Cardinals, Tyrann Mathieu Discussing Extension
Last month, we heard lining up an extension for Tyrann Mathieu resided as a top offseason priority for the Cardinals. The team’s making good on those intentions and is negotiating a long-term deal for the standout defensive back, Cardinals GM Steve Keim tells James Palmer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
The Cardinals are being proactive with their former third-round gem, with the window for a Mathieu extension just recently opening after the former LSU star finished his third season.
Mathieu’s agreement will undoubtedly make him one of the highest-paid defensive backs due largely to the fourth-year Cardinal’s versatility. The 23-year-old Mathieu earned first-team All-Pro honors despite tearing his ACL against the Eagles in Week 15.
Pro Football Focus listed Mathieu as its top-rated cornerback, bestowing a 91.6 grade on the Cardinals’ hybrid performer — well clear of its No. 2 outside stopper, Darius Slay. The top individual analytics site lists Mathieu as a corner due to his extensive work in the slot when Arizona shifted to its sub-packages. The Honey Badger’s officially listed as a safety and played there when the Cardinals went into their base defense, but that was only 33% of the time.
So, Mathieu can at the very least expect a contract in line at least in the top bracket of safeties and will probably aim to be paid among the league’s best corners in these negotiations.
Earl Thomas, Devin McCourty and Jairus Byrd are the only safeties to earn $9MM per year on average. Mathieu’s age, elite athleticism and potential ascent could put him clear of each of those performers and place him among the highest-paid defensive backs.
The Cardinals already gave Patrick Peterson a top-market deal that averages $14.01MM per season. That accord ranks behind only Darrelle Revis in terms of AAV. Seven corners average eight-figure earnings, with several members of that group not on Mathieu’s level at present.
Keim also told Palmer (Twitter link) Mathieu’s rehab’s progressing on schedule, with the GM professing Mathieu’s on track to be back at full strength.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Draft Notes: Cardinals, Bills, Cowboys, Jets
Clemson’s Shaq Lawson has been labeled as a likely top-15 pick in April’s draft, but it’s his teammate — edge rusher Kevin Dodd — who’s been drawing more praise from some NFL clubs, reports Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. Several teams now have Dodd, who will perform defensive lineman drills at the combine but is also capable of playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, ranked ahead of Lawson. One club that could target Lawson on in Round 1 is the Cardinals, per Pauline, as Arizona is expected to prioritize both defensive ends and safeties during the early portion of the draft.
Let’s take a look at a few more draft notes, all courtesy of Pauline…
- If the Bills don’t select a quarterback early in the draft, they could grab Stanford signal-caller Kevin Hogan late, per Pauline. Buffalo met with Hogan at the Senior Bowl, and the club was apparently with both his athleticism and arm strength, as well as his “next level potential.”
- Michigan tight end A.J. Williams might not be selected in the draft, but he could end up being a priority free agent, as Pauline reports that both the Jets and Cowboys have to begun to show interest in the 6’5″, 270-pounder. It’s expected that Williams could act as a team’s third tight end in 2016, and be especially useful in the red zone.
- NFL teams are also impressed by the athleticism of another tight end, South Carolina’s Jerell Adams, and Pauline believes he could end up being the fourth tight end selected in the draft. Adams, a former basketball player, reportedly showed excellent blocking skills at the Senior Bowl.
- Boise State defensive end Kamalei Correa projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the pros, but some teams also believe could play inside, thanks not only to his versatility and presumably his movement skills, but also to his intangibles, which Pauline says NFL teams are increasingly valuing in middle linebackers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/19/16
Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL, plus a pair of notable moves from the CFL wire:
- CFL pass rusher Tristan Okpalaugo has signed with the Cardinals, according to his agent Brett Kessler (Twitter link). Okpalaugo, who recorded 23 sacks during the past two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, also received an offer from the Jets and visited Seahawks before choosing Arizona.
- In addition to confirming their previously-reported deal with wide receiver A.J. Cruz, the Dolphins announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Chimdi Chekwa to a contract. Chekwa, who appeared in 32 games for the Raiders from 2011 to 2014, was cut from the club’s injured reserve list last September, and didn’t see any regular-season action in 2015.
- Offensive tackle Tavon Rooks, who suffered a heart attack last September in practice, was officially waived today by the Chiefs, tweets Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle adds (via Twitter) that Rooks received the non-football illness designation.
- The CFL’s Edminton Eskimos announced today in a press release that they’ve signed former NFL players Jacoby Ford (WR) and Joe McKnight (RB). Ford, a former fourth-round pick, caught 57 balls and had four kickoff return TDs for the Raiders between 2010 and 2013, while McKnight compiled 746 yards from scrimmage in 41 total games with the Jets and Chiefs from 2010 to 2014.
Extra Points: Bennett, Titans, Okpalaugo
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has left Rosenhaus Sports and doesn’t currently have representation, according to Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter). Without a new agent in place, and without a clear indication of what Bennett’s plan for the offseason is, it’s hard to know for sure what his motivation for the change was.
However, it’s worth considering that Bennett was vocal last offseason about wanting the Seahawks to address his contract, suggesting in the summer that he was contemplating a holdout. Bennett ultimately didn’t hold out and didn’t get a new deal, so perhaps he’s looking for an agent that will help him take a different approach to the situation this time around.
Let’s check in on a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….
- Speaking on Thursday about his team’s approach to free agency, GM Jon Robinson said that just because the Titans are prioritizing value pickups, that doesn’t mean they’ll be bargain-basement shopping all offseason. Robinson said he’s not afraid to spend money in free agency, adding that the team will go after an impact player if the fit is right and there’s a chance to get him (three Twitter links via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com and Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com)
- CFL pass rusher Tristan Okpalaugo, who has recorded double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons for the Toronto Argonauts, is drawing interest from multiple NFL teams. Okpalaugo has received an offer from the Jets, and had a “great visit” with the Seahawks, according to agent Brett Tessler, who says his client is visiting the Cardinals next (Twitter links).
- In a conversation with ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Saints head coach Sean Payton said that he can’t see himself coaching another team besides New Orleans for the rest of his career, praising the franchise’s structure and its absence of dysfunction. Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune has the details and the quotes from Payton.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap lays out a case for why the representatives for free agents ought to be seeking 20% more than the current market prices for their clients. Meanwhile, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com also explores the probable increase in the value of free agent contracts, writing that NFL teams will have somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 billion in total cap space this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/16/16
Here are the latest minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Cardinals announced a pair of signings today in a press release, confirming that they’ve re-signed safety Chris Clemons and added Australian Rules Football player Joel Wilkinson. A former starter in the Dolphins’ secondary, Clemons hasn’t seen much playing time since joining the Cardinals in 2014, but the team likes him enough to bring him back for a third season. As for Wilkinson, he’ll try to follow in the footsteps of Jarryd Hayne, who earned a spot on the 49ers’ roster last year after coming over from Australia. Wilkinson will play cornerback.
- The Steelers signed long snapper Matt Dooley and defensive tackle Lavon Hooks while cutting tight end Rob Blanchflower and offensive tackles Kelvin Palmer and Mitchell Van Dyk, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Falcons announced on Monday that they have waived cornerback Travis Howard and fullback Collin Mooney, two players who spent the 2015 season on the injured reserve list. Mooney last saw the field during a regular-season contest in 2013, when he appeared in 12 games for the Titans. Howard has spent time with the Patriots and Giants, but has never seen regular-season action.
- Cornerback Chance Casey, who spent more than half of the 2015 season on the Browns’ practice squad, has signed with the Jaguars, per team PR rep Tad Dickman (Twitter link). Casey was on the Colts’ roster last summer before being waived during roster cutdowns in September.
2016 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure is projected to be $1.696MM in 2016. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2016 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Gerald Hodges, LB
Bears: Marquess Wilson, WR
Buccaneers: William Gholston, DE; Mike Glennon, QB; Akeem Spence, DT
Cardinals: Andre Ellington, RB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S; Alex Okafor, LB
Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR
Colts: Sio Moore, LB; Hugh Thornton, G
Cowboys: J.J. Wilcox, S; Terrance Williams, WR
Dolphins: Jelani Jenkins, LB; Dallas Thomas, T; Dion Sims, TE; Kenny Stills, WR
Eagles: Bennie Logan, DT
Falcons: Kemal Ishmael, S; Levine Toilolo, TE
Jaguars: Josh Evans, S; Dwayne Gratz, CB
Jets: Brian Winters, G
Lions: Larry Warford, G
Packers: David Bakhtiari, T; Micah Hyde, S
Patriots: Duron Harmon, S; Chris Jones, DT; Logan Ryan, CB
Raiders: Mychal Rivera, TE
Rams: T.J. McDonald, S
Ravens: Ricky Wagner, T; Brandon Williams, DT
Saints: Terron Armstead, T; John Jenkins, DT
Seahawks: Luke Willson, TE
Steelers: Markus Wheaton, WR
Titans: Brian Schwenke, C
Washington: Jordan Reed, TE
NFC Notes: Mathieu, Lions, Panthers
A January report indicated that getting an extension done with Tyrann Mathieu will be a top priority for the Cardinals this offseason, and GM Steve Keim confirmed as much during an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7FM on Thursday (link via Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com).
“It’s hard to say that that we’ll be able to get something done for sure, but we certainly have that goal in mind and there’s no doubt that this organization wants Tyrann Mathieu to be a fixture here for years,“ Keim said.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- The Lions are set to hire Broncos offensive assistant Brian Callahan as their new quarterbacks coach, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter). With Jim Bob Cooter having been promoted from QBs coach to offensive coordinator in the fall, Detroit needed someone to fill his old role.
- The Panthers are making some changes to their special teams staff, with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer tweeting that the club has parted ways with assistant ST coach Russ Purnell, and Marvez tweeting that Curtis Fuller will return to a defensive role rather than helping out with special teams in 2016. According to Person and Marvez (Twitter links), Buccaneers ST coach Kevin O’Dea, 49ers ST coach Thomas McGaughey, and former Panthers linebacker Chase Blackburn are getting interviews for spots on Carolina’s special teams staff.
- Marvez also reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are hiring Jeff Zgonina as their assistant defensive line coach, which should complete Ben McAdoo‘s staff.
- The Panthers were one game away from a championship this past season, but GM Dave Gettleman vows he’ll remain patient this winter when it comes to making roster decisions, and won’t force any moves in an effort to get the team over the top. Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review has the details and the quotes from Gettleman.
- Despite one report suggesting he hopes to land a $5MM annual salary, it would be an upset if tight end Zach Miller leaves the Bears this offseason, says Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Dickerson doesn’t predict a potential price tag for Miller, but suggests he’d be next in line for a larger role if the team trades or cuts Martellus Bennett.
Anquan Boldin, Percy Harvin Contracts To Void
The contracts for wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Percy Harvin are set to void today, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com details. While Boldin’s deal was technically set to run through the 2018 season, and Harvin’s ran through 2017, language in the contracts called for them to void five days after this year’s Super Bowl, so both players will officially become free agents next month.
Both contracts were designed to lessen the charges on the salary cap during the years when Boldin was a Niner and Harvin was a Bill. The void years allowed the 49ers and Bills, respectively, to spread signing bonus money across several years, rather than taking on larger charges in early seasons. San Francisco will carry about $2.73MM in dead money on its cap in 2016 for Boldin, while Buffalo will carry $2MM for Harvin.
In addition to being the date when those two contracts void, Friday also represents the day on which a handful of players will be assured of guaranteed money if they remain on their teams’ rosters. According to Corry, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will see his $8.5MM base salary for 2017 – which was initially guaranteed for injury only – become fully guaranteed without an offset today.
Two Cardinals players, cornerback Patrick Peterson and quarterback Carson Palmer, also get new guarantees added to their respective deals by remaining on the team’s roster through Friday. Peterson’s $9.75MM base salary for 2016 will become fully guaranteed, while Palmer will get a pair of guarantees — his $7.15MM salary for ’16 and a $6.35MM roster bonus due next month both become fully guaranteed.
The Seahawks will be another team to watch this weekend — Seattle has six players who will be assured of additional guarantees if they remain on the roster through Saturday, including Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, and Earl Thomas.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Lynch, Irvin, Nolan, Cardinals
Appearing on Dave Mahler’s radio show on 950 KJR, former Seahawks fullback (and current NFL Network commentator) Michael Robinson said “it’s fair to assume” that Seattle will part ways with running back Marshawn Lynch prior to next season, per Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. Seahawks general manager John Schneider said last month that Lynch may retire, but the smart play for Beast Mode is probably to force the team to release him, as he wouldn’t have to return signing bonus money if he’s cut. If Seattle does release Lynch, they’d save $6.5MM against their 2016 salary cap.
Let’s take a look at a few more notes from the West divisions:
- Vinny Curry‘s recent extension with the Eagles is a good sign for Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin, opines Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. Curry’s contract — five years, $47MM, $18MM guaranteed — could set a target for Irvin, who is heading for unrestricted free agency, and as Kapadia notes, is probably a more versatile player than Curry. Irvin did suggest last month that he’d accept less money to stay in Seattle.
- Longtime NFL coach Mike Nolan expressed interest in the 49ers defensive coordinator position earlier this year, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link). Nolan, of course, served as San Francisco’s head coach 2005-08, but spent last season as the Chargers’ linebackers coach. He’s been linked to the Cowboys’ defensive backs position this offseason.
- Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill believes that with a “couple more pieces,” his club will be a Super Bowl contender in 2016, writes Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Bidwill voiced his faith in Arizona’s “core players,” which makes it sound as though the club will target upgrades on the margins. Indeed, head coach Bruce Arians said last month that while the Cardinals will look for pass rush help this offseason, they don’t expect to make a big splash in free agency.
- In their efforts to complete a deal for a new stadium, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer and Chargers owner Dean Spanos have spoken by phone this week, but have yet to meet face-to-face, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The two sides are expected to begin more formal talks soon, per Acee.
NFC West Notes: Kaepernick, Irvin, Fitzgerald
A New York Daily News report on Tuesday suggested that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick would prefer to leave San Francisco this offseason, with the Jets named as his potential destination of choice. Kaepernick is still recovering from surgeries on his thumb and knee, and the 49ers don’t have to make a decision on his future until April 1st, so there likely won’t be any resolution to the QB’s situation anytime soon.
There’s little doubt that Kaepernick would prefer a fresh start, but even if he prefers to join a team like the Jets, he doesn’t control his own fate, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. As Maiocco points out, new head coach Chip Kelly will be the one deciding whether or not Kaepernick remains a Niner — if Kelly wants Kaepernick on the roster, he’ll stay on the roster. While it’s possible that Kaepernick will ultimately be traded or released, a new coaching staff in San Francisco could help give him the fresh start he seeks.
Here’s more from around the NFC West:
- Even if the Jets don’t want Kaepernick, they could use his reported interest in them as leverage in negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) opines. If the 49ers still haven’t made a decision on their quarterback by the time free agency opens on March 9th, it’ll be interesting to see how that situation affects the Jets — if at all.
- Vinny Curry‘s new deal with the Eagles should provide a good “data point” for Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin and his contract talks, tweets Corry. Seattle turned down its fifth-year option on Irvin, so he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency this winter.
- Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald is entering the final season of his contract, and it’s possible it will also be the final season of his NFL career, though he has yet to directly address the issue. Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic discusses that possibility.
- The 49ers have added J.P. Crowley Hanlon, who worked under Chip Kelly in Philadelphia, as an assistant to the coaching staff, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links).