Young, Thigpen To Work Out For Browns
10:39am: Young won’t be the only quarterback trying out for the Browns this week. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter), GM Ray Farmer told reports that Tyler Thigpen will be auditioning as well.
9:06am: Former third overall pick Vince Young is hoping to land a spot on an NFL roster this season, and at least one quarterback-needy team appears willing to give him a chance. According to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, the Browns are bringing in Young for a physical, and will have him work out at the club’s minicamp this week. If Young impresses, it could result in a contract from Cleveland and an opportunity to earn a regular-season roster spot.
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 that season, Young threw just four touchdowns to nine interceptions.
When Berman reported over the weekend that Young had hired a new agent (Brian Overstreet), he also quoted the signal-caller as saying he was receiving “some calls, some interest” from NFL teams. If that’s the case, perhaps the Browns won’t be the only club to give the former Texas Longhorn star a look.
Giants Sign Rusty Smith
Not long after signing Josh Freeman to a one-year contract, the Giants have added another free agent quarterback. According to a press release, the team has signed former Titan Rusty Smith.
Smith, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Tennessee, appearing in just three games for the Titans (two in 2010, one in 2012). The 27-year-old was shaky in what little action he saw, completing just 51.1% of his passes and throwing four interceptions with no touchdowns.
Considering the Giants are already pretty well-stocked at the quarterback position, Smith looks like a long shot to make the club’s regular-season roster. In addition to Freeman and starter Eli Manning, the Giants are also carrying Curtis Painter and Ryan Nassib. With Manning recovering from ankle surgery, more bodies were needed for the offseason program, but New York will have to pare down its depth chart at some point before the season begins.
Michael Robinson Likely To Retire
Much has been made this offseason about teams being unwilling to spend big bucks on the running back position, and that’s even more true of fullbacks. Some clubs have nearly phased out that position entirely, and that trend may result in former Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson calling it a career this offseason, as Mike Poorman of StateCollege.com writes (hat tip to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times).
“There really isn’t a market for 31-year fullbacks headed into their ninth year in the league,” Robinson said. “Economically speaking, I understand that. I’m going to give myself a little time after the draft to let teams see how their rosters shake out. After seeing what happens, I’m probably going to call it a career.”
Robinson, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2006, has spent four years each with the 49ers and Seahawks, and earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2011, starting at fullback in place of an injured John Kuhn. While his primary contributions came as a blocker, Robinson has also accumulated 115 carries and 75 receptions over the course of his eight-year career, adding five total touchdowns. The 31-year-old is currently an unrestricted free agent.
According to Poorman, Robinson is eyeing a broadcasting career once he officially retires from the NFL, and is currently focusing on that work while he waits to see if there’s any interest from clubs after the draft. “If I do get a call from a team, then I’m counting that as a bonus,” Robinson said.
NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears
Assuming Kyle Orton plans on playing out the final year of his contract in 2014, his salary will be decreased by $75K as a result of his missing the Cowboys‘ offseason workouts, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Taking into account Dallas’ recent additions of Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie, the offseason rumors about Orton’s potential retirement, and his absence from the workout program, the 31-year-old’s NFL future seems somewhat uncertain.
Here are a few more leftover Friday links from around the NFC:
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) adds offensive lineman Joel Bitonio to the list of players who visited the Giants this week. We heard yesterday that the Dolphins, Panthers, and Buccaneers were among the teams who might be eyeing the Nevada lineman.
- The Lions hosted their final three prospects today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who has details on today’s visitors: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora, and Kent State running back Dri Archer.
- In addition to having pre-draft visits with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Cardinals, as we heard last month, Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster worked out for the Cowboys, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune fields a slew of Bears-related questions on the team’s draft needs and Alshon Jeffery‘s contract situation, among other topics.
- North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, a potential late-round pick, visited the Vikings last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
- In a series of tweets, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides the full list of seven prospects who participated in the Rams‘ local prospect day on Friday.
Largest 2014 FA Contracts By Position
When I examined 2014’s largest free agent contracts by overall value, per-year value, and fully guaranteed money last weekend, many of the players on my lists played the same positions. Of the 17 total players who ranked among the top 10 free agent contracts in at least one of those three categories, 12 were cornerbacks, offensive tackles, or defensive ends.
Given how players at a handful of key positions dominated those lists from the weekend, it’s worth breaking things down a little differently, and checking in on how players at other spots did in free agency. In the list below, you’ll find the top 2014 free agent contracts by overall value, per-year value, and fully guaranteed money, sorted by position.
The players below are listed under the position they played most last season, even if their new teams don’t necessarily plan to play them at that specific spot — this can often be the case with linebackers, as well as offensive and defensive linemen. Additionally, a player’s total contract amount is considered to be the deal’s base value, not including incentives. Players who re-signed with their previous teams before free agency opened also weren’t considered.
With the help of OverTheCap.com’s free agent tracker, here are the largest 2014 free agent contracts by position:
Quarterback:
- Overall: $10.5MM, Matt Cassel (Vikings)
- Per year: $5.25MM, Cassel
- Guarantee: $5.65MM, Cassel
Running back:
- Overall: $10.5MM, Donald Brown (Chargers), Toby Gerhart (Jaguars)
- Per year: $4MM, Chris Johnson (Jets)
- Guarantee: $4.5MM, Gerhart
Wide receiver:
- Overall: $36.25MM, Eric Decker (Jets)
- Per year: $8MM, DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
- Guarantee: $16MM, Jackson
Tight end:
- Overall: $16MM, Brandon Pettigrew (Lions)
- Per year: $4MM, Pettigrew
- Guarantee: $5.2MM, Pettigrew
Offensive tackle:
- Overall: $47MM, Branden Albert (Dolphins)
- Per year: $9.4MM, Albert
- Guarantee: $20MM, Albert
Offensive guard:
- Overall: $31,347,233, Rodger Saffold (Rams)
- Per year: $6,269,447, Saffold
- Guarantee: $11MM, Saffold
Center:
- Overall: $42MM, Alex Mack (Browns)
- Per year: $8.4MM, Mack
- Guarantee: $18MM, Mack
Defensive tackle:
- Overall: $32MM, Paul Soliai (Falcons)
- Per year: $6,875,250, Henry Melton (Cowboys)
- Guarantee: $12.5MM, Linval Joseph (Vikings)
3-4 defensive end:
- Overall: $33MM, Arthur Jones (Colts)
- Per year: $6.6MM, Jones
- Guarantee: $10MM, Jones
4-3 defensive end:
- Overall: $43.75MM, Michael Johnson (Buccaneers)
- Per year: $10MM, DeMarcus Ware (Broncos)
- Guarantee: $19.8MM, Everson Griffen (Vikings)
3-4 outside linebacker:
- Overall: $11.455MM, Brian Orakpo (Redskins)*
- Per year: $11.455MM, Orakpo
- Guarantee: $11.455MM, Orakpo
4-3 outside linebacker:
- Overall: $6.25MM, Dekoda Watson (Jaguars)
- Per year: $2.1MM, Vincent Rey (Bengals)
- Guarantee: $1.5MM, Watson
Inside linebacker:
- Overall: $24MM, Karlos Dansby (Browns)
- Per year: $6MM, Dansby
- Guarantee: $12MM, Dansby
Safety:
- Overall: $54MM, Jairus Byrd (Saints)
- Per year: $9MM, Byrd
- Guarantee: $18.3MM, Byrd
Cornerback:
- Overall: $57MM, Aqib Talib (Broncos)
- Per year: $16MM, Darrelle Revis (Patriots)
- Guarantee: $15MM, Vontae Davis (Colts)
Kicker:
- Overall: $12MM, Nick Folk (Jets)
- Per year: $3.067MM, Phil Dawson (49ers)
- Guarantee: $3.35MM, Steven Hauschka (Seahawks)
Punter:
- Overall: $5.5MM, Donnie Jones (Eagles)
- Per year: $1,833,333, Jones
- Guarantee: $1MM, Jones
* Orakpo accepted and signed a one-year franchise tender from the Redskins, though the two sides may still work out a longer-term deal that reduces the 2014 amount.
AFC Notes: Browns, Garoppolo, Texans, Watt
Drafting an elite non-quarterback with the fourth overall pick and addressing the QB position with pick No. 26 is one option for the Browns, but as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, it’s not without risk. Since other teams recognize the Browns are very likely to select a signal-caller at some point early in the draft, those clubs could try to trade ahead of the No. 26 spot in order to snatch up one of the QBs Cleveland is considering.
Here’s more from around the AFC, including a note on one possible quarterback target for the Browns:
- Eastern Illinois signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo visited the Texans yesterday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), and then headed to Cleveland to visit the Browns today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter).
- John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) thinks Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel are the Texans‘ most likely targets at No. 1, and adds that the club would have to be “overwhelmed” by an offer to trade down.
- In an entertaining piece for the National Football Post, Joel Corry and Ari Nissim act out a hypothetical contract extension negotiation between the Texans and the agent for defensive star J.J. Watt.
- Minnesota defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman has visited or worked out for the Titans, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Hageman has previously checked in with the Falcons, Cardinals, Colts, and Steelers. The 6-foot-6, 318-pound athlete, one of the most physically impressive defensive linemen in the draft, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.02 seconds.
- Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego wonders if tall Clemson wide receiver Martavis Bryant would help the Chargers.
- Michael Lombardi of the Patriots worked out Coastal Carolina running back Lorenzo Taliaferro today, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: 49ers, Rams, Lions, Broncos
Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including a pair of free agents accepting their contract tenders, two other minor signings, and a roster cut….
- Demarcus Dobbs, who received a $1.431MM restricted free agent tender from the 49ers, has accepted and signed it, the club announced today in a press release. Dobbs will compete for playing time on the defensive line, and may also contribute on special teams and even on offense, where he has played some tight end.
- Rams center Tim Barnes, who started the last four games of the 2013 season, has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Barnes will be in line for a $570K salary in 2014.
- The Lions have signed center Sherman Carter and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt to contracts after bringing the players to camp for tryouts earlier this week, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Carter was on the 49ers’ roster last summer, while Roosevelt has some previous NFL regular-season experience with the Bills.
- The Broncos have cut offensive tackle Mike Farrell, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post (on Twitter). Farrell, who signed a futures contract with Denver at the end of the 2013 regular season, will have to pass through waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
49ers Rumors: Kaepernick, Draft, Evans
Earlier this afternoon, we recapped several comments 49ers general manager Trent Baalke made about linebacker Aldon Smith and running back LaMichael James, who have both been in the news lately. In Smith’s case, Baalke reinforced the idea that, despite the linebacker’s off-court issues, the team hopes to work things out and keep him around long-term, though the GM didn’t commit to picking up Smith’s fifth-year option. As for James, Baalke dismissed the idea that San Francisco is looking to trade the running back.
Here are a few more Niners notes based on Baalke’s discussion with the media today:
- Colin Kaepernick was named in a report of a “suspicious incident” incident in Miami by police, but Baalke indicated that shouldn’t have a real impact on the Niners’ desire to work out a long-term deal with the quarterback, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com details. “Nothing’s changed,” Baalke said. “But at the same token, negotiations of these kind, they’re long. They can be drawn out. They can be very tedious. Like all of these, it takes a lot of work to get theses types of deals done. We’re going to work diligently like we said we would. But when that gets done, is there a goal, a timeline? I can’t say that there is.”
- Baalke also indicated that the Niners have the “ammunition” to move up in the draft if the right situation arises (Twitter link). Even if San Francisco doesn’t want to use James as a trade chip, the team could rely on its collection of draft picks to help facilitate a deal — six of the first 100 picks in the draft belong to the Niners.
- If the 49ers do decide to trade up in the first round, wide receiver Mike Evans may be a target. According to Evan Silva of Rotoworld (Twitter link), Chris Mortensen said today on ESPN that the “buzz inside league circles that you keep hearing” suggests Evans is drawing interest from the Niners.
Marcus Trufant Retires As Seahawk
FRIDAY, 3:56pm: The Seahawks formally placed Trufant on the reserve/retired list today, making his retirement official, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
WEDNESDAY, 4:57pm: Veteran cornerback Marcus Trufant won’t be making an NFL comeback for the 2014 season, but he will be signing with a team this week. According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link), the Seahawks announced today that they’ll sign Trufant to a contract so he can retire as a Seahawk.
Trufant, 33, spent nearly his entire NFL career in Seattle after the team drafted him 11th overall in 2003. In his 10 seasons with the Seahawks, Trufant played 136 games, including 125 starts, and racked up 21 interceptions. His best year came in 2007, when he picked off seven passes and earned the only Pro Bowl berth of his career.
Trufant’s last regular-season NFL action came in the 2012 season. Last year, the Washington State product signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars, but was released by the team before the season got underway, and didn’t catch on with another club.
Draft Updates: WRs, Clowney, Latimer, Mason
While the general consensus suggests that Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins is the clear-cut top wide receiver in this year’s draft class, that’s not necessarily the case, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. After speaking to several execs, scouts, and decision-makers, La Canfora came away believing that Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans, who has the size advantage on Watkins, could be the first receiver to come off the board.
“Would I be surprised if Evans ended up going before Watkins?” said one evaluator. “No, I wouldn’t. But we do think there is a drop-off after those two, and we know they won’t be there when we pick [later in the first round].”
Regardless of where Watkins and Evans land, it figures to be a busy first round for receivers, according to La Canfora, who says Marqise Lee and Odell Beckham may not make it past the late teens, given the interest they’re receiving from teams like the Ravens, Steelers, and Jets.
Here are a few more Friday draft items:
- In a series of tweets, Albert Breer of the NFL Network shares a few insights into the draft. Among them: Many people believe Jadeveon Clowney and Khalil Mack are worth trading up for since this year’s pass-rushing group is fairly thin. Additionally, clubs may be more inclined to trade into the late first round to draft a quarterback, since the fifth-year option for first-round picks gives teams additional flexibility.
- Speaking of Clowney, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the details on the “force plate” assessment the Falcons put the defensive end through today. According to Breer (Twitter links), Clowney’s performance was very impressive.
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins‘ basketball background could separate him from other tight ends, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The Washington product is in good company as some of today’s top tight ends – Jimmy Graham, Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas – played college basketball at some point. Seferian-Jenkins could be an option for the Packers in the first or second round if he’s on the board.
- The Eagles, who had three representatives at wide receiver Cody Latimer‘s workout today, spent 20 minutes post-workout having him run their routes, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Eagles pick at No. 22 and the Indiana product’s stock appears to be rapidly rising.
- Combine exams revealed that Auburn running back Tre Mason has a bone in his wrist that will require surgery, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Meanwhile, Mason denied the report via Twitter, saying that he doesn’t need surgery.
- In an Insider-only piece at ESPN.com, Mark Dominik suggests a few hypothetical draft-pick trades outside of the top 10 that could make sense for both sides.
Zach Links contributed to this post.