Dolphins Unlikely To Sign Zach Brown
The Dolphins don’t appear likely to sign free agent linebacker Zach Brown, tweets Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
[RELATED: Dolphins Sign T.J. McDonald]
Brown, who has also been linked to the Bills, Colts, and Raiders, was at one point thought to be deciding between Oakland and Miami, but there’s been no movement in his market since that report was issued a week ago. The Dolphins, for what it’s worth, don’t appear to be going all-out in an effort to sign Brown.
“The lion’s share of our focus right now is on the draft,” EVP of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said this week. “If an opportunity came along, we’d evaluate it appropriately. But our focus is really on the draft and something comes along, we’ll certainly look at it.”
Any lingering issue between Brown and the Dolphins almost certainly comes down to price. Brown earned just north of $1MM in 2016 and is now likely aiming to cash in after an excellent season. But while Brown may be looking for a contract in the $6MM range, Miami is only comfortable paying him $3-4MM annually.
Brown, 27, is one of only four of PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents who remain unsigned. He’s also our top-ranked linebacker, ahead of Perry Riley, Gerald Hodges, and DeAndre Levy.
NFC South Notes: Bucs, Panthers, Saints
Although Adrian Peterson has been linked to the Buccaneers thanks to his workouts with wide receiver DeSean Jackson (and the comments of head coach Dirk Koetter), Peterson doesn’t seem to be in Tampa Bay’s plans, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Reports have varied as to the Buccaneers’ level of aggressiveness of Peterson, but the club could use a running back given that Doug Martin‘s status is up in the air. Plus, Tampa Bay used the shotgun formation on less than 50% of its plays in 2016 (far below the league average), which could play to Peterson’s strengths given that he’s more productive in a traditional I-formation.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- The Panthers, Jaguars, and Bears will all meet with Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, who has previously chatted with the Titans and Buccaneers, reports Connor Orr of NFL.com. Howard is universally regarded as the draft’s No. 1 tight end, and could be selected as high as pick No. 4 when Jacksonville is on the board. Over the past two years in Tuscaloosa, Howard averaged 42 receptions for 599 yards while displaying ferocious blocking skills.
- Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett has scheduled a predraft visit with the Buccaneers, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Barnett dealt with a hamstring injury at the Volunteers’ Pro Day, so interested parties may want to get a closer look at him before the draft. As Laine notes, Barnett topped Reggie White’s Tennessee sack record of 33 in only three years, but doubters worry Barnett’s physical traits don’t match his production.
- The Chargers, Saints, and Panthers have all worked out Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, tweets Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Los Angeles and New Orleans, specifically, are both hunting for long-term signal-callers as their respective quarterbacks age, and Dobbs — a likely mid-round pick — could be an option for both clubs. A two-year starter for the Volunteers, Dobbs passed for nearly 3,000 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. Todd McShay of ESPN.com ranks Dobbs as the sixth-best quarterback prospect in 2017.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Dolphins, Richardson
The Jets fined defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson “significant” amounts of money for tardiness before benching them for the first quarter of a November contest, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Indeed, sources indicate to Vacchiano that head coach Todd Bowles — often viewed as overly tolerant of his players’ indiscretions — isn’t so mild-mannered behind the scenes. Still, New York certainly didn’t expect Wilkerson to show commitment issues after inking him to a hefty extension last year.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- While Richardson’s lateness issues (and poor play) could negatively affect his trade value, the Jets still may be able to use the pass-rusher as a trade chit in the coming weeks, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. If New York wants to trade back into Round 1 for a quarterback, for example, the team could potentially package Richardson and its second-round pick (No. 39) to move ahead of of a club like the Texans, who may also be looking for a QB. Getting back into the first round would also allow the Jets to pick up a fifth-year option on the signal-caller of their choice.
- Dolphins defensive line coach Terrell Williams took a sojourn to East Lansing to work out Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Recently linked to free agent Johnathan Hankins, the Dolphins are in the market for a tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. McDowell could be on the board when Miami picks at No. 22, although the Fins are expected to target edge help in the first round. The Dolphins are the first known team to meet with McDowell.
- Safety prospects Josh Jones (North Carolina State) and Justin Evans (Texas A&M) will meet with the Dolphins soon, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Although Miami recently extended defensive back Reshad Jones, the club is still looking for another safety after Isa Abdul-Quddus was released following a neck injury. Jones has also drawn interest from the Ravens, while Evans has met with the Cowboys.
How The Panthers Can Move To No. 2 Overall
The latest rumor buzzing around the draft world involves the Panthers considering a trade up to acquire the second overall pick from the 49ers, as Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated yesterday. Carolina would reportedly move up with the intention of selecting either Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
But what would such a trade look like? San Francisco, in the midst of a full rebuild, would likely aim to secure more draft wealth, while the Panthers — presumably in win-now mode — are probably willing to part with draft assets. As Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com wrote earlier this week, Carolina has amassed the league’s seventh-most draft capital this offseason , so the club certainly has resources to utilize if it wants to make an upward leap.
According to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, the Panthers wouldn’t have to sacrifice all that much to move from No. 8 to No. 2. Per Stuart, the gap in the two picks is just 8.8 points of draft value, meaning Carolina’s 40th overall pick (worth 11.1 points) would be more than enough to get a deal done. The No. 64 pick — acquired from the Patriots in the Kony Ealy trade– is worth 8.1 points, meaning that it would almost be enough to entice the 49ers.
Let’s take a look at a few potential trades in chart form, using Stuart’s values:
That final trade listed involves the 49ers sending the No. 2 overall pick, an early fourth-rounder, and an early seventh-rounder to the Panthers in exchange for No. 8, No. 40, and an early fifth-round pick. The difference in draft value comes out to 0.0, meaning it’s a perfectly fair deal for both sides — at least on paper.
The classic, Jimmy Johnson-devised trade chart, however, assigns a much greater valuation to early first-round picks, so the Panthers would have to trade much more in order to secure the No. 2 selection. In Johnson’s table, the gap between the second and eighth selections is large enough that a combination of the No. 40 and the No. 64 picks (in addition to No. 8) wouldn’t be enough to convince San Francisco to swap choices. Instead, the Panthers would probably have to give up a 2018 first-rounder in order to complete the trade.
A Thomas acquisition, specifically, would be the latest signal that Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman values the defensive line above all else, as Carolina has already spent early picks on Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, and Vernon Butler, and has re-signed Mario Addison, Charles Johnson, and Wes Horton this offseason. Thomas for his part, ranks as the fourth overall player on Todd McShay of ESPN.com‘s big board.
Fournette, meanwhile, is considered the top running back of the 2017 class, and Panthers head coach Ron Rivera recently said no draft slot is “too high” to take a runner. Carolina inked incumbent back Jonathan Stewart to a one-year extension last week, but Gettleman said that deal won’t preclude the club from selecting a running back early in this year’s draft.
NFC Rumors: Vikings, Zeke, Roseman, Cards
Harrison Smith underwent ankle surgery in February but is expected to be ready for training camp. The Vikings‘ top defensive back is ahead of schedule in his recovery from the left ankle operation, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, but the team is expected to be cautious with him this offseason. A high ankle sprain hampered Smith toward the end of last season, and although the Pro Bowl defender returned for the Vikings’ final two games after missing two in December, a corrective procedure became necessary. A source informed Tomasson that Smith opted for surgery after playing on the injured ankle in the Pro Bowl led to it “getting worse.” Smith will enter the first season of his five-year, $51.25MM contract in 2017.
Here’s more from the NFC.
- Jerry Jones acknowledged the Ezekiel Elliott video that emerged via TMZ last month is “not good.” The video shows the Cowboys running back lowering a woman’s top on a float at a Dallas St. Patrick’s Day parade. “There is not much that I want to say other than that was unfortunate and not good,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News,” Jones said. “It wouldn’t be the right emphasis one way or the other to get into any communications or dialogue since that happened. … I wouldn’t want to say on communication, but I’m aware of the incident and I’m aware of the criticism.” Representatives of the 21-year-old Elliott expect him to be cleared of wrongdoing in a 2016 domestic violence case, but this incident adds to a growing list of off-the-field drama for the talented back.
- The Rams did not pursue T.J. McDonald or Case Keenum in free agency, according to the Los Angeles Times. An impending eight-game suspension reduced interest in McDonald, who landed with the Dolphins. Keenum signed with the Vikings.
- Howie Roseman‘s given more power over the Eagles‘ draft board to VP of player personnel Joe Douglas than he did previous lieutenants Ryan Grigson or Tom Gamble, Jeff McLane of Philly.com writes. “The draft is going to be really built by Joe,” Jeffrey Lurie said, via McLane, before adding “the final decision will be made by Howie.” This will be Douglas’ first draft with the Eagles after landing in Philadelphia last May. McLane writes this will take some of the prospect-evaluation burden off of Roseman.
- The Cardinals do not look set to add any notable help at either running back or wide receiver. Bruce Arians said (via Kent Somers of AZCentral.com) the team is content with what it has there. The fifth-year Cardinals coach noted Kerwynn Williams can be the No. 2 back behind David Johnson, and the coach expects a healthier season from John Brown. Somers notes depth pieces could come via lower-round picks or UDFAs, but it appears Arizona will address other positions with its higher draft picks.
- Tim Hightower‘s 49ers deal is a one-year agreement, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. The former Cardinals, Redskins and Saints back will turn 31 in May.
South Notes: Brees, Panthers, Titans, Texans
Don’t expect Drew Brees to sign another extension before the season. The 38-year-old Saints quarterback is again entering a contract year but wants to wait until after the season to discuss another deal to stay in New Orleans. Brees said waiting until the end of the year is best for himself and the team, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports. Brees’ one-year extension from 2016 will pay him $24.25MM this season.
The 17th-year quarterback is also not exactly endorsing the Saints taking a signal-caller early. While that may be in the best interest of the franchise post-Brees, the current starter doesn’t want a high draft pick that will sit behind him and not help the team in 2017.
“The flip side is, if I’m going to start and that quarterback sits, well that’s not helping our team right now,” Brees said, via Katzenstein. “So, I want somebody who’s going to help our team right now. When I leave here, I want this organization to be successful — whenever that is — so I want them to be prepared for that. They need to be thinking about that, but then again, I don’t want to make it seem like this is my farewell tour. That’s not the way I view it.”
Here’s more from the league’s South divisions.
- The Panthers‘ free agency plan focused on established veterans, and Dave Gettleman and Ron Rivera pointed to the success the more veteran-laden 2015 Super Bowl team had compared to its successor. “You go back to the Super Bowl year and you look at what we had with Roman (Harper), Charles (Tillman) and Jared Allen. Those three veteran guys right there. And then you look at what we did with (Mike) Adams, (Captain) Munnerlyn and Julius (Peppers),” Rivera said, via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, pointing to the additions of a 36-year-old safety, a soon-to-be 29-year-old nickel corner and a 37-year-old defensive end. “Are we trying to copy what we did? You’re darned right. We really are.” Both Adams and Peppers are actually older than the players the Panthers are bringing them in to emulate.
- Rivera hopes Peppers’ decision to sign a one-year pact doesn’t amount to a farewell tour. The seventh-year Panthers coach said the 16th-year edge defender has a lot left in the tank and wants him to consider playing beyond this season. Peppers’ three mid-30s seasons produced a combined 25 sacks, adding to Rivera’s point.
- Carolina also will consider using Munnerlyn outside in addition to his usual slot role, Person notes. Munnerlyn has far more experience than James Bradberry or Daryl Worley but has spent the majority of his career in the slot. The now-two-time Panther could be competing for an base defense starter’s role while sliding to his customary nickel on passing downs.
- The Titans worked out Miami tight end David Njoku on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. They hold picks 5 and 18 in the first round. Njoku’s soaring value has induced mock drafts to route him to teams picking in the range of Tennessee’s No. 18 selection. The Titans still have Delanie Walker under contract, but he will be 33 in August.
- Having been connected to Tony Romo throughout the offseason, the Texans are also a candidate to take a quarterback early. Bob McNair said as much earlier this offseason. But Bill O’Brien may not necessarily be ready to start a rookie. “I think it’s tough to play quarterback as a rookie in our league,” O’Brien said this week. “I think that there’s no substitute for experience. So, I think it’s hard to ask a guy to come in straight from college and Day 1 he’s a starter on your team. But I know that there are some really good quarterbacks in this draft that we’re looking at and we’ve met with a lot of them. We’re excited about continuing to get to know them. But, I just think for me as a general rule, that’s tough to start them as a Day 1 guy.”
49ers Sign RB Tim Hightower
Veteran running back Tim Hightower has found a new home. The 30-year-old free agent has signed with the 49ers, general manager John Lynch announced on Twitter. We learned in mid-March that Hightower had taken a meeting with the organization.
The veteran had spent the past two seasons serving primarily as Mark Ingram‘s backup on the Saints. 2016 was a bounce-back season for the former fifth-rounder, as he appeared in all 16 games for the first time since 2010. He finished the campaign with 548 yards and four touchdowns on 133 attempts, and he added another 22 receptions for 200 yards and one score.
Hightower was effectively out of the NFL between 2012 and 2015. Prior to that, he was a dependable option in the Cardinals offense. In 2010, the running back finished the season with a career-high 736 rushing yards. During his rookie campaign, Hightower rushed for an equally-impressive 10 touchdowns.
Hightower will be joining a 49ers running back corps that currently features Carlos Hyde, DuJuan Harris, Mike Davis, and Raheem Mostert. Hightower was listed as the fifth-best running back in our recent positional free agent rankings. The Redskins were among the teams to also reach out to the veteran.
Extra Points: Lions, Long, Bush
Some assorted notes from around the NFL this morning…
- There were rumors that veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata could consider retirement, but the 33-year-old decided to return to the Lions for the 2017-18 campaign. Coach Jim Caldwell is certainly happy that the defensive lineman will be sticking around. “Obviously, when you get to (have) played as many years as he has, you never know,” Caldwell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “And I think once a guy gets about eight, nine years (in), that’s certainly always a possibility. But certainly we’re glad that he’s coming back.”
- Lions offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson may have lost his starting gig last season, but general manager Bob Quinn made it sound like the first-round pick will be returning. “Laken’s still here,” Quinn told Birkett. “Laken’s going to compete at the left guard spot, and we’ll head into training camp and OTAs with really good depth and really good competition across the board.”
- Chris Long‘s contract with the Eagles includes options from the 2018 to 2021 season, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The total deal could max out at $11.25MM, and he’ll essentially earn $2.25MM each season from 2019 through 2021.
- Safety Rafael Bush‘s one-year deal with the Saints is worth $885K, reports Wilson (via Twitter). $775K of that will come via the player’s salary (with $100K guaranteed), with another $80K coming via a signing bonus.
Bears GM Discusses QBs, Free Agency
The Bears have seemingly been one of the busiest teams this offseason. The organization moved on from veteran quarterback Jay Cutler, replacing him with Mike Glennon and Mark Sanchez. The team also watched as wideout Alshon Jeffery left for the Eagles. Meanwhile, the team added a number of players on the defensive side of the ball, including cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper.
While attending the NFL owners’ meeting earlier this week, general manager Ryan Pace talked to reports about the Bears’ offseason. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune compiled the executive’s sound bites, and we’ve passed along some of the more notable quotes below…
On where Mark Sanchez will slot into the team’s depth chart:
“So Mike Glennon is our starting quarterback, and Sanchez I see as a really good solid No. 2 quarterback. I like him in this role for a lot of reasons, and one of them is the experience that he has. He’s been through the highs and lows of our league. He has played in some big markets. He has dealt with challenges. He has dealt with success. I think he’s the kind of player that exudes confidence. I like that about him. He’s knowledgeable. He’s smart, and him and Mike have already kind of clicked. They’re together and they’re organizing workouts on their own, and those kinds of things are important.”
On why the team inked a backup quarterback prior to the draft as opposed to after the draft:
“Honestly, it was just kind of where the market was going. So I think if we waited much longer he wouldn’t have been available. We brought him in and visited with him. We had some important questions to kind of know where his mindset was because I’ve never met him personally like that. Over the course of that visit it became very evident that he would mesh well with Mike Glennon and fit really well in the room, so we’re excited about it.”
On the additions of cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper:
“In free agency in general, we’ve signed a lot of players. I think it’s either us or San Francisco, most signings in the league. I like that. Hey, honestly, we had a lot of needs. And I think by spreading (the money) out like this it’s kind of the shotgun approach I like to take sometimes instead of putting all of your eggs in just one basket. I kind of like what we’ve done, and there are different qualities I like with each one of these guys. As a free-agent class in general, I really like the makeup and the character and the intelligence and the intangibles of the class.”
On how the organization will look to fill the hole left by wideout Alshon Jeffery’s departure:
“I’m excited about Cam [Meredith]. I just feel like you just see him getting better and better. No different than how we talked about Marcus Cooper. Cam is a guy with a lot of upside, the path that he took. Just to see him mature over the last couple years. I hate to make comparisons, but I felt like I saw this happen with Colston a little bit. Cam just has a great attitude right now. He’s getting better. I love his skill set. I love his professionalism. I think we’re going to see him ascend.
And Kevin [White] — Kevin is going to have to step up and stay healthy. He knows that. He’s motivated. We’re excited about a handful of guys. We still have the draft ahead of us too.”
On cornerback Deiondre’ Hall‘s arrest last weekend:
“I talked to him. John [Fox] has talked to him. We’ve got other people working on it. He’s back in Lake Forest now. It’s just one of those deals you kind of want to make sure you are thorough gathering all the information before you jump to major conclusions. But the circumstances surrounding it are obviously disappointing.”
Draft Notes: Mahomes, Texans, Ravens
Some assorted draft notes from around the NFL…
- The Texans held a private workout for Bucknell left offensive tackle Julién Davenport, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Davenport, who has also worked out for the Patriots, Cowboys, and Jaguars, is projected to be a late first/early second-round pick. As Wilson notes, the Texans could certainly use some reinforcement on the offensive line, especially with Derek Newton expected to miss next season with torn patellar tendons.
- Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been scheduled for a league-high 18 official visits and private workouts, sources tell Wilson. The signal caller recently worked out for the Bengals, Cardinals, Saints, Chargers, and Browns. Mahomes completed 65.7-percent of his passes last season for 5,052 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Over the past three seasons, he’s also added another 22 rushing touchdowns.
- Purdue wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey will visit the Ravens later this month, reports Wilson (via Twitter). As a senior, the wideout hauled in 49 receptions for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns. NFL.com predicts Yancey could be selected on the third day of the draft.