Jets Rumors: Smith, Okung, Jefferson
The bidding for Mike Glennon could get out of hand, so we shouldn’t completely rule out the possibility that Geno Smith is brought back and installed as the team’s starting quarterback in 2017, a team source tells SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. Of course, that will all depend on his recovery from ACL surgery, his desire to stay in New York, and whether the Jets are able to land a more attractive option. Even though he was selected by the previous regime, Vacchiano hears that coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan “don’t hate him.”
Here’s more on Gang Green:
- The Jets are going to be in on the market for left tackle Russell Okung, a league source tells Vacchiano. He adds that the Jets may also target Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson but refers to Okung as the Jets’ biggest non-QB target. Personally, we don’t agree with the assessment that Okung is a more ambitious pursuit than the Cardinals safety. On our first edition of the Top 50 Free Agents list, we ranked Jefferson No. 8 in terms of earning power while Okung was all the way down at No. 43.
- The Jets are expected to tender restricted free agent center Wesley Johnson, a source tells Vacchiano. The SNY scribe says he “seems like a candidate” for the second-round tender.
- The Jets are putting an emphasis on the run game and have plans to add a fullback in free agency this year, a source tells Connor Hughes of NJ.com. The Jets haven’t ruled out signing former Pro Bowlers Mike Tolbert or Marcel Reece and the Falcons’ Patrick DiMarco is also an option, Hughes hears. We have DiMarco ranked as the third-best fullback on the free agent market, behind Kyle Juszczyk and James Develin. Tolbert is all the way down at No. 7 because of his age and diminished blocking skills
Bucs, William Gholston Agree To New Deal
The Buccaneers and defensive end William Gholston have agreed to terms on a new contract, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’ll be a five-year deal with a max value of $37MM, (Twitter link). That pact includes $13.5MM fully guaranteed.
Gholston was said to be a priority free agent for the Bucs and they have managed to retain him before the legal tampering period gets underway on Tuesday. The 25-year-old (26 in July) is coming off of one of his best career seasons. In 14 games (all starts), he had 50 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. For what it’s worth, the metrics at Pro Football Focus didn’t paint Gholston in a flattering light this past year, ranking him as just the 90th best edge defender out of 109 qualified players.
The Bucs still have a number of defensive linemen set to hit the open market, including Akeem Spence, Sealver Siliga, John Hughes, and Jacquies Smith.
Ravens WR Kamar Aiken Drawing Interest
Wide receiver Kamar Aiken has roughly six teams interested in him, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. The Bills, Browns, and Seahawks appear to be the strongest candidates for his services at this time. It’s not immediately clear whether the incumbent Ravens are among the teams with interest. 
Late last month, we ranked Aiken as one of the 15 best wide receivers available. However, he’s not exactly coming off of a banner year. Aiken was a central piece in the Baltimore offense in 2015 with 75 receptions (127 targets), 944 yards, and five touchdowns. This past year, his numbers dropped dramatically as he recorded just 50 targets, 29 receptions, 328 yards, and only one TD. He also had just six starts as opposed to his 14 in the previous campaign.
During the season, Aiken lobbied offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg for an increased role. Nothing came of those talks and Mornhinweg will return for another season, so we probably shouldn’t bank on a reunion.
Latest On Wide Receiver Market
As teams prepare to execute their free agency plans come Tuesday, a window into what kind of money it will take to sign this year’s class of wide receivers is beginning to open. Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson offered a series of glimpses into the potential markets of the 2017 wideout class.
Of those, Alshon Jeffery and Terrelle Pryor are expected to receive the most per-year money. Robinson hears both are slated to receive offers exceeding $10MM per year (Twitter links), with the breakout Browns pass-catcher possibly seeing a deal extend into the $12MM-per-year range. A $10MM-AAV agreement would probably be disappointing for Jeffery given the 2016 franchise tag that paid him $14.599MM. He’s said to want a contract that includes $14MM per year, but Robinson reports (on Twitter) teams have investment concerns regarding the oft-unavailable wideout.
Jeffery put together a dominant 2013 season that sent him to the Pro Bowl, and the former second-round pick surpassed 1,100 yards as an overqualified No. 2 wideout with the 2014 Bears. But injuries and a suspension limited Chicago’s top target, once Brandon Marshall was traded away, to 21 games over the past two seasons. The Browns would obviously be able to afford a Pryor accord with their $102MM-plus in cap space.
As for the second-tier players on this market, Kenny Britt‘s 1,000-yard season in the league’s worst offense could help him see a substantial raise. Robinson notes the former Titans and Rams receiver is expected to draw an offer between $6-$8MM per year (Twitter link). He earned barely $4MM in 2016. Terrance Williams‘ ensuing pact looks to be in the same realm, per Robinson (on Twitter). The $6-$8MM range these UFAs could be looking at falls on the Golden Tate/Mohamed Sanu/Travis Benjamin/Torrey Smith tier. The Cowboys want to retain Williams, but on a deal pushing $8MM per year, that might be high for a team that possesses barely $3MM in cap space.
Finally, Robinson assessed the value of kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, placing his second contract (Twitter link) on the level of a top-flight return specialist rather than a receiver. Patterson is expected to see an offer exceeding $4MM per year after seeing the Vikings not pick up his fifth-year option last May. That’s slightly more than Giants specialist Dwayne Harris earns for his niche role.
Both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson have been linked to deals exceeding $9MM per season, with Jackson’s price going above $10MM AAV.
Mike Glennon On 49ers’ Radar
The 49ers are still eyeing Kirk Cousins despite the Redskins placing the franchise tag on the sixth-year veteran. But beyond that trade scenario, the team is expected to be among the teams interested in Mike Glennon as a UFA, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports. Although, such a pursuit carries considerable risk with the price anticipated to be close to franchise-QB money.
As teams like the Bears, Jets and possibly 49ers go after Glennon, the fifth-year passer’s price tag is expected to land in the $14-$15MM-per-year range, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter). That would be unpopulated territory within the NFL salary landscape, with the floor for veteran starters being Andy Dalton‘s $16MM-per-year accord. But Glennon represents a unique case, given that he hasn’t started for three years. Thirteen of his 18 starts came as a Buccaneers rookie in 2013.
The Bears are considered the frontrunners for the 26-year-old’s services, while the Jets have been linked to the former third-rounder for a steady stretch now as well. Chicago making this move would be interesting given Jay Cutler‘s now-flexible contract having a 2017 base salary, as the Chicago Sun-Times’ Adam Jahns points out (on Twitter), of $12.5MM. Tampa Bay offered Glennon $8MM per year to stay on as its backup, but it’s clear he’s going to have better options than this.
As for the 49ers, no quarterbacks reside on this roster after Colin Kaepernick made the decision to opt out. The team’s been connected to Cousins, Cutler, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer and Matt Schaub in a complex offseason. Barrows notes a Cousins trade would seemingly need to occur soon to entice free agent pass-catchers or give the 49ers some semblance of offensive identity to show UFAs. But the rebuilding team will likely monitor his situation throughout the offseason, and if the Redskins are unable to sign Cousins to a long-term deal by July 15, he stands to be a free agent come 2018. That would stand to run counter to a Glennon pursuit, the current backup not profiling as a stopgap option the way Hoyer, Cutler or Schaub would.
Whether the 49ers want to compete with a likely Bears Glennon push or not, they are expected to spend this offseason after a quiet 2016. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com hears the 49ers and Browns are going to be the most aggressive teams in free agency. That would make sense given the teams’ near-$200MM combined cap space.
RFA/ERFA Signings: 3/5/17
We’ll round up the latest news on restricted and exclusive-rights free agents here:
- Geronimo Allison will sign his ERFA Packers tender before free agency opens this week, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. The wide receiver’s agent met with the Packers at the Combine. Allison will make the second-year minimum, $540K, in 2017. He caught two playoff touchdowns for the Packers as a rookie after catching on in Green bay as a UDFA.
- The Vikings are expected to retain ERFA offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes. Sirles will receive a one-year tender for the league minimum of $690K. Injuries forced Sirles into the starting lineup for Minnesota last year, and he ended up starting 10 games for the club, including nine at right tackle.
Kevin Zeitler To Command $12MM Per Year?
With several upper-echelon guards set to hit the market, the bidding could creep into the eight-figure-per-year range. One soon-to-be available player looks like he could move into the No. 1 spot for guard earnings. Viewed as probably the top guard available in a strong class, Kevin Zeitler could command a deal that pays him $12MM annually, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.
This figure is higher than the previous rumor connected to Zeitler, one that pegged the Bengals guard as being set to sign for around $10MM. Only three guards in football earn $10MM-plus on average (Kelechi Osemele, Kyle Long and David DeCastro) and each signed to receive that amount last year. However, Osemele’s five-year, $58MM deal is in its own territory at $11.7MM AAV compared to Long and DeCastro’s $10MM-per-year wages. CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry also projects a $12MM-per-year Zeitler accord.
“He’s breaking the bank. If you’re getting Zeitler, you’re in the Osemele range,” the former agent said, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “They have to be willing to pay top-of-the market guard prices.”
Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com hears (Twitter link) the Zeitler range will be between $10-$12MM.
A sixth-year guard, Zeitler started for five years in Cincinnati and is regarded as one of the best UFAs available. PFR’s Zach Links tabbed the former first-round pick at this class’ No. 5 free agent. He’s fared well for several seasons and finished 2016 as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7-rated guard.
T.J. Lang, Larry Warford and Ronald Leary join this guard class and should see significant interest as well. Sources informed Robinson that Lang’s price range is likely to fall just below Zeitler’s, with the 29-year-old expected to receive offers between $8-10MM (Twitter link). La Canfora connects the soon-to-be 27-year-old Zeitler to the Jaguars and potentially the Jets, but the Jags boast far more cap room. The Bengals and Zeitler hadn’t entered into serious negotiations, and they’re prepared to lose the longtime cog.
Draft Rumors: Allen, Foster, Peppers, Mixon
Reuben Foster enjoyed one of the most eventful Combines without participating in much of it, being sent home after an argument with a hospital worker. The highly touted linebacker attributed the incident to a misunderstanding and will invite representatives of teams to meet with him on March 7 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., according to NFL.com (via Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk). The Crimson Tide’s pro day is March 8. Foster sent a letter to all 32 teams inviting them to meet with him then to discuss his side of the story.
Here’s more from draft-eligible talents, including one of Foster’s teammates.
- Jonathan Allen has hovered around the top 5 of this class throughout mock draft season, but the shoulder issue that’s become known this weekend may cause the Alabama defensive tackle to drop. How far? In speaking with scouts, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report hears the Crimson Tide standout could plummet to the 12-17 range (Twitter link). Doctors discovered Allen has an arthritic left shoulder, and that’s concerned some NFL personnel. “It’s not really a problem now,” Allen said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “But it might be a problem 15, 20 years down the road.” Allen only performed 21 bench press reps. That number tied for 35th among defensive linemen.
- Jabrill Peppers does not plan to go any farther with his Combine position group, telling media in Indianapolis he views himself as a safety going into the draft. The Michigan talent performed drills as a linebacker at the Combine due to being told he must work out at his most recent college position. “What do I look like? I’m a safety,” Peppers said, via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. “Free or strong [safety], I’m very fast, I’m stronger than the typical DB, tougher than a typical DB, seeing as I played linebacker in the Big Ten at 200 pounds. So anywhere from nickel, I can play some corner still.” Peppers, who weighed 213 pounds at the Combine, has trained as a safety primarily since Michigan’s Orange Bowl loss. The versatile defender functioned as a strong-side linebacker last season.
- Joe Mixon is unlikely to be on the board when teams convene for Day 3 of the draft, Tom Peliserro of USA Today notes, regarding the growing league consensus on this matter. The Oklahoma running back caught on video punching a woman is viewed as a top-15 or top-20 type of talent. Pelissero notes there are other prospects in the draft teams are more concerned about than Mixon, who saw his defining collegiate moment become easier to scrutinize due to it being caught on camera. Mixon averaged more than 150 yards from scrimmage per game with the 2016 Sooners. Pelissero notes after speaking with some GMs, some teams have him off their board while others are using a wait-and-see approach to the controversial ball-carrier.
- The University of Missouri’s string of defensive line prodigies figures to send the latest into the latter part of the first round or earlier portion of the second. Charles Harris figures to go in that range, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes (on Twitter), after impressing evaluators. Harris follows Sheldon Richardson, Kony Ealy, Markus Golden, Shane Ray and Aldon Smith as coveted pass-rushers from this program. Each of those players was a first- or second-round selection. ESPN.com’s Todd McShay views Harris as the No. 5 defensive end prospect in the draft. He recorded 16 sacks combined in the 2015 and ’16 seasons.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Gruden
Had the Giants let Jason Pierre-Paul hit free agency instead of franchise-tagging him for the second time, the Cowboys were prepared to intervene. Dallas was going to attempt to pry JPP away from the Giants if he were available, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports. While fitting Pierre-Paul’s high-end salary demands would have been difficult for a Cowboys team that as of now has the least cap room in the league at $3.3MM, Jerry Jones wants to upgrade his team’s pass-rushing corps.
A source informed Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the Cowboys are seeking help at pass-rusher and wide receiver this offseason. An interest at wideout seems interesting given that the Cowboys stand to return their top three pass-catchers from 2016, with only Terrance Williams being a free agent, and the team having shifted to a run-based offense. Dallas plans to try and retain Williams, but only at a certain price, per Hill. If the sides can’t work something out, the Cowboys will target a receiver in free agency or the draft.
“We can’t come up empty. We have somebody meaningful there. They are part of our core strategy. But it’s two [positions]. It’s not nine,” Jones said, without identifying those positions. “And I think we have the cap room and whatever we resolve with Tony [Romo], I feel confident we will not lose on those two.”
- The Giants have made an effort to keep Johnathan Hankins, but he’s likely going to test the market, Vacchiano reports, adding that the defensive tackle will almost certainly leave the Giants if he reaches free agency. Vacchiano notes the feeling around the league is Hankins is not quite on Damon Harrison‘s level, but his age (25 in three weeks) should help him secure a deal in Harrison range. Vacchiano estimates Hankins will fetch a deal that pays him around $7MM or $8MM per year. The Giants have just more than $14MM in cap space after spending to fortify their defense last season. Their defensive line contains per-year payments of $17MM (Olivier Vernon) and $9.25MM (Harrison), and coupled with Pierre-Paul’s $16.9MM price tag, it’s unlikely Big Blue can afford to keep Hankins.
- Despite that lofty price for tagging JPP again, the Giants would be OK with the eighth-year defensive end playing the season on the tag. Vacchiano notes. The sides remain far apart in talks. The Giants want to keep as much of their defense together for a Super Bowl run during the final three years of Eli Manning‘s contract, Vacchiano writes, but would be hamstrung by Pierre-Paul’s 2017 salary if it’s unable to be reduced via extension.
- The Giants are likely to cut or reduce the salary of linebacker J.T. Thomas, Vacchiano writes. Signed to three-year, $10MM deal in 2015, Thomas missed 15 games last season after starting 11 in his first Giants slate. A Thomas cut would create $3MM in cap room while saddling the Giants with a $1MM dead money charge.
- Jay Gruden‘s two-year Redskins extension came together quickly after an impromptu meeting at the Combine, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports. Team president Bruce Allen and Gruden’s agent, Bob LaMonte, met in Indianapolis and agreed to tack two more years on top of the two that remain on his initial Washington deal. La Canfora notes how this will help counter some of the concerns about GM Scot McCloughan‘s status with the team.
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jonathan Casillas received small performance-escalator bonuses, per Vacchiano. The fourth-year Giants corner and third-year linebacker will each receive $500K bonuses in their 2017 salaries. DRC will make $6.98MM in base salary, while Casillas will earn $2.75MM.
Latest On Ravens’ Top Free Agents
With less than two days until the legal tampering window opens, the Ravens run the risk of losing three key free agents. One appears to be already set to explore avenues elsewhere, with Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reporting (on Twitter) the Ricky Wagner ship “appears to have sailed.” The fifth-year lineman is expected to receive top right tackle money and depart Baltimore.
Wagner’s arrow, though, had been pointed out of Maryland for some time now. He’s viewed as a top tackle in a weak market at that position, and the Ravens were reportedly ready to live with Wagner leaving if it meant they could retain Brandon Williams. That now no longer looks certain, either. The team has made several proposals to the fifth-year nose tackle but hasn’t found common ground, per Zreibec (via Twitter).
Assistant GM Eric DeCosta said Williams would be a Ravens priority, but the former Division II standout may be in position to make more on the open market, given Kawann Short being franchise-tagged in Carolina. Zreibec notes the Ravens could meet with Williams’ agent on Monday, but that’s not certain at this juncture.
The third player in question here, Kyle Juszczyk, won’t command the kind of money the aforementioned pair will this week. And the Ravens are expected to meet with the fullback’s agent on Monday, Zreibec tweets. Juszczyk, though, is expected to garner high-end fullback money, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who notes the fifth-year fullback’s price point is expected to “shatter” what the Ravens will pay.
Juszczyk, who rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 fullback last season (largely on the strength of his top-flight pass blocking), has 97 career receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns. Kansas City’s Anthony Sherman is the highest-paid fullback at $2.1MM per year, so that could be in line to change.
Wagner and Williams profile as two of the league’s top free agents, with Wagner possibly looking at nearly $10MM per year. Both the Vikings and Bears are said to be interested in his services. The Ravens made an attempt to retain him in February, but Wagner “rebuffed” the offer. Baltimore hovers on the low end in terms of cap space, sitting with barely $13MM.