PFR Originals: 7/7/19 – 7/14/19

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

• PFR’s “Extension Candidate” series rolled along during the offseason, with five more players’ re-up cases being examined:
  • The Falcons have several key players either in contract years or, in Julio Jones‘ case, amid negotiations. Zach Links took a look at Deion Jones‘ extension candidacy and wonders how his 2018 injury, and the deals handed out to C.J. Mosley and Kwon Alexander, will affect his negotiations.
  • How will the Titans proceed with All-Pro Kevin Byard? Dallas Robinson assessed where that situation stands and wonders what kind of bearing Landon Collins‘ $14MM-AAV Redskins pact will have on the next wave of contract-seeking young safeties.
  • Yannick Ngakoue decided to skip minicamp to put pressure on the Jaguars, as he enters his contract year. The lack of leverage the former third-round pick has, however, affects this standoff, which Zach summarized here.
  • The Bears did well in fortifying their offensive line three years ago, with second-rounder Cody Whitehair now entering what will be his fourth season as a starter. As Whitehair shifts to guard to accommodate James Daniels‘ center path, Dallas looked at what is at stake for the former Kansas State blocker. It’s a great era to be a free agent guard, which could prompt Whitehair to bet on himself.
  • Lastly, the Broncos have their entire starting defensive line in contract years. Perhaps the most interesting walk-year D-lineman is Shelby Harris, who has made a name for himself after being out of football in 2016. I examined how the Broncos, who have let interior linemen walk in recent years, might proceed here.
• On the other end of the spectrum, we looked at three more players who reside on roster bubbles in PFR’s “Release Candidate” series:
  • The oft-injured C.J. Prosise ran into more trouble on the health front this offseason, and Dallas sought to determine if the once-promising back will have exhausted Seattle’s patience.
  • Lions safety Miles Killebrew has an important training camp ahead, with Zach pointing out that a range of outcomes — from succeeding Glover Quin as Detroit’s free safety starter to winding up off the roster — are in play for the fourth-year defender.
  • Also potentially on the Detroit bubble: longtime passing-down back Theo Riddick. The PPR flex mainstay’s contract, which calls for a $4.6MM 2019 cap number, may impede him from coming back for another Lions tour of duty, Dallas writes.
  • The Redskins have made plans to use Ereck Flowers as their starting left guard, and the former Giants tackle bust did have to work at left tackle while Trent Williams skipped minicamp. Flowers did not fare well at tackle in June, and if he shows more of the same in training camp, Zach debates whether he will be on the Redskins’ 53-man roster.
• PFR also continued its “This Date in Transactions History” series, rolling out three new entries.
  • Victor Cruz suffered a severe knee injury that led to his career ending early, but a year prior, the breakout Giants slot receiver secured guaranteed money with a 2013 extension. Zach recalled the Giants’ thinking at the time and how this re-up played out.
  • The Colts formed their long-term pass-rushing partnership 12 years ago this week, coming to terms on what was at the time the most lucrative deal given to a defender. Dwight Freeney‘s six-year, $72MM extension proved to be a good investment for the Colts, and I looked at how everything went down.
  • A year before Freeney’s megadeal, Jason Peters signed his first extension. I recalled how that contract soon became a divisive issue for Peters and the Bills and surveyed the fallout from Peters’ subsequent trade to the Eagles.
• Debuting PFR’s “Make-or-Break Year” series, Zach studied the curious case of fifth-year Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker. While stumbling in and out of Adam Gase’s doghouse for years, the former first-round pick stayed with the now-rebuilding Dolphins on a one-year extension/pay cut. Will the new-look Dolphins finally find value in the 2015 draftee?
• Lastly, Micah Powell asked PFR readers which of the 2018 playoff teams is set to take a tumble. While the Cowboys’ staying power is generating skepticism, the Ravens’ loss of stalwart defenders and reliance on the run game made them the runaway leaders for the team set to take a step back.