Latest On Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott
While extensions for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper remain the priority in Dallas, the Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott are “on the same page” regarding a new deal, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Elliott has opened discussions with the Cowboys on a contract that would — in all likelihood — make him the league’s highest-paid running back.
Elliot’s contract negotiations are on the back-burner in Dallas, and that’s not completely unexpected. In addition to Prescott and Cooper, cornerback Byron Jones and offensive lineman La’el Collins are also scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency next spring. The Cowboys only have one franchise tag to deploy, so signing their impressive crop of 2020 free agents could prove difficult, although the club is projected to have the third-most cap space ($75MM) in the NFL next spring.
After his fifth-year option was exercised last month, Elliott is under contract for the 2020 campaign at a price of $9.099MM. So far, no other member of the 2016 draft class has signed an extension. But again, that’s not out of the norm, as 2016 draftees only became eligible for new deals when the 2018 regular season concluded.
If the 23-year-old Elliott is to become the NFL’s highest-paid running back, he’ll have to surpass the four-year, $57.5MM contract the Rams’ Todd Gurley signed last summer. That deal contained nearly $22MM in fully guaranteed money, and is worth $1.25MM more per year than Le’Veon Bell‘s deal, which ranks second among backs.
The Cowboys haven’t been shy about running Elliott into the ground during his first three years with the team. He led the league in carries in both 2016 and 2018, and probably would have done so in 2017 had he not missed six games via suspension. Las season, Elliott posted 1,434 yards and six touchdowns on the ground while adding 77 receptions, 567 yards, and three scores in the passing game. Of course, Elliott ran behind one of the NFL’s better offensive lines, and only ranked 18th in Football Outsiders’ success rate.
Saints Host S Brynden Trawick
The Saints met with free agent defensive back/special teamer Brynden Trawick on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
An undrafted free agent out of Troy in 2013, the 29-year-old Trawick is essentially a pure special teamer. He’s played only 194 defensive snaps during his six-year career, and just four over the past two seasons. On special teams, though, Trawick is especially valuable, managing at least 300 ST snaps in each of the past five campaigns.
Last year, Trawick saw action on 342 special teams plays (good for top-35 in the NFL) and posted eight tackles. He earned a 2017 Pro Bowl nod as a special teamer as a member of the Titans, with whom he just finished a two-year, $4.75MM contract.
New Orleans hired a new special teams coach this offseason in former Dolphins associate head coach Darren Rizzi. The Saints, which ranked ninth in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA a season ago, already roster several players who are nearly exclusively special teamers, including defensive backs Chris Banjo, Justin Hardee, and Josh Robinson, and linebackers Craig Robertson and Vince Biegel.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: WR Malachi Dupre
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers: T De’Ondre Wesley
- Signed: TE Mik’Quan Deane
- Waived: T Blake Hance, S Abraham Wallace
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: T Justin Evans
- Waived: TE Andrew Vollert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DB Dakari Monroe
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: T Justice Powers
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Darrell Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Casey Tucker
Titans Sign First-Round DT Jeffery Simmons
The Titans have signed first-round defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, the club announced today.
Simmons was widely viewed as one of the best players in the 2019 class, but a number of issues forced him to fall until midway through the first round. First and foremost, the Mississippi State product was arrested for assaulting a woman during his senior year of high school (Simmons claims he was attempting to stop said woman from striking his sister). Second, Simmons tore his ACL in February, meaning he won’t be able to play for the Titans until late in 2019 or potentially 2020.
Once he is medically cleared, Simmons will join a Titans defensive line that boasts a start in Jurrell Casey but could still use a reinforcement. Casey led the Titans’ defensive line by ranking 14th in Pro Football Focus‘ positional grades, but no other Tennessee interior defender finished inside the top-45. As a unit, the Titans front four ranked just 22nd in adjusted sack rate and 28th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders.
As is standard for every first-round pick, Simmons will sign a four-year deal with a fifth-year option for the 2022 season. Per Over the Cap, Simmons’ four-year pact should have a value of roughly $12.664MM. He’ll collect a signing bonus of $7.23MM and will count for $2.303MM on Tennessee’s 2019 salary cap.
The Titans now have only two draft choices who remain unsigned: second-round receiver A.J. Brown and third-round guard Nate Davis.
Bengals Interested In Gerald McCoy
The Bengals have expressed interest in free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
McCoy has been a popular name since being released by the Buccaneers earlier this week, as both the Browns and Colts at least considered signing the veteran interior defender. Cincinnati, for its part, doesn’t have nearly as much available cap space as does Cleveland or Indianapolis, but with more than $20MM in reserves, the Bengals could certainly fit McCoy onto their books.
The Bengals made two offseason additions — free agent Kerry Wynn and fourth-round draft choice Renell Wren — to a defensive line that already included Geno Atkins, Andrew Billings, Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson, and Sam Hubbard. McCoy would likely become an immediate starter next to Atkins (and thus reduce Billings’ playing time), but there’s plenty of rotational snaps to go around, especially on a unit that ranked only 28th in pressure and 30th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders.
McCoy, 31, ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits in 2018 and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. He’s demonstrated the ability to line up at a few different spots along the defensive interior, which could be a plus for the Bengals and new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
West Notes: 49ers, Hawks, Broncos, Chiefs
Jason Verrett signed a one-year, $3MM deal with the 49ers this offseason, but the ex-Chargers cornerback says he actually contemplated retirement before landing in San Francisco, per SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Verrett, who was in a “dark place” while deciding on his NFL future, has only played in five total games over the past three seasons, with various injuries — including a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles — ending his campaigns. The 49ers ranked 26th in defensive DVOA against No. 2 wideouts in 2018, so they can use all they help they can get opposite Richard Sherman. Verrett, an excellent corner when healthy, is expected to compete with Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore for the job.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:
- Fullback Nick Bellore‘s contract with the Seahawks is worth $2.23MM over two years, tweets Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. Bellore will receive $600K guaranteed, including a $300K signing bonus and a $300K 2019 base salary guarantee. A linebacker who played primarily on special teams for the first seven years of his NFL career, Bellore converted to the offensive side of the ball last summer. The 30-year-old appeared in 14 games for the Lions in 2018, playing 118 snaps on offense and 238 on special teams. Seattle used a fullback on only 8% of its plays last season.
- New Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco will take all the first-team reps at organized team activities, head coach Vic Fangio told reporters, including Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). That’s perhaps unsurprising, as Flacco is fully expected to be Denver’s starter despite the club selecting Missouri’s Drew Lock in the second round. Indeed, Flacco’s performance in early Broncos practices dissuaded general manager John Elway from drafting a signal-caller on Day 1 of the draft. Lock, veteran Kevin Hogan, and undrafted free agent Brett Rypien will compete to become Denver’s second and third quarterback.
- The Seahawks gave significant signing bonuses to several of their undrafted collegiate free agents, as Henderson tweets. Quarterback Taryn Christion, receiver Terry Wright, and cornerbacks Derrek Thomas and Davante Davis each received a $10K bonus. As Henderson notes, though, that level of guarantee doesn’t necessarily ensure a roster spot. In 2018, Seattle gave receiver Ka’Raun White a $14K bonus but cut him after rookie minicamp. Click on Henderson’s tweet to see the full list of the Seahawks’ UDFA signing bonuses.
- Free agent offensive tackle Dieugot Joseph is meeting with the Chiefs today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). An undrafted free agent out of Florida International University in 2017, Joseph has spent time with the Bears, Ravens, Vikings, and Jets but has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Titans Not Interested In Ndamukong Suh
Although the Titans met with Ndamukong Suh when he was a free agent at this time a year ago, they’re not expected to consider signing the defensive tackle this offseason, according to Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com.
Tennessee has added both Jeffery Simmons (first-round draft choice) and Brent Urban (free agent) to its defensive line in recent weeks, but Simmons may not play at all during his rookie campaign while recovering from a torn ACL, and Urban isn’t exactly a game-changing player. Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey led the Titans’ defensive line by ranking 14th in Pro Football Focus‘ positional grades, but no other Tennessee interior defender finished inside the top-45. As a unit, the Titans front four ranked just 22nd in adjusted sack rate and 28th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders.
Suh, entering his age-32 campaign, appeared in all 16 games for the Rams a season ago after inking a one-year, $14MM pact with the Rams. He posted 4.5 sacks and 48 pressures during the regular season, and ramped up his production once Los Angeles began its postseason run, managing 1.5 more sacks and nine additional pressures in the Rams’ three playoff games. Suh is always available, as the only two games he’s missed in his nine-year career were the result of suspension, not injury.
Reports have indicated Suh’s asking price could be an issue, as Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com noted earlier this year that Suh has never played on a contact averaging less than $10MM per season. While that may be the case, the Titans currently have more than $30MM in available cap space, so they could afford Suh if they so chose.
Earlier this evening, PFR ranked Suh as the best available defensive free agent remaining on the board.
Top 10 Remaining NFL Free Agents: Defense
The most high-profile NFL free agent signings occurred two months ago, but as we near June, there are still talented free agents available on the open market. Most of these players won’t command much guaranteed money, and none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula given that we’ve passed the May 7 deadline for comp selections. After looking at the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday, let’s go over the defensive players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT
Suh hasn’t drawn any known interest since the free agent period began in March, and that’s apparently due to his asking price. As Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reported earlier this month, Suh — who has never played on an annual salary of less than $10MM — is searching for another large contract. The 32-year-old Suh ratcheted up his play near the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, generating nine pressures and 1.5 sacks during Los Angeles’ run to the Super Bowl. The Rams aren’t likely to re-sign Suh but probably can’t be completely ruled out, while the Vikings are defensive tackle-needy yet cap-strapped. Cutting or trading tight end Kyle Rudolph would free up $7.625MM that could go into a Suh fund.
Possible fits: Seahawks, Cowboys, Rams, Broncos, Vikings
2. Tre Boston, S
Boston has been in free agent limbo before. In 2017, he was forced to wait until May 12 to sign a one-year deal with the Chargers, and last season, he didn’t get a contract done with the Cardinals until July 25. Still only 26 years old, Boston has posted 10 interceptions over the past three years and in 2018 graded as the 20th-best coverage safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. That deep, center-field ability is extremely valuable in the NFL, so it’s certainly surprising to see Boston still on the sidelines. Jacksonville needs to replace Tashaun Gipson in the back end of its secondary, and Boston would be a worthwhile target.
Possible fits: Jaguars, Cowboys, Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Buccaneers
3. Shane Ray, EDGE
The 23rd overall selection in the 2015 draft, Ray posted his best campaign during his sophomore season, registering eight sacks and finishing as a top-40 edge defender with 45 pressures. He’s only played roughly 600 defensive snaps in the two years since, however, as multiple wrist surgeries have kept him off the field. A one-year deal seems likely for Ray, but a smart team might attempt to secure an option for the 2020 season. If Ray can stay healthy and provide production, he’d stick around at a cheap rate. If not, there’d be no loss for the club.
Possible fits: Colts, Raiders, Seahawks, Bengals, Giants, Ravens, Rams
4. Morris Claiborne, CB
While there aren’t a ton of NFL clubs with glaring needs at cornerback, the importance of coverage means that nearly every team could stand to add a steady defensive back like Claiborne. The 29-year-old has a concerning injury history, as he played in only 47 of a possible 80 games during the first five years of his career. But Claiborne managed to stay healthy during his two years with the Jets, appearing in 30 games and playing nearly 2,000 defensive snaps since 2017. Gang Green hasn’t ruled re-signing Claiborne, although it was former general manager Mike Maccagnan — and not interim GM/head coach Adam Gase — who indicated a reunion was possible.
Possible fits: Jets, Giants, Chiefs, Bills
5. Eric Berry, S
Now 30 years old, Berry has only played three total games over the past two seasons, with an Achilles injury limiting his availability. The Cowboys took a visit with Berry during the opening days of free agency, but they’ve since added free agent George Iloka. The Browns, too, reportedly expressed interest in Berry, but went on to sign Morgan Burnett and acquire Eric Murray. Colts general manager Chris Ballard, a former Chiefs executive who places an emphasis on character, could team Berry with incumbent safeties Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers, while the Buccaneers and Panthers are in both in desperate need of secondary help.
Possible fits: Cowboys, Colts, Jaguars, Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, Panthers
6. Danny Shelton, DT
Shelton is a free agent after the Patriots — who acquired him from the Browns last offseason — turned down his fifth-year option, which would have netted the former first-round pick $7.154MM for the 2019 season. A behemoth at 6’2″, 345 pounds, Shelton isn’t really a great fit for today’s NFL, as run-stuffing nose tackles are slowly making their way out of the league. Still, PFF graded Shelton as a top-45 interior defender a season ago, so he should still be able to find a new club. The Bengals met with him earlier this offseason, and could still make sense as a destination.
Possible fits: Bengals, Texans, Colts, Titans, Falcons, Rams
7. Coty Sensabaugh, CB
While he’s probably not a household name, Sensabaugh was a fairly regular starter for the Steelers over the past two seasons, starting four games at the tail of end the 2017 campaign and 10 more last year. Football Outsiders was a fan of Sensabaugh’s work, charting him as ninth among qualified corners in yards allowed per pass and 26th with a 56% success rate (meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks). Tampa Bay, which has yet to re-sign Brent Grimes and is instead relying on Vernon Hargreaves and a cavalcade on inexperienced players at corner, should give Sensabaugh a call.
Possible fits: Buccaneers, Lions, Redskins, Giants, Jets, Dolphins
8. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT
The 2018 season couldn’t have gone much worse for Wilkerson. Forced to sign a one-year, prove-it deal with the Packers, Wilkerson managed to play in only three games before going down with a fractured ankle. Wilkerson’s contract with Green Bay was worth $5MM and carried $3MM in available incentives, and he’ll have to accept something far cheaper to find a new team this time around. The Packers and Wilkerson reportedly had “mutual interest” in a fresh deal as of March, but nothing has come of those talks.
Possible fits: Packers, Patriots, Titans, Raiders, Cowboys, Seahawks
9. Corey Liuget, DT
Speaking of lost 2018 campaigns: Liuget was suspended for the first four games of the season after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, and was then pressured to accept a pay cut from the Chargers. The former first-round pick appeared in just six contests before a torn quad ended his season prematurely. Los Angeles moved on at the end of the season, declining his option for the 2019 season. Liuget never lived up to his draft billing, but he’s got 108 games of experience under his belt and didn’t have any serious injury concerns unless last year. He’s met with the Giants, Seahawks, and Jaguars this offseason.
Possible fits: Giants, Seahawks, Jaguars, Cowboys, Vikings
10. Nick Perry, EDGE
This final spot came down to Perry and fellow edge rusher Derrick Morgan, and we went with Perry because he’s actually garnered interest this offseason after being released by the Packers. The 29-year-old Perry visited the Seahawks earlier this year, while the rebuilding Dolphins have also made an overture. The 28th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Perry posted 11 sacks in 2016, a performance which earned him a five-year, $60MM contract from Green Bay. A knee injury cost him the final seven games of the 2018 season, during which PFF graded Perry as a bottom-seven edge defender among 113 qualifiers.
Possible fits: Seahawks, Dolphins, Bills, Ravens, Giants
Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2020
While the majority of trades that occurred before and during last month’s draft involved 2019 draft choices changing hands, some 2020 selections have also been dealt. This list will continue to be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back after trades have been consummated for an updated look at which picks are on the move for 2020. If you have any corrections, please contact us.
Here are 2020’s traded draft picks:
Round 1
- Raiders acquired pick from Bears in deal for LB Khalil Mack.
Round 2
- Bears acquired pick from Raiders in deal for LB Khalil Mack.
- Chiefs acquired pick from 49ers in deal for DE Dee Ford.
- Seahawks acquired pick from Chiefs in deal for DE Frank Clark.
- Kansas City currently owns two 2020 second-round picks and will send the lower pick to Seattle.
- Colts acquired pick from Redskins in deal for DE Montez Sweat.
- Dolphins acquired pick from Saints in deal for C Erik McCoy.
Round 3
- Raiders acquired pick from Bears in deal for LB Khalil Mack.
- Broncos acquired pick from Steelers in deal for LB Devin Bush.
Round 4
- Dolphins acquired pick from Titans in deal for QB Ryan Tannehill.
Round 5
- Bears acquired pick from Raiders in deal for LB Khalil Mack.
- Jaguars acquired pick from Rams in deal for LB Dante Fowler Jr.
- Eagles acquired pick from Patriots in deal for DE Michael Bennett.
- Cardinals acquired pick from Dolphins in deal for QB Josh Rosen.
Round 6
- Redskins acquired conditional pick from Broncos in deal for S Su’a Cravens.
- Washington will acquire pick if Cravens appears in a playoff game for Denver.
- Broncos acquired pick from Redskins in deal for QB Case Keenum.
- Dolphins acquired pick from Cowboys in deal for DE Robert Quinn.
- Bears acquired conditional pick from Eagles in deal for RB Jordan Howard.
- Pick could become fifth-rounder based on unknown conditions.
- Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in deal for WR John Ursua.
- Jets acquired pick from Chiefs in deal for LB Darron Lee.
Round 7
- Browns acquired pick from Cardinals in deal for CB Jamar Taylor.
- Browns acquired pick from Bills in deal for WR Corey Coleman.
- 49ers acquired pick from Lions in deal for LB Eli Harold.
- Patriots acquired pick from Falcons in deal for S Jordan Richards.
- Dolphins acquired pick from Chiefs in deal for S Jordan Lucas.
- Giants acquired pick from Saints in deal for CB Eli Apple.
- Packers acquired pick from Ravens in deal for RB Ty Montgomery.
- Redskins acquired pick from Broncos in deal for QB Case Keenum.
- Patriots acquired pick from Eagles in deal for DE Michael Bennett.
- Eagles acquired pick from Buccaneers in deal for WR DeSean Jackson.
- Patriots acquired pick from Bears in deal for RB David Montgomery.
- Patriots acquired conditional pick from Seahawks in deal for TE Jacob Hollister.
Dwayne Bowe Announces Retirement
Former Chiefs and Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has signed a one-day contract with Kansas City and retired from the NFL, the club announced today.
“Retirement” can be used loosely in Bowe’s case: he hasn’t played since the 2015 season and NFL clubs weren’t exactly beating down his door to sign him. But the former first-round pick did experience a good deal of success with the Chiefs, topping 1,000 receiving yards three times, leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns (15) in 2010, and making the Pro Bowl that same year. Bowe, now 34, earned those accomplishments with likes of Damon Huard, Tyler Thigpen, and Matt Cassel at quarterback.
After being cut by Kansas City in 2015, Bowe inked a two-year deal with the Browns that contained $9MM in guarantees. That contract turned out to be one of the more apparent free agent blunders in recent memory, as Bowe didn’t record a catch with Cleveland until Week 9 of the 2016 season. He finished the year with only five receptions on 13 targets, and was released the following spring.
PFR extends its best wishes to Bowe and his family as he enters retirement.