HEADLINES

Month: March 2017

Michigan’s Jake Butt Ahead Of Schedule

March 24th, 2017 at 10:32am CST by Zachary Links

Michigan tight end Jake Butt says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab efforts and could be ready to play again by mid-July (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Andrew Groover). Butt suffered a torn ACL during the Orange Bowl in December, so a July return to football activities would mark a much quicker turnaround than expected. Jake Butt

Early mock drafts had Butt going late in the first round or early in the second round. After the injury, however, it became difficult to gauge his stock. If he can truly take the field in the summer and be ready to play in Week 1, it’s conceivable that he could be in play at the backend of the first round. Of course, teams will want to take a close look at his scans to determine whether this timetable is legit or just wishful thinking on the part of Butt.

O.J. Howard of Alabama is pretty much universally considered to be the best tight end in this year’s draft. After him, Miami’s David Njoku, Ole Miss’ Evan Engram, and South Alabama’s Gerald Everett are considered to be among the best tight ends in this year’s class.

Redskins To Sign WR Brian Quick

March 24th, 2017 at 9:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins have agreed to terms with wide receiver Brian Quick, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Heading into today, we had Quick ranked as the second-best wide receiver left on the board, behind only Victor Cruz. Brian Quick (vertical)

Quick quietly had 44 catches for 564 yards and three touchdowns with the Rams last year, no small feat given the team’s offensive struggles. He’s now the second free agent wide receiver to join up with the Redskins this month, following Terrelle Pryor. Quick will have to fight for his targets amidst a depth chart that also features Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson.

The Quick deal gives the Redskins seven wide receivers under contract. Ryan Grant, Maurice Harris, and Reggie Diggs could find themselves on the bubble this summer.

Teams looking for wide receiver help can still find a handful of notable names left on the open market. Anquan Boldin, Vincent Jackson, Andrew Hawkins, Stevie Johnson, and Marquess Wilson are among those still looking for jobs.

Vikings, Brian Robison Agree To Extension

March 24th, 2017 at 8:35am CST by Zachary Links

Defensive end Brian Robison has agreed to a contract extension with the Vikings, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. In essence, it all amounts to a pay cut. Brian Robison (vertical)

Robison was previously slated to make up to $5.6MM for 2017, with no guaranteed money. Now, he’ll see his base salary go from a non-guaranteed $5.3MM to a fully guaranteed $3.9MM. He can add $100K through a workout bonus, but he forfeits $200K in per-game roster bonuses.

Then, in his additional year (2018), he’ll get a base salary of $3.2MM with $1.25MM guaranteed. He can also add $200K in per-game roster bonuses and $100K through a workout bonus. The overall two-year deal has a $7.5MM base value with $5.15MM guaranteed. Robison has effectively consented to a $1.4MM pay cut in 2017 to add an extra year to his pact.

Robison, 34 in April, had 28 total tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2016. Even at his age, Robison has shown to be both effective and durable. He has averaged 7.0 sacks per season since 2011 and appeared in all but one regular season game for the Vikings during that time. The new deal could allow the lifetime member of the Vikings to retire in purple. Then again, as he continues to rack up sacks, Robison might want to continue playing beyond 2018.

Panthers Extend RB Jonathan Stewart

March 24th, 2017 at 8:20am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers signed running back Jonathan Stewart to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Friday morning. Stewart is now under contract through the 2018 season. "<strong

Stewart, 30, would be the Panthers’ starting running back if the season started today. When all is said and done, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds himself in a timeshare with a rookie tailback. The Panthers have the No. 8 overall pick and they should have the opportunity to land a top running back like LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, or Florida State’s Dalvin Cook.

Last year, Stewart had 824 yards off of 218 carries, giving him a less-than-impressive 3.8 yards per carry average He did, however, find the end zone nine times. He also added eight catches for 60 yards.

The Panthers re-signed running back Fozzy Whittaker earlier this month and they’ll also have Cameron Artis-Payne returning for another season.

NFC Notes: Rams, Eagles, Cards, Saints

March 23rd, 2017 at 10:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Connor Barwin‘s decision to sign with the Rams last week came thanks in part to the presence of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the edge rusher told the Associated Press. “Wade did a lot for me in the two years I was with Houston,” said Barwin, who played under Phillips as a Texan from 2011-12. “He taught me so much about being a pro, enjoying being around the game every single day, and he really elevated my game as a pass rusher.” Barwin only hit free agency in the first place because the Eagles released him, which came after he rejected a pay cut. While the 30-year-old said in December he’d be open to reducing his $7.5MM salary for 2017 to remain with the Eagles, their offer was “far below” what he thought he’d get on the market, per the AP. Ultimately, the Rams gave Barwin a one-year deal worth a max of $6.5MM.

More from the NFC:

  • Cardinals general manager Steve Keim likes North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, according to the Arizona Republic’s Dan Bickley, who writes that the executive is facing a dilemma entering the draft. The Cardinals need a long-term answer under center, meaning choosing Trubisky or another signal-caller with the 13th overall pick is a possibility. However, using a first-rounder on a player who won’t help in 2017 isn’t going to benefit a team whose window could be closing as starting QB Carson Palmer, top wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and head coach Bruce Arians near the end of the line. At the same time, though, Keim doesn’t want to be left without a potential successor to the soon-to-be 38-year-old Palmer if he retires after next season. That might end up being the case if Keim doesn’t grab a quarterback in the early rounds.
  • The Eagles have picked up two established receivers in Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith this offseason, but Paul Domowitch of Philly.com could still envision the team selecting a wideout in Round 1 of the draft. Jeffery and Smith might not be Eagles beyond next season, for one, while Jordan Matthews is on track to hit free agency next March. So, while Philadelphia’s receiving corps looks like a strength right now, it lacks long-term certainty.
  • The Saints converted left tackle Terron Armstead‘s $5MM roster bonus to a signing bonus, thereby creating $4MM in cap room for 2017, reports Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). The move doesn’t come without a penalty, though, as the Saints will add $1MM in cap charges in each season from from 2018-21 – the final four years of Armstead’s contract.
  • Defensive tackle Jordan Hill‘s contract with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit deal worth $775K, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The pact comes with $45K in guarantees, a $40K signing bonus, and another $40K if he makes the Lions’ 53-man roster.

Seahawks To Sign Michael Wilhoite

March 23rd, 2017 at 8:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Seahawks and free agent linebacker Michael Wilhoite have agreed to a contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Michael Wilhoite

Seattle had been on the lookout for linebacker depth before its deal with Wilhoite, having met with him, ex-49ers teammate Gerald Hodges and former Redskin and Steeler Terence Garvin in recent days. The Seahawks were already familiar with Wilhoite prior to free agency, as he spent the first five years of his career with NFC West rival San Francisco. Thus far, the 30-year-old Wilhoite has amassed 65 appearances and 36 starts.

After starting in all 28 of his appearances from 2014-15, Wilhoite took on a lesser role last year. While he did log the third 16-game season of his career and play 58.3 of the 49ers’ special teams snaps, he only started in six contents and saw action in 44.3 percent of defensive snaps. As a defender, Wilhoite picked up 46 tackles, a forced fumble and a half-sack, and ranked as one of Pro Football Focus’ five worst qualified linebackers in overall performance (though he did earn a respectable grade against the pass).

When the Seahawks’ agreement with Wilhoite becomes official, they’ll have added two linebackers this offseason (the special teams-only Arthur Brown was the first). The team has also lost one, as Brock Coyle signed with the 49ers, while longtime Seahawks reserve Mike Morgan remains without a deal. Regardless, with Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright in place, Seattle possesses an elite linebacker corps.

Bears Sign Mark Sanchez

March 23rd, 2017 at 7:49pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bears are finalizing a contract with free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’ll be a one-year deal, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has confirmed the signing via press release.

Mark Sanchez

Sanchez will be the second signal-caller to join the Bears since free agency opened earlier this month, though he’ll come at a much lower cost than expected starter Mike Glennon, who inked a three-year, $45MM deal with $19MM in guarantees. Chicago is the only team that publicly pursued Sanchez, who visited the club Thursday.

At 30 years old, Sanchez has achieved journeyman status since the Jets chose him fifth overall in the 2009 draft. The Bears will be the fifth NFL team for the ex-USC star. He spent the 2016 campaign in Dallas, where he backed up Dak Prescott and completed 10 of 18 passes for 93 yards and two interceptions.

Last season easily represented a career low in playing time for Sanchez, whose on-field action has declined significantly since his Jets tenure. As a member of Gang Green, Sanchez started in all 62 of his appearances in the first four years of his career. With the Eagles and Cowboys over the past three seasons, he picked up just 15 appearances and 10 starts. Sanchez also had a brief stint last year with the Broncos, but they cut him prior to the season.

While Sanchez was part of Jets teams that went to back-to-back AFC championship games in his first two years, their success came as a result of an elite defense and a top-notch running game. Sanchez has been mediocre to below average since entering the league, having thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (86), completed just 56.7 percent of passes and posted a 73.9 quarterback rating. He did draw praise for his behind-the-scenes work with Prescott last year, though, and should give Chicago a passable backup behind Glennon. Of course, it’s not clear if the largely untested Glennon even has the chops to serve as a satisfactory starter.

Draft Rumors: Mahomes, Kizer, Thomas

March 23rd, 2017 at 7:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who could go anywhere from the top of the first round to the second round in this year’s draft, is drawing interest from three teams with aging franchise signal-callers. A Chargers contingent consisting of head coach Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen put Mahomes through a private workout in Lubbock, Texas, last week, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The Bolts have a starting passer in Philip Rivers, but he’ll be 36 in December, so they’ll at least consider taking a QB early. The club is set to pick seventh and 38th in the first two rounds.

New Orleans, meanwhile, has a 38-year-old under center in Drew Brees, meaning there’s more urgency for the club to find its next passer than there is for the Chargers. With that in mind, Saints head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and members of the team’s front office traveled to Lubbock to work out Mahomes on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. “They said every time they see me under center, I look better and better,” Mahomes said of the Saints, who currently own three of the draft’s first 45 selections (Nos. 11, 32 and 42).

The Cardinals, who are led by 37-year-old quarterback Carson Palmer, attended a Mahomes workout on Thursday, relays Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Owner Michael Bidwill and head coach Bruce Arians were on hand for the Cards, who hold the 13th and 45th selections in the opening two rounds.

More of the latest on the upcoming draft:

  • Even though the Bears handed quarterback Mike Glennon a significant contract in free agency, they aren’t necessarily content under center. Evidence: The club is likely to conduct a private workout with Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer next week, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Kizer as the 33rd-best player in this year’s class, which could make him a possibility for the Bears in Round 2 (No. 36).
  • The Panthers had a meeting with Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas on Thursday, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Thomas figures to come off the board quickly and might be gone by the time Carolina’s on the clock at No. 8.
  • The Bills have scheduled a private April workout with Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman, the player told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Earlier this year, one scout informed Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Peterman has a chance to pull a Dak Prescott and go from a mid-round pick to a viable starter as a rookie.
  • A Saints representative had dinner with Utah free safety Marcus Williams on Wednesday, writes Herbie Teope of NOLA.com. Williams is a ballhawk “who will make plays in the passing game, but he needs to improve in run support,” observes Jeremiah, who ranks him as this year’s 47th-best draft-eligible player.

Rams Sign Tyrunn Walker

March 23rd, 2017 at 6:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Rams have signed free agent defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link).

"<strong

Los Angeles will be the third NFL destination for the 27-year-old Walker, who spent the first three seasons of his career in New Orleans and the previous two in Detroit. Walker has totaled 42 appearances, and the majority of his 13 career starts (eight) came last season. Walker tallied 26 tackles and played 34.1 percent of the Lions’ defensive snaps in 2016, and ranked a below-average 77th among Pro Football Focus’ 127 qualified interior D-linemen.

With the Rams, Walker figures to provide established depth to a line in need of it. The Rams entered Thursday with the untested Louis Trinca-Pasat as their top backup to starting nose tackle Michael Brockers. Trinca-Pasat hasn’t played a defensive snap since joining the Rams as an undrafted free agent from Iowa.

AFC Notes: Jets, Bengals, Raiders, Fins, Colts

March 23rd, 2017 at 6:16pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson took to Instagram in an effort to combat a recent report that he’s “terribly out of shape” (via Connor Hughes of NJ.com). “They say I’m fat and out of shape?” Wilkerson said while running on a treadmill. “Haha. Keep sleeping on me. I’m telling you.” It seems the scout who assessed Wilkerson’s conditioning was exaggerating, as photos (links here) the 27-year-old posted on Instagram earlier this month shoot down the idea that he’s in poor shape. Still, though, Wilkerson is coming off a disappointing 2016 – the first season of a five-year, $86MM contract – and could end up a cap casualty as early as next offseason if he doesn’t bounce back. Wilkerson notched 4.5 sacks last year (down from 12 in 2015) and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-worst qualified edge defender (109 qualifiers).

More from the AFC:

  • Bengals cornerback Adam Jones is no longer facing a felony charge over a January confrontation with hotel security guards, police and a nurse, reports Lisa Cornwell of the Associated Press. The felony charge resulted from Jones’ alleged “harassment of a member of the medical staff in the justice center with a bodily substance.” Specifically, Jones was accused of spitting on a nurse at the jail. If found guilty, he could have gone to jail for six to 12 months. Jones is still up against three misdemeanor charges, including assault, and the Bengals aren’t sure if they’re going to retain him.
  • One of Jones’ Bengals teammates, reserve quarterback A.J. McCarron, wouldn’t mind a trade out of Cincinnati. But Andy Dalton‘s backup isn’t going to cause problems if the Bengals don’t deal him to a starter-needy team. On the possibility of once again reporting to camp in a No. 2 role, McCarron told Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer: “It’d be tough at first. Like, because I know I’m having to go through the whole backup process again. But at the same time, that’s my job. I need to be the best backup quarterback in the league and I’m going to go there and work my [butt] off to prove that and show that I am so that they’re proud, as an organization, to sit back and say at practice if they’re watching ‘like man, I’m glad we had that guy as our backup.’ I still want to make everybody proud.” McCarron, though, expects to end up a starter sometime. “Whether it’s this year or when I’m a free agent, I think somebody’s going to take a chance on me to be a starter,” said McCarron, who’s under Bengals control for two more years.
  • Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf reached out to commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday night about continuing the discussion to keep the Raiders, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). There has been no significant progress on that front, however. Despite Schaaf’s efforts, it appears the Raiders’ departure from Oakland is inevitable.
  • Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso‘s three-year extension adds an even $25MM to the $3.91MM he’ll earn in 2017, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The $28.91MM deal includes $16MM in fully guaranteed money for Alonso, who’s now slated to remain with the Dolphins through the 2020 season.
  • Wide receiver Kamar Aiken‘s one-year pact with the Colts is worth $2.6MM – $1.5MM of which is guaranteed – and features up to $600K in per-game roster bonuses, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Load More Posts