PFR Originals: 6/12/16 – 6/19/16
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- After the Ravens released offensive tackle Eugene Monroe on Wednesday, I took a look at eight clubs that could have serious interest in the veteran free agent, listing the Giants, Seahawks, 49ers, and Bears, among others. Monroe, 29, is still an above-average tackle, and several of those teams have already expressed an interest in contacting him, hoping to augment their offensive line.
- Tim Dierkes announced that Trade Rumors has acquired Roster Resource, the industry’s leading depth chart source, and hired the site’s creator, Jason Martinez, who will contribute articles at our sister site, MLB Trade Rumors. The depth charts and roster information will continue to live at Roster Resource for now, though it is officially under the Trade Rumors umbrella. You’ll see us begin linking more to the Roster Resource depth charts in our posts, as we feel this information is a perfect fit for readers of PFR, MLBTR, and Hoops Rumors. We are striving to bring you the best possible coverage of transaction-related news as well as depth charts and roster information you can consult for further analysis.
- Zach Links rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
Week In Review: 6/12/16 – 6/19/16
Headlines:
- The Eagles and Fletcher Cox agreed to an extension that will keep the defensive tackle in Philadelphia through 2022; the deal is worth $103MM and contains $36.299MM fully guaranteed.
- The Ravens released offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, and the Giants, Seahawks, 49ers, and Panthers have now all been linked to the veteran free agent.
- Broncos linebacker Von Miller doubled down on his threat to hold out, claiming that he will not play the 2016 season under the franchise tag.
- Safety Reshad Jones reported to Dolphins camp, ending his brief holdout and saying that he’s now “all about football.”
Extended:
- Broncos – Brandon Marshall, LB (through 2020)
- Panthers – Michael Oher, T (through 2019) and head coach Ron Rivera (through 2018)
Signed:
- Bears – Tony Moeaki, TE (link)
- Bills – Leger Douzable, DE (link)
- Lions – Orson Charles, TE (link) and Andre Roberts, WR (link)
Waivers:
- Giants – claimed QB Logan Thomas off waivers from the Dolphins
Retired:
- Ben Grubbs, G (link)
Other:
Latest On Eugene Monroe
Since being released by the Ravens last week, offensive tackle Eugene Monroe has been linked to several clubs, including the Giants, Seahawks, and 49ers. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) confirms that those teams have indeed expressed interest in Monroe, and adds that the Panthers could be another potential landing spot for the free agent tackle.
[RELATED: Carolina Panthers depth chart]
If it signed Monroe, Carolina could shift incumbent left tackle Michael Oher to the right side, according to Cole — it should be noted, however, that Cole’s report was published before the Panthers and Oher agreed to a multi-year extension, which could affect any attempts to move Oher to right tackle. From my vantage point, one other possible scenario could entail simply placing Monroe at right tackle, and moving 2015 starter Mike Remmers into a swing tackle role.
Monroe, a career left tackle, might not be open to that move, however, as Cole reports that Monroe is reticent to move to the right side, and in fact rejected offers from the Giants because they necessitated him moving to right tackle. Dan Graziano of ESPN.com disputes that nugget, writing that while Monroe would prefer to stay on the blindside, he would be “willing” to move to right tackle if that’s the only opportunity that presented itself. New York would likely use Monroe on the right side, per Graziano, despite that fact that 2015 rookie Ereck Flowers graded as one of the four worst tackles in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
[RELATED: New York Giants depth chart]
Monroe doesn’t appear to be rushing into signing any time soon, and reports have indicated that he’ll begin taking visits with prospective employers next week. I recently ran down a list of eight clubs — including several mentioned above — that could have interest in signing Monroe.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
AFC North Notes: Ravens, Bengals, Pouncey
The Ravens‘ decision to cut Eugene Monroe had nothing to do with his position on medical marijuana and was simply a football determination, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com (Twitter link). Clearly, that statement has generated a few doubting looks around the NFL, especially because Baltimore made mention of Monroe’s pro-marijuana stance in their press release announcing the move. However, reports did indicate that the Ravens wanted to wait until Monroe was cleared from a health standpoint before releasing him, and that clearance was apparently received this week. Baltimore’s offensive line will feature two new starters in 2016, with rookie Ronnie Stanley taking over at left tackle while John Urschel mans left guard.
Here’s more from the AFC North:
- Running back Trent Richardson will require arthroscopic knee surgery to repair an existing condition and will miss “some time,” according to Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links), who adds that although the injury isn’t considered severe, it certainly won’t help Richardson’s case as he aims to earn a spot on the Ravens‘ roster. Richardson, who is still only 25 years old, agreed to a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum earlier this offseason, joining a Baltimore running back corps that already includes Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West, and rookie Kenneth Dixon. Depending on how long he is sidelined, it’s entirely possible that Richardson won’t ever get a real shot at making the club, and he’s a candidate to be released with an injury settlement.
- The Bengals have been quite proactive this offseason in terms of extensions, locking up both safety Shawn Williams and running back Giovani Bernard to long-term deals. This isn’t a new phenomenon for the club, leading Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer to examine which Bengal might be the next to land a multi-year pact. Veterans like Andrew Whitworth and Dre Kirkpatrick are unlikely to sign deals — at least before season starts — simply because Cincinnati has so much leverage, having invested draft picks at tackle and cornerback over the past several seasons, leading H-back Ryan Hewitt as perhaps the most plausible candidate to ink an extension. Tight end Tyler Eifert, notably, was left off the list, though he is dealing with an injury, and is controlled through the 2017 season via the fifth-year option.
- Maurkice Pouncey didn’t play a single snap for the Steelers after breaking his fibula during the club’s third preseason game, but the injury was much more severe than many originally thought. Pouncey underwent six surgical procedures and a skin graft during the course of the 2015 campaign, the veteran center tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, explaining how he went from injured reserve/designated to return to missing the entire season. “It was scary,” Pouncey said. “I don’t want that on my worst enemy.” Pouncey is expected to be fully ready for the season, though Fowler notes that the Pittsburgh staff is pressuring him to take days off out of an abundance of caution.
AFC East Notes: Pats, Sankey, Jets, Dolphins
The Patriots seem likely to look for another running back in the coming months, writes Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, who wonders if New England could show interest in Titans back Bishop Sankey. Sankey isn’t expected to make Tennessee’s final roster, so he could likely be had for minimal compensation — or the Pats could simply wait until Sankey is waived and try to pluck him then. If and when he is cut loose by the Titans, Sankey shouldn’t be on the street for long, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com reports (Twitter link) that multiple clubs have already expressed interest in the former second-round pick.
Let’s take a look at the latest out of the AFC East…
- Though most rookie contracts are now a breeze, clubs and agents can begin to negotiate a bit starting in the third round, a topic that Reiss has examined in the past. Writing in a separate column today, Reiss notes that the Patriots‘ Jacoby Brissett (who officially inked his rookie deal earlier today) is one of just two third-round picks who received 100% of their maximum allowable slotted compensation — the other, unsurprisingly, is also a quarterback, Cody Kessler of the Browns. The value of the QB position is such that even third-round picks can exert a little bit of leverage as they hammer out deals.
- Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said earlier today that the Jets “don’t want” him, but that sentiment isn’t quite right, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. New York does want Wilkerson, per Florio, but it simply wants to keep him for a single year at a cost of around $15MM, rather than sign to a long-term extension. With fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams in tow, the Jets can continue to play hardball, hoping that their draft-and-develop strategy will allow them to find the next Wilkerson instead of paying for the current iteration.
- Running back Kenyan Drake suffered an injury scare on Wednesday, but he’ll be ready for the start of training camp, Dolphins coach Adam Gase tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. On Wednesday evening, Drake formally signed his rookie contract. He’s expected to be Miami’s No. 2 back behind Jay Ajayi.
- In other Dolphins news, veteran Dallas Thomas is starting ahead of first-round pick Laremy Tunsil at guard, at least thus far in practice, writes Jackson in a separate column. “You’ve got to earn your spot,” said Gase, who, it should be noted, did downplay the importance of who is starting at this point in the year. “I don’t think you’ve seen anyone get plugged in and anointed anything. Everybody’s battling. That’s what we want.”
Zach Links contributed to this post.
49ers, Seahawks Have Interest In Eugene Monroe
The 49ers have expressed “preliminary interest” in free agent Eugene Monroe, while the Seahawks have had internal discussions about the veteran offensive tackle, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Seattle had been mentioned as a club that could pursue Monroe, but this is the first time San Francisco has been officially linked to him.
[San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart]
Neither club is a complete surprise contender for Monroe, as a listed both the Niners and Seahawks as two of eight possible contenders for him shortly before he was released by the Ravens yesterday. As noted in that piece, San Francisco has a gaping hole at right tackle, as it currently projects to rely on the likes of Erik Pears and Trenton Brown opposite Joe Staley. Shifting to the right side isn’t Monroe’s preference, tweets Anderson, but there’s no indication that it would be a deal-breaker.
The Seahawks’ offensive line, meanwhile, gave up the sixth-most sacks in the league in 2015, and like the division-rival Niners, ranked in the bottom three in pass protection according to Football Outsiders’ metrics. Seattle added a few pieces to its front five over the offseason, drafting Germain Ifedi in the first round while signing low-cost options like Bradley Sowell and J’Marcus Webb. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is regarded as something of a wizard who loves projects, but even he wouldn’t turn down a veteran option like Monroe.
[Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart]
San Francisco and Seattle will have competition in their pursuit of Monroe, as the Giants were reportedly discussing a trade for the left tackle before Baltimore cut him loose. New York is still pursuing him in free agency, but Monroe is evidently not in a hurry to find a new home, preferring to assess his options fully before reaching a decision.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
8 Teams That Could Sign Eugene Monroe
After selecting Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley in the first round of the April’s draft, the Ravens tried to trade veteran left tackle Eugene Monroe. However, Baltimore was unable to find a taker on the trade market and on Wednesday the team cut him loose.
Yes, there are some red flags for Monroe. For starters, the tackle has missed 16 games with injury over the past two years. Monroe has also been a vocal advocate for marijuana to be removed from the league’s banned substance list and Baltimore officials apparently took umbrage with his focus in that area.
However, there’s also a lot to like. When healthy, Monroe can be an impact player and can slide into the starting lineup for several NFL teams. Where could Monroe wind up? Here’s our list of the eight teams who could make a play for him:
[RELATED: Ravens Sign Bronson Kaufusi, Wrap Up Draft Class]
Arizona Cardinals — Left tackle isn’t a concern in the desert, as Jared Veldheer will continue to handle Carson Palmer‘s blindside, but right tackle is a bit more murky. After losing both Bobby Massie and Bradley Sowell to free agency, the Cardinals are counting on 2015 first-round pick D.J. Humphries to take on a starting role. Humphries didn’t play a single snap during his rookie season, and frustrated Arizona management to the point that head coach Bruce Arians began referring to him as “knee deep” (re: Arians’ knee vs. Humphries’ posterior). If Humphries has matured over the past year or so, adding Monroe to play on the right side wouldn’t make much sense. But if the Cardinals still have questions about their talented yet raw sophomore tackle, Monroe could be a welcome veteran addition.
Chicago Bears — Finding a starting left tackle in the seventh round — as the Bears did with Charles Leno in 2014 — is certainly an accomplishment, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that Leno simply wasn’t that productive during the 2015 campaign. In 16 games (13 starts), Leno graded out as just the 55th-best tackle in the NFL among 77 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. If Chicago wants to contend in 2016, it will need better play on the blindside, and Monroe would almost certainly represent an upgrade, acting as a finishing touch to an offensive line that’s already seen additions such as Bobby Massie, Nate Chandler, and Cody Whitehair over the past several months.
Indianapolis Colts — The Colts are clearly intent on keeping Andrew Luck upright in 2016, having spent three draft picks on offensive linemen in April. While some of the spots along Indy’s front five are settled, right tackle could be up for grabs (although general manager Ryan Grigson had said he’d like to see Joe Reitz win the job). The Colts haven’t been shy about acquiring veterans in the past, having sacrificed draft pick compensation for Vontae Davis, Trent Richardson, Billy Winn, and others in recent years. If the club wants a solid veteran to lock down the right side, instead of relying on a cavalcade of mid-tier options, Monroe could be on their radar.
New England Patriots — Like the Colts, the Patriots have utilized trades to augment their roster — in 2015, they made a league-leading nine deals with other clubs, and they’ve acquired veterans such as Akeem Ayers, Keshawn Martin, Jonathan Casillas, Jonathan Bostic, and Akiem Hicks via the trade route over the past several years. In a trade, Monroe would have been a different animal, as he’s a more high-profile name and costs more than any of the players brought in by New England via swap recently. Now, he holds even more appeal as a free agent. If the Pats did sign Monroe to man right tackle, they’d likely release fellow offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer or Marcus Cannon (or both). On the surface, Monroe doesn’t seem like a Bill Belichick-esque addition, but New England has made surprising moves in the past.
New York Giants — Many draft observers believed Giants 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers was best-suited to play guard or right tackle out of the gate. Instead, New York plugged him in on the left side following an injury to Will Beatty, and Flowers proceeded to grade out as one of the four worst blindside protectors in the league, per PFF. Veteran Marshall Newhouse, the club’s projected right tackle, also ranked as a bottom-10 option at the position. The Giants need help up front, perhaps more so than any team in the NFL outside of Seattle, so it was no surprise to learn that they were talking trade with Baltimore prior to Monroe’s release and have already started courting him since he became a free agent.
San Diego Chargers — Shortly after word leaked out regarding Monroe’s release, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com listed the Chargers as a potential suitor along with the Seahawks and Giants. On the surface, the Chargers seem adequately set at tackle with King Dunlap covering Philip Rivers‘ blindside and Joe Barksdale at right tackle. Still, while Barksdale graded out as the No. 21 overall tackle in the NFL last year according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, Dunlap has been injury prone in the past.
San Francisco 49ers — By almost any metric, San Francisco’s offensive line was among the worst in the NFL last season. The unit ranked second with 53 sacks allowed, and placed 31st in pass protection and 32nd in run blocking according to Football Outsiders’ data. All-Pro Joe Staley clearly isn’t a problem at left tackle, but uninspiring options such as Erik Pears and Trent Brown are among the candidates to start opposite him on the right side. The 49ers are in the midst of a complete rebuild, so perhaps adding a veteran like Monroe doesn’t make sense given their current roster makeup. But keeping Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick (or whomever else starts at quarterback in 2016) off the ground should still be a goal, and Monroe would signify an improvement.
Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are mentioned in connection with nearly every available offensive lineman, but the club simply hasn’t shown any willingness to invest in its front five. After losing Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy in free agency, Seattle will rely on the likes of Garry Gilliam, Bradley Sowell, J’Marcus Webb, and Mark Glowinski up front. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is regarded as a masterful teacher, and he can probably turn some of those unheralded options into contributors. But it’s hard to imagine that the Seahawks would turn down an opportunity to add an immediate starter like Monroe, especially if the asking price is minimal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eagles Extend Fletcher Cox Through 2022
The Eagles announced that they have extended defensive tackle Fletcher Cox through the 2022 season. The six-year, $103MM deal includes $63MM guaranteed, which is the largest guarantee for a non-quarterback in league history, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The contract contains $36.299MM fully guaranteed, including a signing bonus of $26MM.
Reports in mid-April indicated that Philadelphia was close to working out a long-term contract with Cox, but with no agreement hammered out, Cox skipped voluntary Eagles workouts in May before reporting to minicamp last week. A deal always seemed likely, as club management has been adamant about Cox’s value to the team — de facto general manager Howie Roseman called Cox a “huge part” of the Eagles’ future, and was certain that Philadelphia would find a way to keep him around for the long haul.
Cox, 25, will average just under $17.2MM per season on his new deal, a number that makes him the second-highest paid defender in the NFL, behind Ndamukong Suh and just ahead of Olivier Vernon. The $63MM in guarantees is a massive figure and although that doesn’t account for the full guarantees, Cox still came away with a ton of fiscal security thanks to the deal’s details:
- $1.299MM guaranteed 2016 base salary, 2017 $6MM guaranteed option bonus, $3MM guaranteed 2017 base salary.
- $11.5MM 2018 base salary, which fully guarantees in March 2017
- $15.6MM 2019 base salary; $7.75MM fully guarantees in March 2017, $7.75MM fully guarantees in March 2018
- $12.9MM 2020 base salary (plus $1MM roster bonus); $15MM 2021 base salary (plus $1MM roster bonus); $16.1MM 2022 base salary (plus $1MM roster bonus)
The deal is structured in a way that would harshly penalize the Eagles if they were to part ways with Cox before many of those vesting guarantees trigger next March. As a result, Cox is effectively guaranteed an eye-popping $55.549MM at the time of signing. That’s about $1.5MM more than Aaron Rodgers, but still roughly $5MM less than Ndamukong Suh.
Cox had arguably the best season of his four-year career in 2015, setting a new career high with 9.5 sacks. He also racked up 71 tackles, three forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries. The performance earned the Mississippi State alum his first Pro Bowl nod, along with a top-10 spot on Pro Football Focus’ rankings of interior defenders — he placed ninth out of 123 qualified players.
As a first-round pick in 2012, Cox was under contract for one more season, scheduled to play out the 2016 season under a fifth-year option worth $7.799MM. He’ll now make much more than that in 2016, and he’ll also be asked to play a different role as the Eagles shift to a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Jim Schwartz. While Cox played end in Philadelphia’s old 3-4 look, he’ll shift to tackle this season, aligning at the three-technique where he’ll the opportunity to rack up more sacks and create more disruption.
The Eagles have made a habit of extending players this offseason, reaching long-term deals with tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek, safety Malcolm Jenkins, offensive tackle Lane Johnson, and defensive end Vinny Curry. That entire core is now under contract through at least the 2020 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Details provided by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC East Notes: Fitz, Gronk, Gilmore, Darby
There still isn’t movement on a potential deal between the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and it doesn’t seem like things will change heading into minicamp, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Talks could be at a stalemate given that New York reportedly isn’t comfortable offering Fitzpatrick a one-year deal worth $12MM, while Fitzpatrick himself is content to wait out the club in the hopes of landing a better deal. Still, it’s hard to buy that Gang Green will be comfortable entering the season with Geno Smith as their starter, and with so few clubs around the NFL looking for quarterback help, the Jets seem like the best option for Fitzpatrick at this point in the offseason.
Here’s more from the AFC East…
- Rob Gronkowski was present at the Patriots‘ workout today after not attending last week’s sessions, tweets Rapoport. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, New England was simply being cautious by holding Gronk out of last week’s workout, as the tight end is dealing with an undisclosed injury (but one that doesn’t figure to be a long-term ailment).
- Though no extension between the Bills and Stephon Gilmore is on the verge of being signed, the star cornerback is expected to report to minicamp this week, news that Rapoport confirms (via Twitter). Gilmore himself tweeted that he’s only attending camp to prevent being fined, and Rapoport says that Gilmore’s presence probably won’t do much to help contract talks along.
- Fellow Bills cornerback Ronald Darby can’t be extended for two more years, but he’s aware of how much defensive back salaries are rising, writes Vic Carrucci of the Buffalo News. The Bills, in some respects, think Darby is a better player than Gilmore, which could be one reason they’re reluctant to extend Gilmore. With a Darby deal to worry about down the road, signing Gilmore now might not be the right call.
- The Bills are working out former Maryland offensive lineman Andrew Zeller, reports Josh Reed of WIVB (Twitter link). Zeller, who made 12 starts at guard for the Terrapins last season, was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent, but was waived last week.
- The Bills agreed to terms with former Rex Ryan pupil, signing ex-Jets defensive end Leger Douzable to a contract earlier today. Douzable, 30, will work as a five-technique in Buffalo’s 3-4 scheme.
Jermaine Gresham Took Less To Re-Sign With Cards?
Jermaine Gresham could have earned more money on the free agent market this spring, but the veteran tight end preferred to re-sign with the Cardinals in order to contend for a Super Bowl, as he explains to Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com. Per Gresham, the Jets, Bears, and a third unnamed club all expressed interest in him earlier this year, and he was apparently offered a four-year, $23MM deal that contained $12MM guaranteed.
“[M]y agent tried talking me out of it,” said Gresham. “But I think he felt that my happiness is more important. He saw my vision and he sid[ed] with me all the way to the end… I feel like I didn’t necessarily put my best foot forward last year and, hopefully, I’ll be able to significantly improve upon that and, hopefully, help make things even better than it was last year.”
Obviously, we can’t know the exact structure of any other deals that were apparently offered to Gresham, but if he was actually presented with $12MM guaranteed, it’s hard to imagine that re-signed with Arizona, who committed just $3MM in guaranteed money. Gresham, 28 this week, wasn’t especially effective in 2015, catching just 18 passes for 223 yards — while he graded out as an excellent run-blocker, he was overmatched in the passing game, according to Pro Football Focus.
All of which is to say that Gresham probably should have cashed out while he had the chance, as the proposed deal mentioned would have been one of the best contracts signed by a tight end this offseason. Only Coby Fleener, who signed a five-year pact with the Saints, would have come out ahead in either annual average value of guarantees.
Chicago was clearly interested in securing another tight end, as in addition to this reported wooing of Gresham, the club signed the Saints’ Josh Hill to a restricted free agent offer sheet, which New Orleans ultimately matched, and re-signed veteran Zach Miller. New York, on the other hand, did hardly anything at the tight end position this offseason, opting to simply re-sign journeyman Kellen Davis.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.