Cameron Meredith Suffers Torn ACL
Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith suffered a torn ACL during today’s preseason game against the Titans, according to Pam Oliver of FOX Sports (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). Although no official announcement has been made, Meredith will presumably miss the 2017 season.
Losing Meredith represents a massive blow for a Chicago pass offense that ranked a below-average 20th in DVOA a season ago. Meredith, 24, came out of nowhere to lead the Bears in receptions (66), receiving yards (888), and receiving touchdowns (four). The former undrafted free agent had been scheduled to serve as Chicago’s top wide receiver following the free agent defection of Alshon Jeffery.
Instead, the Bears will now be forced to rely on a parade of mediocre pass-catching options, several of which were signed this offseason. Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, and Victor Cruz will all be in the mix to catch passes from quarterback Mike Glennon, while former first-round selection Kevin White will also presumably take on a larger role. Chicago’s other receivers include Josh Bellamy, Deonte Thompson, and Daniel Braverman.
If the Bears want to look outside the organization for a wide receiver, there are options on the free agent market. Veterans such as Vincent Jackson, Steve Johnson, and former Bears Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson are still available, as is mercurial former second-rounder Dorial Green-Beckham. Alternatively, the Dolphins are reportedly open to trading slot weapon Jarvis Landry, although acquiring Landry and his expiring contract would represent a win-now transaction for the quasi-rebuilding Bears.
Meredith’s injury will also have financial effects for the wide receiver, who’d been on track to become an restricted free agent next spring. While he’ll still reach that designation, Meredith will now likely be tendered at the lowest RFA level given that no other club is likely to attempt to poach him. Had he repeated his 2017 performance, Meredith could have offered a first-round tender next offseason — the difference between the two tenders may be greater than $2MM.
Packers To Host LB Ahmad Brooks
The Packers will meet with free agent linebacker Ahmad Brooks on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who reports the Broncos also have interest in the former 49er.
While Green Bay is theoretically set at outside linebacker with Nick Perry and Clay Matthews Jr., signing an edge rusher like Brooks would allow the Packers to move Matthews inside, where he’d likely be an upgrade over Jake Ryan and/or Blake Martinez in nickel packages. Entering his age-33 campaign, Brooks could also be a candidate to play a Julius Peppers-esque role for Green Bay: in such a capacity, Brooks would serve in a rotational basis (Peppers played about a third of the Packers’ snaps in 2016) and focus on pass rushing.
Denver, meanwhile, is in need of depth on the edge given that Shane Ray is doubtful to play in Week 1 due to a wrist injury. Fellow outside ‘backer Shaquil Barrett could hypothetically return from a hip issue in time to play in the Broncos’ season opener, but his availability isn’t a given. While Von Miller clearly locks up one side of the Denver defense, the club would turn to Kasim Edebali, Danny Mason, or Vontarrius Dora, or potentially use second-round rookie DeMarcus Walker in a stand-up role, if Ray/Barrett can’t play Week 1.
Brooks, who was released by San Francisco last week, has 10 years of NFL experience and 98 starts under his belt. Last season, Brooks played the most defensive snaps of any 49ers linebacker (981) and posted 53 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble. However, he graded as just the 87th-best edge rusher in the NFL out of 110 qualified players, per Pro Football Focus, has not ranked among the top-20 at his position since 2012.
5 Key Stories: 8/20/17 – 8/27/17
Patriots lose Julian Edelman for the year. On track to stand head-and-shoulders above the rest of the AFC, the Patriots will have to defend the Super Bowl title without the help of Edelman, who will miss the 2017 campaign after tearing his ACL in New England’s third preseason contest. Edelman, who posted 98 receptions and 1,106 yards a year ago, signed an extension this spring that will keep him with the Patriots though 2019. While Edelman is clearly a loss, most executives seem to believe New England will get by without him.
Quarterback battles take shape. The Broncos will use Trevor Siemian as their starting quarterback for the second consecutive season after he beat out 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch for the gig, but other clubs around the NFL are still deciding who will be under center come Week 1. The Jaguars have officially named Blake Bortles as their starter after opening their quarterback competition to a battle that included veteran Chad Henne. And with the Browns going with rookie DeShone Kizer, Cleveland is attempting to trade Brock Osweiler.
Le’Veon Bell to report to Steelers. Pittsburgh should have its full complement of weapons in 2017, as Bell announced his intention to report to the Steelers on Friday, September 1, one day after the club’s final preseason game and nine days prior to Pittsburgh’s regular season opener. Bell, 25, will earn north of $12MM on the franchise tag (which he’ll presumably sign when he reports), meaning he’ll be the league’s highest-paid running back by a wide margin. One of the more dynamic backs in the NFL, Bell has topped 1,200 total yards in three of his four professional seasons.
Surprise personnel moves in the AFC East. Fewer than two weeks after signing with the Bills, veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin announced his retirement from the NFL, leaving Buffalo with Zay Jones and Jordan Matthews as its starting wideouts. While Boldin claimed he would’ve signed with the Bills with or without the now-traded Sammy Watkins on the roster, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane admitted it’s a “fair question” as to whether the Bills would’ve dealt Watkins had they known Boldin would hang up his cleats. The Patriots, too, will be without a notable player in 2017, but that’s of their own choosing — New England waived defensive end Kony Ealy Saturday after acquiring him from Carolina earlier this year.
Jaguars owner open to Colin Kaepernick. While some clubs may shy away from Kaepernick due to his social activism, the Jaguars aren’t one of the teams, as owner Shad Kahn said he’d give his front office approval to sign the former 49ers quarterback. However, Jacksonville decision-makers Tom Coughlin and David Caldwell haven’t given any indication they want to add Kaepernick (or any other external quarterback option).
Branden Albert Has “No Desire” For NFL Return
Branden Albert has already retired and un-retired once this offseason, but that course of events likely won’t repeat in the coming weeks. Albert has “no desire” to play football again and is content with his retirement, sources tell Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
Albert, of course, has been the focus of scrutiny in recent months as he seemingly vacillated between an interest in NFL employment and hanging up his cleats. Shipped from Miami to Jacksonville in the spring for a late-round pick, Albert first held out for a new contract, then shockingly announced his retirement. A week later, Albert attempted to report to Jaguars training camp, but the club’s decision-makers had apparently seen enough — Jacksonville placed Albert on the reserve/retired list and subsequently released him.
Because the Jaguars cut ties, Albert is free to sign with any club immediately, but clubs that could use offensive line help — such as the Dolphins, who employed Albert from 2014-16 — are under the impression that he’s completely retired, per Beasley. If he did opt to return to the NFL, Albert could probably find work, as he offers 118 games of quality starting experience and can play both tackle and guard.
Lions’ Jake Rudock Drawing Trade Interest
Lions backup quarterback Jake Rudock is generating trade interest around the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds rival clubs attempted to “poach” Rudock last season.
Rudock, a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in the 2016 draft, didn’t attempt a pass during his rookie campaign but did perform well in his most recent preseason contest, as he completed 10 of 13 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Entering his age-24 season, Rudock is signed through 2019 under the terms of his rookie contract.
While Rudock didn’t see a snap last season, that doesn’t mean he’s not valuable to Detroit, which only has two other quarterbacks on its roster: starter Matthew Stafford and rookie Brad Kaaya. Kaaya, a sixth-round choice earlier this year, presumably isn’t prepared to serve as Stafford’s backup in 2017, so the Lions would potentially need to secure another quarterback if they deal Rudock.
Chiefs’ Spencer Ware Likely Done For Season
Chiefs running back Spencer Ware is expected to require season-ending surgery for a torn PCL and a damaged LCL, Kansas City head trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters, including B.J. Kissel of Chiefs.com (Twitter link) and Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
Initial reports indicated Ware would only be sidelined for two-to-eight weeks, a timeline that would have allowed him to return during the 2017 campaign (the Chiefs would have had the option to designate Ware as an injured reserve/return player). Ware will get a second opinion on his health status, but the outlook isn’t positive.
Kansas City has the depth to withstand the loss of Ware, and rookie third-round selection Kareem Hunt will likely step into the starting lineup. Charcandrick West figures to serve as a reserve, while Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also said veteran back C.J. Spiller will likely be part of Kansas City’s roster (Twitter link via Paylor). If Kansas City searches for an external addition, free agents such as DeAngelo Williams, Rashad Jennings, and Ryan Mathews could come into play.
Ware, 25, has spent the past two seasons with the Chiefs, and was the club’s full-time starter for the 2016 season. Last year, he managed 4.3 yards per carry on 214 rushes and scored three times, adding 33 receptions, 447 yards, and two more touchdowns through the air. Ware is signed through 2018 as part of a three-year extension he signed prior to the 2016 campaign.
Browns Eyeing Trade For Wide Receiver
The Browns are scouring the trade market for a wide receiver, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
While Cleveland boasts a clear starting combination of wideouts in Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman, the club’s depth chart beyond those top two is a bit sparse (and inexperienced), as the Browns’ other options include Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, Mario Alford, and Jordan Payton. Running back Duke Johnson has also been working as a slot receiver.
When I examined the premier NFL trade candidates earlier this month, I listed two wide receivers: Phillip Dorsett (Colts) and Cody Latimer (Broncos). While neither player has posted much in the way of professional results, each would give the Browns a young pass-catcher at a position of need. Of course, both Dorsett and Latimer are entirely speculative acquisitions for Cleveland.
One wild card in the Browns’ search for a wide receiver is Josh Gordon, who hasn’t been played since 2014 while serving suspensions. Gordon is eligible to apply for reinstatement this fall, and has reportedly spent time in a rehab facility, perhaps buoying his chances of returning to the NFL.
Browns To Name DeShone Kizer Starting QB
The Browns will name DeShone Kizer their starting quarterback following his performance in last night’s preseason game against the Buccaneers, sources tell Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. An official announcement is expected later today.
Kizer’s numbers against the Buccaneers certainly weren’t very impressive, as the second-round rookie complete only 6-of-18 pass attempts for 93 yards and one interception. But that was apparently enough for Kizer to earn Cleveland’s starting role over veteran Brock Osweiler, as head coach Hue Jackson said he was “comfortable” with Kizer following Saturday’s contest. On the whole, Kizer has attempted 49 passes during the preseason, completing 51% for 351 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
With Kizer under center, Cleveland will likely continue shopping Osweiler, whom it originally acquired from the Texans in a contract dump earlier this year. The Browns’ attempts to trade Osweiler are nothing news, as the club has reportedly been doing so ever since picking him up from Houston. But given that Osweiler is due a fully guaranteed $16MM salary in 2017, the Browns will need to eat some of that total in order to find a trade partner.
Cleveland’s quarterback depth chart machinations may not stop at the top, per Cabot, who reports the Browns may demote Cody Kessler to fourth-string behind Kevin Hogan. The regular season effects of such a move would be unclear for Kessler, who started eight games as a rookie in 2016.
Eagles Trade Terrence Brooks To Jets For Dexter McDougle
The Eagles have traded safety Terrence Brooks to the Jets in exchange for cornerback Dexter McDougle, Philadelphia announced today.
Brooks, a third-round selection in 2014, will now join the third team of his NFL career (the 26-year-old began his pro tenure in Baltimore before the Eagles claimed him off waivers prior to the 2016 season). Last year, Brooks appeared in 11 games but rarely played on the defensive side of the ball — while he managed only three snaps on defense, Brooks saw action on more than a third of the Eagles’ special teams plays.
Philadelphia didn’t have a need for Brooks, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who notes the Florida State product was unlikely to crack the Eagles’ roster. The Jets, on the other hand, could use a third safety behind rookie starters Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New York’s other defense backs include Rontez Miles, Shamarko Thomas, Ronald Martin, and Robenson Therezie.
McDougle’s chances to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s roster are a bit less clear, as the Eagles now have a decent stable of cornerbacks following the trade that netted them Ronald Darby from the Bills in exchange for Jordan Matthews and a draft choice. After Darby, the Eagles boast Jalen Mills, Ron Brooks, Rasul Douglas, Patrick Robinson, and others, including second-round pick Sidney Jones, who may begin the season on the non-football injury list.
If he does make the Eagles’ squad, McDougle will likely play mostly on special teams. Like Brooks, McDougle was a third-round pick in 2014 — in fact, he was chosen just one selection after Brooks (80th overall). He’s mostly been injured during his three-year stay in New York, as he’s only appeared in 20 total games since 2014.
Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were 1-4 last October 9 and looked poised to miss the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season in what would have been a disappointing first go-round for new head coach Adam Gase. Miami rebounded, however, reeling off six straight victories, winning nine of its final 11 games, and finishing with a 10-6 record and a Wild Card berth. Starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed the Dolphins’ final three regular season games and their postseason contest with a knee injury, a precursor to another health issue that would cause Miami to re-calibrate in the first week of August 2017.
Notable signings:
- Kenny Stills, WR: Four years, $32MM. $16.95MM guaranteed.
- Andre Branch, DE: Three years, $24MM. $16.8MM guaranteed.
- Lawrence Timmons, DE: Two years, $12MM. $11MM guaranteed.
- Jay Cutler, QB: One year, $10MM. $5MM guaranteed. $3MM available via incentives.
- Nate Allen, S: One year, $3.4MM. Fully guaranteed.
- Jermon Bushrod, G: One year, $3MM. $2.25MM guaranteed.
- Ted Larsen, OL: Three years, $5.65MM. $1.75MM guaranteed.
- Anthony Fasano, TE: One year, $2.75MM. $1.25MM guaranteed.
- Rey Maualuga, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Alterraun Verner, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- John Denney, LS: One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K guaranteed.
- Damien Williams, RB: One year, $1.797MM. Signed original round RFA tender.
- T.J. McDonald, S: One year, $1.344MM.
- David Fales, QB: One year, $690K.
If you took a long weekend near the beginning of August, you may have missed the entire Jay Cutler-to-Miami saga — it happened that quickly. On August 3, Ryan Tannehill, who had missed the end of the 2016 campaign with an ACL/MCL sprain, went down during Dolphins practice, leading the club’s decision-makers to “fear the worst” in regards to their starting quarterback’s health. Just four days later, Cutler was back in the NFL, having un-retired and left his gig as a FOX analyst in order to sign a one-year deal with Miami.
Cutler, of course, was completely ineffective a year ago, posting one of the worst seasons of his career. But just one year prior, working under then Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Cutler produced an excellent campaign that included the best quarterback rating and second-best completion percentage of his NFL tenure. In fact, Cutler’s 2015 numbers were remarkably similar to those of Tannehill in 2016. The following table contrasts Cutler and Tannehill’s statistics under Gase in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and the figures are indexed (courtesy of Pro Football Reference), meaning 100 is league average and a higher number is better:
Tannehill was a bit better in 2016 than Cutler was in 2015, but if Cutler can come close to matching Tannehill’s performance from last season, and keep Miami in the top half of the offensive DVOA rankings, the Dolphins would likely be content. If Cutler does reach that level, Miami would be facing several questions next offseason, especially if they have interest in retaining Cutler beyond 2016. The Dolphins, for what’s it worth, can release Tannehill next offseason in a move that would save $15.2MM against the cap (and incur only $4.6MM in dead money). Whether that’s a viable scenario depends entirely on Cutler’s showing, and whether Tannehill can pass a physical next spring.
Cutler will be throwing the ball to an impressive group of wide receivers that includes Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, and Kenny Stills, the latter of whom re-signed with the Dolphins on a four-year pact. Stills, 25, posted a career-high nine touchdowns last season, and eight of those scores came on receptions of 20+ yards, tying him with Antonio Brown for the most deep scores among pass-catchers. Although pre-free agency rumors indicated Stills could garner upwards of $12MM annually on the open market, Miami inked Stills for only $8MM per season, an annual salary that ranks just 21st among wideouts.
In order for Stills to get deep, the Dolphins’ offensive line will need to hold up better than it did last season, when the unit ranked 21st in adjusted sack rate. Miami believed it could rectify its guard situation on the cheap, and the club didn’t spent much money to upgrade its interior. Jermon Bushrod is back at right guard after finishing 26th in snaps per blown block a year ago, per the 2017 Football Outsiders Almanac, while free agent addition Ted Larsen won’t contribute in 2016 after tearing his biceps, meaning the inexperienced Jesse Davis is now projected to start at left guard. Tight end Anthony Fasano, now in his second stint in South Beach, should be able to help on the edge, as he graded as the league’s No. 1 blocking tight end in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins made a number of curious signings, and that list starts with defensive end Andre Branch. Let’s go back to 2016, when Miami originally signed Branch: he was coming off a season with the Jaguars in which he saw 597 defensive snaps and managed four sacks and 18 hurries. The Dolphins inked Branch to a one-year pact worth only $3MM. In his first season with Miami, Branch improved to 5.5 sacks and 20 hurries, but had to play nearly 200 more snaps to get there. Keeping in mind that he’s now one year older, does the Dolphins’ evaluation of Branch as a $8MM per year player make any sense? Just 12 months after finding a value on the free agent scrap heap, Miami over corrected and made Branch a top-20 edge rusher in terms of annual salary.
Football operations chief Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier‘s indefensible decisions continued at the second level, as the signing of former Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons was a clear overpay. The 31-year-old Timmons wasn’t linked to any other clubs besides the Dolphins in free agency, so it’s possible Miami was negotiating against itself as it agreed to a two-year deal that includes $11MM guaranteed. Timmons can’t cover anymore, and while some of his pass defense struggles may have been a product of Pittsburgh’s scheme, the Dolphins are going to be disappointed if Timmons is asked to play in nickel packages. Fellow Miami addition Rey Maualuga finished only 11 spots worse than Timmons in PFF’s linebacker rankings, and he signed a minimum salary benefit contract, further exposing the mistake that is Timmons’ deal.
The Dolphins went bargain-hunting in the secondary, signing low-cost free agents such as Nate Allen, T.J. McDonald, and Alterraun Verner. Allen, who served as the Raiders’ third safety last season, figures to start for Miami for the first half of the 2017 campaign as McDonald serves an eight-game suspension. The Dolphins knew McDonald was banned before they signed him, and perhaps saw an opportunity to land a 26-year-old safety with 53 starts under his belt on a cheap deal. Verner, meanwhile, didn’t find a deal until July, but he could play a larger role than expected now that Tony Lippett is lost for the year with a torn Achilles.
