Jordy Nelson Seeking $10MM Per Year
Heading into the final year of his contract, Jordy Nelson is an extension candidate, but if the Packers decide to lock him up, he won’t come cheap. According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, the veteran wide receiver will be seeking a contract with an annual average value of at least $10MM.
An increase to $10MM annually would represent a significant raise for Nelson, whose current deal averages $4.2MM per season. However, you can certainly make the case that such a raise is warranted — the 29-year-old has become Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target over the last three seasons, averaging 1,107 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns per year since 2011, despite missing a handful of games in 2012 and playing with a carousel of quarterbacks in 2013.
A deal which pays Nelson $10MM per year would put him right in line with Brandon Marshall and a little ahead of Andre Johnson, but behind Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace, and Percy Harvin, among others. Just as important as the annual value of the deal would be the guaranteed money included. Nelson may not be able to attain the $26-27MM in fully guaranteed money that Jackson and Wallace did, but he’d likely exceed the $14.5MM guarantee on Harvin’s extension.
Complicating matters for the Packers is the fact that the team’s other top receiver, Randall Cobb, is also due for an extension. Although Cobb hasn’t matched Nelson’s yardage and TD totals in recent years, he’s five years younger than his Green Bay teammate, and his versatility allows the team to utilize him in a number of different ways. When I asked earlier in July which wideout the Packers should prioritize in extension negotiations, PFR readers picked Nelson, but not by a significant margin.
Taylor Lewan, Titans Agree To Terms
The last of this year’s 256 draftees who remained unsigned has agreed to terms with his NFL team, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who reports (via Twitter) that the Titans have reached an agreement with offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. With training camps opening around the NFL this week, 2014’s entire draft class is now under contract.
Lewan, who turned 23 this week, was the 11th overall pick in May’s draft, and the third tackle to come off the board after Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews. As Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com show, Lewan will have an overall four-year value of about $11.485MM on his rookie contract, including a signing bonus worth around $6.673MM. The deal will also include a fifth-year option for 2018.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested a few weeks ago that the delay on Lewan’s signing may have been a result of the Michigan alum looking to replace his fully-guaranteed base salaries with roster bonuses paid out during training camp. Last year’s 11th overall pick (D.J. Fluker) didn’t receive these bonuses in his deal, but Lewan’s teammate, 2013’s No. 10 pick Chance Warmack, did get them. Considering Lewan is viewed as the Titans’ left tackle of the future, making him a more essential piece on the offensive line than Warmack, he had a reasonable case for those roster bonuses, though it’s not clear yet if he received them.
While Lewan may play left tackle down the line for the Titans, his short-term position is less clear, considering the team still has Michael Roos in place on the left side, and signed Michael Oher to man right tackle.
NFC Notes: Garrett, Mathis, Rudolph, Packers
After three straight 8-8 finishes, the 2014 season has been dubbed a make-or-break season for Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett by several NFL pundits, but owner Jerry Jones doesn’t think that’s necessarily the case. At least, that’s what he’s saying publicly (link via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com).
“In terms of the record of this team, this is not a make-or-break situation for Jason,” Jones said. “Members of this staff, we’ve got a job to do. We obviously are gonna see what we’re doing this afternoon and what we’re doing the next day and the next day and the next day. … We’ve put a lot of effort in training as a franchise into Jason Garrett, and I want to take advantage of that.”
Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFC….
- Although Eagles offensive lineman Evan Mathis wants a new contract and was considering a holdout, he ultimately decided to report to camp, determining that was the best course of action, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (Twitter links).
- As Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, Vikings GM Rick Spielman expressed interest again today in locking up tight end Kyle Rudolph to a contract extension. Rudolph has indicated multiple times that he’d like to remain in Minnesota long term, so there seems to be mutual interest in working something out.
- Speaking to reporters today, Packers GM Ted Thompson said his team’s three goals heading into the offseason were to re-sign as many of their own players as possible, selectively add players from other teams, and draft effectively (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com). In Thompson’s view, Green Bay was able to achieve those goals.
- Panthers offensive lineman Edmund Kugbila will undergo back surgery and will miss the season, GM Dave Gettleman announced today (Twitter link).
AFC Notes: Blackmon, Chiefs, Ross, Dalton
Wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who was already serving an indefinite suspension for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy, was arrested in Oklahoma on Wednesday night for possession of marijuana, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union details. The Jaguars say they haven’t considered cutting Blackmon, but there’s no indication that he’ll be reinstated and return to the field anytime soon.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap passes along the details on Jamaal Charles’ new deal with the Chiefs, which includes a roster bonus and reporting bonus for 2014, but no prorated signing bonus.
- Even after signing his extension, Charles also earned the honor of having the best contract on the Chiefs, in Fitzgerald’s view. On the other end of the spectrum, Dwayne Bowe’s deal is the least team-friendly pact on the team’s books, says Fitzgerald.
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), that cornerback Aaron Ross tore his Achilles tendon during the team’s conditioning test, and will be out for the season. The injury is an unfortunate one for the veteran defensive back, who was hoping to earn a regular-season roster spot.
- Speaking to the media today, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said he’s not worried about his contract situation, adding that the backing of owner Mike Smith makes him confident the two sides will work something out (Twitter links via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com).
Justin Houston Reports To Chiefs’ Camp
JULY 24: Houston is present at the Chiefs’ training camp, multiple sources tell Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
JULY 16: While he’s still seeking a new contract and remains upset with the Chiefs, linebacker Justin Houston is expected to report to the team’s training camp when it opens next week, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Houston was absent from Kansas City’s spring workouts and minicamp, but will want to avoid incurring up to $30K in daily fines for missing training camp.
Houston, 25, has racked up 21 sacks in 27 games for the Chiefs in the last two seasons, earning spots in consecutive Pro Bowls. However, since he was a third-round pick in 2011, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will earn a base salary of just $1.4MM in 2014.
Because he wasn’t a first-rounder, Houston doesn’t have a fifth-year option on his deal, meaning he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency after the ’14 season. His approaching free agency could improve his leverage, but Houston also has to be careful about missing too much of this year’s training camp — failing to report within 30 days of the regular season opener would cost him an accrued season, in which case he’d only be eligible for restricted free agency in 2015.
Houston is certainly underpaid, and with just a year remaining on his deal, the Chiefs should be motivated to work out a deal that locks him up for multiple years, but the team doesn’t have a significant amount of cap flexibility. As such, this will be an interesting situation to watch during training camp, whether or not Houston is in attendance.
Chiefs Sign Ryan Harris, Josh Mauga
THURSDAY, 10:09am: The Chiefs confirmed the two signings today, adding that linebacker DeRon Furr has been cut and fullback James Baker has been placed on the reserve/did not report list (Twitter links).
WEDNESDAY, 11:32am: The Chiefs are expected to officially finalize a pair of signings shortly, adding offensive tackle Ryan Harris and linebacker Josh Mauga to the roster. The news of Harris’ signing comes from the tackle himself, who tweets that he’s “beyond happy to be a Chief.” Meanwhile, agent Michael Hoffman of Premier Sports tweets the news of Mauga agreeing to terms with Kansas City.
Harris, 29, has spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Broncos and Texans, starting 39 of his 78 total games. Although he was a reserve last season in Houston, Harris appeared in each of the team’s 16 games and logged 485 offensive snaps, primarily at right tackle.
Mauga, 27, played for the Jets from 2010 to 2013, appearing in 29 games during his first three years but missing last season with a back injury. His best year for the Jets came in 2011, when he made nine tackles on special teams and also played 145 snaps on defense. For the Chiefs, Mauga figures to compete for a role primarly as a special-teamer.
Neither move has been formally announced by the Chiefs yet, so we’ll have to wait for the club to make the signings official and to indicate which players are being cut to make room for the new additions.
Ray Rice Suspended For Two Games
The NFL will hand down a two-game suspension to running back Ray Rice for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports first reported (via Twitter) that Rice’s suspension was expected to be for two games.
Rice faced assault charges this offseason after a domestic abuse incident in an Atlantic City casino with his then-fiancée, whom he has since married. The two-game ban for the incident is a little lighter than anticipated and may result in some public relations blow-back for the NFL, particularly as players around the league face four-game or year-long suspensions for violations relating to marijuana use.
While serving the two-game suspension, Rice will miss early-season AFC North battles with the Bengals and Steelers before returning for Week 3’s game against the Browns. As Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun observes (via Twitter), the lost pay checks for the two games Rice will sit out will total about $470K.
In Rice’s absence, Bernard Pierce figures to assume the role of Baltimore’s lead running back.
Falcons Extend Roddy White Through 2017
8:37am: White will get $10MM in guaranteed money on his new deal, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
8:19am: White’s new deal actually only includes three new years, rather than four, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). That means he’ll be locked up through 2017, and his new deal looks much more comparable to Marshall’s three-year, $30MM extension.
8:03am: The Falcons and Roddy White have agreed to terms on a four-year extension that will keep the wide receiver under contract through the 2018 season, the Falcons announced today in a press release. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter first reported (via Twitter) that an agreement was in place, adding (via Twitter) that the four-year deal will pay White up to $30MM, including $18MM in the first two seasons.
We heard back in May from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that a new contract for White was expected to be in place by the time training camp got underway. Talks between White and the Falcons were temporarily put on hold, allowing the wideout to mourn his half-brother Tyron Moore Jr., who was fatally shot on May 17. However, it appears the two sides later returned to the negotiating table to work out a deal that should allow White to retire as a member of the Falcons.
White, who turns 33 in November, had a string of six consecutive seasons with at least 83 receptions and 1,153 yards, but was slowed by injuries in 2013, and totaled just 63 catches, 711 yards, and three touchdowns. The new contract is a signal that the Falcons believe he can bounce back in 2014 and beyond, acting as one of the league’s best number two receivers opposite Julio Jones.
Reggie Wayne‘s three-year, $17.5MM deal and Brandon Marshall‘s three-year, $30MM pact had been cited as points of comparison for White’s new extension. While the longtime Falcon got an extra year, it looks like his contract falls somewhere in the middle of the two overall, though he’ll earn just under $11MM in 2014, per Rapoport (via Twitter). We’ll have to wait on the full details of the agreement to determine how likely White is to earn the entire $30MM available on his new deal.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank expressed optimism earlier in the offseason that White and Jones will spend their entire careers in Atlanta, so the team figures to eventually shift its attention to an extension for the younger wideout. Jones, a former sixth overall pick, is currently under contract through 2015, after the Falcons exercised his fifth-year option for that season. As such, extension talks for the 25-year-old may not heat up until after the 2014 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Browns Sign Justin Gilbert
6:20pm: The Browns confirmed the signing via Twitter.
12:40pm: First-round cornerback Justin Gilbert has agreed to terms on his rookie contract with the Browns, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Once Gilbert officially puts pen to paper, Cleveland will have locked up its entire 2014 draft class, just in time for its rookies to report to camp.
Gilbert, who played his college ball at Oklahoma State, was selected eight overall by the Browns in May after the team traded down from No. 4 and then back up from No. 9. The first cornerback off the board in the ’14 draft, the 22-year-old won the 2013 College Football Performance Award as the nation’s top defensive back.
As Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com show, Gilbert should be in line for a signing bonus worth in excess of $7.65MM, while the overall value of his four-year deal will be around $12.834MM. The reason for the holdup on an agreement isn’t yet known, but it may have something to do with the two sides haggling over offset language in the contract.
With Gilbert now locked up, Tennessee’s Taylor Lewan is the only 2014 draftee who has yet to reach an agreement with his NFL team.
AFC Notes: Pouncey, Bengals, McCourty
While Mike Pouncey‘s initial recovery timetable from hip surgery suggested he’d miss the first month of the season, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the veteran center may not return for a few more weeks after that. According to Salguero, Pouncey’s rehab could extend into late October, meaning he’d miss nearly half the regular season.
Meanwhile, extension talks between Pouncey and the Dolphins have been put on hold for now, says Salugero (via Twitter). Besides the fact that Pouncey, who turns 25 tomorrow, isn’t healthy, it’s still a little early to make serious progress on a new contract, considering the team has exercised its fifth-year option for 2015. So far, no 2011 first-rounders have signed extensions, since their teams still have most of the leverage.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- For years, Bengals owner Mike Brown has served as the team’s de facto general manager, but speaking to reporters – including Joe Danneman of Fox19 – Brown said yesterday that his daughter Katie Blackburn and head coach Marvin Lewis are now running the franchise (Twitter link). As Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer details, Brown still has the final say on personnel decisions, but typically follows the lead of Blackburn and Lewis.
- A report in early June suggested extension talks between the Patriots and safety Devin McCourty had gotten underway, but according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter), there have been no new talks since that initial dialogue. Regardless, McCourty isn’t phased by heading into the regular season on an expiring deal.
- Focusing on how contract situations may affect players’ roster security, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe breaks down the Patriots who may be on the hot seat as roster cuts approach.
- Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star consults cap expert Joel Corry to determine whether or not the Chiefs will be able to lock up both Jamaal Charles and Justin Houston to new long-term contracts. The answer: Yes, though the team will have to be careful about how it spreads out the money on the cap.