NFC Notes: Vikings, Falcons, Packers, Graham
With Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman headed for unrestricted free agency, the Vikings will have some decisions to make at quarterback this offseason. Despite Christian Ponder‘s subpar performance in 2013, the team is confident will return, GM Rick Spielman tells ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling (Twitter link). As Goessling notes though, Spielman sounds committed to the idea of bringing in a young QB, and says the club will “at least two” signal-callers to the roster.
Let’s round up a few more Friday items from across the NFC….
- The Falcons are giving “strong consideration” to hiring former Rams GM Billy Devaney to their front office, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Falcons, who recently added Scott Pioli to their ranks, employed Devaney as recently as 2007, when he was an assistant GM in Atlanta.
- Even if the Packers hope to retain both of their restricted free agents – safety M.D. Jennings and linebacker Jamari Lattimore – it may not make sense to tender either player for $1.389MM, says Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, suggesting that the team could try to sign both players for something close to the minimum salary.
- There’s a good chance that contract negotiations between Jimmy Graham and the Saints will go to the eleventh hour, but it’s not entirely clear when the clock will strike as midnight, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains.
- Re-signing punter Donnie Jones should be the easiest call for the Eagles this offseason, according to Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com.
NFC South Notes: Gonzalez, Graham, Panthers
Former Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano was in the news again today, with a report suggesting that his candidacy in the Browns’ coaching search contributed to the rift between CEO Joe Banner and owner Jimmy Haslam. The Bucs themselves aren’t making headlines at the moment, but here are a few of the latest items on their division rivals in the NFC South:
- In a recent ESPN The Magazine interview, retiring tight end Tony Gonzalez left the door slightly open for a possible return to the Falcons later in the 2014 season, “if the team is hot in November, 9-2 or something.” However, it doesn’t sound like GM Thomas Dimitroff is anticipating having Gonzalez back. Speaking to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, Dimitroff simply said, “I believe Tony Gonzalez has retired and he’ll have a fantastic career in the media business.”
- While Jimmy Graham was split out as a receiver for about two-third of his snaps in 2013, that fact alone doesn’t tell the whole story about his position, writes John McTigue of ESPN.com (Insider link). In McTigue’s view, Graham will still be considered a tight end if and when the Saints designate him as their franchise player, but when he eventually receives a long-term deal, he should get wide receiver money.
- When I asked earlier in the week whether Graham should be viewed as a tight end or wide receiver for franchise salary purposes, over 60% of you went with TE.
- With three of the four defensive backs who finished the season as starters eligible for free agency, the Panthers will have to make their secondary an area of focus this offseason, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. As Newton suggests, this year’s cornerback class is strong enough that Carolina could likely find a starter in the second round of the draft.
Umenyiora Optimistic About Return To Falcons
The Falcons parted ways with one big-name defender last week for cap purposes, officially releasing cornerback Asante Samuel and creating more than $4MM in cap savings. Atlanta may not be done making moves, but veteran defensive end Osi Umenyiora remains optimistic about returning to the Falcons, in spite of his $4.75MM cap number for 2014.
“I would love to stay, and I think I am,” Umenyiora told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “But you really never know what’s going to happen.”
While Samuel struggled through an injury-plagued 2013, Umenyiora remained fairly productive in his first year with the Falcons, recording 47 tackles and 7.5 sacks, forcing three fumbles, and even returning an interception for a touchdown. Still, although Umenyiora remains an asset, releasing him would create $3.5MM in cap space for the club, which could be put toward multiple young players. The Falcons figure to retool their defensive line this offseason in an effort to improve their pass rush, but even in a situational role, the 32-year-old feels like he’s earning his pay.
“To say that money is not a lot would be crazy because that’s a lot of money, period,” Umenyiora said of his cap number. “But if you look at it strictly in football terms and what the top-tier defensive ends are getting paid. … Mario Williams, who is making like, what, $16MM per year? It’s tough for me to answer that [money] question because it all depends on what my perceived value to the team is.”
Whether or not the Falcons ultimately decide to retain him for 2014, Umenyiora intends to continue his playing career through this season and beyond, telling McClure that he hopes to play three more seasons in the NFL.
NFC Notes: Seahawks, Ryan, Packers, Saints
Several players from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks had their 2014 salaries become fully guaranteed this week, notes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com in his latest update on teams’ cap space. Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, and Kam Chancellor had their contracts for 2014 vest from partially guaranteed to fully guaranteed, according to Fitzgerald, who notes that Matt Ryan of the Falcons was among the other players in that boat.
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- Having drafted well and avoided bad contracts, the Packers will have significantly more cap flexibility this offseason than many of their NFC rivals, says Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- 13 players from the Saints‘ Super Bowl win in 2010 remain on the team’s roster, but as many of nine of those players could depart this offseason, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. As Triplett points out, four are unrestricted free agents, while five more are potential cap casualties.
- Compensatory picks for the 2014 draft won’t be announced for a few more weeks, and the Falcons‘ situation is murky, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Based on projections by Craig Turner (via Philly.com), the Falcons could add as many as four compensatory picks, but may end up with just one or two, depending on where the cutoff is.
- The Redskins have hired former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to their front office as a personnel executive, the team announced today in a press release.
South Notes: Falcons, Byrd, Bucs, Luck
Let’s round up a few Thursday morning items from around the NFC and AFC South divisions….
- In a piece for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, D. Orlando Ledbetter breaks down the Falcons‘ cap situation, and lists his top five free agent targets for the team, including safety Jairus Byrd, defensive end Michael Johnson, and center Alex Mack.
- ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure also identifies Byrd as an ideal fit for the Falcons, though he acknowledges that signing the Bills’ free-agent-to-be to a lucrative deal would mean investing a lot of money into the safety position.
- The Buccaneers have a significant need for a pass-rusher on the edge, according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, who says the club needs to land a defensive end who can be “much more than rotation player” in either free agency or the draft.
- Jeff Fedotin of the National Football Post makes the case for why Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is the most untradeable player in the NFL.
Falcons Cut Asante Samuel, Stephen Nicholas
The Falcons have begun making offseason cuts, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the team released cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Stephen Nicholas today.
Samuel, who turned 33 last month, battled injuries early in the 2013 season and grabbed just one interception, his lowest mark since 2004. He had been set to enter the final year of his contract, and was on the books for a cap number of $5MM+. By waiving him now, the Falcons avoid having to pay Samuel’s base salary or roster bonus, creating $4MM+ in savings.
Nicholas, meanwhile, played a reduced role in Atlanta after starting 15 of the team’s 16 contests in 2012. His contract had been set to expire in 2016. He’ll still be on the books for $2MM in dead money for 2014, but by releasing him, the Falcons are able to cut his $4MM cap number in half.
Overall, the Falcons, who had been in the middle of the pack among NFL teams in terms of projected 2014 cap space, clear more than $6MM from their 2014 books with the two roster moves. That’ll give the club a little more breathing room as it explores possible moves to upgrade its offensive and defensive lines.
As for Samuel and Nicholas, since both players have at least four years of NFL experience, they’ll become unrestricted free agents without having to pass through waivers. In spite of a down year in 2013, Samuel tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that he still hopes to play for “two or three” more seasons.
NFC South Notes: Saints, Falcons, Panthers
ESPN.com’s Insider-only breakdown of 50 pressing questions for the 2014 NFL offseason focuses on areas of concern for each of the league’s 32 teams, including all four NFC South squads. Among the key topics to monitor, according to the ESPN scribes: Whether there’s any chance the Saints let Jimmy Graham get away, whether or not Mike Glennon is the Buccaneers‘ starting QB going forward, and what weapons the Panthers might add to help complement Cam Newton. Here are a few more Tuesday items from around the NFC South:
- While the Saints may not need a new No. 1 wide receiver, the club needs to start re-stocking the shelves at the position, with a number of the incumbents entering their 30s, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett. In a separate piece, Triplett also assesses the Saints’ needs at the linebacker position.
- The Falcons may look into acquiring a veteran backup for Matt Ryan this offseason, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, who says that free-agent-to-be Luke McCown “still has admirers” within Atlanta’s front office.
- GM Dave Gettleman and the Panthers have switched scouting services for the draft, moving from National Scouting to BLESTO, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Carolina is now one of eight teams associated with BLESTO, one of the services that acts as a co-op in pooling scouting information leading up to the draft.
NFC Notes: Lions, Bucs, Falcons, Eagles
With Super Bowl XLVIII now comfortably in our rear-view mirrors, let’s round up a few Monday updates from around the NFC….
- The Lions will have to clear significant money from their books over the next few weeks in order to get under the cap for 2014 and make room for draft picks, says Justin Rogers of MLive.com. In examining the team’s possible options, Rogers notes that Detroit could save about $5.5MM by releasing receiver Nate Burleson and another $5.5MM or so by cutting safety Louis Delmas.
- A weekend report suggested that the Buccaneers are among the teams that will have interest in Michael Vick in free agency this offseason, but Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com isn’t convinced that signing Vick would be the right move for Tampa Bay.
- In a pair of pieces for ESPN.com, Vaughn McClure examines the role that new assistant GM Scott Pioli will have in Atlanta this offseason, and looks into how the Falcons may try to replace Tony Gonzalez at tight end.
- Tim McManus and Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com discuss the Eagles‘ defensive line situation, disagreeing slightly on how strong a priority it should be this offseason.
- Wide receiver, cornerback, and center figure to be areas of focus in the draft for the 49ers, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com, who names a few potential targets at each of those positions.
Extra Points: Hatcher, Jackson, Mack
Cowboys free agent defensive tackle Jason Hatcher‘s best-case scenario might be to sign a club-friendly deal with Dallas, writes Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei. Although Hatcher’s breakout campaign in 2013, which included a career-best 11 sacks, may have been enough to land him a lucrative deal under different circumstances, his age (32) and past performance will likely limit his market. Before 2013, Hatcher’s career high was 4.5 sacks, and Pompei believes it will be difficult for Hatcher to match or surpass last season’s success.
Some other notes from around the league:
- Pompei notes that Steven Jackson is likely to remain with the Falcons. Jackson has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but Atlanta officials thought Jackson ran well when healthy and that his lackluster season was influenced by poor blocking from his linemen.
- Pompei also thinks it is highly unlikely that Browns free agent center Alex Mack will get the franchise tag because it would cost the Browns around $11MM. The tag for offensive linemen as a whole is driven by the salaries of offensive tackles, which explains why it would be so expensive to tag Mack despite the fact that no center made more than $5.5MM last year. Pompei believes Mack will become the highest-paid center in the game, but he does not give an opinion as to who he thinks may land him.
- In a pre-Super Bowl Twitter mailbag, Tony Grossi of ESPN.com tweets that it is unlikely the Browns will retain Mack, and he reaffirms his belief that Cleveland will use the franchise tag on safety T.J. Ward. Grossi said Ward himself expects the tag.
Falcons Need To Upgrade Right Guard
The Falcons’ offensive line is in major need of an upgrade following a disappointing 2013 campaign, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. As a team, the Falcons allowed franchise quarterback Matt Ryan be sacked 44 times last season, which tied them for the tenth most in the NFL, according to NFL.com.
While the Falcons moved second year offensive lineman Peter Konz from center to guard due to his struggles, the team would prefer to move him back to his natural position of center. Garrett Reynolds and Harland Gunn also had time at right guard, though neither is set up to be the long term answer at the position.
McClure does provide a few options the Falcons could pursue in free agency that could sure up the unit in 2014:
- Zane Beadles – Beadles will be starting at guard in the Super Bowl tomorrow for the Broncos, but is set to hit free agency this offseason looking for a long term deal. The 27-year-old Pro Bowl talent has played left guard and right tackle in his NFL career, after playing left tackle in college at Utah. His versatility makes him a great fit on an offensive line that is rebuilding. While the Broncos are expected to try and re-sign him, if he hits the market at a reasonable price, McClure thinks the Falcons might make a run at him.
- Jon Asamoah – Asamoah was a big part of the Chiefs’ success this year, paving the way for Jamaal Charles big season. However, the cap-strapped Chiefs will have to make some difficult decisions on which of their free agents to retain. If the 25-year-old Asamoah reaches the market, Falcons’ general manager Scott Pioli (who drafted Asamoah in 2010) could make him a long term solution at guard.
- Willie Colon – While Colon is not necessarily a long term solution, if the Jets draft a guard they may release the 30-year-old lineman. McClure notes that new Falcons’ offensive line coach Mike Tice lobbied hard for Colon to join the Bears last season, before the former Steeler decided to join Rex Ryan and the Jets, but if Tice pushes for his services again it is possible that the Falcons use him as a stopgap on a short term contract.