AFC East Notes: Dolphins, DRC, Jets
With some serious questions at the No. 2 cornerback position, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald wonders if the Dolphins could use some of their newfound cap space to sign a veteran late in the offseason. He mentions the names of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jeremy Lane, though Lane’s status is up in the air after he pled guilty to reckless driving on what was initially a DUI arrest.
In theory, the Dolphins have Cordrea Tankersley and Tony Lippett to duke it out for the job, but Tankersley struggled as a rookie and Lippett is still recovering from Achilles surgery. They could also move Bobby McCain – who just signed a four-year, $27MM extension – to the outside, but he made a name for himself covering slot receivers. Instead of shuffling McCain or first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick to different places, the Dolphins may instead prefer to dip into the free agent market.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- The Jets upgraded at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive line, inside linebacker, and cornerback, Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes. However, in his estimation, they downgraded at tight end and defensive line while roughly staying at the same level at outside linebacker, safety, and special teams. He figures that the loss of Muhammad Wilkerson will hurt them in particular, even though he had to go. Wilkerson was chronically late and a headache for Jets coaches, but when he was on the field, he prevented opposing teams from doubling up on Leonard Williams. The Jets are hoping that Henry Anderson, rookie Nathan Shepherd, and Xavier Cooper can accomplish the same thing, but it’s a lot to ask from that group.
- The Dolphins expect to use new wide receiver Albert Wilson in a number of roles, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. “When we looked at Albert on film, we were intrigued, obviously with the speed,” receivers coach Ben Johnson said. “We were intrigued with the run-after-catch ability. I think all of that has been there. It’s been impressive to me to see him come in, pick up this system and learn these fundamentals that he wasn’t really doing the same thing in Kansas City. He’s really done a nice job the past two weeks. It’s really triggered us to say he’s not limited in the slot, he’s not limited outside. He can line up in the backfield. He can do so many different things for us. His versatility is really, really showing up.”
- The Patriots’ next round of offseason activities get underway on Tuesday and tight end Rob Gronkowski will be participating. Tom Brady has yet to confirm his participation, but he was on hand for the Pats’ fantasy camp for fans on Monday, which is an encouraging sign.
- Late last week, quarterback Tyrod Taylor discussed the trade that sent him from the Bills to the Browns.
Tom Brady Arrives At Gillette Stadium
Tom Brady is in the house. One day prior to the Patriots’ next round of offseason practices, Brady was spotted at the team’s fantasy camp for fans at Gillette Stadium, as Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes. 
[RELATED: Gronk To Participate In Minicamp]
Brady has not explicitly confirmed that he’ll participate in practices on Tuesday, but it certainly sounds like he will after owner Robert Kraft said that he expected Brady to suit up this week. It’s still not clear why Brady has been away from the team, which has led to speculation that the quarterback is angling for a new deal and/or is at odds with head coach coach Bill Belichick.
For what it’s worth, Kraft says “nothing’s changed” with regards to their relationship and “everything is good.” Brady also said that he skipped OTAs, in part, to spend more time with his loved ones.
“Part of this offseason for me is certainly about still preparing for what’s ahead in my next journey, my next mountain to climb with this group of teammates, but it’s also [acknowledging] that a lot of people are getting the short end of the stick in my life — certainly my wife and my kids,” Brady said in May. “Football is year-round for me. It’s a lot of thought, a lot of energy and emotion put into it, but I need to invest in them, too. My kids are 10, 8 and 5. They’re not getting younger, so I need to take time so I can be available to them, too. … I’ve really spent the last two or three months doing those things, and I think I’m really trying to fill my tank up so that when I do go back, I can go back and I think I’ll actually be, in my mind, a better player, a better teammate, because I’ll be really rejuvenated.”
Brady’s decision to skip OTAs came as a shock, but it won’t necessarily hurt his play on the field. Even at age 40, Brady was terrific last year as he led the NFL in passing yards on the way to his third MVP trophy.
Bears To Re-Sign TE Zach Miller
The Bears have re-signed tight end Zach Miller to a one-year contract, according to Mike Florio of PFT. It’s unclear whether Miller will be able to take the field in 2018 – or ever again – but the new deal will provide Miller with additional financial security either way. 
It’s a split contract, according to Florio, which will pay Miller $458K even if he cannot play this year. If he is somehow able to take the field, he’ll make $790K.
Last year, doctors told Miller that he was at risk for losing his leg after he severely dislocated his left knee and tore his popliteal artery. Thankfully, after nine surgeries, Miller’s knee is safe.
Miller has said that he would like to play football again, though he acknowledges that he may be facing an uphill battle.
“[If it doesn’t happen], then that’s just the way it goes and we’ve got to move on and do something else,” Miller said back in February. “Physically I’ve been through a number of surgeries or whatever it may be. I can recover from that. But the mental aspect is something you’ve got to learn how to work it, how to block out some stuff and really just stay positive, which I’ve done a pretty good job doing.”
In all likelihood, an NFL comeback is not in the cards for Miller this season. Instead, this appears to be a class move by the Bears in order to take care of one of their own players.
Miller, who spent the first three seasons of his career as an afterthought in Jacksonville, did his best work over the past three seasons with the Bears starting in 2015. In 2016, Miller caught a career-high 47 passes and 486 yards with four touchdowns. Last year, he was on pace for similar stats with 20 grabs for 236 yards and two TDs before his painful injury in October.
North Notes: Bears, Browns, Ragnow
Fans of another Midwestern team will recognize much of what the 2018 Bears‘ offense looks like. Matt Nagy said, via Dan Pompei of The Athletic (subscription required) the Bears’ offense will be 70-80 percent the same as what the Chiefs run under Andy Reid.
“It will be different in some regards, which is only fair to our coaches on offense and the ideas they have,” Nagy said. “But the identity is going to be the same. It will feel very similar to Kansas City’s. We’re in the lab now. That’s the fun part. All the coaches are giving their ideas and thoughts. Coach [Reid] always said he had 51 percent of the say. So ultimately, he had final say. Now I have that. There are plays I liked that Coach [Reid] didn’t like, so now those plays are in.”
Reid and Nagy each had roles as the Chiefs’ primary play-caller during the pair’s two years working in an HC-OC relationship, with Nagy’s shift toward play-calling responsibilities coinciding with Kansas City’s late-season charge toward a second straight AFC West title. He’ll attempt to replicate that with the Bears.
With OTAs continuing for some and minicamps starting elsewhere this week, here’s the latest from the North divisions.
- The Browns believe Mychal Kendricks can play all three linebacker positions, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Lining up the ex-Eagles starter — who is set to sign with the Browns on Monday — in the middle would give him the best chance of starting, with Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey on the outside. However, Joe Schobert started all 16 Browns games as the middle linebacker and was the top-rated (per Pro Football Focus) Browns ‘backer last season. Kendricks was unhappy with his role with the Eagles, but in Cleveland, the Browns’ recent futility notwithstanding, he’s going to be playing with a deeper group of linebackers. A three-down role won’t be guaranteed. Of course, the previous Browns regime re-signed Collins and extended Kirksey, which could complicate matters a bit as John Dorsey steps into his first full season with the franchise.
- Also in Cleveland, Browns coaches are high on Duke Johnson, despite the team signing Carlos Hyde and drafting Nick Chubb, and Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com envisions an extension coming to fruition this offseason. The Browns have nearly $70MM in cap space, and Johnson would seemingly fit alongside either Hyde or Chubb as a passing-down back. The sides have been discussing a re-up for a bit now.
- Despite being open to Joel Bitonio as Joe Thomas‘ replacement, the Browns kept him at left guard at OTAs this week, per Terry Pluto of cleveland.com. Bitonio would prefer to stay at guard, and the Browns — who drafted Austin Corbett, Bitonio’s left tackle successor at Nevada — in Round 2. Corbett is currently working behind Shon Coleman at left tackle.
- On the subject of rookie offensive linemen’s roles, the Lions have begun first-round pick Frank Ragnow‘s tenure at guard, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com notes, adding he took some first-team reps at that spot. This is interesting considering Graham Glasgow played well at guard last season. The Lions have T.J. Lang entrenched at the other guard slot and signed ex-Jets center Wesley Johnson. However, Detroit’s discussed the notion of moving Glasgow to center. Ragnow played center for all but one game as an upperclassman but started throughout his sophomore season at guard for Arkansas.
- Tyler Matakevich underwent surgery to repair three areas — his rotator cuff, labrum and a biceps muscle — repaired shortly after the Steelers‘ divisional-round loss to the Jaguars. And the Steelers subsequently signed Jon Bostic, seemingly to replace Ryan Shazier this season. However, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes Matakevich was the first-string inside linebacker alongside Vince Williams throughout OTAs this week. While this situation is likely far from being settled, the Steelers holding a competition between a 2016 seventh-round pick and a sixth-year veteran who started 14 games last season is interesting.
Browns Finalizing Mychal Kendricks Deal
This appears to be real this time. Jordan Schultz of Yahoo.com reports (via Twitter) confirms a report from earlier today via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicating Mychal Kendricks will sign with the Browns.
Schultz adds the Browns will pay Kendricks up to $3.5MM on his one-year deal, and Rapoport confirms he’ll make at least $3MM in 2018 (Twitter link). Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported Kendricks is expected to sign the deal Monday. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press confirms Schultz’s report (Twitter link).
This process became rather strange when the linebacker emphatically refuted Rapoport’s initial report of him being Cleveland-bound. And Kendricks continued to be evasive Sunday night, hanging up when Tomasson attempted to contact him regarding Schultz’s report of the $3.5MM agreement (Twitter link).
Kendricks visited the Browns, Vikings and Raiders this week but will be the latest high-profile newcomer to make a trip to Cleveland, joining the likes of Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield and others. A seventh-year player, Kendricks will be in line to start alongside Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey in the Browns’ 4-3 scheme. Even if Kendricks reaches that $3.5MM mark, he’ll be the third-highest-paid Browns linebacker. Collins is on Cleveland’s books at $12.2MM in 2018, with Kirksey slotting in at a $6.2MM cap number.
The 27-year-old ‘backer will add to a talented Browns defensive second level, having graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 linebacker last season. He did this despite being involved in Eagles trade rumors for years. Extended during Chip Kelly‘s one year with personnel control, Kendricks was soon seen as an ill-fitting piece in Jim Schwartz’s system. He served as the third linebacker for Philadelphia in 2016, behind Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham, but became a key cog during the Eagles’ Super Bowl campaign after Hicks went down with a season-ending injury.
It will be interesting to see how Gregg Williams deploys Kendricks, since he already has two sub-package ‘backers in Collins and Kirksey. And Pro Bowler Joe Schobert started 16 games for Cleveland last season. Nevertheless, the Browns will attempt to fit the ex-Eagle into the fold, and he figures to play considerably in 2018 — a year that will serve as an audition year for Kendricks as free agency could again loom in March.
Vikings Rumors: DeFilippo, O-Line, Barr
John DeFilippo played a big part in the Vikings‘ quarterback search. The new Minnesota offensive coordinator began studying film of the team’s three previous quarterbacks — Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum — on his first morning with the team in mid-February, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. This process of finding a potential long-term option in Kirk Cousins also included scouting of QBs that weren’t Cousins or the Vikings’ free agent trio, per Goessling, who adds QBs coach Kevin Stefanski was also involved in this process, along with Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. DeFilippo and Cousins met at dinner the night before the new Minnesota starter signed his three-year, $84MM contract, per Goessling. Minnesota has not had a quarterback make it through three straight seasons as the primary starter since Daunte Culpepper in the early 2000s, and DeFilippo called the franchise’s signal-caller search as thorough as anything he’s been involved with in the NFL.
Here’s the latest from the Twin Cities:
- Previously stationed at right tackle at Vikings OTAs, Mike Remmers took reps exclusively at right guard during one of the OTA sessions this week, Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune reports. Third-year UDFA Rashod Hill, in turn, lined up at right tackle. This was the Vikings’ arrangement at the end of last season. Remmers worked as the Panthers’ starting right tackle from 2014-16. Tom Compton, who worked as the primary right guard last week, alternated at left guard with Danny Isidora, per Krammer. Slotting Remmers at guard would give second-round pick Brian O’Neill an easier path to playing time, but it’s uncertain what Remmers’ primary position will be this season.
- Anthony Barr reported to the Vikings this week and did so after taking out an insurance policy, Krammer notes. He missed the first week of Vikes OTAs while he ironed out this policy, which will cover him for injury while he’s still attached to his rookie deal. Barr remains hopeful he and the Vikings can come to terms before training camp. Minnesota agreed to extensions with Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph in a 10-day span just as camp began last year, and it would make sense Barr — one of the team’s big re-up candidates this year — would be the top priority for a pre-camp deal.
- Despite being a first-round pick, Laquon Treadwell has 21 receptions (and no touchdowns) in two years. However, the Ole Miss product is not categorizing 2018 as a make-or-break year, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press notes. The Vikings cut Jarius Wright and have not re-signed Michael Floyd, potentially giving Treadwell a chance to move into the No. 3 wideout role. However, Minnesota’s Kendall Wright deal could impede that. Neverthless, it could be a stretch the Vikings pick up Treadwell’s fifth-year option in May of 2019 at this rate.
Rams’ Other Contract Talks On Hold Until Aaron Donald Signs?
Aaron Donald is staying away from Rams workouts for a second straight offseason. But some big names are now in the picture for new Rams deals, creating a more complex situation.
Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks are each in different situations with the franchise, but each appears on the docket for a big contract. However, Donald’s process will supersede these talks, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Considering how long it took Donald to merely report to the Rams last year, this delay could be interesting.
As for the Donald talks, no significant progress is being made despite the previously expressed optimism a deal will be done. Rapoport reports that the start of training camp looks like a better benchmark to gauge these discussions. So, it doesn’t appear a deal is particularly close.
Donald is surely gunning for a contract that bumps Von Miller‘s six-year, $114.6MM accord as the richest for a defender in NFL history, and Les Snead‘s acknowledged the team will have to agree to that. It’s uncertain, though, how far into franchise-quarterback money Donald’s camp wants this new deal to land.
Gurley has two years remaining on his contract, after the Rams picked up his fifth-year option, and the recently acquired Cooks is entering his option season. No NFL team gave a 2014 first-rounder a deal prior to that first-round class’ fifth-year option seasons transpiring, so a Gurley pact prior to his may be a long shot. A Cooks pact prior to the deep threat playing a down for Los Angeles could be as well. But the Rams have not been shy about acquiring rookie-contract players expecting big deals in the near future, with Marcus Peters also profiling as such, and they now have Ndamukong Suh on a one-year agreement.
But in terms of deadlines, Lamarcus Joyner‘s does come first, with the date for franchise-tagged players looming July 16.
It’s unclear where the safety’s talks reside, but he signed his franchise tender and has been working out with the team during the offseason. Donald continues to stand as Los Angeles’ clear top priority, and the Rams’ $2MM-plus in cap space represents the lowest figure in the league presently. This will not be an easy matrix to navigate for a franchise that clearly believes, judging by the bevy of win-now moves over the past few months, it can win Super Bowl LIII.
Latest On Mychal Kendricks
Mychal Kendricks emphatically said he remains a free agent, despite a report earlier Sunday that tabbed the linebacker as Cleveland-bound. However, this process may still be headed toward that conclusion.
The former Eagles linebacker vehemently denied the report he’s agreed to terms with the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Kendricks is close to signing with Cleveland. She adds the deal is expected to be done by Monday.
The older brother of Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links) he’s still on the market, but if Cabot’s report is accurate, he may not be for long. If the 27-year-old off-ball linebacker does end up with the Browns, his staunch denial he’d agreed to Cleveland’s terms will signify an interesting start to his tenure with the franchise.
Cleveland remains the favorite to land the linebacker, per agent Doug Hendrickson (via Jordan Schultz of Yahoo.com, on Twitter), and NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn reports Kendricks texted him he’s still negotiating with “a number of teams” (Twitter link).
Kendricks visited the Browns, Vikings and Raiders. Should he join the Browns, he’d be part of one of the better (and more expensive) sets of linebacking contingents in the game considering Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey are already tied to the Browns long-term. Although the Browns have eight-figure-per-year payments lined up for both Collins and Kirksey, they have by far the most cap space in the league at $69MM-plus. The Vikings hold $17.6MM, and the Raiders sit at barely $2MM.
Key NFL Stories: 5/27/18 – 6/3/18
Brandon Marshall finds a home…The Seahawks were the only team known to have expressed interest in Marshall, and they’re the club that ultimately signed the veteran wideout, inking him to a one-year deal that can be worth as much as $2.155MM. Marshall will only receive $90K in guaranteed money, and needs to hit certain production thresholds in order to max out the contract. Seattle doesn’t have a ton of depth behind Doug Baldwin, and it’s entirely possible Marshall can take playing time away from Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, and the rest of the Seahawks’ wide receivers. Marshall, for his part, admitted he “didn’t have a ton of options” before landing with Seattle.
…but Dez Bryant hasn’t, and might not for awhile. Bryant, instead, may need to wait until training camp begins to sign with a new team, and it may even take an injury before he can sign a fresh contract. There hasn’t been a single team concretely linked to Bryant, although he recently lobbied for the 49ers to sign him. It doesn’t seem as though the NFL is still high on Bryant, as many clubs reportedly wouldn’t even consider the 29-year-old on a minimum salary deal. Bryant reportedly rejected a three-year, $21MM pact from the Ravens earlier this offseason.
Tre Boston takes another meeting. A trio of safeties — Boston, Eric Reid, and Kenny Vaccaro — are surprising still available as the calendar turns to June, but Boston’s market could be heating up, as he took a visit with the Cardinals last week. Boston, one of the best free agents who still remains unsigned, has also taken a meeting with the Colts, and has been linked to the Browns, Giants, and Raiders. Free agent safeties aren’t getting much interest this year, and it’s possible that Reid’s social activism — and ongoing collusion case against the NFL — has set the entire positional market back.
Dolphins extend CB Bobby McCain. Miami locked up McCain — its starting slot cornerback — through the 2022 campaign, signing the 24-year-old to a four-year, $27MM extension. A former fifth-round pick, McCain will earn nearly $2MM in 2018 thanks to the NFL’s proven performance escalator program. McCain has appeared in all 16 games in each season of his three-year career, and last year made seven starts while posting two interceptions and grading as the league’s No. 46 cornerback among 121 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
PFR Originals: 5/27/18 – 6/3/18
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- Although free agency opened nearly three months ago, there are still excellent players available on the open market. Zach Links took a look at the best options, a list that includes Eric Reid, Dez Bryant, and DeMarco Murray.
- Zach analyzed the five clubs that utilized a post-June 1 release this year, and also explained exactly what a post-June 1 cut is.
- We covered four notable moves in our This Date In Transactions History series:
- Ben Levine on the Giants’ release of safety Ryan Clark, which allowed the defensive back to sign with the Steelers.
- Sam Robinson looked back on Pittsburgh’s decision to let wide receiver Andre Hastings walk in free agency and the subsequent choices the Steelers have made in evaluating their own wide receivers.
- I covered the Rams’ release of franchise icon Kurt Warner and his subsequent career rebirth with the Cardinals.
- Andrew Ortenberg on Terrell Owen‘s four-year, $34MM extension with the Cowboys, which would become the mercurial wideout’s last multi-season contract.
- Andrew attempted to get a sense of PFR readers’ opinions on the NFL’s two West divisions, asking which AFC West and NFC West clubs posted the best offseasons.