NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Bellore
This Bills regime souring on Doug Whaley second-round pick Shaq Lawson could open the door to interesting trade talks as the season approaches. Still just 23, Lawson was a highly touted prospect at Clemson, which has produced some standout edge defenders in recent years. The Bears would be a reasonable landing spot for Lawson, Michael Walton of NBC Sports Chicago writes. Mostly going on Vic Fangio‘s ability to coax quality play from defenders, Walton writes Lawson would be an intriguing buy-low bet. He has two years remaining on his contract, and the Bears are somewhat thin on the edge behind Leonard Floyd. Lawson, though, has struggled as an NFLer in both the 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. Last season, Pro Football Focus did not view him as a strong pass rusher but did grade him as one of the better run defenders on the edge.
Here’s the latest from the NFC North, shifting to the Vikings’ linebacker situation.
- Ben Gedeon may not be a lock to start in Vikings base sets alongside Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks. Instead, second-year UDFA Eric Wilson looked like an improved player this offseason and ready to push Gedeon for the weakside linebacker job, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. A 2017 fourth-rounder, Gedeon started nine games last season and played 272 snaps. Wilson did not play any despite seeing special teams action in all 16 regular-season games, but Krammer notes this will be a position battle in training camp. Wilson exceeded 100 tackles in each of his final two college seasons at Cincinnati.
- Nick Bellore started two games at linebacker for the 2017 Lions and served as a 10-game starter for the 2016 49ers. But this season, he will be lining up at a new position. Bellore is now working as a fullback, and the team’s top one at that, Chris Burke of The Athletic notes (subscription required). He saw some action as a fullback last season but spent most of his time on special teams and as a part-time ‘backer. However, Detroit’s moved him to fullback full-time this offseason, per Burke, who adds the Jets tried to do this with Bellore previously. The Lions re-signed the 29-year-old fullback convert in March.
- While Martellus Bennett received plenty of hype after joining the Packers last year, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com views Jimmy Graham as a better fit in Green Bay’s offense, adding the addition of the former Saints and Seahawks tight end is a “significant upgrade.” At the very least, the 31-year-old pass-catcher gives Aaron Rodgers a lethal red zone presence. Graham’s yards-per-catch average plummeted from 14.2 in 2016 to 9.1 last season, but he scored 10 touchdowns — by far his most in a season in Seattle.
Vikings Approach Anthony Barr, Stefon Diggs About Extensions
Now that Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter have signed their extensions, the Vikings’ defensive fortification efforts are nearly complete. They now have Harrison Smith, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Kendricks and Hunter under contract long-term. Barr represents the final piece for this current veteran core.
Stefon Diggs is the other key Viking whose contract is up after 2018, and Minnesota brass has been talking with both Barr and Diggs about extensions. Representatives for both Barr and Diggs have been contacted by the Vikings for extension talks, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
These conversations began in June, per Krammer. This would continue the summer-extension blueprint Rick Spielman‘s utilized the past three years. Griffen, Rhodes and Joseph all agreed to deals within a 10-day span around the start of the Vikings’ previous training camp, and Smith and Hunter re-upped with Minnesota in June of 2016 and ’18, respectively. Kendricks agreed to his extension this April.
Barr said recently scant progress had been made on his extension, but the Vikings are in the final stages of this years-long plan — one that saw Spielman authorize re-ups for Joseph and Griffen in 2017 despite the duo having multiple seasons remaining on their old contracts. Finalizing deals for Diggs and Barr would represent a significant victory for Minnesota’s front office, but they won’t be as easy now that a fully guaranteed $28MM-AAV deal for Kirk Cousins is on the books through 2020. The Vikings possess approximately $14MM in cap space.
PFR recently looked at the extension cases for both Barr and Diggs, and CBS Sports’ Joel Corry believes the Vikings would let these starters reach the open market rather than using the franchise tag. Due to on- and off-ball ‘backers being classified together, a Barr tag would cost the Vikes more than $16MM. Diggs, who is set to make $1.96MM this season, would see a $17MM-plus tag if the Vikings took that course of action next March. So, the next few weeks will be critical for the Vikings.
Tepper: Panthers Will Remain In Charlotte
David Tepper‘s purchase of the Carolina Panthers went through on Monday, and the new owner will now begin running the franchise’s day-to-day operations.
One of those could at some point be the construction of a new stadium. But Tepper shot down any rumors he would move the Panthers to another city. Additionally, the new owner would prefer a new venue to be in Charlotte, where the team’s played since 1996.
“What’s the name of the team?’ It’s gonna stay the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “Charlotte is a logical place for a stadium. As far as a new stadium, you’re asking me too much.”
A part-owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tepper bought the Panthers for $2.275 billion. His comments represent the further support for the Panthers’ status quo. Reports earlier this year did not indicate Tepper was planning near-future changes to the coaching staff.
“There’s a great team down there right now,” Tepper said. “Sometimes it’s better to do nothing than something. You want to be very careful when you do anything. The first thing I care about is winning. The second thing I care about is winning. The third thing I care about is?“
Cowboys CB Marquez White Faces Felony Charge
Expected to make a push to be one of the cornerbacks on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster, Marquez White has encountered legal trouble going into his second season.
As a result of a road rage incident on Oct. 20, 2017, White was indicted in June and is facing a second-degree felony charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The 23-year-old White brandished a gun at another driver during an incident on a Dallas-area road.
The Cowboys have not commented on this issue, and while White’s attorney believes this charge will be dropped, it may not bode well for the 2017 sixth-round pick’s chances of making Dallas’ active roster. White appeared in court last week and is due back on Aug. 10, per Davison. He could be set for a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
White spent last season on the Cowboys’ practice squad. The team moved Byron Jones to cornerback but did not make any outside investments at the position this offseason, so White stands a chance of earning a spot.
A Look At Every NFL Team’s Cap Room In July
The majority of this year’s top free agents have been signed, but there are still plenty of big names left on the board. You may also be surprised to learn that there are plenty of unspent dollars left in the league. According to the NFLPA, there’s $520MM left when accounting for unspent dollars and the players outside of the Top 51 on each roster.
As we noted in our look at Johnathan Hankins‘ free agent market, there are still 19 teams with at least $10MM in space, according to this metric. There’s an average of $16MM available per team and six clubs – the Bears, Browns, Texans, Colts, 49ers, and Titans – with over $25MM to burn. The overwhelming majority of this year’s draft picks have been signed, so these dollars largely available for extensions and free agent additions.
Here’s the rundown of every team’s cap room as of this writing:
- 1. Browns – $66.8MM
- 2. Colts – $51.1MM
- 3. 49ers – $44.6MM
- 4. Titans – $33.6MM
- 5. Texans – $28.9MM
- 6. Bears – $25.7MM
- 7. Jaguars – $20MM
- 8. Jets – $19.5MM
- 9. Bills – $15.1MM
- 10. Cowboys – $14.8MM
- 11. Bengals – $14.4MM
- 12. Buccaneers – $14.2MM
- 13. Cardinals – $13.9MM
- 14. Redskins – $13.2MM
- 15. Packers – $10.8MM
- 16. Patriots – $10MM
- 17. Broncos – $9.3MM
- 18. Ravens – $9MM
- 19. Dolphins – $14.2MM
- 20. Vikings – $14MM
- 21. Seahawks – $10.6MM
- 22. Lions – $9MM
- 23. Chargers – $8.7MM
- 24. Chiefs – $7.4MM
- 25. Saints – $7.2MM
- 26. Giants – $7.2MM
- 27. Falcons – $7.1MM
- 28. Eagles – $6.1MM
- 29. Panthers – $5.2MM
- 30. Steelers – $5.1MM
- 31. Rams – $1.9MM
- 32. Raiders – $1.9MM
Panthers COO Tina Becker Resigns
David Tepper is officially the new owner of the Panthers, and he is clearing house. On Monday, the Panthers announced the resignation of COO Tina Becker. 
Becker was promoted to COO less than seven months ago in the wake of the Jerry Richardson scandal. She is parting ways with the organization after 19 years of service and the club has yet to settle on her replacement.
Becker’s role did not include football operations, but she was responsible for the daily operation of the organization during her short tenure on top. Her replacement may or may not have a role in the roster, but that person could theoretically impact Tepper’s view of GM Marty Hurney. For now, both Hurney and coach Ron Rivera appear to be safe under the team’s new ownership.
Under the Panthers’ new leadership, they’ll look to erase the memory of Richardson’s improper workplace behavior. On the field, they’ll seek to return to the playoffs for the fifth time in five years and capture their first ever Super Bowl win.
Panthers Finalize Sale To David Tepper
It’s a done deal. On Monday, the Panthers announced that the sale of the Panthers from Jerry Richardson to David Tepper has been finalized.
“I am thrilled to begin this new era of Carolina Panthers football and am humbled by the overwhelming excitement and support for the team,” Tepper said in a statement. “On behalf of the fans and myself, I thank Jerry Richardson for bringing the team to the Carolinas and for entrusting me with its future. Winning is the most important thing both on the field and in the community, and I am committed to winning a Super Bowl championship together. I look forward to being part of the Panthers’ family and to supporting this flourishing region.”
The $2.275 billion sale of the Panthers was approved earlier this year by NFL owners. The sale will allow the league to move on from Richardson’s scandal at the end of last year while further increasing the league’s overall value. The purchase price sets a new watermark for the NFL and all but $75MM of the transaction was completed in cash.
Tepper was no stranger to NFL owners, having been a minority owner of the Steelers for many years. Before officially buying the Panthers, Tepper sold his 5% stake in the storied franchise.
In a statement released by the club, Richardson officially bid farewell to his team:
“It’s been almost 60 years since I last took the field, and I know how tough it is to play this game. I have the highest respect for the men who wear the Panthers jersey. You inspire me every week with your commitment and your determination to win. I will always be your Number One fan. I wish Mr. Tepper all the best; the team is in good hands.”
AFC East Notes: Cutler, Jets, Bridgewater
Jay Cutler says he’s “probably” retired, but NFL teams are still interested in working him out. Cutler has stayed out of the spotlight in recent months, but on the first episode of his wife’s new reality TV show “Very Cavallari,” Cutler once again indicated that he is done with football.
“I’m not really looking to do a lot of work right now,” Cutler said when asked of his post-football plans (via Andrew Gruttadaro of The Ringer). “I’m looking to do the exact opposite of that.”
After earning a fortune in the NFL and looking less-than-stellar with the Dolphins last year, we’re inclined to believe Cutler when he says he’s probably done with football. Still, you can expect his name to pop up if a starting quarterback suffers a serious injury in training camp.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Things could go any number of ways for Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. If Bridgewater outperforms Josh McCown and Sam Darnold, Costello believes the team will not hesitate to hand him the starting job. However, if Bridgewater and McCown both play well and the Jets trust Darnold to be the No. 2 QB, Bridgewater could wind up on the trading block. If a starting QB gets hurt and that team is without a reliable No. 2 QB, they would probably consider someone like Bridgewater instead of the Cutlers of the world.
- The Jets will have some tough decisions to make at wide receiver outside of the top four, Andy Vasquez of The Record writes. Last year’s draft picks Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart are fighting for their jobs along with veteran Andre Roberts, who could make the cut as a returner. When all is said and done, Charone Peake, former Cowboys return man, Lucky Whitehead, and former second-round pick Devin Smith could be on the outside looking in.
- Will Patriots newcomer Sony Michel amass the most yards of any rookie running back in 2018, or will it be someone else? Click here to vote.
- Offset language is holding up contract talks for Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Johnathan Hankins
Last year, Johnathan Hankins was among the league’s most sought-after free agent defensive tackles. In July 2018, Hankins is without an NFL home. 
Hankins’ market dragged a bit last year due to his asking price, but he settled for less in April when he signed a three-year, $27MM deal with the Colts. In March of this year, the Colts surprised many by terminating his contract.
Hankins finished out the year as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 ranked interior defender and the Colts had – and still have – an abundance of cap room. The Colts’ change from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 setup likely played a part in their decision, but Hankins had only worked out of a 4-3 scheme prior to joining Indianapolis. Hankins did not offer much against the pass in 2017, but he was exceptional against the run, which is the primary goal of any defensive tackle.
Since his release, Hankins has met with the Redskins and Jets, but did not sign with either club. So, what gives?
We haven’t heard much on Hankins in recent weeks, but it stands to reason that his asking price is keeping him from landing a deal. In 2017, Hankins’ camp told teams that he was looking for $15MM per year. Soon after, the asking price was reduced to a more reasonable $10MM per season, and he eventually accepted a $9MM/year pact from the Colts.
After turning in a solid season – nearly the best of his career, according to PFF – Hankins may be unwilling to take anything less than what he received from the Colts. It’s the only logical explanation for one of the league’s best run-stuffing DTs being left in limbo.
That position may seem foolish since many teams have already blown their wad in the first and second waves of free agency, but there are still plenty of dollars available, particularly when it comes to his potential suitors. The Jets, who might not want to bank on 32-year-old Steve McLendon in the middle, will still have about $14MM in cap room after they sign top draft pick Sam Darnold. The Packers, who might not have complete confidence in Kenny Clark taking the next step in 2018, have nearly $11MM in space after inking their entire draft class. The Cowboys, who will start the year without David Irving, have nearly $15MM to work with.
Between now and the start of the year, it’s entirely possible that a team could open up the checkbook to meet Hankins’ demands. In addition to the aforementioned clubs, there are still 16 teams with eight figures in cap room. Beggars can’t be choosers at this stage of the summer, but all it takes is one GM to cave.
Alternatively, Hankins may wind up taking his salary demands down a notch or two, which would greatly open up his possibilities. The Lions, for example, have just $9MM in space, but they may want to consider Hankins to beef up their line, even after signing Sylvester Williams in March.
If the market doesn’t meet his demands, Hankins may be willing to settle for a one-year platform contract in the $7MM range to reestablish his value. If quality defenders like Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, Jadeveon Clowney, and Geno Atkins are taken off of the 2019 free agent list with extensions, Hankins could be on the path to riches next spring.
DeMarco Murray Hopes To Sign Soon
DeMarco Murray is without a job at the moment, but he’s hoping that will change soon. In a lengthy interview with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (audio link), Murray reaffirmed his desire to play in 2018 and said that he has had a handful of fruitful conversations with clubs. 
[POLL: Who Is The Best Free Agent RB Remaining?]
“I’ve had a lot of discussions with four or five teams that I feel will be a great fit for me,” Murray said. “It’s all about being transparent and, for me, I’m not looking to lead the league in rushing yards. Obviously I would work and do everything to give me the opportunity to do that, but it’s all about having an opportunity to get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to win a championship.”
It sounds like Murray has accepted the limitations of what he can do at this stage of his career. Although he led the league with 1,845 rushing yards in 2014 with the Cowboys and nearly cracked 1,300 in 2016 with the Titans, it appears that he is willing to enter the year as a team’s No. 2 running back. That’s good news because, barring an injury, no team at this stage of the offseason would realistically consider Murray as a starter.
Last year, Murray was overshadowed in Tennessee by Derrick Henry. He totaled just 659 yards rushing and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. On the plus side, he also had 39 catches out of the backfield for 266 yards.
The Titans released Murray in March and he has not found a new NFL home despite meeting with the Lions, Seahawks, and Dolphins since his release. In June, the 30-year-old declined an opportunity to work out for the Saints. That same week, the Saints signed former Ravens running back Terrance West.
According to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus, Murray graded out as the league’s No. 40 ranked running back in 2017.