2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Browns, Raiders, Steelers

March 26th, 2017 at 7:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

While the Browns are likely to move on from newly acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler before he ever plays a down in Cleveland, head coach Hue Jackson indicated Sunday the 26-year-old will have a chance to compete for the team’s No. 1 job, tweets Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. It’s difficult to take Jackson seriously in this case, however, and Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com senses that he’s uninterested in trying to transform the former Bronco and Texan into a viable starter. As such, the Browns remain on track to jettison Osweiler via trade or release, Cabot writes.

The latest on a couple other AFC teams:

Count Jets owner Woody Johnson among the many around the NFL who are unimpressed with the city of Oakland’s attempt to keep the Raiders. “They didn’t make a valiant effort,” Johnson told Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal (Twitter link). It seems fair to infer from Johnson’s comment that he’ll vote in favor of the Raiders’ relocation bid Monday. The Raiders’ Mark Davis will need 23 yes votes from the league’s other 31 owners to realize his Vegas goal. He’s unlikely to have difficulty garnering approval from his colleagues, two anonymous owners told the Associated Press. “Not only have no hurdles been made clear to us, but there isn’t any opposition to it,” said one. Added the other, “It’s going to happen and the sooner we do it, the better it is for the league and for the Raiders.”
Pittsburgh took a serious run at inside linebacker Dont’a Hightower in free agency before he re-signed with the Patriots, which Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert addressed Sunday. “We made an attempt (to sign Hightower). It didn’t work. We’re fine, we move on,” said Colbert (via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). The Steelers also lost stalwart ILB Lawrence Timmons in free agency, though Colbert insists that they’re “very confident” that Vince Williams is capable of stepping up in the wake of Timmons’ departure. Williams has only started six games since an 11-start rookie campaign in 2013, though, and played just 25.7 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps last season. It “remains to be seen” if the 27-year-old has what it takes to be a three-down player, offered Colbert.
A far more prominent member of the Steelers, running back Le’Veon Bell, is entering a contract year as the team’s franchise player. Long-term negotiations between the two sides will ramp up after the draft, per Rutter. “It will be a very complicated type of deal,” said Colbert, who added that locking up Bell “always has been our goal.” The leaguewide deadline to re-up franchise tag recipients to multiyear pacts is July 15, which will give the Steelers two-plus months to get a deal done with Bell if they take a post-draft approach.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins, Rams

March 26th, 2017 at 6:03pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

General manager John Lynch confirmed Sunday that the 49ers have met with Buccaneers restricted free agent defensive end Jacquies Smith, though they haven’t offered him a contract (via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area). The Niners did have Smith take a physical during his visit, as the 27-year-old missed nearly all of last season with a torn ACL. “We wanted to get him checked out medically, and we’ll see,” said Lynch. If the 49ers do sign Smith to an offer sheet and the Bucs don’t match it, Tampa Bay won’t receive compensation because it only gave the former undrafted free agent an original-round tender.

North Notes: Steelers, Lions, Riddick, Pack

March 26th, 2017 at 4:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a quick spin around the NFL’s two North divisions:

Although the Steelers are proceeding as if veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will return in 2017, the club is still expected to search for a long-term successor in the draft, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. “I think we’ve been in that mindset for the last several years, that’s what this business tells us to be in,” said Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin. “We better start sharpening our sword in terms of evaluation of quarterbacks and what’s available to us or potentially available to us, that’s just due diligence. So yes, we have.” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert also indicated earlier this year that his team would start to look for a Roethlisberger replacement at some point, a course of action PFR suggested when assessing Pittsburgh’s top offseason needs.
Lions running back Theo Riddick had surgery on both wrists near the end of last season, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who adds those operations forced Riddick to be placed on injured reserve in December. Riddick, who still managed 53 receptions in an injury-shortened 2016 campaign, is expected to be available for the beginning of OTAs. Detroit is still expected to upgrade its backfield this offseason, meaning the club could target options either through free agency (where a number of backs are still unsigned) or the draft.
Christine Michael‘s new contract with the Packers is a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal that includes a $25K signing bonus, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thanks to the MSB, Michael will earn $800K but only count for $640K against Green Bay’s cap. Michael, 26, is one of only three running backs currently on the Packers’ roster along with Ty Montgomery and Don Jackson.

Steelers Likely Done Signing Free Agents

March 26th, 2017 at 3:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers weren’t overly active in the free agent market, but the mid-level signings the club did make will likely comprise the entirety of Pittsburgh’s offseason transactions. General manager Kevin Colbert told reporters, including Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link), that the Steelers probably won’t ink any more players during the free agent period.

Pittsburgh mostly focused on internal players over the past month, as it assigned the franchise tag to running back Le’Veon Bell and extended wide receiver Antonio Brown. Additionally, the club re-signed linebackers James Harrison and Steven Johnson, quarterback Landry Jones, and tight end David Johnson. Wideout Justin Hunter, cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, running back Knile Davis, and defensive lineman Tyson Alualu represent the Steelers’ external additions.

One free agent still on the board is backup running back DeAngelo Williams, who remains unsigned more than two weeks into free agency. While Colbert didn’t intimate Williams is in the Steelers’ plans, he said the club won’t close the door on the veteran back until “[they] have to,” tweets Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com. Williams, 34 next month, is PFR’s No. 5 free agent running back.

Because Pittsburgh didn’t do much during free agency, the team’s draft strategy hasn’t been affected by additions, per Colbert (Twitter link via Dulac). PFR pointed to the pass rush and cornerback as areas of need when assessing the Steelers’ potential offseason plans earlier this year.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Floyd, Jets, Bills

March 26th, 2017 at 2:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Now that the Patriots have acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints, fellow pass-catcher Michael Floyd may not be on New England’s radar, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Heading into the offseason, the Patriots reportedly expressed interest in re-signing Floyd, and Floyd himself indicated he’d like to return to the team. But given that he’s pleaded guilty to DUI, Floyd can’t leave the state of Arizona until this summer. By that point, the Patriots (and other clubs) will likely have moved on.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Although he didn’t see the field during his rookie campaign, Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg is expected to get a chance to play in 2017, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. New York’s front office may not view Hackenberg as anything more than long-term backup even after selecting him the second round of last year’s draft, but given that Gang Green doesn’t figure to compete next season, the club might do well to see what it has in Hackenberg. Newly-signed veteran Josh McCown has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, so Hackenberg (and/or fellow quarterback Bryce Petty) may be forced into duty.
Even if Doug Whaley is forced out as the Bills‘ general manager, Panthers director of player personnel Don Gregory is not expected to be a candidate for the position in Buffalo, Vic Carrucci of the Buffalo News tweets. Last week, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tossed out Gregory’s name in relation to a possible Bills vacancy, but the CBS scribe was likely speculating rather than reporting. On paper, Gregory could make sense for the Buffalo position given his ties to Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who was the Panthers’ defensive coordinator from 2011-16.
Under the terms of his new two-year contract, Patriots fullback James Develin can earn $100K for playing 20% of New England’s offensive snaps, and another $100K for playing in 30% of the club’s snaps, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Develin played in 31.3% of New England’s offensive snaps in 2016.

5 Key Stories: 3/19/17 – 3/27/17

March 26th, 2017 at 12:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Viva Las Vegas. The Raiders appear all but certain to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas, as team owner Mark Davis is reportedly “dead set” on moving his club to Sin City. NFL owners are expected to vote on the issue tomorrow, and the Raiders will likely pay a far cheaper relocation fee than either the Ram or Chargers did. Commissioner Roger Goodell and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf have sent each other dueling letters, with Schaaf attempting to lay out the city’s argument for keeping the team and Goodell arguing that no such solution exists.

Saints looking at Johnny Manziel. As New Orleans tries to find a successor to Drew Brees, it’s apparently checking out an unorthodox option, as head coach Sean Payton was seen having breakfast with former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel, of course, flamed out of the league after multiple off-field incidents and ineffective play, but is reportedly making a renewed commitment to sobriety. Reports earlier this month indicated league-wide interest in Manziel, and while the Saints may not sign him at this time, Manziel could make a comeback in the near future.

The Jets find a quarterback. While he’s a not a particularly inspiring option, Josh McCown will give the Jets more stability at the quarterback position than they had in 2016 after agreeing to a one-year, $6MM contract last week. Gang Green has been linked to Jay Cutler and other veteran signal-callers this offseason, but after inking McCown, the club is unlikely to add another experienced option. McCown, 37, has struggled to stay healthy recently, so Bryce Petty and/or Christian Hackenberg could conceivably garner starts in 2017.

Adrian Peterson is still waiting. Although some reports have indicated Adrian Peterson‘s asking price is keeping him on the open market, Peterson himself took to Twitter to say he’s not demanding an $8MM salary and wants to play for a winning club. The Packers have some interest in Peterson, but likely won’t have him in for a visit until the draft is complete, at which point Green Bay can further assess its options in the backfield.

Beast Mode to Oakland? The Raiders are still trying to lure former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, and Lynch is interested in a return, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported it’s the “Raiders or bust” for Lynch, meaning the 30-year-old won’t play for any club besides Oakland. Lynch’s agent claims he hasn’t spoken to his client about a comeback, but didn’t that the itch to play football is still there.

PFR Originals: 3/19/17 – 3/26/17

March 26th, 2017 at 10:46am CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

More than 40 restricted free agents were offered tenders earlier this month, and rival clubs now have until April 21 to sign those RFAs to offer sheets. Center Ryan Groy already inked an offer sheet that was subsequently matched by the Bills, while the Saints are trying to land Patriots RFA Malcolm Butler.
The Spring League will feature some notable names such as Greg Hardy, Ben Tate, and Kellen Winslow when it kicks off next month, and Pro Football Rumors reported that an additional 30 players are scheduled to join the four-team league before its inaugural campaign.
Prior to the Jets signing Josh McCown, Sam Robinson asked PFR readers to rank their favorites for the New York starting quarterback job in 2017. At last check, Jay Cutler held the plurality of votes over McCown, Bryce Petty, and Trevor Siemian, but now that he’s officially under contract, McCown sill likely be under center come Week 1.
Zach Links answered questions from readers in our latest PFR Live Chat.

Roger Goodell Addresses Raiders Relocation

March 26th, 2017 at 9:04am CST by Dallas Robinson

With the hope retaining the Raiders, city of Oakland and mayor Libby Schaaf submitted an updated stadium proposal last week, but commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t particularly impressed with the specifics of the plan, as he detailed in a letter to Schaaf, per David Debolt of the East Bay Times.

“The material that we reviewed earlier today confirms certain information that had previously been communicated orally, such as a willingness to bring bank financing to a stadium project, and a proposed valuation of the land at the Coliseum site,” Goodell wrote to Schaaf. “It also confirms that key issues that we have identified as threshold considerations are simply not resolvable in a reasonable time. In that respect, the information sent today does not present a proposal that is clear and specific, actionable in a reasonable timeframe, and free of major contingencies.”

In other words, Schaaf’s “updated” strategy was not updated at all, but rather a rehashing of the same plan the city had been presenting for some time. Indeed, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reported Friday that Oakland’s new plan “did not move the chains forward,” while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets neither the NFL nor the Raiders have a different view of the situation as a result of Schaaf’s letter.

“Despite all of these efforts, ours and yours, we have not yet identified a viable solution,” Goodell wrote. “It is disappointing to me and our clubs to have come to that conclusion.”

Instead, the Raiders’ intention to relocate to Las Vegas appears all but finalized, and NFL owners are expected to vote Monday on the club’s plan. The Raiders and owner Mark Davis will need to garner 24 votes (out of 32) in order to move to Sin City, at which point they’ll pay a cheaper relocation fee than did the Rams and Chargers to move to Los Angeles. Additionally, the Raiders have secured a record $750MM in public money for a $1.9 billion stadium in Vegas.

Pauline’s Latest: Packers, Vikings, Seahawks

March 25th, 2017 at 10:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Offensive lineman Forrest Lamp is starting to look like a Round 1 lock, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Lamp, a Western Kentucky product, will likely play guard in the NFL after playing tackle in college, but he offers versatility that intrigues clubs, as he could slide to the blindside or even to center if needed. The Packers and Vikings both have interest in Lamp, per Pauline, as do the Seahawks. The Falcons, Panthers, and Titans have all put Lamp through a workout, reports Pauline.

Let’s take a look at the latest on the 2017 draft, all courtesy of Pauline:

Like Lamp, Washington cornerback Kevin King will probably sneak into the back end of Day 1, says Pauline. Not only does King offer size (6’3″, 200 pounds), but he impressed scouts with a 4.43 40-yard dash. Plus, injuries to fellow defensive backs Sidney Jones and Fabian Moreau means other corners, such as King, will see their stock rise as the draft approaches, as supply no longer meets demand. The Buccaneers have worked out King, while the Jets plan to do the same, per Pauline.
Scouts view North Carolina State safety Josh Jones as a top-50 pick, according to Pauline, and a number of clubs have already expressed interest. Jones has worked out for the Jaguars and will meet with the Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins, and Jets. While Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com ranks Jones as just the seventh-best safety on the board, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com places Jones within his top-50 players (No. 48).
The Jaguars have visited with Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis, reports Pauline, and the Eagles, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Cowboys all plan to meet with the edge rusher, as well. Even with that level of interest, Willis will still likely end up being selected at the beginning of the second round rather than at the end of the first, writes Pauline. The Saints have already put Willis through a workout.

Latest On Johnathan Hankins

March 25th, 2017 at 9:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While free agent defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is still searching for a long-term deal on the open market, “optimism has increased” among Giants players who believe Hankins will ultimately re-sign with New York, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Indeed, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post suggest there’s a “good shot” Hankins agrees to a new deal with the Giants.

Hankins, 24, is the best free agent still left on the board — he’s one of only five of PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents left unsigned, and he also ranks as PFR’s best free agent interior defender. Despite that fact, Hankins’ market has been slow to evolve, as the Dolphins are the only external club known to have been in communication with the defensive tackle. Miami, however, is only looking for a rotational lineman to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips.

The Giants, meanwhile, are open to re-upping Hankins, but only at their price, which is rumored to be around $4MM. Hankins, however, is hoping to land a deal in the $10MM range. Big Blue is reportedly pushing for a quick answer from Hankins, who may want to keep hunting for a better offer. Much of the league views Hankins as a two-down player, though, meaning a superior proposal may not exist.