Vikings Stuck With Sharrif Floyd For 2017?
The Vikings, in theory, have a big decision to make when it comes to Sharrif Floyd. By March 9th, Minnesota must decide whether to keep Floyd at a base salary of $6.8MM or release him, per the terms of his fifth-year rookie contract option. However, the option is guaranteed for injury and Floyd has still not fully recovered from his left knee injury, according to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. 
[RELATED: Vikings Interested In Latavius Murray]
Floyd, 26 in May, went down in the Vikings’ 2016 season opener and never returned to action. Since joining the team as a first-round pick in 2013, he has appeared in 44 games with 24 starts, missing two games in 2014, three games in 2015, and just about every game in 2016. The Vikings would probably like to get out of their obligation to Floyd, but recent comments by GM Rick Spielman indicated that the team has accepted the inevitable: he probably won’t get the greenlight from doctors and the Vikings will remain on the hook for his salary.
It remains to be seen when/if Floyd will be cleared for football activities.
Johnny Manziel Drawing Real NFL Interest
After a Josh Gordon update on Wednesday morning, it’s only fitting that we get some Johnny Manziel news. The former Browns quarterback has re-hired agent Erik Burkhardt and is drawing “real interest” from teams at the Draft Combine, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter links). 
[RELATED: Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement]
Last month, there was word that Manziel worked out for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the CFL, though the team strongly denied the report. A CFL stop would make sense for Manziel given his off-the-field issues and overall rust, but it sounds like some teams might be willing to kick the tires on the former A&M star.
Apparently, Manziel has made “serious commitments” to Burkhardt, which led to the two reuniting. As you may recall, Manziel went through multiple agents within a two month span last year. Power agent Drew Rosenhaus cut ties with Manziel when he was unable to get his substance issues under control.
In January, Manziel declared that he is sober and focusing on his comeback. Furthermore, he is reportedly willing to subject himself to drug testing to prove to a team that he is serious. Of course, if any team signs him, the league will force Manziel to take frequent drug tests anyway.
NFL Sets Salary Cap At $167MM
The league has set the salary cap at $167MM for the coming year, according to Judy Battista of NFL Network (on Twitter). That marks a $12MM+ bump over last year’s cap figure of $155.27MM. Here is the year-by-year breakdown of the cap, going back to 2013:
- 2013: $123MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.28MM
- 2016: $155.27MM
- 2017: ~$167MM
The $167MM figure falls in line with the most recent estimates we heard, which pegged the cap to be somewhere between $166MM-$169MM. Starting on March 9th, teams will be able to put this extra cash to use in free agency and we should see monster deals for the top players on the open market. The Browns will lead all teams in cap space with $102MM+ in room to spend.
We’ve come a long way in the last twenty years. In 1997, the salary cap was set at $41.5MM. In 1994, the first year of the salary cap, the number limit was just $34.6MM.
No Tag For Dontari Poe, Brandon Williams
It sounds like two big-time defensive tackles have avoided the franchise tag. The Chiefs are not expected to tag Dontari Poe and the same goes for the Ravens and Brandon Williams, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Now that Kawann Short has been franchised, Williams and Poe stand as our Nos. 3 and 4 available defensive tackles, respectively. Calais Campbell might be a better player than both of them right now, but we’re expecting the duo to outearn the Cardinals veteran based on age. Poe will turn 27 in August while Williams just turned 28.
After inking Eric Berry to a lucrative long-term contract on Tuesday, some believed the Chiefs would apply the franchise tag to Poe. However, it sounds like the Chiefs feel the potential one-year, $13.468MM deal is too pricey for the former first-round pick.
As good as Williams is, he never really seemed to be a candidate for the franchise tag. The Ravens will presumably work to re-sign the defensive tackle, but any deal would be at a lower average annual value than the one-year tag.
Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is applying today (Wednesday) for reinstatement, business manager Michael Johnson tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Gordon has not played since 2014. 
“Josh is living with me and is in the best place mentally that he has been in dating back years before entering the NFL,” Johnson told Schefter (Facebook link). “He has taken the proper steps to treat his issues and has followed a very strict protocol that the league and our team here has laid out for him. He’s also in the best shape of his life and feels even better than he did when he had his breakout year in 2013. This will be a special year for Josh and we are all very proud of the way he has taken the necessary steps to turn his life around.”
When he’s been on the field, Gordon has performed like one of the very best wide receivers in the NFL. In 2013, his last full season, he totaled 87 receptions, a league-leading 1,646 yards, and nine touchdowns in 14 games. In 32 career games, he has racked up 161 catches, 17.1 yards per reception, and 14 touchdowns.
The Browns control Gordon’s rights through at least 2017, but it was reported last fall that they plan to move on from him. He was working to return to the NFL in 2016 but wound up checking into rehab in late September after a “slip up.” Before that point, the Browns were shopping Gordon with the hope of netting a high draft choice.
Bills’ Kyle Williams To Return In 2017
The Bills announced that defensive tackle Kyle Williams will return next season. Presumably, that means Williams has confirmed he will not retire this offseason, nor will the Bills release him to save money against the cap. 
[RELATED: Drew Rosenhaus Expects Bills To Keep LeSean McCoy]
Williams, 34 in June, has spent his entire career in Buffalo. He’s slated to carry a $8.3MM cap number this season, but it’s not immediately clear whether the two sides have an agreement in place to re-work that number. Last year, Williams accepted a pay cut which trimmed his base salary from $6MM to $4.25MM, reducing his cap charge from $8MM to $6.25MM.
Williams missed more than half of the 2015 season, but last year he appeared in 15 regular season games. With 64 total tackles and five sacks in 2016, Williams earned his fifth career Pro Bowl selection.
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Pats Not Expected To Trade Jimmy Garoppolo
The Patriots are not expected to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). If the Patriots stick to their guns, Garoppolo will play out 2017 as Tom Brady‘s backup before being eligible for free agency.
A number of teams were expected to show interest in the young QB, including the Browns. With a stockpile of picks and plenty of cap room, Cleveland was reportedly angling to trade for Garoppolo and quickly get to work on an extension for him. The 49ers were also interested, though at last check they had Kirk Cousins as their No. 1 target.
Taking Garoppolo off of the market will have a ripple effect across the NFL. The Browns will now be forced to look at other options, which could push them to pursue Cousins more heavily via trade and potentially take away the 49ers’ Plan A. That ripple effect will also impact the Jets, who are on the hunt for less glamorous options. The stock of Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, and other draft QBs could increase and the same could be said for Bengals trade chip A.J. McCarron.