2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

NFC South Rumors: Saints, Butler, Mixon

March 29th, 2017 at 12:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints GM Mickey Loomis tried to play it cool when asked about his team’s pursuit of Patriots restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler (via Larry Holder of The Times Picayune).

“There’s not a lot I can say. We’re kicking the tires I guess,” Loomis said. “That’s the way to describe that. We’ll see how that process works.”

The Saints have presented the corner with a contract offer, but not an offer sheet. The Saints would like to work out a trade with the Patriots in which they can land Butler without forfeiting the No. 11 overall pick, but so far the Patriots are acting as though they will not play ball.

Here’s more on Butler and other news from the NFC South:

Saints coach Sean Payton termed the Butler situation as “an exploratory mission,” (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Payton, from Rapoport’s perspective, seemed to indicate that the team has hit pause on a potential deal.
When asked about the possibility of signing Butler to an offer sheet and giving up the No. 11 overall pick, per the terms of the first-round tender, Payton said, “I know we’re not going to do that.” (Twitter link via Phil Perry of CSNNE.com).
Saints head coach Sean Payton says the team will meet with Joe Mixon during the draft process (Twitter link via Holder). New Orleans previously met with Mixon in early March. This week, we learned that the Patriots and Dolphins have both ruled out the controversial Oklahoma running back.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he’ll be at Leonard Fournette‘s LSU Pro Day and added that no spot is “too high” to take a running back (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Recently, Panthers GM Dave Gettleman indicated that the team’s recent extension for Jonathan Stewart will not preclude the team from taking a running back early on in the draft. The Panthers own the No. 8 overall pick.

Browns VP: We’re Open To Josh Gordon Return

March 29th, 2017 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

We have some conflicting word out of Cleveland regarding Josh Gordon. Last week, it was reported that the Browns will either trade or release Gordon if he is granted reinstatement this year. Publicly, at least, Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown is singing a different tune.

“We’re not in position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel he’s settled himself,” Brown said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi).

When he’s on the field, Gordon is one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. Unfortunately for Cleveland, we haven’t seen him out there since the final six weeks of the 2014 season. The league reinstated Gordon last year, but the 25-year-old (26 in April) went to rehab and did not play in 2016. For now, he is banned indefinitely, but he has applied for reinstatement and his camp is hopeful about a return for 2017.

In 2013, Gordon’s last full season, he had 87 catches, a league-leading 1,646 yards, and nine touchdowns in 14 games. That’s the kind of production Cleveland could use at wide receiver, particularly after losing Terrelle Pryor in free agency. For now, the Browns have free agent pickup Kenny Britt, rising sophomores Corey Coleman and Ricardo Louis, and six others under contract at wide receiver.

Seahawks Discussed Richard Sherman Trade

March 29th, 2017 at 10:10am CST by Zachary Links

A couple of weeks ago, longtime NFL executive Michael Lombardi had everyone buzzing when he suggested the Seahawks could consider trading star cornerback Richard Sherman. It’s not clear if Lombardi had direct first-hand knowledge of the situation or if he was mixing his own opinion with league gossip, but it was enough to get people talking.

Today, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that teams have in fact called about trading for Sherman and the Seahawks have talked about it (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). However, he added that he doesn’t see a deal going down.

Sherman signed a four year, $56MM contract extension with the Seahawks in May of 2014. There are two years to go on the contract and it’s a whopper of a deal, even for a player of his caliber. Sherman is set to carry a $13.6MM cap number this season and $13.2MM in 2018, putting him fourth amongst all cornerbacks in terms of average annual value. It has been said that the cornerback position is not necessarily at the heart of the Seahawks’ defensive scheme, so that money could be applied elsewhere while the team can also fill holes with draft picks received in a trade. Historically, blockbuster trades have been rare in the NFL, but the Patriots, Saints, Browns, and Texans all bucked the trend this offseason.

Sherman, who turns 29 on Thursday, has not missed a single regular season game since entering the league in 2011. The lifelong Seahawk had 58 total tackles and four interceptions last year while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ 13th best cornerback in the league.

Patriots Rule Out Drafting Joe Mixon

March 29th, 2017 at 9:24am CST by Zachary Links

Now we have two teams that reportedly won’t go near Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon. The Patriots will not even consider drafting him, according to a source who spoke with Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald.

Earlier this week, we learned that the Dolphins have also removed Mixon from consideration. Of course, it’s easy to take Mixon off the board when you already have talent at the running back position and that’s the case for both AFC East clubs. The Dolphins have Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake on the depth chart while the Patriots have plenty of depth with free agent pickup Rex Burkhead, James White, Dion Lewis, and DJ Foster.

For other teams looking for an impact player in the backfield, the moral conundrum isn’t quite as easy to sort out. Mixon, despite his red flags and potential for a PR nightmare, is one of the most talented running backs in this year’s class. The Sooners star could be available after Leonard Fournette, D’Onta Foreman, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey are all off the board. In terms of talent, one could argue that he offers higher upside than at least two of those well-regarded backs.

When asked about Mixon this week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft declined to speak specifically about him, but he did reiterate his stance against domestic violence.

“While I believe in second chances and giving players an opportunity for redemption, I also believe that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right,” Kraft said. “For me, personally, I believe that privilege is lost for men who have a history of abusing women.”

NFC South Notes: Saints, Manziel, Falcons

March 28th, 2017 at 10:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Saints head coach Sean Payton had breakfast with free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel last week, but New Orleans has no plans to sign Manziel, a team source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Indeed, Payton says his meeting with Manziel was focused on getting to know the young signal-caller, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. In early March, there was word that Manziel was drawing “real” NFL interest, and Manziel says he is sober and focusing on his comeback.

Here’s more from the NFC South:

The Falcons hope to come to an extension agreement with cornerback Desmond Trufant “very soon,” Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff tells Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Earlier this month, a report indicated the Falcons and Trufant were nearing a “lucrative” long-term deal, but no announcement has since been made by the club. Atlanta is also planning to get a contract with running back Devonta Freeman “wrapped up,” per Dimitroff. In January, Freeman was said to be seeking “elite” running back money, but he and his agent have since walked those comments back.
Veteran guard Chris Chester isn’t in the Falcons‘ plans for 2017, and the team ultimately expects him to retire, according to Marvez. Chester, entering his age-34 season, was the weak link on a solid Atlanta offensive line in 2016. PFR pointed to right guard as an area of need when assessing the Falcons’ offseason strategy, and while the club has only added Hugh Thornton in free agency, they could still address the interior offensive line in the draft.
Jonathan Stewart‘s extension with the Panthers is for one year, but the new deal affects both his 2017 and 2018 cap charges, as Field Yates of ESPN.com reports. Stewart accepted a slight paycut in 2017 in exchange for an effective guarantee of $3.6MM, while the base values of his next two seasons are $4.25MM and $3.75MM. The veteran running back can also earn up to $750K annually via rushing yards incentives.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis considers cornerback and defensive “must” additions this offseason, according to Larry Holder of NOLA.com (Twitter link). So far, New Orleans has addressed those area with bit acquisitions, although the team is considering a big swing as they negotiate with Patriots restricted free agent corner Malcolm Butler.

Giants May Draft Quarterback Early

March 28th, 2017 at 9:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The odds of the Giants drafting Eli Manning‘s successor relatively early in the draft are greater than many may believe, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Team co-owners Steve Tisch and John Mara recently spoke to reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, about the importance of finding a long-term option under center.

“No, you can’t beat age. I think it’s certainly at the back of everybody’s mind — including Eli’s,” Tisch said. “There’s no urgency. There’s no panic. But I think if you’re a responsible owner, responsible GM, you’ve got to start thinking about it.”

“I think we have to start thinking about it,” Mara said. “I think you always have to look at drafting a quarterback where you can. Our philosophy going into the draft — at least mine — is just take the best player. It doesn’t matter what position he is. I think if there’s a chance to take a quarterback — it doesn’t have to be this year — then you should take him.”

Now that the quarterback draft class of 2004 — Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger — is aging, all three’s clubs have noted the possibility of selecting a quarterback this year. Giants general manager Jerry Reese said earlier this year his team would begin thinking about acquiring a youthful signal-caller, and the need is all the more important given that the 36-year-old Manning is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career.

Meanwhile, head coach Ben McAdoo is at least giving lip service to the idea that the recently-signed Geno Smith could be a long-term option for the Giants. “I can’t see why not,” McAdoo said of Smith, per Vacchiano (Twitter link). “We’ve got a long way to go for that.” To be fair, Smith is still only 26 years old, but his sub-60% completion percentage and career touchdown-to-interception ration of 28:36 doesn’t exactly scream starter.

Packers Notes: Peterson, Rodgers, Guion

March 28th, 2017 at 9:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After losing guard T.J. Lang in free agency, Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he’s not looking to move tackles Jason Spriggs or Bryan Bulaga to the inside, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. Green Bay may have to look for replacements in the draft or in the late stages of free agency, but the team could also consider other internal options. Rising sophomore Kyle Murphy played tackle in college, but he might be a better fit at guard, while the the Packers are also high on fellow second-year lineman Lucas Patrick. Veteran Don Barclay could be a “fallback option,” Demovsky writes, but he wouldn’t be a terribly exciting choice.

Here’s more from Green Bay:

While Packers general manager Ted Thompson admitted his club needs to bring in reinforcements at running back, he wouldn’t respond to recent report indicating Green Bay has interest in free agent Adrian Peterson. “We don’t talk about players that are not on our team,” Thompson said, per Demovsky. “We never have. We never will.” The Packers’ backfield depth chart is slim at the moment, as the only running backs on the roster are Ty Montgomery, Christine Michael, and Don Jackson. Green Bay is expected to wait until after the draft before assessing its options at running back.
The Packers will likely wait until next offseason to work out an extension for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the club won’t let a looming Rodgers deal affect its decisions in the present, according to Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com. Earlier this month, Rodgers said Mike Glennon‘s contract with Chicago “has to” push up the top of the QB market, an indication that Rodgers might push for a new pact. Rodgers later walked his comments back, but Green Bay will likely carry over at least $10MM in cap space in an effort to save funds for Rodgers, per Wood.
Defensive tackle Letroy Guion is set to serve a four-game ban for violating the league’s PED policy, and Thompson believes Guion’s situation “will work itself out,” reports Wood in a separate piece. Guion has already agreed to a restructured deal that delays his roster bonuses, but Green Bay could cut bait without incurring much dead money. The Packers would be able to recoup 4/17 of Guion’s signing bonus because he’s been suspended, meaning the club would take on fewer than $300K in dead money.

West Notes: Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Hawks

March 28th, 2017 at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos want to bring in a third quarterback, but that player is likely to be either a young veteran or a draft pick, head coach Vance Joseph tells Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter links). Denver is apparently content to allow Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch battle it out for the starting QB job, meaning any new addition would be a third-stringer. Tony Romo, meanwhile, is looking like less of an option, as the Broncos are reportedly backing off their pursuit of the Cowboys signal-caller.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:

After losing defensive tackle Stacy McGee in free agency, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie admits his team may bring in another piece up front, as Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. Currently, Oakland boasts Khalil Mack, Jihad Ward, Dan Williams, Mario Edwards, restricted free agent Denico Autry, and others along the defensive line. Johnathan Hankins, Jared Odrick, and Vance Walker rank as PFR’s best remaining interior defenders.
The Chiefs‘ decision to decline their option on backup quarterback Nick Foles was purely cap-related, head coach Andy Reid tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Foles’ 2017 option was worth $6.75MM, an untenable figure for the Chiefs given that even now they only have $3MM in cap space. While Foles has since signed a two-year, $11MM with the Eagles, Kansas City currently has Tyler Bray behind starting quarterback Alex Smith.
Although Seahawks corner Pierre Desir had an opportunity to sign with the Lions last season, he opted to stick on Seattle’s practice squad and has since been re-signed on a futures deal, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (all Twitter links). Seahawks general manager John Schneider pointed to Desir, Neiko Thorpe, and Tampa Bay import Bradley McDougald as key depth pieces that can fill out the secondary.
Free agent signee Oday Aboushi will begin his Seahawks tenure at right guard, which means Seattle is set to try 2016 first-round pick Germain Ifedii at right tackle, tweets Condotta. Ifedi played tackle at Texas A&M, but shifted to right guard during his rookie campaign. The results were near disastrous, as Ifedi graded as the single worst guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

San Antonio An Interim Location For Raiders?

March 28th, 2017 at 8:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders are planning to spend the 2017 and 2018 campaigns is Oakland before officially relocating to Las Vegas, but the club may have another option up its sleeve. Depending on how the 2017 season plays out, San Antonio could be used as a potential temporary location for the Raiders, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link).

San Antonio has been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the Raiders since 2014, and while the club won’t be moving there permanently, the city could still act as something of a pit stop while the Raiders get their affairs in order. Unlike the Rams or Chargers, who voted to move to Los Angeles and did so before playing more games in St. Louis or San Diego, respectively, the Raiders plan to stay in Oakland two more years.

That decision will undoubtedly have repercussions, with chief among them being the response of Raiders fans in Oakland. It’s unclear exactly how fans of the team will respond to watching the Raiders over the next two seasons knowing full well the club’s Oakland lifespan is limited, but it’s likely going to be positive. Moving to San Antonio would lessen the burden on the organization in the short term.

A temporary stay in San Antonio wouldn’t come without its complications, however. Both the Texans and Cowboys might chafe at the notion of adding a third club in the state of Texas. Jerry Jones, specifically, was a driving force behind the Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas, so Raiders owner Mark Davis may not want to anger Jones by planning a move to Jones’ home turf.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/28/17

March 28th, 2017 at 7:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

The Browns have re-signed defensive tackle Jamie Meder, the club announced today. Meder was an exclusive rights free agent, meaning he had no opportunity to leave Cleveland once the club tendered him an offer. The 25-year-old was a starter for the first time in his career in 2016, as he started 15 contests and racked up 48 tackles and one sack. Pro Football Focus wasn’t a fan of Meder’s work, however, grading him as just the No. 105 interior defender among 127 qualifiers.