Latest On Redskins’ FA Wide Receivers
The Redskins’ starting wide receivers during the mid-2010s appear set to play for different teams in 2017, but their previous employer hasn’t given up hope in re-signing Pierre Garcon or DeSean Jackson just yet. But it’s Garcon that could still have a path back to Washington, Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter). However, some league insiders can see both players leaving the nation’s capital for more money elsewhere.
Jones describes both 30-year-old wideouts as having generated a good bit of interest around the league, but Jackson is the player whom the Redskins expect to draw a bigger offer from another team. That said, Washington is still expected to meet with the deep threat’s camp before the legal tampering window opens Tuesday. The team hasn’t met with Garcon yet, and nothing is set up on that front.
Jackson’s drawn his share of interest this offseason, with an Eagles return having emerged as the top storyline for the 10th-year player. But the Buccaneers are seeing what it would take to bring him to Tampa Bay, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times notes (on Twitter). Jameis Winston lobbied for Jackson last month. Beyond Mike Evans, the Bucs are thin at the receiver position, so Jackson would be a fit in Florida.
Another potential sign the Redskins believe Jackson will be too expensive to keep: DraftAnalyst.com’s Tony Pauline hears Jackson will command an offer worth north of $12MM per year. Only seven wideouts earn that on average. All are younger than Jackson.
While mutual interest appears to exist between Jackson and the Eagles, they would also be fine settling for Garcon, per Pauline. Garcon could cost more than $9MM annually. The former Colt’s drawn interest from at least five teams besides the Redskins.
CB Rumors: Bouye, Kirkpatrick, Carr, Moore
One of the unlikelier contract-year success stories in recent memory, A.J. Bouye transformed his career in 2016 and is set to cash in on the open market. The Texans haven’t given up re-signing him, but the sides are still far apart on negotiations, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. Pro Football Focus’ top 2016 corner that doesn’t start in Denver, Bouye could be looking at a deal north of Janoris Jenkins‘ five-year, $62.5MM deal on the open market. The 25-year-old ex-UDFA sits atop PFR’s free agent rankings after Houston made the decision not to use the franchise tag on him.
Here’s more news regarding the respective free agencies of some of the top cornerbacks available.
- Not a team that traditionally opts for free agency splashes, the Steelers are interested in signing Bengals UFA corner Dre Kirkpatrick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Titans do not share the same type of hesitancy when it comes to the market, and Rapoport notes they are also interested in the sixth-year cover man. The Steelers covet Kirpatrick’s length as a 6-1 corner, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com tweets. Kirkpatrick said in December he would like to stay in Cincinnati, but nothing’s emerged on that front since. PFR’s Dallas Robinson rates the former first-rounder as the No. 5 corner available in free agency.
- Brandon Carr does not appear to be considering retirement like he was after the Cowboys‘ divisional-round loss in January. Instead, the 30-year-old corner looks set to see what’s out there in free agency. “I’m looking forward to it,” Carr said of free agency, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I love defending the star. I love representing everything that comes with the Dallas Cowboys organization, so that’s first and foremost. But also, you have to play the game. There’s a business side to it as well, and I’m prepared to do both.” Carr won’t be signing for $10MM annually like he did in 2012 but should generate some interest as a second-tier option. The veteran defender who grew up a Cowboys fan is one of two corners, joining Morris Claiborne, that could defect from Dallas this month.
- The Saints have expressed interest in bringing back Sterling Moore, Herbie Teope of NOLA.com reports. Moore said last month he was certain mutual interest existed between he and the Saints, and there now appears to be something to that. The 26-year-old corner helped stabilize a ravaged New Orleans cornerback group, one that lost Delvin Breaux for much of the season and P.J. Williams for nearly all of it. Moore played on a one-year deal in New Orleans last season after bouncing from the Patriots to the Cowboys to the Buccaneers between 2011-15. PFF tabbed Moore as the Saints’ top corner last season.
49ers Re-Sign WR Jeremy Kerley
Jeremy Kerley will not be exploring free agency next week. The 49ers and the wide receiver have agreed to a three-year, $10.5MM deal, according to Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Kerley came to the 49ers in an August trade with the Lions. He went on to have a career-high 64 receptions in his first season with San Francisco. Teams didn’t think much of Kerley at that point in his career, but the Niners traded for him with a specific role in mind. He flourished with the additional workload and he is now being rewarded for that.
The 28-year-old first made a name for himself when he had 56 catches and 827 yards for the Jets in 2012. From there, however, his role slowly diminished until he was released midway through his four-year extension.
The 49ers will hope for similar production out of Kerley while getting more from Torrey Smith. The Niners can also be expected to explore adding an impact receiver or two.
Matt Asiata Unlikely To Return To Vikings
Running back Matt Asiata is eligible for free agency next week and it sounds like he’ll wind up signing elsewhere. Asiata plans to test the open market and chances of him returning to the Vikings are low, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. 
[RELATED: Vikings CB Captain Munnerlyn Seeking Long-Term Deal]
Asiata, 30 in July, first broke into the NFL as a UDFA signing in Minnesota in 2011. Ever since 2012, he has been on the Vikings’ active roster. His workload increased in 2014 and 2016, seasons in which Adrian Peterson missed the majority of games. Asiata provides solid pass-catching ability – he averaged 38 catches between those two aforementioned campaigns – but he’s not an ultra-athletic ball carrier like teammate Jerick McKinnon.
Last year, Asiata re-signed with the Vikings on a one-year, $840K deal with a $60K signing bonus. The pact also included up to $500K in incentives based on playing-time, rushing yards, and receptions. It remains to be seen whether he can fetch a deal with significant guarantees this offseason. At his age, he may have to settle for a pact that doesn’t include any sort of safety net.
Vikings Expected To Apply Second-Round Tender To Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen‘s breakout 2016 season looks set to generate a reward for the fourth-year wide receiver while making him less attractive to other teams as free agency nears. The Vikings are expected to place a second-round tender on Thielen, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (on Twitter).
Tomasson adds that a near-future extension is still possible for Thielen, who emerged with 967 receiving yards last season after totaling 281 in his previous two NFL seasons. The second-round tender is slated to be worth $2.81MM. The 26-year-old pass-catcher made $600K last season. Thielen’s agent, Blake Baratz, said in February the wideout has his eye on an extension to stay in Minnesota long-term. Baratz would still expect teams to pursue Thielen even if it costs teams draft compensation.
“They have the ability to do right by him, and [Thielen has] far exceeded anyone’s expectations,” Baratz said of the Vikings. “They don’t have any money invested in their wide receivers, and we can figure out something to do that’s right — this week, next week, the following week, March, April. Every day that gets closer to the end of next season without a deal in place, the pendulum just continues to swing Adam’s way.”
Nevertheless, the former Division II wide receiver could be an unlikely name on the 2018 UFA market, provided no extension is agreed to — if he can replicate the quality work he did in 2016. Thielen’s five touchdown receptions were four more than he posted in his career coming into last season. On a second-round tender, Thielen would represent the Vikings’ second-highest cap figure among receivers. Jarius Wright‘s $3.138MM number tops the group presently.
Extra Points: Cooks, Ross, Davis, Cousins
The Eagles have been connected to Brandin Cooks for some time. Eyeing the eventual Saints wide receiver in 2014 draft, Philadelphia tried to trade for the speedster before the deadline last year, Jeff McLane of Philly.com reports. Both the Eagles and Titans have been connected to the fourth-year wideout, who will have two more years left on his rookie contract after his fifth-year option is picked up. The Eagles were also connected to 49ers wideout Torrey Smith prior to the 2016 trade deadline. They did not end up making a trade, but wide receiver looms at or near the top of Philly’s wish list going into the 2017 offseason.
Here’s more from around the league.
- Washington wideout prospect John Ross set NFL Twitter ablaze today by running a 4.22-second 40-yard dash. That time is now official, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. The former Huskies pass-catcher ascends to the top of the Combine 40 hierarchy. Chris Johnson‘s 4.24-second clocking in 2008 previously resided atop this list. Ross, though, was limping after the historic sprint and entered the Combine with a shoulder malady that will be addressed soon. Ross has a surgery scheduled for March 14 — three days after Washington’s pro day — according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). Cole adds that Ross is expected to be ready to start his rookie season on time.
- One NFL wide receivers coach likened the 5-foot-11 wideout to “a clean Tyreek Hill,” via Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). Ross was already considered one of the top receiver prospects in this draft, with ESPN.com’s Todd McShay (Insider link) ranking him behind only Mike Williams and Corey Davis.
- Davis expects to be ready to play by minicamp, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. The Western Michigan talent isn’t participating at the Combine due to ankle surgery. He won’t be ready to return to action by Western Michigan’s pro day.
- Kirk Cousins has yet to sign his Redskins franchise tender after doing so immediately last year upon being tagged, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. Florio offers that Cousins’ wait may be in hopes of the team rescinding the tag, a la Josh Norman last year. Cousins said in January he’d sign the tag, worth $23.94MM, and Florio notes that not happening after four days shows something isn’t right. Of course, the Cousins negotiations stand to be complex this offseason, and it’s still incredibly early in this process. No other tagged performer as signed his tender yet.
Latest On Reuben Foster
Top prospect Reuben Foster was sent home from the Combine due to a dustup with a hospital employee, potentially affecting his draft stock. More information emerged on this situation on Saturday morning, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reporting (Facebook link) the argument stemmed from Foster having to wait longer than expected for his Combine “pre-exam.”
The NFL is reviewing this matter in hopes it doesn’t happen again in the future, one source told Schefter, who adds another said this was a miscommunication. That said, multiple sources are reporting about Foster’s heated exchange with a hospital worker. Foster did not take kindly to having to wait in a long line and played the “Do you know who I am?” card with the worker, Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com reports (on Twitter). The employee said Foster would have to wait like everyone else, and, per Klemko, the Alabama-developed linebacker threatened to lay hands on the hospital worker. That led to the heated argument.
Foster took to Instagram (via Michael Casagrande of AL.com) to respond, saying, “Y’all, stop asking me what happened, for real. Nothing happened.
“Talk to Tim [Williams]. Talk to Ryan [Anderson]. Talk to Dalvin [Tomlinson]. Them boys know. They were there,” Foster said. “My agent backs me. I’m staying low. When I get my chance, I’m taking advantage of it.”
One league official told Schefter the league has to inform the players better regarding this process. The ESPN reporter adds other players are being interviewed about this sequence, one that will likely follow Foster until at least the draft. The standout Crimson Tide linebacker was scheduled for team interviews on Saturday. Rotator cuff surgery intervened on initial plans to work out at the Combine.
Foster is expected to be the first non-rush linebacker to be selected in April. He’s viewed as a top 10 pick by most, and one executive told Schefter on Thursday night Foster was a legitimate top 3 choice. That wasn’t the first such view of Foster as a potential top 3 pick.
Eagles Give Allen Barbre Permission To Seek Trade
A full-time Eagles starter for the past two seasons, Allen Barbre may be on the move after the team gave the veteran lineman permission to seek a trade, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets.
The 32-year-old guard signed a three-year extension with the Eagles prior to the 2014 season, when one year remained on his previous Philadelphia contract. He has one year remaining on his deal, being set to carry a small cap figure of $2.25MM. This could be a sign the Eagles want second-year talent Isaac Seumalo to start at left guard opposite Brandon Brooks, NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks writes. Seumalo played in nine games as a rookie, starting four.
Barbre’s modest salary and 2016 performance, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 23 guard, could make him a reasonably interesting trade piece as a short-term solution. The 10-year veteran will turn 33 in June.
This marks the latest in the Eagles’ attempts to create cap space. They approached Jason Peters about taking a pay cut, but plans to retain him nonetheless, and may still be pondering releasing Jason Kelce. Philly is trying to find a trade partner for Mychal Kendricks as well. The Eagles, who authorized several pricey extensions last year, stand to have $8.6MM in cap room.
NFC North Notes: Munnerlyn, Lions, Hyde
Captain Munnerlyn will be 29 before the 2017 season begins, but the veteran slot cornerback does not have a medium-length contract on his mind. The Vikings free agent is seeking a long-term pact and a raise.
“I’m looking for a four- or five-year deal; just somewhere I can finish my career at, and go from there,” Munnerlyn said, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I don’t want a one- or two-year deal. I definitely don’t want to do that. I want to get something longer, so I can settle in and see if I want to make [Minnesota] my home.”
Munnerlyn finished a three-year, $12.2MM Vikings deal and received more slot reps than almost any corner in football during that span. Using the cap’s increase to $167MM behind the reasoning, Munnerlyn is targeting a raise from the $4.2MM base salary he earned in 2016. Two of his agents were scheduled to meet with Vikings executive vice president Rob Brzezinski on Friday. Munnerlyn joins the likes of A.J. Bouye, Stephon Gilmore, Morris Claiborne and others on the cornerback market.
Here’s more from the NFC North on Combine Saturday.
- The Lions are open to discussing an extension with Eric Ebron, but Bob Quinn said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com) that conversation won’t occur for months. Detroit has Ebron’s fifth-year option decision due in early May. Ebron is due $3.9MM in 2017, and Meinke notes Quinn’s recent comments on the tight end suggest he is genuinely interested in keeping him in the Motor City long-term. Ebron could see a bigger role in ’17 if the Lions don’t bring back Anquan Boldin. The 23-year-old tight end set career highs in receptions (61) and yards (711) last season despite playing in just 13 games.
- Recipient of an extension that hasn’t benefited the Lions, DeAndre Levy has yet to be approached about a pay cut or restructure, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com notes. This course of action may be coming this offseason after Levy’s last two years of work — just 21 tackles and six games played since signing that four-year, $33.74MM extension — but it hasn’t yet. And Quinn expects Levy to return in 2017, although that decision isn’t final yet. As a result of Levy’s injury issues, linebacker is a glaring need for the Lions going into free agency.
- Packers contract negotiator Russ Ball met with Micah Hyde‘s agent on Friday at the Combine, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports. ESPN confirmed Ball met with the agents of Packers UFAs Eddie Lacy, Jared Cook, T.J. Lang and J.C. Tretter. However, Lang has already said he won’t sign before free agency commences. Green Bay isn’t likely to retain Tretter, either. Hyde said he would love to stay in Green Bay, identifying it as the best place for him, but hasn’t heard much from the team this offseason about a reunion.
Texans Still In Mix For Tony Romo?
Among the numerous teams connected with Tony Romo, the Texans haven’t hovered on the forefront of this unique pursuit despite being an apparent fit. But the growing sense among executives, coaches and agents around the league is the Texans being the most likely destination for the Texans, Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes.
Houston’s last known stance on this matter surfaced more than a month ago, when owner Bob McNair said the team intends to draft a quarterback. Romo was not believed to be an option for the Texans at that point. Since, Romo’s been connected to the Broncos, Chiefs, Redskins, 49ers, Bears and Bills — with a scenario now involving a three-team trade between the Cowboys, 49ers and Redskins being the most unique — in what’s becoming quite the complicated race. But the Texans are an obvious fit, Brock Osweiler‘s contract notwithstanding, due to their hole at quarterback and strong defense.
“That one makes the most sense to me,” a high-ranking official with one franchise said, via Maske. “I don’t think anyone in the league would be surprised to see that one happen.”
Regarding the blockbuster three-team trade mentioned on Friday, a high-ranking Cowboys official told Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link) that the team hasn’t been contacted about a deal that would send Romo to Washington and Kirk Cousins to San Francisco. Multiple sources told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk the Romo-to-D.C. proposal might be implausible.
If the smoke clears on that would-be megadeal and Romo is still with the Cowboys, the Texans will still have Osweiler’s contract to deal with. The sixth-year passer struggled last season but has three seasons remaining on the four-year, $72MM pact he signed last March. And $25MM in dead money is attached to that accord for 2017, providing a deterrent to the Romo-to-Houston talk. Romo has three seasons left on his Cowboys deal, one that includes a league-high $24.7MM cap number in ’17, but he expects to be released. The Texans have $23MM-plus in cap space but want to re-sign A.J. Bouye, who is expected to be one of the highest-paid free agents on the market.