Minor Moves: NFC West
The NFC West brought multiple headline-worthy news items Friday – the Seahawks’ extension of Marshawn Lynch and a possible contract restructuring for the Cardinals‘ Carson Palmer, for instance – but not every transaction includes household names. The Seahawks’ and Cardinals’ division rivals, the 49ers and Rams, proved as much Friday.
- The 49ers signed long snapper Kyle Nelson to a four-year extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan. Last season was Nelson’s first 16-game campaign. He has been a member of seven different organizations and has had three separate stints with the 49ers since entering the NFL in 2011.
- San Francisco also agreed to a one-year deal with tight end Garrett Celek, per Caplan. Celek has been a backup to Vernon Davis, having caught just eight passes in three seasons.
- Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweeted that the Rams tendered offers to two exclusive rights free agents, running back Chase Reynolds and offensive lineman Brandon Washington. As ERFAs with fewer than three years’ experience, the tender means that both players must either stay with the Rams or not play at all. Reynolds has made his hay in St. Louis as a special teamer, while Washington has appeared in just one game since his career began in 2012.
AFC Notes: Revis, Cole, Knighton, Bills
As the clock continues ticking toward the start of NFL free agency on March 10, a resolution between the Patriots and star cornerback Darrelle Revis draws nearer. Although Revis is signed through next season, his cap number is an unpalatable $25MM. Both that and Revis’ $20MM salary become guaranteed Tuesday if the Patriots don’t take action by then, which – worst-case scenario – would mean releasing the six-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro.
The two sides are expected to engage in negotiations for a long-term contract before the deadline, but a source informed Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that those discussions haven’t yet begun. Revis and his camp will enter negotiations cognizant of what he’d receive as a free agent on the open market, Florio opined, also speculating that the 29-year-old might take less on a long-term deal to remain with the reigning Super Bowl champions. Per Florio, Revis “wouldn’t like it” if New England were to keep him in 2015 on his current contract, but he’d forgo a holdout, suit up for the Pats and become a free agent in 2016.
Elsewhere around the AFC. . .
- Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reports that free agent pass rusher Trent Cole will visit with a pair of AFC teams in the coming days, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. On the heels of meeting with the Buccaneers on Friday, the 32-year-old will powwow with the Browns on Sunday and the Colts on Monday. The Eagles released Cole on Wednesday after he spent the first 10 years of his career with them. Cole finished 2014 with 6.5 sacks, giving him 85.5 for his career, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him a respectable 19th out of 46 qualifying 3-4 outside linebackers.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes there are “growing indications” that Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton will be in another uniform next season. The free agent-to-be could end up with a deal worth anywhere from $7MM to $10MM annually, per Renck, and that might be out of Denver’s price range. The six-year veteran was an integral part of a Broncos team that had the league’s second-best run defense in 2014, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Knighton 12th among 81 qualifying D-tackles last season.
- In lesser news, ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweeted Friday that the Bills will not tender an offer to restricted free agent Chris Hairston. The four-year veteran offensive tackle dressed for all 16 Bills games last season and has 15 career starts, though none since 2012.
Extra Points: NFLPA, Cutler, Raiders, Rams
NFLPA President Eric Winston tweeted Thursday night that the deadline for nominations for Executive Director of the NFLPA had passed. Along with incumbent DeMaurice Smith, Winston listed Jim Acho, Sean Gilbert, Robert Griffith, Rob London, Art McAfee, John Stufflebeam, Andrew Smith and Jason Belser as candidates. The election for the position is scheduled for March 15.
According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, NFLPA executives are concerned about the internal lack of confidence in DeMaurice Smith. Cole reported that those execs are unsure how Smith will be able to lead going forward if he keeps the job, which he has held since 2009.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets that, in the aftermath of the Brandon Marshall trade, “chances are” the Bears will keep Jay Cutler for at least another year. According to Breer, Chicago hasn’t brought up the possibility of a Cutler trade with other teams this offseason. Breer notes that the Bears have a “Cutler-friendly staff” with new offensive coordinator Adam Gase and quarterbacks coach Dowell Logains. Breer’s report runs contrary to one released Thursday by NFL.com colleague Ian Rapoport, who said that “teams certainly know that Cutler is available.”
- The Raiders’ possible relocation to Carson, Calif., has been a major topic in recent weeks, and team owner Mark Davis said in a radio interview Friday that “other cities are possible relocation places,” Howard Balzer tweeted. Davis went on to state that he “wouldn’t say St. Louis is one of them.” Like the Raiders and Chargers, the Rams have been linked to the Los Angeles area. All three teams can terminate their leases and move after next season. If the Rams relocate, there have been rumblings about another NFL team playing in St. Louis in the future. If you’re to believe Davis, the Raiders won’t be that team.
- Speaking of the Rams, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that the team and right tackle Joe Barksdale are “too far apart” on a new deal. Thus, the 26-year-old will hit free agency when the market opens March 10. The four-year veteran has started 29 games over the last two seasons for St. Louis. Out of 84 qualifying tackles, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Barksdale as the 48th best in the league in 2014.
Offseason Outlook: Seattle Seahawks
Pending free agents:
- James Carpenter, G
- Landon Cohen, DT
- Demarcus Dobbs, DE
- Heath Farwell, LB
- Clint Gresham, LS
- Tarvaris Jackson, QB
- Lemuel Jeanpierre, C
- Jeron Johnson, S
- Jermaine Kearse, WR (restricted)
- Byron Maxwell, CB
- Anthony McCoy, TE
- Tony Moeaki, TE
- Mike Morgan, LB (restricted)
- Stephen Schilling, G (restricted)
- O’Brien Schofield, DE/OLB
- D’Anthony Smith, DT
- Malcolm Smith, LB
- Will Tukuafu, FB
- Bryan Walters, WR (restricted)
- Kevin Williams, DT
Top 10 2015 cap hits:
- Richard Sherman, CB: $12,200,000
- Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000
- Michael Bennett, DE: $8,000,000
- Cliff Avril, DE: $8,000,000
- Earl Thomas, S: $7,400,000
- Russell Okung, T: $7,280,000
- Brandon Mebane, DT: $5,700,000
- Kam Chancellor, S: $5,650,000
- Max Unger, C: $5,600,000
- K.J. Wright, LB: $4,750,000
Notable coaching changes:
- Defensive coordinator: Kris Richard replaces Dan Quinn
Draft:
- No. 31 overall pick
- Conditionally acquired fourth-round pick from Jets in deal for Percy Harvin; pick becomes a sixth-rounder if Harvin is cut by March 19.
- Owe sixth-round pick to Colts in deal for Marcus Burley.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $24.4MM (doesn’t include release of Zach Miller, RFA tender for Jermaine Kearse)
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2016 for OLB Bruce Irvin.
- Top extension candidates: Russell Wilson, Russell Okung, Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin
- Already released TE Zach Miller, re-signed DL Greg Scruggs.
Overview:
Despite a heartbreaking conclusion, the 2014 season was another enormous success for the Seahawks. After a so-so start, 
the reigning Super Bowl champions closed the regular season with six victories in a row, finished 12-4 and earned a second consecutive NFC West crown. The team went on to pull off a miraculous rally against the Packers in the NFC championship game, overcoming a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit before winning dramatically in overtime and clinching a second straight conference title.
Unfortunately for Seattle, as exhilarating as its triumph over Green Bay was, its Super Bowl XLIX loss to the Patriots was at least as deflating. The Seahawks, just 26 seconds and a single yard from another Lombardi Trophy, looked like shoo-ins to repeat as champs. However, a questionable second-down play call and shoddy execution combined for their undoing when the Pats’ Malcolm Butler intercepted quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line to seal a 28-24 victory for New England.
How well the Seahawks will bounce back from such a shattering defeat won’t be found out until next season, of course. In the meantime, general manager John Schneider will use the offseason to lock up key talent for the foreseeable future and supplement an already formidable roster. Although Schneider’s squad won’t require much help, it does have some areas that could use his attention.
Key Free Agents:
When the free agent market opens March 10, the likelihood is that the Seahawks will lose starting cornerback Byron Maxwell. In fact, a source told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Seattle has “little or no chance” to retain the 27-year-old. Maxwell, a four-year veteran, began garnering extensive playing time in 2013 and has intercepted six passes since. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 45th among 108 qualifying corners last season and an impressive 16th out of 110 the year prior. Now it appears he’ll parlay his success with the Seahawks into a sizable payday from another franchise.
None of Seattle’s other pending defensive free agents make the impact Maxwell does, but the group has some useful role players in linebacker Malcolm Smith, end O’Brien Schofield and tackle Kevin Williams. The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta wrote earlier this week that Smith, the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP, will “probably get better offers elsewhere.” Thanks to injuries and the players in front of him on the depth chart, Smith didn’t leave much of a mark last season. The two linemen, Schofield and Williams, were both valuable depth for Seattle in 2014. Schofield has previously spoken of a desire for more money and could be “tough” to keep, per Condotta, while the Seahawks would be interested in getting the soon-to-be 35-year-old Williams back on a second straight cheap, one-year contract.
The most significant offensive UFA the Seahawks have is left guard James Carpenter, who has started 39 games since they used a first-round pick on him in 2011. The injury-prone Carpenter set a career high with 13 starts last season, but Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t enamored with his play: The site rated him 47th out of 78 qualifying guards, which came on the heels of an even worse ranking the year prior (65th out of 81). Nevertheless, ESPN’s John Clayton told 710 ESPN Seattle radio last month that the team would take Carpenter back on a deal worth $3MM or less annually. Carpenter is seeking yearly value in the $4MM range, however, according to Clayton.
Like Carpenter, wide receiver Jermaine Kearse is also unsigned. However, the 25-year-old is a restricted free agent and received a tender offer from the team today. Given his team-controlled status, Kearse is a safe bet to return to receiver-needy Seattle, for which the three-year veteran finished second in both catches (38) and yards (537) last season.
Positions Of Need:
With Maxwell’s time in a Seahawks uniform expiring, they’re about to find themselves in need of a starting cornerback to pair with Richard Sherman and help maintain their top-ranked pass defense for a third year in a row. The Seahawks are prepared for Maxwell’s departure and have already begun turning their attention toward keeping the position strong. On Thursday, they visited with Cary Williams – whom the Eagles released earlier this week in a cost-cutting move. The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a game since 2010 and has tallied nine interceptions over the last three years. Moreover, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) liked Williams nearly as much as Maxwell last season, ranking the two four spots apart (Williams 49th, Maxwell 45th). Williams has visits with other teams scheduled and there’s no timetable on when he’ll sign.
Seattle also has its eyes on another corner named Williams – the Packers’ Tramon Williams – McGinn wrote Wednesday. As a pending free agent, Williams won’t be allowed to start negotiating with teams until Saturday. The eight-year veteran has spent his entire career in Green Bay, where Schneider worked as a front office assistant when Williams entered the NFL. According to McGinn, Schneider “views him as an ideal fit for coach Pete Carroll’s aggressive Cover 3 coverage scheme.” Multiple NFC personnel executives informed McGinn that Williams should net anywhere from $4MM to $6MM per annum on the open market. The 31-year-old has proven himself a durable playmaker, missing a mere one game out of a possible 128 and totaling a prolific 28 interceptions.
Offensively, the Seahawks’ receiver situation is mediocre at best. With the Percy Harvin experiment having failed, the Seahawks continue to be in need of game-breaking talent at the position. At the very least, they have to find another starting-caliber player to complement Doug Baldwin, who hauled in 66 passes for 825 yards last year.
While the odds of the Seahawks splurging on the Packers’ Randall Cobb, the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin or the Ravens’ Torrey Smith are low, there are some satisfactory receivers available who are expected to sign more modest contracts. Among several candidates are the 49ers’ Michael Crabtree (if the front office is willing to overlook the differences between him and Sherman) and the Chargers’ Eddie Royal. Though neither is a world-beater – and the same is applicable to fellow free agents like Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks – adding one would give Wilson a third decent receiver to team with Baldwin and Kearse.
Seattle could otherwise turn to the draft, where it has the 31st overall pick. In his latest mock draft, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has the Seahawks taking Dorial Green-Beckham, formerly of Missouri, with their first-round selection. Green-Beckham offers an enticing blend of size (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) and 4.49 speed, but has dealt with numerous off-field issues.
Bettering their offensive line should also be on the Seahawks’ to-do list this offseason, especially with Carpenter’s possible exit. Football Outsiders graded Seattle’s O-line as the fourth best in the league last year at run blocking, though it struggled in pass protection – evidenced by a 24th-ranked adjusted sack rate. Although the Seahawks have two outstanding linemen in left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger, they’ve combined to miss 23 regular-season games during the previous two years. Further, Okung hasn’t played a 16-game season since the Seahawks drafted him in 2010. Right guard J.R. Sweezy and right tackle Justin Britt aren’t nearly as good as Okung or Unger, but they’re cheap and they’ve been able to stay on the field. Therefore, they’re likely to retain their starting jobs.
The one open spot is seemingly at left guard, where the Seahawks are going to have trouble making considerable strides if they aren’t willing to throw money at the 49ers’ Mike Iupati, the Broncos’ Orlando Franklin or the Bengals’ Clint Boling. Like some of the aforementioned receivers, the three top left guards on the market are going to cost a lot – perhaps too much for a team that will soon have crucial contract decisions to make on in-house talent.
Ultimately, should Carpenter walk and the big-time free agents price themselves out of the Seahawks’ range, they could simply plug in backup Alvin Bailey as a starter. That would enable them to focus on bolstering their O-line depth with lesser signings and adding potential future starters by way of the draft.
Possible Cap Casualties:
Entering the offseason, many viewed tight end Zach Miller as someone whose roster spot with the Seahawks was in jeopardy. The eight-year veteran missed 13 games last season with an ankle injury and sophomore Luke Wilson showed promise in his place. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks elected Friday to release Miller, ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted, and save $2.39MM on their 2015 cap.
Moving to the defensive line, Seattle has an expensive tackle, Brandon Mebane, who missed most of last season with a torn hamstring. Releasing him would save the Seahawks $5.5MM. It’s improbable to think the team will part with Mebane because he’s a quality player and, as Condotta wrote earlier this week, a respected figure in the locker room. With that said, Schneider could always decide there’s a more alluring way to spend $5.5MM.
Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:
The status of five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch was up in the air as recently as Friday, when he agreed to a new deal with the Seahawks that shouldn’t affect his 2015 cap number. With Lynch’s situation taken care of, at least briefly, the Seahawks can begin to focus on some of their other players with uncertain futures.
During their three-year run as a premier team, one of the major luxuries the Seahawks have had is top-notch quarterback play for a relative pittance. Wilson has played the first three years of his career on his rookie deal – and he was only a third-rounder, remember – while throwing 72 touchdowns against 26 interceptions and helping lead Seattle to a 36-12 regular-season record, two NFC championships and a Super Bowl title. Wilson’s stellar play at a minimal price has allowed Schneider to stack the team around his QB with high-cost players. Those days are nearing an end, however, to at least an extent.
Wilson’s contract runs through next season. Between now and this time next year, the Seahawks are going to have to pay him a substantial amount of money. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported in January that Wilson’s next deal would make him the highest-paid QB in the league, surpassing the five-year, $110MM pact Aaron Rodgers inked with Green Bay in 2013. Schneider said last month that the Seahawks would use an “outside-the-box” approach with Wilson’s contract, according to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, implying they’ll find a way to generously compensate the 26-year-old without damaging the rest of the roster.
Okung is also a year from free agency. Despite his injury issues (he has missed 21 of 80 regular-season games), Okung will be in for a hefty payday. It’ll be his second one – the ex-Oklahoma State standout signed a $48MM deal with $29MM in guarantees when he entered the league – and CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, a former agent, opined that Okung “probably won’t be interested in a new contract” worth less than his rookie deal. A raise might be out of range for the Seahawks, considering their other upcoming contractual priorities.
The centerpiece players scheduled for free agency in 2016 don’t stop on offense, unfortunately for Seattle. Bobby Wagner, who has been one of the league’s foremost defenders during his first three seasons, is a year from hitting the open market. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has ranked Wagner as the second-, 12th-and fifth-best 3-4 inside linebacker during his first three years. In 2014, he made 100-plus tackles in only 11 games and was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl invitation and First-Team All-Pro status. Wagner will be just 25 if he becomes a free agent next March and, between now and then, could approach or pass the Texans’ Brian Cushing as the league’s richest 3-4 ILB in terms of total value. Cushing signed for $52.5MM in 2013.
The Seahawks will also have to make a decision soon on pass-rushing linebacker Bruce Irvin, who has amassed 16.5 sacks in his three-year career. The team has until May to choose whether to pick up Irvin’s fifth-year option for 2016. That option is the value of the highest-paid 25 players at his position, excluding the top three players. The exact sum isn’t yet known, but it will be appreciably more than the $2.90MM Irvin is set to rake in next season.
Overall Outlook:
Regardless of its Super Bowl gaffe, Seattle is a battle-tested, uber-talented club led by an excellent coaching staff. Most of that talent and the majority of the coaches will return next season. Thus, with a productive offseason, the redemption-driven Seahawks should find themselves back in the championship hunt in 2015. Things will get trickier thereafter, though – as salaries for integral players markedly increase, Schneider’s mission to field an elite team will become more taxing.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cowboys Franchise Dez Bryant
MONDAY, 12:38pm: The Cowboys have officially franchised Bryant, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter).
SATURDAY, 6:17pm: Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones has informed Dez Bryant‘s agent that the team will place the franchise tag on the wide receiver on Monday, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore reports.
According to Moore, Jones broke the news to Tom Condon, Bryant’s agent, Friday afternoon. The franchise tag protects the Cowboys from the possibility of Bryant hitting the free agent market March 10. The tag is expected to be worth $12.8MM for receivers in 2015. 
On whether the Cowboys and Bryant can reach a long-term deal, Jones said, “It’s unrealistic to think it (contract) will happen now so we will use the tag,’’ per Moore.
The two sides have until July 15 to work out a new contract. Otherwise Bryant will play next season under the tag.
Bryant has established himself as an elite, durable wideout during the first five seasons of his career. The 26-year-old has racked up 381 catches and 56 touchdowns while appearing in 75 of a possible 80 regular-season games since Dallas selected him 24th overall out of Oklahoma State in 2010. He hasn’t missed a game since 2011 and is coming off his third straight season with at least 88 catches and 12 TDs. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder set a new career high in 2014 in scores (16) and tied his previous best yards-per-catch mark (15.0). As a result, Bryant earned First-Team All-Pro honors and his second consecutive Pro Bowl invitation.
While Dallas will get to keep one of its stars for at least another season, the bad news is that Bryant’s $12.8MM salary for 2015 will take up a significant chunk of its cap space. The Cowboys have approximately $18.60MM in available room, according to OverTheCap.com, but more than two-thirds of that money will go to Bryant. That’s an unpleasant reality for a team that could lose reigning rushing champ DeMarco Murray, among others, to free agency in the coming weeks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Notes: Murray, Manning, Eagles
The Cowboys entered the offseason knowing that two of their best players, wide receiver Dez Bryant and running back DeMarco Murray, were unsigned and scheduled to become free agents March 10. Dallas will solve one of those problems, at least temporarily, when it officially places the franchise tag on Bryant on Monday. Doing so will enable the Cowboys to keep Bryant for the 2015 season at approximately $12.8MM. That figure will take a significant portion from the team’s cap space, which will affect Murray, writes the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore. The 27-year-old Murray led all NFL rushers in yards (1,845) and tied for first in touchdowns (13) last season, and he’ll soon test the open market as one of the top skill players available.
“I think DeMarco wants to be in Dallas. We want him here,” said Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, according to Moore.
Regardless of what Dallas wants, it’s tough to envision the club matching any potential mega-offers Murray might receive. Nevertheless, if an enticing offer for Murray to sign elsewhere comes, Jones hopes the four-year veteran gives the Cowboys an opportunity to keep him.
“There’s an expectation that he will get back to us before he signs with another club,” Jones said. “But that would be unfair to him and for other clubs to say he’s going to bring something back.”
While Murray’s time in the NFC East could be on the verge of ending, here’s more from his current division:
- Dan Graziano of ESPN.com answered fans’ questions in a Twitter mailbag. One of the subjects Graziano touched on was the future of Eli Manning, who is due to count a team-high $19.75MM against the cap in 2015 – the last year of his contract. Per Graziano, if the Giants sign Manning to an extension this offseason, it could save them as much as $11MM on the cap. However, given their sufficient spending space (roughly $25MM) and “no big-money necessities outside of Jason Pierre-Paul,” it might not be necessary. The Giants are “comfortable” with Manning taking up a large chunk of their cap, according to Graziano, and could wait to sign or tag the two-time Super Bowl winner until next year.
- In a series of pieces highlighting potential free agent targets for the Eagles, Reuben Frank and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com examined whether the team should have interest in two safeties – Da’Norris Searcy (Bills) and Tyvon Branch (whom the Raiders recently cut) – and Browns linebacker Jabaal Sheard. Frank and Mosher had differing opinions on Searcy, while they both endorsed signing Branch to a short-term deal and expressed no interest in Sheard.
- Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com took a look at possible free agent outside linebacker options for Washington. El-Bashir doesn’t think new general manager Scot McCloughan will pay big money for a free agent OLB, but he could see the team re-signing Brian Orakpo to a “prove-it deal.”
Offseason Outlook: San Francisco 49ers
Pending free agents:
- Desmond Bishop, LB
- Garrett Celek, TE (restricted)
- Chris Cook, CB
- Perrish Cox, CB
- Michael Crabtree, WR
- Chris Culliver, CB
- Blaine Gabbert, QB
- Frank Gore, RB
- Mike Iupati, G
- Josh Johnson, QB
- Brandon Lloyd, WR
- Kyle Nelson, LS (restricted)
- Kassim Osgood, WR
- Dan Skuta, LB
- Alfonso Smith, RB
- Phillip Tanner, RB
- Bubba Ventrone, S
Top 10 2015 cap hits:
- Colin Kaepernick, QB: $15,265,753
- Aldon Smith, OLB: $9,754,000
- Patrick Willis, ILB: $8,268,000
- NaVorro Bowman, ILB: $7,654,000
- Ahmad Brooks, OLB: $7,055,000
- Vernon Davis, TE: $6,967,920
- Anquan Boldin, WR: $6,909,000
- Justin Smith, DE: $6,436,668
- Joe Staley, T: $6,400,000
- Stevie Johnson, WR: $6,025,000
Notable coaching changes:
- Head coach: Jim Tomsula replaces Jim Harbaugh
- Offensive coordinator: Geep Chryst replaces Greg Roman
- Defensive coordinator: Eric Mangini replaces Vic Fangio
- Hired 2014 Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano as tight ends coach.
- Hired 2014 Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver as senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach.
Draft:
- No. 15 overall pick
- Acquired fourth-round pick from Broncos in deal for Cody Latimer.
- Acquired seventh-round pick from Colts in deal for Cam Johnson.
- Owe fourth-round pick to Bills in deal for Stevie Johnson.
- Owe seventh-round pick to Dolphins for Jonathan Martin.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $6.16MM
- Top extension candidates: Aldon Smith, Alex Boone, Vernon Davis
Overview:
The 2014 season was a massive letdown for the 49ers, whose recent stretch near the top of the NFL standings surprisingly came to a halt. San Francisco was expected to contend last year after a three-year stretch from 2011-13 that included a combined 36-11-1 regular season record, three straight NFC championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance. Instead, thanks primarily to an ineffectual offense, the 49ers finished an uninspiring 8-8 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2010. That spurred the conclusion of a coaching era and, as the offseason progresses, will surely prompt noteworthy roster modifications.
Coaching Changes:
The 49ers were mired in an eight-year playoff drought when they named Jim Harbaugh their head coach in 2011. The team went an embarrassing 46-82 
and mustered just one .500 season during that time frame. Harbaugh’s arrival brought dramatic improvement in the on-field product, as he helped guide the Niners to a tremendous 44-19-1 regular-season mark and three playoff berths. However, his relationship with CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke deteriorated over time and became particularly discordant in 2014. That culminated in December with the end of the coach’s four-year stint in the Bay Area.
After interviewing several outside candidates, the Niners hired from within and chose longtime assistant Jim Tomsula to succeed Harbaugh. The 46-year-old Tomsula had run the 49ers’ defensive line since 2007 and was their interim head coach for one game back in 2010 (a 38-7 win over the Cardinals).
Tomsula stayed in the organization to replace Harbaugh’s departed coordinators, Greg Roman (offense) and Vic Fangio (defense), with Geep Chryst and Eric Mangini.
Chryst, San Francisco’s quarterbacks coach the past four years, has previous experience as a coordinator – he oversaw the Chargers’ offense from 1999-2000. Although Mangini was an offensive consultant with the 49ers in 2013 and their tight ends coach last season, most of his coaching career has been spent on defensive staffs.
Key Free Agents:
The start of the free agent period on March 10 could bring about the exits of three players who have long been 49ers offensive pillars — running back Frank Gore, left guard Mike Iupati and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Gore, the longest-tenured member of the trio, has spent all 10 of his pro seasons in San Francisco. Even at 31, he finished last year ranked ninth in the league in rushing (1,106 yards) on a respectable per-carry average of 4.3. Baalke has indicated that the 49ers want Gore back for his age-32 season. “I talked to him the other day on the phone and we’re going to do what we can to get him back as a 49er,” Baalke said earlier this month, according to the 49ers’ official website. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has reported that Gore, who made $6.45MM last season, is seeking $4MM per annum and that people around the league believe San Francisco is the likeliest team to meet his asking price.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, chances are they’ll have a harder time retaining Iupati. The three-time Pro Bowler is primed to become one of the NFL’s top-paid guards this offseason, and, with little cap space to work with, the 49ers seemingly aren’t in the right position to outbid the market for the 27-year-old’s services.
Then there’s Crabtree, the only one of the group who is coming off a subpar season (698 yards, 10.3 YPC). Tomsula recently said he would “absolutely” like Crabtree back, but both the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows and Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole (video link) have reported the six-year veteran will probably end up elsewhere.
As is the case on offense, the 49ers’ defense also has important pieces scheduled to hit free agency. Those defenders happen to be both of the Niners’ starting cornerbacks from last season, Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox. The pair excelled in 2014, combining for nine interceptions and ranking well above average in Pro Football Focus’ grading system (subscription required) — Culliver was 14th and Cox 35th out of 108 qualifying corners. San Francisco is going to have difficulty keeping both, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, and the one who’s expected to cost less (Cox) has a better chance of returning.
Positions Of Need:
The 49ers’ offense was the main culprit behind their woes last season, as mentioned earlier. The unit ran the ball effectively, but averaged a meager 19.1 points per game (25th in the league) and its Colin Kaepernick-led passing attack finished 30th in yardage and 22nd in Football Outsiders’ rankings. To Kaepernick’s credit, he greatly aided San Francisco’s ground game with 639 yards, second only to the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson among quarterbacks. The four-year veteran was merely middle of the pack in most relevant passing statistics, though.
In order for Kaepernick to realize his vast potential, the 49ers are going to have to surround him with more weapons. It starts at receiver, where Baalke has already acknowledged that the 49ers are seeking downfield threats. Further, the 49ers’ receivers coaches were among the few members of their staff who attended the recent scouting combine.
Given their dearth of cap space, the 49ers could have trouble filling their receiver void via free agency. That means they probably won’t be able to take advantage of a deep class of established wideouts, which would make drafting one with their first-rounder – the 15th overall selection – a strong possibility. The 49ers need to find a complement to (and potential long-term replacement for) 34-year-old Anquan Boldin, and they might land one in DeVante Parker (Louisiville) or Kevin White (West Virginia) with their top pick.
In the event the 49ers don’t take a receiver at 15, speedsters like Phillip Dorsett (Miami), Devin Smith (Ohio State) and Sammie Coates (Auburn) are potential targets who could be available after the first round. There’s also Dorial Green-Beckham, whom Bucky Brooks of NFL.com sees as a possible fit for San Francisco. At 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, Green-Beckham has elite size to accompany 4.49 speed. Despite that enticing combination, he might drop in the draft because of past off-field transgressions – ones that led to his dismissal from Missouri’s football team in 2014.
Other than receiver, San Francisco doesn’t have any glaring offensive holes. If Gore leaves, the 49ers have an in-house option in Carlos Hyde, a second-round pick last April who averaged 4.0 yards per carry as a rookie and scored four touchdowns. Replacing Iupati would be a tougher task, but another player from last year’s draft class (third-rounder Brandon Thomas) would have the inside track to take the reins at left guard. The 24-year-old Thomas was thought to be better than a third-round prospect before tearing his ACL a few weeks prior to the draft.
Defensively, the Niners were terrific last season, ranking fifth in both yardage and DVOA and 10th in points allowed. Ideally, they’ll be even better in 2015 with full seasons from brand-name linebackers Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith. Those three combined to miss 35 games last season (Bowman lost all 16 because of a torn ACL and MCL), but they’ve also combined to make 10 Pro Bowls in the past. In 2013, when each of them played the majority of the season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Bowman and Willis first and third, respectively, among 3-4 ILBs, while the site graded Smith as the fifth-best 3-4 OLB. Having those three and a pair of outstanding second-year men in Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch gives the 49ers an embarrassment of riches at linebacker.
The prospect of a deep and dominant linebacking corps is certainly a plus, but the 49ers do have defensive needs. Those needs begin along the line, where one end (Ray McDonald) has already been released and another (Justin Smith) is considering retirement. Although McDonald ranged from good to great during his eight-year 49ers career, the team cut him in December because of poor off-field conduct. Smith, 36 in September, has missed just two games since joining the Niners in 2008. His advanced age aside, Smith was still a crucial part of San Francisco’s defense last season. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) agreed, ranking him as the league’s 11th-best 3-4 end in 2014.
The 49ers have already tried to combat some of their D-line issues by bringing back one of their former players, Ricky Jean-Francois. The Colts released the six-year veteran and four-year Niner earlier this month, but he chose to sign with Washington. Regardless, it’s clear that the 49ers are aware of their line problems. They’ll likely continue trying to address them as the offseason moves forward.
San Francisco’s other defensive questions lie at cornerback, given the nebulous statuses of Culliver and Cox. On the bright side, the secondary will get Tramaine Brock back at full strength next season. Brock broke out in 2013 with five interceptions as a nickel back, which led to the 49ers giving him a four-year, $16 million extension, and then missed 13 of 16 games last season with toe and hamstring injuries. Brock’s return will be a boon to a pass defense that managed to finish 10th without him. Brock’s comeback won’t mean as much if both Culliver and Cox walk, obviously, but even if the Niners can only keep one of the two, they should still be in decent shape at corner.
Possible Cap Casualties/Contract Restructurings:
Odds are the 49ers will release Ahmad Brooks this offseason, considering his recent below-average play and the team’s wealth at the linebacker position. If the 49ers drop Brooks on June 1, they’ll save $4.71MM on next season’s cap.
Receiver Stevie Johnson‘s roster spot is also in jeopardy, even though San Francisco is weak at wideout. Moving on from Johnson, who caught just 35 passes last season, would avail north of $6MM in cap room for the 49ers.
Regardless of whom they part ways with, the 49ers should look to restructure some of their veterans’ deals this offseason. Aldon Smith, Willis and Bowman are scheduled to have the second-, third- and fourth-highest cap hits on the team next season. Combined, they’ll take up roughly $25MM. Both Willis and Bowman have restructured their contracts in the past to create spending space for the club, so there’s precedent with both of them.
Extension Candidates:
The 49ers will have decisions to make regarding the futures of Aldon Smith, Vernon Davis and Alex Boone in the coming year. All three are scheduled for free agency in 2016.
Smith has demonstrated immense ability during his four-year career, totaling 44 sacks in 50 games. Unfortunately, the four-year veteran’s on-field accomplishments have come with serious off-field negatives. The latest, an April 2014 incident between Smith and TSA agent at the Los Angeles Airport, led to a nine-game suspension for the 25-year-old last season. Despite Smith’s problems, Baalke recently referred to him as “a great young man.” Smith will count $9.75MM against San Francisco’s cap this year. Whether Smith is in Baalke’s long-term plans is likely to depend on how he fares both on and off the field in 2015. If all goes well, Smith will have a strong chance to become one of the highest-paid 3-4 OLBs in the league. At the moment, Green Bay’s Clay Matthews has the richest contract at the position in both total and annual value ($66MM and $13.2MM, respectively). Matthews signed that deal in 2013 as a four-year vet with 42.5 sacks in 58 games.
As for Davis and Boone, both expressed dissatisfaction in regards to their contracts during holdouts last year. Davis skipped the team’s voluntary and mandatory minicamps, while Boone sat out the entire summer and reported to the 49ers a week before the regular season started.
The 31-year-old Davis is just two years removed from a 13-touchdown showing, but 2014 was his worst season since 2008. He amassed a paltry 26 catches with all-time lows in yardage and YPC, while his two TDs tied a career worst. Even if he bounces back in 2015, the odds of San Francisco giving Davis a sizable contract extension don’t seem high. Although he has been among the top tight ends in the league for the better part of his nine-year career, it’s fair to wonder if Davis’ best days are behind him.
Unlike Davis, it’s clear Boone has plenty left in the tank. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated the 27-year-old as the 17th-best guard in the league in 2014 – just three spots behind Iupati – out of 78 qualifiers. Boone will make $3.74MM in 2015, the final year of his contract. That’s just below the value of the 10th-highest-paid right guard in the league (Washington’s Chris Chester at $4MM). In all likelihood, an extension for Boone would mean signing him to a deal that would at least get him into the top 10 in total value, yearly value and guaranteed money. With Iupati’s time as a Niner on the brink of ending, San Francisco would be wise to get Boone locked up at some point in the next year. For a team that has prioritized running the ball, losing its two outstanding guards in a 12-month span would be quite a setback.
Overall Outlook:
Despite the failures of last season and the resulting coaching change, the 49ers are still more talented than the majority of teams around the league. Because of that, they’ll have a shot to return to the playoffs in 2015 – particularly if Kaepernick rebounds and Tomsula doesn’t end up drowning in his new role. Nevertheless, the ultra-competitive NFC West certainly won’t make life easy for Kaepernick, Tomsula or the rest of the 49ers.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Maclin: “I Want To Be Here In Philadelphia”
The Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin was one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL last season, setting new career highs in receptions (85) and yardage (1,318) and tying a previous best with 10 touchdowns. Fresh off that sterling campaign and his first Pro Bowl invitation, the six-year veteran is scheduled to become a free agent March 10. However, if the 26-year-old has his way, he’ll remain an Eagle.
“I’ve always said I want to be here in Philadelphia, but also I’ve always said it’s a business,” Maclin said Saturday, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “But both sides have made it known that we want each other back, so the rest is in God’s hands. If it’s supposed to happen, it’s supposed to happen. I want to be here.”
If no deal is reached this weekend, Philadelphia has until Monday to place the franchise tag on Maclin. Bowen views that as “unlikely,” though, given the fact the two sides haven’t discussed it as a possibility. What’s more, per Bowen, the tag for receivers in 2015 has an estimated worth of $12.8MM and the Eagles might not view using so much cap room on one player as a palatable option. According to OverTheCap.com, the Eagles have $27.61MM of spending space.
Regarding the possibility of being a recipient of the franchise tag, Maclin told Bowen, “It’s part of the business. I’m very attuned to what’s going on, I’m very attuned to how everything works.”
If the Eagles do tag Maclin, he’ll play his second straight season on a one-year deal. Last February, he signed a short-term pact worth $6MM with Philly after missing all of 2013 with a torn ACL.
Although the clock is ticking toward free agency, Maclin isn’t worried about the pace at which the contract negotiations between his agent, Tom Condon, and the Eagles are going.
“What’s the rush? We’re going to do this thing, we’re going to do it right,” Maclin said. “That’s how you want it to happen, that’s how you want it to be. We want both sides to be happy.”
If both sides don’t end up happy and Maclin hits the market, he’s sure to have plenty of suitors. Maclin has kept an eye on which clubs are weak at his position. “I know on paper what teams look like they need receivers,” he stated.
Unless the Eagles and Maclin find common ground soon, those other teams will come knocking when open negotiations begin March 7.
Browns Agree To Terms With Josh McCown
3:25 pm: The full value of the deal has been released, as it has been revealed to be a three-year deal worth $14MM and up to $20MM with incentives, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). He adds that $6.25MM is guaranteed, and $5.25MM is guaranteed in the first year.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the salary is the same he would have had in Tampa Bay this year had he not been released, and that McCown gained an additional $1MM in guaranteed money (via Twitter). He also writes that the incentives are based on playing time and the team making the playoffs (via Twitter).
SATURDAY, 10:05 am: The team has officially announced the move, via Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com.
“Josh is your consummate professional,” said general manager Ray Farmer said. “He’s known to be a great guy in the locker room and will be great for the quarterback room. He knows how to get an entire offense on the same page and get a team to rally behind him. He has been exposed to a lot of different types of offenses and we think still has the drive and skill set to be a successful quarterback in this league.
“We are excited to get him and believe he will help continue to move us in the right direction and help us build the type of team that will bring winning football to Cleveland.”
FRIDAY, 5:27 pm: The Browns have agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Josh McCown, according to the player’s agent, Mike McCartney (Twitter link). The deal will be for three years, Mike Garofalo of Fox Sports tweeted. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the contract will pay McCown in the ballpark of $5MM per year.
Cleveland and Buffalo were two of the known candidates vying for the services of the 35-year-old McCown. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, it appeared McCown was leaning toward joining the Bills, but strong recruiting by Browns brass (general manager Ray Farmer, head coach Mike Pettine and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) convinced him to sign with Cleveland.
The Browns will be McCown’s ninth franchise since he entered the league in 2002 and third in the last three seasons. The 6-foot-4, 213-pounder spent the 2014 campaign in Tampa Bay and performed poorly in 11 games for a Buccaneers team that finished with the NFL’s worst record. He threw for 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and completed only 56.3% of his passes – good for a dismal 70.5 rating. The Bucs subsequently cut McCown earlier this month.
McCown’s arrival in Cleveland is expected to draw the short-lived Brian Hoyer era to a close. With McCown aboard, Hoyer – who’s set to hit the free agent market March 10 – is sure to look for work elsewhere. The 29-year-old spent the past two years with the Browns and put up McCown-esque numbers in 2014 (55.3 completion percentage, 12 TDs, 13 INTs and a 76.5 rating in 14 games).
As Hoyer’s replacement, McCown will likely compete with second-year man Johnny Manziel for the Browns’ starting quarterback position in 2015. Given Manziel’s struggles on and off the field, including a stint in rehab this winter, the inside track for the job would seemingly belong to McCown – at least for now. Regardless of whether he starts, McCown is willing to serve as a mentor to Manziel and the Browns’ other young passer, Connor Shaw, according to Cabot – who tweeted that the Browns still might add another veteran QB this offseason.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Notes: Browns, Raiders, Jags
The Browns made the NFL’s most significant Friday move when they signed veteran quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year contract. Aside from a short, red-hot stretch with the Bears in 2013, McCown has never performed like more than a backup during his 12-year career. Combining that with Johnny Manziel‘s on- and off-field issues, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto expects the Browns to make more additions at quarterback this offseason. That said, Pluto would be “stunned” if Brian Hoyer, last year’s starting signal-caller and a pending free agent, returns to Cleveland. Moreover, he doesn’t think the Browns will use a first-round pick on a QB in the upcoming draft.
Here are some other newsworthy items from the AFC, including more on the Browns:
- Tom Reed, also of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, opines that the Browns should be interested in Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes if he becomes a free agent in March. Hughes and current Browns head coach Mike Pettine both joined the Bills prior to the 2013 season. Hughes, formerly of the Colts, looked like a first-round bust at the time. With the help of Pettine’s work as the Bills’ defensive coordinator, Hughes racked up 10 sacks to resurrect his career. Pettine subsequently left for Cleveland, but Hughes was still productive without him last year (9.5 sacks). Reed believes that reuniting Hughes with Pettine would improve a Browns defense that finished 27th in the league in sacks in 2014. When Reed asked Hughes about Pettine last summer, the 26-year-old had nothing but praise for his ex-coordinator. “He’s a players’ coach,” said Hughes. “He knows how to have fun when it’s time and he knows when it’s time to get serious and work.”
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link) that tight end Julius Thomas “has no talks scheduled with the Broncos” and will have a “very active market” if he hits free agency next month. According to Rapoport, two teams to watch are the AFC West rival Raiders and the Jaguars. New Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio knows Thomas well from their time in Denver, where Del Rio was the defensive coordinator the last three years. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have plenty of money to spend – OverTheCap.com lists their available space at a league-leading $68.20MM – and are seeking skill-position help. Thomas, who has caught a combined 24 touchdowns the last two seasons, would seemingly provide it.
- In a move that will be made official next week, the Raiders informed safety Tyvon Branch of his release Thursday. Branch spent seven years with the Raiders and, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com, he might be the first of many vets on the team’s chopping block. Per Bair, defensive end LaMarr Woodley, quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Maurice Jones-Drew and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe could all be out of Oakland by next season.