HEADLINES

Month: April 2024

Rams Likely To Let Suh, Fowler Hit FA

February 28th, 2019 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have a number of high-profile players scheduled for free agency this offseason and it sounds like they’ll allow most of them to test the waters. “There’s a good possibility” the Rams will permit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Lamarcus Joyner, and edge rusher Dante Fowler to reach the open market before discussing new deals with them, GM Les Snead says (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). Snead also said the team is unlikely to use the franchise tag (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Lindsay Thiry).

Suh joined the Rams on a one-year, $14MM deal last year after he was cut loose by the Dolphins. The durable lineman turned in another 16-game season for L.A. and racked up 59 tackles with 4.5 sacks. He was also a disruptive force in the first two games of the postseason, tallying four QB hits in the first two games. He wasn’t quite as effective in the Super Bowl, but then again, most of the Rams’ stars underwhelmed in the championship game.

The Jaguars more or less gave up on Fowler when they shipped him to the Rams in October. Since then, he’s shown flashes of promise and the 24-year-old (25 in August) should draw interest from clubs looking for help around the edge. Fowler had four sacks for L.A. and Jacksonville combined, just half of his 2017 total.

Here’s the full rundown of the Rams’ impending free agents (excluding exclusive rights free agents):

Free Agent Demaryius Thomas In Custody

February 28th, 2019 at 10:21am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is in custody for charges of vehicular assault in Colorado, according to Denver 7. The Texans free agent (and former Bronco) lost control of his vehicle on Feb. 16 and a female passenger in the car suffered serious injuries, police say. Fortunately, those injuries were not life-threatening, but vehicular assault is a felony-level charge in Colorado. 

At the time of the crash, investigators did not believe that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. Thomas was said to have suffered minor injuries in the accident, but was fine otherwise.

In his ninth NFL season, Thomas reeled in just 36 catches for 402 yards and three touchdowns for the Broncos. Before the deadline, he was shipped to the Texans, where he had 23 receptions for 275 yards and two scores. In February, the four-time Pro Bowler was cut by Houston, making him a free agent.

Raiders To Exercise Karl Joseph’s Option?

February 28th, 2019 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

Despite recent speculation to the contrary, Raiders head coach Jon Gruden indicated that the Raiders will exercise the fifth-year option on safety Karl Joseph (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Of course, there’s still plenty of time between now and the May deadline, so things could change. 

The Raiders were reportedly willing to trade Joseph at last year’s trade deadline for a third-round pick, though they were unable to find any takers. Moving Joseph this time around could require taking a lot less and that might not make sense for the Raiders since the 2020 fifth-year option would be guaranteed for injury only.

Joseph has not quite set the world on fire since being taken with the No. 14 overall pick in 2016, but he did show some promise last year. Joseph finished out with 48 tackles, two sacks, an interception (the third of his career) and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 23 ranked safety in the NFL.

Regardless of what happens with Joseph, the Raiders’ secondary will have a new look in 2019.

Either way, Joseph will have a new running mate in the Raiders’ defensive backfield in 2019. Veterans Reggie Nelson and Marcus Gilchrist are not expected to return, so there will be a new free safety starting opposite of Joseph’s spot at strong safety.

Kyler Murray Measures At 5’10”

February 28th, 2019 at 9:15am CST by Zachary Links

Kyler Murray could be well on his way to being a top 5 pick in the NFL Draft. The Oklahoma quarterback measured in at 5’10” at the NFL Draft combine, which should give teams some comfort in his ability to see over defenders. 

[RELATED: Jets Open To Trading No. 3 To Giants]

Murray’s formal measurement put him at one-eighth of an inch over 5’10”, which was no small matter. There were rumblings of Murray being no taller than 5’9″ without shoes and such a measurement would have been devastating for his draft stock.

Murray’s hand also measured at 9.5 inches, which should be good enough to palm and handle an NFL football. That might not sound like a big deal, but quarterbacks have slid down the board in the past due to their hand size. His weight of 207 pounds should also bring comfort to execs who were concerned about whether he’d able to absorb hits at the pro level.

With those hurdles cleared, Murray should be one of the first names called in April. He may even be a contender for the No. 1 overall pick, which may or may not be kept by the Cardinals.

Jon Gruden: Derek Carr Is Our Franchise QB

February 28th, 2019 at 8:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have been heavily connected to Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, but Jon Gruden insists that Derek Carr is still very much in the team’s plans. On Thursday, Gruden reaffirmed his commitment to Carr, just one day after GM Mike Mayock did the same. 

“Yes. He’s our franchise quarterback. Let me make that clear,” Gruden said (via PFT).

Carr’s $19.9MM base salary for 2019 became fully guaranteed a few weeks ago. The Raiders could still explore other QB options, of course, but a Carr release is no longer a real possibility.

Gruden’s vote of confidence for Carr won’t necessarily put a damper the Murray speculation. Recently, Gruden said that watching Murray play was like “watching a video game” and lauded the QB for his athleticism. With four picks in the top 35, including the No. 4 overall choice, the Raiders have enough ammo to take Murray and still strengthen other areas.

Carr, 28 in March, went just 4-12 as the Raiders’ starter last season. He completed a career-high 68.9% of his passesbut threw for only 19 touchdowns against ten interceptions.

Cowboys Hope To Retain Sean Lee

February 27th, 2019 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jason Garrett praised Sean Lee‘s work last season, one that featured younger linebackers playing a bigger role on Dallas’ defense than the veteran stalwart did. Garrett wants the Cowboys to retain Lee.

“Nobody works harder than Sean Lee, but unfortunately durability has been an issue,” Garrett said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “That was a big reason we drafted these young linebackers the last couple of years because Sean has missed time. But when he has played, he has played really well. … He’s got a lot of football left in him and he’ll be a part of what we’re doing going forward.”

Lee, though, will almost certainly have to accept a sizable pay cut to see a 10th season in Dallas. This Cowboys offseason will be primarily about how they proceed with their extension-eligible young talents, and Lee’s $10MM cap number is now untenable. Dallas would save $7MM by releasing the two-time Pro Bowler, who will turn 33 before Week 1.

Hamstring injuries limited Lee to just seven games last season, and Leighton Vander Esch delivered immediately when called upon. He and Jaylon Smith are the Cowboys’ top linebackers for 2019, and both are on rookie deals.

NFC North Notes: Howard, Vikings, Packers

February 27th, 2019 at 9:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Jordan Howard matched his career high with nine rushing touchdowns last season, his overall and per-carry yardage numbers continued to decline. The Bears‘ starting running back failed to eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time and averaged 3.7 per tote, as Tarik Cohen gained a bigger foothold in Matt Nagy‘s offense. Howard did not make progress as a receiving back, either, in his third year. The Bears are indeed shopping Howard at the Combine, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. One season remains on the former fifth-round pick’s rookie contract.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • Also being dangled for a trade, per JLC: Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes. One of three first-round picks in Minnesota’s corner corps, Waynes has been a two-year starter. But he is going into his fifth-year option season, which will cost the Vikings just more than $9MM. With Kirk Cousins‘ fully guaranteed contract on their books, along with several recently extended homegrown talents, the Vikings are up against the cap, holding barely $7MM.
  • One place the Vikings may need funding for is their offensive line. Guard starter Nick Easton missed all of last season, hurting an already embattled unit, and is slated for unrestricted free agency. Rick Spielman said (via the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer) Easton should be medically cleared to resume his career soon. Easton underwent surgery to address a herniated disk in his neck. Easton also fractured his ankle in December 2017, so he may have to settle for a one-year deal somewhere.
  • Brian Gutekunst confirmed what we heard recently: Jimmy Graham will have a second chance to make an impact with the Packers. A possible cap casualty, Graham is in line to come back, per Gutekunst (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). When asked Wednesday about Graham, Matt LaFleur was not yet sure the 32-year-old is the type of tight end that can create matchup problems at this point in his career, adding the caveat of not being in Green Bay last year to observe the physical issues with which Graham dealt.
  • Gutekunst was non-committal about Nick Perry‘s future with the team. Indicating the veteran outside linebacker has been productive when on the field, the second-year Packers GM said a decision has not been made on this front. “Nick’s struggled through some injuries,” Gutekunst said. “It’s been unfortunate. When he’s been out there, he’s been a good player for us. We’ll make those decisions as they come.” It would not be financially advantageous for the Packers to cut Perry. The cap savings would barely exceed $3MM, while the dead-money figure would surpass $11MM. Three years remain on the contract Perry signed in 2017. Perry played in nine games last season and 12 in 2017. He registered just 1.5 sacks last season.

Chiefs Discussing Justin Houston Trade

February 27th, 2019 at 8:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs did not boast a collectively strong defense, but three of their front-seven pieces are capable of high-end production. However, one of those has a quarterback-level cap number.

Justin Houston‘s name has come up in trade talks, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The 30-year-old outside linebacker has generated “real interest” around the league, per Rapoport.

Dee Ford is set to receive the franchise tag, which will be a $17MM-plus commitment. Houston’s cap figure is $21.1MM — the highest number on the Chiefs’ 2019 payroll. Houston signed a six-year, $101MM contract at the 2015 franchise tag deadline. However, like Eric Berry, he has not delivered the kind of work the Chiefs hoped for after agreeing to the mammoth re-up.

Houston has been effective since signing that agreement, but in 2014, he registered 22 sacks. He has not surpassed 10 sacks in a season since. Knee and hamstring injuries have slowed him as well. Houston did grade as a top-15 edge defender last season, per Pro Football Focus. Kansas City is moving to a 4-3 scheme under Steve Spagnuolo, but with teams largely lined up in nickel, a scheme switches do not require the level of personnel adjustments they once did.

If Houston were to be dealt, the Chiefs would have a massive hole at edge rusher. As dominant as Ford showed he could be last season, he has not been especially consistent throughout his career. The Chiefs drafted Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks in the past two second rounds. While the three-time reigning AFC West champions would seemingly be in the market for a Houston replacement, if a trade goes through, one of these backups could be looked upon as a cheap successor.

The Chiefs have $28MM-plus in cap space but have two candidates for expensive extensions in Chris Jones and Tyreek Hill, the latter possibly in position to become the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. Keeping Houston may mean a pay cut, with his production no longer matching his salaries. While the Raiders received two first-round picks for Khalil Mack, who soon signed the richest contract for a defender in NFL history, the Chiefs would not be looking at that kind of haul for Houston when factoring in his age and injury history.

Jets Open To Trading Down From No. 3

February 27th, 2019 at 8:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Last year, the Jets traded up from the No. 6 overall pick to the No. 3 choice. This year, GM Mike Maccagnan says they’re open to moving down from No. 3 (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini).

“Right now, we feel good at No. 3, but I’d definitely say if there’s an opportunity to trade down, we would absolutely look at it,” the GM said.

The Jets have 20+ impending free agents and multiple holes to fill, so a trade down would make a lot of sense. Typically, teams trading down from top 5 picks tend to pair up with quarterback-needy teams, and interestingly enough, the rival Giants own the No. 6 pick and could be one of those clubs. The Jets and Giants haven’t pulled off an intra-Meadowlands trade since 1983, but Maccagnan is not opposed to breaking the 36-year drought.

“Yeah, I think I would be open to any team that would,” Maccagnan said, when asked specifically about the Giants. “As long as the trade made sense to us, there’s nothing that would stop us from doing that.”

The Jets could be in line for a big haul if one team badly wants Dwayne Haskins or Kyler Murray. Alternatively, they could stand pat and have a chance at players like defensive end Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, or outside linebacker Josh Allen.

49ers Notes: Garoppolo, Brown, Sherman

February 27th, 2019 at 7:56pm CST by Zachary Links

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be ready for OTAs, as Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports writes.

“Everyone says they are ahead of schedule,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “And he is. I mean he’s been healing great. He hasn’t had knee trouble before. It was a clean ACL, so it’s been real good for him.”

As a QB, Garoppolo should be able to participate in OTA drills, but the risk factor is higher for teammate Jerick McKinnon. The running back, Shanahan says, is unlikely to be involved in the 7-on-7 scrimmages.

“He’s also a quarterback, so when we get to OTAs, it will be 7-on-7s, so we don’t have to worry about people falling at his knees,” Shanahan said. “So Jimmy will be able to practice a lot more than someone like Jet, who we have to be a little safer with, even though they might be at the same spot. We don’t want people to be falling into their legs, and that’s easier to control at quarterback than running back.”

Here’s more from San Francisco:

  • The 49ers haven’t reached out to the Steelers about wide receiver Antonio Brown, but that doesn’t mean they won’t, Shanahan says. “We’re in the market for anything that makes our team better at every single position,” Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).
  • 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman says he’s had talks with the team and that both sides would like to continue together in 2019 (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson). Sherman signed a three-year deal with SF in March of 2018, but his ’19 salary is not guaranteed. As it stands, he’s scheduled to carry a $9.8MM cap figure this season.
  • No surprise here, but former first-round pick Arik Armstead will be back with the team in 2019. “We’re not into losing good players, and he has played very well for us,” Shanahan said of the defensive lineman (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports). “I think he can take it to a whole ‘nother level and I hope to see him do that this year. If he does, that will be very good for the Niners and very good for him because he’s got the ability to do it. He’s already done some very good things for us in these two years. Hopefully, this year he can stay healthier. Hopefully, the addition of changing our style a little on the D-line will help him. And I expect him to get better.” One year ago, the Niners picked up the non-binding fifth-year option on Armstead’s contract. In two weeks, he’ll have his $9.046MM salary guaranteed for 2019.
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