2014 June - Pro Football Rumors

Reactions To Colin Kaepernick’s Deal

June 4th, 2014 at 7:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the 49ers took care of Colin Kaepernick‘s contract weeks earlier than anyone thought they would. The price tag was also a shock to some. The mobile quarterback can earn up to $21MM per season in the deal thanks to incentives that are said to be rather obtainable. The deal includes $61MM in guaranteed money, making it the largest guarantee in NFL history. Here’s a look at some of the reaction to No. 7’s new deal..

John Clayton of ESPN.com (Twitter link) is unsure if Kaepernick’s lucrative new deal with the 49ers will help or hurt talks for lesser quarterbacks like Alex Smith and Andy Dalton. He adds that the six-year, $126MM deal probably means a $22MM per year deal for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (link).
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap was surprised to hear that Kaepernick got a deal worth a maximum of $21MM per year. Based on the contract history of limited sample size players, like Kaepernick, Fitzgerald believed that the 49ers quarterback was in line for an $18MM per year deal. With the lucrative new deal, the 49ers now find themselves with a tight cap situation, even though the deal reportedly gives the team flexibility to work on a new deal for wide receiver Michael Crabtree and others.
“I’m going to work to try to make sure I’m worth every penny of this, try to win as many games as possible. That’s something I feel I can do,” said Kaepernick of his new deal, writes Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
Kaepernick also told reporters that he won’t let the big bucks affect his motivation, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
It’d be easy for Dalton to pay attention to Kaepernick’s deal, but he’d be better off ignoring it, writes ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey. He’s undoubtedly dreaming of dollar signs, but the Bengals dont’ have any compelling reasons to award him in similar fashion. Dalton wants to get paid like an elite quarterback, meaning $19MM or more per season, but there are legitimate questions as to whether he’d even be worth ~$15MM annually.

49ers Extend Colin Kaepernick Through 2020

June 4th, 2014 at 6:04pm CST by Luke Adams

6:04pm: The deal has a $12MM signing bonus where has most big deals for quarterbacks have bonuses of $24-$40MM, notes Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He adds (link) that Kaepernick specifically requested that his extension allow the club enough flexibility to negotiate extensions with players such as Crabtree. The contract includes obtainable incentives – including some linked to the postseason – that could boost the average annual value to $21MM per year, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

3:22pm: The 49ers have officially confirmed Kaepernick’s extension, making it official (via Twitter).

3:12pm: Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) clarifies that the $61MM figure includes “rolling guarantees.” That means some of the money is likely guaranteed for injury only for now, and will become fully guaranteed if Kaepernick remains on the roster past certain dates.

3:09pm: Kaepernick’s new contract includes $61MM in guaranteed money, making it the largest guarantee in NFL history, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. At this point, that salary information is typically coming from the player’s agent, meaning the number could be a little artificially inflated. As I noted below, we’ll have to wait to see if that $61MM is all fully guaranteed money, or if a portion of it is guaranteed for injury only. Either way, Kaepernick seems to have made out very well for himself in the deal.

2:57pm: The 49ers and Colin Kaepernick have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep the quarterback under team control through the 2020 season, a club source tells Steve Berman of BayAreaSportsGuy.com. The new deal may ultimately eclipse $20MM per year, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, adding that it can be worth up to $126MM, with $60MM in guaranteed money (Twitter links).

We heard yesterday that the Niners and Kaepernick’s representatives resumed contract talks for the quarterback this week, as Kaepernick prepared to enter the final year of his rookie deal. The club had expressed optimism about getting a new agreement in place by the time training camp opened, and after a face-to-face meeting yesterday, it seems the two sides didn’t waste any time hammering out a deal.

Jay Cutler‘s $126MM+ contract, which averages more than $18MM per year, had been the most recent huge-money deal for a starting quarterback, and likely provided a baseline for Kaepernick’s negotiations. Although Cutler has more NFL experience than the Niners signal-caller, and has certainly racked up more impressive yardage and touchdown totals, Kaepernick is several years younger, and already has several postseason victories, including an appearance in the Super Bowl.

A report in March indicated that Kaepernick would be looking to exceed the long-term pacts signed by Cutler and Tony Romo (also $18MM per year), and that he’d be seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $20MM+ annually. We’ll have to wait for the exact figures on the extension’s base value, which figures to be a little smaller than its reported $126MM max value. But even if that $60MM isn’t all fully guaranteed, it seems Kaepernick’s new contract will put him right there with the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks.

In his first full season as the starter in San Francisco, Kaepernick completed 58.4% of his passes in 2013, racking up 3,197 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns against just eight interceptions. He also scored four TDs on the ground. Although the 26-year-old only has 23 career regular-season starts to his name, he has compiled a 4-2 record in playoff contests, falling just short of beating the Ravens to win the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.

With Kaepernick locked up, the 49ers can shift their focus to several other potential extension candidates on the roster. Offensive lineman Alex Boone and tight end Vernon Davis weren’t in attendance at the club’s OTAs, in the hopes of negotiating new deals. The contracts of wide receiver Michael Crabtree and offensive lineman Mike Iupati will also need to be addressed soon.

Meanwhile, several quarterbacks will be keeping a close eye on the details of Kaepernick’s detail as they emerge. Alex Smith, Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles are among the other QBs around the league who could ink extensions of their own within the next year or so.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Orakpo, Hosley, Packers, Ponder

June 4th, 2014 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Although he refuses to hold out, Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo still hopes to get a multiyear contract worked out with the team this summer, as Jason Reid of the Washington Post writes. The two sides have discussed the parameters of a deal, but Orakpo deferred to GM Bruce Allen when asked if there had been progress toward an agreement.

“You’ve got to ask Bruce about that,” Orakpo said. “You’ve got to ask them boys (senior Redskins management) about that. Money talks.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

The suspensions just keep on coming for the Giants, who announced today that cornerback Jayron Hosley will miss the first four games of the season due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. News of Hosley’s suspension comes on the heels of a six-game ban for safety Will Hill, who was subsequently waived by the club. As Paul Schwartz of the New York Post tweets, assuming he doesn’t meet the same fate as Hill and find himself looking for a new team, Hosley’s four-game suspension will cost him about $134K of his $570K salary.
Lori Nickel and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explore whether Packers receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson are both in line for new contract extensions.
Addressing for the first time the Vikings‘ decision not to exercise his fifth-year option, Christian Ponder said he wasn’t surprised at all by the decision, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press details. “It gives me an opportunity,” Ponder said of not having a contract beyond 2014. “It has my options open after the season whether I have leverage to stay here or go somewhere else, whether there’s a better place for me to play.”
Vernon Davis, who is reportedly seeking a new contract, tells Maggie Gray on SI Now that he’s keeping a close eye on Jimmy Graham‘s positional grievance, even though Davis considers himself a tight end and not a receiver. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has the quotes from the 49ers tight end.
New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford isn’t saying much about what his plan will be for this upcoming season, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. One thing Tedford did tip, however, is that he’s a fan of a running back by committee approach.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post passes along Reed Doughty‘s Instagram farewell message to the Redskins and their fans, suggesting the unrestricted free agent won’t be re-signing with the team.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Panthers Sign Kelvin Benjamin, Trai Turner

June 4th, 2014 at 4:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers have become the 11th team in the NFL to lock up their entire 2014 draft class, announcing today (via Twitter) that first-round receiver Kelvin Benjamin and third-round guard Trai Turner have signed their rookie contracts. The club had previously locked up second-rounder Kony Ealy and its three other late-round draftees.

As the 28th overall pick in the draft, Benjamin is in line for a signing bonus worth $3.894MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. Benjamin, a former Florida State standout, will also have a fifth-year option on his deal which the team can exercise for the 2018 season. As for Turner, per Fitzgerald’s numbers, his signing bonus is a more modest $540K, with an overall four-year value of about $2.796MM on this deal.

As I noted this morning, coming into today, only 52 draft picks remained unsigned. With Benjamin and Turner now under contract, only 50 more still need to put pen to paper. You can follow the progress with our tracker.

Patriots Sign James Anderson

June 4th, 2014 at 4:26pm CST by Luke Adams

The Patriots have signed former Carolina and Chicago linebacker James Anderson to a contract, according to Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter). To clear a spot on the roster for Anderson, the team has parted ways with wide receiver Mark Harrison.

Anderson, 30, was one of the more notable veteran linebackers still on the market, having started all 16 games last season for the Bears. While Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required) ranked Anderson 33rd out of 35 qualified 4-3 outside linebackers, his poor grade was due in large part to subpar performance against the run — he was one of the league’s more effective linebackers in pass coverage. The former third-round pick also accumulated 102 tackles and four quarterback sacks.

Because he’s being signed after June 1, Anderson is no longer linked to the compensatory draft pick formula that determines which teams are rewarded with extra 2015 picks for losing more free agents than they signed. The veteran linebacker had worked out for the Pats last month, so the club may have been biding its time until June to officially lock him up.

Bills Sign Sammy Watkins

June 4th, 2014 at 4:13pm CST by Luke Adams

JUNE 4: Watkins’ initial agreement with the Bills was disapproved due to a minor language error that needed to be changed, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, who says the deal has been fixed and resubmitted (Twitter links).

MAY 28: Fourth overall pick Sammy Watkins has signed his rookie contract with the Bills, the team announced today (via Twitter). It makes Watkins the highest-drafted player so far to officially ink his deal, surpassing No. 5 overall selection Khalil Mack, who signed with the Raiders earlier this month.

Watkins, a Clemson product who was considered the draft’s top wide receiver, went to Buffalo after the club traded its 2015 first-rounder, among other picks, in order to move up from No. 9 to snag him. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the newest Bill is in line for a signing bonus worth about $12.819, with an overall base value of just under $20MM on his four-year contract. The deal will also include a fifth-year team option for 2018.

While there had been some speculation that the Bills’ decision to trade up for Watkins was influenced by the team’s uncertain ownership situation, CEO Russ Brandon shot down that idea earlier in the week. “That was a football decision, and it wasn’t tied to the future of the organization,” Brandon said of the trade up for Watkins. “It is business as usual. We’re making football decisions, no matter what. … It has not one iota of an impact on who the future owner may be.”

With Watkins locked up, fifth-round guard Cyril Richardson is the only Bills draftee who remains unsigned.

Steelers, Raiders Show Interest In Finley

June 4th, 2014 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reported that “a good half-dozen teams” are quietly pursuing Jermichael Finley, and now Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds two clubs to the list of potential suitors for the free agent tight end. According to Rapoport, the Steelers and Raiders have also shown some interest in Finley.

The link to the Steelers makes sense, since it was Pittsburgh’s team doctor, Dr. Joseph Maroon, who performed Finley’s surgery and gave him full medical clearance last week. While Rapoport suggests Finley has visited the Steelers, it was actually just Dr. Maroon that he visited, as the NFL.com scribe clarifies in a tweet. The Patriots also hosted Finley last Friday in order to evaluate his health.

Besides the Patriots, Steelers, and Raiders, Green Bay has also exhibited some interest in bringing back their former tight end, though the Packers’ standards for medical clearance are believed to be stricter than those of many other teams. The Seahawks also hosted Finley for a visit earlier in free agency, but they’re reportedly out of the running for the tight end at this point.

Allen Barbre, Eagles Agree To Extension

June 4th, 2014 at 1:29pm CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 1:29pm: Barbre will receive a modest $600K signing bonus to go along with annual base salaries of $1.25MM in each of the three new years on his extension, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). Since the bonus will be prorated over four seasons, including 2014, that should mean annual cap hits of $1.4MM over the course of the extension. Of course, those could be slightly higher if there are any additional bonuses or incentives in the contract.

TUESDAY, 2:47pm: The Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year extension for offensive lineman Allen Barbre, the team announced today (via Twitter). Barbre’s previous contract had just one year remaining, so the new deal will keep him under team control through the 2017 season.

While Barbre is currently penciled in as a backup on the Eagles’ offensive line, he performed well when pressed into action last season. He appeared in 89 overall offensive snaps, including 52 at left tackle in a Week 10 game against the Packers. Philadelphia has one of the top lines in the league, and recently extended mainstays like Jason Peters and Jason Kelce. Still, Barbre heads into the season as the club’s primary backup at guard, where Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans are both in their early-30s. If one of those players – or another lineman – goes down with an injury, Barbre looks like a good bet to be the first reserve off the bench.

In a statement, head coach Chip Kelly praised Barbre’s versatility, noting that his ability to play on the inside and outside of the line makes him a valuable player for the Eagles (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer).

Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known.

AFC Notes: Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Williams

June 4th, 2014 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on a few of the latest notes from around the AFC, including a pair of teams making minor transactions….

After waiving a pair of players yesterday, the Colts have filled those roster spots by signing two players today. Cornerback Johnny Adams and center FN Lutz have signed with the team, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter). Adams spent some time with the Bills and Raiders in 2013, while Lutz went undrafted this year out of Indiana State.
The Steelers swapped one wide receiver for another, according to PR man Burt Lauten, who tweets that the club has signed California alum C.J. Goodwin and cut Jasper Collins.
Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wonders if the Steelers might look to bring back veteran Brett Keisel. Pittsburgh is quite thin at defensive end and the longtime Steeler could return as a backup and mentor to second-round draft pick Stephon Tuitt. Still, we heard yesterday from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Keisel isn’t currently willing to play for the veteran’s minimum.
In his latest mailbag for the Denver Post, Mike Klis fields several Broncos-related questions from readers, discussing John Elway‘s ability to recruit free agents, the club’s 2014 draft class, and Andre Caldwell‘s role for 2014.
When Tom Pelissero of USA Today suggested to free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams that he views the Patriots as a potential fit for the veteran DT, Williams chuckled. “Well, give them a call,” he said. “Tell them to look me up.” Based on Williams’ comment, it sounds like New England hasn’t been in touch, but he confirmed that at least a couple teams have called and that he continues to weigh his options.

Cardinals Sign Ernie Sims

June 4th, 2014 at 11:47am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 11:47am: Sims’ one-year deal is a minimum salary benefit pact, with $10K in per-game roster bonuses, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). It’ll count for $580K against Arizona’s cap.

TUESDAY, 12:57pm: In the wake of Daryl Washington‘s season-long suspension, the Cardinals have moved quickly to shore up their linebacking corps. According to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter), the team has signed veteran linebacker Ernie Sims to a contract. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic adds (via Twitter) that it’ll be a one-year pact.

For much of his NFL career, which includes stints with the Lions, Eagles, Colts, and Cowboys, Sims has been an outside linebacker, but he spent some time playing on the inside during his last two seasons in Dallas. The 29-year-old, who visited the Cardinals last week, likely won’t be tasked with assuming Washington’s starting role, but will compete for playing time and should provide some depth at the inside linebacker position.

With Washington expected to miss the entire 2014 season and Karlos Dansby having departed in free agency, Kevin Minter appears likely to slip into one of the two starting ILB spots in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme. Free agent signee Larry Foote may have the inside track on the other spot.

In 12 games (six starts) for the Cowboys last season, Sims contributed 42 tackles and a forced fumble. However, his Pro Football Focus grades were significantly below average, due in large part to subpar run defense (subscription required).