AFC North Notes: J. Thomas, Ravens, Walford
Responding to a reader’s question in today’s mailbag, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reveals that the Browns had the opportunity to trade left tackle Joe Thomas to a NFC East or NFC West team last year. It’s a bit of a confusing statement — Thomas is one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL, meaning it shouldn’t be difficult for Cleveland to find suitors for him if he were on the block, so the fact that Kabot uses the term “opportunity” is odd. Reading between the lines, I’m guessing that the Browns may have had extremely preliminary discussions about dealing Thomas, but decided to retain their All Pro.
Here’s more from the AFC North, with several notes out of Baltimore:
- The Ravens had a predraft visit with Miami tight end Clive Walford, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore is on the lookout for a tight end given Dennis Pitta‘s injury concerns, and Walford could be in had in either the second or third round. PFR’s Rob DiRe pointed to Walford as the possible standout among this year’s crop of tight ends.
- Baltimore coveted pass rusher Khalil Mack in the 2014 draft, but Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome wasn’t able to convince the Raiders to trade picks. This year, writes Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun, Newsome & Co. will have to decide whether to move up, down, or stand pat, while noting that Newsome has executed a draft-day trade in 13 consecutive seasons.
- In his latest mailbag for ESPN.com, Jamison Hensley opines that the Ravens could work out a long-term deal for Marshal Yanda before the season, and argues that despite Jimmy Smith‘s recent extension, cornerback is still an area of need for Baltimore.
South Notes: Bucs, Winston, Saints, Colts
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to selected first overall by Tampa Bay on Thursday night, and the Buccaneers have certainly done their research on the 2013 Heisman winner. General manager Jason Licht tells Joey Johnston and Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that his club spoke with more than 75 people in an attempt to properly vet Winston. Curiously, the Bucs did not speak with the woman who accused Winston of sexual assault in 2013, but they did talk to a member of the Tallahassee State Attorney’s Office, which declined to press charges against Winston.
Here’s more from the NFL’s South divisions…
- Of the 18 prospects who are known to have visited the Saints, 12 are defensive players, which could be an indication of which direction New Orleans is leaning with its two first-round picks, writes Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. Of course, as Woodbery adds, each club is allotted 30 predraft visits, so there up to 12 Saints player meetings that the public isn’t aware of.
- Speaking of the Saints, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com doesn’t think the club will take a risk on players with off-the-field trouble, such as edge rusher Randy Gregory or receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
- The Colts will likely have to trade up if they want a chance at a player like Alabama safety Landon Collins, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Indianapolis owns nine picks, so they could have the draft capital to make such a move.
- Although a poor draft (and a similarly underwhelming 2015 season) would probably threaten the job of Titans GM Ruston Webster more than head coach Ken Whisenhunt, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com thinks both could be in jeopardy if Tennessee struggles this year.
Dolphins Targeting Todd Gurley In Draft
The Dolphins rushing attack was the most dynamic part of the club’s offense in 2014 — third-year pro Lamar Miller ran for more than 1,000 yards, scoring eight touchdowns, and Miami ranked second in rushing DVOA, per Football Outsiders. But the team reportedly wants to add another option to its backfield, as multiple sources tell Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald that the Dolphins “covet” Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
“He’s a talent,” Miami assistant general manager Eric Stokes said of Gurley. “He’s definitely a player that his ability stands out and shines. He’s an exciting guy to watch. We’ve enjoyed working through that process with him and seeing him. From there, we’ll see where things shake out.”
Let’s take a look at some more Dolphins notes, courtesy of Beasley’s Herald colleague Barry Jackson:
- With Dion Jordan‘s future with Miami in doubt, the Dolphins could look to select a defensive end in this week’s draft, per Jackson. Fellow end Cameron Wake is 33 years old, while Olivier Vernon is a free agent after this season, so depth at the position could be an issue.
- On the other hand, Jackson writes, the club is high on young defensive lineman Derrick Shelby (who saw more than 400 snaps last season) and LB/DE Chris McCain, so perhaps Miami feels comfortable with its option along the defensive line.
- General manager Dennis Hickey has taken risks on players with character questions in the past, so Washington CB Marcus Peters and Oklahoma WR Dorial Green-Beckham probably aren’t off the Dolphins’ draft board. Peters, specifically, had a private workout with Miami, and PFR’s Rob DiRe has the club selecting Peters with its first-round pick.
PFR Originals: 4/19/15 – 4/26/15
The original content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- Rob Dire continued his 2015 NFL draft breakdown series, analyzing the offensive lineman, the defensive lineman, and the pass rushers. Check out Rob’s entire series here.
- I profiled free agent guard Justin Blalock, who remains unsigned after being released by the Falcons in February.
Week In Review: 4/19/15 – 4/26/15
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Key News:
- The Ravens signed cornerback Jimmy Smith to a four-year, $48MM extension, with $21MM in guarantees.
- The NFL suspended Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy for 10 games; he’ll appeal the ban.
- The Bengals agreed to an extension with head coach Marvin Lewis that will keep him in Cincinnati through 2016.
- Steelers receiver Antonio Brown is seeking a new contract, and is mulling a training camp holdout.
- Read the latest Philip Rivers/Titans rumors, and check out all the Rivers-related news here.
Signed:
- Bears – TE Bear Pascoe (link)
- Eagles – QB Tim Tebow (link)
- Dolphins – WR Greg Jennings (link) and G Jeff Linkenbach (link)
- Titans – T Byron Bell (link) and WR Hakeem Nicks (link)
Fifth-Year Options:
- Chiefs – DT Dontari Poe (exercised)
- Lions – T Riley Reiff (exercised)
- Panthers – LB Luke Kuechly (exercised)
- Titans – WR Kendall Wright (exercised)
Retired:
- S Adrian Wilson (link)
Other:
- Patriots, Jerod Mayo restructure contract (link)
- Eagles rescind RB Chris Polk‘s RFA tender (link)
North Notes: Peterson, Browns, Flacco
Voluntary workouts for the Vikings begin tomorrow, but a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that embattled running back Adrian Peterson is not expected to attend. Don’t read too much into the recently-reinstated Peterson’s planned no-show, adds Tomasson, as Peterson’s appearance at voluntary events has always been “sporadic.” Minnesota’s first mandatory session doesn’t come until June 16.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Penn State offensive lineman Donovan Smith, a projected Day Two selection, will visit the Browns, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Smith, who played left tackle in college, would shift to the right side (or guard) in Cleveland.
- If the Browns don’t trade up for Marcus Mariota, ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon thinks the club might not select a quarterbck at all. While he allows that his opinion is just a guess, McManamon adds that Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Thad Lewis, and Connor Shaw could hold the fort until a franchise QB is chosen, perhaps in next year’s draft.
- Joe Flacco might never earn the “elite” label, but he’s given the Ravens stability at the quarterback position, something a lot of clubs are still searching for, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Justin Blalock
With Michael Crabtree and Stefen Wisniewski finding new homes last week, only one free agent on PFR‘s Top 50 list — tackle 
Joe Barksdale — remains unsigned. Barksdale (whom I profiled last month) might be the biggest name left on the free agent market, but there are other steady options available, including those who, like Barskdale, play along the offensive line. One such player is guard Justin Blalock, who didn’t earn a spot on our Top 50 list, but did garner a honorable mention.
Blalock was released by the Falcons — his only NFL team for all eight of his pro seasons — in late February, a few weeks before the start of free agency. As PFR’s Luke Adams noted at the time, the transaction was a bit of a surprise, given that Blalock had been a productive contributor during his time in Atlanta. However, he was set to count nearly $8MM against the salary cap in 2015, which would have been the third-highest figure on the club. Additionally, there were concerns that Blalock, a successful guard in a power scheme, wouldn’t be a fit for new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan‘s zone-blocking concepts.
The 31-year-old Blalock has generated a fair amount of interest since his release, and given that he’s been linked to teams with severe offensive line issues, it’s a tad stunning that he hasn’t found a new home yet. The Rams immediately displayed interest in Blalock, and were reportedly set to meet with him at some point (though it’s unclear if that meeting ever took place). Blalock did take a visit with the Lions, while the Buccaneers also showed some level of intrigue.
The level of interest engendered by Blalock shouldn’t come as a surprise, because he’s certainly been a good player throughout his career. His rookie season notwithstanding — he had the dubious honor of being ranked as the league’s worst guard in 2007 — according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Blalock has been remarkably reliable, topping out with a No. 12 finish in 2010 before settling in as a top-30 guard since. The former second-round pick has also been incredibly durable, as he’s missed just two games during his eight-year career.
Blalock should be able to latch on with a new team soon, and it’s conceivable that one of the clubs mentioned above could still sign him. St. Louis, in particular, has a gaping hole at right guard, where Barrett Jones is currently projected to start, as does Tennessee, where career backup Byron Stingily is atop the depth chart. The Patriots, Chargers, and (if they don’t want to rely on Chris Williams) Bills are clubs that both have a vacancy at guard and run a man-blocking scheme.
Outside of the Rams, I think the Lions could present the best fit for Blalock. They’ve already shown interest in him, and they currently a hole at left guard, pending the outcome of their talks with their owner free agent guard, Rob Sims. Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew indicated last month that the team was in negotiations with Sims, but nothing has come of those discussions as of yet. Blalock was the better player in 2014 (Sims was PFF’s No. 40 guard), and while Blalock earned more last year, I’d bet the two will ultimately earn similar money in 2015.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com pointed to Blalock as a option for the Lions earlier this month, so it could be that Detroit is waiting for either Blalock or Sims to accept an offer that’s already on the table. Responding to a Twitter question today, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com argued that the club’s most pressing need was at left guard as opposed to right tackle — at RT, says Twetyman, the Lions at least have LaAdrian Waddle, who has some experience, while the team has no such option at left guard. An addition of Blalock would give Detroit a line of (left-to-right) Riley Reiff, Blalock, Travis Swanson, Larry Warford, and Waddle, a solid (if uninspiring) group.
Left guard isn’t a highly-paid position, and Blalock won’t be able top Geoff Schwartz‘s $4.2MM AAV from last offseason. While he plays a different position, Wisniewski recently received $2.5MM from the Jaguars, and while he’s probably a better player than Blalock, he’s also recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, lowering his value. I’d guess that Blalock will ultimately come in around $2-3MM, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions or the Rams were the club that signed the Texas alum.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR Originals: 4/12/15 – 4/19/15
The original content produced by the PFR during the past week:
- Rob DiRe began his breakdown of the 2015 draft by taking a look at the crop of quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers/tight ends.
- I examined the free agent stock of defensive end/linebacker Dwight Freeney.
- Rory Parks looked into why receiver Hakeem Nicks remains unsigned.
- In our final free agent assessment, Luke Adams profiled receiver Greg Jennings, who remains on the open market after being released by the Vikings.
- Luke also asked which of the 2015 QB draft prospects would have the best career, and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota took the No. 1 spot with roughly 37% of the vote.
Week In Review: 4/12/15 – 4/19/15
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Key News:
- Following a suspension and a stay on the commissioner’s exempt list, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was reinstated by the NFL.
- Linebacker Paul Posluszny agreed to a one-year extension with the Jaguars which will keep the veteran in Jacksonville through 2017.
- The Buccaneers acquired DE George Johnson and a seventh-round pick from the Lions in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
- The Packers matched the Raiders’ one-year, $2.55MM offer to S Sean Richardson.
Signed/Re-Signed:
- Chargers – OL Chris Hairston (link)
- Dolphins – CB Zackary Bowman (link)
- Giants – DB Josh Gordy (link)
- Jaguars – C Stefen Wisniewski (link)
- Packers – FB John Kuhn (link)
- Raiders – WR Michael Crabtree (link)
- Washington – K Kai Forbath (link)
Retired:
- G Daryn Colledge (link)
- OL Wade Smith (link)
- CB Ike Taylor (link)
Extra Points: LeSean, Rivers, Raiders, Steelers
The Eagles originally wanted draft picks from the Bills in exchange for LeSean McCoy, writes Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com in a profile of new Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan. But because the Bills lack a 2015 first-rounder, general manager Doug Whaley told Philadelphia to look over Buffalo’s roster, at which the Eagles decided on linebacker Kiko Alonso. The entire piece is worth a read, as it includes interesting notes about Ryan’s hiring and, of course, grade-A quotes from Ryan himself.
Let’s take a look at more from around the league…
- The Chargers have the option of using the franchise tag on Philip Rivers for the 2016 season, but they’re concerned he may simply retire instead of playing for the team, especially if it relocates to Los Angeles, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). If Rivers is going to walk away from football rather than play for San Diego, the Chargers feel they must get some sort of compensation for him, adds Rapoport.
- NFL officials will meet with representatives of Oakland and Alameda County on Wednesday to discuss the status of an East Bay stadium proposal for the Raiders, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. NFL executive Eric Grubman will lead the discussions for the league, and report the results to the NFL’s Los Angeles committee on April 22.
- The recent retirements of Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor have helped the Steelers’ dire cap situation, writes David Steele of the Sporting News, who examines the costs of paying a franchise quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger market value.
- Because the league continually fails to conceal the results of draft prospects’ Wonderlic tests (Jameis Winston‘s score was reported earlier), players should simply refuse to take the exam, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.