Author: Dallas Robinson

Earlier this offseason, our Luke Adams examined the largest 2014 cap hits by position on both offense and defense, scrutinizing the most expensive individual cap charges for next year. The list that follows, while along the same lines, tabulates the largest cap hits by position group. Some overlap in the lists is unavoidable — if a single player has an exorbitant cap charge, it will inevitably raise the team’s cap hit for his position as a whole. After taking a look at positional group spending on offense earlier this week, we’ll examine defensive cap figures here.

Defensive line:

1. Rams, $47.679MM
2. Bills, $40.263MM
3. Jaguars, $37.876MM

• The Bills’ inclusion on the defensive line section of this list could be followed by an asterisk, as Over the Cap’s data designates Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes — both of whom will likely play mostly, if not exclusively, at linebacker — as lineman. Exclude their two cap figures, and the Seahawks move into the top three among DL spending.
• The clubs listed above (again, assigning Williams/Hughes as lineman) are three of six in the league that count three or more defensive lineman among their top 10 cap hits. The others? Miami, Tennessee, and Minnesota.
• Unless a restructure occurs, the Dolphins will certainly place highly here in 2016, when Ndamukong Suh‘s cap charge will balloon to $28.6MM, currently projected as the highest figure in the NFL.
• Another team that might stake a claim to fielding the league’s best defensive line — the Jets — rank just 19th in DL spending, thanks to Muhammad Wilkerson playing on a fifth-year option, Damon Harrison on a RFA tender, and Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams still under their rookie contracts.

Linebacker:

1. Colts, $33.599MM
2. Packers, $31.861MM
3. Chiefs, $30.726MM

• At linebacker, we clearly see the impact of scheme differentiation, as clubs that employ 3-4 fronts — and therefore, pass-rushing outside linebackers — make up the majority of the top 10 in linebacker spending. In fact, the only among exception among the top 10 teams is the Bengals, at No. 9.
• Conversely, eight of the bottom 10 teams in LB spending predominately use 4-3 schemes, and each of the outliers — the Bills and the Bears — only recently switched to 3-4 looks following coaching staff overhauls.
• It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Kansas City moves out of the top three before the beginning of the season, as the club could work out an extension with franchise player Justin Houston (and thus lower his 2015 cap hit), and potentially release veteran Derrick Johnson, who was injured for the majority of last season and is set to count $5.25MM against the Chiefs’ books.

Cornerback:

1. Jets, $32.993MM
2. Cowboys, $27.857MM
3. Browns, $25.628MM

• The most interesting section of the cornerback list at at the bottom, where the Patriots, one season after bringing two high-profile corners en route to a Super Bowl title, will use the least cap space on CBs of any club in the league, at just $6.531MM. None of the cover men brought in to replace Darrelle Revis or Brandon Browner has a cap charge in excess of $2.5MM, as Bradley Fletcher‘s $2.131MM number is the highest among New England corners.
• While Revis’ deal with the Jets is somewhat frontloaded — his cap figure rises by $1MM in 2016 before decreasing in each of the next two seasons — fellow free agent additions Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine‘s cap numbers stay relatively stable, sitting between $7MM and $9MM for the duration of their contracts. As such, expect to see Gang Green on this list for the next few years, at least.
• The Bills were the No. 1 team in the league against the pass last season, according to Football Outsiders, but they rank just 13th in cornerback spending, thanks in part to several key contributors still playing on rookie deals, and two veterans — Corey Graham and Leodis McKelvin playing under affordable deals, each with a 2015 cap hit of less than $5MM.

Safety:

1. Seahawks, $15.56MM
2. Raiders, $14.433MM
3. Dolphins, $13.772MM

• Oakland is pushed to the No. 2 spot thanks to the signing of former Eagle Nate Allen, an addition questioned by many pundits. He’ll count for $7MM in year one of his deal, good for third on the the club and seventh among safeties league-wide.
• The Patriots re-signed Devin McCourty to a contract that makes him the second-highest paid safety in terms of AAV, but New England ranks 13th in safety spending in 2015, thanks to the backloaded nature of McCourty’s deal. His cap charges from 2015 to 2019 continually rise, from $6MM, $8MM, $10MM, $11MM, and finally $12.5MM.

Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.

Earlier this month, our Luke Adams examined the largest 2015 cap hits by position on offense, scrutinizing the most expensive individual cap charges for next year. The list that follows, while along the same lines, tabulates the largest cap hits by position group. Some overlap in the lists is unavoidable — if a single player has an exorbitant cap charge, it will inevitably raise the team’s cap hit for his position as a whole.

We’ll look at the defensive side of the ball later in the week, but let’s examine which clubs are investing the most cap space on offensive positions…

Quarterback:

1. Saints, $28.193MM
2. Falcons, $21.596MM
3. Chiefs, $21.477M

• New Orleans and Atlanta’s presence here is no fluke, as Drew Brees and Matt Ryan have the No. 1 and No. 3 cap hits among quarterbacks, respectively. Brees, in fact, has the largest cap figure in the entire NFL at $26.4MM.
• It is strange that Kansas City ranks third, however, given that Alex Smith, at $15.6MM, has only the 10th-highest hit among QBs. Chase Daniel, the highest-paid backup in the league, is what drives the Chiefs to their No. 3 ranking, as his $4.8MM cap number is good for ninth on the club.
• Besides the Chiefs, the Cardinals are the only club with two quarterbacks inside their top 10 cap hits. But because both Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton have relatively low numbers ($7.375MM, $3.867MM), Arizona places just 17th in terms of QB spending.

Running back:

1. Vikings, $18.529MM
2. Panthers, $14.207MM
3. Eagles, $12.557MM

• Minnesota’s place at No. 1 is almost entirely thanks to Adrian Peterson and his $15.4MM cap figure, as backups Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each have hits of $800K or less.
• This list doesn’t encompass dead money, but if it did, Carolina would actually edge the Vikings for the top spot, as DeAngelo Williams counts for $4.33MM on the club’s books despite his release earlier this year.
• It might surprise that the Eagles aren’t even higher on this list due to their offseason spending spree at running back, and the continue presence of the well-compensated of veteran Darren Sproles. Philadelphia is projected to lead in RB spending in 2016, however, when DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, and Sproles’ cap hits all jump.
• The team that will spend the least on running backs? The Titans, who after releasing Shonn Greene will field only runners on rookie deals, will spend about $1.88MM.

Receiver:

1. Lions, $39.13MM
2. Broncos, $25.233MM
3. Washington, $25.171MM

• Each of the top three clubs in receiver spending follows a fairly similar model: an impact No. 1 pass-catcher earning earning top-end money, and a solid No. 2 option earning near the top of the second tier of receiver compensation.
• Even with Dez Bryant earning franchise-tag money, the Cowboys are just sixth in receiver spending, due in part to their reliance on Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley, former mid-round draft picks still on their rookie deals.
• The Packers, who have signed both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to multi-year extensions during the past twelve months, rank just 23rd on this list. Both receivers’ cap charges will obviously continue to rise, but neither will surpass $10MM until 2017.
• The Dolphins ranked first here last year, spending nearly $9MM more on receivers than the next highest club. But after trading Mike Wallace and releasing Brian Hartline, Miami places just 27th.

Tight end:

1. Rams, $16.976MM
2. Jaguars, $16.612MM
3. Chargers, $15.48MM

• St. Louis’ top two tight ends — Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks — place not only in the top ten of the club’s cap charges, but in the top five. That’s largely because the Rams are employing a cadre of players on their rookie deals at many of the positions where top earners usually play (quarterback, offensive line, receiver, defensive back).
• Jimmy Graham‘s $9MM in dead money isn’t factored in here, but if it were, the Saints, who currently rank 29th in tight end spending, would place fifth.

Offensive line:

1. Jets, $36.226MM
2. Raiders, $32.437MM
3. Washington, $32.299MM

•  The Jets placed in the top three of offensive line spending in 2014 as well, but it didn’t seem to do much good. New York gave up 47 sacks, eighth most in the league, and ranked 20th in run-blocking and 25th in pass-blocking according to Football Outsiders’ metrics.
• Rodney Hudson‘s unique contract structure means that he takes up about 41% of the Raiders’ 2015 offensive line spending total of about $32.5MM. Hudson didn’t receive a signing bonus, instead garnering a $6.9MM roster bonus that counts entirely on Oakland’s 2015 cap. All told, Hudson’s cap charge is $13MM, highest among centers.
• The Browns ranked first in line spending in 2014, as both Joe Thomas and Alex Mack‘s cap charges were tops at their respective positions. But Thomas and Mack’s contracts call for a combined $4.3MM reduction in cap hits in 2015, leading Cleveland to drop to seventh on this list this season.

Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.

The most high-profile free agent signings occurred more than three months ago, but as we near July there are still talented NFL free agents available on the open market. Most of these players (with perhaps one exception) won’t command much, if any, guaranteed money, and given that we’ve passed the May 12 deadline, none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula. Let’s take a look at the players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches…

1. Evan Mathis, G: Having been released by the Eagles on June 11, Mathis is the clear cut No. 1 on this list — despite playing in only nine games last season, the 33-year-old graded as the second-best guard in the league, earning a +25.8 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Mathis’ Philadelphia contract called for him to earn a $5.5MM base salary, and given that as many as 10 clubs have expressed interest in signing him, it’s conceivable he could match that total. The Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, Vikings, and Seahawks are among the teams that have been linked to Mathis.

2. Jake Long, T: Long is undoubtedly an injury risk, as he’s suffered a torn ACL in each of the prior two seasons. His last knee injury came in October, so it’s not even clear if he’ll be ready for the beginning of the 2015 season. But on talent alone, the former No. 1 overall pick is certainly among the best unsigned players available, as he rated among the top 10 tackles in 2013 per PFF before going down. Long took a visit with the now Will Beatty-less Giants near the end of May, and could interest other clubs (Broncos? Panthers?) who are in need of help at tackle.

3. Jermaine Gresham, TE: Only 27 years old, Gresham surely would have found a landing spot by now had he not undergone back surgery in March to repair a herniated disc. The former Bengal totaled 62 receptions and four touchdowns in 2014, and is a willing and able blocker in both the pass and run game. Gresham visited with the Saints a couple of weeks ago, and was heavily linked to the Raiders during the outset of free agency.

4. James Jones, WR: Jones probably won’t ever approach his high-water mark season of 2012, when he led the league with 14 touchdown receptions while catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. But he’s still only 31 years old, and has remained remarkably durable (missing just eight of a possible 128 career games) and consistent, averaging 48 receptions for roughly 620 yards and five scores each year. The Seahawks, Giants, Chiefs, and Jaguars have all made inquiries on Jones since he was released by Oakland on May 4.

5. Dwight Freeney, DE/OLB: Freeney is the archetype of the type of NFL free agent usually available at this point in the summer. A former superstar, in his mid-to-late thirties, who while still a very serviceable player, might be asking for too much money to generate any serious interest. As I wrote when examining Freeney in April, the ex-Colt/Charger is still very adept at disrupting the pocket, despite largely pedestrian sack totals. The 35-year-old ranked third among 3-4 OLBs in quarterback hurries, and ninth in QB hits, and his ability to play both standing up and with his hand in the ground should afford him more opportunities.

6. Dawan Landry, S: A veteran of nine NFL seasons, Landry spent the past two years with the Jets; in 2014, he started 14 games, racking up 67 tackle and 1.5 sacks, grading as the league’s ninth-best safety per PFF. Landry also spent a fair amount of time in the slot (174 snaps), so his ability to move down and cover shifty receivers adds to his versatility. The 32-year-old paid a visit to the Bills in April, and signing with Buffalo would reunite Landry with his former Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

7. Rob Sims, G: Stability is the name of Sims’ game — since signing with the Lions prior to the 2010 season, Sims has not missed a single contest, starting all 80 games during that period. Sims, 31, said in February that he’d like to return to Detroit, but the club’s move since then have made a reunion unlikely. The Lions not only spent their first-round pick on guard Laken Tomlinson, but swung a draft-day trade for interior lineman Manny Ramirez. Along with stud RG Larry Warford, Detroit has talent and depth in the middle of its line, leaving little room for Sims. Plus, Sims has intimated that the team had low-balled him contract-wise, so he’ll probably be looking for work elsewhere.

8. Red Bryant, DL: Bryant has always been more of a run-stopper than a pass-rusher, and things were no different in 2014, when he ranked as the third-best 4-3 end against the run, despite grading as just the No. 31 DE among qualifiers per PFF. Still, the 31-year-old was released just one season into a four-year deal with the Jaguars, and hasn’t taken any known meetings with other clubs. Seattle’s defensive line might be too crowded for a Bryant reunion, but I wonder if the Falcons (with former Seattle DC Dan Quinn as head coach) might be interested.

9. Chris Myers, C: The second-oldest free agent on this list, the 33-year-old Myers is the epitome of consistency, having started all 16 games in each season dating back to 2007. He finished as the league’s 16th-best center in 2014 according to PFF (with an atrocious pass-blocking grade), but that was the worst mark of his career, as he’d finished as a top ten center in each of the seven prior seasons. Whether last season is indicative of an impending decline is unclear, but Myers has generated free agent interest, meeting with the Seahawks, and talking with the Broncos and Raiders. Houston has also expressed interest in bringing Myers back in the fold.

10. Anthony Collins, OL: Collins was a major flop with the Buccaneers after signing a five-year, $30MM deal last March, so much so that Tampa Bay released him after one season despite having handed him $15MM in guarantees. There’s no getting around Collins’ 2014 sub-par play, but he was solid as recently as ’13, when he started seven games at left tackle for the Bengals as part of an offensive line reshuffling. Yet to turn 30 years old, and with the ability to play both tackle and guard, Collins could be a solid buy-low candidate, perhaps for a team that misses out on Long.

Just missed the cut: C Brian De La Puente; DE Osi Umenyiora; RB Pierre Thomas; LB Geno Hayes; S Bernard Pollard; RB Ahmad Bradshaw, QB Michael Vick..

Note: LB Brandon Spikes and DE Ray McDonald would have shown up on this list based on talent alone, but given their legal troubles, they could struggle to land even a minimum salary deal.

The original content produced by the PFR staff during the past seven days:

• After looking at the offensive and defensive side of the ball, Luke Adams examined the largest 2015 cap hits among special teamers, where Stephen Gostkowski and Mike Scifres top the list among kickers and punters, respectively.
• Sam Robinson delved into the extension case for Broncos defender Malik Jackson, arguing that the upcoming season will go a long way towards gauging Jackson’s market value. A strong 2015 could push Jackson in the $9MM/per year stratosphere occupied by Jurrell Casey and Corey Liuget.
• With Tom Brady‘s appeal set to be heard on Tuesday, Rob DiRe asked how the Patriots QB’s ban should ultimately shake out. The voting is rather splintered, as about 38% of readers believe Brady’s suspension should be vacated entirely, while roughly 26% think the ban should be extended.
• We launched a new series this week called Community Tailgate, where we’ll raise an issue and invite you the reader to offer your comments and feedback. This week, Zach Links and Luke covered four topics:
  • Evan Mathis‘ landing spot (link)
  • Greg Hardy‘s suspension (link)
  • The fates of Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Demaryius Thomas (link)
  • The outcome of the Bills‘ quarterback competition (link)

The original content produced by the PFR staff during the past seven days:

• After looking at the offensive side of the ball last week, Luke Adams examined the largest 2015 cap hits among defensive players. Veterans such as Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, and Mario Williams will all carry costly figures, but Panthers end Charles Johnson tops them all with a $20.02MM hit.
• Luke also asked which quarterback among Russell Wilson, Philip Rivers, and Eli Manning will sign an extension first. Currently, Wilson holds a majority of the votes with just over 50%.
• In another poll, Zach Links wondered if Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is worth $100MM, as his teammate Sheldon Richardson concluded. PFR readers overwhelmingly disagree with Richardson’s assessment, as more then 80% of voters don’t think Wilkerson should surpass $100MM.
• Check out our Extension Candidate series, where we’ve profiled contract year players such as Sam Bradford, Marshal Yanda, Kelechi Osemele, Blair Walsh, and Andrew Whitworth.
• Finally, we’d greatly appreciate it if you’d take our quick survey on how to improve your Pro Football Rumors experience.