2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos Interested In Danny Woodhead

March 7th, 2017 at 11:11am CST by Zachary Links

Danny Woodhead is far enough along in his ACL recovery that he’s already getting some bites in free agency, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter). The Broncos are among the clubs with interest.

I ranked Woodhead, 32, as one of the ten best running backs available this month. Typically a pass-catching machine, Woodhead missed the majority of the 2016 season due to injury. In the year prior, Woodhead had a career-high 80 receptions for 755 yards and six touchdowns (also a career high).

Woodhead is no spring chicken, but he could be a valuable addition to another team’s backfield. The Broncos could slot him in behind projected starter C.J. Anderson. Devontae Booker, Juwan Thompson, and Kapri Bibbs (ERFA) are also on the RB depth chart.

Buccaneers Likely To Keep Jacquizz Rodgers

March 7th, 2017 at 10:58am CST by Ben Levine

Barring any surprises, running back Jacquizz Rodgers is expected to be back with the Buccaneers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com hears (Twitter link).

The 27-year-old had a breakout campaign during his first season in Tampa, establishing career-highs in multiple categories. Rodgers ultimately ran for 560 yards and two touchdowns on 129 attempts, good for a 4.3 yards per carry average. The running back also collected another 13 receptions for 98 yards.

Prior to his 2015 season with the Bears, Rodgers spent four years with the Falcons, where he earned a reputation as a pass-catching back.

After finishing the 2016 season with four different starters at the position, the Buccaneers currently have four running backs on their roster: Rodgers, Charles Sims, Peyton Barber, and Russell Hansbrough. Former first-rounder Doug Martin is a free agent.

We recently ranked Rodgers as one of the ten best running backs available in free agency.

Chargers Release CB Brandon Flowers

March 7th, 2017 at 10:41am CST by Zachary Links

Busy morning for the Chargers. The Bolts are releasing cornerback Brandon Flowers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). This moves comes on the heels of offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Stevie Johnson getting cut.

Flowers was due $9MM in 2017. By releasing him, the team is saving about $7MM against this year’s cap. Between today’s three cuts, the Chargers have saved roughly $19MM against the cap.

The Chargers signed Flowers to a four-year deal with a $36.4MM base value and $20.5MM guaranteed in 2015. In three seasons with the organization, the defensive back ultimately played in 31 games (30 starts) for the team. His best season came in 2014, when he collected 52 tackles, 10 passes defended, and three interceptions.

In 2016, the 31-year-old only played in six games as he recovered from a concussion. Flowers finished the campaign with 28 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception.

Chargers To Release WR Stevie Johnson

March 7th, 2017 at 10:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers are releasing wide receiver Stevie Johnson, according to former U-T San Diego reporter Michael Gehlken (on Twitter). The move will clear about $3.5MM in cap space.

Johnson ultimately played in 10 games for the Chargers after signing a three-year, $12MM deal with organization during the 2015 offseason. That year, the wideout collected 45 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns. The veteran ultimately missed the entire 2016 campaign after having surgery on his meniscus.

The 30-year-old has nine NFL seasons under his belt, including six with the Bills. From 2010 through 2012, Johnson averaged 79 receptions for 1041 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gehlken also notes (Twitter link) that tackle King Dunlap is scheduled to earn a $500K bonus if he is on the roster on March 18. Los Angeles is likely to release him or restructure his deal by then. Of course, they have time between now and the 3/18 deadline to make a move in that regard.

Joe Reitz Announces Retirement

March 7th, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Ben Levine

Colts offensive lineman Joe Reitz announced his retirement on Tuesday. In seven NFL seasons, the veteran played in 73 games with 44 starts.

“I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to coach Joe for five seasons here in Indianapolis,” head coach Chuck Pagano said. “He stood out as a selfless player who was respected by his teammates in addition to being a tremendous family man.

“As a native of the Indianapolis area, Joe made an impact on the community he grew up in. He demonstrated how one should conduct himself on and off the field and all Hoosiers and Colts fans alike should be proud of the way he represented himself. We are thankful for Joe’s contributions to this organization and wish him the best moving forward.”

The Western Michigan product entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and he proceeded to spend several years in the Ravens and Dolphins organizations. He caught on with his hometown Colts in 2010, and he subsequently spent seven seasons in Indianapolis.

Bears Interested In Cordarrelle Patterson

March 7th, 2017 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are expected to make a push for wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter).

Patterson is an excellent kick returner, but he has yet to do much as a receiver in the NFL. This past season, he set a new career high with 52 receptions, but he averaged just 8.7 yards per catch. The Bears might see Patterson as a late bloomer and they could find a gem in the former Viking if they can get him to clean up his route running.

Patterson, 26 later this month, has been breaking the hearts of fantasy owners for years. Last season, however, he earned a second career All-Pro nod by averaging 31.7 yards per kick return. For his career, he has averaged 30+ yards per kick return attempt (it’s a lot higher if you subtract his 2014 showing) and has five TDs off of returns over the last four years.

He can get a nice paycheck as a return specialist, but he’ll get far more if some team out there believes he can grow into a legitimate offensive weapon. In theory, a player like Patterson could help lessen the blow for the Bears if they lose Alshon Jeffery to free agency.

Chargers To Release OL D.J. Fluker

March 7th, 2017 at 9:47am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers will release offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Fluker was selected No. 11 overall in the 2013 draft.

The Bolts exercised Fluker’s fifth-year option last spring, but that option is guaranteed for injury only. Rather than pay him $8.821MM this season, the Chargers have decided to cut bait and apply that money elsewhere. Fluker was never able to live up to his potential with the Chargers, but he should draw interest in free agency this week thanks to his ability to play on the inside or outside of the O-Line.

After spending most of his first two years at right tackle, Fluker moved to right guard in 2015 and ’16. Pro Football Focus gave Fluker a so-so 63.7 overall score, ranking him 54th out of 72 qualified guards. According to PFF, he did his best work at tackle as he had a 74.2 average score between his first two NFL seasons. The best fit for Fluker would probably be a scenario where he is slotted in as a reserve tackle but also used on the interior in the event of an injury.

Jets Rumors: Marshall, Ijalana, Glennon

March 7th, 2017 at 9:02am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at Gang Green:

Jets wide receiver Jalin Marshall is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy, Manish Mehta of the Daily News writes. The team has since confirmed the news. Marshall tested positive for Adderall and will not appeal the suspension. The four-game ban is an unfortunate development for the Jets as they increase their focus on younger players. “We feel really good about our young receivers,” Maccagnan said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “The one thing with our roster right now… everybody’s aware that we’re making some changes in terms of our veteran players. These are all decisions we’re making going forward to try to build this team. We’ll let the young guys come up and hopefully establish themselves as good players going forward.” Marshall finished last season with 14 catches for 162 yards and two scores in ten games. He also returned 13 kickoffs for 324 yards and 18 punt returns for 100 yards.
The Jets not expected to re-sign tackle Ben Ijalana before free agency begins, Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes. The Jets have been in touch with his camp about a new deal, but they’ll likely wait and see how this week plays out before submitting a serious offer. Last year, Ijalana played on a one-year, $846K deal with $150K guaranteed.
Will the Jets pursue Mike Glennon this week? The latest word is that their reported interest in the quarterback is “overblown.”
The Jets are one of six teams with interest in wide receiver Andre Holmes.

Calais Campbell, Chris Baker Generating Interest

March 7th, 2017 at 7:12am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jaguars are in the Calais Campbell market, while the Broncos, Buccaneers, and Colts are contenders for fellow free agent defensive lineman Chris Baker, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link) and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Anderson adds that a Redskins return is still in the cards for Baker and he hopes to sign “quick” (link).

[RELATED: Top 50 NFL Free Agents]

Campbell, the best interior defender on the market in the estimation of PFR, should be in high demand this week, and the Cardinals are expecting to lose him to another club as a result. The Jaguars boast $60MM more in cap space than does Arizona, meaning Jacksonville would likely be able to outbid the Cards and many other suitors. Campbell, fresh off his ninth solid campaign in the desert, would add an All Pro presence to a Jaguars defense that has accrued veteran talent in recent offseasons.

Baker, meanwhile, is expecting an offer from the Redskins, but that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old won’t test free agency. Baker started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2016, and graded as one of the league’s best interior defenders. The Broncos are expected to target defensive line help after struggling against the run last season, while Baker would give the Buccaneers another talented lineman to pair with Gerald McCoy.

Bears To Make Major Push For Mike Glennon

March 7th, 2017 at 7:02am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are expected to make a major push for free agent quarterback Mike Glennon when the legal tampering period opens on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The interest is mutual, apparently, as Chicago is his preferred destination.

We currently have Glennon ranked as the top quarterback on this year’s market and our Top 50 Free Agents list (to be updated later on today) has the Bucs QB ranked 19th based on earning power. The 49ers have Glennon on their radar, but it doesn’t sound like they’re pursuing him quite as hard as the Bears right now. The Jets have also been linked to Glennon, but a report on Monday said word of their interest has been exaggerated. The buzz now is that Glennon’s next deal could see him make $14-$15MM annually, a price that’s probably too high for the Jets or incumbent Bucs to match.

For now, Glennon stands as the king of the QBs, but we could see guys like Tyrod Taylor, Tony Romo, and Jay Cutler added to the free agent mix in the coming days. Some teams may prefer one of those three vets over Glennon or, at minimum, prefer them from a value perspective. After the Brock Osweiler deal backfired on the Texans, teams may be cautious about committing major money to Glennon.