East Notes: Eagles, Peerman, Jets, Mays
Having signed DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews already this offseason, the Eagles are apparently still considering running backs. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the team hosted former Bengals back Cedric Peerman for a visit on Tuesday.
Of course, unlike Murray and Mathews, Peerman contributes much more on special teams than on offense — he racked up an impressive 18 regular season tackles in kick and punt coverage last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Let’s check in on some other items out of the NFL’s two East divisions….
- If running back has been the focus of the Eagles‘ offseason on the offensive side of the ball, they’ve been keying in on cornerbacks on the defensive side. Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes that the club is hosting Connecticut defensive back Byron Jones for a pre-draft visit after taking a look at Jalen Collins yesterday. Philadelphia has signed cornerbacks Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond, and E.J. Biggers within the last month.
- According to Caplan (via Twitter), the Jets have some interest in signing free agent linebacker Joe Mays, who visited the Chargers after being cut by the Chiefs. New York appears to be working on addressing its linebacker depth this week, having agreed to terms with Erin Henderson yesterday.
- Earlier today, we learned that free agent wide receiver Wes Welker will be paying a visit to the Dolphins.
Wes Welker Visiting Dolphins
Nearly a month after the 2015 free agent period officially got underway, veteran wideout Wes Welker has finally been linked to a potential suitor, and it’s a team he has played for in the past. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Welker is paying a visit to Miami today to meet with the Dolphins.
It appeared through the first few weeks of free agency that Welker’s age (34 next month) and injury history might be scaring off potentially interested teams, and there was some uncertainty about whether or not he’d continue his playing career. However, the Dolphins are one club in need of a veteran receiver. Miami parted ways with Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson this offseason, and has hosted Michael Crabtree and Greg Jennings for visits recently, as the team considers potential complements for Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.
According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Jennings – who visited the Dolphins yesterday – left the club’s facility without a contract, though an agreement between the two sides remains “very much a possibility.” Of course, the Fins may not return to negotiations with Jennings until they talk to Welker and get a sense of the former Bronco’s asking price.
Welker, an 11-year veteran, spent some time with the Dolphins near the start of his career, before the team sent him to New England in a 2007 trade. Since that deal, Welker has racked up 794 receptions in eight seasons for the Patriots and Broncos, and earned five Pro Bowl nods. 2014 was by far his worst season during that stretch, however, as injuries limited him to 14 games, in which he totaled 49 catches and just 464 receiving yards.
Per Salguero, the Texans showed “mild interest” in Welker prior to the start of free agency, but the Dolphins are believed to be the first team to host him for a visit.
Five Raiders RFAs Sign Tenders
8:28pm: Ross has signed his RFA tender, meaning all Raiders restricted free agents are now under contract, tweets Williamson.
3:15pm: Asante has also signed his RFA tender, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
11:34am: The Raiders had several players eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, and reportedly tendered contract offers to five of them. According to various reports, three of those players are set to sign their tenders for 2015. Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com says wide receiver Rod Streater and punter Marquette King are signing their tenders, while Bill Williamson of ESPN.com reports that receiver Andre Holmes will do the same.
Streater, 27, caught 60 balls for the Raiders in 2013 for 888 yards, and entered the 2014 campaign as one of the team’s starting wideouts. However, he went down during Oakland’s Week 3 game against the Patriots with a foot injury that ultimately required surgery and sidelined him for the rest of the year. He was the only restricted free agent to receive a second-round tender worth $2.356MM from the Raiders. Holmes and King both received $1.542MM tenders.
By signing the one-year offers, Streater, Holmes, and King will be locked up with Oakland for the 2015 season. Prior to signing the tenders, the restricted free agents could’ve signed offer sheets with rival suitors, which Oakland would’ve had the opportunity to match. Of course, Streater was unlikely to get any outside interest, since it would’ve cost a second-round pick to sign him away from the Raiders.
Defensive backs Larry Asante and Brandian Ross also reportedly received low-end RFA tenders from the Raiders, though it’s not clear if they’ve signed those offers yet.
Sean Richardson Signs Raiders’ Offer Sheet
7:19pm: The deal, which would be fully guaranteed, would include a $1MM base salary, a $1.35MM signing bonus, and a $200K reporting bonus, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
5:01pm: A source tells Rapoport (Twitter link) that the Raiders’ offer sheet is for one year and $2.55MM.
3:56pm: The restricted free agent market has been fairly quiet over the last few weeks, but at least one team is looking to poach an RFA from another club. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Raiders have signed safety Sean Richardson to an offer sheet. The Packers, who tendered Richardson a contract offer, will have five days to match the offer, if they so choose.
Richardson, 25, has yet to play a major role on defense for the Packer since joining the team in 2012, logging a career-high 135 defensive snaps last season. However, he was a special teams ace for the club, recording 12 tackles in kick and punt coverage. The Raiders may view Richardson as a player capable of taking on a larger role on defense.
Green Bay assigned Richardson a low-end RFA tender worth $1.542MM, which gives the team the right of first refusal. However, the Packers won’t receive any draft pick compensation if they decide not to match the Raiders’ offer, allowing the young safety to head to Oakland.
Draft Notes: Eagles, Fowler, 49ers, Parker
The Eagles have signed three cornerbacks within the last month, adding E.J. Biggers today to go along with Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond, but the team continues to consider options at the position with the draft approaching. As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com outlines, the team hosted LSU cornerback Jalen Collins, a potential scheme fit, on a pre-draft visit today.
Here are a few more draft-related updates from around the NFL:
- Although he thinks he’ll probably end up in Jacksonville with the No. 3 overall pick, Dante Fowler Jr. is meeting with a couple NFC teams in the top 10, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, who tweets that the Florida pass rusher will visit the Buccaneers and Falcons this weekend.
- The 49ers are meeting with Louisville receiver DeVante Parker, who is expected to be one of the first wideouts to come off the board, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- UTC pass rusher Davis Tull, a former wide receiver, has pre-draft visits lined up with the Saints and Falcons, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Over at The National Football Post, Aaron Wilson passes along updates on a pair of prospects, writing that Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian has visited the Broncos and is working out for the Bears, while Bowling Green linebacker Gabe Martin is visiting the Cowboys today.
- Per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), the Cowboys “love” Damarious Randall, and consider the Arizona State alum the best safety in this year’s draft class.
- Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft has had individual workouts with the Eagles, Jaguars, and Buccaneers, and is scheduled to visit the Bears and Broncos this week, says Dan Duggan of NJ.com.
- The Patriots had a private workout with Northwestern State defensive tackle Deon Simon last week, a league source tells Christopher Price of WEEI.com.
Chargers Pick Up Ingram’s 2016 Option
3:49pm: Ingram’s fifth-year option for 2016 will be worth $7.751MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
3:45pm: The Chargers have exercised their fifth-year option for linebacker Melvin Ingram, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The option will keep Ingram under contract with the team through the 2016 season.
As part of the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams hold fifth-year options for first-round draftees, allowing the club to lock up their former first-rounders for an extra year. The exact amount of the option for Ingram, 2012’s 18th overall pick, isn’t yet known, but for 2015, the figure for linebackers is $7.038MM. As such, Ingram’s salary for 2016 figures to be a little higher than that.
Ingram, who turns 26 later this month, has had a hard time staying on the field for the Charger during his first three seasons with the team, playing just 29 regular season games. In 2014, a hip injury sidelined him for seven games, as he spent nearly half the season on injured reserve with the designation to return. In the nine games he did play, Ingram was effective as a pass rusher, recording 26 overall quarterback pressures, including four sacks. He also forced a pair of fumbles.
Eagles Sign E.J. Biggers, Seyi Ajirotutu
The Eagles have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback E.J. Biggers, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Pro Football Talk reported earlier today that Biggers was paying a visit to Philadelphia. The team has since confirmed the signing (via Twitter).
Biggers, who will turn 28 in June, has spent his five-year NFL career in Tampa Bay and Washington, playing 76 overall regular season games, including 31 starts. Although he has experience at both cornerback and safety, Biggers primarily played corner in 2014, recording 32 tackles and four passes defended in 465 defensive snaps. He also occasionally contributed on special teams.
Having made a major splash at the start of free agency by landing Byron Maxwell, arguably the top cornerback on the market, the Eagles have continued to fortify the position since then. The club also signed Walter Thurmond in addition to Biggers.
The Eagles also signed wide receiver and special teamer Seyi Ajirotutu to a one-year contract today, according to the club. Ajirotutu, who has spent four of his five NFL seasons with the Chargers, only has 24 career receptions, but the 27-year-old has been a key contributor on special teams in San Diego — in 2014, he had 14 tackles in kick and punt coverage, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
AFC Notes: Draft, Jags, Titans, Browns
While there has been plenty of speculation about the top two picks in this year’s draft – and specifically whether the top two quarterbacks will be picked in those spots – the Jaguars‘ third overall selection hasn’t been discussed nearly as much. In the view of Florida pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr., there won’t be much intrigue or surprise when it comes to that No. 3 pick — Fowler said today that he thinks he fits the Jags’ scheme perfectly, and would be surprised if the team doesn’t draft him (Twitter link via John Oehser of Jaguars.com).
While we wait to see whether Fowler’s prediction turns out to be right, let’s check out a few more items from around the AFC….
- Fowler is one candidate to be the top defensive player to come off the board later this month, but USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams figures to be in that mix as well. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports (via Twitter) that Williams is making a pre-draft visit to the Titans this week.
- Andre Holmes is signing his RFA tender with the Raiders, meaning he’ll officially come off the market. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Browns had some interest in Holmes, but nothing materialized there, particularly after the club added Dwayne Bowe.
- Pointing out that Alex Mack‘s contract has an opt-out clause after the 2015 season, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com wonders if that will affect the Browns‘ draft plans. Fellow lineman Joe Thomas tells Grossi that he thinks Mack will probably opt out next year, even if it’s just to sign a new deal with the Browns.
- We previously heard that South Carolina running back Mike Davis would visit the Patriots, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (via Twitter) that Davis will also meet with the Colts this week.
- According to Rapoport (via Twitter), the Patriots are working out linebackers Denzel Perryman (Miami) and Paul Dawson (TCU).
- Florida running back Matt Jones, who is expected to be a second- or third-day pick, had dinner with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Wilson provides another draft update, tweeting that the Ravens have a private workout on their schedule for Florida interior offensive lineman Max Garcia.
NFC North Notes: Vikings, Draft, Lions, Levy
Following a failed drug test at the combine, it’s not clear where exactly Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory will land in this month’s draft. Previously viewed as a near lock to be a top-10 pick, Gregory is now receiving consideration from plenty of teams outside the top 10, and he’ll visit the Vikings (No. 11) this week, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney and TCU linebacker Paul Dawson are among the prospects visiting the Vikings today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. In a second tweet, Rapoport passes along another update on McKinney, noting that the linebacker had to reschedule his visit with the Cowboys due to illness, and also has the Ravens and Browns on his slate. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun adds (via Twitter) that McKinney will visit the Bears.
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities passes along a couple more names of prospects making pre-draft visits to Minnesota today, reporting (via Twitter) that the Vikings are hosting Norfolk State defensive end Lynden Trail and Northern Iowa running back David Johnson.
- Linebacker DeAndre Levy may be the Lions‘ best defensive player now that Ndamukong Suh is a Dolphin, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. However, as Meinke details, team president Tom Lewand says it’s premature to say whether or not the Lions will get a new deal done with Levy soon. “In the case of DeAndre, we haven’t even begun conversations with him, so I wouldn’t know where those would take us, and we’ll see where it goes, but every circumstance is a little bit different,” Lewand said. “We’ll see where those conversations, once they start, take us.”
- The Lions hosted Auburn defensive tackle Angelo Blackson for a pre-draft visit today, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
Joe Barksdale To Visit Titans
Joe Barksdale, one of the few players on PFR’s list of top 50 free agents who remains on the market, has a visit lined up with the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the visit will happen on Thursday.
When I placed Barksdale 36th on our list of 2015’s best free agents, I noted that the lack of reliable, consistent tackles with starting experience made the veteran a potentially attractive option. However, upside has trumped reliability in some cases — Jermey Parnell, who has made just seven career starts, landed a five-year, $32.5MM deal from the Jaguars, while Barksdale is still unsigned.
As our Dallas Robinson observed when he examined Barksdale’s free agent stock, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former Ram just 48th out of 84 qualified tackles. However, his +5.6 run-blocking grade placed him just outside the top 10 in that category.
Barksdale’s market may also have been slowed by the fact that he got married and went on his honeymoon within the last few weeks. Now that he’s back and focusing on football, we’ll see if he finds a job quickly, or if interested teams – such as the Titans and Rams – wait until after the draft to try to lock him up.