AFC Rumors: Steelers, Jets, Broncos, Fins
Less than 24 hours before the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period, conflicting reports have emerged regarding Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor. While Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com indicates the Steelers will be one of several teams to pursue Pryor this week, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link) says Pittsburgh doesn’t have any interest in Pryor, at least at the $10MM+ he’s expected to command. The Giants, 49ers, Eagles, and Titans have also been linked to Pryor, whom Cleveland is attempting to re-sign.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- The Jets‘ reported interest in free agent quarterback Mike Glennon is “largely overblown,” according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. General manager Mike Maccagnan and staff have been linked to Glennon several occasions, but the club’s front office doesn’t believe the Buccaneers backup quarterback is worth the $14MM he’s likely to command on the open market. Ultimately, New York thinks Glennon will land with the Bears, who have also been connected to the free agent signal-caller.
- Adding reinforcements along the lines will be the primary objective of the Broncos this offseason, as Troy Renck of Denver7 reports in a pair of articles. On offense, Denver is expected to be especially aggressive in signing a right guard, while the club will give Max Garcia another chance to lock down left guard. On defense, the Broncos will likely target mid-range options. Although they missed out on Earl Mitchell, the Broncos were linked to free agent Chris Baker earlier tonight.
- If the Dolphins lose wide receiver Kenny Stills to free agency, they will sign a veteran pass-catcher in the coming weeks, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Miami isn’t certain that 2016 third-round pick Leonte Carroo is ready to take over as the club’s third receiver, per Jackson, who points to Ted Ginn, Terrance Williams, Aldrick Robinson, and Marquise Goodwin as potential options.
Pauline’s Latest: Savage, 49ers, Conley
Although some around the league reportedly believe the Texans are the best fit for quarterback Tony Romo, other front office members don’t see the fit, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. If Romo does land in Houston, the Texans could end up trading fellow signal-caller Tom Savage to the 49ers, per Pauline. San Francisco is known to be in the quarterback market, and have been tied to options like Mike Glennon, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Kirk Cousins.
Here’s more from Pauline:
- A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gilmore will ink new contracts and set the market for free agent cornerbacks before Logan Ryan and Dre Kirkpatrick sign deals, reports Pauline. Although Bouye is apparently far apart in talks with the Texans, a feeling exists that he could re-sign with Houston at a cost of $12MM per season. Ryan and Kirkpatrick, PFR’s No. 2 and No. 5 free agent corners, respectively, could earn $10-11MM annually, per Pauline.
- While the 2017 cornerback draft class doesn’t offer as much top-end talent as the safety class, it does boast more depth, opines Pauline. UCLA’s Fabian Moreau, for example, won’t be selected in the first round, but most scouts expect him to come off the board within the first 15 picks of Day 2, according to Pauline.
- Some evaluators believe Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley is a superior player to former Buckeye defensive back Eli Apple, who was drafted 10th overall by the Giants in 2016. Conley, per Pauline, could be the “steal” of the cornerback position.
AFC South Rumors: Jaguars, Texans, Titans
Former Jaguars defensive lineman Jared Odrick has filed a $5.5MM grievance against the club as a result of Jacksonville voiding his guarantees while claiming Odrick didn’t undergo the proper treatment during rehab, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Odrick was released by the Jaguars in late February after two seasons with the team. Per Pelissero, the issue of Jacksonville forcing players to complete rehab at the Jags’ facility has been resolved.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- Mutual interest exists between the Texans and free agent tight end Ryan Griffin, but no deal is imminent and Griffin is expected to use free agency to gauge his value, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. It’s unclear at present whether Griffin will be able to slide into the $4-5MM per year range, but other clubs are likely to be interested in the 27-year-old. In 2016, Griffin posted 50 receptions for 442 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (two starts).
- The Titans will let former first-round picks Kendall Wright and Chance Warmack walk in free agency, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Wright admitted earlier this year that he was ready to leave Tennessee, where he’s managed only 65 receptions over the past two years. On the other end of the spectrum, the Titans do want to retain veteran tight end Anthony Fasano, and “some level of conversation” is occurring between the two parties, according to Kuharsky.
- In case you missed it, the Colts won’t be re-signing veteran safety Mike Adams, who’d spent the past three years in Indianapolis.
Bills Tender RFA RB Mike Gillislee
The Bills have assigned restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee the original round/right of first refusal tender, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. As such, Gillislee is now slated to earn $1.797MM for the 2017 campaign, but Buffalo will attempt to hammer out an extension with its backup runner, per Rapoport.
[RELATED: Bills Interested In Kamar Aiken]
Typically, PFR won’t devote a full post to restricted free agents that aren’t tendered at the first- or second-round level. But Gillislee is an intriguing case, especially given that he could interest another team given the slight draft pick compensation attached to him. While the Bills reportedly don’t want to lose Gillislee, they haven’t placed much of a barrier between him and an offer sheet.
Because Gillislee was drafted in the fifth round, a rival club would only have to sacrifice a fifth-rounder in order to sign away the 26-year-old back. Buffalo would have the option of matching any contract offered by another team, but for another $1MM or so, the Bills could have placed the second-round tender on Gillislee and likely warded off any potential suitors. Gillislee, who appeared in 15 games last season, averaged an NFL-best 5.7 yards per carry on 101 attempts behind LeSean McCoy.
Of course, that extra $1MM could be important for the Bills this offseason, as the club only has about $22.5MM in cap space and several free agents — including Stephon Gilmore and Robert Woods — it could consider re-signing.
NFC South Rumors: Falcons, Panthers, Bucs
Wide receiver Julio Jones underwent surgery to remove a bunion from his foot and is expected to be sidelined four-to-five months, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. That timeline won’t affect Jones’ availability for the regular season, as he’s expected to ready for Falcons training camp in late July.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- The Panthers plan to tender restricted free agent guard Andrew Norwell before Thursday’s deadline, a source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Norwell has started 38 games for Carolina dating back to 2014 and started in all 16 contests last year. The 25-year-old Norwell graded as the league’s No. 11 guard in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, so the Panthers aren’t going to be able to assign him an original round tender if they hope to dissuade other clubs from stealing their starting guard. The second-round tender, with a price tag of $2.746MM, is the more likely route.
- Clubs interested in free agent quarterback Mike Glennon were reportedly unclear on who was acting as the Buccaneers‘ backup’s agent, but as teams assumed, David Dunn of Athletes First is officially serving as Glennon’s counsel, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Glennon, now the top quarterback on the open market after Washington franchised Kirk Cousins, is expected to garner $14-15MM annually, and has received interest from the Jets, Bears, and 49ers.
- Although mutual interest exists between the Saints and Sterling Moore, the veteran cornerback is expected to reach free agency before possibly agreeing to a new deal with New Orleans, reports Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Moore, 27, ended up starting 12 games for the Saints in 2016 after signing a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract.
Adrian Peterson To Consider Pats Discount?
Pending free agent running back Adrian Peterson would “consider” taking a below-market deal in order to sign with the Patriots, a source tells Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. Peterson will hit the open market on Thursday after the Vikings declined his 2017 option.
[RELATED: Patriots To Re-Sign James Develin]
The Patriots typically don’t pay running backs more than $2MM, as Guregian notes, but New England could be willing to up that figure in order to land a back of Peterson’s caliber. Given that they expect to lose LeGarrette Blount to free agency, the Patriots may be on the lookout for a bigger back, a role that Peterson could fill aptly. New England’s running back depth chart also includes Dion Lewis, James White, and D.J. Foster.
Since the Vikings’ announcement that they wouldn’t exercise Peterson’s option, most of the reports surrounding the future Hall of Famer have involved clubs’ lack of interest. The Buccaneers and Giants were though to be potential suitors, but neither is now expected to aggressively pursue Peterson. The Raiders, though, still stand as one logical destination for the 31-year-old running back.
Peterson, who was limited to only three games in 2016, ranks as PFR’s No. 32 free agent and No. 2 available running back.
Pierre Garcon Requested Trade In 2016
Pierre Garcon requested a trade from the Redskins early in the 2016 season, as Chad Dukes of 106.7 The Fan first reported. John Keim of ESPN.com has since confirmed the news (Twitter links), and secured comment from Garcon’s agent, Brad Cicala. “Once it didn’t happen we respected it,” said Cicala. “We respect their interest and we were definitely interested in returning.”
[RELATED: Latest On DeSean Jackson’s Market]
Garcon, whom ranks as PFR’s seventh-best available wide receiver and No. 24 overall free agent, first heard from the Redskins about a potential new deal this week. Clearly, while Garcon’s agent indicates the 30-year-old pass-catcher is willing to return to Washington, the mere fact that he asked for a trade means that something was off was last season. Again, it’s impossible to know exactly what led Garcon to request out of the nation’s capital, but it’s likely to affect his view of the club as he looks for a new contract.
The Redskins could be faced with losing both Garcon and fellow free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson, as both are expected to command yearly salaries north of $9MM. Garcon should face no shortage of suitors after posting his second career 1,000-yard season, and the Rams, Eagles, Bears, Cowboys, and 49ers have already been mentioned as possible fits.
Colts Won’t Re-Sign S Mike Adams
The Colts don’t intend to re-sign free agent safety Mike Adams, as Adams himself posted on Instagram that today was his “last day” with Indianapolis. Adams later confirmed to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link) that the Colts intend to pursue younger players on the defensive side of the ball.
[RELATED: Darius Butler Wants To Play Safety]
Adams, 36, later this month, was something of a journeyman before joining the Colts prior to the 2014 campaign, as he’d spent time with 49ers, Browns, and Broncos. But over the past three seasons, Adams has become a legitimately above-average starter, and earned two Pro Bowl nods during that time. In 2016, Adams started 15 games, racked up 79 tackles, and posted two interceptions.
Adams placed as the No. 14 safety on PFR’s positional free agent ranks, and while he won’t be in for a long-term deal given his age, he could make a nice stopgap for a contending team. On the free agent market, he’ll compete with other safeties including Tony Jefferson, Duron Harmon, and Barry Church.
Cowboys Bracing To Lose Free Agents
The Cowboys’ list of pending free agents is rife with talented players, including cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox, and wide receiver Terrance Williams, but Dallas might not be able to retain many (if any) of their unsigned free agents, as Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram reports the Cowboys “could lose them all.”
[RELATED: Tony Romo Wants To Join Broncos]
At present, the Cowboys rank last in the league with just $3.3MM in cap space, and as such, don’t figure to be aggressive in the early goings of free agency, per Hill, who adds Dallas will “let the market come back to them.” At wideout, the Cowboys won’t be a factor in the Williams sweepstakes if his value approaches the $7MM range (as is expected), but the club will attempt to re-sign fellow free agent pass-catcher Brice Butler if the price is right.
In the secondary, the Cowboys won’t retain both Carr and Claiborne and could potentially lose both, while Church will also price himself out of Dallas’ range if he lands a contract north of $7MM (Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports reported $5MM as the Church sweet spot earlier today). The Cowboys are reportedly open to starting Jeff Heath at safety opposite Byron Jones, per Hill, which lessens the need to re-sign either Church or Wilcox.
Dallas still plans to target a wide receiver and pass rusher this offseason, but owner Jerry Jones believes those needs can be addressed either through the draft or the second wave of free agency, according to Hill.
Kawann Short To Sign Franchise Tag Soon
Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short is expected to sign his franchise tender at some point this week, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
[RELATED: Panthers To Pursue Barry Church]
Short would have been the best interior defender on the open market had he reached free agency, but the Panthers opted to assign him the franchise tag, which will pay Short a fully guaranteed $13.387MM for the 2017 season. Short has expressed a willingness to sign the tender in the recent past, confessing that he wouldn’t take the same stance former Carolina franchise player Josh Norman did in 2016. “I wouldn’t fight it or anything,” said Short, who was unable to reach a long-term deal with the Panthers last offseason.
The 28-year-old Short, who graded as the league’s No. 3 interior defender last season per Pro Football Focus, would have until later this summer to ink an extension with the Panthers after signing the tag. Short earned a base salary of just over $1MM during the 2016 campaign.
Earlier today, Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson became the first 2017 franchise player to sign his tender.