Falcons Re-Sign Corey Peters
WEDNESDAY, 11:14am: Peters’ one-year contract for 2014 has a base salary of $1MM, plus $500K in per-game roster bonuses, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 1:23pm: The Falcons have re-signed free agent defensive tackle Corey Peters, the team announced today (Twitter link). The financial details of the contract aren’t yet known, but it’ll be a one-year deal, according to the club.
Peters, who is coming off his four-year rookie contract in Atlanta, started 15 games for the team last season, recording 46 tackles and five sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, Peters ranked as the 30th defensive tackle of 69 qualified players, performing better against the run than the pass. The 25-year-old suffered a torn Achilles late in the season, and is still recovering from that injury, but expects to be ready for training camp.
With the Falcons expected to retool a defensive line that struggled to pressure the quarterback in 2013, Peters may see his role altered slightly for 2014, but the former third-round pick should still be a valuable part of the club’s run defense, assuming he’s back to full health.
Byrd Notes: Falcons, Browns, Jets, Bills
The deadline for teams to apply their franchise and transition tags has come and gone, and the Bills announced earlier today they would not tag three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd.
Now it’s time for beat writers from safety-needy teams to look at whether the former Oregon product who played the 2013 season on a franchise tender would be worth his hefty price tag.
When D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta-Journal Constitution ranked his five free agent targets for the Falcons, he ranked Byrd No. 1. Atlanta will be $26.7MM beneath the salary cap once Tony Gonzalez‘s $7MM slot is removed, and Ledbetter cites the potential upgrade Byrd would present over incumbent free safety Thomas DeCoud, whom the Falcons are expected to release, as justification.
But, there’s only so much money you can invest in one position, as ESPN Atlanta Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure points out. Strong safety William Moore enters year two of a five-year, $29.51M contract, and Byrd figures to command a substantially larger deal.
Other Byrd notes from around the league…
- When the Browns placed the transition tag on center Alex Mack earlier today, they gave up their exclusive rights of T.J. Ward, another top-tier safety hitting free agency. ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon looks at the potential for a Byrd/Ward swap of sorts, reuniting Byrd with Cleveland head coach and former Buffalo defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
- The Jets haven’t paid top dollar for a safety since Kerry Rhodes‘ $33.5MM deal in 2008, ESPNNewYork.com reporter Rich Cimini notes, but Byrd is worth investigating. Cimini’s gut tells him the team will likely look again to Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen in 2014, but with 22 interceptions since 2009 and six against the Jets, Byrd should draw the organization’s eye.
- Aaron Williams, a second-round pick in 2011, tops the list of likely replacements for Byrd in Buffalo, with younger players Duke Williams, Jonathan Meeks and Jujuan Harley as long shots, per ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak.
South Rumors: Pollard, Texans, Buccaneers
The Titans re-signed Bernard Pollard this afternoon and a couple interesting notes have trickled out since. According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), Pollard did not use his agent and worked out the new deal himself. General manager Ruston Webster told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (via Twitter) that “getting this deal done today helps our overall plan for this offseason…. We still have work ahead of us trying to retain some of our other players, but we are glad to be able to get this one done.” Among the team’s other free agents are cornerback Alterraun Verner and receiver Kenny Britt.
Some more whispers from the teams down south…
- The Texans should consider signing receiver Sidney Rice, writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. The team doesn’t have much cap room, but Rice shouldn’t cost a lot. As DiRocco points out, adding Rice to the duo of DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson should give the team plenty of depth and talent at the position.
- Heading into the NFL Draft, the Buccaneers only have five draft picks and will likely have to be active in free agency. As a result of that, the team may be looking to clear more cap space, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. He mentions Darrelle Revis, Michael Koenen and Donald Penn as potential cap casualties.
- The Falcons have began discussions with Jonathan Babineaux, Corey Peters and Joe Hawley, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In the same article, Ledbetter mentions potential free agent targets for Atlanta, including Jairus Byrd, Michael Johnson and Michael Bennett.
- What’s next for the Panthers after franchising Greg Hardy and learning of Jordan Gross‘s retirement? It appears to be re-signing safety Michael Mitchell and receiver Ted Ginn Jr., according to David Newton of ESPN.com. The team has started talking to representatives for the two players.
NFC Notes: Suh, Bethea, Ware, Graham
Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is going to be the next player to break the bank, writes Joel Corry of the National Football Post. Suh is under contract through the 2015 season; however, that year is a player option, which Suh will likely decline. 2014, then, is effectively the last year of his current deal. If the Lions do not sign the star lineman to a new contract before next season, the franchise tag will probably not be an option, as his tag figure would be an untenable $26.87MM.
Suh has restructured his contract twice in as many years in order for the Lions to gain more cap space. An extension would serve the same purpose, as well as lowering Suh’s cap number, which is second in the league at approximately $22.4MM. The Lions are still feeling the effects of selecting high in the draft under the previous collective bargaining agreement, when rookie salaries were much higher. The rookie deals of Suh, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and receiver Calvin Johnson have put the team in an unenviable position. Extending Suh, as the Lions did with both Stafford and Johnson, would help to alleviate some of that cap strain.
More items from the NFC:
- Safety Antoine Bethea could be an option for the Falcons, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The team is expected to release Thomas DeCoud, and has been linked to free agent Louis Delmas. Jairus Byrd could also be intriguing, but both he and Delmas might be too expensive for Atlanta’s tastes.
- Demarcus Ware, due $26MM over the next two seasons, is too expensive to be traded, but he could brought back to the Cowboys at a lower salary, argues Todd Archer of ESPN.com in a recent mailbag.
- Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes the Saints’ Jimmy Graham is a tight end, writing that lining up in the slot is simply part of that position’s job description in today’s NFL. Triplett thinks the murky situation could be resolved with a long-term contract in excess of $10MM annually.
- The Rams could add two quarterbacks to backup Sam Bradford, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Kellen Clemens could return, and the team figures to draft a quarterback somewhere in the third-to-fifth-round range.
- In a mailbag segment, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com says receiver will be a priority in the draft for the 49ers, and singles out Oregon State WR Brandin Crooks as an option. He also writes that running back LaMichael James could be used more in the slot and on screens as the teams aims to get the speedy back more touches.
NFC Links: Tate, Cowboys, Wynn, Falcons
Free-agent-to-be Golden Tate suggested there’s mutual interest between him and the Seahawks in a new contract, but said “only time will tell” if he remains in Seattle, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Tate added that he doesn’t consider Riley Cooper’s contract as a sign of what sort of deal he may get, since the two receivers’ situations are “very, very different.”
Here’s more from around the NFC on a busy day in the NFL:
- In a piece for CBSSports.com, Jason La Canfora explains why offensive tackle Tyron Smith may be better off waiting on a long-term deal, whereas the Cowboys will look to lock him up as soon as possible.
- Speaking of the Cowboys, they have interest in bringing back free agent defensive tackle Jarius Wynn, tweets Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
- Despite the fact that offensive lineman Joe Hawley has never had an extended run as a starter in his four years in Atlanta, ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure thinks the Falcons will prioritize re-signing the prospective free agent.
- McClure also reports (on Twitter) that offensive tackle Jake Matthews met with the Falcons at the combine in Indianapolis. Matthews is expected to be one of the first tackles off the board in May’s draft, and Atlanta holds the sixth overall selection.
Extra Points: Revis, Falcons, Eagles, Cap
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that rival teams are calling the Buccaneers to inquire on the availability of Darrelle Revis, with a number of execs believing a trade is possible. However, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Times is skeptical. Speaking to Cummings, new head coach Lovie Smith said the Bucs will rely heavily on man coverage: “Whether we win or lose is going to be based on how we play man coverage” (Twitter links). That approach suggests that the team is likely to keep the league’s best cover corner on the roster, though we’ll have to wait to see if new GM Jason Licht is in agreement.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- In an article examining the likelihood of the Falcons releasing safety Thomas DeCoud, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggests that if the team can’t secure a free agent safety by DeCoud’s guarantee date (March 15), hanging on to him remains possible.
- While multiple reports have suggested the Eagles will likely prioritize re-signing Jeremy Maclin over Riley Cooper, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that it’s the other way around, and based on what he’s hearing, “it’s not even close.”
- Not many agents and teams were close to reaching free agent or extension agreements at this year’s combine, according to Jack Bechta at the National Football Post. Bechta, who represents multiple free agents himself, speculates that the increased gap in between the combine and the free agent period this year may be contributing to slower-than-usual negotiations.
- With 2014’s projected cap number up to $132MM, or perhaps even higher, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert has updated his look at the salary cap space each team is expected to have heading into the new league year. As Seifert’s chart shows, the new cap projections mean that the Raiders now have $66MM+ of space.
- Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt explains a few aspects of the NFL’s salary cap in a piece for TheMMQB.com.
Falcons Expected To Release Thomas DeCoud
The Falcons are expected to release veteran safety Thomas DeCoud by the fourth day of the 2014 league year, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). A portion of DeCoud’s salary becomes guaranteed if he remains on the team’s roster beyond March 14, but it’s possible he’ll be released even before then, as Atlanta looks to get its cap in order by March 11.
DeCoud, 28, earned a spot in the Pro Bowl a year ago due in large part to his six interceptions during the 2012 season. However, he didn’t grade well according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics that season, and was even worse in 2013, ranking 83rd out of 86 qualified safeties (subscription required). The longtime Falcons starter has three years remaining on his contract, but the club could create $3MM in 2014 cap savings by releasing him within the next couple weeks. Cutting him would reduce his cap number rom $4.8MM to just $1.8MM in dead money.
If and when the move becomes official, DeCoud will join a group of free agent safeties that currently includes T.J. Ward, Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner, Chris Clemons, and James Ihedigbo, among others. The free agent market should provide plenty of options for teams looking to address their secondary prior to the draft.
NFC Notes: Falcons, Packers, Bears
It was revealed yesterday that potential number-one pick Jadeveon Clowney wants to play for the Falcons. While team general manager Thomas Dimitroff brushed off Clowney’s comments, he did reveal his willingness to wheel and deal. Dimitroff spoke to NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones and discussed the Falcons’ draft plans (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution):
“I’ve been very clear about this, we will always be open for business,” Dimitroff said. “We will always be open to move up and back, depends on what’s right for us.”
Based on most mock draft, Clowney won’t be around for the Falcons’ pick. Even then, Dimitroff may instead be looking to move down.
“Again, I feel really comfortable with where we are at six,” he said, “but there are opportunities on both sides of six.”
Here are a couple more notes from around the NFC…
- The Packers should re-sign center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Vandermause believes the team should keep Dietrich-Smith and let him compete with J.C. Tretter for the starting gig.
- The Bears have shown interest in bringing back Henry Melton and Jay Ratliff, writes Dan Pompei. The writer also says that he would be surprised if the team had zero interest in bringing back Nate Collins.
- Vernon Davis hinted on Instagram that he’s working on bringing Maurice Jones-Drew to the 49ers, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. Davis posed a picture with the caption: “Me and Maurice Jones Drew discussing the FUTURE a few nights ago. #San Francisco.’’ As Stellino points out, Jones-Drew grew up in California and attended UCLA.
Cohen Predicts Where Top Free Agents Land
Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap.com has been following free agency very closely, giving updates on the cap situations of every NFL team and details on current player contracts. Earlier today, he took a break from crunching numbers to examine the possible destinations on some of the league’s top free agents. After outlining the effective cap space of each NFL team, which takes into account the amount of money they would have to pay their draft selections, he shows a picture of where some of the biggest names could land.
Of his top ten free agents, he sees more than half of them returning to their teams in 2014, either via long-term contract or because of the franchise tag. Some of those players we already thought would end up with extensions or playing next year under the tag,
However, he does see a few key players changing uniforms this offseason, finding some big money with a new franchise:
- Cohen predicts Panthers‘ star Greg Hardy finding a team that run a 4-3 defense and has some cap room, such as the Raiders or Jaguars.
- The top receiver this offseason, Eric Decker has already been linked to Cleveland by Cohen earlier this offseason, and the Browns are still thought to be a front runner for his services, along with the Jets.
- Bengals‘ pass rusher Michael Johnson played under the franchise tag in 2013, and is unlikely to be tagged again. Cohen could see the Falcons cutting Osi Umenyiora and plugging Johnson into his role.
- Because of the Steelers‘ cap woes, Cohen does not think they will have the opportunity to offer Jason Worilds a contract comparative to what he would get on the open market. For that reason, he sees the pass rusher leaving for greener pastures. According to Cohen he might not have to leave the state, as he sees the Eagles 3-4 defense as a perfect landing spot for the outside linebacker.
NFC Notes: Clowney, Lions, Vikings, Niners
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney would like to be a member of the Falcons — but only if they trade up to get him, writes ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. The star Gamecock is widely expected to be selected in the top five picks of the draft, and he realizes this would make it challenge for him to get to Atlanta. “…I hope I don’t fall to No. 6,” said Clowney, hoping for a Falcons draft position swap. “I like Atlanta – a lot. They’re pretty good. They’ve got some guys from South Carolina on the team, also. And it’s close to home.” The Falcons are in dire need of pass rush help, and we learned Friday that they are not averse to attempting to move higher in the draft.
Some other notes from around the NFC:
- The Lions are in the market for a backup quarterback, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Veteran Shaun Hill is 34 years old and a free agent, while third-stringer Kellen Moore has yet to take a NFL snap. Lions GM Martin Mayhew says the team will take a look at the free market market, and then draft a quarterback if necessary. Birkett notes that new coach Jim Caldwell learned the importance of having a strong backup quarterback during his final season with the Colts, when the team sputtered to a 2-14 record as Peyton Manning missed the entire season.
- The Vikings will be looking for a quarterback in the draft, and Ben Goessling of ESPN.com opines that they will be open to taking a shorter QB, thanks to the success of Russell Wilson.
- Regardless of the specifics of the Bears defensive scheme, GM Phil Emery wants to acquire larger players for the defensive front seven, writes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com.
- The 49ers have several interesting contractual decisions to make, says Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. While a Colin Kaepernick extension is expected to get done, cornerback Carlos Rogers may be asked to a take a 50% pay reduction, and faces release if he declines.