Jets Shopping Muhammad Wilkerson?
Ever since the Jets placed the franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson – and even before that – the defensive lineman has been viewed as a potential trade candidate. With Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams in line for extensions of their own within the next few years, the Jets will have to make a decision on which defensive linemen they want to keep long-term.
According to Tony Pauline at WalterFootball.com, the Jets appear to be at least exploring potential trade options for Wilkerson. Pauline says that “the word coming from Florida pro day” is that the Jets are shopping Wilkerson. However, Pauline cautions that whether or not the team will actually be able to find a suitable deal is another thing altogether.
Wilkerson, 26, enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2015, racking up a career-high 12 sacks and forcing three fumbles, to go along with 64 tackles. Arguably the best defensive player for the Jets last season, Wilkerson also earned his first Pro Bowl berth. However, he broke his leg during New York’s regular-season finale, and while that injury isn’t expected to sideline him at all next season, it may give potential suitors pause.
Additionally, having been franchised, Wilkerson is currently projected to earn a $15.701MM base salary in 2016. Any team trading for Wilkerson would presumably want to extend him beyond ’16, but that pricey franchise salary provides a guideline for what sort of money he’d be seeking on a long-term deal — it would be a very expensive proposition for a club to pay him that sort of money in addition to giving up trade assets for him.
The Jets will likely say they want Wilkerson in the mix for 2016 and beyond, and that could still end up happening, but as I noted late last night, comments from members of the organization hint that a trade remains a possibility. Owner Woody Johnson said on Monday that he wouldn’t be disappointed to see Wilkerson remain with the Jets for 2016, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for locking him up to a multiyear extension.
According to Pauline, the Jets would consider Gators defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard a potential draft-day target if they end up trading Wilkerson.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
FA Rumors: Ravens, V. Davis, Fitzpatrick, Jets
The Ravens remain in the market for pass rushing help, but when asked today about Greg Hardy, head coach John Harbaugh replied, “Greg Hardy? He won’t be a Raven, I can tell you that” (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). Harbaugh also said that free agent linebacker Courtney Upshaw is still on the team’s radar, but Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweets that Upshaw’s return sounds unlikely.
Here are a few more updates related to free agency:
- GM Scot McCloughan confirmed today that Washington still has interest in free agent tight end Vernon Davis, who paid a visit to D.C. earlier in March (Twitter link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com). In fact, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) suggests that Washington has made Davis a contract offer, in the hopes of pairing him with Jordan Reed and giving Kirk Cousins an additional weapon in the passing game.
- Although there’s still a significant gap between the Jets‘ offer and Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s asking price, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes that the “Wild Wild West stare-down narrative has been exaggerated.” A source tells Mehta that the two sides have had an open line of communication in recent weeks.
- Packers head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Green Bay is moving on from free agent wideout James Jones, says Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Jones’ agent said as much on Monday.
- Before he re-signed with the Cardinals, running back Chris Johnson was believed to be deciding between Arizona and Miami. However, Johnson tells Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the Patriots also had interest in him.
- Colts owner Jim Irsay said today that the team will continue to meet with free agents this week, but Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star cautions (via Twitter) that the team won’t be making any major moves.
Buccaneers To Sign Bryan Anger
The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a contract for Bryan Anger, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Caplan, it’s a one-year deal for the free agent punter.
Anger, who was memorably selected by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2012 draft just ahead of players like Russell Wilson and T.Y. Hilton, spent four seasons in Jacksonville, averaging 46.8 yards per punt during that time. However, the Jaguars opted not to re-sign him when he became a free agent this year, instead landing ex-Panthers punter Brad Nortman on a four-year contract.
Having lost Nortman to the Jags, the Panthers had some preliminary talks with Anger, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. But rather than joining the NFC champs, the 27-year-old will be signing with Carolina’s division rivals in Tampa Bay.
Jake Schum, who made his NFL debut in 2015, handled punting duties for the Buccaneers. Schum averaged just 41.9 yards per attempt, which ranked second-last in the league among qualified players, but his net average was a decent 38.0, and opposing returners totaled just 140 yards on his punts.
Schum’s hold on the starting job looks tenuous with Anger now in the mix, though we’ll have to see the terms on Anger’s new deal to get a sense of how open the competition will be.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Irsay Hopes To Get Andrew Luck Extension Done By July 4
Speaking today about a potential contract extension for star quarterback Andrew Luck, Colts owner Jim Irsay mentioned July 4 as a target date, tweets Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. According to Bowen though, there’s no real urgency or a hard deadline by which the team wants to have something done.
Luck, the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, earned a Pro Bowl nod and led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in each of his first three seasons in the league. However, injuries derailed his 2015 season. Luck was limited to seven games, and completed just 55.3% of his passes in those contests, with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Colts went 2-5 in Luck’s starts.
Despite the down year, the Colts and Luck are both enthusiastic about figuring out a longer-term arrangement. The standout signal-caller is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2016 if the two sides don’t agree on an extension, but there’s an expectation that something will get done before the season begins, and it could make Luck the highest-paid QB in the league.
It’s not clear why Irsay targeted July 4 as the date by which he would like to have Luck locked up. Franchised players have until July 15 to agree to multiyear extensions with their current teams, but that deadline doesn’t apply to Luck, who wouldn’t be eligible for the franchise tag until 2017. Perhaps Irsay just wants to enjoy a stress-free Fourth of July knowing that his star QB is under contract for the long term.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, P. Robinson, Cruz
The Cowboys have already agreed to terms with one of the veteran free agents who visited the team on Monday, locking up running back Alfred Morris on a two-year deal. And it may just be a matter of time until the club also has an agreement with the other noteworthy free agent who was in Dallas on Monday.
According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link), a three-year deal between the Cowboys and cornerback Patrick Robinson is “pretty much done.” Hill suggests Robinson just needs to “resolve his agent situation,” while David Moore of the Dallas Morning tweets that the team is expected to meet with Robinson’s agent today.
As we wait to see if the two sides can finalize a deal, let’s check in on a few more items from out of the NFC East….
- Washington‘s relative lack of activity in free agency this month can be partially attributed to all the expiring contracts the team has on its books for a year from now, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com. Tight end Jordan Reed, wideouts DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, and defenders Chris Baker and Junior Galette are all entering the final year of their deals, and that’s not even taking into account quarterback Kirk Cousins, who will require another raise if he has a strong 2016 campaign, assuming he isn’t extended before then.
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com has a breakdown of Victor Cruz‘s new deal with the Giants, which reduces his 2016 cap hit from $9.9MM to $4.4MM. Cruz also had $1MM of his base salary in 2017 and 2018 converted into a roster bonus to be paid out early in the offseason, which should force the Giants to make an early decision on whether or not to keep him around.
- Eagles GM Howie Roseman suggested on Monday that the idea of teams being able to land a productive running back in the late rounds of the draft or in undrafted free agency is overblown. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer examines Roseman’s comments about the rarity of finding a “special talent” at the position, exploring whether they might hint at a potential first-round selection of Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott.
Cowboys To Sign Alfred Morris
10:15am: Morris’ two-year deal is fairly modest, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that the contract has a base value of $3.5MM and can be worth up to $5.5MM.
8:45am: After hosting him for a visit on Monday, the Cowboys are signing free agent running back Alfred Morris, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Per agent Sean Stellato (via Schefter), it’ll be a two-year deal for Morris in Dallas.
A sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Morris made an immediate impact during his rookie season in Washington, amassing the third-most carries in the NFL (335) and finishing second in both rushing yards (1,613) and touchdowns (13). Morris declined the next two years, though he was still a productive workhorse, with at least 265 carries, 1,000 yards and seven TDs in both seasons.
The wheels came off a little in 2015, however, as the 224-pounder recorded personal worsts in carries (202), rushing yards (751), yards per attempt (3.7) and scores (one). Despite his statistical drop-off last season, which coincided with the arrival of 2015 third-rounder Matt Jones, it’s worth noting that Morris played – and started – all 16 games for a fourth consecutive season.
By signing with the Cowboys, Morris will be joining a team against whom he has had plenty of success over the years — his 710 career rushing yards and seven touchdowns against Dallas are easily the most he has put up against a single opponent.
The Cowboys may still add a running back in the draft, but the way the team’s depth chart currently stacks up, it appears Morris and Darren McFadden will shoulder the majority of the rushing load, with Lance Dunbar serving as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Packers Re-Sign James Starks
MARCH 22, 9:40am: The Packers have officially re-signed Starks, the team announced today on its website. Full details on the new contract can be found right here.
MARCH 18, 8:56am: Starks’ new deal is for two years and $6MM, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
7:58am: The Packers have agreed to terms on a new deal with free agent running back James Starks, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Starks will be returning to Green Bay for the 2016 season.
Starks, who turned 30 last month, had his best NFL season in 2015, rushing for 601 yards and two touchdowns, and adding another 392 yards and three TDs through the air. Although the veteran back didn’t enter the season atop the team’s depth chart, his 148 carries were a career high and weren’t far off from the 187 recorded by Eddie Lacy, who wasn’t in top shape in 2015.
The Packers haven’t been very active in free agency this month, but when they have made moves, they’ve generally locked up their own players. In addition to reaching an agreement with Starks, the club also re-signed outside linebacker Nick Perry, brought back offensive lineman Lane Taylor, and extended kicker Mason Crosby.
Prior to agreeing to a deal to remain in Green Bay, Starks paid a visit to the Patriots last week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns Notes: RGIII, Draft, Thomas, WRs
New Browns head coach Hue Jackson was one of the AFC coaches who spoke to reporters over breakfast in Boca Raton, Florida on Tuesday morning. Let’s dive in and round up a few of the highlights from that conversation….
- Jackson liked the way Robert Griffin III handled some “tough” questions during his visit to Cleveland, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post. The head coach added that he spoke to RGIII about the possibility of taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, suggesting that “the cream always rises to the top” (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). In other words, the team could draft a quarterback early even if it signs Griffin, resulting in a competition for the starting job.
- Jackson plans to spend extra time with five or six quarterback prospects prior to the draft, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link), Jackson has already spent a good deal of time with Jared Goff, and will attend Carson Wentz‘s pro day on Thursday.
- Echoing what Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown said on Monday, Jackson stressed that veteran offensive lineman Joe Thomas “is not going anywhere,” calling him the best left tackle in the NFL (Twitter link via Cabot).
- Jackson identified wide receiver as an area the Browns need to address, indicating that he wants to add bigger, stronger, and faster players at the position (Twitter link via Ulrich).
Justin Houston Undergoes ACL Surgery
Standout Chiefs pass rusher Justin Houston may not be ready for the 2016 opener after undergoing a procedure to repair his ACL last month, the Chiefs confirmed today. As Adam Teicher of ESPN.com writes, Houston was having postseason arthroscopic surgery on his knee when his ACL was found to be “intact but not functioning.”
Houston’s ACL was fixed, but the expected rehab timetable from the procedure is 6-12 months. If his recovery lasts closer to six months, the 27-year-old could be ready to go in September, but if it’s closer to 12 months, his availability for the entire 2016 season may be in jeopardy. Per Teicher, head coach Andy Reid said today that the team is “hoping [Houston] will be able to play this season.”
One of the league’s top pass rushers, Houston inked a six-year, $101MM extension with the Chiefs less than a year ago, but was hampered by injuries in the first year of his new deal. After leading the NFL with 22 sacks in 2014, Houston still played very well in 2015, but totaled just 7.5 sacks in 11 games. The outside linebacker also showed some versatility by grabbing a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
The Chiefs did re-sign Tamba Hali earlier this month, and it’s possible 2014 first-rounder Dee Ford will be ready to take on a larger role in 2016. But without Houston, the team’s pass rush would take a significant hit.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ravens Notes: Monroe, Gillmore, FAs, Hill
Earlier in the offseason, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome referred to Eugene Monroe as Baltimore’s left tackle. However, there’s some uncertainty about whether Monroe, who has missed 15 of 32 games since joining the team and has an $8.7MM cap number in 2016, has much of a future with the club.
At the NFL owners’ meetings in Boca Raton, Florida today, head coach John Harbaugh perhaps contributed to that speculation, suggesting that there will be a competition for the Ravens’ left tackle spot. Per Harbaugh, right tackle Ricky Wagner may be an option on the left side and the team may still add another player to the mix. Harbaugh later promised that Monroe’s stance on the benefits of medical marijuana doesn’t reflect the organization’s views on the issue (Twitter links via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun).
While Harbaugh’s comments don’t necessarily mean that Monroe’s days in Baltimore are numbered, it seems clear that he’s no longer viewed as the team’s long-term answer at left tackle.
Here’s more from Harbaugh:
- Harbaugh was very positive about the outlook for tight end Crockett Gillmore. Although it initially appeared that Gillmore would require surgery on both of his shoulders, the 24-year-old will only undergo a procedure on one shoulder, and should be ready to go for OTAs (Twitter link via Zrebiec).
- According to their head coach, the Ravens “aren’t done in free agency,” tweets Zrebiec. As the Baltimore Sun scribe notes (via Twitter), Harbaugh “casually mentioned” at one point today that Dwight Freeney remains unsigned.
- The Ravens’ decision to release safety Will Hill last week wasn’t a football one, according to Harbaugh, who added that Hill needs to find the priorities in his life (Twitter link via Zrebiec). The talented defensive back is currently facing a 10-game suspension, his fourth ban since entering the league.
- As we discussed earlier this morning, Harbaugh also confirmed that the Ravens have an unofficial agreement in place with free agent running back Trent Richardson.