West Notes: Robinson, 49ers, Webb, Calhoun
Former NBA point guard Nate Robinson didn’t earn a roster spot after trying out for the Seahawks earlier this month, but he hasn’t given up on making an NFL squad at some point, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. Robinson is now working out with former NFL receiver Dwayne Frampton as he continues to chase his dream. “It’s as hard as you could possibly get,” Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said of Robinson’s attempt. “He’s 32 as well. I don’t know if anybody could do it. But if anybody could, it might be Nate. He’s that versatile an athlete and that great a competitor.” Robinson is trying to make it in the NFL as a defensive back.
Here’s more out of the NFL’s two West divisions:
- General manager Trent Baalke considers the 49ers to be a “draft-and-develop” team, but because the club hasn’t fulfilled the latter part of that equation in recent years, San Francisco will continue roll cap space into future years, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. Joe Staley, Colin Kaepernick, NaVorro Bowman, and Quinton Dial are the only 49ers who have been extended lately, and because the team’s front office doesn’t anticipate spending money on big-ticket free agent additions, they’ll likely continue to have gobs of cap space. San Francisco currently leads the league with more than $49MM in financial wiggle room.
- As Roster Resource shows, the Seahawks will be fielding several new players along their offensive line — not only will Garry Gilliam, Justin Britt, and Mark Glowinksi be asked to play larger roles, but the former two will be switching positions. First-rounder Germain Ifedi is projected to start at right guard, but offensive line coach Tom Cable says free agent signee J’Marcus Webb, who will line up at right tackle, could tie the front five together. “I think, again, it’s about getting someone to believe in him, and that’s my job, and in getting him to believe in himself,” Cable told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “And if those two things can marry up right, I think this kid can really, really do something cool for us. And we need him to.”
- Former Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun was one of the more productive defensive players available in the 2016 draft, but the Raiders will be asking the third-round pick to man a different position in the NFL, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes that Calhoun will play rush linebacker in Oakland’s 4-3 scheme. “I’ve been playing a little bit of everything,” Calhoun told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I’ve been moving around, but I’m mainly at (strongside linebacker) and the LEO. I’m trying to learn those two positions and master them behind two great players in Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.” The Raiders have been more than willing to move players around the defense, and Mack is Exhibit A, as he infamously made the All-Pro Team at both end and linebacker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/27/16
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
- The Steelers signed running back Brandon Johnson to fill the roster spot vacated when kicker Shaun Suisham was released, the club announced. Johnson, who walked on at Penn State, is now taking a similar route to the NFL, were he’ll sign as a undrafted free agent after trying out at Pittsburgh’s minicamp last month. He managed only four carries during his senior season, and mainly served as a special teams player.
- After auditioning for both the Eagles and Colts during rookie minicamps, former Florida State quarterback Everett Golson will join the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team announced. Golson completed more than 67% of his passes last year for the Seminoles, but his more prolific collegiate activity came with Notre Dame in 2012, when he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the National Championship game.
Antrel Rolle Garnering Free Agent Interest
Free agent safety Antrel Rolle says a few teams have reached out to him since he hit the open market last month, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). While Rolle didn’t divulge the exact identity of those clubs, he did tell Fowler that he’s waiting for the “right situation” before signing a deal.
In May, PFR ranked Rolle as the seventh-best defensive free agent still on the board, ahead of other defensive backs such as Antonio Cromartie, Cortland Finnegan, and Will Allen. Rolle has expressed an interest in reuniting with the Giants, but it’s not clear if that interest is being reciprocated at this stage of the offseason. The Dolphins are also keeping Rolle’s number handy in the event that they have an injury at safety or Reshad Jones returns to holding out.
Rolle, now 33 years old, ended up spending just one season with the Bears after agreeing to a three-year deal worth more than $11MM prior to the 2015 season. The veteran defensive back played in only seven games, having injured his knee in a November practice. Rolle stayed on the active roster until mid-December, when he was placed on injured reserve.
An 11-year NFL veteran who has earned three Pro Bowl nods during his time with the Cardinals and Giants, Rolle was an average player in 2015, grading out as the No. 39 safety in the league among 89 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. While he didn’t post any interceptions during his seven contests with Chicago, Rolle did register 30 tackles while defensing one pass.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
7 Teams That Could Trade For Nick Foles
A little over 15 months ago, the Rams acquired Nick Foles from the Eagles and quickly locked him into a two-year extension worth $24.5MM, handing him more than $12MM in guaranteed money. After starting 11 games, and completing less than 57% of his passes while posting a 7:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Foles was benched for Case Keenum, and remained on the sidelines for the rest of season.
Given that Los Angeles traded up to acquire the No. 1 overall pick and select Jared Goff, Foles is clearly not in the club’s plans, as Keenum and 2015 draft choice Sean Mannion are projected to make the squad. Foles is unhappy with his position on the club and didn’t attend OTAs, and with the Rams exploring a trade, Foles isn’t expected to be with the team at the start of training camp — at the very least, he’ll be dealt away (or possibly released) before Week 1.
Foles, 27, drew trade interest around draft time, but ultimately wasn’t moved. Albert Breer of The MMQB recently reported that Los Angeles is holding onto Foles for the time being in the hopes that he could accrue more value as training camp approaches. An injury could spur other teams to inquire about Foles, but his contract is also a plus. Because the Rams already paid out Foles’ guaranteed $6MM roster bonus, an acquiring club would only be on the hook for Foles’ $1.75MM base salary — a palatable figure for a backup quarterback.
With that preamble out of the way, let’s take a look at a few teams that could express interest in Foles…
Dallas Cowboys — The 2015 Cowboys season showed just how valuable a backup quarterback can be, as Dallas ran through Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden, and Kellen Moore as Tony Romo dealt with injury. That threesome posted a combined 1-11 record, leaving Cowboys fans wondering what could have been had the club had a competent No. 2 signal-caller. Moore is set to return as the backup, with fourth-round rookie Dak Prescott scheduled to handle clipboard duties, as Roster Resource shows. Foles would be an improvement over both of those options, and Dallas was one of several teams that Ian Rapoport of NFL.com linked to Foles at the beginning of the league year.
Detroit Lions — The Lions re-signed backup Dan Orlovsky this offseason, but they only handed the veteran $160K guaranteed on a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract, so they could easily move on if they were to acquire Foles. Elsewhere on the roster, Detroit boasts 2016 sixth-round pick Jake Rudock, who has yet to inspire confidence. “There’s not a phase that he has under control at this point in time,” head coach Jim Caldwell said of Rudock earlier this month. Matthew Stafford has been remarkably durable since a lost 2010 season, as he hasn’t missed a single start over the past five years, so giving up anything of value for Foles might not be worth it.
Indianapolis Colts — Like the Lions, the Colts have a somewhat reputable backup option in Scott Tolzien, whom they signed to a two-year deal that contains $500K guaranteed. Because of that amount of guaranteed cash, Indianapolis is highly unlikely to move on from Tolzien at any point this season, so they’re probably among the least likely teams on this list to go after Foles. But I included them here because Tolzien is far from a lock as a No. 2 quarterback. He’s probably gained some recognition over the years for serving as Aaron Rodgers‘ backup, but Tolzien has only attempted 91 passes during his career — most of those attempts came back in 2013, when he tossed five interceptions against just one touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs — Andy Reid is a known developer of quarterback talent, and the Chiefs have brought in several backup options over the past couple years, investing draft capital in Kevin Hogan and Aaron Murray, while signing (and then extending) undrafted free agent Tyler Bray. The only problem? None of those signal-callers have ever taken a snap in an NFL game, which means Kansas City could be in a precarious position if Alex Smith goes down. Foles, then, would represent a bit more certainty at the No. 2 position.
New York Jets — Though negotiations between the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick continue to drag on, it still seems like the two sides will eventually come to an agreement. If that happens, New York clearly won’t be in the market for another quarterback. But as things currently stand, Foles would represent an upgrade over Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, and is perhaps on par with fellow starting option Geno Smith. General manager Mike Maccagnan said during the draft that he wasn’t aiming to acquire another quarterback, but that was before talks with Fitzpatrick stalled.
San Francisco 49ers — Whether or not the Rams would be open to trading within their division is an open question, but Foles had the most success of his career under current 49ers head coach Chip Kelly, tossing 27 touchdowns in 2013 when the duo was with the Eagles. Still, San Francisco looks set to go forward with a competition between Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert, so Foles might not be the best fit, especially given that Kaepernick’s base salary is fully guaranteed.
Seattle Seahawks — Again, it’s not clear if Los Angeles would want to trade Foles to another team in the NFC West, but the Seahawks have very little between Russell Wilson. Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t look to be an option after being arrested on Friday, so it looks as though the club will go with undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin as their backup signal-caller. Boykin, like Wilson, offers mobility in and outside the pocket, so Seattle might prefer him to Foles, who sometimes resembles a statue under center.
Some of these clubs make more sense than others — the Cowboys, for example, stand out as a club that could certainly use an upgrade at backup quarterback. Additionally, it’s reasonable to expect that the Rams find they can’t acquire anything of value in exchange for Foles, and are instead forced to release him. If that’s the case, this list simply becomes a catalog of clubs who could express interest in signing the veteran quarterback.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Notes: Monroe, Long, Beatty, Boldin
The Giants continue to assess their options among offensive line free agents, and still have interest in Eugene Monroe, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Still, the club isn’t willing to offer Monroe a starting spot at left tackle, where they prefer to keep Ereck Flowers in place. Jake Long could be another target for New York, but sources tell Raanan there were questions about Long’s desire and love for the game in 2015. Former Giant Will Beatty, whom the team released earlier this year, would only return to the club if all his options are exhausted, as his relationship with New York is reportedly strained.
Here’s more on what the Giants could be eyeing as training camp approaches, all courtesy of Raanan…
- “Barely anybody would blink” if the Giants added a receiver before the season begins, according to Raanan, as the club’s depth chart is largely unsettled behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard (the latter of whom is a rookie, meaning he comes with his own question marks). PFR recently listed Anquan Boldin as the best free agent receiver still on the open market, and Raanan recently wrote that the former 49er would make for a solid veteran option for the Giants. Andre Johnson, James Jones (who spent a few weeks on New York’s offseason roster in 2015), Marques Colston, Brian Hartline, and Roddy White are among the other free agent pass-catchers still without homes.
- Cornerback is another position that could be addressed in the coming weeks, writes Raanan, but Leon Hall is unlikely to sign with the Giants. Hall, rather, is probably going to re-sign with the Bengals or join the Cardinals, per Raanan. New York has already targeted secondary help this offseason, meeting with Jerraud Powers before he signed with the Ravens. Veteran free agents aren’t ready available at corner, so adding “camp bodies” might be the more likely approach for the Giants.
- Finally, the Giants could look to add a veteran along the defensive line, especially at edge rusher, where the club doesn’t have much in the way of depth behind Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul. Rannan points to Darryl Tapp, LaMarr Woodley, and George Selvie as potential targets, while noting that New York is unlikely to sign Dwight Freeney.
Week In Review: 6/19/16 – 6/26/16
Franchise-Tagged Players:
- Broncos, LB Von Miller haven’t negotiated in weeks (link)
- Talks between QB Kirk Cousins, Redskins going nowhere (link)
- Bears, WR Alshon Jeffery still discussing extension (link)
- CB Trumaine Johnson unlikely to reach long-term deal with Rams (link)
Free Agents:
- RB Arian Foster to be ready for training camp? (link)
- CB Leon Hall could sign this week (link)
- RB Reggie Bush says two clubs have expressed interest (link)
- QB Tarvaris Jackson arrested (link)
Re-Signed:
- 49ers – Kendall Gaskins, RB (link)
Injuries:
- Saints – Kyle Wilson, CB (IR)
Retired:
Other:
- NFL to interview players named in PED investigation (link)
- League, NFLPA adjust practice squad rules (link)
- Purdue DT Ra’Zahn Howard to enter supplemental draft (link)
PFR Originals: 6/19/16 – 6/26/16
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- Just seven NFL rookies remain unsigned as we head into July, and three of them are first-rounders: Joey Bosa (Chargers), Darron Lee (Jets), and Joshua Garnett (49ers). Zach Links is keeping a running list of the unsigned picks, and we’ll keep it updated until the entire 2016 is under contract.
- Franchise-tagged players have until July 15 to sign extensions, so in our latest Community Tailgate segment, we asked which player is more likely to sign a long-term deal: Broncos linebacker Von Miller or Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery? Jeffery has already signed his franchise tender, so Chicago doesn’t need to worry about him holding out, while Miller has threatened to sit out the entire season in the hopes of landing a massive contract. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
- I passed along a few PFR-exclusive updates on several free agents, reporting items on wide receiver Denarius Moore, cornerback Cary Williams, and punter Spencer Lanning.
- Given that Bosa and the Chargers are reportedly in a contract dispute involving offset language, Zach updated out PFR glossary entry on the subject, explaining how the issue can often lead to drawn out negotiations and first-round picks.
- We’re excited to announce the launch of Pro Hockey Rumors, extending our coverage into a fourth sport. Our team has been writing for ten days, so there is plenty to read. We’ve launched the site just in time for the NHL’s free agency period, and we hope you’ll enjoy our coverage of all the latest news and rumors. Bookmark Pro Hockey Rumors today!
- Zach rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
Extra Points: Ramsey, Jags, Sanders, Loadholt
Jaguars fans everywhere were scared earlier this offseason, when reports indicated that fifth overall selection Jalen Ramsey would require a knee operation — having already dealt with losing 2015 third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. to an ACL tear, Jacksonville held its collective breath awaiting further updates on Ramsey. Luckily, Ramsey is now expected to return by training camp, a sentiment that Ramsey himself confirmed today, telling Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times Union (Twitter links) that he isn’t experiencing any physical limitations. Ramsey, who is expected to play cornerback in Gus Bradley’s defense, says he felt comfortable with the Jaguars’ defensive scheme throughout the draft process, and feels even more locked in now that he’s continued to learn.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Entering the final year of his contract, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders seemingly isn’t worried about his ongoing contract negotiations with the Broncos, as he explains to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “I don’t think it weighs on me,” said Sanders. “I think it weighs on other people and then they talk about and it’s like, ‘All right, you’re trying to put the weight on me.’ If I could just keep my ears closed and not listen to the noise, I wouldn’t even know this is a contract year.” Sanders reportedly exchanged contract figures with Denver management last week.
- Tackle Phil Loadholt is a possible cap casualty if he doesn’t win the Vikings‘ right tackle job, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. While free agent signee Andre Smith secured $1MM guaranteed on his one-year contract with the club, Loadholt doesn’t have any guaranteed money left after he restructured his deal earlier this year. Loadholt is reportedly progressing well in his recovery from a 2015 Achilles tear, but Minnesota’s offensive line has so much depth that it’s hard to see him making the final roster unless Smith is the one who gets cut (which could be an option, notes Goessling).
- Locker room issues apparently played a part in Dominique Easley‘s release from the Patriots earlier this year, and former first-round pick doesn’t sound all that interested in changing that perception now that he’s joined the Rams. “I wouldn’t say it’s (among) my main goals, because (being a great person is) just who I am,” Easley said of his rumored off-field problems on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Facebook link). “But, yeah, there’s been obviously stuff said about me. I mean, we don’t know where it came from. Obviously, the person doesn’t want to come out and say it, either.”
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Boldin, Apple
In an expansive article for CBSSports.com, former agent Joel Corry details how the Eagles have returned to their front office roots, extending players who fit their system before they hit the market in order to lock in cheap(er) contracts. Howie Roseman, back at the helm of the personnel staff after being re-installed as de facto GM over the offseason, has handed out more than $280MM in guarantees over the past several months, but has also rid the club of unattractive contracts attached to players like DeMarco Murray and Byron Maxwell. As the salary cap continues to rise, clubs can spend more freely without having to worry about financial wiggle room, and while Philadelphia might be up against the cap in 2017, it can clear space by releasing (or trading) veterans like Sam Bradford and/or Jason Peters. The key, as Corry writes, is that the Eagles hit on the players — like quarterback Carson Wentz, tight end Zach Ertz, and defensive end Vinny Curry — on which Roseman has staked his reputation.
Let’s take a look at more from the NFC East:
- Veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin would make for a solid Giants addition, argues Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, but that certainly doesn’t mean the club will sign the well-traveled pass-catcher. New York’s receiving options are lead by the dominant Odell Beckham Jr. and talented rookie Sterling Shepard, but the rest of the depth chart remains unclear, as Roster Resource shows. Victor Cruz is essentially a complete question mark at this point, but Raanan does point to 2015 sixth-round pick Geremy Davis as a potential Boldin-esque option, noting that the sophomore receiver could as a possession receiver for Eli Manning. Boldin, for his part, has taken two known free agent visits, with the Redskins and Lions.
- The Giants spent a lot of capital — both money and draft picks — improving their secondary over the offseason, but Tom Rock of Newsday wonders how the club will ultimately align during the regular season. None of New York’s top three corners — Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and rookie Eli Apple — has much experience playing in the slot, which could leave Trevin Wade to play the nickel role. It wouldn’t be ideal to sit one of the aforementioned corners on the bench while the journeyman Wade spends time of the field, so the Giants have to hope the situation works itself out.
- Earlier today, Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com looked at the Redskins‘ running back situation, and examined whether the club should consider adding free agent runner Arian Foster.
Community Tailgate: Von Vs. Alshon
Nine NFL players were assigned the franchise tag during the 2016 offseason. Here’s a brief rundown, along with each player’s franchise salary:
Franchise players (exclusive):
- Von Miller, LB (Broncos): $14.129MM
Franchise players (non-exclusive):
- Eric Berry, S (Chiefs): $10.806MM
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington): $19.953MM
- Cordy Glenn, T (Bills): $13.706MM
- Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): $14.599MM
- Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): $13.952MM
- Josh Norman, CB (Panthers): $13.952MM
- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (Jets): $15.701MM
- Justin Tucker, K (Ravens): $4.572MM
Some of the players listed above have already had their respective situations resolved. Cordy Glenn agreed to long-term extension with the Bills, while Carolina ultimately rescinded Josh Norman‘s franchise tag, allowing him to sign a deal with the Redskins. And while Eric Berry hasn’t yet inked an extension with Kansas City, the most recent reports indicate that the star safety is expected to sign a new contract at some point before the July 15 deadline. The same goes for kicker Justin Tucker, who has signed his signed his franchise tag — he’s confident that he and the Ravens will hammer out a deal in the near future.
A third of the list falls into a separate category — franchise-tagged players who haven’t yet agreed to an extension, and don’t seem likely to any time soon. Kirk Cousins signed his franchise tender almost immediately, locking him into a guaranteed salary of nearly $20MM, but Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reported yesterday that talks are “going nowhere,” and both Cousins and Washington expect the signal-caller to play out the season on the tag. Like Cousins, Trumaine Johnson also signed his tender rather quickly, and isn’t expected to reach a new deal with Los Angeles in the next twenty days. On the flip side, Muhammad Wilkerson has not signed his tender, but there’s been no indication that he and the Jets are anywhere close to a new contract.
That leaves us with two remaining franchise players, and the pair — Von Miller and Alshon Jeffery — might be the dominant NFL storylines over the next few weeks. Any recent reader of PFR knows that Miller has garnered a copious amount of headlines as his negotiations with Denver drag on. Miller reportedly rejected a six-year deal worth about $114.5MM (specific guarantees and structure unknown), and then threatened a season-long holdout. Just yesterday, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reported that the two sides had not talked contract terms since the early part of June.
Reports surrounding Jeffery have been much fewer and far between, and that could be because the Bears wide receiver has already signed his tender, meaning he’ll be with the Bears — and earning a hefty salary — no matter what happens over the next few weeks. But what little news has come about Jeffery’s negotiations has been murky. An early June report indicated that Jeffery was unlikely to reach an extension with Chicago, but just days ago Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com said the two sides were still discussing terms, noting that a new deal is “certainly possible.”
The question at hand, then, is this: who is more likely to sign a long-term deal, Miller or Jeffery? Certainly talks between Jeffery and the Bears have been more amicable, but more is arguably at stake for Miller and the Broncos. Trying to defend a Super Bowl title, Denver can’t afford to have its most talented player not present, while Chicago doesn’t have to worry about Jeffery not showing up. Still, with negotiations between Miller and the Broncos seemingly turning acrimonious, is there any hope of an extension?
What do you think? Which superstar is more likely to be with their respective team for the long haul? Is it possible that both Miller and Jeffery ink new contracts? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.