NFC East Notes: Jordan, Eagles, ‘Skins, Giants
If Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan is actually on the trade block, as some reports suggest, the Eagles would make for an exceptional trade partner, writes Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com. While Jordan struggled mightily in his first season in Miami, he did play under Eagles head coach Chip Kelly while both were at Oregon. Kelly, who had Jordan rated among the top four prospects in the 2013 draft, would seem to know exactly how to get the best production of the second-year end. As far as compensation, Sheridan notes that while the Dolphins could be interested in defensive end Brandon Graham or running back Bryce Brown, the most likely scenario would entail the Eagles sending draft picks to South Beach in exchange for Jordan.
Other notes from around the NFC East:
- In a mailbag segment, Sheridan argues that the Eagles should let safety Nate Allen leave via free agency, writing that a fresh start would be best for both player and team. He goes on to list safety, edge rusher, and cornerback as the three most important positions for the Eagles to fill this offseason.
- Geoff Mosher and Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com profile free agent defensive end Lamarr Houston, and examine his fit with the Eagles. Mosher doesn’t think Houston would be enough of an upgrade to be worth the dollars he will command, while Franks believes Houston’s time with an unwatchable Raiders squad might depress his value.
- There are several names that could be of interest to the Redskins when free agency begins, writes Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com. He lists defensive end Arthur Jones, offensive guard Geoff Schwartz, and linebacker Brandon Spikes as possible fits. The Redskins have almost $30MM in cap space with which to work.
- In a piece for CSNWashington.com, Tandler notes that the NFL Network’s Charley Casserly believes the Redskins will look to get bigger along the offensive line. “If you think of [new Redskins head coach Jay] Gruden in Cincinnati, they had a much bigger offensive line than what he’s inheriting in Washington,” said Casserly. “So they need to get bigger to be able to drop-back pass better.”
- Donald Brown, Ben Tate, and Rashad Jennings could all be options for the Giants at running back, opines Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The team could also look to re-sign Andre Brown, and hope for contributions from David Wilson as he recovers from a neck injury.
AFC West Notes: Watkins, Pryor, Chiefs
Here’s a few notes from the AFC West focusing on the draft and free agency:
- Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins is an option for the Raiders with the fifth overall pick, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Watkins ran a 4.43 40-yard-dash, which was somewhat disappointing, but Bair doesn’t expect it to affect his draft stock. The Raiders have a history of selecting big, speedy receivers, and some believe Watkins could have the same type of immediate effect that A.J. Green and Julio Jones did in their rookie seasons.
- In his latest mailbag, ESPN.com’s Paul Guiterrez notes that quarterback Terrelle Pryor could become trade bait. Coach Dennis Allen specifically noted that fellow QB Matt McGloin has a future with the Raiders, but made no such declaration about Pryor.
- Guiterrez also reports that Raiders offensive lineman Mike Brisiel could be released, if he doesn’t retire first.
- Eric Berry is a candidate for a contract extension with the Chiefs, writes Adam Teichel of ESPN.com. Berry is heading into the final season of his current deal.
- Teichel goes on to note that the Chiefs could probably re-sign both free agent offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah for what it would cost to retain tackle Branden Albert, also a free agent. However, Schwartz wants to be a starter, and will likely not accept an offer to return as a backup.
- The Chiefs would only consider drafting a quarterback if things looked bleak regarding an Alex Smith extension, says Teichel.
- The wide receiver draft class is deep, which is a positive for the Chargers as they look for a play-maker to pair with Keenan Allen, writes ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams.
AFC North Notes: Whitworth, Steelers, Hood
Earlier, we took a look around the AFC South, so let’s head north for a few more notes:
- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis hopes the questions about Andrew Whitworth‘s position along the offensive line end soon, according to ESPN.com’s Cole Harvey. “Too much has been made of it,” said Lewis. “Andrew Whitworth has said many times during the season he’ll play where he needs to play to make the football team win…” Whitworth, who has primarily been a left tackle throughout his career, moved to left guard as part of line shuffling due to injuries. He excelled at guard, and if the team re-signs Anthony Collins to play tackle, Whitworth could move there permanently.
- Though cornerback is thought to be the most pressing need on defense, the Bengals will not reach for one if a better player at a different position is available to them in the draft, new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther tells Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson. Guenther also stated that the defensive scheme won’t change much, but he will employ multiple fronts in order to get better matchups.
- The increase in the salary cap could allow the Steelers to delve into the free agent market, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The team usually shies away from spending on free agents; in fact, they haven’t signed a free agent starter since safety Ryan Clark in 2006.
- The Steelers have three free agents at defensive end, and Ziggy Hood is likely to draw the most interest from other teams, writes Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The other two, Brett Keisel and Al Woods, could be easier to re-sign.
- Offensive lineman Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert, each of whom has struggled, could flourish under new offensive line coach Mike Munchak, says Scott Brown of ESPN.com in his latest mailbag.
- The Ravens are talking with linebacker Daryl Smith about a potential reunion, writes Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com.
- Receiver Deonte Thompson‘s arrest is just the latest in a line of recent gaffes by Ravens that have tarnished the team’s image, argues ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.
PFR Originals: 2/17/14 -2/23/14
The PFR staff produced several interesting original pieces this week:
- A detailed description of the franchise and transition tags.
- A running PFR glossary.
- A look at the free agent market for wide receivers, including Eric Decker and and Julian Edelman.
- The free agent class of tight ends, with Jimmy Graham and Dennis Pitta leading the pack.
- A poll asking readers who the Eagles will retain between free agent receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper.
Week In Review: 2/17/14 – 2/23/14
With the combine upon us, there is a ton of action happening around the league. Let’s look back at the week’s headlines:
- We learned the details of the Terrell Suggs contract extension.
- The Bears signed defensive lineman Austen Lane.
- Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will not hold out, but does hope to work out a contract extension.
- The Colts cut running back Tashard Choice and defensive lineman Jake McDonough.
- Free agent safety Kerry Rhodes does not believe he was blacklisted from the NFL because of rumors regarding his sexual orientation.
- The Cowboys won a coin flip for the 16th overall draft pick, meaning the Ravens will pick 17th.
- The Packers agreed to sign running back Michael Hill.
- Cornerback DeAngelo Hall re-signed with the Redskins.
- The Falcons signed offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, and, in a related move, cut offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds.
- Receiver Jonathan Baldwin agreed to restructure his contract with the 49ers.
- Linebacker/special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo announced his retirement.
- Ravens running back Ray Rice is expected to be suspended after video surfaced of his physical altercation with his fiancée.
- Free agent tight end Fred Davis was suspended indefinitely for substance abuse, and was arrested a day later for DUI.
- The Saints will not tender restricted free agent defensive tackle Tom Johnson.
- The Patriots hired Michael Lombardi as a member of their front office.
- After recently claiming him off waivers, the Lions signed safety Isa Abdul-Quddus to a contract for 2014.
- Receiver Anquan Boldin is close to reaching a deal to re-sign with the 49ers.
- The Lions will retain two exclusive rights free agents: receivers Kris Durham and Jeremy Ross.
- Receiver Sidney Rice was released by the Seahawks.
- The Giants agreed to a one-year extension with head coach Tom Coughlin, ensuring he will remain in New York through 2015.
- The Panthers exercised both the 2014 and the 2015 options on linebacker Thomas Davis‘ contract.
- Rumors swirled that the Browns nearly traded for 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
- Defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman announced his intentions to retire.
- The salary cap was increased to a projected $132MM.
AFC South Notes: Colts, Richardson, Draft
Colts GM Ryan Grigson wants the team’s offensive line play to improve, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Although the unit did give up nine fewer sacks than in 2012, injuries abounded and the interior line play was inconsistent. Grigson, who recently sounded lukewarm on the status of center Samson Satele, may have to look to the draft for improvements, as the center/guard free agent market is not all that strong save for Alex Mack. Advanced metrics differ on the play of the Colts’ offensive line — Pro Football Focus rated them as the 24th best unit, while Football Outsiders marked them as middle of the pack in run-blocking, but excellent in pass protection.
- Improved offensive line play could be the first step in getting more from running back Trent Richardson, and the Colts expect progress from him in 2014, writes Craig Kelly of Colts.com.
- Within the same piece, Grigson says “don’t rule anything out” when it comes to trading back into the first round of the draft. The Colts traded their 2014 first-round-pick for Richardson.
- Texans GM Rick Smith is a believer in the “best player available” strategy it terms of drafting players, writes Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. “I think the risk is if you take a player that is not reflective of the value,” said Smith. “Because what you ultimately do is you miss on another player you should have been taking that has that value. That’s why we don’t rank our board with any type of consideration for need because when you do that, you make mistakes.” However, Smith did allow that quarterback is by far the most important position on the field, followed by pass-rusher.
- The Jaguars would likely want a first-rounder and either a second- or third-round-pick in exchange for moving out of the third overall draft position, writes ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco as part of a mailbag segment. He also notes the Jags will use free agency to bolster their offensive and defensive lines, but will not spend big on marquee names.
- In his mailbag, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com argues that the Titans will likely draft a running back in the fourth round or later, ostensibly to pair with Shonn Greene. Fellow ball-carrier Chris Johnson is expected to be released.
NFC Notes: Clowney, Lions, Vikings, Niners
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney would like to be a member of the Falcons — but only if they trade up to get him, writes ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. The star Gamecock is widely expected to be selected in the top five picks of the draft, and he realizes this would make it challenge for him to get to Atlanta. “…I hope I don’t fall to No. 6,” said Clowney, hoping for a Falcons draft position swap. “I like Atlanta – a lot. They’re pretty good. They’ve got some guys from South Carolina on the team, also. And it’s close to home.” The Falcons are in dire need of pass rush help, and we learned Friday that they are not averse to attempting to move higher in the draft.
Some other notes from around the NFC:
- The Lions are in the market for a backup quarterback, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Veteran Shaun Hill is 34 years old and a free agent, while third-stringer Kellen Moore has yet to take a NFL snap. Lions GM Martin Mayhew says the team will take a look at the free market market, and then draft a quarterback if necessary. Birkett notes that new coach Jim Caldwell learned the importance of having a strong backup quarterback during his final season with the Colts, when the team sputtered to a 2-14 record as Peyton Manning missed the entire season.
- The Vikings will be looking for a quarterback in the draft, and Ben Goessling of ESPN.com opines that they will be open to taking a shorter QB, thanks to the success of Russell Wilson.
- Regardless of the specifics of the Bears defensive scheme, GM Phil Emery wants to acquire larger players for the defensive front seven, writes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com.
- The 49ers have several interesting contractual decisions to make, says Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. While a Colin Kaepernick extension is expected to get done, cornerback Carlos Rogers may be asked to a take a 50% pay reduction, and faces release if he declines.
Ray Rice Expected To Be Suspended
THURSDAY, 6:55pm: A source tells theMMQB.com’s Robert Klemko that Atlantic City police have an unreleased video of Rice knocking his fiancée unconscious before dragging her (via Twitter). Klemko said he expects a suspension for Rice.
MONDAY, 1:32pm: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome says running back Ray Rice will be back with the team in 2014, and remains a “big part” of the team’s plans, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Rice was arrested Saturday as part of a domestic dispute, and his off-the-field trouble only adds to his recent struggles. Rice, 27, is coming off his worst statistical season as a starter, as he rushed for just 660 yards and four touchdowns, and ranked as the worst running back in the league according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. As he enters the third year of a five-year-deal, one could speculate that his roster spot might be in jeopardy, but Newsome seemingly squashed this notion, only allowing that the organization was not finished gathering information on the incident.
Some other Ravens-centric news items:
- ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley summarizes Rice’s recent troubles, and notes that the Ravens would not receive any cap room even if they released Rice. If Rice continues to struggle next season, the Ravens could cut him June 1 and save $3MM.
- In a separate piece, Hensley examines the Ravens’ options for the franchise tag, and comes up with only one answer: tight end Dennis Pitta. The Ravens are extremely thin at tight end, as Ed Dickson and Dallas Clark are also free agents. As we covered yesterday, Pitta might be able to make the case that he should be tagged as a wide receiver.
- Hensley also writes that offensive tackle Eugene Monroe is not a candidate to be franchise-tagged because the Ravens don’t feel he is worth the projected $11MM tender.
- The Terrell Suggs extension creates more financial opportunities for the Ravens, writes Brent Sobleski of USA Today. Monroe is a likely candidate for extension, as fellow lineman Michael Oher is not expected to be retained, and the Ravens cannot afford to lose both their starting tackles.
- Bo Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com analyzes the state of the Raven’s defensive line, writing that Arthur Jones is as good as gone. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody could return, but the Ravens will not overspend to keep him.
Mike Williams’ Future With Bucs Uncertain
In July 2013, the Buccaneers rewarded receiver Mike Williams with a six-year contract extension worth $40.5MM. Now, less than a year later, his future with the team could be in jeopardy, due to an off-the-field life filled with partying, arrests, and other missteps, as detailed by Greg Auman and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The article paints a picture of a life filled with chaos, with Williams causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of property damage, angering his neighbors with noise violations, and throwing raucous parties, sometimes on nights before Tampa Bay was to play a game the next afternoon.
The Bucs have spent much of the past two seasons ridding themselves of players who caused such concerns. Cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Eric Wright, as well as running back LeGarrette Blount, have either been traded or released. And while those moves came under a regime headed by now-departed general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano, new head coach Lovie Smith doesn’t take kindly to the type of behavior exemplified by Williams, either. “There’s a pattern here and it’s disturbing,” said Smith. “No one is bigger than the football team. He has to understand that.”
Smith continued: “Have I been disappointed in Mike Williams? Of course. There’s a standard. We’re just not going to put up with it, no matter who it is. You have to be good on the field and off the field. Simple as that. And if you’re not doing what you need to do one or the other, you have problems and that’s where Mike has to take care of a few things.”
If Williams can correct his errors off-the-field, Smith would surely love to reap the benefits of having a player of his caliber. Williams, before tearing his hamstring and missing most of the 2013 season, flourished between 2010-2012, averaging 64 receptions for 910 yards and eight touchdowns. Though his rapport with new quarterback Mike Glennon remains to be seen, adding Williams to an offensive core that includes receiver Vincent Jackson, running back Doug Martin (also returning from injury), tight end Tim Wright, and an elite offensive line would be a start to turning Tampa’s fortunes around.
Even if the Bucs wished to release Williams, two factors would impede that transaction: money and depth. Cutting Williams would result in a costly $6.4MM cap hit, likely too expensive for the team to bear. And besides Jackson, the Tampa wide receiver depth chart has few inspiring options, with players like Chris Owusu and Eric Page next in line.
But the man who would make such a decision doesn’t sound pleased. New general manager Jason Licht, when asked what Williams needs to learn from these incidents, had a terse response: “He has to learn not to make headlines off the field. Start there.”
AFC North Notes: Sanders, Cap, Weeden, Draft
The Steelers are prepared to let receiver Emmanuel Sanders test free agency, and do not expect to retain him, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert expounded on Sanders’ value, and noted “where he goes in free agency and what his market is we don’t know at this point, but he certainly performed for us last year, and we’ll see where it is in the future.”
Sanders had a nice season as a complementary receiver to Antonio Brown, catching 67 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns. However, the Steelers don’t have much cap room with which to work, and they believe Markus Wheaton is ready to step into the number-two role. Our own Luke Adams put Sanders in the second tier of free agent receivers, and speculated that the Patriots could be interested in his services (as they were last season when they signed to him to an offer sheet, which the Steelers then matched), while we have also learned that the Jets covet Sanders.
Other news from the AFC North:
- The increased salary cap might benefit the Steelers even more than other teams, writes Brown in a separate article. With the team looking to shed salary in any way possible, the slight bump will be very beneficial. The Steelers will look to clear cap space by releasing several players as well as restructuring contracts, perhaps including that of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
- The new salary cap could also be a boon to the Bengals, as they look to re-sign two key free agents. With the 5% increase, the team might be able to retain both defensive end Michael Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins, reports Cole Harvey of ESPN.com.
- A decision on much-maligned Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden will be coming soon, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 30-year-old Weeden is widely expected to be released, though it was rumored that he has requested a trade. Whether the Browns could garner even a late-round pick for him remains to be seen.
- Browns GM Ray Farmer knows what he wants in quarterback, and needs to find out if any of the top QBs in the draft fit the bill, writes ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon. “I truly believe that a guy being able to accurately throw the football, make quick decisions and process and throw from what I call a quote-unquote crowded pocket,” said Farmer. “Guys who can play in those instances [have] critical factors in my mind of what the quarterback needs to be able to demonstrate he can do.”
- The Ravens could look to add either a wide receiver or an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun goes over some of the available options.