North Notes: Ravens, Fournette, Vikes, Lions
The Ravens “love” LSU running back Leonard Fournette, according to Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun. Of course, given that Fournette is considered the top back in the 2017 class, a number of teams probably have similar feelings, but Baltimore could conceivably consider a trade up in order to land Fournette. Currently, the Ravens sit at pick No. 16, so they’d probably have to jump 10 spots (at a minimum) to get a shot at Fournette, who is likely the only running back Baltimore would select in the first round.
Let’s take a look at the latest from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- While the Ravens are open to a reunion with receiver Anquan Boldin, the veteran pass-catcher may want to sign with a club that plays closer to his home in Florida, as Zriebec writes in a separate piece. Earlier this week, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said he’d “obviously” be amenable to signing Boldin, and the fit makes sense given the team’s lack of depth at wideout. Boldin is reportedly taking his time finding a landing spot, perhaps an eye towards skipping spring workouts.
- Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara will meet with the Vikings next week, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets. Originally viewed as a Day 2 pick due to his working in a committee for the Volunteers, Kamara is now being bandied about as a potential Round 1 selection. Minnesota recently signed free agent Latavius Murray to help compensate for the loss of Adrian Peterson, but Murray can opt out of his contract after 2017. Kamara, meanwhile, has also taken a visit with the Saints.
- Having swapped out DeAndre Levy for Paul Worrilow this offseason, the Lions still feel linebacker is a need area, as Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes. “We’re going to throw (Worrilow) in the mix, and see how it kind of works out with the guys that we have and any guys we might add,” Detroit general manager Bob Quinn said. “He’s not the total answer to everything we want, but we think he’s a really good signing that we kind of targeted early on.” Worrilow joins Tahir Whitehead, Antwione Williams, and Thurston Armbrister as the Lions’ current linebackers, while the club could use the No. 21 overall selection to bring in another second-level player.
Dolphins Unlikely To Sign Zach Brown
The Dolphins don’t appear likely to sign free agent linebacker Zach Brown, tweets Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
[RELATED: Dolphins Sign T.J. McDonald]
Brown, who has also been linked to the Bills, Colts, and Raiders, was at one point thought to be deciding between Oakland and Miami, but there’s been no movement in his market since that report was issued a week ago. The Dolphins, for what it’s worth, don’t appear to be going all-out in an effort to sign Brown.
“The lion’s share of our focus right now is on the draft,” EVP of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said this week. “If an opportunity came along, we’d evaluate it appropriately. But our focus is really on the draft and something comes along, we’ll certainly look at it.”
Any lingering issue between Brown and the Dolphins almost certainly comes down to price. Brown earned just north of $1MM in 2016 and is now likely aiming to cash in after an excellent season. But while Brown may be looking for a contract in the $6MM range, Miami is only comfortable paying him $3-4MM annually.
Brown, 27, is one of only four of PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents who remain unsigned. He’s also our top-ranked linebacker, ahead of Perry Riley, Gerald Hodges, and DeAndre Levy.
NFC South Notes: Bucs, Panthers, Saints
Although Adrian Peterson has been linked to the Buccaneers thanks to his workouts with wide receiver DeSean Jackson (and the comments of head coach Dirk Koetter), Peterson doesn’t seem to be in Tampa Bay’s plans, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Reports have varied as to the Buccaneers’ level of aggressiveness of Peterson, but the club could use a running back given that Doug Martin‘s status is up in the air. Plus, Tampa Bay used the shotgun formation on less than 50% of its plays in 2016 (far below the league average), which could play to Peterson’s strengths given that he’s more productive in a traditional I-formation.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- The Panthers, Jaguars, and Bears will all meet with Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, who has previously chatted with the Titans and Buccaneers, reports Connor Orr of NFL.com. Howard is universally regarded as the draft’s No. 1 tight end, and could be selected as high as pick No. 4 when Jacksonville is on the board. Over the past two years in Tuscaloosa, Howard averaged 42 receptions for 599 yards while displaying ferocious blocking skills.
- Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett has scheduled a predraft visit with the Buccaneers, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Barnett dealt with a hamstring injury at the Volunteers’ Pro Day, so interested parties may want to get a closer look at him before the draft. As Laine notes, Barnett topped Reggie White’s Tennessee sack record of 33 in only three years, but doubters worry Barnett’s physical traits don’t match his production.
- The Chargers, Saints, and Panthers have all worked out Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, tweets Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Los Angeles and New Orleans, specifically, are both hunting for long-term signal-callers as their respective quarterbacks age, and Dobbs — a likely mid-round pick — could be an option for both clubs. A two-year starter for the Volunteers, Dobbs passed for nearly 3,000 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. Todd McShay of ESPN.com ranks Dobbs as the sixth-best quarterback prospect in 2017.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Dolphins, Richardson
The Jets fined defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson “significant” amounts of money for tardiness before benching them for the first quarter of a November contest, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Indeed, sources indicate to Vacchiano that head coach Todd Bowles — often viewed as overly tolerant of his players’ indiscretions — isn’t so mild-mannered behind the scenes. Still, New York certainly didn’t expect Wilkerson to show commitment issues after inking him to a hefty extension last year.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- While Richardson’s lateness issues (and poor play) could negatively affect his trade value, the Jets still may be able to use the pass-rusher as a trade chit in the coming weeks, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. If New York wants to trade back into Round 1 for a quarterback, for example, the team could potentially package Richardson and its second-round pick (No. 39) to move ahead of of a club like the Texans, who may also be looking for a QB. Getting back into the first round would also allow the Jets to pick up a fifth-year option on the signal-caller of their choice.
- Dolphins defensive line coach Terrell Williams took a sojourn to East Lansing to work out Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Recently linked to free agent Johnathan Hankins, the Dolphins are in the market for a tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. McDowell could be on the board when Miami picks at No. 22, although the Fins are expected to target edge help in the first round. The Dolphins are the first known team to meet with McDowell.
- Safety prospects Josh Jones (North Carolina State) and Justin Evans (Texas A&M) will meet with the Dolphins soon, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Although Miami recently extended defensive back Reshad Jones, the club is still looking for another safety after Isa Abdul-Quddus was released following a neck injury. Jones has also drawn interest from the Ravens, while Evans has met with the Cowboys.
How The Panthers Can Move To No. 2 Overall
The latest rumor buzzing around the draft world involves the Panthers considering a trade up to acquire the second overall pick from the 49ers, as Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated yesterday. Carolina would reportedly move up with the intention of selecting either Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
But what would such a trade look like? San Francisco, in the midst of a full rebuild, would likely aim to secure more draft wealth, while the Panthers — presumably in win-now mode — are probably willing to part with draft assets. As Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com wrote earlier this week, Carolina has amassed the league’s seventh-most draft capital this offseason , so the club certainly has resources to utilize if it wants to make an upward leap.
According to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, the Panthers wouldn’t have to sacrifice all that much to move from No. 8 to No. 2. Per Stuart, the gap in the two picks is just 8.8 points of draft value, meaning Carolina’s 40th overall pick (worth 11.1 points) would be more than enough to get a deal done. The No. 64 pick — acquired from the Patriots in the Kony Ealy trade– is worth 8.1 points, meaning that it would almost be enough to entice the 49ers.
Let’s take a look at a few potential trades in chart form, using Stuart’s values:
That final trade listed involves the 49ers sending the No. 2 overall pick, an early fourth-rounder, and an early seventh-rounder to the Panthers in exchange for No. 8, No. 40, and an early fifth-round pick. The difference in draft value comes out to 0.0, meaning it’s a perfectly fair deal for both sides — at least on paper.
The classic, Jimmy Johnson-devised trade chart, however, assigns a much greater valuation to early first-round picks, so the Panthers would have to trade much more in order to secure the No. 2 selection. In Johnson’s table, the gap between the second and eighth selections is large enough that a combination of the No. 40 and the No. 64 picks (in addition to No. 8) wouldn’t be enough to convince San Francisco to swap choices. Instead, the Panthers would probably have to give up a 2018 first-rounder in order to complete the trade.
A Thomas acquisition, specifically, would be the latest signal that Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman values the defensive line above all else, as Carolina has already spent early picks on Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, and Vernon Butler, and has re-signed Mario Addison, Charles Johnson, and Wes Horton this offseason. Thomas for his part, ranks as the fourth overall player on Todd McShay of ESPN.com‘s big board.
Fournette, meanwhile, is considered the top running back of the 2017 class, and Panthers head coach Ron Rivera recently said no draft slot is “too high” to take a runner. Carolina inked incumbent back Jonathan Stewart to a one-year extension last week, but Gettleman said that deal won’t preclude the club from selecting a running back early in this year’s draft.
NFC Rumors: Eagles, Vikes, Giants, Redskins
When the Eagles re-signed quarterback Sam Bradford to a two-year deal in the spring of 2016, the club structured the contract in such a way that enabled them to trade Bradford before the end of the pact, owner Jeffrey Lurie told Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com and Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). Lurie equated the Bradford deal to buying a draft pick, as the Eagles gave the veteran signal-caller an $11MM signing bonus that would immediately accelerate on Philadelphia’s salary cap in the event of a trade. The Eagles, of course, did end up dealing Bradford to the Vikings for a 2017 first-round pick.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- After conceding that he has “no idea” if Teddy Bridgewater will be able to play in 2017, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said his club will likely bring in a backup quarterback fairly soon, report Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press and Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Twitter links). Along with Bridgewater, the only QBs on Minnesota’s roster are Bradford and 24-year-old Taylor Heinecke, who has never attempted an NFL pass. Shaun Hill, the Vikings’ No. 2 quarterback last season, is an unrestricted free agent. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt McGloin, and Case Keenum are among the best available free agent signal-callers who would be open to a reserve role.
- The Giants are open to adding a veteran kicker to compete with unproven option Aldrick Rosas, per Dan Duggan of NJ.com (Twitter link). Rosas, 22, is the only kicker on New York’s roster, and he’s never attempted a kick in the NFL. The Giants signed the former undrafted free agent to a futures deal in January. Robbie Gould, Big Blue’s kicker in 2016, signed a two-year, $4MM contract with the 49ers earlier this month.
- Redskins head coach Jay Gruden was upset to hear about the dismissal of former general manager Scot McCloughan. as Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes. “I was disappointed,” Gruden said. “I like Scot. I liked working with Scot. I think he’s a good person and a great talent evaluator. Anytime you lose someone, it’s disappointing. But at the end of the day, it’s professional football. Anyone who has been around it understands that change is going to happen.” Washington isn’t planning to hire a new GM until after the draft.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/29/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed wide receiver Harvey Binford. Binford, 26, participated in Arizona’s “pro combine” last weekend. A former Arena League player, Binford spent last summer with Green Bay but was waived in August. He worked out for the Packers again late last year, but failed to land a contract.
- The Packers have signed guard Justin McCray, the club announced today. Like Binford, McCray has also played in the Arena League. McCray began his career as an undrafted free agent signing with the Titans in 2014, and spent that entire season on Tennessee’s practice squad.
NFC West Rumors: Cards, Seahawks, Rams
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians feels only one 2017 quarterback prospect is ready to play immediately, but he wouldn’t divulge the identity of said player, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. Arizona may be amenable to finding Carson Palmer‘s long-term successor this year, especially after the veteran quarterback flirted with retirement before announcing his intention to return. “It would be one of the best situations for a young quarterback to walk into,” said Arians, noting a youthful signal-caller could sit behind Palmer for a year or two, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- After spending the first four seasons of his career as a running back, Andre Ellington will play receiver for the Cardinals next year, Arians confirmed today (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reported earlier this month Ellington would likely play more receiver than running back in 2017. With Ellington moving to the WR room, the Cardinals may need to another back, as Kerwynn Williams is the only runner on the roster behind David Johnson.
- Running back Marshawn Lynch did not ask Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll to remove him from the reserve/retired list when the pair talked 10 days ago, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Lynch, of course, is reportedly considering a comeback but wants to play for the Raiders, not Seattle. Before any such move can take place, the Seahawks need to process Lynch off the retired list.
- Kicker Steven Hauschka “capped out three times higher” than what the Seahawks were willing to pay, Carroll told reporters, including Condotta (Twitter link). The Bills signed Hauschka to a three-year, $8.85MM deal that includes $4MM in full guarantees, while Seattle went with a far cheaper option. Blair Walsh is the Seahawks’ new kicker after inking a one-year pact worth just north of $1MM.
- Although general manager Les Snead will make the final call on draft day, new Rams head coach Sean McVay and his staff will play a large role in setting the team’s board, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter links). Los Angeles has needs all over the roster, but won’t make a selection until Round Two after trading the farm for Jared Goff in 2016. Under McVay and new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Rams will be running new schemes on both sides of the ball, meaning communication between the field staff and the front office will be crucial as the draft approaches.
- Evan Boehm will enter camp as the Cardinals‘ starting right guard, Arians told reporters, including Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link). Now entering his second NFL season, Boehm started only one game last year and played in just 10.6% of Arizona’s offensive snaps. The Cards are seeking to replace Evan Mathis and Earl Watford, who departed via retirement and free agency, respectively.
Saints Re-Sign TE John Phillips
The Saints have re-signed tight end John Phillips to a one-year deal, the club announced today.
Phillips joined the Saints last November after New Orleans claimed him off waivers from Denver. Over the next two months, Phillips appeared in eight games (four starts) for the Saints, and played on 18.8% of the club’s offensive snaps. The 29-year-old mostly served as a blocker during that time, as he posted only five receptions on seven targets. Phillips does offer special teams value, as well, as he saw time on roughly a fifth of the Saints’ ST snaps in 2016.
In 2017, Phillips will likely play the same role he did last year, acting as New Orleans’ third tight end behind Coby Fleener and Josh Hill. A seven-year veteran, Phillips has never been much of an offensive force, but he did manage 15 catches back in 2011. In addition to the Saints and Broncos, Phillips has also spent time with the Chargers and Cowboys.
Although terms of Phillips’ deal weren’t released, he likely signed a pact at or near the veteran minimum.
Bills Waive DE Scott Crichton
Days after claiming him from the Vikings, the Bills have waived defensive end Scott Crichton after he failed his physical, Buffalo announced today.
Crichton, 25, has never been able to get his career of the ground after being selected in the third round of the 2014 draft. He’s appeared in 21 games over three seasons, but ended the 2015 season on injured reserve and spent the entirety of the 2016 campaign on IR. As such, it’s perhaps unsurprising Crichton was unable to pass a physical once he arrived in Buffalo.
Crichton has one year left on his rookie contract worth $769K. Any club can now claim Crichton off waivers and assume that salary, but given his health status, Crichton will almost assuredly pass through waivers.