Lions Extend Glover Quin Through 2019
The Lions have signed safety Glover Quin to a two-year extension that will keep him in Detroit through the 2019 season, the club announced today. The new deal is worth $13MM and contains $9.5MM in guarantees, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Quin, 31, indicated a desire for a new contract in May, and the Lions reportedly began discussing an extension with Quin’s representatives the following month. Set to enter the final season of a five-year, $23.5MM pact he signed prior to the 2013 campaign, Quin had been scheduled to earn a $4MM base salary and a $1MM roster bonus while carrying a cap charge of ~$7.828MM. Quin’s annual salary of $4.7MM ranked just 27th among NFL safeties.
“I would love to be here in Detroit, and if I sign an extension, I’d probably finish my career here — that’d be huge for me,” Quin said in May. “But I can’t control that. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen. My job is like I’ve always said since I got in the league, is I’m a player. So I just play, and I’ll let the coaches coach, the managers manage, and the trainers train.”
Quin has been a remarkably durable player throughout his eight-year NFL career, as his only missed game came during his rookie season in 2009. Last season, Quin played all 1,027 of the Lions’ defensive snaps while posting 68 tackles, two interceptions, and ranked an impressive 23rd in performance among Pro Football Focus’ 90 qualified safeties.
PFR Originals: 7/23/17 – 7/30/17
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- With the 2017 regular season only two months 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:
Lions Notes: Stafford, Quin, Caldwell, Decker
Although “internal optimism” exists regarding the Lions’ extension talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford, the veteran signal-caller says there’s “no timetable” guiding the negotiations, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link). Although Stafford admitted that his agent Tom Condon is currently discussing a deal with Detroit, he told reporters he wasn’t sure if he’d allow negotiations to continue once the regular season gets underway, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. Last month, Lions president Rod Wood implied he’d be “comfortable” making Stafford the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, which would mean agreeing to an annual salary north of $25MM.
Here’s more from the Motor City:
- Extension discussions are also underway between the Lions and safety Glover Quin, and Quin is confident an agreement will ultimately be hammered out, tweets Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Quin, 31, is entering the final season of a five-year, $23.5MM pact he signed prior to the 2013 campaign. Next season, he’s scheduled to a $4MM base salary and a $1MM roster bonus while carrying a cap charge of ~$7.828MM. Quin’s annual salary of $4.7MM ranks just 27th among NFL safeties.
- Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is also entering the final year of his contract, but he’s not worried about serving out the season as a lame-duck head coach, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. “I don’t even worry about it and I think I’ve tried to explain pretty well to you guys that there hasn’t been a time in my life where you operate under certain things,” Caldwell said. “You never know if you have a 15-year contract, it doesn’t mean you’re not going to be fired tomorrow. So you always got to perform.” Through four seasons as Detroit’s head coach, Caldwell has posted a 27-21 regular season record and lead the club to two NFC Wild Card appearances.
- Injured left tackle Taylor Decker is no longer wearing a sling and is “on track” in his rehab from a torn labrum, as Twentyman reports in a full article. Decker was projected to miss four-to-six months when he was originally injured in early June, meaning he could certainly be sidelined for the early portion of the 2017 season. In response, the Lions acquired former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson from the Lions and signed ex-Bills offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio.
Jaguars Worked Out Jonathan Meeks
The Jaguars worked out former Bills safety Jonathan Meeks on Tuesday, according to Mike Kaye of First Coast News (Twitter link).
Meeks, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2013, appeared in 38 games for Buffalo over the past four years but never started a contest. Defensive contributions have never been the 27-year-old Meeks’ calling card, as he played on just 87 defensive snaps a year ago. Instead, Meeks has produced on special teams: he posted five tackles in 2017 while seeing action on roughly a third of the Bills’ special teams plays.
That’s the role Meeks would play if signed by Jacksonville, as well, as the Jaguars already boast two excellent starting safeties in Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church. Jacksonville’s special teams unit was below-average last season, ranking 25th in DVOA while losing 8.8 points of field position on punt coverage and 10.8 points of field position on punt returns. The Jaguars have since hired a new special teams coordinator — former Cowboys coach Joe DeCamillis — but Meeks would add another solid special teams presence.
Jacksonville agreed to terms with fellow defensive back Stanley Jean-Baptiste on Tuesday, so it’s unclear if Meeks is still in the running for a roster spot.
Dolphins Likely To Sign Or Trade For DT
The Dolphins are expected to sign or acquire a defensive tackle if the club determines none of its backup internal options are prepared to contribute in 2017, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
At present, the Dolphins boast rookies Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor behind starters Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips, but reports earlier this year indicated the team doesn’t believe either 2017 draft choice is ready to play a large role during the upcoming season. Miami’s search for a rotational defensive tackle dates back to before the draft, though, as the club inquired on both Dontari Poe and Johnathan Hankins during the free agent period (both of whom would have been overqualified reserves).
Free agent options for Miami include Roy Miller, Sen’Derrick Marks, Dan Williams, and former Dolphin Paul Soliai, reports Jackson. Miller, notably, worked out for the Dolphins last week, but hasn’t yet agreed to a deal. Speculatively, other interior defenders of note that could interest Miami include Jared Odrick, Arthur Jones, and Vance Walker.
Trade candidates are more speculative, of course, but I recently examined defenders that could be available when assessing how the Saints could replace Nick Fairley, and many of those same players could be on Miami’s radar. Arik Armstead (49ers), Vinny Curry (Eagles), Carl Davis (Ravens), Steve McLendon (Jets), and Sheldon Richardson (Jets) comprise a list of defensive tackles who could conceivably be shopped.
Offseason In Review: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts limped to an 8-8 record for the consecutive year, as even an excellent campaign from quarterback Andrew Luck couldn’t overcome the club’s poor defense. With a new general manager installed in January, Indianapolis had several areas of focus to address during the offseason.
Notable signings:
- Johnathan Hankins, DT: Three years, $27MM. $10MM guaranteed. $3MM available via escalators.
- Jabaal Sheard, LB: Three years, $25.5MM. $9.5MM guaranteed.
- Jack Doyle, TE: Three years, $18.9MM. $7.5MM guaranteed.
- John Simon, LB: Three years, $14MM. $6MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via incentives.
- Darius Butler, CB: One year, $3MM. $2.5MM guaranteed.
- Kamar Aiken, WR: One year, $2.6MM. $1.5MM guaranteed.
- Jeff Locke, P: Two years, $3.45MM. $1.25MM guaranteed.
- Barkevious Mingo, LB: One year, $2MM. $1MM guaranteed.
- Sean Spence, LB: One year, $2.5MM. $750K guaranteed.
- Margus Hunt, DL: Two years, $4.1MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Robert Turbin, RB: Two years, $2.7MM. $500K guaranteed.
- Brian Schwenke, OL: One year, $1.3MM. $300K guaranteed.
- Al Woods, DT: Two years, $4MM. $250K guaranteed.
- Brandon Williams, TE: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Fahn Cooper, OL: Two years, $1.02MM.
- Christine Michael, RB: One year, $775K.
- Jon Bostic, LB: One year, $690K.
- Troymaine Pope, RB: One year, $540K.
The Colts arguably had the worst defensive depth chart in the NFL heading into the 2017 offseason, meaning general manager Chris Ballard & Co. had quite a bit of work to do on that side of the ball. Indianapolis’ front office made several smart value signings, including that of former Giant Johnathan Hankins, who waited out the market with the hope of landing a hefty contract. Ultimately, the Colts landed Hankins for only $9MM annually, a salary which ranks just 21st among interior defensive linemen.
Hankins posted the worst season of his career in 2017, grading as the league’s No. 59 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus, which handed Hankins extremely poor marks as a pass-rusher. But there are reasons to be optimistic about Hankins in Indy, and chief among them is his age. Despite having already played four NFL seasons, Hankins is only entering his age-25 campaign, so improvement isn’t out of the question. Additionally, Hankins will move to nose tackle with the Colts after playing three-technique in New York thanks to the presence of Damon Harrison. Shifting to a nose shade should aid Hankins’ play, as he’s always been more productive when playing over a center.
Indianapolis didn’t stop after adding Hankins, as the club inked two pass-rushers in the form of John Simon and Jabaal Sheard. Neither player is a superstar, but both are competent outside linebackers with experience in 3-4 schemes. Simon and Sheard are both solid against the run, as well, and should help improve a Colts run defense that ranked dead last in DVOA a year ago. Given that both Simon and Sheard are now transitioning from part-time roles to full-time jobs, it wouldn’t be a surprise if at least one of them reaches a double-digit sack total in 2017.
While most of the Colts’ defensive signings came along the front seven (which, despite the additions, PFF still ranks as the the No. 31 front in the NFL), the team did re-sign one of its own in the secondary, coming to terms with defensive back Darius Butler on a one-year pact. Butler, 31, put up arguably the best campaign of his eight-year career in 2016, and entered the free agent market with the intent of shifting from cornerback to safety. While it’s unclear exactly what role he’ll play for the Colts, Butler looks poised to fill a jack-of-all-trades position, roving between slot corner and safety, especially while Clayton Geathers is on reserve/PUP.
Hankins, Simon, Sheard, and Butler represented the most high-profile Colts signings/re-signings on defense, but Indianapolis also threw a limited amount of guarantees against the wall to bring in a number of defensive players. Sean Spence will likely start at inside linebacker, but Barkevious Mingo, Jon Bostic, Margus Hunt, and Al Woods were all brought in to add depth and perhaps play special teams. The total amount of guaranteed money spent on those players is $2.5MM, so it’s a small investment in order to ensure the club won’t be completely bereft of help if and when injuries strike. After years of fielding a top-heavy roster, the Colts are finally prioritizing depth throughout the squad.
On offense, Indianapolis’ primary move was re-signing Jack Doyle, who is now the club’s unquestioned No. 1 tight end following the trade of Dwayne Allen to the Patriots. Doyle, a former undrafted free agent, had never topped 22 targets prior to the 2016 season, but broke out during his fourth NFL campaign, managing 59 receptions for 75 targets for 584 yards and five touchdowns. With Allen out of the picture, it’s conceivable that Doyle — who ranked ninth in DYAR and 10th in DVOA, both courtesy of Football Outsiders — could play an even larger role in the season to come. Doyle isn’t a superb blocker (23rd in the run game, per PFF), meaning free agent signee Brandon Williams could see playing time as an in-line tight end.
Former Raven Kamar Aiken could possibly serve as the Colts’ No. 2 wide receiver or fall as far as fourth on the depth chart, and training camp/the preseason will likely determine where exactly Aiken fits. Donte Moncrief, Indy’s presumptive second wideout, hasn’t been able to stay healthy, while 2015 first-round pick Phillip Dorsett has averaged just 26 receptions per season during his first two years in the league. Aiken plays special teams and received $2.5MM in guarantees, so he’ll make the roster, and he was reportedly told the Colts would stage an “open competition” at receiver this offseason.
Rams’ Aaron Donald To Hold Out
Rams players were required to check in for training camp by Friday at 11am Pacific time, but star defensive tackle Aaron Donald is a no-show, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Donald will hold out with the goal of landing a lucrative extension, reports Alden Gonzlez of ESPN.com.
“He’s a great player,” said head coach Sean McVay. “We knew this was a potential possibility for us, and we’re constantly going through trying to get a solution to this.”
Los Angeles had indeed discussed a new deal for Donald, but “little progress” has been made in negotiations, per Rapoport. Asking price is almost assuredly an issue in talks, but the Rams’ level of team control over Donald means the club has little incentive to rush discussions. Donald is under contract through 2018 at a total cost of roughly $10MM thanks to the fifth-year option, and the Rams can then deploy the franchise tag in 2019.
That’s not to presume that Donald hasn’t outplayed his contact, a fact with which the Rams agree. Donald, 26, has been absolutely dominant since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2014. A two-time All-Pro, Donald has managed 28 sacks during his three years in the NFL, an astonishing total for a defensive tackle. Donald, who played 828 snaps a season ago, graded as the league’s No. 1 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus, which awarded him a 99.0 mark for his pass-rushing prowess.
Donald is slated to earn $1.802MM in 2017 before his salary rises to $6.892MM in 2018.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Bolts, Fins, Ravens
Broncos quarterback Chad Kelly will likely spend his rookie season on injured reserve, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link), who indicates 2017 will be something of a redshirt campaign for Kelly. This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Kelly is currently on the non-football injury list after undergoing wrist surgery in April. With Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch set to act as Denver’s top two quarterbacks, Kelly wouldn’t have played a role this season anyway, so the Broncos would rather not waste a roster spot. Denver will have to wait until final cutdowns to move Kelly to IR, or else risk losing him to waivers.
More from the AFC:
- Chargers first-round wide receiver Mike Williams said last weekend that he expects to avoid surgery on his ailing back. The Bolts are also optimistic that will be the case, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, who notes that Mike Williams will likely begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. That wouldn’t necessarily rule out the ex-Clemson star for regular-season action, however, as the team’s hope is that he’ll be able to return during camp to work his way back in time for Week 1. General manager Tom Telesco revealed that the wideout has “been responding well” to treatment.
- Alterraun Verner‘s one-year deal with the Dolphins is a minimum salary benefit pact and doesn’t contain any guaranteed money, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. As such, Verner will earn $900K if earns a spot on Miami’s roster, but will only count for $615K against the club’s salary cap. The veteran defensive back is expected to be given “every opportunity” to displace Bobby McCain as the Dolphins’ slot corner, per Jackson, but it’s also possible that Verner will fail to make the squad at all. In 2016, Verner appeared in all 16 games for Tampa Bay but played on only 22.8% of the team’s defensive snaps.
- Even after signing veteran Bobby Rainey earlier this week, the Ravens may not be done adding running back help, opines Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Baltimore’s running game was already among the league’s worst in 2016, ranking 24th in DVOA and 25th in yards, and is now without Kenneth Dixon, who will miss the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. Terrance West, Danny Woodhead, Lorenzo Taliaferro, and Rainey are still on the roster, but the Ravens could consider free agent signings or trades as search for another back, per Hensley, who tosses out Ryan Mathews, Alfred Morris, Matt Jones, and Carlos Hyde as potential options.
- Texans receiver Deante’ Gray has suffered a torn ACL, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. It has been a short but injury-marred career for Gray, an undrafted rookie who suffered a torn hamstring in the spring. Although he’s a Houston native, the ex-TCU Horned Frog was already facing long odds of making the Texans’ roster before his injury issues arose, given that he joined the team on a paltry $2K bonus.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Cowboys Likely To Sign Another QB
Third-string Cowboys quarterback Zac Dysert is expected to miss the 2017 season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc, and Dallas is now likely to sign another signal-caller to replace him on the roster, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com.
While the Cowboys want to add a new quarterback, neither Colin Kaepernick nor Johnny Manziel is on the club’s radar, per Archer, who had reported in May that Kaepernick was “not a fit” for Dallas. Manziel, meanwhile, has reportedly had conversations with multiple teams concerning a return to the NFL, but it doesn’t sound like that comeback attempt will happen with the Cowboys.
Instead, Dallas is searching for a developmental passer, a young player who will help the club get through training camp. That rules out other veterans such as Robert Griffin III, Shaun Hill, and Christian Ponder, and also indicates the Cowboys are content with Kellen Moore as Dak Prescott‘s backup, reports Archer. Moore has only attempted 104 passes during his five-year career, but has a supporter in Dallas offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who calls Moore “a machine.”
Speculatively, 2017 undrafted free agents Austin Appleby (Florida) and Seth Russell (Baylor) could be candidates to join the Cowboys roster. Appleby had been a member of the Dallas squad until being waived last month to make room for Dysert, while the Cowboys auditioned Russell in late June but didn’t sign him. Either would be an option to compete with fellow 2017 UDFA Cooper Rush (Central Michigan) for Dallas’ No. 3 quarterback job.
Browns, Isaiah Crowell Discussing Extension
Isaiah Crowell and his representatives are in “heavy communication” with the Browns regarding a contract extension, as the running back explains to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. Crowell admitted that he isn’t sure where negotiations with the club stand, but reiterated his desire to remain in Cleveland.
Although talks between Crowell and the Browns had reportedly stalled earlier this summer, the two sides are apparently getting closer to hammering out an agreement. The process may have been helped along by super-agent Drew Rosenhaus, whom Crowell hired earlier this week to replace Universal Sports Management. Crowell will earn $2.746MM in 2017 after signing his second-round restricted free agent tender. Although he reportedly drew interest as an RFA, no rival club signed Crowell to an offer sheet.
Crowell, 24, is coming off the best season of his three-year career, as he posted career highs in carries, rushing yards, and receiving yards while scoring seven touchdowns. He’ll return as the Browns’ lead ball-carrier in a backfield that also includes Duke Johnson Jr., George Atkinson, Terrence Magee, and seventh-round pick Matthew Dayes.