Cowboys Notes: Whitehead, Lewis, Collins
Lucky Whitehead was unfortunately waived by the Cowboys following a case of mistaken identity, but the receiver/special-teamer had run afoul of club rules before, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Whitehead had been accused of being “flighty with the truth,” and was “unaccountable” with the Dallas’ coaching staff. Last year, for instance, Whitehead reportedly slept through a Saturday walkthrough and was left home for a game against the Giants. While Whitehead certainly could have had his issues off the field, it’s also possible the Cowboys are leaking negative information on Whitehead given that it was their lack of follow-up that resulted in Whitehead’s release.
Here’s more on Whitehead and the rest of the Cowboys’ roster:
- The NFLPA is conducting an investigation into Whitehead’s ouster and before it decides whether to take further action, as Ed Werder tweets. Whitehead, for his part, is understandably angry about how the situation played out, writes Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “Let’s not sugarcoat anything,” Whitehead said. “I was pretty much being called a liar.” Now on waivers, Whitehead can be claimed by any of the other 31 NFL teams between now and tomorrow.
- A Michigan jury has found Cowboys third-round corner Jourdan Lewis not guilty on both domestic violence and assault/battery counts, reports Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Viewed as one of the top slot cornerback prospects in this year’s draft, Lewis fell to the 92nd overall selection following an alleged March altercation with his girlfriend. Now cleared, Lewis should be able to report to camp and compete for sub package snaps.
- As part of his two-year, $15.4MM extension, offensive lineman La’el Collins will receive a $4MM signing bonus and $9.5MM fully guaranteed overall, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Collins will earn base salaries of $1MM and $4.5MM in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2019, Collins’ base salary is $6MM, but can increase to $8.5MM if he plays at least 85% of Dallas’ offensive snaps in each of the next two campaigns, per Archer.
- Dallas defensive end David Irving offered an explanation for his four-game PED suspension today, blaming the ban on a “hidden ingredient” in a workout drink, per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. “I started taking it after the season when you’re not working out with the team, you know, something to get my a– in the gym,” said Irving. “It’s funny, I thought I was hitting a second puberty.” Irving, 23, appeared in 15 games for Dallas last season and developed into a serviceable pass rusher, especially near the end of the year. All told, he managed four sacks and 17 tackles while grading as the league’s No. 29 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus
- Offensive lineman Byron Bell earned his second $150K bonus of the offseason by making weight on the first day of Cowboys training camp, reports Archer. Bell scored the same weight bonus when minicamp began, and will collect a third bonus during the first week of the regular season. Signed to a one-year deal in March, Bell will also earn a $1MM base salary, a $250K signing bonus, and $300K in per-game roster bonuses. The 28-year-old is in contention to serve as the top reserve lineman on one of the league’s best front fives.
Jaguars, Allen Robinson Talking Extension
After making Brandon Linder the highest-paid center in the league earlier today, the Jaguars could turn their attention to another offensive player entering his contract year, as wide receiver Allen Robinson says he’s discussed a new deal with the club, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Because he wasn’t a first-round draft choice, Robinson can’t be controlled via the fifth-year option, so he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next spring. The Jaguars, who are likely going to carry over more than $40MM in cap space to 2018, will have the ability to use the franchise tag on Robinson, but that will come at a cost north of $16MM. A long-term contract which flattens Robinson’s cap charges and gives him financial security, then, is in the best interests of both parties.
Robinson, who will turn 24 years old next month, broke out in 2015 by hauling in 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. Last season wasn’t as kind, as Robinson — not helped by quarterback Blake Bortles‘ poor play — regressed to fewer than 900 yards receiving and eight scores. Still, Robinson said earlier this year that he’s “earned” an extension from the Jaguars.
Jacksonville already locked up its No. 2 receiver last summer, inking Allen Hurns to a four years, $40.05MM deal that included $16MM in guarantees. Robinson should be able to easily top both those figures, and could conceivably hit $14-15MM — the range earned by the likes of A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Dez Bryant — if he rebounds next season.
Colts Won’t Sign Another Backup QB
Although Andrew Luck may be held out of the preseason after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, the Colts aren’t planning to sign another quarterback, general manager Chris Ballard told reporters, including Bob Kravitz of WTHR (Twitter link).
Ballard did allow that Indianapolis had “discussed” adding a veteran quarterback, but will instead opt to go forward with Scott Tolzien, Stephen Morris, and Phillip Walker behind Luck. If the Colts change their mind, however, available signal-caller options include the likes of Colin Kaepernick, Christian Ponder, Shaun Hill, Robert Griffin III, and Zach Mettenberger.
Luck is expected to be available for Week 1, so the Colts likely won’t need to rely on their backup quarterbacks at the outset of the 2017 campaign. But if Tolzien is forced to go under center, Indianapolis can expect a steep dropoff in production. Tolzien has started only three games during his career, completing 61.7% of his passes for two touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Saints have signed free agent Kristjan Sokoli, who will play as an offensive lineman, according to his agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). Sokoli, a collegiate defender at Buffalo, was a 2010 draft choice of the Seahawks, who contemplated moving him to the offensive side of the ball. After playing only special teams for Seattle, Sokoli spent the 2016 season with the Colts (mostly on the practice squad) as a defensive end. In New Orleans, Sokoli will compete for a reserve interior line spot behind Andrus Peat and Larry Warford. The Saints have also signed cornerback Dejaun Butler, per the league’s transaction wire, and offensive lineman Martin Wallace, as his agent Paul Sheehy of ProStar Sports tweets.
Jaguars Sign CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste
The Jaguars have signed free agent cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste, the club announced today.
Jean-Baptiste, 27, was selected by the Saints in the second round (No. 58 overall) in the 2014 draft, but he’s never lived up to that billing. In fact, he’s appeared in only four games throughout the course of his career, and all of those appearances came during his rookie campaign. After being waived prior to the 2015 season, Jean-Baptiste has bounced around the NFL, spending time on the offseason/practice squad rosters of the Lions, Seahawks, and Chiefs.
Jacksonville already boasts one of the league’s best cornerback duos in A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey, while Aaron Colvin is a capable slot defender. Clearly, Jean-Baptiste won’t be competing for anything resembling a starting job, and would likely play on special teams if he makes the Jaguars roster. Jacksonville was apparently set on adding another corner, as they worked out veteran Alterraun Verner in May (but opted not to sign him).
Offseason In Review: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys appeared doomed when Tony Romo suffered a back injury during Week 3 of the 2016 preseason, but fourth-round rookie quarterback Dak Prescott — combined with an excellent running game — led Dallas to an NFC-best 13-3 record and a Divisional Round appearance. With Romo retired, the Cowboys headed into the offseason with clear needs on defense that could be filled either through free agency or the draft.
Notable signings:
- Terrance Williams, WR: Four years, $17MM. $9.5MM guaranteed.
- Nolan Carroll, CB: Three years, $10MM. $3MM guaranteed.
- Jonathan Cooper, G: One year, $2MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Stephen Paea, DL: One year, $2MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Brice Butler, WR: One year, $1.1MM. $300K signing bonus.
- Byron Bell, OL: One year, $2MM. $250K guaranteed. $500K available via incentives.
- Damontre Moore, DE: Two years, $1.665MM. $100K guaranteed.
- Kellen Moore, QB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $100K guaranteed.
- Robert Blanton, S: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Darren McFadden, RB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Justin Durant, LB: Contract terms unknown.
Although Terrance Williams posted the fewest receiving yards of his career in 2016, underlying metrics show that the 27-year-old actually produced an above-average season. Among wide receivers with at least 50 targets, Williams finished 11th with a 72.1% catch rate. The former third-round pick ranked 17th in Football Outsiders‘ DYAR (which measures total value) and fourth in DVOA (per-play value), and while run-blocking isn’t that important a skill for a wide receiver, Williams contributed in that realm of offense as well, finishing No. 22 in the run game, according to Pro Football Focus.
But despite that production and his relative youth, Williams re-signed with the Cowboys on a deal that pays him just $4.25MM per season. Reports prior to free agency indicated Williams could score an annual salary in the $6-8MM range, but Williams instead landed a per annum average that’s below the likes of Travis Benjamin, Markus Wheaton, Rishard Matthews, and Jermaine Kearse. Clearly, soft factors could be at play here, as Williams indicated he took less money to stay in Dallas because of his comfort in the locker room, and there’s some incalculable benefit to playing on a young, contending team. But the Cowboys found a value in Williams, allowing them to spend cap space elsewhere.
Dallas made a concerted effort to retain the skill players on an offense that ranked third in DVOA a year ago, and that included re-signing veteran running back Darren McFadden to a cheap contract. McFadden, 29, was sidelined by injury for the majority of the 2016 campaign, but he’s still a high-quality backup who — along with Alfred Morris — will allow the Cowboys to tread water if and when Ezekiel Elliott is suspended. In 2015, McFadden, buoyed by the league’s best offensive line, topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
Kellen Moore was also re-signed to act as a reserve, but it’s very surprising that the Cowboys haven’t entered the free agent market to find a more experienced backup quarterback. While Dallas did express interest in Josh McCown, it hasn’t brought in another veteran to compete with Moore, and may be content to allow the former Boise State Bronco to be Dak Prescott‘s No. 2. Moore, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012, has only attempted 104 regular season passes in five NFL seasons. The best signal-callers remaining on the open market include Colin Kaepernick, Christian Ponder, Shaun Hill, and Robert Griffin III.
While the Cowboys brought back the majority of their offensive skill players, the club did sustain two losses along the offensive line in Ronald Leary (free agency) and Doug Free (retirement). Dallas plans to move La’el Collins to right tackle, meaning former first-round pick Jonathan Cooper will get the first crack at left guard. Despite being selected seventh overall in 2013, Cooper has never been a full-time starter through four NFL seasons. As such, it’s fair to wonder if Byron Bell, another free agent signee, will get a shot to overtake Cooper on the left side.
Dallas didn’t use the free agent period to overhaul a defensive unit that ranked 17th in DVOA last season, but it did bring Nolan Carroll aboard, signing the former Eagles corner to a three-year deal. Carroll is now on the wrong side of 30 and wasn’t effective in 2016 (No. 92 CB among 109 qualifiers, per PFF), so he won’t be the answer for a secondary that lost the majority of its starters. But the Cowboys can get out the Carroll deal after one season and $4MM, so it’s a worthwhile risk to add the veteran to a beleaguered defensive backfield.
Defensive tackle Stephen Paea is a fair bet to improve upon the 321 snaps he played for Cleveland last year, and the 29-year-old might be the best interior lineman on the Cowboys’ roster. Cedric Thornton, signed to a four-year deal last spring, seems to have been miscast as a 4-3 defensive tackle, while Maliek Collins struggled mightily during his 2016 rookie season. Paea, meanwhile, has been quietly effective for several years, and should help a front seven that Pro Football Focus ranks 26th heading into the regular season.
Eagles Eyeing Veteran Cornerbacks
The Eagles are interested in adding a veteran cornerback, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters, including Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
Philadelphia attempted to revamp its secondary this offseason, but the club is still fielding a relatively inexperienced group in the defensive backfield. As Frank notes, free agent signee Patrick Robinson is the only corner on the roster with more than eight career starts under his belt. Ron Brooks is also a veteran, but the rest of the depth chart includes young players such as Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, and Jalen Mills. Jones, notably, may not be ready for the start of the 2017 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles.
The best available free agent cornerbacks include Darrelle Revis, Brandon Flowers, Sam Shields, and Leon Hall. Other defensive backs of note who are still on the open market: Kyle Arrington, Chris Culliver, Dee Milliner, and Kyle Wilson. The Eagles currently possess ~$6.3MM in cap space, so any free agent signing would likely need to come in around the minimum.
Michael Vick Working As Chiefs Intern
After expressing interest in a coaching career earlier year, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick has joined the Chiefs as a coaching intern, the club announced today.
“I would love to coach in the National Football League one day,” Vick told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com in May. “… At some point, I’d definitely love to help work with young quarterbacks and develop them and still compete, you know, with the team and with the coaches. It’s another way to chase a championship.
You know I’m not done. I’m not done by any means. You know I didn’t get the championship when I was playing, so, hey, maybe I’d get lucky one year, maybe fortunate enough to join the staff that may be good enough.”
The Chiefs are a logical starting point for Vick’s potential coaching career, as he enjoys a close relationship with head coach Andy Reid, who took a chance on Vick in Philadelphia following his release from prison. But it’s fair to wonder if Vick’s history with dogfighting will affect his chances of becoming a full-time coach. The NFL is quick to give second chances to talented players, but that level of forgiveness isn’t often extended to the coaching realm.
Vick, 37, confirmed this summer that he’s officially retired as an NFL player. He last played in 2015 as a member of the Steelers.
Colts To Place Clayton Geathers On Reserve/PUP
The Colts will place safety Clayton Geathers on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he will miss the first six games of the 2017 season, as general manager Chris Ballard announced Monday.
Geathers, 25, suffered a season-ending neck injury in December, and subsequently underwent surgery on a bulging disc in March. Last season, Geathers started nine games before being sidelined, managing 58 tackles and five passes defensed while grading as the league’s No. 26 safety, per Pro Football Focus. He’s under contract through the 2018 campaign.
“A lot of this with Geathers is just the healing process,” Ballard said. “He’s in a good frame mentally. He’s worked hard and he’s done everything from a rehab standpoint. I think once we get into September and October it’ll really start ramping up for him.”
As Roster Resource indicates, second-year safety T.J. Green will likely step into the starting lineup in place of Geathers, lining up opposite rookie first-rounder Malik Hooker. Green started four games last year, seeing action on 44% of Indianapolis’ defensive snaps.
Panthers Sign WR Trevor Graham
The Panthers have signed free agent wide receiver Trevor Graham, the club announced Monday. Graham, an ex-third-round pick of the Bills, formerly went by the first name T.J., but has since reverted to his given name. Carolina also signed center Greg Van Roten, waived/injured wideout Charles Johnson, and waived defensive end Ryan Delaire with a failed physical designation.
Graham, who turns 28 years old later this week, is now the 13th receiver on Carolina’s roster, and if he makes the club, it will likely be because of his speed. A track athlete while at North Carolina State, Graham averaged 27 receptions and 342 yards during his first two years in the league (both with Buffalo), but hasn’t contributed on offense since.
While Graham’s skillset seemingly should make him a solid return man in the kicking game, that’s not a role he’s been asked to play throughout his NFL career. He’s returned just seven kickoffs during his time in the league, and has never returned a punt. In fact, in his two seasons with the Bills, Graham played only three total special teams snaps.
As such, it will be difficult for Graham to earn a spot on the Panthers’ roster unless he carves out a role as a deep threat à la Ted Ginn Jr. Given that Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Russell Shepard are locks to make Carolina’s squad, Graham will be competing with the likes of Damiere Byrd, Brenton Bersin, and Kaelin Clay for reps during training camp.
Johnson — not to be confused with his former defensive end teammate of the same name — won’t be part of that receiver group, as he’s been cut following right knee surgery. He’ll go through waivers but won’t be claimed due to his injury, so he’ll revert to the Panthers’ injured reserve list. At that point, Carolina could agree to an injury settlement with the former Viking in order to clear him from IR. Johnson, 28, signed a one-year deal with a maximum value of $2.2MM earlier this offseason.
Delaire, meanwhile, played 139 defensive snaps for the Panthers a season ago in between two separate stints on injured reserve. In six games, Delaire managed five tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.