Extra Points: Williams, Sheard, Quessenberry
While the free agent market has thinned out considerably over the last several months, there are still players capable of providing value to NFL teams, and one such free agent is veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Williams suggested talks have been “picking up” for him lately and that he anticipates signing somewhere in time for training camp. As the longtime Viking confirmed, he has visited the Patriots, Giants, and Seahawks, and has also spoken recently to Minnesota.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the league….
- Browns outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard said today that he and the club have had some preliminary talks about a contract extension and that he hopes something can be worked out, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry has been placed on the NFL’s non-football illness list after being diagnosed with lymphoma, the club announced today in a press release. In a statement, GM Rick Smith expressed confidence in the care Quessenberry would receive. “We look forward to his full and complete recovery,” Smith said. “We will continue to support him and his family and look forward to his return to the team.” Our thoughts and well-wishes go out to Quessenberry and his family as he battles the disease.
- Asked about Colin Kaepernick‘s new contract extension, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said his biggest takeaway from the agreement was simply the fact that Kaepernick and the 49ers were able to get something done (link via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). Dalton, of course, will be looking for an extension of his own very soon.
- Taking an early look ahead to the 2015 NFL draft, Mel Kiper discusses the top senior and underclassmen defensive ends in an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com. Texas’ Cedric Reed and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory top Kiper’s lists.
- The Dolphins‘ willingness to shift Jason Fox to left tackle behind Branden Albert in OTAs suggests the club has confidence in rookie Ju’Wuan James‘ ability to hang onto the right tackle job, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Poll: Should Chiefs, Bengals Extend Their QBs?
With Colin Kaepernick now under 49ers control through 2020, only two notable starting quarterbacks on 2013 playoff teams lack long-term security — the contracts for Alex Smith of the Chiefs and Andy Dalton of the Bengals are set to expire after the 2014 season, if they don’t receive extensions before that point.
As Albert Breer of the NFL Network wrote yesterday, the Chiefs and Bengals are in tough spots, since neither Smith nor Dalton has had the regular season or postseason success to consider them among the league’s elite quarterbacks. However, with no real second-tier market for starting quarterbacks, Smith and Dalton figure to pursue contracts in the same range as those signed by Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, and other signal-callers whose resumés don’t include a Super Bowl win. That means something in the neighborhood of $17-18MM per year.
On the surface, committing anything close to $18MM annually to Smith or Dalton seems like it’d be a mistake for their respective teams. Avoiding having to pay that sort of money to their quarterbacks is one reason the Chiefs and Bengals have been able to put together such talented rosters. Signing those QBs to lucrative extensions now would compromise the clubs’ ability to continue adding talent at other positions.
On the other hand, productive starting quarterbacks aren’t easy to find. There are fewer reliable options around the league than there are teams, and deciding to move on from Smith or Dalton could leave the Chiefs or Bengals with a glaring hole at the most important position on the field. Perhaps Chase Daniel or Aaron Murray could provide a close approximation to what Smith contributes to the Chiefs, and maybe A.J. McCarron could develop into a solid starting option in Cincinnati. However, there are certainly no guarantees in either case.
I expect we’ll see Smith and Dalton sign extensions at some point before the season gets underway, but there are a number of directions in which their team could go. Playing out the season and then perhaps using the franchise tag for 2015 – which figures to be around $17MM – is another option if the Chiefs or Bengals aren’t prepared to make a long-term commitment to their respective quarterbacks quite yet.
What do you think? What should Kansas City and Cincinnati do?
Bucs Auditioning David Gettis, Five Others
Six non-roster players are auditioning for the Buccaneers this week at the team’s minicamp, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links). Wide receiver David Gettis and defensive tackle Ronald Talley are perhaps the most notable names among a group of players that also includes safety Tony Dye, cornerback Kip Edwards, linebacker T.J. Fatinikun, and punter Kirby Van Der Kamp.
Gettis, 26, had a productive rookie season for the Panthers in 2010, hauling in 37 passes for 508 receiving yards and three touchdowns. However, injuries have derailed his career in recent years. The Baylor product had a solid preseason in 2013, but a hamstring injury prompted Carolina to waive him before the regular season began. If he’s healthy, Gettis would seem to be the most likely player among the six to sign a contract with Tampa Bay.
Among the other recognizable names is Talley, who spent the last three seasons with the Cardinals as a reserve defensive lineman. Arizona elected not to submit an RFA tender to Talley in March, so the 28-year-old became an unrestricted free agent and paid a visit to the Titans in April.
AFC Links: Titans, Ravens, Texans, Browns
A former first-round pick, longtime defensive end Derrick Morgan will be shifting to outside linebacker in the Titans‘ new defensive system this year. As he tells Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, Morgan is hoping to make a smooth transition and have a productive season in what will be the final year of his rookie contract.
“I definitely think about it,” Morgan said of his expiring contract. “But at the same time, you can’t put too much energy into something like that. It is football and I am going to approach things the same way as I always have. I am going to play hard, and at the end of the year I hope everything works out the way it is supposed to.”
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- As the 49ers’ tight ends coach, Eric Mangini will be working closely this season with Vernon Davis, a player that drew his interest during the 2006 draft. “When I was with the Jets I really loved Vernon in the draft,” Mangini said, per Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant. “We were pretty close to drafting him in New York.”
- Longtime NFL receiver Donte Stallworth, who last played for the Patriots in 2012, has joined the Ravens‘ coaching staff as a summer intern, the club announced today in a press release.
- The Texans will be looking to find a fullback during training camp, with rookie Jay Prosch among those competing for the job, head coach Bill O’Brien said yesterday (link via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle).
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com poses 25 questions for the Browns to consider as the team prepares to begin its mandatory minicamp.
- After an uninspiring rookie campaign, 2013 third-round pick Dallas Thomas will have a second chance to earn playing time on the Dolphins‘ offensive line this season, writes Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- While Kyle Auffray’s primary position is tight end, the newly-signed Patriot also has experience at quarterback and punter, notes Mike Wilkering of Pro Football Talk. Auffray is still a long shot to make New England’s regular season roster, but that versatility could be a plus.
Eagles Notes: Foles, Kendricks, OTAs, Casey
The Eagles likely kept a close eye on negotiations between Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers and the new contract that eventually emerged from those talks, since it’s just a matter of time until Philadelphia will have to discuss an extension with its own quarterback. But for his part, Nick Foles insists he’s not thinking about cashing in, as Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com details.
“The most important thing is you get a contract like that because you’ve played well and you’ve shown that you can be that guy for the franchise, whereas I have to continue to prove that each and every day,” Foles said. “I have a lot of guys on this team that look to me to go out here and work hard. When I’m playing out there, there’s no dollar sign on me when I’m throwing the ball.”
As Foles continues to focus on proving his worth to the Eagles, let’s check in on a few other updates out of Philadelphia….
- Linebacker Mychal Kendricks has been playing a vocal role on defense for the Eagles this spring, calling plays and taking on other responsibilities that are typically assigned to DeMeco Ryans, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. McLane isn’t sure exactly why the club is leaning more heavily on Kendricks, but wonders if the Eagles are preparing for a time when Ryans is no longer on the roster.
- McLane also passed along several observations from the Eagles’ latest practice sessions, including updates on Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and Jordan Matthews.
- Although tight end James Casey will accept whatever role the Eagles hand him, he hopes to prove his value on offense in addition to special teams this season, as he tells Kevin Rossi of CSNPhilly.com. Casey, who has two years left on his deal, is slated to earn $3.985MM in 2014.
Minor Moves: Steelers, Jags, Browns, Cards, Pats
It’s been a fairly quiet day for transactions around the NFL, but a number of teams have completed minor moves, including signing mid-round draft picks. We’ll round up the day’s minor transactions right here:
- The Steelers now have seven of their nine draftees under contract, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve officially signed fourth-round receiver Martavis Bryant. Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports first reported earlier this afternoon (via Twitter) that Pittsburgh was close to locking up Bryant, who will receive a signing bonus worth about $439K, according to Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com,
- The Jaguars also signed one of their draft picks today, as third-round guard Brandon Linder formally inked his rookie deal, per John Oesher of Jaguars.com (via Twitter). Jacksonville has essentially been working backward through its picks, so first-round quarterback Blake Bortles and second-round receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson remain unsigned.
- 2013 sixth-round defensive back Jamoris Slaughter has been cut by the Browns, the team confirmed today (Twitter link). Slaughter didn’t appear in a game for Cleveland during his rookie season. Meanwhile, the Browns added a couple new players to their roster (Twitter link), signing offensive lineman Alex Parsons and kicker Jake Rogers, who was let go by the Redskins last month.
- Veteran center John Estes, who signed with the Cardinals in March and was cut in May, is back with the team on a new contract, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Offensive lineman Christian Johnson was waived to make room.
- The Patriots have signed former New Hampshire tight end Kyle Auffray and cut undrafted rookie receiver Derrick Johnson, according to a team release.
Scott Wells Reworks Contract With Rams
4:22pm: Wells’ 2015 bonuses actually amount to a $1MM payout on the third day of the league year and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, according to Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange (Twitter link), who adds that Wells also has up to $2MM in not likely to be earned incentives in each of the next two seasons.
11:55am: Offensive lineman Scott Wells has restructured his contract with the Rams to reduce his 2014 cap hit, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com. The veteran center had been slated to earn annual base salaries of $5.5MM this year and next, but will instead have a 2014 salary of $1MM and a 2015 salary of $2MM.
In exchange for accepting a cut on his base salary, Wells received an immediate payment of $1.65MM in the form of a roster bonus. The 33-year-old can also earn up to $850K in per-game roster bonuses depending on how many games he appears in during the 2014 regular season. For 2015, Wells will receive a $1.75MM roster bonus if he remains on the roster. The end result is $2.2MM+ in cap savings for St. Louis this year, and $1.75MM in cap savings for 2015.
The restructured deal provides a nice real-life example of the difference between incentives which are likely or not likely to be earned, which I explained earlier today. Wells appeared in 12 of 16 games last season, so only 75% of his 2014 per-game roster bonuses are considered LTBE, with the remainder viewed as NLTBE — that means only $637.5K of that $850K total applies to the Rams’ cap for now.
Wells, who finished last season on injured reserve, is slated to be the Rams’ starting center in 2014 on a talented offensive line that includes All-Pro tackle Jake Long and No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson.
Eagles Sign Marcus Smith, Lock Up Draft Class
The Eagles have signed first-round edge defender Marcus Smith to his four-year rookie contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports first reported earlier this afternoon (via Twitter) that the Eagles were closing in on an agreement with Smith, whose deal will also include a fifth-year team option for 2018.
Smith’s selection at 26th overall was viewed as a bit of a surprise, considering the Eagles already have Trent Cole and Connor Barwin at the outside linebacker spots in their 3-4 defense. Brandon Graham also played well when given the opportunity last season. Still, Smith had an excellent senior season at Louisville in 2013, racking up 14.5 sacks and being named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. Philadelphia picked up the selection used to draft Smith in a trade with the Browns — the Eagles sent Cleveland the No. 22 pick and also received the No. 83 pick in the swap.
As Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap details, Smith’s signing bonus comes in at just under $4MM, while his four-year total amounts to nearly $7.8MM. Based on what we’ve seen from first-round signings so far, most – but not all – of that money should be guaranteed.
By signing Smith, the Eagles have now locked up all seven members of their 2014 draft class. To keep tabs on all of this year’s draft pick signings, be sure to check out our tracker.
Extra Points: 49ers, Browns, Panthers, Rams
When Colin Kaepernick‘s new contract extension was announced, the 49ers signal-caller suggested that he inked a team-friendly contract in part because he hoped it would help San Francisco lock up some of its other key players. But the fact that Kaepernick accepted such a modest guarantee could complicate matters for the Niners when it comes to extending players like Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati, says Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
As Maiocco writes, the Niners aren’t in the business of handing out huge guarantees to outside free agents or their own players, so Crabtree and Iupati may have to make some concessions if they want to remain in San Francisco. Both players could potentially earn a larger guarantee on the open market than the Niners will be willing to pay.
Let’s round up several more Monday odds and ends from around the NFL….
- Veteran edge defender Edgar Jones worked out for the Browns today, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Jones, who has played for the Ravens, Chiefs, and Cowboys, has appeared in 64 regular season contests, but has never started a game or played a significant defensive role.
- The new Browns’ decision-makers, led by GM Ray Farmer, have made about 40 player transactions since taking control of roster decisions in February, so Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com decides to take stock of the additions and subtractions made by the club.
- There hasn’t really been a market set for second-tier quarterbacks, so the Bengals and Chiefs will have tough decisions ahead of them as they decide what to do with Andy Dalton and Alex Smith, respectively. Albert Breer of the NFL Network takes a look at the limited options for the two clubs, proposing one “radical” alternative to signing their QBs to lucrative extensions.
- Given the lack of reliable veteran options on the Panthers’ wide receiving corps, there could be an opening or two for an unheralded player to earn a roster spot. One such player may be Wofford’s Brenton Bersin, who has earned some praise from head coach Ron Rivera, as David Newton of ESPN.com details.
- After signing with the Rams as a free agent this offseason, wide receiver Kenny Britt is enjoying his fresh start in St. Louis, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- Following DeSean Jackson‘s latest allegations against agent Drew Rosenhaus, the NFLPA issued a memo to all agents vowing to double the penalties for any infractions, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Hilton, Jaguars
Like Eric Fisher a year ago, No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney will have offsets in his rookie contract with the Texans, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). Draft picks are typically agreeing to terms quicker than ever because the new CBA doesn’t leave much room for negotiations, but the presence of offsets in deals for first-round picks was one possible point of contention. Still, with offsets in the deals for Clowney and No. 4 pick Sammy Watkins, the Rams and Jaguars should be able to push for similar contracts for Greg Robinson and Blake Bortles, as Breer notes (via Twitter).
Here’s more from out of the AFC South:
- The Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage viewed as locks for the regular-season roster, either Case Keenum or T.J. Yates is expected to be the odd man out.
- Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has two years left on his rookie deal, has fired agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It’s the second time Rosenhaus has made headlines in the last 24 hours — he’s also on the receiving end of allegations made by Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson.
- The Jaguars have cut offensive tackle Demarcus Love to make room to sign wide receiver Brandon Wimberly, tweets John Oesher of Jaguars.com. Wimberly participated in the club’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player last month.