2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler

March 8th, 2017 at 12:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Andrew Whitworth may not be the most popular Bengals free agent lineman after all. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer talked to multiple teams, and nearly all of those front offices expressed interest in Bengals offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (Twitter link).

Meanwhile, Glazer notes that Whitworth has also drawn plenty of interest, although the Bengals front office did a nice job convincing teams that they’d ultimately re-sign the veteran. Whitworth is currently trying to convince these potential suitors that a return to Cincinnati is not guaranteed.

The fact that Whitworth is a popular name shouldn’t be too surprising, as he ranked atop our list of the best available offensive tackles. The 35-year-old has spent his entire 11-year career in Cincinnati, starting 164 of his 168 games. The lineman has only missed a pair of regular season games since the start of the 2009 season.

Zeitler was listed as the top available guard in our rankings, and Zach Links projected him to earn the fifth-largest contract this offseason. The former first-rounder has started 71 games during his five-year career.

Latest On Bears, Mike Glennon

March 8th, 2017 at 12:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Mike Glennon cannot officially sign with teams until tomorrow, but the rest of the league already seems to think he’s spoken for. Other teams are operating as though he’s off the board and going to the Bears, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Glennon’s suitors have been falling off one-by-one this week. The Jets reported interest in him was apparently overblown and the 49ers are not interested either. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what kind of contract Glennon might get from the Bears. Last week, there were rumblings of Glennon getting $14-$15MM per year. If the Bears are effectively bidding against themselves, then that would be a particularly high price to pay.

For the majority of free agents, deals cannot be consummated until the start of the new league year at 3pm ET/2pm CT on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.

Lions To Sign Ricky Wagner

March 8th, 2017 at 11:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions and tackle Ricky Wagner have agreed to terms on a deal, NFL reporter Rand Getlin tweets. The deal will pay him more than $9MM per year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a five-year contract for Wagner, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).

Throughout the offseason, we’ve heard rumblings of Wagner fetching around $10MM/year, a staggering number for a right tackle. However, salaries are on the rise across the board thanks to the cap increase and Wagner was in great position to get paid given the lack of quality tackles in this year’s free agent crop. It also helps that the draft is soft on tackles.

The Lions are a natural fit for the 27-year-old, as offensive lineman Riley Reiff is also a free agent. The team has tackles Taylor Decker, Corey Robinson, and Pierce Burton on the books for next season.

Until now, Wagner spent his entire four-year career with the Ravens after being selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft. The offensive tackle played in 62 total games for Baltimore, including 47 starts.

I had ranked Wagner as the second-best offensive tackle available in free agency. The veteran slotted below Andrew Whitworth and above Russell Okung, though I had him slated to make more money than both.

The rival Bears were said to also have interest in Wagner, as were the Texans and Vikings. There were reports that the Ravens were also interested in retaining the lineman.

Titans Release Al Woods

March 8th, 2017 at 11:52am CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans created more cap room going into free agency by releasing defensive tackle Al Woods, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Tennessee makes this move before a $1.25MM portion of his 2017 base salary would have become fully guaranteed on Monday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.

This cut will create just more than $2MM in cap savings for the Titans, who now stand to possess more than $63MM in available funds as free agency looms in just more than 24 hours. Woods had two years left on his Tennessee deal, one he signed just last year, and will eat up $1.5MM in dead money as a result.

Woods served as a part-time starter for the Titans during his three-season tenure in Nashville. The former Saints fourth-round draft pick played with three different teams — the Buccaneers, Seahawks and Steelers — before joining the Titans in 2014. The 29-year-old nose tackle made 18 tackles last season. He played just 245 snaps in 2016, a season limited by a calf injury Woods suffered early in the campaign.

Giants Sign WR Brandon Marshall

March 8th, 2017 at 11:50am CST by Zachary Links

Brandon Marshall doesn’t have to go house shopping. The wide receiver has struck agreement with the Giants on a two-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year, $12MM deal for Marshall (Twitter link). Marshall tweeted a picture of the signed contract, so it’s now official.

The Giants have been linked to Marshall ever since the Jets released him earlier this month. He’ll now line up opposite of Odell Beckham Jr. and give defenses something to think about before they double team the young superstar. The Giants’ WR depth chart is looking pretty strong at the moment with OBJ, Marshall, and rising sophomore Sterling Shepard in the top three slots.

Marshall is just two years removed from a season in which he had 109 catches, 1,502 yards, and 14 touchdowns. His numbers dipped significantly last season, but that can be largely attributed to the Jets’ overall offensive quagmire. Now, he could be reinvigorated as he switches jerseys in the same building.

Marshall not only avoids the hassle of moving by signing with the G-Men – he’ll also get to stay in the country’s No. 1 media market. The charismatic veteran already does a fair amount of TV work and he hopes to continue in broadcasting after he’s done playing.

After being released, I ranked Marshall as the sixth-best wide receiver available in free agency, behind Alshon Jeffery, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills, Kenny Britt, and DeSean Jackson. That position slotted him ahead of notables like Pierre Garcon, Torrey Smith, and Terrance Williams.

Aaron Rodgers To Push For New Deal?

March 8th, 2017 at 11:41am CST by Sam Robinson

The latest polarizing free agent likely set to cash in due to the quarterback position’s supply-and-demand state, Mike Glennon could have an effect on how the player many perceive as the game’s best passer proceeds. Seeing Glennon in line to sign for as much as $15MM per year, Aaron Rodgers said that situation “has to” lead to a revisiting of his own deal with the Packers, per Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com (on Twitter). Rodgers, though, downplayed this perceived desire for a pay bump (via Twitter).

Rodgers is no longer the league’s highest-paid signal-caller, with Andrew Luck now occupying that status. In fact, Rodgers’ $22MM-per-year setup has slunk to fourth on this list in terms of AAV — also behind Drew Brees and Joe Flacco. The 33-year-old perennial MVP candidate is signed through the 2019 season and will count $20.3MM, $20.9MM and $21.1MM in those years.

However, several other quarterbacks look to be in line to surpass Rodgers’ salary via likely 2017 extensions. Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr, and possibly Kirk Cousins, figure to sign for more than $22MM per year. Rodgers could be reacting to this as much as Glennon being set to follow in Brock Osweiler‘s footsteps.

Rodgers signed his five-year, $110MM extension in 2013. He bounced back from a substandard (for him) year by leading the NFL with 40 touchdown passes and guiding the Packers to their eighth straight playoff berth after the team began the season 4-6. The longtime starter’s virtuoso playoff work led the Packers past the Giants and Cowboys in January.

Going into the 2017 season, Rodgers figures to have several years left to contribute to Green Bay’s championship cause. He discussed playing into his 40s early during the 2016 season, which was the former first-rounder’s 12th in the league. Among active quarterbacks, Rodgers’ two MVPs are also tied with Tom Brady — in six fewer seasons as a full-time starter — for most in football, so he figures to have a case for a raise should he bring this up to Packers management.

Cardinals To Extend Chandler Jones

March 8th, 2017 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals and Chandler Jones are finalizing a five-year extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Exact terms are not yet known and Rapoport only says that the deal is “going to be large.” Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets that the deal is expected to “come up a little short” of the five-year, $80MM deal Olivier Vernon received from the Giants last offseason. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that the defender will make over $16MM annually, which will translate to around $83MM or $84MM total. The reporter adds that Jones will make over $50MM in guaranteed money.

Arizona placed the franchise tag on Jones earlier this month, giving him a one-year, $14MM+ tender. Under the terms of the franchise tag rules, the two sides had until mid-July to work out an extension. However, with minimal cap space for the coming season and several key free agents in limbo, the Cardinals were eager to hammer out a cap-smoothing deal. It remains to be seen how much the team might be saving in 2017.

The Cardinals’ list of free agents currently includes defensive lineman Calais Campbell (ranked No. 9 on my Top 50 list of free agents), safety Tony Jefferson (No. 11), and linebacker Kevin Minter (No. 22). Other notable free agents include running backs Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, and Stepfan Taylor, tight end Darren Fells, center A.Q. Shipley, cornerback Marcus Cooper, and safety D.J. Swearinger.

Jones is one of the league’s premier edge defenders. In his first year with Arizona, he racked up eleven sacks and graded out as the league’s No. 7 pass rusher, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ravens Ask Dennis Pitta To Take Pay Cut

March 8th, 2017 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

In an effort to open up cap space, the Ravens have asked tight end Dennis Pitta to take a pay cut, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Pitta has yet to agree to anything in that respect and there is nothing imminent on that front, he adds.

Pitta, 32 in June, is slated to carry a $5.5MM cap number in 2017. It remains to be seen whether he’ll accept a hair cut here, particularly since he already did that last year. Prior to the 2016 season, Pitta agreed to trim his salary from $5MM to $1MM, though the team added $3MM in incentives which Pitta managed to secure.

Last year, Pitta had a career season, hauling in 86 receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns. Coming off of that performance, Pitta might be inclined to explore his value on the open market, but he is fond of Baltimore and he might not get much in the way of guarantees given his age and history of hip problems.

Pitta has two more seasons to go on his five-year, $32MM contract.

Torrey Smith To Land With Ravens Or Eagles?

March 8th, 2017 at 10:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Back in free agency after a 49ers release, Torrey Smith looks like he will be returning to the east coast. Two teams, the Ravens and Eagles, appear to be the leaders to land the deep threat, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (on Twitter).

Each holds a connection to the sixth-year wideout. The Ravens selected Smith in the second round in 2011, and he went on to have four productive seasons in Baltimore. The Ravens added Mike Wallace last year after the Vikings released him; Smith would be an obvious comparison if he returned to Maryland. Wallace is under contract for the 2017 season, and despite looming as a possible cap cut is expected to remain with the team. Kamar Aiken, though, is a UFA, and Steve Smith retired to leave the Ravens with some vacancies at wide receiver.

The Eagles discussed a Torrey Smith trade with the 49ers and have been connected to virtually every higher-end receiver on this year’s market, including Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Stills. Jackson and Stills will command more money for their deep-threat skills, so Smith would profile as a more reasonable addition.

With the 49ers, Smith’s production lessened in 2015 before cratering in ’16. San Francisco’s shaky quarterback situation helped limit Smith to 267 air yards — nearly 400 fewer than his previous career-low mark — before he became one of the many 49ers to finish the season on IR.

49ers To Sign Pierre Garcon

March 8th, 2017 at 10:39am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have agreed to sign wide receiver Pierre Garcon, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s expected to be a three-year contract that pays about $23MM over the first two years with a ~$12MM signing bonus, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. League sources tell Mortensen that Garcon will earn $16MM in the first year of the contract.

As one of the best wide receivers on the open market, Garcon was expected to fetch a nice payday for himself. However, it’s perhaps a little surprising to see him land $16MM in effectively guaranteed money. Garcon will turn 31 in August and he hasn’t been used to stretch the field in recent years with DeSean Jackson running the bulk of the deep routes.

I had Garcon ranked as the seventh-best available wide receiver on the market, behind Alshon Jeffery, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills, Kenny Britt, DeSean Jackson, and Brandon Marshall. However, I slotted him ahead of Jackson and Marshall on my Top 50 list, which rates players by earning power. So far, that prediction is looking good. Marshall signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Giants on Wednesday morning.

Garcon drew substantial interest on the open market but will reunite with former Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan. He had his best statistical year in Shanahan’s final season at the controls, going for 113 catches, 1,346 yards and five touchdowns in 2013.

Garcon played out his entire five-year, $42MM Redskins contract and proved not to be a Peyton Manning creation. His production increased at times after moving from Indianapolis to Washington. Garcon posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2013 and ’16 and surpassed 700 in both 2014 and ’15. Last season, Kirk Cousins‘ near-5,000-yard season included 79 Garcon receptions and three touchdowns.

Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.