Extra Points: Offseason Moves, 2019 Cap Space, Browns, Hyde, Cardinals, Leftwich, Wilks
NFL free agency is always a wildcard. There’s plenty of risk in signing players to big contracts, as not all players can transition smoothly across teams as easily as NBA and MLB players can. There’s often a lack of fit in particular system, or other factors that turn big signings into big busts. Every year teams end up wrecking their cap space on pricey veterans who don’t work out, while others make moves that make them look like geniuses.
Former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry took a look at some of the biggest hits and misses from teams’ offseason, with the Bears’ trade for Khalil Mack being his biggest hit and the Cardinals’ signing of Sam Bradford being his biggest miss. He highlights several more under-the-radar hits like the Colts’ signing of Eric Ebron and the Ravens bringing in John Brown, and talks about the finances involved. Some of the other misses include the mammoth contract the Titans gave to cornerback Malcolm Butler and the Cowboys’ signing of Allen Hurns. Butler has already been benched in Tennessee and Corry writes that he’s “doing his best to validate Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s mysterious benching of him in Super Bowl LII.” The whole article is definitely worth a read.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Speaking of the cap, salary cap expert Jason Fitzgerald of Overthecap.com tweeted out his projections for which teams will have the most and least salary cap space in 2019. The Colts currently project to have the most space with $119MM while the Eagles project to have the least, coming in $15MM over the cap before they make necessary cuts.
- With the Browns’ shocking trade of Carlos Hyde, Cleveland has added another draft pick to their arsenal. The “Browns now have their picks in rounds 1-6, plus a 3rd-round pick from New England (DL Danny Shelton), a 5th-round pick from Jacksonville (RB Carlos Hyde), a 5th-round pick from New England (WR Josh Gordon) and a conditional 7th-round pick from Jacksonville (QB Cody Kessler)”, Adam Schefter notes (Twitter link). Previous Browns GM Sashi Brown was aggressive in adding draft capital through trades, and his successor John Dorsey seems to be following in his footsteps.
- The Cardinals made a move many had been anticipating for weeks today when they fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Cardinals coach Steve Wilks was asked about Byron Leftwich, McCoy’s replacement, and whether Leftwich was an interim coach or permanent. Wilks responded “right now it’s hard to say anyone (on staff) is going to be permanent”, according to Darren Urban of the team’s official website (Twitter link). Wilks’ comments suggest he’s thinking what others in the media have been saying, that his job isn’t necessarily safe either. While it would still be surprising at this point, it certainly seems possible Wilks is a one-and-done in Arizona.
Extra Points: CBA, London Team, Cardinals, Ravens
There’s been a lot of talk about the league’s current CBA. Many around the league, including the NFLPA, continue to view a lockout as a strong possibility when the current bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season. Owners are widely seen as having won the last round of negotiations, and players are sure to have stronger demands this time around. At first the league was anxious to get a new deal done and avoid a drawn out process, but the “NFL recently has shown less urgency to get a new labor deal done” according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.
A source told Florio that “the NFL previously had wanted to get a new labor deal in place by the next Super Bowl”, but that’s no longer the case. The change in heart is “fueled by the league’s happiness with the 2018 ratings performance” Florio writes. Florio notes that the ratings increases give the league more leverage in negotiations with networks which makes them “feel less compelled to bend to the union a bit in order to be able to sell labor peace deep into the next decade to the broadcast partners.” It’s an interesting angle that Florio presents, and the whole situation will be one of the biggest stories to monitor over the next year.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The league’s executive vice president of international, Mark Waller, thinks London is ready for an NFL team right now, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Breer had an interesting conversation with Waller, who thinks the “pieces for a London team are in place.” It was rumored earlier this week that Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan had his sights set on moving the team to London.
- Cardinals guard Justin Pugh broke his hand in the team’s loss to the Vikings, the lineman told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (Twitter link). Lineman can often play with a club/cast on their hand, but it would seem likely Pugh misses at least a little time, and may need surgery. It’s a big blow to an Arizona offensive line that is already among the worst in the league.
- Ravens guard Alex Lewis suffered a scary neck injury that had him down on the field for a while, but he appears to be alright. There was a lot of concern after Lewis was taken to the hospital, but he’s regained feeling in his extremitites and has “been cleared to travel back tonight with team”, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (Twitter link). Lewis will have more tests tomorrow, but overall it’s very positive news after what initially looked like a very serious injury.
AFC West Notes: Raiders, Cooper, Conley, Broncos, Keenum, Chiefs, Berry
There’s been several high profile names rumored to be trade candidates over the past week, including Raiders receiver Amari Cooper. It was reported earlier today that the Raiders were shopping the former first round pick, but now coach Jon Gruden is pushing back on those reports.
“I’m not. I’m not. I’m just sorry to have to deal with a lot of these reports” Gruden insisted when asked about the reports saying he wanted to get rid of Cooper, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports (Twitter link). Cooper was injured in the Raiders’ loss to the Seahawks after taking a nasty hit and was diagnosed with a concussion. He’s in the last year of his rookie deal but has a fifth-year option for next year, meaning any team that traded for him would have control of him in 2019. Gruden also previously insisted he wasn’t trying to trade Khalil Mack, so perhaps his denials should be taken with a grain of salt.
Here’s more from the AFC West:
- Case Keenum had another rough game, prompting reporters to ask coach Vance Joseph after the game if Keenum would remain the starter for the Broncos. Joseph answered affirmatively, saying “Case is our quarterback”, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (Twitter link). Keenum left for one play to be evaluated for a concussion, and the home crowd gave backup Chad Kelly a standing ovation. With the Broncos a sinking ship and Joseph on the hot seat, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kelly gets a look at some point.
- Speaking of Oakland, the Raiders have benched their 2017 first round pick, cornerback Gareon Conley, playing him on zero defensive snaps in their Week 6 loss. Conley could be a possible trade target, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who tweets that “teams looking to buy low on Conley will be calling.” Gruden has shown a willingness to get rid of high-profile players, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team gives up on Conley despite his limited time on the field. He missed most of his rookie season due to injury.
- Chiefs All-Pro safety Eric Berry has mysteriously missed every game this season without much of an update from the team, and he is still without a timetable for a return, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Sources told La Canfora that the team is “extremely confident that he will play this season”, but no one seems to know when and the team will continue to “exude extreme caution” handling him. The Chiefs defense has been a liability this season, and would get a massive boost from Berry’s return.
Broncos Fear G Ronald Leary Has Torn Achilles
More bad news for the Broncos. Right tackle Jared Veldheer has already missed the team’s last couple of games, and now it looks like the Denver could be without their best interior lineman for the remainder of the season.
The Broncos’ initial diagnosis of guard Ronald Leary is a torn Achilles, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). If that’s the case, Leary will miss the rest of the season. It’s a huge blow to the Broncos’ offensive line, which is already light on depth.
The Broncos benched their other starting guard, Connor McGovern, ahead of the team’s loss today. McGovern and his replacement, Max Garcia, will presumably both start now moving forward. Denver has now lost four straight games after starting the season 2-0, and is in free-fall. Coach Vance Joseph has been on the hot seat seemingly since the beginning of the year, and this loss certainly won’t help him in his quest to keep his job.
Leary, 29, has two years left on the four-year $36MM deal he signed with the Broncos before the 2017 season. He was a heavily sought after free agent after spending his first four seasons with the Cowboys, where he was one of the best guards in the league.
Cardinals Deny They’re Shopping Patrick Peterson
Earlier today, it was reported that the Cardinals were shopping star cornerback Patrick Peterson, and now the team is pushing back on those reports. 
Cardinals coach Steve Wilks called the rumors “ludicrous” in his press conference following the team’s loss to the Vikings and wouldn’t even address the reports, according to Josh Weinfruss of ESPN (Twitter link). It was reported last week that the Cardinals were shopping linebackers Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick, and even David Johnson’s name has been brought up as a potential trade candidate, but Peterson’s name was new.
It’s looking like a lost season for the Cardinals, who currently sit at 1-5, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they are aggressive in looking to trade some veterans to acquire draft picks. Still it would be pretty shocking if the team dealt the All-Pro corner, and Wilks’ denial is strong enough that it leaves little wiggle room. Peterson’s current deal runs through the 2020 season and and pays him around $12MM a season.
Peterson, a 2011 first-rounder, turned 28 over the summer. While his star has faded a bit the past few years, he’s still one of the league’s best corners. He’s made the Pro Bowl all seven seasons he’s been in the league and is a three-time First-Team All-Pro. If the Cardinals due ever decide to shop him, they’d likely seek multiple high draft picks.
NFC Notes: Manning, Giants, Cowboys, Packers, Redskins
Plenty of people criticized the Giants’ decision to take Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick. While Barkley has been electric, many people thought the opportunity to take one of this year’s class of quarterback prospects was too good to pass up. Eli Manning has struggled mightily this year, and the Giants now have no clear succession plan. Despite not drafting a quarterback early this year, New York “believed that somehow, some way, they’d find their heir apparent somewhere down the line”, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
Now that they might have to find that heir apparent earlier than expected, Vacchiano went through all the Giants’ options to find a quarterback of the future, including a trade before the deadline this year, free agency, and the draft. They have fourth round rookie Kyle Lauletta on the roster, and Vacchiano writes they must “absolutely take a look at him in a game this year.” One way or another, it looks like Manning’s days as the Giants’ starter are numbered.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- There’s been growing frustration with Jason Garrett as coach of the Cowboys, especially after his decision to punt the ball away on 4th & 1 in overtime last week. While owner Jerry Jones and his son Stephen have insisted, Garret’s job isn’t in danger, “there’s been buzz in league circles indicating that the Joneses may eventually set their sights on Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley”, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
- Aaron Rodgers recently suffered a setback with his injured knee, but is looking to avoid going back to the bulky brace he had to wear initially, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Rodgers re-injured the knee on a hit he took early in the Packers’ loss to the Lions last week. The game against Detroit was his first game without the large brace that made it harder for him to move around.
- Josh Norman was benched to start the second half of the Redskins’ loss to the Saints on Monday night, and it apparently wasn’t about his play. “It was definitely something between Gruden and Norman that got a little heated and definitely not because of him getting beat in coverage”, according to John Keim of ESPN (Twitter link). Apparently Norman and coach Jay Gruden got into an altercation at halftime, and this will be an interesting situation to monitor going forward.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
New York Giants
- Released: K Marshall Koehn
Koehn was insurance on the Giants’ practice squad with Aldrick Rosas battling a quad injury. After Rosas returned to full health, Koehn was no longer needed.
Extra Points: Trade Deadline, Webb, Willies, Browns, Peters, Eagles
The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner. Teams have just over two weeks, until October 30th, to complete any deals. While there isn’t nearly as much trade action in the NFL as in other major sports leagues, it seems like every year front offices get more and more open to making deals. If that trend continues, this deadline could be one of the busiest in recent memory.
In anticipation of the deadline, Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com took a look some potential trades, and took a stab at putting together a few scenarios of his own. The whole article is worth a read, as Barnwell broke down 11 possible midseason trades, and why he thinks they’d make sense for both sides. Included in the list are DeVante Parker being traded to the Cowboys, LeSean McCoy going back to the Eagles, and Le’Veon Bell going to the Redskins.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Patriots cut running back Ralph Webb from their practice squad recently, and he’s been a hot name on the workout circuit, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (Twitter link). Howe reports that Webb has “been busy” and has “worked out for the Bengals on Wednesday and has workouts scheduled early next week for the Texans and Jets.” With the Patriots’ track record of developing little-known players, teams often like to take looks at people they were formerly high on. Webb is an undrafted rookie out of Vanderbilt.
- The Browns were already dealing with a banged up receiving corp, and got more bad news today. Rookie receiver Derrick Willies broke his collarbone in practice today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Willies, an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech has shown some promise recently, and now appears likely headed for injured reserve. Rashard Higgins is out with an injury of his own, and Willies was supposed to play a big role this week against the Chargers. It’s a big blow, and the Browns will be very thin at receiver against a Chargers defense that is starting to come on strong.
- Eagles left tackle Jason Peters has been dealing with a quad injury, but suffered a brand new injury during the team’s win last night. Peters tore his biceps against the Giants, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Sources told Rapoport that “doctors are optimistic that he’ll be able to keep playing”, but it’s not a sure thing. Losing Peters for any amount of time would be a devastating blow to an already struggling Eagles offensive line, especially with right tackle Lane Johnson also banged up.
POLL: Should the Cardinals Explore A David Johnson Trade?
As the Cardinals have started the season 1-4 and are in the midst of a rebuild, there’s been a lot of trade rumors surrounding the team. Arizona is reportedly shopping former first-rounders Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick, and now a more surprising name has emerged as a potential trade candidate. 
Over the course of the week, David Johnson‘s name has been a frequent subject of internet discussion, with many speculating the team could look to deal him as they aren’t in win-now mode. The Eagles, who have also been linked to Le’Veon Bell after Jay Ajayi‘s ACL tear, have been suggested as a possible destination for Johnson.
Johnson has been having a down-year by his standards, and Cardinals offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has taken a lot of flack for not getting Johnson involved more. Johnson thrived in now-retired coach Bruce Arians’ system, where he was often utilized as a receiver. McCoy’s scheme has turned him into more of a between-the-tackles runner, and it hasn’t been a great fit.
Despite the scheme issues, it would still be shocking if Johnson was dealt. Just last month, the team signed him to a huge three-year extension worth $39MM. As former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry points out, it wouldn’t make much sense for the team to pay Johnson a massive $12MM signing bonus then deal him months later (Twitter link).
It also wouldn’t seem to make much sense for the Cardinals to trade away the offense’s best weapon as they seek to develop Josh Rosen. Trading away Johnson would take away Rosen’s safety blanket and make life much tougher for the promising rookie.
But as long as the Cardinals continue to lose and until McCoy succeeds in getting Johnson more involved, rumors will likely continue to swirl. It’s likely the Cardinals would seek high draft picks if they did decide to flip him, and it’s unclear if any team would even be willing to play the necessary price.
What do you think? With the team not winning anything this year, should the Cardinals at least listen to offers on Johnson? Vote in the poll below and weigh in down in the comments!
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/18
Today’s minor moves will be posted here:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jared Norris
Cleveland Browns
- Waived off injured reserve: FB Dan Vitale
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: WR J.J. Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived off injured reserve: OT Cole Gardner