North Notes: Steelers, Cutler, Patterson
The NFL has informed the Steelers that the seventh-round compensatory pick the team received will actually be a sixth-rounder (Twitter link). The league initially miscommunicated the pick, which will now be the 212nd selection rather than the 252nd (Twitter link). Conversely, the Broncos‘ sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 208) will be bumped down to a seventh-rounder (No. 250), according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). We’ll update our list of draft picks by round and by team this afternoon to reflect the change.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the NFL’s two North divisions….
- According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (all Twitter links), Bears decision-makers, including new head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace, discussed Jay Cutler‘s contract as the guarantee date for more of the QB’s salary neared earlier this offseason. After meeting with Cutler, the Bears’ brass left convinced that he’s their guy going forward.
- If there was any doubt about the Vikings‘ commitment to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, head coach Mike Zimmer cleared things up on Tuesday, as Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details. According to Zimmer, there’s “no chance whatsoever” that the team will trade Patterson this year.
- Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams will visit the Ravens prior to next month’s draft, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions aren’t pursuing tampering charges against the Dolphins in regard to Miami’s pursuit of Ndamukong Suh prior to the start of this month’s free agent period, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Of course, just because Detroit isn’t pushing for it, that doesn’t mean the league isn’t looking into a potential violation by the Dolphins and other teams who reportedly reached agreements with free agents prior to March 10.
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, Cards
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Rams coach Jeff Fisher, and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians all offered up a few notable comments today during their morning session with reporters in Phoenix at the owners’ meetings. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from the breakfast discussions, starting with the reigning NFC champs….
Pete Carroll
(Twitter links via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times and ESPN.com’s Terry Blount)
- Carroll reiterated what GM John Schneider said earlier this week, indicating that defensive end Michael Bennett has never said anything to him about wanting to be traded or wanting a new contract.
- Carroll is optimistic about a number of the team’s free agents returning to the fold, indicating the club plans to re-sign center Stephen Schilling and defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs. The head coach is also confident that the Seahawks will work something out with backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who remains on the market. Jackson visited the Dolphins, but Miami ultimately brought back QB Matt Moore.
- Caroll suggested that the Seahawks and Russell Wilson‘s camp have had “great talks” about a new contract for the young signal-caller. “It’s a long process with extraordinary ramifications,” according to Caroll, but he’s hopeful that the two sides can work something out.
Jeff Fisher
(Twitter links via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, and Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com)
- According to Fisher, trade discussions with the Browns involving quarterback Sam Bradford happened on the weekend of March 7, before free agency opened. The Rams eventually announced their deal with the Eagles on Tuesday, March 10.
- The Browns’ offer for Bradford featured the No. 19 overall pick and never the No. 12 pick. However, Fisher said today that it wouldn’t have made a difference if Cleveland offered the higher first-rounder, since St. Louis still wouldn’t have gotten a QB back in the deal — the Eagles’ willingness to part with Nick Foles gave the Rams a Bradford replacement.
- The Rams remain active in their search for offensive linemen, with talks expected to pick up again following this week’s league meetings. Joe Barksdale, who played right tackle for the team last year, is still an option, and the Rams are in talks with him. According to Fisher, Barksdale’s initial asking price was a little surprising, but it’s in a more reasonable range now, and “it makes sense to get Joe back.”
- The Rams have added Jeff Imamura to their staff as a defensive assistant, according to Fisher. Imamura previously worked for the Vikings.
Bruce Arians
(Twitter links via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com and Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
- The Cardinals cut center Lyle Sendlein earlier in the offseason, but would like to get him back on the roster at a reduced cap number.
- Running back figures to be a spot the Cards will address in the draft, perhaps in the fourth or fifth round. The team is looking for a player with both size and speed.
- The Cards also figure to look at cornerbacks in the draft. Arians said today that he wants to add a young, speedy corner, but doesn’t see a need to add a veteran to the roster.
- Veteran linebacker Larry Foote is currently a member of the Cardinals’ coaching staff, but may still decide to play for the team in 2015. Arians is hopeful that Foote, who is recovering from knee surgery, will make that decision in time for training camp.
Saints Notes: Evans, Spencer, Jordan, Draft
Although he was the last head coach to arrive at the NFC coaches’ breakfast in Phoenix this morning, Sean Payton of the Saints may have dropped more noteworthy tidbits for reporters in Arizona than any other NFC coach. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights, via Larry Holder, Nick Underhill, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo (all links go to Twitter)….
- The Saints explored the possibility of trading both Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs, since it wasn’t feasible to keep both high-priced guards. With Grubbs having been sent to Kansas City, Evans is poised to stick around, but his contract may still be addressed and modified, per Payton.
- There were “four or five teams” talking to the Saints about a potential Jimmy Graham trade, including the Dolphins. Asked about whether last year’s positional battle or contract negotiations involving Graham played a part in the team’s decision to trade the tight end, Payton replied, “Zero. None.” The head coach added that he has spoken to Drew Brees about the deal, and the quarterback handled it fine.
- Payton confirmed that free agent DE/OLB Anthony Spencer visited the Saints on Monday, but said there’s nothing to announce at this point.
- Payton likes this year’s draft class for wide receivers, and believes the team will take at least one or two defensive linemen or edge defenders in the draft. Adding a tight end, either in free agency or the draft, is also a priority.
- General manager Mickey Loomis has begun discussions on a potential long-term contract extension for defensive Cameron Jordan.
- Payton believes there’s a good chance Travaris Cadet would have re-signed with the Saints if the club hadn’t added C.J. Spiller in free agency. The head coach added that he had dinner in Los Angeles with Reggie Bush to discuss a potential reunion before signing Spiller, since the team expected Spiller to “end up somewhere else at a higher number.”
- Asked about finding a successor for Brees, Payton said he thinks the veteran quarterback has “a lot of good football left,” but he’s open to drafting a QB if there’s value to be had. However, Payton dismissed the idea of trading up for Marcus Mariota, saying that “won’t happen.”
- Prior to releasing him, the Saints wanted Curtis Lofton to make some adjustments and improvements to his game, and to take a pay cut, but it didn’t pan out.
East Notes: Bills, Dez, Washington, Jets
When Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula were bidding for the Bills last year, one key factor that gave them an advantage of other potential suitors was the Pegulas’ desire to keep the franchise in Buffalo, rather than moving it somewhere like Toronto. However, Terry Pegula told John Kryk of the Toronto Sun at the owners’ meetings this week that he isn’t totally opposed to the idea of an NFL team in Ontario.
“I don’t think I would have a problem with it if they could support the team,” Pegula said. “It’s a big enough market. I don’t know how that works with the CFL, though.”
For now, the NFL is far more focused on getting franchises in Los Angeles and perhaps even London, so nothing is at all imminent for Toronto. But if the possibility arose down the line, it doesn’t sound as if Pegula would be opposed.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Pegula also discussed the Bills‘ offseason, including the recruitment of Percy Harvin, with Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News.
- Speaking to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated he doesn’t believe Dez Bryant would hold out for a long-term deal this year. “There’s no doubt in my mind that – without being presumptuous, without doing anything – that Dez will be on the field and a Dallas Cowboy under either of the circumstances — long-term or franchise agreement,” Jones said. “I’m not worried about [a holdout] at all, and it’s because of how much he loves the game, how much he knows that preparation, practice, all of that improves him.”
- Washington general manager Scot McCloughan intends to continue adding pieces to the team’s offensive line, and left the door open to making additions via either free agency or the draft, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
- Veteran DE/OLB Jason Trusnik was among the latest free agents to visit the Jets, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Trusnik has spent the last four seasons with the division-rival Dolphins.
- Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made the right call in giving Chip Kelly complete decision-making power in Philadelphia, but Lurie’s decision to keep former GM Howie Roseman in the front office “lacked conviction,” says Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Vikings Sign Taylor Mays
5:40pm: The Vikings have officially announced the signing via Twitter.
4:18pm: The Vikings have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent safety Taylor Mays, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Mays, who played for coach Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati, paid a visit to Minnesota last week.
In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, Mays is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this month. Washington had been eyeing Mays, and the Bengals also had interest in re-signing him.
In Minnesota, Mays will join a secondary that also features safeties Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton. Smith is a lock to start in 2015, but Mays could challenge Blanton for playing time. Even if he doesn’t land a starting job, Mays should still see occasional snaps on defense for the Vikes, in addition to playing special teams.
Contract Details: Clay, Cromartie, Webb, Britt
Here are some specific details on a number of contracts agreed to and/or signed recently. One-year minimum salary benefit deals aren’t included.
AFC deals:
- Charles Clay, TE (Bills): Five years, $38MM base value. $24.5MM fully guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus. $10MM roster bonus in 2016. No-trade clause for first three years (three Twitter links via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Antonio Cromartie, CB (Jets): Four years, $32MM base value. $7MM guaranteed. $2MM roster bonus. No signing bonus (link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
- Lardarius Webb, CB (Ravens): Restructured contract. Three years, $18MM base value. $5.25MM guaranteed. $3MM roster bonus in 2015 (link via Wilson).
- Nate Irving, LB (Colts): Three years, $7.25MM base value. $1.5MM guaranteed. $750K signing bonus. Escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Karl Klug, DL (Titans): Two years, $3.75MM base value. $1MM signing bonus. $200K roster bonus in 2016. Up to $625K in annual incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- James Harrison, OLB (Steelers): Two years, $2.75MM base value. $500K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Byron Stingily, T (Titans): Two years, $2.5MM base value. $250K signing bonus. $800K playing-time escalator (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Louis Delmas, S (Dolphins): One year, $2.25MM base value. Up to $1.25MM in incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Mitch Unrein, DT (Chargers): Two years, $1.9MM base value. $250K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
NFC deals:
- Kenny Britt, WR (Rams): Two years, $9.15MM base value. $4.05MM guaranteed. $1.5MM roster bonus in 2015. Potential void in 2016 based on 2015 escalator (link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
- Jacob Tamme, TE (Falcons): Two years, $3.2MM base value. $400K signing bonus. $250K roster bonus in 2016. $1MM escalator based on performance, playing time (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Clint Gresham, LS (Seahawks): Three years, $2.705MM base value. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ahtyba Rubin, DL (Seahawks): One year, $2.5MM base value. $1MM signing bonus. Up to $500K in playing-time incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Kenrick Ellis, DT (Giants): One year, $1.475MM base value. $500K guaranteed. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com).
- George Selvie, DE (Giants): One year, $1.2MM base value. $200K signing bonus. Up to $200K in incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
South Notes: Titans, Spencer, Saints, Panthers
With the Buccaneers viewed as very likely to draft Jameis Winston first overall next month, the Titans‘ pick at No. 2 is a big one, since it’s not clear whether Tennessee will opt for quarterback Marcus Mariota or select a defender.
Asked today about the Mariota possibility, Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters, including Jim Corbett of USA Today (Twitter link) that “if he comes to us at No. 2, he’s definitely going to be the Day One starter.” As Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports tweets, Whisenhunt later clarified that he meant if his team were to draft a quarterback second overall, it would be with the expectation that the player would start immediately.
Whisenhunt’s comments don’t necessarily signal that Tennessee is leaning toward the Oregon signal-caller, but the door certainly doesn’t seem closed on that outcome either. Here are a few more notes from around the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The latest report on the possibility of a Titans sale has led to the latest round of denials from the organization. This time, it’s interim president Steve Underwood saying that ownership is committed to the team, and doesn’t intend to field offers on the franchise, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Per Wyatt, Tommy Smith‘s replacement also made it clear that he has confidence in Whisenhunt and GM Ruston Webster.
- Former Cowboys DE/OLB Anthony Spencer is visiting New Orleans to meet with the Saints, per Kristian Garic of WWL 870 (via Twitter). Spencer, who has spent all eight years of his NFL career with Dallas, hasn’t started a game since his Pro Bowl season in 2012, but has a history with Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
- Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said today that linebacker Thomas Davis will be next in line for a contract extension, and also suggested that wide receiver Greg Jennings and cornerback Alan Ball are still in play for Carolina — both players have drawn interest from other teams as well, and are taking their time to make decisions.
- Texans head coach Bill O’Brien identified safety and offensive line as two spots at which he wants to improve his team’s depth, adding that he’d like to upgrade the club’s return game as well (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle).
Texans Re-Sign Akeem Dent
3:42pm: Dent’s two-year deal with the Texans is worth $4.5MM, with $2MM guaranteed, tweets McClain.
2:30pm: The Texans have re-signed linebacker Akeem Dent, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Dent’s agency confirms the agreement between the two sides, announcing (via Twitter) that it’s a two-year contract for their client.
Dent, 27, spent the 2014 season with the Texans after playing for the Falcons for three years. In his first year in Houston, the former third-round pick recorded 38 tackles and a sack in part-time action, earning playing time at multiple linebacker spots.
Dent’s agent indicated earlier this week that, in addition to the Texans, two other teams were engaged in “extensive dialogue” about a potential deal for the linebacker. However, it’s not clear which clubs were in play.
Financial terms of the agreement aren’t yet known.
Latest On Fifth-Year Option Decisions
Before May 3, NFL teams will have to make decisions on 2012’s first-round draftees. Assuming those players are still on their rookie contracts and haven’t been waived since being drafted, they have fifth-year options on their deals for the 2016 season.
The salaries for those team options are determined by position, with the top 10 draftees being paid amounts equal to 2015’s transition tag figures. So quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Ryan Tannehill will be in line for ’16 salaries of $16.155MM if and when their options are picked up.
Although the deadline to exercise those options is still weeks away, several decision-makers have weighed in at this week’s league meetings in Arizona, discussing what they intend to do. Here’s the latest:
- Unsurprisingly, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman confirmed that he’ll exercise the $11.058MM option for 2016 on linebacker Luke Kuechly, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “I’d have to be brain-dead not to,” Gettleman said.
- The Bills will be picking up their fifth-year option on cornerback Stephon Gilmore, general manager Doug Whaley tells Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Since Gilmore was the 10th overall pick in 2012, his option for the 2016 season will be worth $11.082MM.
- Like Luck and Tannehill, Robert Griffin III‘s option for 2016 would be worth $16.155MM. Washington GM Scot McCloughan said today that the team hasn’t yet made a decision on that option, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter). The option salaries are only guaranteed for injury, so Washington could theoretically pick up RGIII’s option, then cut him before the 2016 league year if he doesn’t play well this season.
- The Lions remain undecided on whether or not they’ll pick up Riley Reiff‘s fifth-year option for 2016, GM Martin Mayhew told reporters on Monday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Reiff has been very good at left tackle for Detroit over the last couple seasons, so it seems extremely unlikely that the team would turn down his option. Still, the Lions unexpectedly declined to pick up Nick Fairley‘s fifth-year option a year ago, so it’s not a lock yet.
Bears To Sign Ray McDonald
3:12pm: McDonald’s contract is a one-year, prove-it deal, according to Bears GM Ryan Pace (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times).
12:55pm: After agreeing to terms with Jarvis Jenkins earlier today, the Bears are poised to bring aboard another free agent defensive lineman, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team is signing former 49er Ray McDonald.
McDonald, 30, was released by the Niners prior to the conclusion of the 2014 season due to what general manager Trent Baalke called a “pattern of poor decision-making.” The veteran defensive lineman never faced legal charges, but was the subject of multiple allegations in apparent domestic violence incidents.
The Santa Clara district attorney’s office decided in November not to file charges against McDonald in his first alleged domestic violence case due to insufficient evidence. The 49ers allowed McDonald to continue to play following that earlier incident, citing due process, and the former third-round pick played well — according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McDonald was the league’s 12th-best 3-4 defensive end in 2014, grading well both against the run and as a pass rusher.
After McDonald’s second incident, during which he was identified as a suspect in a possible sexual assault investigation, the Niners had simply had enough, and made the decision to cut ties with him. According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter), that investigation is ongoing, though McDonald’s agent has told teams his client will be cleared.
By signing with Chicago, McDonald will reunite with his old defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who made the move from the 49ers to the Bears this offseason. Having played a 4-3 defense last year, the Bears are transitioning to a 3-4 system under Fangio, and are in the process of adding players who will fit that scheme. Both McDonald, who previously played under Fangio, and Jenkins, who played for a 3-4 defense in Washington, fit that bill.
While there’s no doubt that McDonald can make an impact on the field, his off-field issues figure to be a concern for the Bears. The former Florida Gator may not face any charges for last year’s incidents, but the league could still complete its own investigation and decide to suspend him. Presumably, John Fox and the Bears are confident they can keep McDonald out of trouble going forward.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.