AFC North Notes: Clarke, Bengals, Steelers
There should be a number of interesting divisional races in the NFL this season, but according to sports betting site Bovada.lv, none are currently as up in the air as the AFC North. It’s the only division in the league without a single favorites, as both the Bengals and Steelers are given equal 2/1 odds at coming out on top, while the Ravens are right behind. Even the Browns, at 5/1, aren’t viewed as as much of a long shot as most other “fourth-place” clubs around the league.
As we look forward to seeing how the AFC North plays out in 2014, let’s check in on a few of the latest updates out of the division…
- In addition to confirming the signing of second-round running back Jeremy Hill, news which Hill himself broke yesterday, the Bengals also announced that they’ve signed third-round defensive end Will Clarke (Twitter link). Per Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com, the West Virginia defender will be in line for a signing bonus worth about $545K with a four-year base value near $2.8MM.
- While a number of teams handed out modest signing bonuses to most or all of their undrafted free agent signings, the Bengals weren’t one of those clubs. According to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, only four of Cincinnati’s 11 UDFA additions receiving signing bonuses, worth just $26K in total. We’ve added the new figures, including an $8K bonus for wideout Colin Lockett, to our own story on the Bengals’ post-draft signings.
- As Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes in his preview of the Steelers‘ OTAs, one of the questions facing Pittsburgh is whether any additional roster moves are on the way when the team frees up $8.5MM in cap space next week due to the release of LaMarr Woodley. Robinson also examines the receiving corps and the roles that rookies like Dri Archer and Ryan Shazier will play, among other topics.
Bills CEO Denies Ownership Situation Affecting Football Decisions
During 2014’s draft, only one NFL team traded away a future first-round pick in order to move up this year, as the Bills sent their 2015 first-rounder to Cleveland as part of a package to move up five spots to snag wideout Sammy Watkins. Buffalo is the also the only franchise known publicly to be available for purchase in the near future, with the sale process expected to begin soon. According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, a new owner is likely to be in place by the end of the year, with as many as eight groups viewed as potential bidders.
Given the uncertainty of the club’s ownership situation, and the fact that we’ve seen many new owners overhaul NFL front offices, many observers wanted to connect the dots on the Bills’ upcoming sale and their decision to mortgage their future to land an immediate playmaker. If Watkins helps the team improve right away, it could make GM Doug Whaley and CEO Russ Brandon look more appealing to new ownership. However, Brandon denies that possibility played a role in the Bills’ decision to move up for the standout receiver.
“It has nothing to do with the future,” Brandon said. “It is everything about the future is now. Doug Whaley and our player personnel department are empowered and have full autonomy to make football decisions. That was a football decision, and it wasn’t tied to the future of the organization. It is business as usual. We’re making football decisions, no matter what. … It has not one iota of an impact on who the future owner may be.”
While Brandon’s comments don’t come as a surprise – if the ownership situation played a role in the decision, he likely wouldn’t admit it – it’s still fair to read them at face value. It’s not as if drafting Watkins provides any guarantees for the Bills — even though the 20-year-old certainly has the talent to make an immediate impact, his ability to contribute will be directly linked to the performance of quarterback E.J. Manuel, and it’s possible the move could backfire, at least in the short term. In that case, Brandon and Whaley would be even more vulnerable when new ownership takes over, having made a risky decision that didn’t pan out.
Seahawks Waive Garrett Scott
6:15pm: Since Scott signed his rookie deal on Thursday before being waived, he will get a signing bonus and should get his first-year salary, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Seattle, Condotta adds (link), signed Scott even after he failed his physical, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to play.
3:31pm: A day after signing him to his rookie contract, the Seahawks have waived sixth-round pick Garrett Scott, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). McIntyre notes that Scott received a non-football illness designation, as the former Marshall offensive lineman has a rare heart condition.
It’s an unfortunate development for the 199th overall pick, who would have had a chance to earn a roster spot in the week of the free agent departures of offensive tackles Paul McQuistan and Breno Giacomini. Scott’s contract included a signing bonus of more than $100K, which he’ll presumably still receive, but it sounds as if may be a while before he sees the field. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times passes along a statement from Seahawks GM John Schneider, in a series of four tweets:
“After undergoing an extensive physical with our medical staff last week, Garrett’s examination revealed a rare heart condition that will prevent him from any on-field participation in the near future.We think highly of Garrett as a person and as a football player. The team is committed to supporting Garrett in the months to come and will continue to help him determine his next steps.”
AFC North Notes: Bengals, Steelers, Ravens
As we noted earlier today, significantly more than half of 2014’s draft picks have already signed or at least agreed to terms on contracts with their NFL teams. However, that ratio doesn’t particularly apply to the AFC North — of the division’s 32 draftees, only 13 had reached agreements coming into today, and seven of those were Baltimore picks. In this afternoon’s divisional roundup, we have word of one draftee to add to that list of signed players, along with a couple other notes. Let’s dive in….
- The Bengals have signed fourth-round center Russell Bodine, the team announced today (via Twitter). Cincinnati has been busy this week, having locked up five of the club’s eight draftees within the last three days. Bodine, the 111th overall pick, is in line for a $456K+ signing bonus, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
- Two of the most noteworthy players still available on the free agent market, Santonio Holmes and James Harrison, have interest in returning to the Steelers, Ike Taylor said earlier this week on his TribLive radio show (link via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). Speaking about Harrison specifically, Taylor said, “He still wants to play football, and of course his first option would be Pittsburgh. … He’s probably in the best shape of his life. Right now he looks like the Hulk. He’s been banged up, and he feels he has something to prove.”
- After going undrafted earlier this month, Middle Tennessee State cornerback Sammy Seamster fielded calls from about 20 teams interesting in signing him as a free agent, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. As Wilson writes, Seamster narrowed his options to the Ravens, Dolphins, and Jaguars, and is happy that he ultimately opted to sign with Baltimore.
Poll: Jimmy Graham’s Contract Situation
The most exciting stretches of the NFL offseason are behind us, with only a handful of notable free agents still on the market and teams signing their draft picks in time for training camp. Still, there will be a handful of storylines worth keeping an eye on over the next several weeks, and perhaps none are bigger than Jimmy Graham‘s upcoming hearing related to the positional designation on his franchise tag.
The Saints used their franchise tag on Graham earlier in the offseason, locking in a one-year contract offer worth the amount for a tight end: $7.035MM. However, now that a grievance has been filed, an arbitrator will be tasked with determining whether Graham should actually be considered a wide receiver, since he lined up as a wideout for about two-thirds of his snaps in 2013.
Graham’s side will point to a section of the CBA that states a franchise player’s position is the one “at which the franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior league year,” arguing the standout pass-catcher should be eligible for the franchise salary for a receiver, which is expected to be about $11.5MM. That hearing is scheduled for June 17-18.
It’s possible that the two sides reach a multiyear agreement before a ruling on Graham’s position comes down, but if they don’t, the decision made at June’s hearing will significantly affect what sort of long-term money the Saints’ star could receive. Depending on how things play out, a handful of different scenarios are possible: Graham could play the 2014 season on the one-year franchise tag, he and the Saints could agree to a long-term contract, or a rival suitor could swoop in and sign Graham to an offer sheet, which New Orleans would have the opportunity to match.
That last outcome may seem unlikely, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report recently reported that multiple clubs are still “strongly considering” extending an offer sheet to Graham. If New Orleans elected not to match such an offer, the club would receive two future first-round picks from Graham’s new team. In my view, that’s probably too significant a price to pay for a tight end, particularly since you’d probably be committing to paying Graham $10MM annually in addition to losing the picks. Still, a contender expecting to be near the back of the first round for the next couple years could decide it’s worth the risk. At this point in the year, a deal could conceivably be structured in a way that would make it difficult for the capped-out Saints to match it.
I still think the most likely scenario sees Graham and the Saints eventually agree to multiyear contract, like Drew Brees did with the team a couple years ago. But that’s not a given yet, and the positional hearing in June adds a unique wrinkle to the situation. What do you think? How will this play out?
Draft Signings: Dolphins, Cowboys, Bills
By our count, after Trent Murphy signed his rookie contract this morning, 164 of 256 draftees had at least agreed to terms with their new NFL teams, leaving less than 100 players yet to be signed. Another handful of draft picks have reached agreements since then, so let’s round up the latest….
- The Dolphins announced this morning (via Twitter) that they’ve signed sixth-round wideout Matt Hazel, and also confirmed the signing of fifth-round linebacker Jordan Tripp, which was reported yesterday. Hazel’s signing bonus will be worth nearly $106K, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
- In addition to signing Hazel, the Dolphins have also agreed to terms with seventh-round defensive end Terrence Fede, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). With Hazel, Tripp, and Fede locked up, the Dolphins have addressed their last four draft picks, and will now shift their focus to their earlier selections, including first-rounder Ja’Wuan James.
- Fifth-round receiver Devin Street has signed his four-year rookie contract with the Cowboys, agent Andy Simms announced today (via Twitter). Like Miami, the Cowboys are working backward through their draftees — Dallas’ last six picks have now agreed to terms, while the club’s top three selections remain unsigned.
- The Bills announced today in a press release that they’ve signed fifth-round tackle Cyril Richardson, leaving first-rounder Sammy Watkins and second-rounder Cyrus Kouandjio as the only Buffalo draftees who still need to sign. Richardson will get a $192K signing bonus, according to Fitzgerald.
NFC Notes: Marshall, Redskins, Bucs, 49ers
Under the conditions of Brandon Marshall‘s new contract with the Bears, the receiver will receive $22.3MM guaranteed, all coming in the next two years. That includes a $7.5MM signing bonus, a $7.3MM base salary for 2014, and a $7.5MM salary for 2015, says Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. As Biggs outlines, the deal also features annual $200K workout bonuses, and includes an escalator for 2017 if the Bears make it to the Super Bowl in any of the first three seasons of the contract.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- In addition to signing second-round linebacker Trent Murphy, the Redskins made a pair of minor moves today, signing free agent wideout Rashad Ross and waiving receiver Kofi Hughes (Twitter link). Ross was recently cut by the Chiefs, while Hughes had been signed earlier this month out of Indiana as an undrafted free agent.
- Mike Biehl, who has worked for the Chargers for the last 13 years, has joined the Buccaneers as the club’s director of college scouting, according to a team release. Said GM Jason Licht on the hiring of Biehl: “He’s coming from an organization that has been among the winningest and most successful in the NFL during his time there and whose foundation has been built around draft picks, which was important as we researched all candidates.”
- The 49ers‘ rookie minicamp will feature several local prospects, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who tweets that UC Davis tight end Taylor Sloat, Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas, and Stanford running back Anthony Wilkerson will participate.
- The Cardinals will audition Arizona State wide receiver Kevin Ozier at their rookie camp, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Kyle Orton Still Mulling Retirement
Kyle Orton has yet to participate in any of the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workouts, and while the team has downplayed the signal-caller’s absence, Orton is still contemplating the possibility of retiring, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). According to Rapoport, the veteran quarterback has told the Cowboys he wants to call it a career, but the team wants to keep him around and would look to recoup $3MM in signing bonus money if he retired. So for now, the two sides are in a standoff.
When Orton signed for five years with the Cowboys in 2012, the deal included a $5MM signing bonus prorated over the length of the contract, which is why Dallas would be seeking $3MM from the 31-year-old. In addition to repaying that $3MM, Orton would also give up a $3.25MM base salary for 2014, so retirement would be a costly decision.
If Orton does decide to end his playing career, the Cowboys would likely move forward with Brandon Weeden as Tony Romo‘s backup, with Caleb Hanie potentially in the mix as well.
Drew Brees Aims To Play Beyond Age 40
Drew Brees turned 35 in January, and will be entering his 14th NFL season this fall, but the eight-time Pro Bowler has no plans to retire anytime soon, as Brett Martel of The Associated Press writes. With three years remaining on his current deal with the Saints, Brees would like to play out that contract and then sign at least one more.
“Do I hope I can play into my 40s? Yes, I do,” Brees said. “As long as I’m healthy and playing at a high level, then why not?” Brees added. “I certainly don’t take it for granted and know that obviously you’ve got to prove yourself every year.”
While NFL players typically don’t thrive in their late-30s, quarterbacks are often the exception, as Peyton Manning exhibited last year with a record-setting season at age 37. Brees is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, having thrown for more than 5,000 yards in three straight years and earned Pro Bowl berths in each of the last six seasons. Assuming he stays healthy, there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to be one of the NFL’s top signal-callers.
Although Brees’ current contract doesn’t expire until after the 2016 season, it will be interesting to keep an eye on whether the Saints will be able to absorb his upcoming cap hits. In 2015, Brees’ cap numbers jumps from $18.4MM to $26.4MM, and it will increase a little more to $27.4MM in 2016. An extension may be necessary at some point to help to alleviate the impact those figures have on New Orleans’ cap.
Redskins Sign Trent Murphy
The Redskins have signed their top draft pick, the team announced today, tweeting out word that second-round linebacker Trent Murphy has inked his rookie contract with the club. Locking up the 47th overall pick means that third-rounder Morgan Moses is the only Washington draftee who has yet to reach an agreement with the team.
Murphy, 23, was a consensus All-American in 2013, leading the NCAA with 15 sacks. Still, the Stanford alum was viewed as something of a surprising choice for the Redskins, whose roster already featured outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan, and had more glaring holes elsewhere. The team may view Murphy as a long-term replacement – or at least insurance policy – for Orakpo, who appears set to play the 2014 season under the franchise tag.
Per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, Murphy’s signing bonus should be worth about $1.573MM, while his overall four-year contract will have a base value in the neighborhood of $4.473MM.