Dolphins’ Michael Thomas Signs RFA Tender
Dolphins safety and special teams ace Michael Thomas has signed his restricted free agent tender, ensuring that he’ll remain in Miami for the 2017 season, tweets Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Thomas had interest from two other clubs, one of whom offered him a three-year contract, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
[RELATED: Dolphins RFA Damien Williams Visited Patriots]
Thomas was assigned the original round tender, so he’ll earn $1.797MM for the upcoming campaign. Because Thomas was originally an undrafted free agent, the Dolphins wouldn’t have been entitled to any draft pick compensation had they declined to match a Thomas offer sheet. It’s unclear as to why Thomas would reject a three-year contract in lieu of the RFA salary, but it’s difficult to assess the multi-year pact without knowing its specifics, such as structure and guarantees.
In 2016, Thomas continued his excellent work on special teams, playing on nearly 80% of Miami’s special teams plays while performing as one of the league’s best teams aces, per Pro Football Focus. Thomas, 28, was also called on to start eight contests due to injuries suffered by Reshad Jones and Isa Abdul-Quddus. Playing on roughly half the Dolphins’ defensive snaps, Thomas put up 39 tackles and one sack, but graded as a bottom-10 safety overall, according to PFF.
Allen Robinson: I’ve “Earned” Jags Extension
Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson is entering the final year of his rookie contract which will pay him just south of $900K for the 2017 campaign, and he believes he’s “earned” an extension from Jacksonville, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Still, Robinson doesn’t sound as though he’ll hold out or use any other negotiating tactics in order to secure a long-term deal.
“If we get something done, we do and if not, I have a big year coming ahead for me and I have an obligation to my teammates to play at a high level,” Robinson said.
The Jaguars have already extended fellow pass-catcher Allen Hurns, handing him a four-year, $40.05MM deal after only two seasons. Hurns only had to wait two years to earn a long-term deal given that he was originally an undrafted free agent, while Robinson — a drafted player (second round) — had to finish his third NFL season before becoming eligible for a new deal.
The Hurns deal is a clear floor for Robinson, who has eclipsed Hurns’ production since entering the league in 2014 and is easily viewed as Jacksonville’s No. 1 wideout. Robinson, 23, posted a breakout campaign in 2015, hauling in 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns. 2016 was a down year, however, as Robinson managed only 73 catches, 883 yards, and six scores (quarterback Blake Bortles‘ decline certainly didn’t help Robinson).
While Hurns’ $10MM annual average is the bare minimum asking price for Robinson, he’ll certainly target a higher total. Antonio Brown recently reset the wide receiver market with a $17MM AAV, and A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and T.Y. Hilton are all earning $13MM or more per season.
5 Key Stories: 4/9/17 – 4/16/17
Beast Mode-to-Oakland heats up. After meeting with the Raiders last week, retired running back Marshawn Lynch has officially started the reinstatement process. The Seahawks are now expected to trade Lynch to Oakland, and while he doesn’t need to be reinstated for a deal to go through, he would need to formally apply for reinstatement before suiting up. Any trade is contingent on Lynch first working out a new deal with the Raiders, something that the two sides are working on now.
Seahawks drop Richard Sherman price. While Seattle is set to trade one franchise icon, the club could soon send Sherman away, as well. After originally asking for “a very good player” plus a high draft pick in exchange for Sherman, the Seahawks are now looking for a first-round pick in the upcoming draft plus a conditional mid-round choice in 2018. That ask could entice more teams to join the running for Sherman, who so far has only been linked to the Patriots (who are now not expected to deal for him).
Jonathan Hankins finds a home. After sitting on the free agent market for more than a month, Hankins finally landed a three-year, $30MM deal with the Colts. The Giants, notably, were offering only $28MM over a four-year term, making the decision to head to Indianapolis an easy one for Hankins. Hankins had been the top player who still remained unsigned, and now only three of PFR’s top 50 free agents are still on the board: Adrian Peterson, Perry Riley, and Ryan Clady.
Browns still deciding at No. 1? While 84% of PFR readers believe Cleveland will ultimately select edge rusher Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, the club may have not yet made up its mind. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky is still in the conversation to be drafted first, and the Browns are reportedly split between the UNC signal-caller and Garrett, the latter of whom is regarded as 2017’s best overall prospect. Head coach Hue Jackson, for what it’s worth, prefers that Cleveland goes with Garrett.
Pats, 49ers play the RFA game. The Patriots are seemingly more involved in the restricted free agent market than any other club, and this year is no different. Last week, New England hosted division rival running backs Mike Gillislee (Bills) and Damien Williams (Dolphins) in addition to Giants defensive end Kerry Wynn. San Francisco, meanwhile, made an offer to Seahawks offensive tackle Garry Gilliam, and although Gilliam rejected the initial proposal, the two sides are expected to keep talking.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Latest On Jason McCourty’s Market
Recently-released cornerback Jason McCourty was scheduled to earn $7MM in 2017, but he’s not expected to come close to that figure on the open market. A one-year deal with a maximum of $2MM — similar to the pact Leon Hall inked with the Giants last season — could be a likely outcome for McCourty, a source tells Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Top NFL Defensive Free Agents]
There are at least a few reasons to think McCourty can earn more than Hall was forced to accept, however. As Reiss notes, McCourty is nearly three years younger than Hall, who was 31 when he agreed to his New York contract. Additionally, Hall had undergone offseason back surgery, which potentially worried teams about his availability. Hall didn’t land a free agent deal until August of 2016.
On the other hand, McCourty has dealt with recent injury concerns of his own. He suffered shoulder and chest ailments in 2016, while groin surgeries that caused him to miss 12 games the year prior. Plus, McCourty hasn’t posted an above-average campaign since the 2013 season. Hall, meanwhile, had largely maintained his level of play over the past few years.
Teams have already begun inquiring on McCourty, who is expected to be officially cut on Monday. I recently speculated that clubs such as the Bills, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Lions, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals could all show interest, while Reiss called the Patriots a “ideal match” for McCourty.
AFC East Rumors: Pats, Blount, Jets, Conley
The Patriots‘ offer to running back LeGarrette Blount may not be on the table forever, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. New England has met with other free agent backs in recent weeks, including Adrian Peterson, Damien Williams, and Mike Gillislee, perhaps in an effort to send a signal to Blount. Blount hasn’t generated any interest elsewhere, which is what he’d need to do in order to force the Patriots to up their proposal. As Reiss notes, the 2017 RB draft class is considered exceptionally strong, so Blount may want to ink a new contract with the Pats before the club selects a runner in the draft later this month.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley‘s previously-reported meeting with the Jets will take place on Monday, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. While Conley has generally been viewed as a lesser prospect than his Buckeye teammate Marshon Lattimore, that perception may be changing. While Lattimore’s injury concerns are troubling, Conley is viewed as an extremely safe player, and may end up being the first cornerback off the board. New York could certainly use help in the secondary after releasing Darrelle Revis earlier this year.
- Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson isn’t garnering much interest on the trade market, meaning the Jets may have to hang onto him for the 2017 campaign, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Indianapolis may have been a logical trade partner, but the Colts probably aren’t in the Richardson hunt after signing Johnathan Hankins last week. Gang Green could still use Richardson as a trade chip on draft day, but as Cimini notes, the “clock is ticking” on any potential deal.
- The Jets intend to re-sign recently-released linebacker Julian Stanford, and Stanford was aware of that when Gang Green cut ties last week, per Cimini. Stanford, 26, has bounced around the league since 2012, spending time with Detroit, Jacksonville, and New York. In 2016, Stanford appeared in nine games (two starts) for the Jets, playing on roughly a quarter of the club’s defensive snaps and a third of the team’s special steams snaps.
Draft Deadline For Malcolm Butler Trade?
April 27 — the first day of the 2017 NFL draft — is the likely deadline for a Malcolm Butler trade, as the Patriots probably won’t deal Butler for 2018 picks, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
The Saints, of course, have shown extreme interest in Butler, bringing in the restricted free agent cornerback for a visit and beginning work on a contract negotiation. New Orleans doesn’t intend to propose an offer sheet to Butler, however, as doing so would cost the club the No. 11 pick if the Patriots declined to match the terms. A trade could still be worked out, but Butler needs to sign his RFA tender first.
Butler has until April 21 to ink an offer sheet with another club. New England can still trade him after that point, but he needs to be under contract to be dealt. Butler will earn $3.91MM under the terms of his RFA tender, but if he doesn’t sign by June 15, the Patriots can reduce his salary to $600K.
New England has been linked to other defensive backs this offseason, including Seattle’s Richard Sherman (whom the Patriots are now not expected to trade for). Recently released cornerback Jason McCourty, too, may be on the Pats’ radar, but New England probably won’t add another corner unless Butler isn’t part of their 2017 plans.
Draft Rumors: Fournette, Falcons, Broncos
There’s a belief that LSU running back Leonard Fournette is “driven by stardom” and may lack a commitment to football, sources tell Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Of course, the quickest way to achieving fame in the NFL is by producing results on the field, so concerns about Fournette’s makeup may be overblown. Recent reports indicate Fournette is still a candidate to go No. 1 overall, but that seems incredibly unlikely, and I sent Fournette to Baltimore in PFR’s first 2017 mock draft.
Here’s more on the 2017 draft:
- The Falcons put Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis through a workout last week, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Atlanta’s defensive line improved in 2016, but the club could still use another edge rusher to pair with Vic Beasley, as the rest of the Falcons’ defensive end rotation is made up of Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Derrick Shelby, Courtney Upshaw, and Jack Crawford. In 13 games last season, Willis posted 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.
- Temple guard Dion Dawkins has visited the Broncos, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Denver, unsurprisingly, is expected to target multiple offensive linemen in the draft after ranking 27th in adjusted sack rate in 2016. Free agent signee Ronald Leary is the Broncos’ starter at right guard, while Max Garcia is currently penciled in on the left side. Dawkins ranks as the third-best guard in this year’s class, per Rob Rang of CBSSSports.com, who compares Dawkins to Tampa Bay’s Donovan Smith.
- Like Denver, the Dolphins are also on the hunt for offensive line help, and brought in Western Michigan guard Taylor Moton for a meeting this week, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Fins headed into the offseason hoping to sign two underpriced guards in free agency, and they did just that, inking Ted Larsen and Jermon Bushrod to man the interior. Moton has started every game for Western Michigan over the past four years.
Latest On Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley
NFL clubs are beginning to worry about the fragility of Ohio State Marshon Lattimore‘s hamstrings, and have concerns about him staying healthy for a full season, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Those injury issues could push Lattimore down draft boards, and may lead to him falling outside the top 10 picks.
Lattimore had been widely viewed as the draft’s No. 1 corner prospect, and was expected to be selected first among that strong position group. In PFR’s first mock draft of 2017, I sent Lattimore to the Bears at pick No. 3. The Titans, too, have shown a good deal of interest in Lattimore and are not expected to pass on him if he falls to pick No. 5.
But those hamstring issues may affect Lattimore’s stock — his hamstring tightened up during the scouting combine in March, and he had similar problems during his time with the Buckeyes. Those problems — and the fact Lattimore is only a one-year starter — could lead to the rise of his Ohio State teammate, fellow cornerback Gareon Conley.
Conley is considered a safer pick than Lattimore, and may now be overtaking the latter as this year’s No. 1 CB. The Jaguars will host Conley for a visit on Monday, reports Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who adds the Titans and Saints have also exhibited “a lot” of interest in Conley. NFL teams like Conley’s “work ethic and temperament,” per Pauline, and feels he’s ready to play in the pros immediately.
Cowboys, Falcons, Bucs Eyeing Justin Evans
Texas A&M Justin Evans has a strong chance of being selected in the back end of the first round of the draft, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, and the Cowboys, Falcons, and Buccaneers are among the NFL teams with the most interest in the defensive back prospect.
Evans has met with both Dallas and Atlanta, per Pauline. The Cowboys saw a high percentage of their defensive secondary leave during the free agent period, and two of their top three safeties — Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox — signed multi-year deals with rival clubs. The Falcons, meanwhile, may view Evans as an improvement over incumbent defender Ricardo Allen, as Evans would give head coach Dan Quinn an Earl Thomas-esque defender, per Pauline. Dallas and Atlanta hold the No. 28 and No. 31 picks, respectively.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, likely won’t let Evans get past them in second round, where they own the No. 50 selection. Tampa Bay inked Wilcox last month, but could still use more depth in a safety group that was among the league’s worst in 2016. Chris Conte, Keith Tandy, and Ryan Smith comprise the remainder of the Bucs’ safety depth chart.
Evans has also met with the Dolphins during the predraft process.
Teams Reaching Out To CB Jason McCourty
Several NFL teams have already inquired on veteran cornerback Jason McCourty, who is expected to be officially released by the Titans on Monday, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).
[RELATED: Top NFL Defensive Free Agents]
McCourty will be 30 years old when the 2017 season gets underway, and there are certainly reasons to be concerned about his recent level of play. Last year, McCourty graded as only the No. 55 cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus, so while he was still a viable starting defensive back, he probably wasn’t worth his $7MM base salary. Additionally, McCourty has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, including shoulder and chest ailments in 2016, and groin surgeries that caused him to miss 12 games the year prior.
Still, McCourty was an excellent corner from 2010-13, acting as one of the more underrated defensive backs in the league during that span. Clubs with holes in the secondary might pursue McCourty with the hope he can return to that height (or at least, close) once again. Speculatively, teams that could use another cornerback include the Bills, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Lions, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals.
The Patriots, too, stand out as a potential fit, especially if the club ends up parting ways with Malcolm Butler. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com called McCourty an “ideal match” for New England, while Devin McCourty — a Patriots safety and Jason’s twin — would be interested in playing alongside his brother.