Tramaine Brock To Visit Seahawks
Free agent cornerback Tramaine Brock will visit the Seahawks on Tuesday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Brock’s offseason has been eventful, to say the least, as domestic violence allegations in April led to his release from the 49ers. All charges were dropped against Brock last week, and both Brock and his alleged victim have since released statements on the episode, labeling the entire matter a misunderstanding.
San Francisco’s decision to cut ties with Brock earlier this year means a quality starting cornerback is now on the free agent market, and it’s no surprise that clubs are already showing interest. As many as five clubs had already reached out to Brock as of last week (although the 49ers aren’t open to re-signing him), and for good reason: The 28-year-old Brock has been a full-time starter in each of the past two seasons, and in 2016 graded as the league’s No. 23 corner while playing 95% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Seattle has been searching for defensive back depth all offseason long, as DeShawn Shead — who started 15 games opposite Richard Sherman a season ago — is expected to begin the regular season on the reserve/PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL. Jeremy Lane is considered the favorite to step into the starting lineup, but Brock would present immediate competition for that spot.
Lions DE Kerry Hyder Out For Season
Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder is out for 2017, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hyder suffered an Achilles tear during Sunday’s preseason game against the Colts and doctors confirmed the injury on Monday morning.
Losing Hyder represents an enormous blow to a Lions defense that was already thin on quality depth at the edge position. Hyder, 26, played 655 defensive snaps a year ago (second-most among Detroit defensive linemen), and posted eight sacks and 36 tackles during that time. Pro Football Focus graded Hyder as the No. 42 defensive end in the league in 2016, the highest rank among Lions edge defenders.
Even with Hyder on board, Detroit’s defense struggled last season. Overall, the unit ranked dead last in DVOA while finishing 21st in adjusted line yards and 25th in adjusted sack rate. If Hyder is sidelined for the year, free agent addition Cornelius Washington, draft picks Jeremiah Ledbetter and Pat O’Connor, plus incumbent Brandon Copeland, could be called on to play more snaps opposite Ezekiel Ansah. Veterans Armonty Bryant and Khyri Thornton, too, should play a larger role once they return from suspension.
If the Lions decide to scour the free agent market for a replacement, there are options available. Dwight Freeney, Eugene Sims, Trent Cole, Paul Kruger, and Mario Williams look like the best true edge rushers, while players such as Tyson Jackson and Jared Odrick are capable of playing both end and tackle.
PFR Originals: 8/6/17 – 8/13/17
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- With the 2017 regular season only several weeks away, PFR began its annual Offseason In Review series, assessing the major signings, departures, trades, and other notable events for each of the 32 NFL clubs. We covered two teams this week:
- A recent report indicated the Bengals rejected a second-round pick for backup quarterback A.J. McCarron this offseason, so I attempted to figure out which clubs may have been involved in such talks with Cincinnati. I tossed out options such the Jets, Broncos, 49ers, and Browns, the latter of whom is the most likely contender for the mystery McCarron suitor, per a PFR reader poll at the end of the piece.
6 Key NFL Stories: 8/6/17 – 8/13/17
Jay Cutler to the Dolphins. After starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill went down with another ACL injury, Miami turned to former Adam Gase pupil Jay Cutler, luring the veteran signal-caller out of retirement with a one-year, $10MM deal. Cutler was the Dolphins’ primary target from the get-go, but he wasn’t the only candidate discussed, as Miami also talked about Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, Teddy Bridgewater, and others. Tannehill, meanwhile, is fully expected to be ready for the 2018 season.
Buffalo takes over the trade market. The Bills are squarely looking towards the future, as they shipped out two of their best players last week in exchange for lesser players plus draft picks. First, Buffalo sent wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a sixth-round choice to the Rams for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-rounder. Then, the Bills dealt cornerback Ronald Darby to the Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick. Buffalo now earns two selections in the first, second, and third round of the 2018 draft.
Zeke finally gets a resolution. The NFL officially brought the hammer down on Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, suspending him for six games as punishment for his involvement in a domestic violence episode. The ban, which is lengthier than most expected, reportedly made Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “furious,” and Elliott is expected to appeal the suspension (he has until Wednesday to do so). Elliott is also not ruling out using the court system to fight the penalty.
Falcons extend their running back. Atlanta finally reached a long-term deal with running Devonta Freeman, extending him through the 2022 campaign. The new five-year pact is worth $41.25MM, which means Freeman is now the NFL’s highest-paid running back in a multi-year pact (Le’Veon Bell is earning north of $12MM on the one-year franchise tag). Freeman, 25, received more than $18MM in full guarantees, and will now attempt to top 1,500 total yards for the third consecutive season.
The Branden Albert saga is over. Finally fed up with his antics, the Jaguars officially released left tackle Branden Albert from the reserve/retired list last week. Jacksonville acquired Albert from the Dolphins in the spring, but won’t have to sacrifice a pick now that Albert won’t make the roster. Albert, who un-retired last week and attempted to report to camp, is now a free agent and can sign immediately. The Jaguars will move forward with rookie Cam Robinson on Blake Bortles‘ blindside.
The trials and tribulations of Roberto Aguayo. Just 16 months after trading up in the second round to acquire him, the Buccaneers waived kicker Roberto Aguayo after only one NFL season. Aguayo, who will arguably go down as one of the NFL’s worst draft picks, converted only 71% of his field goal attempts during his rookie season. Luckily for Tampa Bay, the Bears claimed Aguayo today, relieving the Bucs of $428K in guaranteed money owed to Aguayo.
Ravens Interested In Jeremy Zuttah
The Ravens traded Jeremy Zuttah to the 49ers this offseason, but now that he’s a free agent again, Baltimore has interest in re-signing the veteran center, according to Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who reports talks between the Ravens and Zuttah are “heating up.”
The injury bug has struck the Ravens at multiple spots along their roster, and the interior of the club’s offensive line has not been spared. Alex Lewis and Nico Siragusa are both sidelined for the entirety of the 2017 season with injuries, while John Urschel opted to retire at the age of 26. As such, Baltimore is now projected to start James Hurst and Ryan Jensen alongside All Pro right guard Marshal Yanda.
Zuttah, whom was sent to San Francisco in exchange for a swap of sixth-round draft choices, could offer improvement at center, and would likely come at a cheap price, which is essential for a Ravens team that ranks dead last in available cap space. In 2016, the 31-year-old Zuttah played nearly every offensive snap for Baltimore, grading as the NFL’s No. 13 center in the process, per Pro Football Focus. If Zuttah is re-signed, the Ravens would likely shift Jensen to left guard, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
Of course, Zuttah isn’t the only interior lineman who might appear on Baltimore’s radar. The Ravens met with former Jets center Nick Mangold in April, while other available free agents include Austin Pasztor, Orlando Franklin, and Tre’ Jackson.
Bears Claim Roberto Aguayo
The Bears have claimed kicker Roberto Aguayo off waivers from the Buccaneers, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
While claiming a kicker would typically carry little financial risk, that’s not the case for Chicago given that Aguayo was a second-round pick in 2016. Roughly two-thirds of Aguayo’s 2017 base salary is guaranteed, meaning the Bears will now be on the hook for $428K if they cut the former Florida State Seminole.
Connor Barth is the incumbent kicker standing in Aguayo’s way, and his contact contains guaranteed money as well ($155K worth), meaning the Bears will be absorbing dead money no matter which kicker they ultimately choose. Barth converted only 78% of his field goals in 2016 (including 1-of-3 from 50+ yards), but did make all but one of his extra points.
Aguayo, of course, posted even worse numbers during his rookie campaign in 2016, leading to his release on Saturday. Aguayo made only 22-of-31 field goal attempts last year (71%) and missed two extra points. That performance, combined with his struggles in camp and the preseason, was enough for Tampa Bay to thrown in the towel, despite having traded up in the draft to select him a year ago.
Jaguars Sign LB Andrew Gachkar
The Jaguars have signed free agent linebacker Andrew Gachkar, the club announced today. In a related move, Jacksonville has waived/injured linebacker Justin Horton.
After finishing 23rd in special teams DVOA a season ago, the Jaguars are seemingly attempting to improve that ranking in 2017. In addition to hiring Joe DeCamillis as its new special teams coordinator, Jacksonville has signed a number of free agents whose primarily responsibility will come on fourth down. Audie Cole, Jeron Johnson, and Stanley Jean-Baptiste all fit that mold, and Gachkar joins them as a special teams-first player.
Gackhar, 28, has appeared in 95 career games but boasts only nine starts. Last season, Gackhar wrapped up a two-year stint with the Cowboys, and played in all 16 games but played only 75 defensive snaps. The former seventh-round draft pick was still highly involved, however, as he saw action on nearly 70% of Dallas’ special teams plays.
Even if he makes the Jaguars roster, Gackhar wouldn’t be counted on to play in the Jaguars’ defense, as the team has already bit up a good deal of positional depth this year. In addition to starters Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, and Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville has Cole, Josh McNary, Lerentee McCray, and fifth-round rookie Blair Brown on its depth chart.
Before signing with the Jaguars, Gachkar had met with both the Patriots and Bills.
Panthers Want To Extend OL Andrew Norwell
Having already agreed to a long-term deal with right guard Trai Turner last month, the Panthers are now aiming to extend left guard Andrew Norwell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, general manager Marty Hurney says the club isn’t in ongoing negotiations with Norwell, tweets Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer.
Norwell, 25, recently indicated to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he’d prefer to remain in Carolina for the long haul, and has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus with that goal in mind. A restricted free agent, Norwell was tendered at the second-round level this offseason, meaning he’ll earn $2.746MM in 2017.
If he reaches unrestricted free agency next spring, Norwell could conceivably collect nearly four times that amount annually, as the guard market has recently exploded. Kevin Zeitler, Turner, Gabe Jackson, and Joel Bitonio have all signed long-term pacts with an annual value north of $10MM in the past six months, meaning Norwell will have a clear threshold in mind.
Turner, for his part, received $45MM on a four-year deal that includes $15.797MM in fully guaranteed money. It’s unclear if Norwell will be able to surpass either of those barriers: while he’s been a more consistent player as of late (No. 11 guard in 2016 versus Turner’s No. 39 ranking, per Pro Football Focus), he’s also nearly two years older than his interior line counterpart.
If the Panthers can’t strike an agreement with Norwell, the franchise tag will not be an option in 2018. Because the offensive linemen tender amount includes tackles, it’s projected cost (in excess of $15MM) isn’t palatable for a guard.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/17
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Rueben Randle
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DL Shaneil Jenkins
- Waived/injured: TE Beau Sandland
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Germone Hopper
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: S Adrian McDonald
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: CB Dejaun Butler, WR Rashad Lawrence, CB Robenson Therezie, K Patrick Murray
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Robenson Therezie
- Waived: FB Algernon Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Rashard Davis
- Waived: CB Mitchell White
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: OL Richard Levy
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Rodney Smith (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Waived: DL Shaneil Jenkins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: K Zach Hocker
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Kendall Pace, LB Ron Thompson Jr.
- Waived: S Tim Scott
- Waived/injured: WR Kendal Thompson
Let’s Figure Out Who Offered A Second-Rounder For A.J. McCarron
An unidentified team reportedly offered the Bengals a second-round pick for backup quarterback A.J. McCarron this offseason, as Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reported earlier this week. Cincinnati rejected the offer, as it apparently wants a first-rounder for McCarron, who will once again act as a reserve behind starter Andy Dalton in 2017.
McCarron, 26, doesn’t have much NFL experience, as he’s only made four total starts (all following a 2015 Dalton injury) during his three-year career. Although he posted a decent showing in those appearances, tossing seven touchdowns against two interceptions, the former fifth-round pick’s track record is admittedly limited. McCarron’s contract situation is also up in the air: while the Bengals reportedly believe he’ll be a restricted free agent in 2018 because he spent his rookie season on the non-football injury list, McCarron and his agent may have a different take. An arbitrator hearing and resolution likely won’t come until next season.
With those caveats in mind, let’s look at the possible candidates for who offered a second-round pick for McCarron:
Arizona Cardinals
Let’s start off this exercise with the one true wild card on this list, as the Cardinals already have their starting quarterback in another former Bengal, 37-year-old Carson Palmer. Given that Palmer hinted at retirement all offseason, it’s entirely feasible 2017 will be his final NFL season, and Arizona hasn’t established a plan for the future. Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert aren’t realistic options to take over under center if Palmer does hang up his cleats after the upcoming campaign, so it’s possible the Cardinals would have floated a Day 2 selection in order to land a long-term successor like McCarron. General manager Steve Keim hasn’t been afraid to trade draft picks in the past, although his other significant deal — sending a second-rounder to the Patriots for edge rusher Chandler Jones — was a win-now move. McCarron’s 2014 NFL.com draft profile noted his lack of a “big-time, vertical arm,” which would theoretically present a problem in a Bruce Arians offense.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills hemmed and hawed on whether to retain incumbent signal-caller Tyrod Taylor, and though it appeared as though he’d hit free agency, Taylor ultimately agreed to a short-term pact that will keep him Buffalo through the 2018 season. While McCarron would seemingly fit in new play-caller Rick Dennison‘s offense, the timeline of the Bills’ front office turnover makes it unlikely they were involved in McCarron trade discussions. Buffalo reached a new deal with Taylor just prior to the start of the 2017 league year in early March, and former general manager Doug Whaley was fired two months later. Targeting another quarterback just after working out a fresh pact with Taylor seems improbable, and Buffalo’s ownership wouldn’t have let a lame duck like Whaley make such a franchise-altering decision.
Chicago Bears
While the Bears were never linked to McCarron, they were interested in trading for another high-profile backup quarterback — the Patriots’ Jimmy Garoppolo. Rival clubs didn’t believe Chicago would be forced to part with its No. 3 overall pick in order to land Garoppolo, as a package of multiple second-round selections was thought to be enough to get a deal done. Clearly, that view was misguided in regards to Garoppolo’s availability, but the Bears were obviously willing to ship away draft choices in order to bring in a passer. Ultimately, Chicago not only signed free agent Mike Glennon, but sent a bevy of picks to the 49ers in order to move up one spot in the first round for UNC’s Mitch Trubisky. Sending a second-rounder to Cincinnati for McCarron, then, wouldn’t have been out of the question.
Cleveland Browns
The one club known to have held McCarron trade talks with the Bengals is the Browns, who were reportedly discussing McCarron as late as the first day of the draft in April. However, negotiations between Cincinnati and Cleveland apparently didn’t get very far, as the Bengals were had assigned a high price tag to its backup quarterback. Based on familiarity alone, the Browns were an excellent fit for McCarron, as Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator when McCarron entered the league in 2014. The Bengals didn’t seem to have any qualms about dealing McCarron to a division rival, and Cleveland seems like an obvious contender for the mystery team that offered Cincinnati a second-round pick, especially given that it owned two of them heading into the draft.
Denver Broncos
An armchair psychologist might say general manager John Elway‘s insistence that the Broncos are not currently trying to trade for McCarron (“150% false) is a bit on the defensive side, but even if Denver isn’t looking into McCarron at the moment, that doesn’t mean the club wasn’t interested in him earlier this year. Yes, the Broncos used a first-round pick on Paxton Lynch just a year ago, but reports on him and fellow quarterback Trevor Siemian haven’t been positive. Plus, Denver was linked to at least one signal-caller upgrade — veteran Tony Romo — this offseason, meaning the Broncos were willing to put Lynch and Siemian on the bench if a better option was discovered.
Houston Texans
One of the three clubs on this list that ultimately traded up to select a quarterback in the first round of the draft, the Texans are now set for the future with Clemson’s Deshaun Watson under center. But would they have been willing to ship a relatively early pick to the Bengals for McCarron before acquiring Watson? Possibly, although the fact that McCarron would likely need to be extended relatively quickly may have presented a problem. The Texans are staring at long-term deals for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, so cap space could quickly get tight. And after general manager Rick Smith whiffed on Brock Osweiler in 2016, Texans ownership may not have given approval for the front office to spend both draft pick capital and more cash on another unproven quarterback.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs actually selected another quarterback — Georgia’s Aaron Murray — one pick before McCarron came off the board to Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. But McCarron doesn’t look like a perfect fit for Kansas City, and like Houston, cap space problems would have likely come into play. The Chiefs are currently projected to be nearly $5MM over the cap in 2018, so extending or franchising McCarron would have possibly been untenable. As such, Kansas City needed the benefits of a rookie quarterback contract, and instead opted to trade up to acquire Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech.
New York Jets
Writing in early March, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com suggested the Jets may have looked into a possible Sheldon Richardson-for-McCarron trade, noting his belief that Cincinnati would have had to insert a draft pick to get a deal done. I completely disagree on that last point, as a quarterback — even a reserve — has more value than a unproductive edge rusher/defensive tackle (plus, Richardson is scheduled to earn nearly $8MM more than McCarron in 2017), the idea of Gang Green trading for McCarron wasn’t completely out of the question. New York isn’t trying to win during the upcoming season, however, and will limp through the campaign with Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, and Christian Hackenberg before presumably finding a quarterback in next year’s draft.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are one of the more interesting clubs on this list, as new head coach Kyle Shanahan should be allowed to essentially handpick his quarterback of the future at this point. San Francisco signed free agents Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, and drafted Iowa’s C.J. Beathard in the third round, but any talks regarding McCarron likely would have occurred before the 49ers made those moves. Still, the idea that San Francisco would have offered a second-round pick for McCarron seems unlikely for a few reasons. First, the Niners’ second-rounder was No. 34 overall, an extremely valuable draft choice, and second, San Francisco is probably holding off on adding a long-term quarterback until the 2018 free agent status of Kirk Cousins — Shanahan’s former pupil — is resolved.
What do you think? Did one of these clubs offer a second-round pick for McCarron? Or was it another unidentified team? Weigh in here: