2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Raiders, Adrian Peterson

March 8th, 2017 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have been frequently mentioned as a possible landing spot for Adrian Peterson. However, Peterson’s interest level in joining Oakland is higher than Oakland’s interest level in bringing him aboard, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Recently, Peterson’s father praised the Raiders’ offensive line while taking a clear dig at the Vikings’ unit.

“What we personally like is [the Raiders’] offensive line,” Nelson Peterson told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, while adding that the Vikings have yet to make a follow-up offer after declining his option. “The offensive line, they haven’t been playing around. They haven’t been trying to get offensive linemen from the bottom of the barrel and trying to make them into something.”

Peterson, my No. 2 ranked free agent running back and No. 35 ranked free agent overall (based on earning power), might not have the kind of market that he anticipated. The Seahawks are not presently interested in him and he might have to accept a deal with a modest base salary if he wants to join up with the Patriots. The Giants, who said they would “take a look” at Peterson, are not in the running.

All things considered, Peterson’s best bet might be to circle back to the Vikings. His popularity in Minnesota and history with the team could make them willing to pay him more than any other potential suitor.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Colts Join Kevin Zeitler Pursuit

March 8th, 2017 at 10:23am CST by Sam Robinson

The Kevin Zeitler market continues to intensify with free agency’s second tampering day underway. In addition to interest from the Browns and Jaguars, the Colts have entered the fray, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

PFR’s No. 5-ranked free agent and top-slotted offensive lineman, Zeitler headlines a deep guard class that’s gauging the market currently. Free agency opens on Thursday, but the five-year Bengals starter could set a new guard standard at $12MM per year. The Browns have a record $102MM-plus in cap space, but the Jags are over $75MM, and the Colts also reside toward the top of this list at more than $54MM.

Indianapolis has encountered trouble protecting Andrew Luck or opening steady holes for Frank Gore the past two years, but the team has an offensive line foundation on the left side. Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort and Ryan Kelly will return as starters, but the right side of the Colts’ line has room for growth. The Colts did not establish much consistency on that side of its line. The team, though, devoted substantial draft resources to fortifying this position last year. That said, only Castonzo resides as a veteran contract on Indy’s offensive front, so Chris Ballard could have room to add one of the 2017 UFA class’ impact guards.

Raiders Unlikely To Keep McGloin, Smith

March 8th, 2017 at 10:00am CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Malcolm Smith, tight end Mychal Rivera, and quarterback Matt McGloin are expected to sign elsewhere this week, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Right now, the Raiders are prepared to go with Connor Cook as their No. 2 quarterback, though they could conceivably bring in competition for him (Twitter link).

Last week, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio spoke openly about the club possibly installing Cook as the No. 2 QB, but he also did not ruled out acquiring another backup for starter Derek Carr.

“I think, for us, we want to develop Connor Cook first as our backup quarterback. He’s the guy we know we have right now,” Del Rio said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). “But there’s always competition in this league, and I wouldn’t close the door there, to say we wouldn’t make it competitive for him.”

“Moxy” McGloin is presently ranked as my No. 8 free agent quarterback. He’s highly unlikely to garner consideration as a starter, but he has had his moments over four years as a reserve in Oakland.

Smith, our No. 12 linebacker remaining on the board, is coming off of a two-year deal which had a $7MM base value and $3.75MM fully guaranteed. After taking on a starting role with the Raiders, he may be in line for a raise. Last year, Smith totaled 103 tackles. In 2015, he had 123 total tackles and a career-high four sacks.

The Raiders’ primary receiving tight end prior to the team elevating Clive Walford, Rivera started 13 games between the 2013 and ’14 seasons. The 2014 season proved to be his best to date, with his second season including 58 receptions, 534 receiving yards and four touchdowns. However, Pro Football Focus consistently scrutinized his work, rating Rivera near the bottom of its tight end hierarchy in both the ’14 and ’15 seasons. The site graded Rivera as its No. 33 tight end in 2016, but he caught just 18 passes, as Walford usurped him on the depth chart.

Chiefs Give Daniel Sorensen Second-Round Tender

March 8th, 2017 at 9:58am CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs will protect their latest safety find in Daniel Sorensen. They plan to apply a second-round tender to the fourth-year safety, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter).

This means Sorensen’s salary will jump from $600K to $2.74MM. The Chiefs have now made significant salary news regarding two safeties, but their 2017 cap will actually be burdened less by the position due to Eric Berry‘s extension. Berry took up nearly $11MM of Kansas City’s cap sheet in 2016 while playing on the franchise tag.

As for Sorensen, he will see a raise in advance of his contract year. Due to be a UFA in 2018, Sorensen served as a sub-package player for the Chiefs, who lost both Tyvon Branch (in free agency) and Husain Abdullah (to retirement) after the 2015 season. A 27-year-old ex-UDFA out of BYU, Sorensen played in 16 regular-season games last year for K.C. and made a steady statistical impact, recording 54 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Sorensen added a defensive touchdown as well. He joined Berry and Ron Parker on passing downs, helping the Chiefs’ young cornerback corps match up against offenses’ receiving sets.

Kansas City has continued to churn out production from its Berry complements at safety under Andy Reid and DC Bob Sutton. Quentin Demps, Kurt Coleman and Branch delivered quality work in Kansas City before moving on, and Parker earned a lucrative Chiefs extension after thriving as a converted cornerback. Sorensen figures to have a key role again on a veteran-laden 2017 K.C. defense.

Jets, 49ers Showing Interest In Brian Hoyer

March 8th, 2017 at 9:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets and 49ers are showing “strong interest” in quarterback Brian Hoyer, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. At last check Hoyer has only lukewarm interest from the incumbent Bears.

Hoyer is looking for a team that will offer him a chance to start, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). There are one or two teams offering him that chance right now, he adds, but it’s not clear which clubs are eyeing him as a possible No. 1 option. The Jets might be one such team.

Hoyer wouldn’t be the most glamorous quarterback choice for the either team, but the fact is that he is one of the best options on this year’s open market. I currently have Hoyer ranked as the third-best free agent QB, behind Mike Glennon and Nick Foles. Unlike Glennon, Hoyer would not cost a fortune.

The Jets are not overly interested in Glennon and they can’t afford him if the projected contract values being thrown around are accurate. The 49ers, who have some room to work with, may prefer a cheaper one-year bridge option like Hoyer over taking a QB at No. 2 overall or giving up a ton for an established quarterback via trade. The Niners have been connected to both Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Both will require the forfeiture of significant draft compensation.

Extra Points: Bouye, Landry, Marshall, Mixon

March 8th, 2017 at 9:32am CST by Zachary Links

A.J. Bouye‘s staggering rise from unknown RFA to one of the most coveted UFAs on this year’s market did not come completely unbeknownst to the Texans. Houston offered its undrafted gem a multiyear contract in 2016 at a “significant raise,” but Bouye opted to bet on himself, Peter King of TheMMQB.com reports. Bouye signed the low-end RFA tender last March, worth $1.67MM, setting up his dominant breakout campaign. His market is set to be north of $12MM per year as Day 2 of the legal tampering period gets underway, and while the Texans are in on it, they could lose him to a division rival.

Here’s more from around the league with free agency barely a day away.

The Dolphins have received trade inquiries on wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. However, the team has no real interest in trading him. Late in their 2016 season, the Dolphins were working on an extension plan for their slot target, so it’s a good bet the team’s most consistent weapon stays in Miami. The two-time Pro Bowl wideout has posted back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, doing so in two different schemes.
The prospect of staying in New York would on the surface allow Brandon Marshall to continue being a rare in-season media regular, but Judy Battista of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) the Giants and Jets’ schedules aren’t structured equally. Inside the NFL tapes on Tuesdays, when many teams give their players off days, but Battista points out the Giants work on Tuesdays. This might not be a deal-breaker, though, with Marshall having established himself on the long-running weekly show the past two years and signing with the only other team that would keep him in the city.
Between Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon is set to meet with 24 teams in total as a part of his pro day gauntlet, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Mixon met with the Bengals, Browns, Lions and Saints on Tuesday night, per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (via Twitter), in advance of what will be a critical showcase for the controversial running back.
Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris was arrested for felony possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. A converted basketball player, Harris saw his role increase last season. The third-year pass-catcher saw 476 snaps and caught 17 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but Pro Football Focus graded him as its worst full-time tight end.
Chris Banjo‘s two-year deal with the Saints will pay him $2.6MM with another $500K available through incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Giants May Cut WR Dwayne Harris

March 8th, 2017 at 9:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants seeking to restructure the deal of wide receiver Dwayne Harris, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. If the Pro Bowl special teamer and the Giants cannot come to terms on a new deal, he could be released, according to a source close to the situation.

The Giants gave Harris a sizable deal (by special teams standards) prior to the 2015 season in order to pry him away from the Cowboys. Harris is now slated to enter the third season of his five-year, $17.5MM contract ($7.1MM guaranteed), and it makes sense that the Giants would want to shave down that number. Harris will now have to weigh his potential market before making a call on a proposed pay cut. On one hand, he’s coming off of his first career Pro Bowl selection. On the other hand, he’s going to turn 30 in September, so he’s unlikely to fetch anything with significant long-term guarantees.

Last year, Harris returned 29 punts for 170 yards (5.9 average) and took back 22 kickoffs for 533 yards (24.2 average).

Bills Now Favorite To Land Kyle Juszczyk

March 8th, 2017 at 9:10am CST by Sam Robinson

Kyle Juszczyk has generated considerable interest venturing onto the free agent market for the first time, and a new suitor looks to have surged ahead for the fullback’s services. The Bills are now looking like the frontrunners to land the Ravens’ longtime blocking back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Juszczyk has drawn interest from the Browns as well, and the Ravens are attempting to work out a deal to retain him. He’s seeking a team that will allow him to play in some sort of hybrid role, with some tight end responsibilities tacked on to his fullback workload. Pro Football Focus graded Juszczyk as its No. 1 fullback in 2016, and he rates as PFR’s top available blocking back. It looks fairly secure Anthony Sherman‘s $2.1MM-AAV contract that tops all fullbacks will fall en route to Juszczyk becoming that position’s highest-paid performer.

He has 97 career receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns. The former fourth-round pick started three seasons for the Ravens and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016. The Bills led the league in rushing in 2016 at 164.4 yards per game but overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, potentially paving a path to the team altering its backfield equation. Jerome Felton is a UFA after leading the way for LeSean McCoy the past two seasons.

Latest On Brandin Cooks Trade Talks

March 8th, 2017 at 9:02am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are still in discussions with the Eagles, Titans, and Patriots regarding a potential Brandin Cooks deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Saints are looking for draft picks or a front seven player that can pressure opposing quarterbacks, Rapoport adds.

Saints head coach Sean Payton has publicly denied that the team is shopping Cooks, but he did stress that the club is willing to listen to any offer on any player. In short, he wants rival clubs to know that he will not just give away the star wide receiver, but he can be had for the right price. Cooks offers more talent and potential than any wide receiver on this year’s open market and he’s under control at a very team friendly rate for the next two years, so the Patriots, Eagles, and Titans have not been warded off by the Saints’ demands.

The Titans are said to have a leg up on the Patriots and Eagles in the Cooks chase. The Patriots are said to be dangling their No. 32 overall pick in a package for Cooks, so that appears to be the floor for any return on the 23-year-old. However, the Titans are armed with the Nos. 5 and 18 overall picks, so they can pretty much top any offer in terms of draft compensation. The Eagles have the No. 14 overall selection and they could perhaps sweeten the pot with linebacker Mychal Kendricks.

Latest On Redskins’ Defense

March 8th, 2017 at 8:38am CST by Sam Robinson

Expected to provide Chris Baker with an offer by Tuesday, the Redskins may now be conceding the defensive end is going to move on in free agency. Washington’s top defensive lineman over the past two seasons is “highly likely” to depart the nation’s capital, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The Broncos and Buccaneers are coveting Baker.

However, the Redskins are going to be on the hunt for defensive linemen. One name La Canfora is connecting the team is Dontari Poe (Twitter link). The five-year Chiefs starter reportedly hasn’t seen his market take off during his first free agency period, with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hearing the mammoth defender could take a one-year contract with a team that would let him rush quarterbacks more.

Poe served as a lane clogger in Kansas City but was a dynamo in terms of snaps played, logging more than any nose man during his rookie-deal tenure in Kansas City. But his sack totals decreased, plummeting from 10.5 between the 2013 and ’14 seasons (both Pro Bowl slates) to 2.5 combined in 2015 and ’16. The 26-year-old wouldn’t be a Baker replacement, being a nose guard, but would help Washington offset the end’s defection from a talent standpoint.

Additionally, La Canfora notes both the Redskins and Jaguars are aiming to land Cowboys safety Barry Church. Jacksonville obviously has the cap room to outmuscle Washington here, at $75MM to $34MM, but Church isn’t expected to command an incredibly lucrative deal. Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com connected the eighth-year safety to an AAV mark north of $5MM. Although, the Panthers are also pursuing Church, so this figure could escalate. The Redskins have experienced inconsistency at safety for a bit now due to injuries and under-performing cogs.