HEADLINES

Month: April 2017

Dolphins Notes: Landry, Pouncey, Jones

April 23rd, 2017 at 4:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the Dolphins plan to offer an extension with wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the club has yet to begin talks with Landry or indicated when such discussions might occur, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Landry, however, is handling the situation well, per Jackson, and may have helped his case by showing up for workouts earlier this week. Fellow Miami wideout Kenny Stills landed a four-year, $32MM deal on the first day of free agency, and Landry figures to eclipse that total. After averaging 96 receptions and 1,017 yards during his first three NFL seasons, Landy could theoretically target the recent deals inked by Doug Baldwin and Keenan Allen, each of which pays north of $11MM annually.

Here’s more from Miami:

  • The Dolphins are cognizant of the need to find a backup plan to center Mike Pouncey, who has dealt with nagging hip injuries in recent years, per Jackson. Pouncey doesn’t believe the issue is career-threatening, but he did miss 11 games during the 2016 season, and Miami is aware it needs to be prepared if Pouncey is sidelined again in 2017. With that in mind, the Dolphins recently put Baylor center Kyle Fuller (not to be confused with the Bears cornerback of the same name) through a workout. Indiana guard Dan Feeney has also met with the Dolphins, and could conceivably be an option at the pivot. At present, second-year pro Anthony Steen — who started seven contests last season — is Pouncey’s direct backup.
  • Safety Reshad Jones‘ extension with the Dolphins actually covers only a four-year term, not five years as had been previously reported, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap indicates. The deal has a base value of $48MM, and contains $19.885MM in full guarantees. The guarantee money is comprised of a $9MM signing bonus and Jones’ 2017 and 2018 base salaries, per Fitzgerald. Another ~$13MM is guaranteed for injury only, and will fully guarantee on the third day of the 2018 and 2019 league years.
  • In case you missed it, the Dolphins “love” Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp and Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. Miami was expected to target edge defenders and guards in the draft, so both Lamp and Barnett will fill needs for the club. Both Lamp and Barnett are considered Round 1 prospects, and both could be available when the Dolphins pick at No. 22 (of course, the possibility exists that both are already off the board, as well).

PFR Originals: 4/16/17 – 4/23/17

April 23rd, 2017 at 3:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Florida DT Caleb Brantley Charged With Assault

April 23rd, 2017 at 2:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Florida defensive lineman and 2017 draft prospect Caleb Brantley has been charged with misdemeanor assault after knocking a woman unconscious earlier this month, according to Patrick Pinak of The Alligator (Twitter link).Caleb Brantley (Vertical)

Two witnesses saw Brantley engaging in a verbal dispute with a female on April 13. After the woman shoved Brantley due to “crude comments” he made, Brantley struck the woman in the face, rendering her unconscious and displacing a tooth (the victim will now be forced to undergo a root canal). Per the witnesses, Brantley’s actions were borne out of retaliation and not self-defense, and his level of “force far exceeded what was reasonable or necessary.

Brantley had been viewed as a Day 2 prospect heading into the week, per Rob Rang of CBSSports.com. Following this assault charge, however, Brantley stands a chance of going undrafted, tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). With only four days left until the draft begins, NFL clubs will be “scrambling for info” on the Brantley situation, per Miller.

Falcons Notes: Mixon, Freeney, Coleman

April 23rd, 2017 at 2:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons are not interested in drafting running back Joe Mixon, and have removed him from their draft board given his prior assault charge, according to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta becomes the third known to team to have ruled out Mixon, joining Miami and New England. Like the Dolphins and Patriots, though, the Falcons don’t necessarily need a player of Mixon’s caliber given the level of talent on their roster. In Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Atlanta already boasts one of the better backfield tandems in the league, and can easily make the decision to avoid the headache of adding Mixon.

Here’s more from Atlanta:

  • Although veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney is likely to continue his career in 2017, the Falcons won’t decide whether to offer him a new contract until after the draft, per Schultz. Freeney, 37, probably wouldn’t have been participated in Atlanta’s spring workout sessions, so the club doesn’t feel the need to hurry into an offer. Last season, Freeney played on roughly a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in 2016, and posted three sacks and 18 hurries. He’s PFR’s No. 1 free agent edge defender. At present, Atlanta’s defensive end depth chart includes Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn, Derrick Shelby, Courtney Upshaw, Brooks Reed, and Jack Crawford, while the club could also select another pass rusher in the draft.
  • A long-term extension with Freeman is also on the back burner, reports Schultz, and the Falcons don’t expect to begin contract discussions until the start of training camp. Negotiations could also bleed into the regular season. Freeman, 25, is scheduled to earn $1.797MM in 2017, and was at one point reportedly looking for “elite” running back money. While Freeman and his agent have since walked back those comments, Freeman is surely still hunting for a hefty deal after combining for 2,100-plus rushing yards, 27 touchdowns (22 on the ground, five receiving) and 127 catches from 2015-16.
  • The Falcons could have interest in trading up from the No. 31 pick, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “To move up in the 20s, there will be opportunities there,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “There are some interesting candidates that will be around there in the early parts of the 20s.” Atlanta could target a number of positions of Day 1 of the draft, but edge rusher or guard seem to be the club’s clearest need areas. In PFR’s first 2017 mock draft, I sent UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley to the Falcons at the end of the first round.
  • In case you missed it, the Falcons plan to exercise left tackle Jake Matthews‘ 2018 fifth-year option. The former No. 6 overall pick had a decent showing last year, earning a 74.3 overall score on Pro Football Focus. That mark left Mathews ranked No. 37 among all tackles, putting him in the middle of the pack out of 78 qualified players. He’ll earn roughly $12.81MM in 2018, but that figure is guaranteed for injury only until the first day of the 2018 league year.

Checking In On 2017 Restricted Free Agents

April 23rd, 2017 at 1:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The deadline for NFL restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with rival clubs passed on Friday, so RFAs no longer have the option of landing with another club (except via trade). So far, thee RFAs have inked offer sheets, and Bills running back Mike Gillislee is still in limbo as he waits to hear if Buffalo will match the Patriots’ proposal."<strong

Other high-profile restricted free agent cases exist, as well. The Saints held a public dalliance with Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, but declined to sign him to an offer sheet that would have forced them to sacrifice the No. 11 pick. A trade between the two teams is still possible, however, but may need to be completed before the draft begins on Thursday.

Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, meanwhile, reportedly drew interest during the RFA period, but never landed an offer sheet as any club would have had to give up a second-round pick to sign him away. Crowell is now staying away from Cleveland’s offseason workouts, though his end game is unclear.

In total, more than 40 restricted free agents have been tendered this offseason, and nine have yet to sign their RFA tender. Let’s take a look at where things stand with each restricted free agent:

Under Contract

Signed to offer sheet:

First-round tender ($3.91MM):

Second-round tender ($2.746MM):

Original round / right of first refusal tender ($1.797MM):

Tendered, then extended:

Tendered, then signed lesser deal:

In addition to those players listed above, there is a small group of restricted free agents who haven’t yet signed their tenders (plus two who had their tenders withdrawn). The players below don’t have the option of leaving for another club, so odds are that they’ll all eventually ink their tenders. If they don’t do so by June 15, however, their respective teams can reduce their salaries to 110% of their 2016 pay.

Unsigned

Second-round tender ($2.746MM):

Original round / right of first refusal tender ($1.797MM):

Tendered, then withdrawn:

Draft Rumors: Redskins, Trubisky, Browns

April 23rd, 2017 at 12:27pm CST by Rory Parks

The Redskins recently re-signed RB Chris Thompson, but as John Keim of ESPN.com writes, the team wants to add another back to complement Thompson and incumbent starter Rob Kelley. It is unclear whether that will happen in free agency or the draft, but head coach Jay Gruden has said that the team would only select a running back high in the draft if such a running back is a “home run hitter.” Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook certainly fit that description, and Keim believes they could tempt Washington in the first round of this week’s draft. In a separate piece, Keim writes that the Redskins want to draft a difference-making pass rusher “in the worst way,” and given that this year’s draft is rich in pass-rushing talent, they could be picking from a few intriguing options at No. 17 overall. However, they could also consider Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster if he is still available when Washington is on the clock (and he may be, given his recent failed urine test).

Now for more draft-related nuggets:

  • Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes there is truth to the rumors that the Browns and Jets are discussing a deal that would see the Browns send their No. 12 overall pick and multiple other selections to New York in exchange for the Jets’ No. 6 overall selection. Such a deal would likely be contingent on, among other things, Mitch Trubisky‘s still being available, but the teams are talking and Cimini believes the Jets should pull the trigger if they can.
  • Speaking of the Browns and Trubisky, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer hears that the Browns’ interest in taking the UNC signal-caller with the No. 1 overall pick is genuine, but she still thinks the team will select Myles Garrett with that choice.
  • The Browns are hoping that the Moneyball approach will translate to the NFL, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. Former baseball executive Paul DePodesta has the Browns evaluating things differently and stockpiling picks in a way that we haven’t seen before in the NFL. Heading into the draft, Cleveland has five picks within the first 65 selections this year, including the Nos. 1, 12, 33, 52, and 65 overall picks. That’s not including the 2018 second-round draft pick they received for taking on the contract of quarterback Brock Osweiler. The hiring of DePodesta was met with mixed reactions, but it’s hard to find fault with all of the ammo the Browns currently have, which will allow them to trade up if necessary to land the quarterback they want.
  • Steelers WR Martavis Bryant is expected to be reinstated and to contribute in a big way to the Steelers’ passing attack in 2017, but given that he missed all of the 2016 season and has yet to actually be reinstated, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com believes Pittsburgh will approach this week’s draft as if Bryant is not in the mix. The team’s first-round pick is too late to land one of this year’s top WR prospects, but Fowler names Zay Jones, Chris Godwin, and Josh Reynolds as potential fits.
  • Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal realizes that the Raiders have not yet acquired Marshawn Lynch, and the team has some questions at right tackle, but the expectation is that GM Reggie McKenzie will devote the majority, if not entirety, of his earliest draft resources to the defensive side of the ball. That trend likely will continue to some degree in the fourth through seventh rounds.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

 

Ted Thompson’s Frugal Approach Hurting Packers?

April 23rd, 2017 at 11:24am CST by Rory Parks

Packers GM Ted Thompson operates about as conservatively as any general manager in the league, and it is difficult to argue with the results, as Green Bay has qualified for the playoffs eight years in a row and captured a Super Bowl title in the 2010 season. But Thompson has recently come under fire for his recent poor draft record, and his decision to let T.J. Lang walk in free agency this offseason may have widened the chasm between the front office and the players/coaching staff.

Ted Thompson

As Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel writes, Packers’ coaches and players were “incensed” by Lang’s departure, and their anger might not stem solely from the fact that they lost a valuable member of the club. McGinn writes that Green Bay’s front office has a growing reputation in the league for being cheap, which has hurt the Packers’ image within the locker room and in the court of public opinion.

The Packers consistently roll over a significant amount of cap room from one year to the next, and today they sit over $22MM under the cap, which will in all likelihood allow them to carry over a great deal of money to the 2018 cap as well. As McGinn observes, Thompson is overly concerned that the NFL’s revenue-sharing system regarding network television and other endeavors might one day end, perhaps in the not-too-distant future. As such, Thompson believes that by saving money “for a rainy day,” he is protecting the franchise from a potential financial nightmare.

But even if last year’s ratings decline were a harbinger of things to come, and even if the league is forced to make dramatic changes in the way it does business, an immensely popular club like the Packers would have time to adjust and to preserve its financial well-being. So when Thompson fails to re-sign players like Lang — which, in a vacuum, is certainly a defensible decision — or when he fails to dip his toes into the deep end of the free agent pool from time to time, he opens himself up to criticism. Last year’s Josh Sitton debacle, when combined with Lang’s departure, has put Green Bay’s offensive line in a very precarious position, and now the Packers may be forced to draft a guard from a draft class without many top-tier O-line prospects when they could have been focusing almost exclusively on defense.

There have been recent reports suggesting that Thompson could step aside into a senior scouting position, but he does have two years left on his contract and vice president Russ Ball appears to share Thompson’s conservative thinking. It is therefore difficult to see Thompson leaving his present role until he is ready, but it is likewise easy to see how the team’s players and coaching staff could be increasingly frustrated with their front office.

Ali Marpet To Shift To Center

April 23rd, 2017 at 10:01am CST by Rory Parks

After spending the first two years of his career at right guard, Buccaneers offensive lineman Ali Marpet will be moving to center, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Marpet performed very well for Tampa Bay last season, grading as the 13th-best guard in the league out of 71 qualifying players, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive guard Ali Marpet (74) during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

However, with guard J.R. Sweezy set to return after missing all of 2016 with a back injury, the Bucs are hoping Marpet’s success will continue at center. The team also has veteran centers Evan Smith and Joe Hawley on the roster, both of whom received $1MM bonuses in the offseason – and Hawley performed pretty well himself in 2016 – so it would be easy enough to simply line Sweezy up at left guard and keep Hawley and Marpet where they were last year. But the Bucs apparently have a different vision for the future of their line.

Marpet has snapped before and during practices in case he was ever called upon as an emergency center, but he never even played center in a high school or collegiate game, much less a professional one.

Nonetheless, the 2015 second-round pick out of D-III Hobart College is excited about the transition. He said, “I’m a center. It’s always been in the back pocket. I can still play guard. I know. I’ve played guard. I imagine they’re not saying ‘You’re the starter, no matter what you do.’ But they like the idea, so we’re going to try it.” He and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy believe he could be especially effective in the more confined spaces that a center is required to work in.

Tampa Bay’s line returns almost entirely intact from last season, and despite a couple of moving pieces, that consistency should be a boon to young signal-caller Jameis Winston and the offense as a whole in 2017.

Chiefs Release Jaye Howard

April 23rd, 2017 at 9:28am CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs cut one of their defensive line starters today, parting ways with Jaye Howard, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

This comes barely a year after Kansas City re-signed Howard on a two-year deal worth $10MM. The Chiefs now have only one of their 2016 Week 1 defensive line starters on the roster, with Allen Bailey still under contract. Dontari Poe left as a free agent last month.

This move will save the Chiefs $3.8MM while accounting for $2.5MM in dead money. Howard’s cap figure was set to rise from $3.5MM to $6.375MM, joining other recently re-signed Chiefs among those who saw the franchise backload their deals to free up cap space last year. But Howard will now be a free agent after starting for three seasons with the Chiefs, who entered Saturday with just $1.5MM in cap space.

With that $2.5MM being guaranteed on March 11, the Chiefs want Howard to sign elsewhere, Schefter tweets, in order to recoup some of that money. Assuming Howard does, in fact, sign elsewhere, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets that the Chiefs can get up to $3.875MM in cap relief, regardless of when Howard signs.

Howard was one of the top defensive linemen in free agency last year but agreed to return to Kansas City as the team fortified its defense via re-ups of Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali. A year later, Johnson accepted a paycut and Howard is no longer on the roster. The Chiefs’ 2017 defensive line will almost certainly feature Chris Jones and Bennie Logan as starters, replacing Howard and Poe. Bailey would appear to be the third player set to start on this front, but both he and Howard experienced injury issues in 2016.

Howard and Bailey finished last season on IR, with a hip injury responsible for relegating Howard there after eight games. After a breakout 2015 season featuring a career-high five sacks for the former Seahawks fourth-round pick, Howard registered one in eight games last season. The 27-year-old lineman played both defensive end and nose tackle in the Chiefs’ 3-4 scheme and would figure to draw some interest on the open market, provided he’s in position to recover from the hip malady that sidelined him.

Jaylon Smith To Be Ready For OTAs?

April 23rd, 2017 at 8:28am CST by Rory Parks

Cowboys’ 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith is expected to be ready for OTAs, as Josh Clark of CBS-DFW writes. Smith, of course, was expected to be a Top-10 pick in the 2016 draft, but a major knee injury suffered late in his collegiate career put his NFL dreams in flux and caused his draft stock to plummet. Dallas eventually nabbed him with the 34th-overall selection, knowing he would miss at least his entire rookie season but betting on his vast upside.

Jaylon Smith (vertical)

Since then, there have been differing viewpoints on whether Smith will be able to contribute in 2017. Dallas brass, inevitably, has expressed the most optimism, whereas national reporters have heard less promising opinions. For instance, we heard in March that there has been no significant change in the nerve damage in Smith’s knee, and that, despite the public statements issued by club owner Jerry Jones and COO Stephen Jones, the team is not especially bullish on Smith’s prospects.

It is therefore worth noting that this most recent report is based on a statement from Stephen Jones and should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Smith has been participating in the team’s voluntary offseason workouts at The Star in Frisco, which is certainly good news, but it is unclear at this point exactly what those workouts entail.

Stephen Jones, though, has doubled down on his public stance, saying he’s “more fired up than ever” that Smith is on the team, and that the Notre Dame product is “making great improvements.” He added:

“[Smith’s] another guy that when you look at how we improve our defense over last year, him and (Charles) Tapper both, as we all know, were high picks for us that didn’t contribute last year. We certainly have high hopes for both of those guys and feel like they’re going to be ready to go here when OTAs and minicamp start.”

Given Smith’s potential, it would be good not just for the Cowboys, but for football is a whole, if Jones is right.

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