Latest On Will Beatty
Although a report last night indicated that the Jaguars had offered free agent tackle Will Beatty a contract after working him out, a source tells Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union that the no signing is imminent “at this time.” Those two reports don’t necessarily contradict each other, as Jacksonville may have proposed a contract that Beatty is still mulling over. Indeed, Beatty is apparently in no rush to a sign a deal, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, who also hears that the Jags did make an offer.
[RELATED: Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell on rookie class, receiver depth]
“[Beatty] did a nice job,” said head coach Gus Bradley, who added that a signing was not on the club’s immediate radar. “For us, I’m sure there is a lot of speculation with what’s going on, but we have two [offensive tackles] out and we’re always going to compete and always bring guys in and just keep our options option. If something comes up later on in training camp or after the preseason, we just want to make sure we have our options open so it was more of a workout.”
Kelvin Beachum, who is projected to start at left tackle for the Jaguars, hasn’t practiced since August 2 as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in 2015. But Bradley says the Beatty workout wasn’t a sign that Jacksonville is worried about Beachum’s health. “Beachum had another good day today; he’s gone through two days of individual [work],” Bradley said. “In my quick conversations, they thought he did well again. I can tell from his spirit, he feels progress is being made. Now, hopefully it’s rapid.”
The Eagles were the other team reported to have interest in Beatty, but Philadelphia merely contacted the veteran tackle to see how his recovery from a torn pectoral was going, as well as to gather intel on his plans going forward, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Eagles are bracing for the loss of right tackle Lane Johnson, who is facing a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, and head coach Doug Pederson didn’t sound overly enthused about Dennis Kelly or Matt Tobin, Philadelphia’s incumbent backup plans.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots To Activate Nate Ebner
The Patriots have finally made a roster move (their first since training camp began), as the club announced that they’ve waived offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson, who was signed on July 24. New England needed to clear a roster spot to activate safety Nate Ebner, who had been participating in the Olympics, as head coach Bill Belichick confirmed to reporters, including Doug Kyed of NESN.com.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review — New England Patriots]
Ebner, 27, re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year, $2.4MM deal that contains $500K guaranteed and a $250K reporting bonus (per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com), and New England presumably agreed to the contract with the knowledge that Ebner would try out for the U.S. rugby team. Ebner has never started a game during his four-year NFL career, but he’s appeared in 57 contests as an extremely valuable special teams piece. In 2016, for example, Ebner played on more than three-quarters of the Patriots’ special teams snaps.
New England had been granted a roster exemption while Ebner was away, and Belichick today indicated that Ebner will have some work to do in order to prepare for the season. “Football,” said Belichick, when asked what Ebner would need to adjust to, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). “Not training, football. He hasn’t played football. You can go out there and run around a track all you want, but you put 21 other guys out there and it’s a whole different ball game.”
Kerbyson, meanwhile, lasted on the Patriots’ roster for about three weeks. The former Tennessee Volunteer went undrafted earlier this year, but started all 13 games at left tackle during his senior season, during which he was named second-team All SEC.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
6 Key Stories: 8/7/16 – 8/14/16
Buffalo’s units head in different directions. The news was all positive on the offensive ball for the Bills last week, as wide receiver Sammy Watkins came off the PUP list while the club signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a unique six-year extension that can be worth $90MM. On defense, however, the roster is unraveling: first-round 
rookie Shaq Lawson is already expected to miss the start of the season, and now second-rounder Reggie Ragland is out for the year with a torn ACL. Lawson’s projected replacement, IK Enemkpali, suffered his own torn ACL last night and will now miss 2016, as well. To replace some of that production, Buffalo agreed to sign veteran linebackers Brandon Spikes (link) and David Hawthorne (link) last week.
The Eagles face an offensive line crisis. Right tackle Lane Johnson, perhaps Philadelphia’s best offensive lineman, is facing a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, and though Johnson disputes the ban, he ultimately expects it to stick. The Eagles have internal replacement options in Dennis Kelly and Matt Tobin, but they’ve also placed a call to former Giants tackle Will Beatty, who’s been sitting on the free agent market since being released this spring. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are also interested in Beatty, and have in fact offered him a contract.
Trading season could begin shortly. Deals don’t come together in the NFL as often as they do in MLB, but we could still see some action between clubs as final cutdowns approach. The Eagles, for one, would like to acquire a linebacker, likely to act as depth inside behind starter Jordan Hicks and provide insurance against a Nigel Bradham suspension. The Jaguars, meanwhile, would like to trade from surplus, as they feel they have enough talent at tight end and along their defensive line to ship off some players in exchange for draft picks. Finally, a number of teams around the league appear to be making calls in the hopes of landing a reserve tight end.
The Browns clarify their QB depth chart. Head coach Hue Jackson named Robert Griffin III his starting quarterback, a move that was long expected but is now official. Given that Austin Davis just signed an extension last fall, and the fact 
that Cleveland invested a third-round pick in Cody Kessler, veteran signal-caller Josh McCown would look to be the odd man out. The Cowboys look to be an obvious suitor, but Cleveland reportedly wants a fourth-rounder in exchange for McCown, while Dallas is only willing to give up a sixth-round pick.
Joey Bosa still not in Chargers camp. At last check, San Diego had not spoken with Bosa and his camp since July 28, and the fear is that the relationship between the two sides is irreparably damaged, as the No. 3 overall pick feels disrespected by the club. The deadline for San Diego to trade Bosa has officially passed, but that doesn’t mean much for negotiations, which don’t appear to be nearing any sort of conclusion. The dispute between Bosa and the Chargers is over offset language and signing bonus payout, and unless one side unexpectedly blinks, the stalemate doesn’t appear close to ending.
Ladarius Green faces serious health concerns. The Steelers signed Green away from the Chargers to add an extra dimension to their passing game, but it’s looking as though he won’t contribute much — if at all — this season as he continues to deal with headaches that are thought to be related to his concussion history. Reports have even indicated that Green is contemplating retirement if the issue does not subside. And while Green’s well-being is the primary concern, there is also a financial component to the situation, as Pittsburgh could look to recoup some money from Green if it turns out he wasn’t forthcoming about his medical concerns.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cowboys Sign Travis Frederick To Extension
The Cowboys have signed Travis Frederick to an extension that will make him the highest-paid center in the NFL, the club announced. It’s a six-year, $54.6MM deal that includes $18.2MM fully guaranteed, and Frederick can earn $28MM in the first three seasons.
[RELATED: Cowboys unwilling to meet Browns’ asking price for Josh McCown]
Frederick has started 48 consecutive games to begin his career after entering the league as a first-round pick in 2013. The centerpiece of the NFL’s best offensive line, Frederick has earned a Pro Bowl nod and been named a second-team All Pro in each of the last two seasons. In 2016, Frederick graded as the league’s best center, according to Pro Football Focus, outperforming players such as Joe Berger, Matt Slauson, and Rodney Hudson.
The 25-year-old Frederick had been slated to earn only $1.34MM in base salary during the upcoming season before his pay jumped in 2017 thanks to Dallas exercising his fifth-year option. His new annual average, however, means that Frederick will earn $9.1MM per season, which will place him slightly above Alex Mack, who will earn $9MM annually under the terms of his new Falcons contract. Frederick ranks second in terms of guaranteed money among centers, with his $18.2MM placing him behind Mack ($20MM).
The Cowboys now have several key members of their offensive line locked up for years to come, as Frederick joins Tyron Smith — who is signed through 2023 — as players that Dallas has extended in recent years. Left guard La’el Collins and right guard Zack Martin, meanwhile, are both eligible to negotiate new deals at the end of the 2016 season.
Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link) first reported the deal and the fact that Frederick would become the league’s highest-paid center. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) reported the terms. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR Originals: 8/7/16 – 8/14/16
The original analysis and content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- In PFR’s new series The Beat, Zach Links is conducting interviews with beat writers, columnists, and TV personalities about the team that they cover. Zach spoke with two writers last week:
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times discussed the Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch, Pete Carroll and John Schneider‘s dual extensions, Michael Bennett‘s contract, and Doug Baldwin‘s long-term deal.
- Justin Rogers of the Detroit News chatted about the Lions, Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin, Taylor Decker, Jim Caldwell‘s hot seat, and Ezekiel Ansah‘s contract status.
- PFR has continued to go over each team’s rookie class with the assistance of scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades. Dave covered four clubs last week:
- In the latest entry in our Offseason in Review series, PFR examined the Dolphins‘ moves over the last few months, which included rescinding the franchise tag on Olivier Vernon, drafting offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, and signing veterans such as Mario Williams, Arian Foster, Isa Abdul-Quddus, and, just last week, Chris Culliver.
- Zach rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
Breer’s Latest: Bengals, Berry, Bell, Brees, Jets
The Bengals lost their Wild Card contest against the Steelers in a devastating fashion, with late-game penalties by cornerback Adam Jones and linebacker Vontaze Burfict allowing Pittsburgh to kick a game-winning field goal. Instead of dwelling on the loss, head coach Marvin Lewis says Cincinnati has quickly moved on, as he tells Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. “Last year ended, we covered that the first week of the offseason program,” said Lewis. “And there’s been no mention of how the season ended since then.” Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, meanwhile, has been pressing his players during practice sessions, telling them: “If you lose it here, you’re gonna lose it in a game.”
Let’s take a look at the other highlights from Breer’s Inside the NFL Notebook:
- Eric Berry has yet to report to Chiefs camp and is set to miss most or all of the preseason as he expresses his displeasure with the franchise tag, and Breer talks to several evaluators about why Kansas City is reluctant to hand Berry a long-term extension. “I understand franchising him now and seeing if he gets back to the form he held before,” said one offensive coach. “I think he’s still a top-five safety in the league and the arrow could be pointing up.” Other decision-makers had different opinions. “I think, at this point, he’s solid, not spectacular,” said one AFC executive. For what it’s worth, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey recently expressed optimism that Berry will be present before Week 1.
- Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is still facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, but he looks healthy coming off a major knee injury, according to Breer, who adds that Bell still has a shot at to join Adrian Peterson as backs who earn more than $10MM annually. Peterson dominates the running back market at $14MM, while LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Stewart, and Doug Martin all make between $7-8MM.
- Though he’s now 37 years old and entering a contract year, Saints quarterback Drew Brees tells Breer that he sees no end in sight. “I don’t think about the end. I don’t,” said Brees. “I do have a great sense of urgency for each year, though, because I understand no matter what your contract says, you’re really on a year-to-year basis. That goes for everybody. You gotta prove it every year.” Brees is set to count a league-high $30MM against New Orleans’ cap before becoming a free agent next spring.
- The Jets and general manager Mike Maccagnan have made a concerted effort to strengthen the middle of their roster this year, as Breer writes, choosing to add depth rather than target stars. The club has to execute that strategy through the draft, and Breer reports that third-round linebacker Jordan Jenkins, fourth-round cornerback Juston Burris, fifth-round tackle Brandon Shell and undrafted receiver Jalin Marshall “have all flashed ability.”
Rams Expected To Extend Fisher, Snead
SUNDAY, August 14: Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter links) adds a little more to this report, basically confirming that Kroenke is largely concerned with front office stability during this otherwise tumultuous time in franchise history. Cole says that there will be no “major changes” to the team’s brass until the Rams are ready to move into their new Inglewood stadium in 2019. That way, if Snead and Fisher continue to disappoint, the club can recharge its fanbase with a new stadium and a new staff.
SATURDAY, August 13: The Rams are expected to reach extensions with both general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher before the season begins, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Deals with both decision-makers can be categorized as “likely,” Schefter adds.
[RELATED: Latest on troubled RB Tre Mason]
On the surface, news of extension talks are a bit surprising given the Rams’ lack of success under Fisher and Snead. In his four years at the helm of the Rams, Fisher’s teams have compiled a 27-36-1 record and have never gone .500 or better during an individual campaign. The Rams finished 7-9 last season during their St. Louis swan song, which was the third time they’ve won seven games under Fisher. However, after moving halfway across the country, owner Stan Kroenke apparently wants to ensure some stability going forward.
There’s no word yet on possible length or financial compensation for Fisher or Snead. Fisher is currently among the NFL’s highest-paid coaches at $7MM annually and almost certainly tops the league when it comes to dollars-per-win.
Prior to joining the Rams, Fisher experienced success atop the Titans organization, going 142-120 in 17 years and helping lead the club to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XXXIV berth to conclude the 1999-2000 season. Of course, Tennessee lost that game to Fisher’s present-day employer, the Rams.
Snead, meanwhile, got his start as a pro scout for the upstart Jaguars in 1995. In 1997, he took the same position with the Falcons while also serving as their director of pro/player personnel. Prior to the 2012 season, the Rams hired Snead after parting ways with Billy Devaney.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jaguars, Eagles Interested In Will Beatty
The market for free agent offensive tackle Will Beatty has apparently intensified, as the former Giants lineman worked out for the Jaguars yesterday and now has an offer in hand from the club, according to Tom Rock of Newsday (Twitter links). The Eagles have also reached out to express interest in Beatty as they wait for a decision in the Lane Johnson suspension saga, per Rock.
[RELATED: Jaguars want to trade from TE/DL depth]
According to Football Outsiders‘ metrics, Jacksonville’s offensive line was below-average in 2016, as they ranked 16th in run-blocking and 25th in the pass game, but the club has already added one intriguing free agent option this year, agreeing to terms with former Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum. The Jaguars signed Beachum to a unique deal that includes an option bonus that will lock in four additional seasons onto what is technically a one-year contract. Beachum is fully expected to win Jacksonville’s left tackle job, pushing former No. 2 overall pick to Luke Joeckel to guard, and with 2015 free agent addition Jermey Parnell on the right side, Beatty would appear to be relegated to swing tackle duty.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are faced with the possibility of losing one of their best offensive lineman for most of the season, as Johnson is currently waiting to hear back on his appeal of his 10-game PED ban (although he expects the suspension to stick). If Johnson’s appeal does indeed fail, Philadelphia’s in-house options at the moment are Dennis Kelly and Matt Tobin, neither of whom head coach Doug Pederson sounded enthused about yesterday.
Beatty, 31, missed the entire 2015 campaign after tearing his pectoral, and was released by New York following the season. Given that recent injury, it’s no wonder that clubs have been slow to call, but Beatty missed only one game in the three seasons prior to 2015, and Rock reports that he’s now fully healthy. PFR ranked Beatty as the seventh-best offensive free agent still on the board earlier this year; since that time, five of the six players listed ahead of Beatty have found new deals.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns Want Fourth-Rounder For Josh McCown
The Browns don’t appear willing to simply give away Josh McCown, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports indicates that Cleveland is demanding “no less than fourth-round pick” for the veteran quarterback. The Cowboys, the club that’s been most heavily linked to McCown, aren’t willing to trade “anything of value,” per Robinson, who suggests that Dallas would only part with a pick in the sixth round or later.
[RELATED: Cowboys not interested in Johnny Manziel]
The Cowboys’ depth chart behind Tony Romo was already thin as the team headed into training camp, and became even more so when backup Kellen Moore suffered a leg injury during a practice session that will sideline him for three-to-four months. Dallas was thought to have interest in free agent Nick Foles before he signed with the Chiefs, and were reportedly considering other options such as Mike Glennon (who, like McCown, would’ve have to been traded for), Jimmy Clausen, and Josh Freeman.
The Browns, meanwhile, have seemingly braced McCown for a possible deal, as a report last week indicated that the club had spoken with McCown about the mechanics of a trade. Cleveland has already named Robert Griffin III its starting quarterback, and while there is certainly value in retaining a high-end reserve, the team’s reluctance to deal McCown could simply be posturing in the hopes that they can net a higher return. The Browns used a 2016 third-round pick on USC quarterback Cody Kessler, and signed fellow backup Austin Davis to an extension last season, so unless the club wants to keep four signal-callers on the roster, there doesn’t appear to be room for McCown.
While the Browns boast depth at QB, the Cowboys do not, as they only other available options behind Romo are fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott and 2015 undrafted free agent Jameill Showers, neither of whom has ever attempted an NFL pass. As such, it seems unfathomable that Dallas won’t look to acquire a veteran before the season begins, and if it looks to the free agent market, the club could consider Michael Vick, Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson, Charlie Whitehurst, T.J. Yates, or a number of other players who still remain unsigned.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins
With the exception of the Rams, perhaps no team in the NFL defines mediocrity more than the Dolphins. Since winning the AFC East with an 11-5 record in 2008, Miami has not earned another postseason appearance, posting a 49-63 record during that time while never winning more than eight games in a single season. A new coaching staff is now in place, and tasked with the same assignment that prior regimes have failed to complete time and again: dethrone the Patriots as division champions.
Notable signings:
- Mario Williams, DE: Two years, $17MM. $8.485MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available annually via incentives.
- Isa Abdul-Quddus, S: Three years, $12.75MM. $4.225MM guaranteed.
- Andre Branch, DE: One year, $2.75MM. $2.5MM guaranteed.
- Matt Moore, QB: Two years, $3.55MM. $2.25MM guaranteed.
- Jason Jones, DE: One year, $1.535MM. $1.01MM guaranteed.
- Jermon Bushrod, OL: One year, $1.5MM. $985K guaranteed.
- Arian Foster, RB: One year, $1.5MM. $400K guaranteed. $2MM available via incentives.
- Kraig Urbik, G: Two years, $2.5MM. $250K guaranteed.
- Spencer Paysinger, LB: One year, $840K. $200K guaranteed.
- Sam Young, T: One year, $910K. $150K guaranteed.
- MarQueis Gray, TE: One year, $675K.
- Isaiah Pead, RB: One year, $675K.
- Griff Whalen, WR: One year, $675K.
- Jacques McClendon, G: One year, minimum salary benefit.
- James-Michael Johnson, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit.
- Danny Lansanah, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit.
- Daniel Thomas, RB: One year, minimum salary benefit.
- Chris Culliver, CB: One year, details unknown.
Perhaps no club swung and missed more often while searching for help at a single position than the Dolphins as they trawled for a new running back after losing Lamar Miller during free agency. Miami eyed options such as James Starks and Chris Johnson, offering the latter more money than did 
the Cardinals (with whom he ultimately re-signed), and even signed the Broncos’ C.J. Anderson to a restricted free agent offer sheet. But after Denver matched on Anderson, the Dolphins did little to augment their backfield over the next four months except select Kenyan Drake — who doesn’t project as a starter in 2016 — in the third round of April’s draft.
In mid-July, however, Miami finally struck a deal with veteran back Arian Foster, whom the club had first met with all the way back in March. Foster will turn 30 years old before the regular season begins, and the torn Achilles he suffered last season was just the latest in a long line of injuries that have limited him throughout his career. But, when he’s healthy, Foster is electric. In the four seasons when he’s managed to play 13+ games, Foster has rushed for at least 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns, adding an average of 50 receptions during those campaigns.
Second-year pro Jay Ajayi, Foster’s direct competition for snaps, is no beacon of health himself, as knee issues worried some draft observers in 2015 and caused Ajayi to fall to the fifth round. And regardless of the fact that Ajayi was listed as the first-team back on Miami’s “official” depth chart released this week, the Fins are clearly hoping Foster can serve as their bell-cow back. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald recently tweeted, Foster has shown during camp that he’s “head and shoulders the best running back on the Dolphins'” roster.
The group blocking for Foster and/or Ajayi could look a little different this season, especially at the guard position, where Miami added veterans Jermon Bushrod and Kraig Urbik. The latter is probably going to serve as depth, but the Dolphins reportedly want Bushrod to win the right guard job instead of Billy Turner. Bushrod, 31, is a career left tackle, and he’s acknowledged the difficulty of not only moving to the interior, but to the opposite side. Miami has locked-in options at center and both tackle spots, but guard will be an area to watch during camp, as Bushrod, Urbik, Turner, Laremy Tunsil, and Dallas Thomas will all compete for time.
Miami also added trench reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball, agreeing to terms with three veteran defensive ends to augment a rotation that already includes former All Pro Cameron Wake. After losing Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby during 
the free agent period, the club’s first move was to sign former Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who had reportedly been seeking $10MM annually. While he didn’t reach that mark, there’s some question as to whether Williams is worth the $8.5MM average he did receive.
During his final season in Buffalo, Williams posted only five sacks and graded as the league’s No. 93 edge defender among 110 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, and later drew criticism from Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who said Williams complained about having to drop into coverage. New Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said Williams is going to be a “different guy” in South Beach, and he’ll have to be to justify his salary.
Along with Williams, Miami also signed Jason Jones, who last played for the Lions, and inked ex-Jaguar Andre Branch. Jones, for his part, was an especially solid addition, as the Dolphins were able to land him for only $1.5MM on a one-year contract. He’ll act as a rotational run-stuffer behind Wake and Williams. Branch, meanwhile, can’t stop the run and has never lived up to his second-round draft status, but he’s a capable pass-rusher who can produce in limited snaps. Miami could conceivably move either Williams or Wake inside next to Ndamukong Suh on passing downs, allowing Branch to get after the quarterback from the edge.
Just today, the Dolphins agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Chris Culliver, signing the former 49er/Redskin to a one-year deal. Culliver, 28 next week, didn’t draw much interest on the open market after being released by Washington, and that’s likely due to concerns about his ACL, which he tore in November. 
There aren’t many details available about the one-year pact as of yet, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com did note that the deal can be worth “up to $5MM.” That type of phrasing can mean many different things, and we’ll need to know the complete specifics before fully analyzing the deal, but it likely doesn’t offer much in the way of guarantees.
Aside from a few veteran linebackers who will likely earn playing time via special teams (Spencer Paysinger, Danny Lansanah), the Dolphins’ only other notable signing was that of safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, whom they lured away from the Lions with a three-year deal. Abdul-Quddus was excellent after wresting away a starting job from James Ihedigbo last year, posting 40 tackles and ranking as the No. 21 safety in his eight starts, according to PFF. However, IAQ has only posted a half-season’s worth of production during his five-year career, so there’s definitely some risk in this contract, but that uncertainty is somewhat negated by the modest financials.
Continue reading about the Dolphins’ offseason…
