Extra Points: Pats, Browns, Saints, Mixon
There have been conflicting reports over the past couple months on whether the Patriots will consider trading backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. The latest update, via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, indicates the Pats “do not want to deal” Garoppolo, even though he could hit free agency next year. No team has shown more interest in Garoppolo this offseason than the Browns, but they’ve seemingly given up hope on acquiring him, per Rapoport, who adds that the Pats regard the 25-year-old as a franchise-caliber passer. New England already has an all-world option under center in Tom Brady, of course, but the five-time Super Bowl champion is set to play his age-40 season in 2017.
One of Garoppolo’s New England teammates, cornerback Malcolm Butler, has also been a prominent part of trade rumors this offseason. While the Patriots’ intention is to keep Butler, according to owner Robert Kraft, Larry Holder of NOLA.com anticipates that they’ll ultimately deal him to the Saints (video via NFL.com). New Orleans has chased Butler, a restricted free agent, and has reportedly had productive long-term contract discussions with him. The Saints aren’t willing to give up the No. 11 overall pick for Butler, but they could dangle the 32nd selection, which they acquired from the Pats in the Brandin Cooks trade.
More from around the sport:
- Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon will rack up 15 visits with teams prior to the beginning of the draft on April 27, his agent, Peter Schaffer, told Michael Gehlken of Pro Football Talk. “(This many visits) is clearly not efficient and (consumes) a lot of time,” said Schaffer. “But at the same time, it’s important to have it. It’s a blessing for any player to get considered for the draft. Along with that blessing comes hard work.” Many of the clubs Mixon has met with are willing to forgive him for his checkered past, which jibes with a report that he could go as high as the second round. “Everyone who has brought him in has remarked how remorseful he is about what he did when he was 18 … and that he’s deserving of a second chance,” Schaffer revealed.
- Former NFLers Greg Hardy, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kellen Winslow, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Ben Tate and Ricky Stanzi have reported to West Virginia to partake in the Spring League, relays Mike Florio of PFT. The league, which isn’t affiliated with the NFL, will play a six-game season from April 15-26. Its participants won’t receive pay – only lodging and meals during the season – writes Florio. Some pro scouts will be on hand, though, giving the players an opportunity to stand out and earn either a first NFL shot or, in the cases of the aforementioned six, a repeat chance(s).
- The expectation is that the Ravens will eventually release cornerback Kyle Arrington, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens would first like Arrington to pass a physical, notes Zrebiec. Arrington suffered a concussion during the preseason last summer and landed on injured reserve at the end of August. Cutting the 30-year-old would save Baltimore $2.1MM, against just under $667K in dead money.
NFC Notes: Eagles, Lions, 49ers, Packers
Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan was “mind-blown” when the Ravens traded him to the Eagles on Tuesday, he told reporters, including Zach Berman of Philly.com. Jernigan didn’t expect to be a long-term fit in Baltimore after it re-signed nose tackle Brandon Williams to a massive contract last month, but he figured he’d remain there in 2017. Now that he’s in Philadelphia, Jernigan is excited to line up next to Fletcher Cox and play in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s scheme. Schwartz told Jernigan he has “big plans” for the 24-year-old, who set career highs in starts (15) and sacks (five) in 2016. “This is my first time ever being told, ‘Go,’ “ Jernigan said. “I’ll prove my point.”
More from the NFC:
- The Lions are planning to pursue a contract extension with defensive end Ziggy Ansah, which the 27-year-old would welcome. “OK,” Ansah told Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. “That would be great.” Ansah is a year away from potentially hitting free agency; in the meantime, he’s slated to earn $12.734MM under his fifth-year option in 2017. Since going fifth overall in the 2013 draft, Ansah has tallied 32 sacks, though he posted a career-low two in 13 games last season.
- Releasing cornerback Tramaine Brock on Friday is unlikely to significantly affect the 49ers’ draft plans, observes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The team was already cognizant of its need at corner, per Wagoner, who notes that this year’s draft class includes plenty of promising prospects. Arguably the best of the bunch, Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore, visited the 49ers on Wednesday.
- With Aaron Rodgers firmly entrenched under center, odds are the Packers will trade backup quarterback Brett Hundley over the next year-plus, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Green Bay’s hope is that it will be able to flip Hundley for a pick more valuable than the fifth-rounder it used on him in 2015. Hundley has since attempted 10 passes, all of which came last season, and is entering his penultimate year of team control.
- The Lions only have two QBs – Matthew Stafford and Jake Rudock – but it’s a “guarantee” they’ll add a third, general manager Bob Quinn informed Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. That won’t necessarily come via the draft, though Quinn did talk last offseason about the importance of regularly collecting youthful signal-callers. “I think it’s really good football business to acquire a young quarterback every year, or every other year,” Quinn said. “There’s such a value in the position, and nowadays in college football, there’s a lot of spread offenses, which means it’s a lot different than pro football. So it takes these young quarterbacks time to develop.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/17
Friday’s minor moves:
- The Jets have signed cornerback John Ojo, per a team announcement. This will be the first NFL opportunity for the 27-year-old Ojo, who went undrafted out of Florida A&M in 2014 and then hooked on with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Ojo worked out for one of the Jets’ AFC East rivals, the Dolphins, on Monday.
Contract Details: Keenum, Gilberry, Escobar
The latest contract details, most of which come via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
- Quarterback Case Keenum‘s one-year, $2MM pact with the Vikings features $750K in guarantees. There’s also a $250K signing bonus, $250K in incentives and $46,875 in per game active roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry‘s accord is worth $1.4MM, including a $300K signing bonus and a $100K workout bonus. He could make another $500K via sack incentives and $6,250 in per game active roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Running back Tim Hightower‘s one-year deal with the 49ers is worth $1.107MM, including $300K guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. He can earn an extra $400K in incentives for rushing yards.
- Tight end Gavin Escobar‘s one-year Chiefs contract is a minimum salary benefit deal worth $855K, including $95K fully guaranteed. It also comes with an $80K signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Lions linebacker Nick Bellore also inked a minimum salary benefit contract. Like Escobar, Bellore’s contract includes an $80K signing bonus (Twitter link).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Pats Have Made Offer To LeGarrette Blount
While the Patriots have no shortage of options at running back, it doesn’t appear they have a No. 1-caliber rusher on hand. With that in mind, the reigning Super Bowl champions are interested in bringing back previous starter LeGarrette Blount, and they have an offer on the table for him, reports Michael Giardi of CSNNE (Twitter link).
Blount would like to re-sign with the Patriots, per Giardi, which isn’t surprising considering the success the former Buccaneer and Steeler has had in two New England stints. The seven-year veteran is now coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career, having amassed career highs in carries (299), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (an NFL-leading 18). Although the bruising Blount is a non-factor in the passing game, New England has complements capable of serving as receiving threats in Super Bowl LI hero James White, Dion Lewis and the newly signed Rex Burkhead.
The workhorse-needy Pats hosted a more high-profile free agent back in Adrian Peterson earlier this month, though they may have done that to give them more leverage in talks with Blount. Like Peterson, the 30-year-old Blount hasn’t encountered a robust market for his services this offseason, and that was also the case last spring. As a free agent in 2016, Blount didn’t sign until April 12, when he took an incentive-laden deal that featured a meager base salary of $760K.
Draft Visits: McCaffrey, Conley, Mixon, Taco
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, whose stock is so high that he could be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft, will visit the Redskins and Broncos, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com). Given where they’re slated to select (Washington’s at No. 17, Denver’s 20th), those two teams could have difficulty reeling in McCaffrey, though it would make for an especially interesting story if he ended up with the Broncos. His father, Ed McCaffrey, was a standout receiver in Denver from 1995-2003. While there, he caught passes from quarterback John Elway, who’s now the Broncos’ general manager.
More of the latest high-profile draft visits:
- Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley has already visited the Titans (along with the previously reported Cowboys and Browns), and will meet with the Bengals and Jets, writes Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. Conley seems like a shoo-in to go somewhere in the first round, and PFR’s Dallas Robinson currently has him going 11th overall to New Orleans.
- Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon visited the Buccaneers this week, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. The potential second- or third-round pick could be a fit for a Tampa Bay team whose incumbent starting running back, Doug Martin, isn’t a lock to remain with the club. Even if Martin doesn’t lose his roster spot, he’ll still miss the first three games of next season as a result of a suspension.
- Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton visited the Lions on Friday, per Rapoport (Twitter link). As Rapoport further notes (and as was previously reported), the Cowboys and Dolphins are also among the teams interested in Charlton, who’s coming off a 10-sack season with the Wolverines.
- Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs visited the Steelers on Monday and will also meet with the Chiefs, relays Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Dobbs, who was a two-year starter with the Volunteers, could go as high as the second or third round, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. (via Mike Griffith of SEC Country).
- Kansas State defensive lineman Jordan Willis visited the 49ers on Wednesday, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Willis figures to go late in the first round or early in the second, which could make him a target for the 49ers at No. 34 overall.
49ers Release Tramaine Brock
Less than a day after Tramaine Brock‘s arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence, the 49ers have released the cornerback, according to a team announcement. Brock could face up to a four-year prison sentence if found guilty.
San Francisco’s decision to cut ties with Brock seems to be indicative of a zero tolerance policy toward domestic violence from rookie general manager John Lynch. Regardless, it ends the stint of a long-tenured Niner in Brock, who had been with the team since it signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
The 49ers increased their reliance on Brock over the past two years, as he started in all 31 of his appearances from 2015-16, including his first 16-start showing last season. Prior to 2015, he only started in nine of 49 games with the club. Across 80 appearances, Brock intercepted 11 passes and totaled 45 passes defensed.
Releasing Brock adds $3.55MM in cap room for the Niners this year and leaves them with $750K in dead money.
49ers’ Tramaine Brock Arrested
Police in Santa Clara, Calif., arrested 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Thursday, per A.J. Perez of USA Today.
Officers responded to a domestic violence report and found “visible facial injuries” on the woman Brock is dating. Brock posted bail Friday, tweets the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows, who notes that his roster spot is “tenuous.” Worse for Brock, he could serve a four-year prison sentence if found guilty of felony domestic violence.
The 28-year-old Brock has spent the first seven seasons of his career in San Francisco, which signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Brock has since started in 40 of 80 appearances and totaled 11 interceptions. He’s coming off his first 16-start season, in which he amassed a career-high 58 tackles, logged 14 passes defensed and picked off a pass. He also ranked 23rd in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 111 qualified corners.
Now, despite his impressive production last season, Brock’s 49ers tenure (if not his career) could be in jeopardy. Cutting Brock would save the 49ers the majority of his $4.3MM cap hit ($3.55MM), leaving them with just $750K in dead money.
Bills Sign Marcus Cromartie, Seven Others
The Bills have announced the signings of eight free agents. Cornerback Marcus Cromartie headlines a group that also includes offensive linemen Cameron Jefferson and Jordan Mudge, defensive end Jake Metz, defensive back Bradley Sylve, and linebackers Jacob Lindsey, Junior Sylvestre and Eddie Yarbrough.
Cromartie, who worked out for the Bills on Friday, only appeared in 21 games and made one start with the 49ers during his first three NFL seasons, but the 25-year-old could find more playing time as part of a largely untested Buffalo secondary. Thanks to the departures of Stephon Gilmore and Nickell Robey-Coleman, the club is lacking at corner aside from No. 1 man Ronald Darby, with Cromartie joining the likes of Kevon Seymour, Leonard Johnson and Marcus Roberson behind him. There’s not much at safety other than Micah Hyde, either, as the Bills jettisoned Corey Graham and Aaron Williams earlier this offseason.
Another name of interest among these pickups is Metz, if only for where he played last season. Metz, 26, was with the Eagles for less than a week last summer, and he then went on to spend the year with the Qingdao Clipper of the China Arena Football League. The 2014 undrafted free agent from Shippensburg previously played arena football in the United States from 2014-15.
NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Saints
The latest from the NFC:
- Tony Romo won’t like this, but the injuries he and Cowboys backup quarterback Kellen Moore suffered last summer might have been “a little blessing in disguise,” Moore told 93.1-FM Idaho Sports Talk (via the Dallas Morning News). Both the broken bone in Romo’s back and Moore’s broken leg paved the way for the Dak Prescott era, and instead of acting as a caretaker as a rookie, he performed like a star for a 13-3 club. The Cowboys are now Prescott’s team as a result, leaving Romo’s future with the franchise in doubt. It’s unlikely he’ll be a Cowboy again next season, which could open the door for the recently re-signed Moore to serve as Prescott’s primary backup.
- The Eagles released pass rusher Connor Barwin earlier this month, and believe it or not, he then helped the team find his replacement. Before signing with Philadelphia on Tuesday, defensive end Chris Long talked with Barwin, who gave glowing reviews of the city and the franchise, writes Zach Berman of Philly.com. Now that he’s an Eagle, Long expects to thrive in their system. Even though Long’s numbers dropped over the previous three seasons, during which he combined for eight sacks in 34 games with the Rams and Patriots, the 32-year-old believes he still has “a lot left.”
- Safety Rafael Bush’s one-year deal with the Saints is worth $855,000, including $100K in guarantees and an $80K signing bonus, tweets Nick Underhill of The Advocate.
- Recapping Friday’s NFC news: The Vikings added a familiar backup quarterback; the Lions lost a coach to Pro Football Focus; and the Bears bailed on a recent second-round pick.