If tight end Gary Barnidge leaves his visit with the Bills without a contract, he figures to take several more trips. Barnidge is halting his free agent tour to attend the Kentucky Derby on Sunday, but may meet with the Panthers and Jaguars in the near future, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Were Barnidge to sign with Carolina, he’d return to the club where he spent the first four years of his NFL career. Barnidge, 31, was a bit player during his stint with the Panthers, as he only totaled 18 receptions during his time with the team. The Panthers were linked to a number of tight ends during the draft, but ultimately stood pat with Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, and Chris Manhertz.
Jacksonville, too, neglected to draft a tight end last week even after trading Julius Thomas to the Dolphins earlier this offseason. At present, the Jaguars’ tight end depth chart is comprised of Marcedes Lewis, Mychal Rivera, Ben Koyack, Neal Sterling, and Alex Ellis. Barnidge would likely become Jacksonville’s No. 1 tight end upon signing.
Bardnidge broke out during the 2015 campaign when he hauled in 79 receptions for 1,043 and nine touchdowns for the Browns. His numbers dipped last season, but he still managed 55 receptions, 14th among NFL tight ends.
Im still trying to figure out why the browns would cut him. Jaguars would make the most sense
They’re going young and drafted a TE in the 1st round this year and like the one they drafted last year. Plus Barniage was not signed by the current Front Office, so he wasn’t one of their guys.
Sashi Brown was in the building, they WANTED Barnidge back, and unlike other players, TRULY wanted to be here, and was a bargain. They have now drafted TE’s the last 3 years (Telfair, Devalve, and Njoku), and signed a FA (Housler) who was supposed to be the NEXT Cameron. Cutting him made exactly NO SENSE. He was the only proven, and most reliable OFF weapon left. None of the young guys have PROVEN anything. On a team that is so young, his leadership, and veteran presence, was valuable.
Thomas isn’t one of their guys, why not trade him and get something for him, since they live for draft picks? Barnidge was only making about $3 MIL, there are backups that make more.
This is typical of what CLE does, they ELIMINATE competion, hand guys jobs, make duplicate picks, and create needs they fill poorly.
I think BUF, CAR, or JAX would be great fits, he would probably command more in JAX, and be the starter.
MONEY!!!
The Steelers should really make an offer for Barnidge.
PIT would be another great fit, would serve CLE right, too have to face him twice a year.