Cowboys’ Deadline For Tony Romo Solution Is Training Camp
The Cowboys will make a decision on the future of quarterback Tony Romo before training camp, team owner Jerry Jones told reporters, including Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link).
Earlier this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Romo could stick on the Dallas roster past the draft, but Jones’ deadline extends even further. If the Cowboys hold onto Romo until training camp, he may not find a new club until July. With his options already dwindling (the Broncos seem to be content with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch), Romo may find himself in an untenable situation this summer.
The Texans still stand out as a possible destination for Romo, and the 36-year-old reportedly believes he’ll end up choosing between Houston and retirement. Still, it’s fair to wonder if the Texans — or any other club that may have interest in Romo — is willing to wait until the summer to land its quarterback.
Of course, Romo does have off-the-field options, as both CBS and FOX are courting him as a television analyst.
Chargers Open To Drafting Quarterback
Given that starting quarterback Philip Rivers is 35 years old, and his backup, Kellen Clemens, is 33, the Chargers may start thinking about a successor as soon as the upcoming draft. Speaking at the league meetings earlier today, new Los Angeles head coach Anthony Lynn sounded very amenable to selecting a signal-caller next month, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com details.
“I think we do have to get a young quarterback on campus and start to develop someone, because we have two veteran quarterbacks and both of them are long in the tooth,” Lynn said. “I think they have some good years left in them, don’t get me wrong, but you have to start thinking about down the line, too.
“I would love for a young quarterback to get in here and learn from Philip. Philip is the ultimate pro in my opinion, so it would be a good situation for a young quarteFrback that doesn’t have to come in and play right now, but can sit, watch and learn.”
Although the Chargers have only drafted three quarterbacks — Charlie Whitehurst, Jonathan Crompton, and Brad Sorensen — since Rivers entered the league, the club is scouting prospects for 2017. Los Angeles has worked out both Texas Tech‘s Patrick Mahomes and Notre Dame‘s DeShone Kizer, and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt attended the Pro Day for Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman. Additionally, Los Angeles is thought to have interest in Davis Webb (Cal).
AFC South Notes: Colts, Jags, Titans, Walden
Colts head coach Chuck Pagano believes bringing in a young running back is “paramount,” per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (Twitter link). Indianapolis’ backfield is currently composed of Frank Gore, who is entering his age-34 season, and 27-year-old Robert Turbin, who was recently re-signed on a two-year deal. Backs that could be available when the Colts are on the board at pick No. 15 include Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, and Christian McCaffrey.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- Although the Colts will likely sign a fourth quarterback in the coming weeks, that shouldn’t be taken as a sign the club is worried about Andrew Luck‘s health, tweets Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. New general manager Chris Ballard simply is accustomed to keeping four signal-callers on the offseason roster, a strategy the Chiefs employed when Ballard worked in Kansas City. At present, Indianapolis has Luck, Scott Tolzien, and Stephen Morris under contract.
- The Jaguars are likely to begin extension conversations with the younger members of their roster in the near future, but cornerback Aaron Colvin — who is entering his contract year — is likely to play out the season and hit the open market with the hope of moving to outside corner, a source tells Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida-Times Union. Colvin only played in 10 games in 2016 due to a suspension and an ankle injury, and his playing time will be limited once again in 2017 thanks to the presence of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye.
- Free agent linebacker Erik Walden fired agent Todd France three days after meeting with the Titans earlier this month, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com, who adds Walden has not yet found new representation. Walden’s visit with Tennessee is the only known meeting he’s taken so far this offseason after the Colts informed him he wouldn’t be retained. PFR ranks Walden as the sixth-best edge defender remaining on the board.
- The Titans have promoted offensive assistant Luke Steckel to assistant wide receivers coach, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com (Twitter link). Steckel will now work under Frisman Jackson, whom Tennessee hired as it WRs coach earlier this year. Prior to joining the Titans, Steckel spent four seasons in Cleveland as an assistant to the head coach
Jets Notes: QBs, McCown, Catanzaro, Ijalana
The Jets will stage a competition at quarterback in 2017, and Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, and Christian Hackenberg will all be given a chance to win the job, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters, including Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). McCown signed a one-year deal that comes with $6MM guaranteed and $7MM available via incentives, so the 37-year-old has to be considered the favorite in any sort of battle. But Hackenberg, specifically, could be handed a shot to play in 2017 after being selected in the second round of last year’s draft.
Here’s more out of New York:
- Bowles would not rule out the possibility of the Jets drafting a quarterback with the sixth overall pick, and as such, is open to keeping four signal-callers on the roster for the second consecutive season, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY and Connor Hughes of NJ.com (Twitter links). Gang Green has been lined to the majority of the quarterbacks at the top of the draft — including Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer, and could conceivably land one at No. 6. The Jets have no interest in adding another veteran QB, however.
- New York will add competition “from somewhere” for new kicker Chandler Catanzaro, Bowles said, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Without specifics, that means the Jets could add another kicker in free agency, the draft, or in undrafted free agency. Catanzaro, who signed a one-year deal with $250K guaranteed after being cut loose by Arizona, converted only 75% of his field goal attempts in 2016.
- After not employing a fullback in 2016 under former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, the Jets may sign an FB this offseason, per Bowles (Twitter link via Cimini). New play-caller John Morton may want a fullback, as the Saints (Morton’s former employer) used one on roughly a quarter of their plays. New York recently met with free agent fullback Will Johnson.
- Offensive lineman Ben Ijalana‘s two-year deal is worth $10.25MM and contains $3MM guaranteed, tweets Cimini. Ijalana, who will play right tackle opposite Kelvin Beachum, will count for $4.25MM on the Jets’ 2017 salary cap before the club decides on a 2018 option worth $6MM.
Draft Rumors: Tabor, Lamp, Charlton, Conley
Although Florida cornerback Teez Tabor has generally been viewed as a first-round pick, his times in the 40-yard dash may push his draft stock down. After posting a disappointing 4.62 time at the scouting combine, Tabor put up an even worse time at Florida’s Pro Day, finishing the sprint in 4.75 seconds, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who notes that any time greater than 4.6 seconds is a red-flag for cornerbacks.
Here’s more on the 2017 draft:
- Most NFL teams believe Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp will be selected in the 20s, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Lamp will likely play guard in the NFL after playing tackle in college, but he offers versatility that intrigues clubs, as he could slide to the blindside or even to center if needed. Following his Pro Day, Lamp had dinner with the Chargers‘ staff, writes Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who reported last week that a number of clubs are interested in Lamp.
- The Saints have “shown a lot of interest” in Michigan edge defender Taco Charlton, tweets Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune. Last week, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reported Charlton has visits lined up with Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Miami in addition to New Orleans. Charlton ranks as Todd McShay of ESPN.com’s No. 17 overall player, and the ESPN scribes calls Charlton “one of the more underrated players” in the draft.
- Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley will take a predraft visit with the Browns on Friday, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Although Conley attended college in-state, he won’t work out at Cleveland’s local prospect day, meaning he will count against the Browns’ 30-prospect limit. Conley is a projected first-round pick, and could be in the mix for the Browns at pick No. 12.
- The Cowboys are meeting with UConn safety Obi Melifonwu today, a source tells Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Dallas is in dire need of secondary help after losing both Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox in free agency. Currently, special-teamer Jeff Heath is the starter next to Byron Jones at safety. A number of teams — including the Buccaneers, Steelers, Seahawks, and Saints — have expressed interest is Melifonwu.
Scot McCloughan Unlikely To Rejoin Seattle
Former Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan has been in touch with the Seahawks GM John Schneider, but there are “no plans at this time” for McCloughan to rejoin the Seattle front office, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. McCloughan worked for the Seahawks from 2010-13 as a senior personnel executive.
McCloughan, notably, was fired as Washington’s general manager on the first day of free agency earlier this month. Although McCloughan has a history of alcohol abuse, reports vary as to whether that problem reared its head during his run with the Redskins. Mike Jones of the Washington Post was told team management would one day use McCloughan’s drinking as an excuse to fire him. Yesterday, Redskins president Bruce Allen pushed back against reports that McCloughan’s ouster was motivated by jealousy.
Despite any off-field concerns, most around the NFL would agree McCloughan is an excellent talent evaluator. Prior to his stint with the Redskins, McCloughan was the driving force behind the 49ers’ run of success in the early 2010s, and also helped build the Seahawks’ core during his tenure in Seattle. Per Kapadia, McCloughan is currently exploring other opportunities, although it’s unclear if those jobs are in the NFL.
Eagles Sign Patrick Robinson
The Eagles have signed cornerback Patrick Robinson to a one-year deal, the club announced. The pact is worth $1MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Eagles Sign Chris Long]
Philadelphia’s two major needs heading into the offseason were wide receiver and cornerback, and while the Eagles tackled wideout by adding Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in free agency, the club was still hunting for help in its secondary. Robinson will join a defensive backfield that is currently comprised by Ron Brooks, Jalen Mills, Dwayne Gratz, and C.J. Smith. Even after inking Robinson, Philadelphia will likely still target more cornerbacks, either through free agency or the draft.
Robinson, 29, signed a three-year, $14MM deal that contained $6MM with the Colts in 2016. Injuries, including a concussion and groin and knee ailments, nagged Robinson during his first season in Indianapolis, and he ultimately played in only seven games. The Eagles, however, are hoping Robinson can rebound to the level of play he displayed in 2015 with the Chargers.
Robinson ranked as PFR’s fourth-best free agent corner heading into today, behind Nickell Robey-Coleman, Darrelle Revis, and Brandon Flowers.
Cowboys Extend Scott Linehan, Rod Marinelli
The Cowboys have extended the contracts of offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, a source tells Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram. Dallas has also signed special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia to an extension, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Linehan, specifically, had two years added to his deal, meaning he is now signed through the 2019 campaign.
[RELATED: Cowboys Extend Jason Witten]
Linehan, 53, has been with the Cowboys since 2014, and assumed the title of offensive coordinator in 2015. Despite seeing starting quarterback Tony Romo go down in the preseason, Linehan led an offense that finished third in DVOA in 2016, getting contributions from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott (and a league-best offensive line) en route to a postseason berth. Linehan, who has also called plays for Minnesota, Miami, and Detroit, was the Rams’ head coach from 2005-08.
Marinelli, too, has been a head coach before, as he lead the Lions from 2006-08 (and was infamously in charge of Detroit’s 0-16 roster). The 67-year-old has posted much better results as a defensive coordinator, and that’s the role he’s held in Dallas since 2014. The Cowboys finished 17th in defensive DVOA last season, but Marinelli will have his work cut out for him in 2017 after the club lost Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr, Barry Church, and J.J. Wilcox to free agency.
Raiders Eyeing Gabe Jackson Extension
The Raiders hope to secure long-term agreements with quarterback Derek Carr and edge rusher Khalil Mack, and a third member of the club’s 2014 draft class is also up for a new deal. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie mentioned right guard Gabe Jackson‘s name in regards to possible extension, tweets Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com, who adds the Raiders “love” Jackson.
[RELATED: NFL Approves Raiders’ Move To Vegas]
Without extensions in place, the Raiders can still hold onto Carr and Mack for several more seasons via the fifth-year option (Mack in 2018) and the franchise tag (Carr in 2018 and Mack in 2019). No such fifth-year option exists for Jackson given he was a third-round pick, and the franchise tender isn’t usually palatable for an interior lineman. As such, a long-term deal with Jackson would not only allow Oakland to keep its excellent offensive line in place, but enable the club to focus on deals for Carr and Mack.
Jackson, 25, has been a full-time starter since entering the league of out Mississippi State, and has appeared in 45 games during his three-year stint in Oakland. Last season, Jackson graded as the league’s No. 20 offensive guard among 72 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The Raiders’ offensive line, which also includes stars Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, and Donald Penn, ranked first in pass protection in 2016, allowing an adjusted sack rate of just 3.4%, according to Football Outsiders.
The Raiders have ample cap space in which to fit long-term pacts for Carr, Mack, and Jackson, as the the team has $33MM in 2017 space and $76MM in 2018 (both amounts are among the league’s top five). Jackson, meanwhile, will earn $1.797MM in 2017 under the terms of the proven performance escalator.
Lions Notes: Levy, Boldin, Quinn, Becton
The Lions released linebacker DeAndre Levy rather than asking him to accept a paycut because the club wants to get younger on defense, general manager Bob Quinn told reporters, including Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (Twitter link). Detroit’s current linebackers — Tahir Whitehead, Paul Worrilow, Thurston Armbrister, and Antwione Williams — are all 27 years old or younger, while Levy is now 30 and had only played in six games over the past two seasons.
Here’s more from the Motor City:
- Detroit is still “open for business” during the free agent period, says Quinn (Twitter link via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). The Lions have been involved in the open market, especially along the offensive line, where the team added T.J. Lang and Ricky Wanger to fortify the right side. Additionally, the Lions made several low-cost signings such as cornerback D.J. Hayden, tight end Darren Fells, and defensive lineman Cornelius Washington and Akeem Spence.
- One free agent the Lions may sign is veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin, as Quinn indicates the club still has interest in retaining the 36-year-old, tweets Rogers. Boldin has already indicated he’ll return for a 15th NFL season, but he may not sign with a club until later this summer. On 95 targets, Boldin managed 67 receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. The Ravens, meanwhile, are also interested in a reunion with Boldin.
- The Lions recently met with free agent offensive tackle Nick Becton, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Becton, 27, was an undrafted free agent in 2013, and has since spent time with the Chargers, Giants, Saints, and Bears. He hasn’t appeared in a game since 2015, when he played in five contests for Chicago.