2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Austin Seferian-Jenkins Seeking $7MM/Year

March 1st, 2018 at 8:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Jets free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins is searching for a $7MM annual salary on the open market, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

New York will meet with Seferian-Jenkins’ agent at the scouting combine at the coming days, per Slater. ASJ has already rejected one offer of two years, $8MM from Gang Green, and he’s apparently looking to nearly double the salary proffered by the Jets. A $7MM annual salary would tie Seferian-Jenkins for 12th among tight ends, alongside the Cardinals’ Jermaine Gresham.

A former-second round pick, Seferian-Jenkins is fresh off the best season of his career. In 13 games (10 starts), the 25-year-old Seferian-Jenkins posted 50 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. While 50 catches ranked 13th among tight ends in 2017, Seferian-Jenkins doesn’t offer much as a blocker, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as just the 35th-best run-blocker.

Dion Lewis Expected To Draw Interest From 6-7 Teams

March 1st, 2018 at 7:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots free agent running back Dion Lewis is expected to draw significant interest on the free agent market, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Lewis, who is reportedly seeking a $6MM annual salary, is likely to draw the eye of the Jets, Texans, 49ers, Raiders, and Colts, per Florio. New York, San Francisco, and Indianapolis are each facing vacancies in their backfields, but a Lewis addition in Houston or Oakland would presumably lead to the release of Lamar Miller or Marshawn Lynch, respectively.

The Patriots had a cavalcade of running backs on their roster in 2017, but Lewis was the best of the bunch. The 27-year-old Lewis posted the most outstanding season of his career in 2017, toting the ball 180 times for 896 yards (both team highs), managing 214 yards on 32 receptions, and scoring 10 total touchdowns (including one in the return game). Lewis ranked first in Football Outsiders‘ DYAR metric, sixth in broken tackles, and sixth in Pro Football Focus‘ pass-blocking grades.

Lewis isn’t the only free agent running back about whom New England needs to worry. Rex Burkhead is also scheduled to hit the open market later this month, so while the Patriots still employ James White, Brandon Bolden, and Mike Gillislee they could see a great deal of turnover in their backfield over the coming weeks.

Giants Expected To Target Graham Gano

March 1st, 2018 at 7:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants are expected to pursue free agent kicker Graham Gano, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com.

Gano, of course, would need to actually reach the free agent market before New York can go after him. The Panthers, who have employed the 30-year-old Gano for the past six seasons, are reportedly considering using the franchise tag on their veteran kicker. The franchise tender for placekickers is expected to be worth $4.604MM, a steep raise over Gano’s current $3.1MM annual salary.

Gano led the NFL in field goal conversion rate with a 96.7% success mark in 2017, and that performance earned him his first career Pro Bowl nod. In terms of advanced metrics, Gano was worth 6.3 points through his field goal and extra point work, good for eighth in the league, per Football Outsiders.

The Giants are seemingly aiming to replace Aldrick Rosas, who converted only 72% of his field goal attempts in what was his rookie campaign. New York general manager Dave Gettleman previously served in the same role for the Panthers, so he’s clearly familiar with Gano’s ability.

Bears Have Interest In WR Albert Wilson

March 1st, 2018 at 6:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears have “real” interest in free agent wide receiver Albert Wilson, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).

Wilson, 24, spent the first four years of his career in the Chiefs working under now-Bears head coach Matt Nagy, so he’d clearly offer scheme familiarity if he were to land in Chicago. Indeed, Kansas City general manager Brett Veach even pointed to the Bears as a potential Wilson destination when asked about the free agent’s prospects of leaving the Chiefs, as Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets.

Perhaps more than any club in the NFL, the Bears desperately need to add receivers this offseason. Kendall Wright and Dontrelle Inman are both headed for unrestricted free agency, Kevin White and Cameron Meredith are coming off injury, and Markus Wheaton seems likely to be released. Chicago traded up to acquire quarterback Mitch Trubisky in 2017, and the team now must bring in weapons for its franchise signal-caller.

2017 marked the best overall campaign for Wilson, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Last season, Wilson posted a career-high in receptions (42), yards (554), and touchdowns (three). Among receivers with fewer than 50 receptions, Wilson ranked eighth in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA, meaning he was extremely effective on a per-play basis despite his lack of volume.

Danny Amendola To Have Strong Market

March 1st, 2018 at 6:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent wide receiver Danny Amendola‘s market is “unfolding favorably,” according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, who adds it wouldn’t be surprising if the veteran wideout is able to earn $3-5MM annually on his next contract.

Amendola has taken several pay cuts in order to stick on the New England roster over the past few years, and his resulting cap charges have stayed the near the low end of that $3-5MM range. As Howe notes, the mere fact that Amendola was willing to accept those pay reductions likely means he’d prefer to stay with the Patriots for the long term, but New England could need to fend off other suitors.

Following a down 2016 campaign, Amendola managed 61 receptions, 659 yards, and two touchdowns during the 2017 regular season before stepping up with a 26/348/2 line in the postseason. Acting as Tom Brady‘s security blanket, the now 32-year-old Amendola has never topped 700 yards receiving in a single season, but his proficiency in the quick passing game makes him desirable in today’s NFL.

If he does reach the open market, Amendola will join a free agent wideout class that also includes Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, and Marqise Lee, and Paul Richardson.

Saints Meeting With DB Kurt Coleman

March 1st, 2018 at 5:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Kurt Coleman was released by the Panthers on Monday, but he’s already lined up a meeting with another NFC South club. Coleman met with a Saints contingent in Indianapolis today, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, who adds (via Twitter) Coleman is expected to visit with multiple teams while at the combine.

The Saints — who have historically played a good deal of three-safety looks — aren’t expected to re-sign defensive back Kenny Vaccaro, so Coleman would give New Orleans another option to play in sub packages. He’d also add experience and leadership to a safety group that includes young starter Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams, each of whom entered the league within the past two years.

Coleman, 29, was a solid starter for Carolina in 2015-16, but struggled last season, grading as a bottom-10 safety per Pro Football Focus. That performance wasn’t enough for Coleman to keep his job, especially given that he was scheduled to count for $5.15MM on the Panthers’ salary cap in 2018.

Now that he’s on the open market, Coleman is part of a free agent safety class which also includes Lamarcus Joyner, Eric Reid, Morgan Burnett, Tre Boston, and Vaccaro.

Seahawks Shopping DL Michael Bennett

March 1st, 2018 at 5:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks are shopping veteran defensive lineman Michael Bennett, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.

Bennett, 32, is still one of the better — and more versatile — lineman in the NFL, as he ranked inside the top 20 in quarterback pressures a season ago. Capable of lining up along the interior or on the edge, Bennett appeared in 16 games for Seattle in 2017, managing eight sacks and grading as the No. 38 interior defender among 108 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

But the Seahawks are undergoing something of a makeover on the defensive side of the ball: not only does the club have a new coordinator in Ken Norton Jr., but Seattle could move on from veterans such as Cliff Avril, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor. If the Seahawks are aiming to get younger on defense, Bennett would make sense as another candidate to to be shipped out.

Bennett is due a $3MM roster bonus on March 18 (the fourth day of the 2018 league year), so Seattle would likely want to deal Bennett before that date in order to avoid that expenditure. The three-time Pro Bowler is signed through 2020 at affordable rates, and wouldn’t cost an acquiring club more than $8.5MM in any of the next three seasons.

A number of clubs around the league are currently running Seahawks-esque schemes, and could speculatively be in play for Bennett. The Falcons, hypothetically, could be one team with interest, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets, while the 49ers, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Chargers all employ former Seattle defensive coaches.

Latest On Michael Crabtree, Marshawn Lynch

March 1st, 2018 at 5:07pm CST by Zachary Links

Recent comments from Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and coach Jon Gruden have indicated that running back Marshawn Lynch and wide receiver Michael Crabtree will be with the team in 2018. However, nothing has been decided on either front, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal hears.

From a talent perspective, both players would be worthwhile contributors for the Raiders. However, their salaries are an issue. Crabtree is scheduled to earn a $7MM salary with just over $1MM in potential incentives. Lynch, meanwhile, is on the books with a $4MM salary plus up to $4MM in bonuses. Those numbers don’t sit right with the team’s braintrust, which is now headed by new head coach Jon Gruden, and it could result in one or both of the players not being a part of the team this fall.

At minimum, we should get some clarity on Lynch’s situation soon. The veteran is due a $1MM roster bonus on March 18, so the Raiders will have to make a call before that date. With free agency getting underway on March 14, it would behoove Oakland to figure things out for both players in the next two weeks.

Last season, Crabtree posted his worst season as a Raider, managing only 58 reception and 618 yards in 14 games. Lynch, meanwhile, was excellent down the stretch (perhaps as he got into better condition): the 31-year-old averaged 5.17 yards per carry over Oakland’s final five games and scored twice.

AFC North Notes: Browns, Gordon, Steelers

March 1st, 2018 at 4:12pm CST by Zachary Links

In a departure from comments made last offseason, Browns coach Hue Jackson says that he wants wide receiver Josh Gordon to be in Cleveland for a “long time.”

“Well, I think the first thing, if we tender him, which we will, that’s where he’ll be,” Jackson said (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). “But we want Josh Gordon to be a Cleveland Brown for a long time. We’ll see where that all goes, but he has to do his part in that. And we hope he will, and I’m sure he will.”

Gordon is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that he’ll be back with the Browns on an inexpensive one-year deal. It’s not clear whether the Browns have discussed a multi-year extension with Gordon, but Jackson would be a proponent of a new contract.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

The Steelers recently reached out to safety J.J. Wilcox to express interest in a return for 2018, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Steelers can save $3.125MM by cutting Wilcox with just $675K in dead money, but the Steelers have some interest in retaining him, perhaps under a reduced figure. The Steelers will also have to make a decision regarding fellow safety Mike Mitchell, who is slated to carry a $5MM cap hit.
With the Rams reportedly set to move on from wide receiver Tavon Austin, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun wonders aloud if the Ravens could bring the former Dunbar star home. The Ravens need to overhaul their receiver corps this season with a particular emphasis on speed. The team has been widely connected to Jarvis Landry, but Austin would represent a much cheaper option in every sense of the word. The Dolphins hit Landry with the $16MM+ franchise tag in February with the hope of trading him, likely for draft compensation. Austin, meanwhile, seems likely to get released outright, even though the Rams would ideally like to recoup something for him. Because of the offset language in Austin’s contract, that means he could probably be had for the league minimum or close to it.
A deeper look at the contract of Bengals tackle Bobby Hart reveals that he is not a lock to make the team’s final roster.

Redskins HC: We’re Not Trading Cravens

March 1st, 2018 at 3:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Trade talk surrounding Su’a Cravens came to a boil this week with reports that the Broncos were deep in discussions to acquire him. However, Redskins coach Jay Gruden says that Cravens isn’t going anywhere.

“We’re not trading him,” Gruden said (via Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post). “I just saw that on the ticker. He’s still a member of this football team and we have every intention of seeing where he’s at. I’ll have to talk to him and see where he’s at mentally. Physically, I know he’s going to be in great shape. The big thing is, is this something that he wants to do? He has to commit to it full time. He’s a good football player, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a great kid. I’m sure it will work out for him.”

Cravens hasn’t taken the field since his rookie year in 2016. His retirement flip-flop last year which resulted in the team placing him on the reserve/left squad list drew the of both the Redskins front office and the locker room. A trade would make sense for all parties involved, but, if Gruden is to be believed, Cravens remains in the team’s plans for 2018.

Playing both linebacker and safety, Cravens notched 33 tackles in 2016.