2017 April - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos To Pick Up Bradley Roby’s Option

April 18th, 2017 at 9:44am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos are expected to exercise cornerback Bradley Roby‘s 2018 fifth-year option, which is valued at $8.526MM, according to Mike Klis of 9News.

That $8.526MM salary will place Roby inside the top-20 in terms of annual cornerback figures, just ahead of fellow Broncos corner Chris Harris. It’s unclear if the 24-year-old Roby is worth that amount of cash, especially given that he’s third in line for playing time behind Harris and Aqib Talib. That rotation doesn’t figure to change much, as both Harris and Talib are signed through the 2019 campaign.

Given the prevalence of nickel packages in today’s NFL, Roby still played on roughly 60% of Denver’s defensive snaps in 2016. But he wasn’t all that effective, as Pro Football Focus graded him as just the No. 83 corner among 111 qualifiers. PFF gave Roby much more positive marks over the course of his first two seasons in the league, so the Broncos will exercise his option in the hopes of him reaching that level of play once again.

The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only until the first day of the 2018 league year, so unless Roby suffers a major health issue, the Broncos won’t be completely locked into Roby’s salary for the 2018 season. But as Klis notes, Roby and his representatives could conceivably use that ~$8.5MM total as a foundation in extension talks, basing any long-term salary around that number.

Cowboys Exercise Zack Martin’s 2018 Option

April 18th, 2017 at 8:14am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys have officially exercised their 2018 fifth-year option on guard Zack Martin, the club announced today. The option will be worth $9.341MM, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.

The decision comes as no surprise, given that Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said in January Dallas planned to pick up the option. Martin, 26, has started all 48 games since joining Dallas three years ago, and has emerged as one of the league’s best guard on one of the NFL’s finest offensive lines. Playing alongside talents such as left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick, Martin graded as the third-best guard of 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Jones called an eventual Martin extension a “big priority,” and Martin himself is in favor of a long-term deal.

“It would be huge,” Martin said. “I’m not real worried about that. I’m worried about playing. Obviously I’ll be here for hopefully a long time. These guys make it fun to come to work every day…Hopefully we can get something done.”

A new contract won’t come cheap, especially after Kevin Zeitler reset the guard market last month by inking a five-year deal with the Browns that pays him $12MM annually. Martin, a two-time All Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, will surely set Zeitler’s pact as his target. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have already invested significant resources in the offensive line, as both Smith and Frederick are under contract via long-term deals.

Extra Points: Ja. Peppers, Rams, Texans

April 17th, 2017 at 9:42pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Jabrill Peppers played both linebacker and cornerback at Michigan, but nearly all NFL teams view the draft-bound prospect as a safety, he told the Associated Press. Peppers is on board, saying, “I didn’t play safety, but I’m going to be a safety.” While one club informed Peppers it would use him at linebacker, another had an outside-the-box idea. “One team told me they thought I should play offense,” revealed Peppers, who did see time on that side of the ball at Michigan last season. Peppers rushed 27 times for 167 yards, caught two passes and scored three touchdowns. He also fared well in space as a punt returner, posting a Big Ten-leading 14.8-yard average on runbacks.

Seahawks’ Garry Gilliam Signs Offer Sheet With 49ers

April 17th, 2017 at 9:20pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Seahawks restricted free agent right tackle Garry Gilliam has signed an offer sheet with the NFC West rival 49ers, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year, $2.2MM contract, including $1.4MM in guarantees, report ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Kapadia (Twitter links). Seattle will have five days to match the proposal, but if the team lets Gilliam go, it won’t receive any compensation for the 2014 undrafted free agent because it only assigned him an original-round tender (worth $1.797MM, with nothing guaranteed).

The 49ers hosted Gilliam on a visit last Thursday and subsequently offered him a multiyear deal, but he rejected it. By taking a one-year offer, Gilliam has set himself up to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason at the age of 27.

Since entering the NFL, Gilliam has totaled 30 starts, nearly all of which (29) came over the past two seasons. Gilliam’s performance across 14 appearances last season ranked just 71st among Pro Football Focus‘ 78 qualified tackles, making him one of the least effective parts of one of the league’s worst offensive lines. The 49ers’ O-line was also woeful, though PFF ranked their top right tackle, Trenton Brown (No. 55), higher than Gilliam.

NFC Draft Visits: 49ers, Eagles, Panthers, Seahawks, Cowboys

April 17th, 2017 at 8:19pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest draft visits from the NFC:

LSU safety Jamal Adams recently visited the 49ers, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Adams will come off the board somewhere in the top 10, though San Francisco’s first-rounder (No. 2 overall) could be too early to select him. The 49ers do want to trade down, however, and if that happens, perhaps they’ll look to Adams if he’s still available.
The Eagles hosted Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett and Florida cornerback Quincy Wilson on Monday, according to Rapoport (Twitter links). Barnett joins Missouri’s Charles Harris as the second prospective first-round DE to visit the Eagles, owners of the 14th pick, in the past week. Barnett tallied 13 sacks last season, while no one on Philadelphia’s roster finished with more than 6.5. Wilson, meanwhile, could quickly become “a solid No. 2 cornerback” in the pros, opines NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who rates him as the 29th-best player in this year’s class.
The Panthers, known to be in the market for running back help, had Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel in for a visit Monday, relays Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter link). Samuel’s stock seems to be rising because he can also contribute as a receiver and returner, perhaps making him the next Tyreek Hill type to hit the NFL. It’s possible he’ll still be on the board when the Panthers are on the clock in Round 2 (No. 40 overall).
Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell met with the Seahawks on Monday, tweets Rapoport, and will visit the Cowboys later this week, reports Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram. McDowell is among the top D-tackle prospects in a weak class of interior defenders, and might be a fit for Seattle at No. 26 or Dallas at No. 28.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/17

April 17th, 2017 at 7:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest minor moves…

Raiders defensive end Denico Autry has signed his RFA tender, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). The Raiders gave the 2014 undrafted free agent an original-round tender, leading to speculation that he could draw interest from elsewhere. Instead, Autry will return to the Raiders on the heels of back-to-back three-sack seasons. ERFAs Seth Roberts (WR) and Denver Kirkland (G) are also back in the fold, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (on Twitter).
The Seahawks have re-signed linebacker Kache Palacio, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Palacio, a former fullback who went undrafted out of Washington State last year, spent most of 2016 on Seattle’s practice squad.
Lions ERFAs Brandon Copeland (DE), Kerry Hyder (DT) and T.J. Jones (WR) have signed their tenders, tweets Birkett. Dolphins ERFAs Mike Hull (LB) and Anthony Steen (C) did the same earlier Monday, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

The Panthers have re-upped restricted free agent guard Andrew Norwell and a pair of exclusive rights free agents – center Tyler Larsen and punter Michael Palardy – writes Bryan Strickland of their website. Carolina used a second-round tender on Norwell, who will earn $2.746MM in 2017. Norwell combined for 29 starts over the previous two seasons and ranked 11th in performance among Pro Football Focus’ 72 qualified guards last year.
Steelers RFA cornerback Ross Cockrell has inked his original-round tender, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Cockrell went in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, so the Steelers would have been entitled to a fourth-rounder had Cockrell signed elsewhere and they elected against matching the offer. The 25-year-old caught on with the Steelers in 2015 and has since totaled 31 appearances, 23 starts and two interceptions. Cockrell started in every Steelers game last year, and his performance ranked an improve 28th among 111 qualified corners at PFF.
Chiefs RFA kicker Cairo Santos has signed his tender, per Schefter (on Twitter). Santos, undrafted in 2014, received a low tender; as such, Kansas City wouldn’t have been entitled to compensation had he gone elsewhere. The three-year veteran has connected on 84.3 percent of field goal attempts, including 88.6 percent last season (good for fifth in the league).
Lions offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas has signed his RFA tender, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The Lions assigned Lucas an original-rounder tender last month, so they wouldn’t have gotten a pick had the 2014 undrafted free agent signed elsewhere and they chose not to match. Lucas is now slated to make $1.797MM this year in Detroit, where he has started in six of 35 career appearances.
The Buccaneers have re-signed quarterback Ryan Griffin, cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah, tight end Cameron Brate, linebacker Adarius Glanton, and wide receivers Adam Humphries and Freddie Martino, per Scott Smith of the team’s website. As a restricted free agent, Griffin is the only one of the bunch who could have potentially gone elsewhere (the rest were exclusive rights free agents). The Bucs tendered the 2013 undrafted free agent at an original-round level last month, and he’ll now try to win the No. 2 role behind Jameis Winston. Tampa Bay’s previous second-stringer, Mike Glennon, is now the Bears’ starter.
RFA defensive back Marcus Burley and ERFA running back George Atkinson III are returning to the Browns, per a team announcement. Burley, undrafted in 2013, received an original-round tender. The former Seahawk is coming off his first year in Cleveland, where he appeared in 12 games and played just under 40 percent of the Browns’ special teams snaps.
Fullback Tommy Bohanon and receiver Larry Pinkard have signed with the Jaguars, tweets the team’s account. Bohanon is the only with NFL experience, having logged 36 appearances and 14 starts as a Jet from 2013-15.
Speaking of the Jets, they have re-signed linebacker Julian Stanford (via Randy Lange of the team’s site). The Jets could Stanford on Friday, but both sides knew that was only a procedural move. Last season was the first as a Jet for the 26-year-old Stanford, who appeared in nine games (two starts) and played about a quarter of their defensive snaps and a third of their special teams snaps.

Draft Rumors: Fournette, Foster, Robinson

April 17th, 2017 at 6:21pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

LSU running back Leonard Fournette will visit the 49ers prior to the draft, reports Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. While the 49ers would reportedly like to trade down in Round 1, Fournette could be a possibility for them if they keep the second overall pick. San Francisco already has a productive No. 1 back in Carlos Hyde, whom general manager John Lynch spoke highly of last week, but there are whispers that the rookie executive wants to make change in the backfield.

AFC Notes: Raiders, Dolphins, Jaguars

April 17th, 2017 at 5:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr isn’t signed beyond next season, but it doesn’t appear he’ll go into 2017 without long-term security. Carr’s agent, Tim Younger, and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie have been discussing an extension “for months,” Carr told reporters Monday. Those talks have been “super positive,” added Carr, who hopes a deal comes together by training camp (Twitter links via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). Carr, who tossed 28 touchdowns and six interceptions last season to help the Raiders break their 14-year playoff drought, is in line to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid signal-callers.

More from Oakland and two other AFC cities:

The fact that wide receiver Jarvis Landry was on hand for the start of the Dolphins’ voluntary program Monday bodes well for his chances of receiving an extension because it shows that he’s committed to the team, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins entered the offseason planning to extend Landry, and Salguero relays that his agent and the club have since spoken “at least a dozen times on the matter.” A new deal would make the 24-year-old Landry the Dolphins’ richest wideout – surpassing Kenny Stills‘ four-year, $32MM contract ($20MM guaranteed) – and could materialize by June, per Salguero.
Newly acquired Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert is holding out of team activities in hopes of landing a new contract, but Joel Corry of CBS Sports doubts he’ll stay away for much longer. Albert would lose $40K for each day of training camp missed, and the Jaguars will have the ability to recoup his signing bonus if his holdout lasts long enough. Should Jacksonville trade Albert, the acquiring team would receive those recoupment rights (Twitter links).
Houston edge rusher Tyus Bowser is currently visiting the Raiders, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). Bowser, who racked up 22.5 sacks during his 43-game college career, could pique the Raiders’ interest in the first round, in which they’re slated to pick 24th.
The Jaguars hosted Temple edge defender Haason Reddick on Monday, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who wonders if Reddick’s stock has risen enough that he could be a top five pick. Jacksonville’s set to select fourth overall, though it could simply be doing its due diligence on Reddick and hoping he falls to No. 35 (the Jags’ second-rounder).

49ers, Bears, Jets Eager To Trade Down

April 17th, 2017 at 3:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers, Bears, and Jets are the clubs holding top-10 draft picks that would most like to trade down, according to Peter King of TheMMQB.com. The problem, per King, is that few teams are interested in trading up in a draft that’s considered deep, but not necessarily stocked with elite talents.

San Francisco, particularly, is in a tricky spot at No. 2, as King writes. Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett is considered the best prospect in this year’s class, but the second-rated player varies depending on team. Solomon Thomas, Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams, Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Allen, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, Reuben Foster, Christian McCaffrey, and O.J. Howard could all claim the title as the second-best player of 2017, so convincing rival clubs to trade up to No. 2 overall is difficult.

Not mentioned in that list of players is the 2017 quarterback class, where top-end options include Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and DeShone Kizer. The 49ers, Bears, and Jets could all use help under center, and each of those teams may believe they can move down in the first round and still acquire a long-term signal-caller. San Francisco, specifically, is known to be willing to deal its first-round pick.

The Browns, meanwhile, may want to trade back up after likely selecting Garrett first overall. Although it sounds as though King is speculating rather than reporting, Cleveland could be willing to use its stockpile of draft picks to move up from No. 12, perhaps leaping all the way to No. 2 in order to secure a long-term quarterback option.

Eagles LB Mychal Kendricks Still On Trade Block

April 17th, 2017 at 2:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Despite head coach Doug Pederson‘s statement that Mychal Kendricks would be on the Eagles’ roster come September, Kendricks is still on the trade block, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Kendricks plans to participate in voluntary workouts this week, per McLane.

Philadelphia had placed Kendricks on the trade block as far back as the 2015 draft, but the club was reportedly actively shopping him this offseason. The Eagles were looking for a fifth-round pick in exchange for Kendricks, but no team was willing to meet that ask after $4.35MM of Kendricks’ $4.85MM 2017 base salary became fully guaranteed earlier this year. Kendricks, 26, is signed through the 2019 campaign thanks to an extension inked in August 2015.

A full-time starter during his first four seasons with the Eagles, Kendricks was largely relegated to a reserve role in 2016, as he played on only a quarter of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps. In that span, he racked up 28 tackles and fumble recovery, and earned positive marks for his run defense and pass rushing ability from Pro Football Focus. Kendricks’ coverage grade of 47.7, however, was lacking.