either accept and sign those offers, or try to negotiate longer-term deals.
Offer sheets from prospective suitors needed to be finalized by today in order to give the Seahawks and Panthers five days before the draft to decide whether to match or pass on those offers. If a rival team had signed Baldwin to an offer sheet, for instance, and the Seahawks decided to let him go, they would have been entitled to a 2014 second-round pick from that club as compensation.
I explained restricted free agency in more detail in a PFR Glossary entry this morning.
East Rumors: Giants, Dolphins, Misi, Redskins
The Giants‘ roster is still a work in progress, writes Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. GM Jerry Reese has signed more free agents than anyone else in the NFL, but he says there’s still more heavy lifting to be done.
“We had a lot of work to do in free agency, so we worked hard in free agency, and after that, I actually liked the couple of weeks’ extra time to get ready for the draft,” Reese said. “The draft stands alone. We try to take the best players we can in the draft. In free agency, you try to fill some holes.”
Here’s the latest from the AFC and NFC East:
- The Dolphins hoped to move Koa Misi over to inside linebacker, but Misi now says he doesn’t want to, a source tells Andrew Abramson and Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post. The move could have a ripple effect on Miami’s draft plans. If the Dolphins aren’t confident with Dannell Ellerbe in the middle, that could make it more likely they draft an inside linebacker like Alabama’s C.J. Mosley, or possibly target a linebacker like Wisconsin’s Chris Borland later in the draft.
- James Walker of ESPN.com has the highlights from Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey‘s pre-draft news conference earlier today. When asked if it’s better to have more picks or higher picks in this year’s draft, Hickey said “I always like more picks. I always want more picks.” Hickey went on to say that he’s open to trading up and down next week (Twitter link) and has been in contact with other GMs regarding that.
- John Kelm of ESPN.com looks at Washington State safety Deone Bucannon as a draft candidate for the Redskins. Kelm is high on Bucannon, who figures to be a second round pick and is regarded by some as the fourth-best safety in the draft.
Seahawks Decline Option On James Carpenter
The Seahawks won’t pick up their fifth-year option on offensive lineman James Carpenter, the team announced today. The move had been expected, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reporting last week that the team was leaning against exercising the 2015 option.
Carpenter, 25, struggled with injuries during the first two years of his career, but appeared in all 16 of the Seahawks’ regular-season games in 2013, starting 10 of them. The former 25th overall pick also started at left guard for the club in the conference championship and Super Bowl. Still, Carpenter ranked just 65th out of 81 qualified guards, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required), and his 2015 option would have been worth $7.438MM, so it’s not a surprise that Seattle was reluctant to exercise it.
As our fifth-year option tracker shows, most of the 2015 options decisions have been made in advance of tonight’s deadline. The only unannounced decision that could plausibly still go either way is the Vikings’ call on Christian Ponder, though Minnesota figures to pass on that option.
Seahawks Re-Sign O’Brien Schofield
5:09pm: The Seahawks have officially announced their new deal with Schofield, along with their signing of A.J. Jefferson, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
12:52pm: The Seahawks will be bringing back another member of the defense that helped them win a Super Bowl three months ago, according to a tweet from O’Brien Schofield. “Hey 12th man, I’m coming back home one more year,” O’Brien announced on Twitter, suggesting that a deal to return to Seattle is in place.
Schofield, 27, reached an agreement with the Giants on a two-year contract worth a reported $8MM right after free agency opened, but the deal fell apart when he took a physical. Considering most free agents who have signed in the last few weeks are receiving minimum salary contracts, it’s unlikely that Schofield will come anywhere close to a base value of $8MM on his new deal. However, he reportedly passed a physical during an April visit with the Titans, so his health should no longer be a significant concern.
In 2013, Schofield appeared in 171 total defensive snaps, including 22 in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory. As a reserve defensive end and outside linebacker, the former fourth-round pick logged nine tackles and a sack.
Minor Moves: Titans, Bengals, Jags, Dolphins
Here are Friday’s minor transactions, covering signings and cuts of lesser-known and lesser-used players, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the evening:
- Wide receiver Brian Robiskie, who we heard yesterday was participating in the Titans‘ minicamp on a tryout basis, has agreed to sign with the team, tweets Paul Duharsky of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year deal for the 26-year-old, who has spent time with the Browns, Jaguars, Lions, and Falcons since being drafted 36th overall in 2009.
- The Bengals announced that they have waived quarterback Zac Robinson, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter). The signal-caller, originally drafted in the seventh round in 2010 by the Patriots, was cut with a failed physical designation. Robinson has been on and off the Bengals’ practice squad since 2011. The move leaves the Bengals with Andy Dalton, Jason Campbell, and Josh Johnson on their QB depth chart.
- The Jaguars announced that they have cut guard Stephane Milhim and tight end Danny Noble, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter).
- The Dolphins have waived offensive lineman Jason Weaver with a non-football injury designation, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Seahawks Sign A.J. Jefferson
After locking up a piece of their 2013 defense earlier today by agreeing to terms with O’Brien Schofield, the Seahawks have added another defensive player in free agency. Agent Ken Sarnoff tweets that Seattle has signed free agent defensive back A.J. Jefferson, who spent the last two seasons with the Vikings.
Jefferson, 26, was a part-time starter in 2011 at cornerback for the Cardinals, and started a few more games in 2012 for the Vikings. However, he played a reduced role in Minnesota last season, appearing in just 51 defensive snaps before he was arrested on domestic assault charges in November and was subsequently cut by the club. For Seattle, Jefferson will attempt to earn a reserve role behind a ground of standout defensive backs that include Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it figures to be a minimum salary pact for Jefferson. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com first reported last week that the free agent DB was working out for Seattle.
49ers Exercise Option On Aldon Smith
The 49ers announced (via Twitter) that they have exercised the fifth-year option on Aldon Smith. The deadline for exercising the fifth-year options on players in the 2011 draft is tonight but San Francisco won’t take this one to the wire. As shown in PFR’s fifth-year option tracker, Smith will earn $9.754MM in 2015 – the same salary that he would have earned with the 2014 transition tag.
Of course, there was a great deal of debate both within the 49ers’ front office and from observers on the outside over whether the option should have been exercised. Last month, Smith was detained at Los Angeles International Airport following an incident where he allegedly falsely indicated that he possessed a bomb. The incident was especially disturbing since it wasn’t Smith’s first off-the-field issue. The 24-year-old missed five games last season while spending time in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
The 49ers hoped to know the results of Smith’s legal issues before this deadline but the hearing continuance made it impossible, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Smith met with 49ers GM Trent Baalke earlier today and informed the rest of the front office that the pow-wow went well, according to Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News (on Twitter). It’s conceivable that Baalke & Co. might have turned down the option if the meeting Smith did not go well, but that’s only speculation at this point.
Baalke may have tipped his hand last week when he told reporters that he hoped Smith would be with the team in “2016 and 2017 and 2018.” While Smith’s troubles have certainly given the SF front office pause, the talent of the outside linebacker was obviously too strong for the team to part with. In 2012, Smith made his debut as a starter and racked up 19.5 sacks and 49 tackles. Last season, in eleven games (eight starts), Smith registered 34 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Draft Updates: WRs, Martin, Gilbert, Savage
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to make a minor change to the CBA related to rookie contracts, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, once a player is drafted, he will automatically be deemed to have received a four-year contract offer worth the minimum salary. Previously, clubs were required to submit written notice of that tender offer before or immediately after the draft, so the change will remove a simple piece of bookkeeping, simplifying the draft process.
Here are a few more draft-related items, with less than a week remaining until the first round gets underway:
- In a separate PFT piece, Florio reads between the lines of recent comments by the Browns‘ and Raiders‘ general managers, and suggests that perhaps those teams are trying to push another club to jump up ahead of them to grab a wide receiver like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans.
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com isn’t so sure there will be a big run on wide receivers in the first round, tweeting that he has heard from many teams that intend to wait until the second or third to snag a wideout.
- USC center Marcus Martin has been added to the list of players attending the draft next week, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today, noting that Martin worked out for the Saints this week.
- Within a profile of SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert, Pelissero adds the Bengals, Panthers, and Buccaneers to the list of clubs who had Gilbert in for a pre-draft visit.
- Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage has been one of the draft’s notable risers in recent weeks, so Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com explores why that has been the case.
- More than ever, NFL franchises are investing time and effort into making sure they identify potential character flaws that could dissuade them from drafting a prospect, as Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report details. Teams’ approaches include everything from psychological testing to combing through all of a player’s tweets.
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post has a few updates on prospects, writing that N.C. State tight end Asa Watson (Ben Watson‘s brother) has visited the Giants, and tweeting that a couple of NFL head coaches have called Old Dominion offensive lineman Jack Lowney within the last few days. Wilson also reports that Rutgers wide receiver Quron Pratt visited the Patriots and Dolphins and worked out for the Jets and Giants.
- The Jets worked out Adams State kicker David Van Voris today, according to Wilson (via Twitter).