5 Key Stories: 3/19/17 – 3/27/17
Viva Las Vegas. The Raiders appear all but certain to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas, as team owner Mark Davis is reportedly “dead set” on moving his club to Sin City. NFL owners are expected to vote on the issue tomorrow, and the Raiders will likely pay a far cheaper relocation fee than either the Ram or Chargers did. Commissioner Roger Goodell and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf have sent each other dueling letters, with Schaaf attempting to lay out the city’s argument for keeping the team and Goodell arguing that no such solution exists.
Saints looking at Johnny Manziel. As New Orleans tries to find a successor to Drew Brees, it’s apparently checking out an unorthodox option, as head coach Sean Payton was seen having breakfast with former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel, of course, flamed out of the league after multiple off-field incidents and ineffective play, but is reportedly making a renewed commitment to sobriety. Reports earlier this month indicated league-wide interest in Manziel, and while the Saints may not sign him at this time, Manziel could make a comeback in the near future.
The Jets find a quarterback. While he’s a not a particularly inspiring option, Josh McCown will give the Jets more stability at the quarterback position than they had in 2016 after agreeing to a one-year, $6MM contract last week. Gang Green has been linked to Jay Cutler and other veteran signal-callers this offseason, but after inking McCown, the club is unlikely to add another experienced option. McCown, 37, has struggled to stay healthy recently, so Bryce Petty and/or Christian Hackenberg could conceivably garner starts in 2017.
Adrian Peterson is still waiting. Although some reports have indicated Adrian Peterson‘s asking price is keeping him on the open market, Peterson himself took to Twitter to say he’s not demanding an $8MM salary and wants to play for a winning club. The Packers have some interest in Peterson, but likely won’t have him in for a visit until the draft is complete, at which point Green Bay can further assess its options in the backfield.
Beast Mode to Oakland? The Raiders are still trying to lure former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, and Lynch is interested in a return, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported it’s the “Raiders or bust” for Lynch, meaning the 30-year-old won’t play for any club besides Oakland. Lynch’s agent claims he hasn’t spoken to his client about a comeback, but didn’t that the itch to play football is still there.
PFR Originals: 3/19/17 – 3/26/17
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- More than 40 restricted free agents were offered tenders earlier this month, and rival clubs now have until April 21 to sign those RFAs to offer sheets. Center Ryan Groy already inked an offer sheet that was subsequently matched by the Bills, while the Saints are trying to land Patriots RFA Malcolm Butler.
- The Spring League will feature some notable names such as Greg Hardy, Ben Tate, and Kellen Winslow when it kicks off next month, and Pro Football Rumors reported that an additional 30 players are scheduled to join the four-team league before its inaugural campaign.
- Prior to the Jets signing Josh McCown, Sam Robinson asked PFR readers to rank their favorites for the New York starting quarterback job in 2017. At last check, Jay Cutler held the plurality of votes over McCown, Bryce Petty, and Trevor Siemian, but now that he’s officially under contract, McCown sill likely be under center come Week 1.
- Zach Links answered questions from readers in our latest PFR Live Chat.
Roger Goodell Addresses Raiders Relocation
With the hope retaining the Raiders, city of Oakland and mayor Libby Schaaf submitted an updated stadium proposal last week, but commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t particularly impressed with the specifics of the plan, as he detailed in a letter to Schaaf, per David Debolt of the East Bay Times.
“The material that we reviewed earlier today confirms certain information that had previously been communicated orally, such as a willingness to bring bank financing to a stadium project, and a proposed valuation of the land at the Coliseum site,” Goodell wrote to Schaaf. “It also confirms that key issues that we have identified as threshold considerations are simply not resolvable in a reasonable time. In that respect, the information sent today does not present a proposal that is clear and specific, actionable in a reasonable timeframe, and free of major contingencies.”
In other words, Schaaf’s “updated” strategy was not updated at all, but rather a rehashing of the same plan the city had been presenting for some time. Indeed, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reported Friday that Oakland’s new plan “did not move the chains forward,” while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets neither the NFL nor the Raiders have a different view of the situation as a result of Schaaf’s letter.
“Despite all of these efforts, ours and yours, we have not yet identified a viable solution,” Goodell wrote. “It is disappointing to me and our clubs to have come to that conclusion.”
Instead, the Raiders’ intention to relocate to Las Vegas appears all but finalized, and NFL owners are expected to vote Monday on the club’s plan. The Raiders and owner Mark Davis will need to garner 24 votes (out of 32) in order to move to Sin City, at which point they’ll pay a cheaper relocation fee than did the Rams and Chargers to move to Los Angeles. Additionally, the Raiders have secured a record $750MM in public money for a $1.9 billion stadium in Vegas.
Pauline’s Latest: Packers, Vikings, Seahawks
Offensive lineman Forrest Lamp is starting to look like a Round 1 lock, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Lamp, a Western Kentucky product, 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. The Packers and Vikings both have interest in Lamp, per Pauline, as do the Seahawks. The Falcons, Panthers, and Titans have all put Lamp through a workout, reports Pauline.
Let’s take a look at the latest on the 2017 draft, all courtesy of Pauline:
- Like Lamp, Washington cornerback Kevin King will probably sneak into the back end of Day 1, says Pauline. Not only does King offer size (6’3″, 200 pounds), but he impressed scouts with a 4.43 40-yard dash. Plus, injuries to fellow defensive backs Sidney Jones and Fabian Moreau means other corners, such as King, will see their stock rise as the draft approaches, as supply no longer meets demand. The Buccaneers have worked out King, while the Jets plan to do the same, per Pauline.
- Scouts view North Carolina State safety Josh Jones as a top-50 pick, according to Pauline, and a number of clubs have already expressed interest. Jones has worked out for the Jaguars and will meet with the Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins, and Jets. While Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com ranks Jones as just the seventh-best safety on the board, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com places Jones within his top-50 players (No. 48).
- The Jaguars have visited with Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis, reports Pauline, and the Eagles, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Cowboys all plan to meet with the edge rusher, as well. Even with that level of interest, Willis will still likely end up being selected at the beginning of the second round rather than at the end of the first, writes Pauline. The Saints have already put Willis through a workout.
Latest On Johnathan Hankins
While free agent defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is still searching for a long-term deal on the open market, “optimism has increased” among Giants players who believe Hankins will ultimately re-sign with New York, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Indeed, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post suggest there’s a “good shot” Hankins agrees to a new deal with the Giants.
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Hankins, 24, is the best free agent still left on the board — he’s one of only five of PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents left unsigned, and he also ranks as PFR’s best free agent interior defender. Despite that fact, Hankins’ market has been slow to evolve, as the Dolphins are the only external club known to have been in communication with the defensive tackle. Miami, however, is only looking for a rotational lineman to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips.
The Giants, meanwhile, are open to re-upping Hankins, but only at their price, which is rumored to be around $4MM. Hankins, however, is hoping to land a deal in the $10MM range. Big Blue is reportedly pushing for a quick answer from Hankins, who may want to keep hunting for a better offer. Much of the league views Hankins as a two-down player, though, meaning a superior proposal may not exist.
Draft Rumors: Webb, Njoku, Peppers, Allen
Multiple clubs have informed Cal quarterback Davis Webb they view him as a “first-round talent,” tweets Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report indicated earlier this week that Webb could be selected in the first round, and noted as many as five clubs had expressed interest in the 6’5″ signal-caller. That number has now grown to 12, per Branch, and Webb has met with the Cardinals and Steelers, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com.
Here’s more on the 2017 draft:
- Miami tight end David Njoku visited with the Panthers, as Njoku told the Rich Eisen Show (video link) earlier this week. Njoku, who registered 43 receptions and eight touchdowns last season, is expected to be one of two first-round picks at tight end, joining Alabama’s O.J. Howard. The Buccaneers and Giants are also reportedly eyeing Njoku, who is just 20 years old.
- The Buccaneers, Saints, and Cardinals have all conducted meetings with Michigan defender Jabrill Peppers, reports Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Debate has emerged regarding what position Peppers will play in the NFL, as though Peppers views himself as a safety, some clubs may see him as a linebacker. Per Peppers, 30 teams wants him to play safety, one wants him to play linebacker, and one outlier views Peppers as an offensive player, tweets Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com.
- Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen says he’s only met with with the Bears thus far in the draft process, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Allen, viewed as one this year’s best defensive prospects, could see his stock fall thanks to a shoulder injury. Some scouts believe Allen could drop into the No. 12-17 range after initially being projected as a top-five pick.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/25/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Colts have signed long snapper Joe Fortunato, the club announced earlier this week. Fortunato appeared in 46 games during his four-year run at the University of Delaware from 2012-15. After going undrafted in 2016, Fortunato hasn’t drawn any known interest from any other clubs, but he’ll now have a shot to stick on Indianapolis’ roster. However, Fortunato is likely to serve simply as offseason depth, as the Colts already boast Matt Overton — a five-year pro with a Pro Bowl berth under his belt — as their long snapper.
FB Will Johnson Visited Falcons, Jets
Free agent fullback Will Johnson recently met with the Falcons and Jets, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.
Johnson, 27, was released by the Giants earlier this month, although he suggested he could end up re-signing with Big Blue on a cheaper deal. After spending four seasons in Pittsburgh (and appearing in 63 games during that period), Johnson missed the entirety of the 2016 campaign after suffering nerve damage in his deltoid muscle.
Atlanta signed two fullbacks — including veteran Derrick Coleman — earlier this week, but that shouldn’t stop the club from taking a look at Johnson. Last season, the Falcons deployed a fullback with regularity, as Patrick DiMarco played 324 offensive snaps, third among all NFL fullbacks. DiMarco has since signed with the Bills, leaving a void in Atlanta’s offense.
The Jets were on the other end of the spectrum in terms of fullback use: Julian Howsare lead all Gang Green fullbacks with a whopping three offensive snaps. Former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey didn’t utilize the fullback in his scheme, but new play-caller John Morton may want to, as the Saints (Morton’s former employer) used a fullback on roughly a quarter of their plays. New York doesn’t currently have a fullback on its roster.
Updates On 2017’s Restricted Free Agents
The deadline for NFL restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with rival clubs is April 21, so RFAs have just under a month to discuss deals with other teams. So far, only one RFA — interior offensive lineman Ryan Groy — has inked an offer sheet, but the Bills matched the terms of the pact, meaning he’ll head back to Buffalo.
Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, tendered at the first-round level, is reportedly negotiating a contract with the Saints, although most observers don’t expect New Orleans to sacrifice the No. 11 overall pick in order to sign Butler, with a trade involving a later selection viewed as far more likely. Elsewhere, Browns running back Isaiah Crowell is also drawing interest, although clubs would need to give up a second-round pick in order to sign him.
In total, more than 40 restricted free agents have been tendered this offseason. Let’s take a look at where things stand with those RFAs:
Signed to offer sheet:
- Ryan Groy, OL: Signed two-year, $5MM offer sheet with Rams. Matched by Bills.
First-round tender ($3.91MM):
- Malcolm Butler, CB (Patriots)
Second-round tender ($2.746MM):
- Trey Burton, TE (Eagles)
- Isaiah Crowell, RB (Browns)
- Todd Davis, LB (Broncos)
- Taylor Gabriel, WR (Falcons)
- Dontrelle Inman, WR (Chargers)
- Wesley Johnson, C (Jets)
- Brandon McManus, K (Broncos)
- Andrew Norwell, G (Panthers)
- Chris Thompson, RB (Redskins)
- Marcus Williams, CB (Jets)
Original round / right of first refusal tender ($1.797MM):
- Denico Autry, DE (Raiders)
- Marcus Burley, CB (Browns)
- Michael Campanaro, WR (Ravens)
- Ross Cockrell, CB (Steelers)
- Will Compton, LB (Redskins)
- Dominique Easley, DT (Rams)
- Cameron Fleming, T (Patriots)
- Garry Gilliam, T (Seahawks)
- Mike Gillislee, RB (Bills)
- Ryan Griffin, QB (Buccaneers)
- Chris Hubbard, T (Steelers)
- James Hurst, T (Ravens)
- Ryan Jensen, OL (Ravens)
- Cornelius Lucas, T (Lions)
- Cairo Santos, K (Chiefs)
- Jacquies Smith, DE (Buccaneers)
- Michael Thomas, S (Dolphins)
- Korey Toomer, LB (Chargers)
- Terrance West, RB (Ravens)
- Ethan Westbrooks, DE (Rams)
- Damien Williams, RB (Dolphins)
- Albert Wilson, WR (Chiefs)
- Kerry Wynn, DE (Giants)
Tendered, then extended:
- Kiko Alonso, LB (Dolphins): Tendered at first-round level before signing three-year deal.
- T.J. Johnson, OL (Bengals): Tendered at original round level before signing two-year deal
- Daniel Sorensen, S (Chiefs): Tendered at second-round level before signing four-year deal.
- Adam Thielen, WR (Vikings): Tendered at second-round level before signing three-year deal
Tendered, then withdrawn:
- Marqueston Huff, S (Ravens)
- Jumal Rolle, CB (Ravens)
North Notes: Cribbs, Vikings, Ravens, Ross
Former ace return man Josh Cribbs has officially retired from the NFL, the Browns announced today. Cribbs, 33, hasn’t played since the 2014 campaign, but was a force when he was on the field. In eight seasons with Cleveland, Cribbs earned two All Pro and three Pro Bowl berths. Along with Leon Washington, Cribbs is the NFL’s all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns with eight.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Before he signed with the Eagles, the Vikings expressed interest in free agent wide receiver Torrey Smith, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. Smith ultimately signed with Philadelphia for one year and $5MM on a contract that contains two option years and only $500K guaranteed. The Vikings, meanwhile, haven’t added to their wideout corps this offseason, but they did tender — and then extend — restricted free agent Adam Thielen.
- The Ravens will conduct a predraft visit with Washington wide receiver John Ross, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Ross, who notably ran a 4.22 40-yard dash at the combine earlier this month, underwent shoulder surgery last week, so Baltimore will presumably check in on the status of his injury. As Hensley notes, the Ravens could use a wideout after losing both Steve Smith (retirement) and Kamar Aiken (free agency).
- The Vikings announced that new running back Latavius Murray underwent ankle surgery today, an operation the club was aware would be required when they signed Murray to a three-year deal last week. Minnesota fully expects Murray to be available when training camp begins this summer. Murray’s injury was “not a secret” as he took free agent visits, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.