NFC Notes: Giants, Vikes, Bucs, Bears, 49ers
The Giants are trying to bring back every key member of their excellent defense, and while that would include retaining Johnathan Hankins, re-signing the 325-pound defensive tackle is easier said than done, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. Hankins managed three sacks and 10 quarterback hits from the defensive interior, and given that he’s still only 24 years old, Hankins figures to break the bank in free agency. After speaking to a panel that includes executives and agents, Raanan pegs Hankins’ value at five years, $43MM, with $18MM in guarantees.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Vikings made a “strong push” for free agent cornerback K’Waun Williams, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, but ultimately lost out to the 49ers. Williams, 25, didn’t play in 2016 while dealing with an ankle injury, but would have given Minnesota another slot option given that Captain Munnerlyn is a free agent. Per Goessling, Williams’ relationship with San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley heavily factored into his decision to head to the Bay Area.
- Pending free agent quarterback Mike Glennon has left his representation at Vanguard Sports and Athletes First, but he’s expected to re-sign with Athletes First agent David Dunn, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal. Glennon, 27, hasn’t played regularly for the Buccaneers since his rookie season in 2013, but if Kirk Cousins sees the franchise tag as expected, Glennon will be the top quarterback on the market.
- Offensive lineman Eric Kush‘s new two-year deal with the Bears is worth $2.5MM and contains $500K in full guarantees, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Kush, 27, started four games and played 279 offensive snaps on an injury-filled Chicago front five last year, but he’s projected to serve as depth in 2017.
- The 49ers announced that they’ve hired Stan Kwan (assistant special teams), Vince Oghobaase (asssistant defensive line), and Adam Stenavich (assistant offensive line). While Oghobaase is a holdover from the Chip Kelly regime, Kwan and Stenavich are new additions. Kwan was relieved of his duties as a Saints assistant earlier this year after spending four years in New Orleans.
Pats Unlikely To Retain Martellus Bennett?
Martellus Bennett is set to hit the free agent market on March 9, and although a “mutually respectful relationship” exists between he and the Patriots, Bennett may leave for a better offer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), who adds there’s a “real possibility” Bennett is suiting up for another club in 2017.
[RELATED: Tom Brady, Patriots Begin Extension Talks]
Although Rapoport alludes to Bennett’s asking price without naming a specific figure, Bennett reportedly turned down a $7MM per year extension offer from New England before the 2016 campaign got underway. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com previously reported that the Patriots explored adding only a single year to Bennett’s deal, which would explain why Bennett rejected the proposal. Speaking shortly after New England’s Super Bowl victory earlier this month, Bennett made it clear that he’s eyeing a significant raise this offseason.
“I’m going into free agency as a Super Bowl champion,” Bennett said. “You know they overpay Super Bowl champions!”
The Patriots acquired Bennett, who turns 30 next month, and a sixth-round pick from the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick, and the acquisition paid immediate dividends. Appearing in all 16 games, Bennett managed 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns, and helped New England overcome the loss of fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Payton: Saints Always In The “QB Business”
The Saints have Drew Brees under contract for the 2017 campaign, but given that Brees in nearing 40 years old, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton admitted to SiriusXM NFL Radio that his club is always interested in adding quarterback talent.
[RELATED: Nick Fairley Expected To Test Market]
“I think that topic exists and has existed because of the nature of the position,” Payton said. “I think we’re in the quarterback business always because they’re so difficult to find. And there’s been a year or two we’re close to drafting maybe a player (at the position) and he went a little before we were ready to pick. And certainly you pay attention to it when your quarterback’s older.”
Clearly, Payton is addressing the relative value of quarterbacks in contrast to other players that could be available, and isn’t specifically referencing the 2017 draft. However, his comments shed light on the Saints’ potential line of thinking, and perhaps indicate that the club isn’t simply counting on Brees, with whom New Orleans is not exploring another extension, to continually defy Father Time.
The Saints did take a chance on a quarterback in 2015 by selecting Garrett Grayson in the third round, but the former Colorado signal-caller was waived before his second NFL season began. This year, quarterbacks such as Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer could be available when New Orleans picks at No. 11, while Patrick Mahomes and Brad Kaaya might be Day 2 considerations.
Falcons Expected To Remake Defensive Line
Having already fired defensive coordinator Richard Smith and defensive line coach Bryan Cox, the Falcons are expected to use free agency and the draft in order to bolster their defensive line, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Top 3 Offseason Needs — Atlanta Falcons]
Free agent defensive lineman Earl Mitchell is expected to meet with Atlanta on Thursday and Friday, and if signed would be the first step in the Falcons’ remaking of their front four. Courtney Upshaw, who signed a one-year pact with Atlanta last spring, is expected to re-signed, as the the Falcons value his ability to play both linebacker and defensive end, per McClure. Fourth-year defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, meanwhile, has “won over” Atlanta’s coaching staff and figures to see his role increase going forward, while free agent tackle Terrell McClain is a “name to keep an eye on” for the Falcons this offseason, reports McClure.
Change up front also means several defenders could be leaving, and veteran tackle Jonathan Babineaux could be among them, as the Falcons could choose to part ways with the unrestricted free agent even if he opts not to retire. Tyson Jackson, too, could be gone, as McClure writes the 30-year-old is expected to be released or asked to accept a cut to his $3.5MM base salary.
Steelers, James Harrison Nearing Deal?
The Steelers want to retain veteran edge rusher James Harrison, and “it sounds like a matter of time” before the two sides reach an agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted today after speaking with Harrison’s agent.
[RELATED: Steelers Working To Extend Alejandro Villanueva]
Harrison, who will be entering his age-39 season, was as effective as ever in 2016, playing on roughly 56% of Pittsburgh’s snaps and grading as the league’s No. 11 edge defender, according to Pro Football Focus. Although he put up five sacks, Harrison’s production wasn’t all in the pass rush, as he scored high marks against the run and ranked as the NFL’s best 3-4 ‘backer in pass coverage.
The league’s oldest defensive player, Harrison has spent his entire career with the Steelers save for a single-season run with the division rival Bengals in 2013. Despite his contributions to the Pittsburgh defense, Harrison has earned less than $2.5MM total during the past two years. He could be in for a slight raise in 2017, but given his age, and the fact that he’s unlikely to join another club, the Steelers can likely keep Harrison around on the cheap once again.
Fins Still Interested In Re-Signing Dion Sims
Although the Dolphins have agreed to acquire Julius Thomas from the Jaguars, Miami still has interest in re-signing fellow tight end Dion Sims, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
[RELATED: Dolphins Could Be Active In Free Agency]
Sims, 26, has never topped 30 receptions or 300 yards receiving during his four-year career, but Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has reportedly told Sims he views the former Michigan State Spartan as an integral part of the team going forward. Moreover, Miami believes Sims’ skill-set contrasts well with that of Thomas, per Jackson. Not only is Sims a solid blocker (whereas Thomas is not), he would provide the Dolphins with another tight end option in the event Thomas falls victim to injury, something he’s done multiple times during his NFL career.
Although he’s not expected to be a free agent priority like wide receiver Kenny Stills or defensive end Andre Branch, Sims is clearly in the Dolphins’ 2017 plans. Even if the Thomas trade goes through, Miami’s tight end depth would only consist of MarQueis Gray and Thomas Duarte, the latter of whom played all of two offensive snaps during his rookie campaign. Jordan Cameron, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent and is mulling retirement following a history of concussions.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/21/17
- The Jaguars announced that they’ve re-signed offensive lineman Tyler Shatley, who was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this spring. It’s a one-year deal with a club option in 2018, tweets Ryan O”Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Shatley, 25, started four games for Jacksonville last season, playing on roughly a quarter of the club’s offensive snaps. During his three-year run, Shatley — a Clemson alum — has appeared in 28 total contest. Shatley becomes the second RFA offensive lineman the Jaguars have re-signed this month, joining Josh Wells.
- The Steelers have signed long snapper Kameron Canaday and punter A.J. Hughes, the club announced today. Canday, 23, won the Cardinals’ long snapping job out of training camp, but was waived following botched snap in Week 3. Pittsburgh already re-signed its longtime LS, Greg Warren, earlier this offseason, so Canaday will likely serve only as offseason depth. Hughes, meanwhile, is an ex-Virginia Tech Hokie who worked for the Bears and Broncos in 2016 but never latched on with a club.
- The Dolphins announced that they’ve signed long snapper Winston Chapman. Chapman, 24, went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2015 after tearing his ACL during his senior season. Miami’s incumbent long snapper, John Denney, is an unrestricted free agent.
Lions Hire Ex-Texans OC George Godsey
The Lions have hired former Texans offensive coordinator George Godsey as a defensive assistant/special projects, the club announced today.
[RELATED: Top 3 Offseason Needs — Detroit Lions]
The Detroit title means Godsey will be coaching/analyzing from a different side of the ball given that he’s spent the entirety of his career on offense, but he won’t be the first coach to switch his specific focus. Longtime NFL offensive coach Juan Castillo, for one, spent two years as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator (with admittedly poor results), while current Falcons wide receivers coach Raheem Morris came up through the defensive ranks.
While the Lions didn’t announce Godsey’s exact duties, he’ll likely have a role similar to that of Randy Edsall, the current UConn head coach who spent the 2016 campaign as Detroit’s director of football research/special projects. Edsall assisted in gameday preparation (scouting future opponents, searching for tendencies), and also aided in draft and free agency work. Given that Godsey is an offensive mind, he’ll presumably help the Lions’ defensive staff see the game from a different point of view.
Godsey, 38, first entered the NFL with the Patriots in 2011, and had spent the past three seasons with the Texans, serving as offensive coordinator from 2015-16. After being let go by Houston earlier this year, Godsey was a candidate for the Jets’ OC vacancy, and was also linked to the University of Alabama.
Jets CB Darrelle Revis’ Hearing Postponed
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis‘ preliminary hearing on charges stemming from an altercation in which two men were knocked unconscious was originally supposed to take place on Thursday but now won’t get underway until March 15, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links).
[RELATED: Jets, Brian Hoyer A Match?]
The hearing’s new date is critical for a number of reasons, most of them financial and most of them negative (at least, from the Jets’ point of view). Revis is due a $2MM roster bonus on March 10, so New York won’t have any sense of Revis’ legal status before a decision is due on that payment. Moreover, free agency begins one day earlier on March 9, so Gang Green will have to wade into the open market without knowing where it stands with Revis.
Additionally, the league and/or the Jets are unlikely to levy any sort of disciplinary suspension on Revis until his case is sorted out. Revis is due $6MM in guaranteed base salary in 2017, however, so if New York releases him before a ban is enacted (and potentially wipes out his remaining guarantees), the club will be on the hook for that entire total.
From a legal perspective, the fact that Revis’ hearing is being rescheduled could mean a settlement is in the works, tweets Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hypothetically, a deal for reduced or dropped charges could lead the NFL or the Jets to look upon Revis with greater favor. For his part, Revis (and/or his associates) have reportedly told New York management that a member of Revis’ entourage punched the two men, not Revis himself, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
OL Geoff Schwartz Announces Retirement
Longtime NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz announced his retirement today, writing on SB Nation today that he’s decided to hang up his cleats.
Schwartz, 30, spent last summer on the Lions’ offseason roster after signing a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal with Detroit. Expected to serve as a reserve at several positions along the line, Schwartz was waived at the end of August. As he writes in his retirement piece, Schwartz fully expected to land another contract after parting ways with the Lions, but after weeks passed with no contact from interested clubs, Schwartz realized his career was likely over.
Nevertheless, Schwartz’s seven-year NFL run can’t be considered anything other than a success, especially given that Schwartz entered the league as seventh-round pick and suffered a devastating hip injury soon after becoming an established starter. After bouncing around with the Panthers and Vikings, Schwartz played his best ball with the Chiefs in 2013, grading as one of the best guards in the NFL.
After parlaying his seven-game starter stint in Kansas City into a four-year deal with the Giants, Schwartz dealt with injury once again, managing to play in only 13 games over two seasons thanks to ankle, toe, and leg issues. Having struggled to stay on the field, Schwartz was released by New York last February.
Schwartz has already begun his post-NFL career in media: not only does he pen excellent pieces at SB Nation, but he’s co-authored a book with his brother, Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz. For offensive line junkies, Schwartz’s Twitter account is a must-follow, as is his podcast.