NFC Rumors: Falcons, Connor, Williams, Cards
While many of the rumors swirling around the Falcons and a possible move up to the No. 1 pick have been linked to the team’s interest in Jadeveon Clowney, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com says the defensive end wouldn’t necessarily be the club’s target if Atlanta does trade up. According to La Canfora, the Falcons are “very, very high” on offensive tackle Greg Robinson, who is a candidate to be drafted second overall by the Rams, meaning Atlanta may be considering moving up for Robinson instead.
La Canfora adds that several GMs believe Clowney, Robinson, Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews, and Taylor Lewan could be the top five players selected, which would put the Falcons in a tough spot, since they seem intent on adding an impact offensive lineman or pass rusher.
While we wait to see what the Falcons decide, let’s check out a few more updates from across the NFC:
- Longtime Carolina linebacker Dan Connor, who split time between the Giants and Panthers last season, recently worked out for the Falcons, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Connor, an unrestricted free agent, would be competing for playing time in a reserve role if he signed with Atlanta.
- Former Viking Kevin Williams, who has visited the Giants and Seahawks, is mulling the possibility of retiring if he doesn’t receive an offer he likes, as he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “If it’s not worth the risk of going back out there, I can’t say I’ll do it,” Williams said. “I don’t see it at this point (taking a low-value deal), but you never know.”
- Speaking to reporters today, including Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim didn’t rule out the possibility of trading up in the first round, but made it clear that a trade down was far more likely. The GM added that the Cards have already engaged with a number of prospects they expect to go undrafted to try to sell them on signing in Arizona after the draft.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com provides a year-by-year breakdown of Earl Thomas‘ new contract with the Seahawks, which features a cap hit of about $7.373MM in 2014. According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter), the 2015 and 2016 figures become fully guaranteed after the start of those respective league years.
- Temple defensive tackle Levi Brown paid a pre-draft visit to the Giants last month, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
AFC Notes: Browns, Haden, Bills, Fins, Colts
With this weekend’s deadline looming, head coach Mike Pettine says the Browns have yet to make a decision on whether or not to exercise the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Phil Taylor (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). For his part, Taylor expressed a desire to have that option picked up, but says he won’t let it affect his play if the team decides to turn it down (all Twitter links).
Let’s round up a couple more Browns items and check in on a few other AFC clubs…
- Cornerback Joe Haden confirmed that extension talks with the Browns are ongoing, as Ulrich tweets. “I’d like to get it done as soon as possible, but we’re still working on it,” Haden said.
- More from Ulrich (Twitter link): Pettine confirmed today that the Browns‘ phone has been ringing and that trade talks are happening for virtually all the teams in the top 10 of the draft.
- Gil Brandt of NFL.com tweets that he’s hearing “a lot of chatter” about the Bills wanting to move up from the No. 9 pick, and the Dolphins wanting to trade down from No. 19, which is consistent with other whispers we’ve heard in the last week or so.
- Free agent offensive lineman Steve Vallos had a tryout with the Colts yesterday, according to Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange (via Twitter). Vallos, who spent the 2013 season with the Broncos, left the audition without a contract.
- The Colts, who don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, are keeping their options open when it comes to moving up, GM Ryan Grigson said today (link via Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star). However, as Grigson acknowledges, with just five picks in hand, the Colts don’t have a ton of ammunition for trades.
- Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin is drawing interest from the Chargers, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Browns Sign Tyler Thigpen
2:29pm: The Browns have officially signed Thigpen, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).
1:11pm: It’s a one-year pact for Thigpen, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
1:05pm: The Browns have agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Tyler Thigpen, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Thigpen had a “very strong” performance at the Browns’ minicamp this week, and La Canfora had suggested earlier this afternoon (via Twitter) that the 30-year-old was expected to sign with the team.
Thigpen, a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, saw his most significant action during the 2008 season, when he started 11 games for the Chiefs and put up respectable numbers, including 2,608 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Since then, he has served as a backup in Kansas City, Miami, and Buffalo.
Browns Sign Vince Young
2:13pm: Overstreet now tells Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston (Twitter link) that Young has signed his one-year deal with the Browns.
1:20pm: Young’s agent, Brian Overstreet, has confirmed his client is signing with the Browns, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.
1:12pm: Tyler Thigpen isn’t the only free agent quarterback close to finalizing a deal with the Browns today. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Vince Young is also expected to ink a contract with Cleveland, after trying out at the club’s minicamp this week. It’ll be a one-year deal for Young, says Rapoport.
Young, who turns 31 next month, was in camp with the Packers in 2013 and the Bills in 2012, but was released prior to the regular season in both instances. The former Pro Bowler hasn’t seen any real NFL playing time since 2011 with the Eagles, when he started three games for the club. In his limited action for Philadelphia in ’11, Young threw just four touchdowns to nine interceptions, leaving his most memorable mark on that squad by dubbing it the “Dream Team” prior to the season.
For the Browns, Young figures to get a chance to compete for a regular-season roster spot. The team parted ways with Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden already this year, and only had Brian Hoyer and Alex Tanney on its QB depth chart before today. Still, with the Browns expected to add another signal-caller in the draft and having agreed to terms with Thigpen today as well, there are no guarantees Young will stick in Cleveland into the fall.
Broncos Pick Up 2015 Option On Von Miller
The Broncos have formally exercised their fifth-year option on standout pass rusher Von Miller, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The decision had long been expected, having initially been reported by Klis in late March.
After earning Pro Bowl nods in each of his two NFL seasons, Miller’s 2013 campaign got off to a late start after he served a six-game suspension, and came to an early end with an ACL tear. In his last full season (2012), Miller recorded a career-high 18.5 sacks to go along with 68 tackles, ranking as the league’s best 4-3 outside linebacker by a wide margin, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Even in his abridged 2013 season, the 25-year-old was PFF’s highest-graded 4-3 OLB.
By picking up the option, Denver keeps Miller under contract through the 2015 season, with that fifth-year option worth $9.754MM, as our tracker shows. The two sides can still work out a longer-term agreement at any time, but if they don’t reach a new deal, Miller’s fifth-year salary will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the ’15 league year.
Ryan Kerrigan, Aldon Smith Options Likely To Be Exercised
The Redskins are expected to pick up their fifth-year option on outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, league sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Washington GM Bruce Allen made comments earlier this week that I thought strongly hinted the club would be formally exercising that option in advance of Saturday’s deadline, so the report doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
More interestingly, La Canfora writes in the same piece that several league sources believe the 49ers will ultimately decide to exercise their 2015 option on linebacker Aldon Smith. Multiple reports in April suggested the club was leaning against picking up Smith’s fifth-year option due to off-field incidents, but as I wrote yesterday when examining the outstanding options, the decision is perhaps the trickiest of the bunch, since Smith has contributed so much for San Francisco on the field. For what it’s worth, Can Inman of the Bay Area News Group also hears from a front office executive that he expects the Niners to pick up the option (Twitter link).
May 3 represents the deadline for teams to make their decisions on whether or not to exercise fifth-year option on 2011’s first-round picks. Bill Williamson of ESPN.com tweeted earlier today that those decisions must be formally made by the time the calendar turns from Friday to Saturday in the Eastern time zone tomorrow night, so we can expect resolution soon on Kerrigan, Smith, and the rest of the players whose options haven’t been picked up yet.
You can keep tabs on all of those decisions using our fifth-year option tracker, which shows that Kerrigan’s 2015 option is worth $7.038MM, while Smith’s is worth $9.754MM.
Bears Rumors: Draft, Trades, Palmer
One of several general managers conducting pre-draft press conferences today, Bears general manager Phil Emery spoke to reporters at Halas Hall about the team’s approach to next week’s draft and a few other topics. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune and Brad Biggs (via Twitter) passed along several of the highlights from the Bears GM, so let’s dive in and round them up (all subsequent links go to Twitter)….
- The Bears have identified six players they’d be happy to take with their No. 14 pick, and Emery says he’d be happy if two were available, and “ecstatic” if three were still on the board.
- Even in that scenario though, the Bears haven’t ruled out the possibility of moving down if the right opportunity materializes. “We’ve gotten some calls,” Emery said. “Other than working with our staff and our scouts on refining and fine-tuning our selection of players that we feel will be available in particular areas of the draft, we’re also working very hard at figuring out the scenarios of what works in terms of how far down we could go.”
- On the other hand, a trade up from No. 14 doesn’t seem likely for the Bears, according to Emery, who says the cost would be “expensive” and would only make sense if there was a player who would make a “dynamic difference” for the team.
- The Bears don’t seem overly enthused about drafting a quarterback in the late rounds, with Emery suggesting he doesn’t believe in finding “development” QBs late. The GM feels comfortable heading into the season with Jordan Palmer as the No. 2 signal-caller behind Jay Cutler.
- Considering Chicago certainly won’t be taking a quarterback in the first round, Emery is hoping at least three QBs are off the board by the time the Bears pick, and thinks at least two will be gone.
- The Bears are evaluating whether a number of cornerback prospects in this year’s class could play safety.
- Unlike some others, Emery is very much enjoying the extra two weeks between free agency and the draft this year: “I love it. I have heard reports of people complaining about it. I don’t know what they’re complaining about.”
South Notes: Glennon, Bucs, Falcons, Titans
The Buccaneers are currently carrying three quarterbacks on their roster, but with the club expected to add another one in next Thursday’s draft, one of those three could be on the move. ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan indicated on WDAE 620 AM in Tampa Bay this week that, while the Bucs have denied shopping Mike Glennon, Caplan thinks he’s “as good as gone” (link via Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune).
“It’s obvious to me and people around the league that [the Bucs] are going to try to move him,” Caplan said.
Following up on his comments, via Twitter, Caplan suggested he doesn’t think Tampa Bay should move Glennon unless the team can land a third-round pick in return, given the 24-year-old’s impressive rookie season.
Here’s more on the Bucs and a few more NFC and AFC South clubs:
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers will likely be open to moving down in the draft. As Rapoport notes, Bucs GM Jason Licht previously worked under Bill Belichick, who has made a habit of trading down.
- Free agent tight end Bear Pascoe is meeting with and working out for the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). The 28-year-old spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Giants.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com gives the Titans a grade of C for their moves in free agency, which included signing linebacker Wesley Woodyard and offensive tackle Michael Oher, as well as letting cornerback Alterraun Verner walk.
- Wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Jheranie Boyd are participating in the Titans‘ minicamp on a tryout basis, tweets ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky.
- He won’t be drafted as high as fellow Louisville safety Calvin Pryor, but Hakeem Smith was a four-time All-Conference selection and had private workouts with the Titans and Falcons, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- The Texans and Jaguars are among the teams that have expressed interest in Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). According to Wilson, the Ravens, Bears, and Dolphins are a few other clubs with interest.
Giants Pick Up Prince Amukamara’s Option
The Giants have exercised their fifth-year option on Prince Amukamara‘s rookie deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The move ensures that the cornerback remains under contract with the team through the 2015 season.
Amukamara, 24, has steadily assumed a larger role in the Giants’ secondary in recent years, starting all 16 games for the club in 2013 and playing over 1,100 defensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 2011 first-rounder played well as a full-time starter last season, ranking 34th among 110 qualified cornerbacks, with excellent grades against the run.
Still, the Giants’ decision on Amukamara wasn’t viewed as a slam dunk. The team added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond to shore up the cornerback position this offseason, and there are some lingering questions about Amukamara’s durability. When Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com broke down the 32 decisions in April, he predicted that the Giants wouldn’t exercise their option on the former 19th overall pick.
Now that it has been picked up though, that 2015 option will be worth $6.898MM. For now, it’s guaranteed for injury only, though it will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2015 league year. You can keep tabs on all of this year’s fifth-year option decisions with our tracker.
Texans Notes: Clowney, Draft, RBs, Watt
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle provided a few Texans-related insights on Twitter today, suggesting that he believes Jadeveon Clowney will be the pick if the team doesn’t trade down from No. 1. If the Texans do indeed pass on someone like Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles to grab a pass rusher like Clowney or Khalil Mack, McClain isn’t sure which signal-caller the club would be targeting later in the draft.
Here’s more on the Texans:
- Texans GM Rick Smith would like to acquire as many picks as possible in this draft, particularly in the first three rounds, so there’s a chance he trades the team’s second-round pick, according to McClain.
- In McClain’s view, it would cost a team like the Falcons their first-round pick this year and next, along with this year’s second- and fourth-round picks to trade up to the Texans’ spot at No. 1. McClain doesn’t believe Smith would send the first overall pick to Atlanta for this year’s first- and second-rounders and next year’s first-rounder. If that’s true, I’d be surprised to see the Texans move the pick.
- For what it’s worth, Smith indicated yesterday on Fox Sports Southwest that he “absolutely” knows who he wants to take with the first overall pick.
- According to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the Texans have done “a lot of work” on running backs, and could potentially draft one before the end of the third round. The club lost top backup Ben Tate in free agency this offseason.
- Last week, former agent Joel Corry and former team executive Ari Nissim published the first installment of a mock contract negotiation between J.J. Watt‘s agent and the Texans. Today, the second part of the series is up at the National Football Post, as the two sides continue to discuss a hypothetical deal for Watt.