Draft Notes: Giants, Jaguars, Bears, Jets
Due to his ability to block and catch passes, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard is likely on top of the Giants draft board, surmises ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. The organization is also high on Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.
Meanwhile, after having to deal with the Josh Brown situation last season, Raanan believes there’s little chance that the organization ends up selecting embattled running back Joe Mixon. The writer also has a difficult team envisioning the team taking defensive tackle Malik McDowell or running back Dalvin Cook.
Let’s take a look at some other draft notes from around the NFL…
- Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles visited the Jaguars last week, reports Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller (via Twitter). As the reporter notes, offensive line coach Pat Flaherty previously worked out the prospect. The lineman attended Snow College for two years before transferring to the University of Utah last year. During his lone season with the team, Bolles was named to the First Team All-Pac-12.
- The Bears are set to meet with Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, reports Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times (via Twitter). The senior finished with career-highs across the board in 2016, collecting 65 receptions for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. Engram has been commended for his blocking ability, and his 6-foot-3 frame has led some to compare him to Redskins tight end Jordan Reed.
- The Jets “really like” Missouri linebacker Charles Harris, writes ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. The junior finished last season with 35 tackles and nine sacks. The writer notes that the linebacker would fit into the team’s scheme as a rush linebacker. Meanwhile, Cimini notes that Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan is “married to his best-player-available philosophy,” which could lead to the organization selecting running back Leonard Fournette or Howard with the sixth-overall pick.
Latest On Buccaneers RB Doug Martin
Running back Doug Martin has met with the Buccaneers and is expected to be present for the beginning of the club’s offseason program on Monday, according to Roy Cummings of FanRag. Martin reportedly entered a treatment facility following the announcement of a four-game PED ban, and Tampa Bay sources tell Cummings that Martin is now “all good.”
[RELATED: Bucs Rework J.R. Sweezy’s Contract]
The Buccaneers may yet retain Martin, and are expected to let the Martin situation “play out” before making a final decision. Part of the reason for that stance is contractual — because Martin was suspended, his previously guaranteed $7MM base salary for the 2017 campaign is no longer guaranteed. Additionally, Martin is banned until Week 3 of next season, so Tampa doesn’t have to make a call on Martin until nearly a month into the season.
If Tampa Bay’s offseason moves at the running back position are any indication, the club may be willing to give Martin another chance. The Buccaneers did re-sign Jacquizz Rodgers to a two-year deal, but otherwise left their backfield unchanged. Charles Sims, Peyton Barber, and Russell Hansbrough are the other backs currently on Tampa’s roster.
Of course, the Buccaneers could consider a running back at some point in the draft, including at pick No. 19. They’ve met with a number of backs over the past several weeks, including controversial Oklahoma prospect Joe Mixon.
5 Key Stories: 4/2/17 – 4//9/17
Tony Romo hangs up his cleats. Instead of attempting to land with a team like the Texans or Broncos, Romo announced his decision to retire from the NFL to join CBS as a broadcaster, where he’ll replace Phil Simms as the network’s No. 1 color commentator. The Cowboys have officially released Romo, waiving its rights to the veteran quarterback if he ever decides to attempt a comeback — something he hasn’t entirely ruled out. Romo said “never say never” in regards to an NFL return, but another source says “it’s over” for the 36-year-old.
Richard Sherman still on trade block. Seahawks general manager John Schneider opened up about the Sherman trade discussions, confessing that the rumors are “real.” Sherman, in fact, appears to have been the instigator in the trade talks, as he reportedly asked for a trade. Seattle, meanwhile, has set its asking price: a “very good player plus a high draft pick.” One possible suitor, the Patriots, aren’t interested in dealing for Sherman.
Beast Mode to Oakland? The Raiders are continuing their pursuit of retired running back Marshawn Lynch, and the veteran runner met with Oakland brass at their facility last week. During that visit, Lynch reportedly told the Raiders he’s ready to return to the NFL. The final hurdle apparently rests with head coach Jack Del Rio, who must sign off on a Lynch acquisition. Consistent with what we’ve heard, Lynch only has interest in playing for Oakland if he comes out of retirement.
Adrian Peterson market heating up. After drawing little to no interest during the first month or free agency, Peterson will now meet with two teams in the span of a week. Peterson took a visit with and worked out for the Patriots last week, but left town without a deal. New England is stocked with running backs, and has an offer out to LeGarrette Blount. Meanwhile, the Saints will meet with Peterson at some point this week.
Zach Brown finds a home. One of only four PFR Top 50 free agents who remained unsigned, Brown has now landed with the Redskins on a one-year deal. Reportedly looking for a contract in the $6MM range, Brown didn’t come anywhere near that with Washington. He’ll earn a base value of $2.25MM and $700K guaranteed, while another $2.3MM is available via statistical and team performance incentives.
PFR Originals: 4/2/17 – 4/9/17
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- PFR published its first NFL Mock Draft of 2017, projecting where the top prospects would land in the first round. In our version, Myles Garrett (Browns), Solomon Thomas (Panthers via trade), Marshon Lattimore (Bears), O.J. Howard (Jaguars) and Jonathan Allen (Titans) came off the board first. Three quarterbacks — Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer — get selected in the first 32 picks. We also made choices for the Rams, Vikings, and Patriots, none of whom have a first-round pick.
- Garrett is overwhelmingly likely to be drafted first overall by Cleveland, but the No. 2 choice isn’t an obvious. San Francisco holds the selection at the moment, but could be open to moving the pick (and Carolina may be interested in trading up). Either way, Sam Robinson wanted to know whom PFR readers believe will be selected at No. 2 overall. At present, Stanford’s Thomas has roughly 40% of the vote, followed by Alabama’s Allen and UNC’s Trubisky.
- In PFR’s mock draft, I sent Trubisky to the Browns at No. 12, but he’s not a guarantee to become the first quarterback off the board. Watson, Kizer, and Patrick Mahomes all have a shot to hold that honor. Rory Parks asked PFR readers whom they think will be the first passer drafted, and so far, Trubisky leads the way with almost half the vote.
Rams May Explore Trumaine Johnson Extension
The Rams would have preferred to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson before their offseason program begins on Monday, and while a deal is still possible, Los Angeles may now attempt to work out an extension with Johnson prior to the July 15 deadline, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com.
Johnson, 27, quickly signed his free agent tender after it was assigned, and is now scheduled to earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $16.742MM. Because Johnson was also tagged last year, he’ll rake in 120% of his 2016 paycheck. That money will all come in the form of base salary, so any club that acquires Johnson would be responsible for that total.
A long-term deal, meanwhile, would allow the Rams to lower Johnson’s exorbitant cap charge by moving a significant amount of guarantees into a signing bonus, which would be prorated on the salary cap over several seasons. As Gonzalez notes, Los Angles has several important players set to reach free agency in the next two years — including Aaron Donald, Alec Ogletree, and Lamarcus Joyner — and the extra cap space would ease the task of retaining them.
The Rams were reportedly discussing Johnson with “multiple teams” when free agency opened, but no deal ever came to fruition. So far, the only club that’s even been tangentially linked to the Johnson talks is the Browns.
Poll: Who Will Be The First QB Selected?
This year’s quarterback class is widely considered to be a weak one, but that has not stopped the usual pre-draft chatter surrounding the top signal-caller prospects. After all, quarterback is the most important position in all of sports, so even in a down year, teams without a long-term solution under center will be anxious to find one.
North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky is considered by many to be the most talented passer in the draft, but he has only one year of starting experience at the collegiate level, and that has led some to wonder whether he is truly ready to take the next step. Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech has seen his stock rise dramatically over the past several months, and it has been speculated that he could be a top-3 pick.
Meanwhile, the Bills are said to be “in love” with Clemson’s Deshaun Watson (my personal favorite), though there are concerns about his instincts and decision-making. And Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer has a strong arm, but questions about his accuracy persist, and in late January, we heard that scouts were “cooling” on him.
Further complicating projections is the sheer number of teams who could theoretically draft a QB on Day 1. The Browns are almost certain to select DE Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall selection, but they could have their pick of the litter when they are back on the clock at No. 12. The 49ers, who currently hold the No. 2 overall pick — but who are apparently open to trading down — could also draft a quarterback in the first round, as could the Bears (No. 3 overall), Jets (N0. 6), Bills (No. 10), Cardinals (No. 13), Texans (No. 25), Chiefs (No. 27), and Saints (who hold the No. 11 and No. 32 picks, but who would be more likely to use the No. 32 pick on a passer). And those are just the obvious possibilities.
In PFR’s first mock draft, Dallas Robinson projects Trubisky as the first QB off the board, predicting that the Browns would snag him with the No. 12 selection. After that, our mock shows the Chiefs trading up to No. 24 to land Watson, while the Saints nab Kizer with the last pick of the first round.
But what do you think? Make your voice heard in the poll below, and let us know your thoughts on this year’s class in the comments section.
East Notes: Peterson, Sherman, Jets
Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says that the Patriots‘ apparently had at least some interest in free agent RB Adrian Peterson, or they wouldn’t have put him through various tests and drills during his recent visit with the club (some have speculated that head coach Bill Belichick merely brought Peterson in as a favor for someone, like an agent or mutual friend). The Patriots have a take-it-or-leave-it proposal on the table for LeGarrette Blount, and if Blount does not return, the club could turn back to Peterson or could shift its attention to a draft class deep at the running back position.
Now let’s take a look at more East-related rumors:
- In the same piece, Reiss confirms a report from several days ago indicating that the Patriots are not expected to trade for Richard Sherman. Our Zach Links suggests that could be a sign that Malcolm Butler is staying in New England.
- Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com believes that the Eagles are likely to nab a cornerback with their first selection (No. 14 overall) in this month’s draft. However, he also notes that Florida State running back Dalvin Cook would be a perfect fit in Philadelphia’s offense, and that the Eagles should consider trading back up into the first round should Cook still be on the board in the latter stages of Day 1.
- Eagles DT Beau Allen suffered a chest injury on Thursday and will have surgery. He is expected to miss four to six months.
- Darryl Slater of NJ.com believes the only way Jets GM Mike Maccagnan loses his job after 2017 is if the club is “truly horrific.” Meanwhile, Slater believes head coach Todd Bowles could make it to 2018 if he can coax at least six wins out of Gang Green, but if he produces anything less, he will likely get the ax, even if Maccagnan sticks around.
- The Giants are in desperate need of a quality offensive tackle, and Paul Schwartz of the New York Post says the team will certainly select Alabama OT Cam Robinson if he is still available when the Giants are on the clock in the first round. Otherwise, Schwartz suggests New York could wait until the second round and hope Western Michigan’s Taylor Moton or Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp (who projects as more of a guard in the NFL) is still on the board.
Eagles DT Beau Allen Suffers Chest Injury
Eagles defensive tackle Beau Allen suffered an injury in the pectoral area on Thursday and will undergo surgery, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network reports that the injury will likely keep Allen off the field for four to six months, so he could miss the first few weeks of the regular season.
The Eagles acquired defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan from the Ravens on Tuesday, meaning that deal was not a reaction to the Allen injury. However, Jernigan may be asked to play an even larger role than originally planned if Allen is sidelined for the early portion of the regular season. Philadelphia boasts one of the league’s best interior lineman in Fletcher Cox, but the only other defensive tackles on the roster are Jernigan and Destiny Vaeao.
If the Eagles want to add more bodies along the front four, they could look to the free agent market in order to bring in another player. Johnathan Hankins is the best interior lineman who remains unsigned, but it’s unclear if an injury to Allen will force Philadelphia to make a signing of that level. Other options that may intrigue the Eagles could include Jared Odrick, Vance Walker, Sen’Derrick Marks, and Roy Miller.
Allen, 25, has appeared in every possible game for the Eagles since being drafted in the seventh round three years ago. He hasn’t been a full-time player, as he was splitting time with Bennie Logan over the past three campaigns, but Allen did play on 40% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps last in 2016. In that time, he managed 29 tackles and a half-sack, and graded out as the league’s No. 57 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Extra Points: Chargers, Colts, Bolles, Titans
The Chargers are “serious” about selecting a quarterback somewhat early in the 2017 draft, reports Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Although Philip Rivers hasn’t dropped any hints that he’s ready to retire, franchise owner Dean Spanos has told the Los Angeles front office to be prepared for Rivers’ eventual departure. New head coach Anthony Lynn expressed a similar sentiment at the end of last month. Thus far, the Chargers have worked out Notre Dame‘s DeShone Kizer and Tennessee‘s Joshua Dobbs, and are thought to have interest in Cal’s Davis Webb.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles has meetings scheduled with the Colts and Chargers, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Bolles, who has also visited the Giants, is in the running to become the first offensive lineman off the board later this month. While he posted excellent measurables, Bolles is already 25 years old, which could limit any future growth. While Bolles could conceivably go to Los Angeles within the top 10, the Chargers have already made Russell Okung the NFL’s highest-paid tackle this offseason. Indianapolis, likewise, has a long-term extension in place with blindside protector Anthony Castonzo. In PFR’s first mock draft, we sent Bolles to Denver at pick No. 20.
- Despite signing free agent safety Jonathan Cyprien last month, the Titans could still use the fifth overall selection on a defensive back such as Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com writes. Tennessee used a rotation in the back end in 2016, and four safeties — Kevin Byard, Daimion Stafford, Rashad Johnson, and Da’Norris Searcy — all played more than 500 snaps. Stafford and Johnson are now unrestricted free agents, and head coach Mike Mularkey said the Titans will continue to deploy a multiple defensive backs. Hooker or Adams, then, could be fits for Tennessee, although the club would be utilizing a high pick on a player that may only play part-time.
- The Cowboys will add another backup quarterback in the coming weeks, but they won’t sign a high-end option such as Colin Kaepernick to play behind Dak Prescott, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com. If Dallas does go the free agent route, it might ink someone like veteran Luke McCown, who was recently released by the Saints. Other signal-callers on the market include Matt McGloin, Christian Ponder, Shaun Hill, and Austin Davis, who met with the Cowboys last year. Dallas will also likely add a quarterback on Day 3 of the draft, writes Archer.
Buccaneers Rework J.R. Sweezy’s Contract
J.R. Sweezy signed a five-year, $32.5MM deal with the Buccaneers last year but has yet to play for his new team. After the sixth-year guard missed his entire first season with the Bucs, he will move forward on a reworked contract that’s emerged as a result of the injury struggles, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com.
Originally scheduled to earn $5MM in 2017 thanks to $2.5MM base salary and a $2.5MM roster bonus, Sweezy can now take in that same total through different mechanisms. The veteran guard’s new base salary is $3.75MM, while the additional $1.25MM will have to be made up through per-game roster bonuses. He’ll earn those bonuses if he’s on the active roster, or on injured reserve with something other than a back injury
Sweezy will also see his base figures from 2018-20 slashed by $1.25MM from 2018-20. Those previously resided at $6.5MM (2018), $5.75MM (’19) and $5.75MM (’20). Although, the 28-year-old guard now has availability-based escalators in the contract that will bump up those bases. Those escalators — which are worth the same $1.25MM — are tied to a 70 percent playing-time threshold during the previous season, Yates reports.
Additionally, Yates adds that split-salary language is now included in the ensuing three years of his contract, in an effort to protect the Bucs from further missed time from the ex-Seahawks guard. Jason Licht said Sweezy was cleared at the end of last season. His return to health would stand to benefit a Buccaneers offensive front that ranked 29th in the league last season. That’s down from fifth in 2015.
While Sweezy will have a chance to earn the original amount of his contract, he’ll must overcome his troublesome back injury to do so. Sweezy missed the 2016 minicamp, training camp and the entire season due to a severe disc-related problem in his back.
This marks the second time Tampa Bay adjusted Sweezy’s contract, Yates reports, noting that the Bucs pushed back the vesting date of his 2017 base salary guarantee to April 7 instead of March 14.