AFC Notes: Chiefs, Logan, Jaguars, Raiders
Bennie Logan didn’t fare well in Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s scheme last season, but the veteran defensive tackle is looking forward to moving back to a 3-4 front under Chiefs DC Bob Sutton, as Pete Sweeney of Chiefs.com writes. “I just felt like it was time for me to have a change of scenery,” Logan said. “I just wanted to go out and do something different. I enjoyed my time there but I just felt like it was time for me to branch off and try to establish myself somewhere else.” Logan, 27, signed a one-year, $8MM deal with Kansas City this offseason, and will seek to replace — or better — the production vacated by former Chiefs interior defender Dontari Poe.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Although they play slightly different positions, Jaguars center Brandon Linder could use Raiders guard Gabe Jackson‘s recent five-year, $56MM extension as a benchmark in negotiations, opines Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. The 25-year-old Linder graded as the NFL’s No. 5 center in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, but he’s slated to earn just $1.797MM next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the spring. As O’Halloran notes, Linder and Jackson were selected just 12 spots apart in the third round of the 2014 draft. Because he wasn’t a first-round choice, Linder isn’t eligible for a fifth-year option in 2017, and the franchise tag isn’t an option for an interior lineman.
- Now that the Raiders have locked up Jackson and quarterback Derek Carr, the next item on the club’s offseason itinerary is finding a middle linebacker, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, who tosses out both Perry Riley and Rey Maualuga as possible fits. I recently named both Riley and Maualuga among the five best unsigned linebackers in the league, along with DeAndre Levy, Daryl Smith, and D’Qwell Jackson. Riley, of course, spent the 2016 campaign in Oakland and experienced a career resurgence after several middling seasons with the Redskins. At present, the Raiders are fielding Cory James, Ben Heeney, and Tyrell James at middle linebacker.
- In case you missed it, we rounded up several AFC notes earlier today, with items on the Jaguars, Jets, and Ravens.
The Ravens Need To Sign TE Gary Barnidge
Perhaps no position group has taken as many hits as the Ravens’ tight ends over the past month, as Dennis Pitta suffered another devastating hip injury in early June (which ultimately led to his release and will likely end his career) while athletic backup Darren Waller was hit with a one-year PED suspension last week. With Pitta and Waller out of the picture for 2017, Baltimore is left with five tight ends on its roster: Ben Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, Nick Boyle, and Ryan Malleck, all of whom come with significant risk.
Watson is entering his age-36 campaign coming off a torn Achilles, but he’s likely to make the Ravens’ roster after accepting a pay reduction earlier this year. Having missed 15 games over the past two seasons, and dealing with back and leg injuries, Gillmore is no bet to be available next year. The same goes for Williams, a former second-round pick who may begin the 2017 campaign on the PUP list, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Boyle, meanwhile, has already been banned twice for PEDs (a third positive test would net him a yearlong suspension, à la Waller), while Malleck is a 2016 undrafted free agent with no game experience.
Given the amount of question marks among their tight ends, the Ravens need to consider scouring the free agent market for reinforcements. While other players such as Ladarius Green or Jacob Tamme could be on Baltimore’s radar, the most reliable veteran who still remains unsigned is former Brown Gary Barnidge, whom Zrebiec notes (Twitter link) would make for a sensible Ravens target. I didn’t originally list Baltimore as a potential destination for Barnidge when I ran down landing spots for him in May, but given the events of the past month, the Ravens should give Barnidge a call.
While Barnidge could simply serve as insurance for the Ravens, he might also represent improvement over the club’s tight end production from a year ago. While Pitta finished first among tight ends in receptions, and seventh in yards, various advanced metrics indicate he wasn’t all that successful on a rate basis in 2016. Among 46 qualified tight ends, Pitta finished 45th in DYAR and 40th in DVOA (both are metrics from Football Outsiders which measure a receiver’s value). Pro Football Focus was also critical of Pitta’s 2016 play, ranking him 47th among 63 tight ends.
Barnidge, on the other hand, ranked higher than Pitta in all three metrics (15th in DYAR, 13th in DVOA, 25th in PFF’s grades). On a yards per reception basis, Barnidge finished with 11.13 YPR while Pitta managed only 8.48 YPR, second-to-last among tight ends with at least 25 receptions. The 31-year-old Barnidge has also done well on deep passes, long a staple of Baltimore’s offense. On passes that travel more than 20 yards in the air, Barnidge ranked third and 15th in yardage among tight ends in 2015 and 2016, respectively, according to Mark Chichester of Pro Football Focus.
Of course, a tight end is responsible for not only receiving, but blocking, and after losing right tackle Ricky Wagner to free agency, the Ravens can use all the edge blocking help they can get. PFF ranked Baltimore’s offensive line 23rd heading into the 2017 season, specifically noting question marks at right tackle, where James Hurst is now projected to start. Barnidge can aid in that capacity, as PFF graded him as the No. 1 pass-blocking tight end in the league in 2016.
Barnidge could also benefit from staying in the AFC North, as none of the clubs in the division besides Baltimore are above-average at defending the tight end. Cleveland, Barnidge’s former team, ranked dead last in DVOA against tight ends last season, allowing an average of 7.2 receptions and 63.4 yards per game (30.2% worse than the NFL mean). Neither the Steelers (13) nor the Bengals (15) could crack the top-10 in DVOA against opposing tight ends, either.
In terms of salary, it’s difficult to believe Barnidge will be able to command much more than a incentive-laden minimum deal, especially given that he hasn’t been signed yet. Even so, adding Barnidge could be difficult for the Ravens, who rank third-to-last in the NFL with only $5.833MM in cap space, per Over the Cap. Baltimore could potentially restructure the contracts of veterans such as Jimmy Smith, Marshal Yanda, or Eric Weddle to create a bit of breathing room if it wants to bring in Barnidge.
South Notes: Saints, Peterson, Colts
The Saints should take it easy with prized offseason acquisition Adrian Peterson, one league executive tells ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure.
“You don’t want to run that guy out there for 16 games,” the executive said. “Then you risk him getting hurt again.”
Even at the age of 32, Peterson still has the ability to break off big runs. However, he might not have the durability to withstand a full season. The Saints best bet, McClure argues, would be to roll him out in the team’s biggest games, including the season opener against his former team and major NFC South clashes. With the talented Mark Ingram at the helm plus third round pick Alvin Kamara and pass-catching specialist Travaris Cadet, that’s a gameplan that just might work for New Orleans.
Here’s more from the South divisions:
- The Saints were planning to replace Zach Strief for several seasons. Now, he’s one of the Saints’ best offensive linemen and one of the best right tackles in the league, Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune writes. The Saints selected Andrus Peat with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 draft to eventually take Strief’s job, but he now finds himself at left guard. There were times when the 33-year-old (34 in September) could have been squeezed out of New Orleans, but he’s now a pillar for the unit. This offseason, the Saints rewarded Strief with a pay bump.
- The Colts are focused on improving their turnover margin stat in 2017, and that influenced some of the team’s moves this offseason, Kevin Bowen of Colts.com writes. The Colts selected Ohio State safety Malik Hooker at No. 15 overall and shifted Darius Butler to safety with the hope that they can get more takeaways. On the other side of the ball, they’re hoping that Andrew Luck‘s smart decision making will help to limit turnovers.
- Anquan Boldin could be looking to play near his home in Florida, but the Buccaneers and Jaguars seem pretty well set at wide receiver.
North Notes: Bengals, Lewis, Bears, Jeffery
The Bengals deserve credit for sticking with Marvin Lewis rather than making a coaching change along the way, former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher says.
“Sometimes you lose a coach, you lose a player to free agency and you’re always having to find ways to create that high expectation and continuity every year. Marvin knows that,” Cowher told Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I think the biggest thing is for ownership to make sure they don’t buy into ‘if you don’t go to the Super Bowl in three years to get another coach in.’ You set yourself back. Marvin’s very consistent He’s proven to be that model of consistency. He’s been a great face for the team and he’s built a culture there of players through time.”
After going 6-9 in 2016, Lewis is entering a contract year with the Bengals. The coach pushed for a new deal in the winter, but backed off of that request in the spring, perhaps after being shut down by team brass. Bengals players say they aren’t dwelling on Lewis’ future, but the coach is probably feeling the heat.
The Bengals have reached the AFC wild-card round seven times under Lewis, including five consecutive years from 2011 through 2015, but lost each time. If the Bengals cannot make real headway in the postseason this year, their patience with Lewis might run out.
Here’s a look at the AFC and NFC North:
- Will the Bears regret not re-signing Alshon Jeffery? Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com doesn’t think they’ll regret letting him go in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Jeffery’s talent is undeniable when he’s on the field, but he’s only played in all 16 games twice in his five NFL seasons due to injury. For a team that is looking to start over, it didn’t make much sense to match the Eagles’ offer of a one-year deal worth up to $14MM. Now, it’s time for the Bears to find out what they have in Cameron Meredith and Kevin White. Meredith enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 and he could take another big step forward in his age-25 campaign. Meanwhile, White is something of an unknown given all the injuries he has dealt with since going No. 7 overall in 2015.
- With the exception of the Jeremy Maclin signing, the Ravens did not do much this offseason to add playmakers at wide receiver or running back. That lack of action could hold them back from making a January push, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Now, he argues, there is increased pressure on Breshad Perriman to perform so that Mike Wallace can assume more of a secondary role. He also notes that the Ravens will have to come up with answers at tight end after losing Dennis Pitta.
- The Ravens are reportedly split about whether to pursue a reunion with linebacker Zach Orr.
AFC Notes: Jaguars, Bortles, Jets, Ravens
Is Blake Bortles a lost cause for the Jaguars? Mike Wells of ESPN.com seems to think so, writing that the team made a big mistake by exercising his fifth-year option for $19MM+ in 2018. Making matters worse, he writes, the Jaguars did not bring in a quarterback to compete with him and push him to perform better this offseason. Jags beat writer Michael DiRocco, meanwhile, has given up on the notion that Bortles can be an elite quarterback, saying that his ceiling could be in the Brian Hoyer/Matt Cassel/Jon Kitna range.
In his three NFL seasons, Bortles has 69 touchdowns against 51 interceptions with an 11-34 record. The onus is now on the 25-year-old to prove that he should be the man under center for Jacksonville. If not, he might be looking for work elsewhere after this season since the fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only.
Here’s more out of the AFC:
- Tackle Ben Ijalana now has to prove that he is worth the Jets‘ $11MM investment, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Last year, Ijalana stepped into the left tackle spot after Ryan Clady went down and wound up making 13 starts. This offseason, the Jets gave him a two-year, $11MM deal to keep him in the fold. Given the lack of playing time he saw in his first few seasons, it’s hard to know exactly what the Jets have in Ijalana, even though he put in significant minutes in all 16 games last season. There’s also the advanced metrics to consider. Ijalana earned a 47.6 overall score from Pro Football Focus last year, ranking him as the No. 60 tackle in the NFL last year out of 78 qualified players.
- After re-signing with the Ravens on a five-year, $52.5MM contract, Brandon Williams says he wants to be more of an every down player, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley writes. “I need to get my sacks up,” Williams said. “I need to get my pass-rushing up. I am excited. I just had a meeting with our D-line coach, Coach [Joe] Cullen yesterday, about me kind of fine-tuning. I have the run-stop. I could still work on it, obviously, but I’m more just trying to work on my pass rush, trying to get out there and do the best I can.” Williams has had only 4.5 sacks in his four NFL seasons. Last season, ten interior lineman had five or more sacks and that’s a group that Williams is presumably hoping to join. His deal, which averages $10.8MM per season, is the highest of any nose tackle in the NFL and puts him No. 8 among all defensive tackles.
- Who do you think should be the Browns‘ starting quarterback in 2017? Click here to weigh in.
Jeff Fisher Hopes To Coach Again
Even after more than three decades of coaching in the professional ranks, it doesn’t sound like Jeff Fisher is done with the NFL. At least, he hopes that the NFL is not done with him. In the final episode of Amazon’s “All or Nothing” series chronicling the 2016 Rams, Fisher made it known that he wants to get involved with coaching again. 
[RELATED: Jeff Fisher Discusses Firing, Extension, Jared Goff]
“I want to get back on the sideline,” Fisher said (via PFT). “Not going to happen this year, obviously. We’ll just see what happens.”
The Rams went 31-45-1 under Fisher’s guidance through four-and-a-half seasons. For his career, Fisher owns a head coaching record of 173-165-1, giving him a not-so-impressive .512 lifetime winning percentage. Fisher has never won a Super Bowl and has not guided a team to the playoffs in nearly a decade, so he might not seem like a particularly sexy coaching candidate.
However, Fisher does offer tons of experience and he is extremely well connected through the league office. As Mike Florio notes, those connections could help him get in the door with an indecisive owner.
Fisher might be able to sell himself to one of the league’s 32 teams (or, perhaps, to one of 30 clubs) as a veteran coach who has six postseason appearances to his credit. The pitch may satisfy an owner out there, but it’s unlikely to energize a fanbase.
NFC South Notes: Ginn, Saints, Falcons
The Saints will miss wide receiver Brandin Cooks in this season, but the addition of Ted Ginn could help to soften the blow somewhat, Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune argues. While Michael Thomas and Willie Snead draw the bulk of attention from opposing defenses, Ginn might be able to fly under the radar and make big plays with his blazing speed. Of course, the 32-year-old Ginn is not the same kind of talent as the 23-year-old Cooks. However, he can be dangerous in one-on-one scenarios and quarterback Drew Brees knows how to take advantage of those situations.
Over the past two seasons, Cooks averaged 81 receptions for 1,155 yards and more than eight touchdowns. Ginn can’t equal that production alone, but New Orleans will need every bit they can get out of their wide receivers now that the young star is in New England.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- The Falcons spent $28.5MM to revamp the defensive line with the hope that Vic Beasley can built on his breakthrough season, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Beasley will be a focal point of opposing game plans after racking up 15.5 sacks in 2016, but the additions of Dontari Poe (one-year, $8MM deal), defensive end Jack Crawford (three years, $10.3MM) plus first round pick Takkarist McKinley (four years, $10.2MM) should help alleviate some of the pressure on the outside linebacker. The early word on Crawford is particularly promising. “Jack is a relentless in his pursuit,” defensive line coach Bryant Young said. “He’s a very hard, tough and competitive individual. I just really love that about him.”
- More from Ledbetter, who also profiled the Falcons‘ offensive line. He writes that the Falcons still must find a backup swing tackle to replace veteran Tom Compton after he joined the Bears in free agency. Recently, we ran down the best available starting tackles, including bigger names like Ryan Clady and Austin Pasztor. Both of those guys are probably looking for full-time starting gigs, but others like Mike Adams and Will Beatty could theoretically be options for Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Falcons are holding an open competition for the startight right guard job. Wes Schweitzer and Ben Garland are top contenders, per coach Dan Quinn, but Ledbetter gets the sense that Schweitzer is in the catbird seat. That would leave Garland and fourth round pick Sean Harlow on the bench to start the year.
Extra Points: Brady, Jones, Colts
Tom Brady finally addressed his wife’s comments about his possible undisclosed concussions, doing so in an interview on ESPN’s “E:60.” Gisele Bundchen said her 39-year-old husband suffered a concussion last season and multiple others the Patriots didn’t disclose in previous years. Brady did not deny this during his interview but was vague in his response.
“She’s there every day. I mean, we go to bed, you know, in the same bed every night. So I think she’s, you know, she knows when I’m sore,” Brady said (via CBSSports.com). “She knows when I’m tired. She knows, you know, when I get hit. I mean, we drive home together. But she also knows how well, you know, I take care of myself. She’s a very concerned wife and very loving.”
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio provided a translation from this answer that Brady has sustained concussions that were not reported. Nothing has come out yet regarding the Patriots’ knowledge of these concussions, so the team would not be in a position to be punished for concealing such injuries. Brady’s agent, Don Yee, said the quarterback wasn’t diagnosed with a concussion during the 2016 season. This doesn’t deny that he suffered one, however. The NFL in May said there was no record of Brady suffering a concussion last season.
Here’s the latest coming out of New England and other NFL cities.
- Brady continued to insist he wants to play until he’s in his mid-40s. He added a “health-permitting”-type caveat when the subject was broached during his latest interview. “My mid-40s, I’ve always said, so naturally that’s 45, but football is a contact sport,” Brady said. “I don’t think you can take anything for granted in football, things happen. It’s just part of the sport. I would love to be able to continue playing at that level. As long as I keep playing well and committed to it, I’ll keep doing it. I know I got a lot left in me.” Brady, who will turn 40 next month, is signed through the 2019 season. The Patriots will have a big decision to make regarding how they approach Jimmy Garoppolo‘s situation come 2018, and Brady’s 2017 performance figures to have a major say in they handle the quandary.
- News emerged about Matt Jones changing agents Sunday. Drew Rosenhaus now represents the Redskins running back. Previous agent Hadley Engelhard lobbied the Redskins to trade or release him, and Jones did not show for Washington’s OTA sessions. He skipped the workouts on the advice of Engelhard, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post, who wonders if the agent switch will have an impact on Jones’ standing with the Redskins. Washington deactivated Jones midseason after persistent fumbling trouble and added Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine in the fourth round. Jones did report to minicamp, but his status in Washington’s backfield hierarchy is murky.
- Chuck Pagano and Colts DC Ted Monachino are encouraged by what they’ve seen from third-round pass rusher Tarell Basham, Kevin Bowen of Colts.com notes. Pagano said it will be “exciting” to watch the former Ohio Bobcats defensive end develop, while Monachino said a safe prediction can be made Basham will do “several things well.” Bowen writes Basham will likely be shuttled to outside linebacker in Indianapolis’ 3-4 look. Recently retired edge dynamo Robert Mathis has helped Basham (9.0 sacks as a senior last season) with that transition this offseason. The Colts added edge players Jabaal Sheard, John Simon and Barkevious Mingo in free agency, moving to younger cogs after Mathis retired. Trent Cole and Erik Walden remain unsigned after their Colts contracts expired.
Poll: Who Should Browns Start At Quarterback?
Hue Jackson identified the goal to name a starting quarterback by the Browns’ preseason opener. While that might be ambitious given that the team again brought in multiple new pieces to vie for this job, that date is approaching fast. And Cleveland boasts one of the more NFL’s more interesting quarterback competitions.
The Cody Kessler-vs.-DeShone Kizer-vs.-Brock Osweiler battle brings disparate profiles. While the Browns aren’t exactly in position to challenge for a playoff spot now, they spent an offseason loading up on long-term deals for when they are. So, establishing a quarterback now will be important.
Kessler entered the Browns’ offseason program as the man to beat here. The former USC passer and 2016 third-rounder was thrust into action midway through last season after injuries befell both players in front of him.
Although he obviously did not win any games, going 0-8 as a starter, the 6-foot-1 Kessler fared decently for a player viewed as more of a developmental project. He completed 66 percent of his passes and threw six touchdown passes compared to two interceptions despite the Browns not having much in the way of skill-position depth.
Kizer, though, closed the gap during OTAs and minicamp. The Browns having made a second-round investment in the former Notre Dame signal-caller positions him well in the quarterback-of-the-future discussion. The team is not interested in the 6-4 player sitting just to sit this season, with Jackson saying he will play if he’s ready.
Viewed as relatively raw and coming with the kind of questions his 2017 rookie-QB peers also had, the 21-year-old Kizer may benefit from observing for a bit. But he’s not exactly blocked by a proven player, so Jackson may want to get him reps soon. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot saw Kizer show superior physical skills during OTAs compared to the other quarterbacks, and QBs coach David Lee said the rookie has a bright NFL future.
The obvious wild card here after arriving in one of the weirdest trades in NFL history, Osweiler has impressed thus far. He brings the most experience, even if no action of consequence occurred until his fourth season, but is a polarizing presence after the way the Texans season unfolded.
Osweiler is being paid $16MM this year as part of the agreement with the Texans, and he helped the 2015 Broncos secure home-field advantage en route to their Super Bowl title. But after his Denver audition had peaks and valleys, the 26-year-old passer bombed in Houston, throwing 16 interceptions and limiting the Texans’ offense. Lee is working on refining the 6-7 quarterback’s three-quarters delivery, and Cabot notes he is a viable threat to start in Week 1.
Kessler probably has the best handle on Jackson’s system, with Kizer having a higher upside as of now. One anonymous exec still thinks the Browns will find a way to trade Osweiler before the season. The team tried to do so after acquiring him, making Osweiler’s chances at securing the job interesting. But he also isn’t facing the kind of steep odds most backup-type passers are around the league. Kevin Hogan is also on the team, and Jackson said he would receive first-team reps, but the 2016 fifth-rounder is not likely to be a serious candidate come camp.
So, who will win this job? Did Kessler show enough on a 1-15 team last season to earn another opportunity? Or will Jackson throw Kizer into the fire despite his age and seeming need for development? How much of a chance do you give Osweiler here? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who will be the Browns' starting quarterback?
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Brock Osweiler 46% (1,127)
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Cody Kessler 30% (733)
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DeShone Kizer 20% (483)
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Kevin Hogan 4% (86)
Total votes: 2,429
Latest On Derek Carr’s Contract
Derek Carr‘s five-year, $125MM contract makes him the highest-paid NFL player and the first to break the $25MM-AAV barrier. Some of this deal’s specifics — like Carr’s $70MM guaranteed and $40MM fully guaranteed at signing — have been reported, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports some key details in the agreement on Sunday.
Carr received a $12.5MM signing bonus and will make $5MM in 2017 base salary. According to OverTheCap, the 26-year-old quarterback will have a 2017 cap figure of $15.73MM. For the ensuing five years, Carr’s cap figures are as follows: $25MM (2018), $22.5MM (’19), $21.5MM (’20), $22.13MM (’21) and $19.88MM (’22).
As for how the guarantees in these years are structured, Carr picked up a $7.5MM roster bonus on June 30 to add to his 2017 total. For 2018, his $7.4MM base salary is guaranteed for injury only at signing, but Florio reports that will be fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2018 league year. A $15MM roster bonus will come Carr’s way on Day 3 of the ’18 league year as well. That will be paid within 15 days of that March date, per Florio.
In 2019, Carr’s deal is less complicated. He will earn a base salary of $19.9MM for his age-28 season. It’s structured like his ’18 salary, being guaranteed for injury only at signing but fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2019 league year. For 2020, the base pay is $18.9MM, with $2.9MM of that guaranteed for injury at signing. Carr’s 2021 and ’22 bases are worth $19.53MM and $19.78MM, respectively. Both figures are non-guaranteed, according to Florio. Of course, Carr could be operating on his third contract by then.
Where Carr will be playing matters now as well.
With Nevada not having a state income tax and California’s residing at 13 percent, Carr will see more money once the Raiders move to Las Vegas. Florio notes that the uncertain 2019 season — after the Raiders’ Oakland Coliseum lease expires and a year before the earliest date by which Vegas stadium is set to be ready — will bring some variance. If the Raiders stay in Oakland, Carr will pay an additional $2.6MM in taxes for 2019 compared to how this would shake out if the franchise moved to another Nevada site while the domed stadium is being finished.
Carr conceded he wanted to leave some money for the Raiders to be able to keep Gabe Jackson and Amari Cooper (when he becomes extension-eligible in 2018) while helping the team plan for the seemingly inevitable record-setting Khalil Mack extension.