NFC West Notes: Davis, Kaepernick, Seahawks
Jim Harbaugh knew little about Rams quarterback Austin Davis before this week, but he regrets not getting a better look at the Southern Mississippi product during the draft process in 2012, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I wish I would’ve been more aware of him,” Harbaugh said of Davis, who went undrafted. “He looks like a real nice prospect.” Since taking over for the injured Shaun Hill in Week 1, Davis has thrown for more than 1,100 yards and six touchdowns while completing 67.8% of his passes. Davis and his 1-3 Rams take on Harbaugh’s 3-2 49ers on Sunday.
- A Colin Kaepernick-releated hearing will take place Tuesday morning, but there’s a dispute as to what issue the meeting will address. While a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk the hearing will focus on Kaepernick’s alleged use of offensive language towards Bears defensive lineman Lamarr Houston, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says (via Twitter) the hearing is about Kaepernick’s wearing of Beats headphones, which are banned by the league.
- The Seahawks waived defensive lineman Greg Scruggs earlier today, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times thinks there’s a good chance the 24-year-old will be added to the Hawks’ practice squad if no other team claims him.
- The new field at the 49ers’ Levi Stadium drew some criticism earlier this year, but it looks like all the kinks have been worked out, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- After playing 109 snaps through the Rams’ first four games, rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald is ready to handle a larger role, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
Extension Candidate: Randall Cobb
When the Packers agreed to sign Julius Peppers to a three-year, $27MM deal in March, it was fair to wonder if things were changing in Green Bay. For one, Peppers was a 34-year-old career 4-3 defensive end who would be asked to play quite a bit of 3-4 outside linebacker — paying him $9MM a year to do so, especially when he was coming off a subpar 2013 season, seemed questionable. Additionally, the entire concept of free agency is anathema to Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson. Peppers was just the seventh veteran free agent Thompson has added since joining the Packers in 2006, per Bill Barnwell of Grantland.
Even more so than the teams like the Steelers or the Giants, who occasionally dip into the free agent pool to acquire a specific need at a reasonable cost, the Packers simply have no interest in bringing in veteran outsiders. Over the Cap’s data shows that among Green Bay’s top-20 2014 cap charges, just one belongs to a player (Peppers) who has seen any regular-season action with another team. However, those same numbers show that the Packers are more than willing to pay for performance by its own players — Aaron Rodgers, Sam Shields, Clay Matthews, and Josh Sitton are among the Packers who have been signed to a extensions in recent years.
Green Bay was seemingly more reticent to offer fresh contracts to skill position players (excluding Rodgers) until this summer, when it agreed to a four-year, $39MM deal with receiver Jordy Nelson. While the extension made Nelson the eighth-highest-paid wideout in terms of annual value, it’s relatively modest in terms of guaranteed money — Nelson received only $11.5MM in guarantees in the form of signing bonus, good for just 23rd among receivers. Still, the deal will certainly remain relevant for the Packers throughout the rest of the season and the offseason, as they attempt to negotiate a new deal with another pass-catcher — fourth-year WR Randall Cobb.
Cobb, 24, entered the league as second-round pick out of Kentucky in 2011. After failing to start a game during his rookie year (but still offering value in the return game), Cobb broke out in his sophomore season, catching 80 passes for 954 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked ninth in receiver DVOA, and graded as the 11th-best WR per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Injuries sapped Cobb’s effectiveness in 2013, as a fractured fibula limited him to just six games. He’s rebounded this season, however, catching 24 balls for 273 yards and six touchdowns through five games. Advanced metrics differ on Cobb’s 2014 performance so far — while DVOA rates him as top-3 receiver, PFF grades him as just the 24th-best wideout at this point in the season.
Before entering into negotiations with Cobb, the Packers will first have to decide how much they are comfortable spending on the receiver position. As noted, Nelson has already extended, meaning that a Cobb deal would likely place the team in the upper-echelon in terms of receiver expenditures. Currently, the Dolphins spend the most on WRs (by a large margin) at just over $32MM; the Redskins and Lions are second on third on that list, as each spends about $23MM on wideouts. For the Packers specifically, will the club’s emphasis on depth mean that they will refuse to overextend at one position, or will the league’s emphasis on passing lead Green Bay to heavily invest in its pass-catching unit?
Assuming Green Bay is interested in working out an extension with Cobb, it can look to several recent WR contracts when looking for comparables. The floor for a new Cobb deal is probably that of Emmanuel Sanders, who received $15MM over three years ($6MM guaranteed) from the Broncos during the offseason. Sanders is off to an incredible start through five games, but heading into the year, his career stats were less impressive than Cobb’s. As far as a ceiling, it’s safe to assume that Cobb won’t top Eric Decker‘s five-year, $36.25MM contract with the Jets. Both Cobb and Decker have caught passes from Hall of Fame level quarterbacks, and Decker’s production outweighs that of Cobb.
The best comparison for Cobb might be Golden Tate, the ex-Seahawk whose free agent contract with the Lions was worth $31MM over five years, with $8MM guaranteed. Physically, the two are alike — Cobb stands 5’10” and weighs 191 pounds, while Tate is listed at 5’11”, 195. Each offers value on special teams, and while Cobb is probably regarded as the better big-play threat, Tate has the surer hands. Cobb’s career highs in both receptions (80) and yards (954) best those of Tate (64, 898).
While Tate was never an injury risk in Seattle, the same can’t be said for Cobb. His injury woes lead me to believe that he will ultimately secure a deal that totals slightly less than that of Tate. Of course, a forward-looking team could view Cobb as an asset with untapped potential. At 26, Tate was viewed as a finished product when he signed his contract; he was a steady player who probably wasn’t going to get much better, or worse, during his time in Detroit. Cobb, however, has not only had to battle injuries, but compete for looks with Nelson in Green Bay. If a team aimed to acquire Cobb and install him as a true No. 1 receiver, the possibilities could be limitless.
Cobb ranked fifth on Mike Sando of ESPN.com’s June power ranking of 2015 free agent receivers, which was compiled after the scribe spoke with several NFL decision-makers. An offensive assistant was complimentary of Cobb, speaking more favorably of him than 49ers WR Michael Crabtree: “Cobb and Crabtree are interchangeable on my list,” said the assistant. “Cobb is the model person and will always show up on time. Crabtree comes off whinier, and the guy from Seattle [Richard Sherman] got in his head. Cobb is coming from the right program with Mike McCarthy, one with structure and discipline and doing the right things. Crabtree does play outside more, but I’d rather coach Cobb.”
Ultimately, if Cobb does remain in Green Bay, I’d expect him to sign a deal in the $5.5-6MM per year range, with perhaps $6MM guaranteed. Depending on how the contract was structured, it would probably move the Packers into the top-12 or so in terms of wide receiver spending; they currently rank 24th. The club has the financial wherewithal with which to work, as they have more than $18MM in 2015 cap space available.
For his part, Cobb said this summer that (at the time) his production didn’t warrant an extension. “I don’t believe I’ve done enough, and I think that’s on me,” Cobb told Jason Wilde of ESPN.com. “My job is … to work hard and hopefully my time will come.” Wilde’s ESPN colleague, Rob Demovsky, wrote earlier today that Cobb could be the one delaying negotiations, rather than the Packers, and noted that Cobb will need to show more before he asks for the type of money that Nelson received. Regardless of the specifics, Cobb’s case will be interesting to watch, both from the perspective of the player, who surely wants to match his teammate’s contract, and the front office, which is esteemed throughout the league.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Matt Prater
Kicker is among the most volatile positions in the NFL — in fact, 41% of kickers (13-of-32) weren’t with their current team as recently as 2012. With a position that fluid, teams look fondly upon stability, meaning available solid veterans won’t be out of work for long. In the case of Matt Prater, it might be mere days until he finds a new job.
Prater, 30, entered the league in 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida. Like most kickers, he was extremely nomadic during the early portion of his career, spending time with the Lions, Dolphins, and Falcons before becoming the Broncos’ full-time kicker in 2008. During his time in Denver, Prater converted 82.9% of field goals. 2013 was perhaps his best season to date, as he made 25-of-26 field goals, and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 placekicker (subscription required).
Though other external factors could have been at play, it seems that two components played a part in the Broncos releasing Prater on Friday — off-the-field issues and cap space. Prater was suspended for the first four games of 2014 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy; he was also arrested for DUI in both 2008 and 2011. Given the NFL’s hyper-sensitivity to distractions, it’s no wonder Denver decided to part ways with a relatively replaceable player who was causing trouble.
Replacing Prater as the Broncos kicker is Brandon McManus, a second-year player earning just $410K this season. Prater, meanwhile, was set to count more than $7MM against Denver’s cap during 2014-15. As Jason Fitzgerald observed on yesterday’s Over the Cap podcast, the Broncos have several extensions looming, as both Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas are in line for new contracts. Additionally, said Fitzgerald, Denver’s high-octane offense means the team isn’t often settling for field goals, lessening the need for a high-priced kicker. It simply didn’t make financial sense for the Broncos to keep Prater around, so they cut him before his 2014 salary became guaranteed.
The list of teams in need of a kicker could certainly change as the season progresses, but right now, it seems as though the Lions could be a perfect fit for Prater. After waiving Nate Freese following his early-season struggles, Detroit brought in ex-Eagle Alex Henery. Henery, however, missed all three of his field goal attempts in today’s game against the Bills, and is now 1-for-5 on the season. Both Kyle Meinke of MLive.com and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com suggested that the Lions could be interested in Prater, and that was before Henery’s misfires this afternoon. Fitzgerald notes (via Twitter) that Detroit, which only has about $1MM in cap space, might have to restructure some contracts or defer money until 2015 in order to sign Prater.
La Canfora also mentioned the Saints as a possibility for Prater, while I’d add that the Titans could soon be interested in moving on from Ryan Succop, who missed both of his field goal attempts in Week 3 and is 6-for-8 on the season. Ultimately, Prater will likely find a new team shortly, and it seems as though Detroit could be his destination.
NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Orton, Palmer, Johnson
Amid numerous reports of discontent in the 49ers locker room stemming from head coach Jim Harbaugh’s management style, the team’s owner has taken to social media to dispute the claims. “Jim is my coach,” said Jed York on Twitter. “We are trying to win a [Super Bowl], not a personality or popularity contest. Any more questions?” Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported earlier today that there is “no way” Harbaugh returns to San Francisco in 2015, even if the team wins the Super Bowl. Until Harbaugh agrees to a contract extension, York & Co. will be forced to continue to respond to queries on their coach’s status. Let’s look at more from the NFC.
- Among the reasons that new Bills starter Kyle Orton left the Cowboys was that his relationship with Tony Romo was “untenable,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Around the League). Ed Werder of ESPN reported (via Twitter) much of the same last week, noting that Orton “hated the offensive power struggle.”
- Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, out since Week 1, has been working with a nerve specialist and has shown some improvement, per Glazer (on Twitter). Arizona is hopeful Palmer can return to the field by Week 6 or 7.
- Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson was arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct last night, tweets James Monical of KSTP in Minneapolis.
Cowboys Offered Murray Four-Year Deal
The Cowboys have jumped out to a 3-1 start thanks in large part to the success of DeMarco Murray, and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Dallas has engaged in preliminary extension talks with the fourth-year running back, offering him a four-year deal. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the negotiations are in the infancy stages, and no agreement is imminent.
Rapoport reports that the four-year offer is worth more than any contract signed by a free agent running back during the offseason. Whether Rapoport is referring to total value, guaranteed money, or per-year salary is unclear, but in any regard, it doesn’t mean much, as RB deals were significantly depressed during the free agency period. Donald Brown inked the top running back pact in terms of total worth ($10MM), Toby Gerhart garnered the most guarantees ($3.5MM), and Chris Johnson netted the largest AAV, at $4MM. Given Murray’s age, talent level, and current production, he would certainly top all three of of those figures should he sign an extension.
Murray, 26, was a third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2011. After dealing with injuries for much of his first two years in the league, he managed to stay healthy for 14 games in 2013, totaling 1,191 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns; he added 53 receptions for 350 yards. So far this season, Murray leads the league 534 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He is first among running backs in both DVOA and DYAR, and is second only to Ahmad Bradshaw according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).
Murray’s 2014 production surely warrants some sort of fresh contract, but there are several factors that could make the Cowboys wary of handing him an exorbitant salary. First, RBs simply aren’t earning the type of cash they used to, no matter their talent. Second, Murray has a lengthy injury history; he’s on pace for nearly 400 carries this season, a figure that could give Dallas pause. Finally, the Cowboys have assembled one of the finest offensive lines in the NFL, which could lead them to wonder if any runner with a modicum of ability could be successful behind their front five.
Playing under the final year of his rookie contract, Murray is earning $1.406MM in base salary this season. It’s hard to imagine Murray settling for a contract worth less than Matt Forte‘s four-year, $30.4MM ($13.8MM guaranteed) extension. Forte was the same age as Murray at the time, and had accrued similar statistics; given that that deal was signed more than two years ago, Murray could conceivably ask for even more. Regardless, it seems likely a new pact would place Murray among the top-five RBs in terms of total value, guarantees, and AAV.
Of course, if an extension is not agreed to, the Cowboys could slap Murray with the franchise tag. In 2014, the running back franchise tag figure was $9.54MM. Dallas could also choose to let Murray hit free agency, where he would top a FA RB class that includes Frank Gore, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews, Mark Ingram, Shane Vereen, and Stevan Ridley. That’s quite a few talented players, and even though running backs are earning a pittance compared to other positions, teams might refuse to offer Murray much cash with so many other options available. Combine that fact with Murray’s injury history, and it might behoove him to accept the Cowboys offer.
AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Raiders
Let’s take a look at the latest from the AFC:
- The Dolphins are fielding a completely revamped offensive line, along with several new starters on defense, leading Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald to examine how the new Miami players are faring in comparison to last year’s starters. Using Pro Football Focus’ data, Jackson notes the results are mostly positive, especially along the front five, where tackles Branden Albert and Ja’Wuan James are playing extremely well.
- At 1-3, the Jets sit in last place in the AFC East, and Manish Mehtha of the New York Daily News places the blame for New York’s struggles squarely on the shoulders of general manager John Idzik. Despite having more than $24MM of cap space with which to work, Idzik opted to sign second- and third-tier free agents, and failed to bring in a top notch corner, says Mehta.
- Safety Will Hill, who is in the midst of six-game suspension, probably won’t start for the Ravens immediately, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Hill was signed to one-year deal in July after being waived by the Giants. There was speculation that his ban could be reduced under the terms of the new drug agreement, but any alteration has yet to be announced.
- Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano will continue to serve as the team’s offensive line coach, according to Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times (Twitter link).
- Robert Mays of Grantland looks at the roster construction of the Bills, as well as the decision to start Kyle Orton at quarterback, and argues that Buffalo has a decent chance at winning the AFC East.
Eagles Meet With Julian Vandervelde
After benefiting from having one of the more stable offensive lines in the league in 2013, the Eagles have been forced to make several adjustments along their front five in the wake of several injuries. Center Jason Kelce is expected to be sidelined until Week 10, guard Evan Mathis is on injured reserve/designated to return, and versatile backup Allen Barbre is out for the rest of the season. Second-year right tackle Lane Johnson returns from suspension this week, allowing Todd Herremans to shift to right guard, but Philadelphia is starting Matt Tobin and David Molk at center, an alignment the team certainly didn’t have in mind at the outset of the season. As such, Field Yates of ESPN (link via Yates’ colleague, Phil Sheridan) reports the Eagles met with center/guard Julian Vandervelde on Friday, an indication the team is hoping to bolster the depth along its O-line.
Vandervelde, 26, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2011. After playing his college ball at Iowa, he was active for 16 games over three seasons with the Birds; he rarely played, however, as he saw just nine offensive snaps in 2013. Expected to make the squad again in 2014, Vandervelde suffered a back injury which allowed Molk to earn a place on the team. Vandervelde was waived with an injury settlement in late August as Philadelphia trimmed its roster to 75 players.
As Sheridan notes, the Eagles’ interest in Vandervelde could either signify a willingness to move on from Molk, whom Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grades as the worst center in the league through four weeks, or a sign that Philadelphia wants an upgrade over backup lineman Wade Smith. Smith, 33, was signed on September 10, but hasn’t started a game and has seen just 18 offensive snaps despite the injuries to the Eagles’ front five.
Extra Points: HGH, Cowboys, Panthers, Bortles
The NFL will begin testing for HGH on Monday, reports Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter). Each week, five players from eight teams will be tested, adds Breer (Twitter link). The league and the union announced a new drug policy on September 17, which included revamped structures for drug violations and other discinplary actions. In exchange for reduced drug penalties, the NFLPA agreed for HGH testing to be implemented. More from around the league:
- The Cowboys are 3-1 behind an impressive offense through the first month of the NFL season, and a big part of their success is the dynamic duo of Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. Both players are in line for big time extensions, and Brandon George of DallasNews.com believes that the team will be able to keep both on the roster going forward. He notes that giving both big extensions would tie up a lot of cap space but is doable, and also writes that the team could elect to place the franchise tag on one of the player.
- The Panthers have become so thin at defensive end they’re getting outside linebacker Jason Williams and several defensive tackles ready to line up there in case of emergency Sunday against Chicago, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Person’s report doesn’t mention Carolina looking at out-of-house DE options, but one has to think that will be a consideration if their woes at the position continue. Greg Hardy is on the commissioner’s exempt list, Frank Alexander is suspended for a violation of the substance abuse policy, and Charles Johnson missed a second consecutive practice with a hip flexor injury. That leaves Carolina with only rookie Kony Ealy and a pair of undrafted free agents – Wes Horton and Mario Addison – at defensive end.
- Blake Bortles made his starting debut for the Jaguars last week, and at least one talent evaluator was pleased with that he saw from the rookie. “He’s a better athlete than you think,” an AFC scout told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “He can make plays off schedule. He doesn’t have a huge arm, but he’s got a good arm, and he’s a tough guy…I think they’ve got a guy that they can settle the position for a while.”
- In a lengthy chat for the Kansas City Star, Terez A. Paylor offers several thoughts on the Chiefs, including his belief that Justin Houston will sign a contract extension at some point, as well as observing that Matt Prater could be an option in K.C. if Cairo Santos struggles.
Rob DiRe and Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Extension Candidate: Cliff Avril
Like most successful NFL teams, the Seahawks aren’t a club built through notable free agent acquisitions. Seattle stars Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and K.J. Wright were acquired through the draft, while Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin were obtained via trade. However, the Hawks are not averse to spending wisely in free agency, mostly in the form of modest, short-term deals. During the 2013 offeason, for example, Seattle added several pieces to its defensive line, two of whom (Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel) signed one-year contracts. In the months since, both Bennett (four years, $28.5MM) and McDaniel (two years, ~$6.5MM) have been retained.
The Seahawks signed a third defensive lineman during that same offseason, one who (at the time) probably had the most name recognition. Cliff Avril was added on a two-year deal worth $13MM; the second year of the pact (2014) became fully guaranteed on February 7. Per Over the Cap, Avril is also eligible to earn as much as $2.1MM in sack-based incentives. Given its significant investment in Bennett, it’s fair to wonder if Seattle is interested in extending Avril in order to preserve its outstanding defensive line.
Avril, 28, entered the league as a second-round pick of the Lions in 2008. He became a full-time starter in Detroit the following season, and went on to rack up 39.5 sacks and 124 tackles across 73 games in the Motor City. After his rookie contract expired, Avril rejected a three-year, $30MM contract offer from the Lions, and played the 2012 season under the franchise tag, which was worth roughly $10.6MM.
While Pro Football Focus’ grades can’t encapsulate every detail of a players’ performance, their advanced metrics do paint a complex picture of Avril. Except for the 2010 season, PFF (subscription required) assigned Avril a negative grade from 2008-2012. During that span, the Purdue product exhibited a far greater capacity for pass-rushing than run defending. To illustrate this, I totaled Avril’s pass-rush and run-defense grades for that four-year period. Against the run, PFF rated Avril as a -45.5 player from ’08-’12 — he was much better at getting to the quarterback, as he garnered a +55.3 grade during the same span. This data portrays Avril as a one-dimensional lineman, one who could help in obvious passing situations but would struggle on early downs.
Even after joining a different defensive scheme in Seattle, Avril continued to struggle against the run. This isn’t to insinuate that Avril is a sub-par player, as he accrued a +8.2 grade from PFF in 2013, rating as the 12th-best 4-3 defensive end among 52 qualifiers. But, like the rest of his career, most of his value was tied up in pass-rushing. Through four games this season, however, Avril has shown to be more of a complete DL — PFF says he’s the third-best at his position, and is almost as equally proficient against the run as the pass.
Despite Avril’s successes, Seattle might be reticent to retain the veteran. General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll aren’t afraid to rid themselves of veterans, especially along the defensive line, as evidenced by their release of both Red Bryant and Chris Clemons earlier this year. Avril will be 29 when the 2015 season gets underway, so the Hawks could be wary of committing to a multi-year deal. Additionally, as Jason Fitzgerald of OTC noted when examining the construction of Super Bowl teams, Seattle isn’t a typically-built squad, meaning that spending big on a 4-3 end (which many clubs do) might not be in the cards, especially given that it already has Bennett under contract.
Still, the Seahawks will have more than $29MM available in cap space heading into 2015, and as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported twice in the past three months, the team is very interested in working out a new deal with Avril. His current $7.5MM average annual value would place him at 14th among defensive ends, in between Carlos Dunlap and Bennett. At first glance, it seems as though Avril should surpass the 12th-highest DE contract: the four-year, $32MM ($15.5MM in guarantees) pact Jared Allen signed with the Bears. However, Bennett, No. 13 among 4-3 ends, was a better player than Avril last year — the two are playing at an equal level in 2014, but Bennett is the more versatile player who can move around in the Hawks’ front four.
Ultimately, it’s difficult to imagine Seattle giving Avril more money than Bennett received. This creates a conundrum, as Bennett’s AAV on his new deal is almost $400K less than Avril’s two-year pact. Bennett did take less money to stay with the Seahawks, but it’s worth wondering whether Avril would consider less money on a per-year basis in order to secure a large guarantee. I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle offered Avil the exact same contract as Bennett: four years, $28.5MM, with $16MM guaranteed. It would be a nice payday for Avril, a fair deal for the Seahawks, and a way for the team to show how similarly it values the two key pieces on its defensive line.
Dolphins Sign LaMichael James
7:07pm: James is headed to the Dolphins’ practice squad, rather than their 53-man roster, according to Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post (via Twitter).
4:37pm: The Dolphins have signed running back LaMichael James, according to his representative at the NOVO Agency, Jeff Sperbeck (on Twitter). James worked out for Miami two weeks ago, at which point the two sides were reportedly discussing a deal.
James, 25 next month, entered the league in 2012 as a second-round pick by the 49ers. Despite his draft pedigree, the Oregon product was never able to produce in San Francisco, and was virtually buried behind Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter. James played in just 14 games during his first two seasons, contributing mostly on special teams — he racked up only 41 rush attempts and five receptions during that span.
The Niners added even more running back talent in recent drafts, selecting Marcus Lattimore and Carlos Hyde in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Sensing that his role was about to decrease from small to non-existent, James asked for his release earlier this month, and his request was granted. The team had shopped James during the offseason, so it’s apparent that no other squad offered anything of note for the third-year player.
In Miami, James will join a running back corps currently led by Lamar Miller, who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry so far this season. Knowshon Moreno is expected to return in a few weeks following an elbow injury, but as of now, Miller is backed up by undrafted free agent Damien Williams. James could potentially see some third-down work and aid on special teams, but I’d be surprised if he significantly eats into Miller’s workload. However, James should be familiar with Miami’s offense: Dolphins OC Bill Lazor was the Eagles’ QBs coach under Chip Kelly last season, and James played under Kelly at Oregon from 2009-11.