Extra Points: Options, Rice, Keller, Visits
As our fifth-year option tracker shows, we’re still waiting on many teams to make their official decisions on 2015 options for players who were drafted in the first round in 2011. The deadline arrives on May 3, so we still have nearly two more weeks before all those contract situations are resolved, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has decided to take his best guess at the upcoming decisions. In La Canfora’s view, 17 options are “no-brainers” to be exercised, while 10 are virtually certain to be declined — the remaining five, including Aldon Smith‘s and Mark Ingram‘s, among others, are still up in the air.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Jets offered Sidney Rice a larger contract than the Seahawks did, but the receiver wanted to return to the Super Bowl champs, he said today on 710 ESPN in Seattle (Twitter link).
- Tight end Dustin Keller remains unsigned, but the agent for Keller says his client is “good to go” after missing the 2013 season with a serious knee injury, tweets Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
- After visiting the Jets today, TCU cornerback Jason Verrett will move on to the Rams on Tuesday and the Texans on Wednesday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Rapoport passes along a couple more draft updates on Twitter, writing that LSU running back Jeremy Hill is visiting the Bengals today and previously visited the Titans. Rapoport adds that Florida offensive lineman Jon Halapio has worked out for the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Browns, and Colts.
- Boston College defensive end Kaleb Ramsey will work out for NFL scouts on campus this Wednesday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- According to reports from Wilson, Gil Brandt of NFL.com, and Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley is visiting the Rams, Patriots, Browns, and Cowboys this week.
- We heard last week that Nebraska guard Spencer Long has visits lined up with the Eagles, Chargers, Dolphins, and Falcons, and Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net says (via Twitter) Long will also visit three other clubs.
Saints Pick Up Option On Cameron Jordan
The Saints have exercised their fifth-year option on Cameron Jordan, keeping him under team control through the 2015 season, reports Field Yates of ESPN Boston (via Twitter). Like J.J. Watt, Muhammad Wilkerson, and other 2011 first-round defensive ends picked outside the top 10, Jordan will be in line for a ’15 salary of $6.969MM.
Jordan, 24, earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2013, setting a career-high with 12.5 sacks and adding two forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) graded Jordan as the league’s fourth-best 3-4 defensive end last season, ranking behind only Watt as a pass rusher.
Jordan will earn a base salary of about $1.43MM in 2014 before seeing a bump in pay for 2015. He and the Saints could also work out a longer-term arrangement at any time.
You can follow this year’s fifth-year option decisions right here.
Andy Dalton, A.J. Green Discuss Contracts
Quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green were among the Bengals in attendance today for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason workout program, and Cincinnati’s offensive leaders were each asked about their contract situations. Although both players are heading into contract years, the club holds a fifth-year option on Green for 2015, while Dalton is eligible for unrestricted free agency less than a year from now.
Still, the Bengals’ signal-caller expects to remain in Cincinnati far beyond ’14, as he told reporters today. And it sounds as if the team is negotiating longer-term contracts with both players. Here are a few noteworthy quotes from Dalton, Green, and other Bengals, via ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, and Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Sulia link)….
Dalton, on whether he feels he’s the face of the Bengals’ franchise:
“I do. Everything that [coach] Marvin [Lewis] has said, [offensive coordinator] Hue [Jackson] has said, and what everybody here has told me is that, and they’ve told everybody that. So I’m confident with that. I hope to spend a lot of my career here.”
“From everything they’ve told me, they’re not bringing in anybody to compete.”
Dalton, on the value of quarterbacks for NFL franchises:
“It’s a quarterback-driven league, so quarterbacks get rewarded a lot of money. For a lot of these quarterbacks, if you’re the quarterback of the team, you’re the face of the franchise. So these teams obviously believe in their guy and they’re going to pay him that way.”
Dalton, on potentially playing out the final year of his contract without an extension:
“There’s obviously some risk when that goes on, but I am confident in everything that I have been able to do and what I am going to do this year. If it comes to that then it comes to that but I think both sides want to get it done. So, hopefully [an extension] happens.”
Green, on his own contract situation:
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I’m still under contract. Like I say, my body of work speaks for itself. Whenever the time’s right, it’s right. That’s one thing I don’t get involved with. I just go out there and play the game and whatever happens, happens.”
Defensive leader Domata Peko on the possibility of the Bengals locking up key players:
“Andy, A.J. and Vontaze [Burfict], man, they deserve to be paid. I can’t wait to see when they sign their deals. It’ll be awesome. That’s good for our team because they’re a big part of our team and we just want to make sure we keep those guys locked down because they’re a hell of a few players.”
Saints Re-Sign Robert Meachem
MONDAY, 12:25pm: Meachem’s one-year deal with the Saints is a minimum salary benefit contract that features a $65K signing bonus, tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. It’ll pay the receiver $920K if he sticks with the team, and will cost $635K against the cap.
FRIDAY, 11:20am: The Saints have added some depth to their wide receiver corps by bringing back a familiar face. According to a press release from the team, New Orleans has re-signed free agent wideout Robert Meachem to a one-year contract for 2014.
Meachem, 29, was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2007 draft and spent five seasons with the team before playing in San Diego during the 2012 season. The Tennessee product returned to the Saints last season in a reduced role — after averaging 43 catches per season in New Orleans from 2009 to 2011, Meachem hauled in just 16 passes last season for 324 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
For 2014, Meachem will likely assume a similar role on the Saints’ depth chart, assuming he even earns a spot on the roster. The departure of Lance Moore could mean a few more balls to go around for the team’s receivers, but second-year wideout Kenny Stills will likely see an increasing number of those passes thrown in his direction.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Meachem played on a minimum-salary contract last season and will almost certainly do so again this year.
Broncos Re-Sign Mitch Unrein, Three Others
Defensive tackle Mitch Unrein has accepted and signed his restricted free agent tender from the Broncos, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). Denver had tendered Unrein a contract offer at the lowest RFA level, so the veteran will be in line for a $1.431MM salary in 2014.
In addition to re-signin Unrein, the team has also officially locked up three exclusive rights free agents, says Klis. Cornerback Tony Carter ($730K), safety Duke Ihenacho ($570K), and linebacker Brandon Marshall ($495K) have all signed their ERFA contract tenders.
Carter, Ihenacho, and Marshall weren’t bona-fide free agents, since their lack of experience meant they had to accept the Broncos’ offer if they wanted to play in the NFL this year. Unrein, on the other hand, could have signed an offer sheet with another team, which Denver would have had the opportunity to match. The 27-year-old, who has provided the Broncos with depth on the defensive line for the last three seasons, either didn’t generate much interest on the open market or simply preferred to return to Denver.
49ers Notes: Smith, Crabtree, Fiedorowicz
Although the 49ers have yet to officially make a decision one way or the other on Aldon Smith‘s 2015 option, it appears as if the team is leaning toward declining it. As Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes, picking up that fifth-year option looks like the smarter on-field move, given Smith’s impact as a pass rusher and the lack of significant risk the option entails (it’s guaranteed for injury only).
However, as Barrows continues, the reason the team is strongly considering turning down the option is because it would send a bad message. Given Smith’s recent behavior, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Niners to turn around and give him a “reward” of nearly $10MM.
As the club weighs its options with Smith, let’s check out a few more Niners-related items….
- Recalling that Michael Crabtree wasn’t easy for the Niners to sign when the team first drafted him, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com previews the upcoming negotiations for the veteran receiver as he enters a contract year.
- Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is visiting the 49ers today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. According to Wilson, Fiedorowicz previously worked out privately for the Buccaneers.
- Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin‘s visit with the 49ers is happening today and tomorrow, tweets Barrows.
AFC Notes: CJ2K, Manziel, Clowney, Texans
The specific financial details of Chris Johnson‘s two-year deal with the Jets have leaked, as Aaron Wilson details at the National Football Post. The $8MM contract includes a $3MM signing bonus and a $1MM non-guaranteed base salary for 2014. If the Jets want to keep the veteran running back for a second season, they’ll owe him a $500K option bonus on the 22nd day before the 2015 league year begins. For 2015, Johnson would have a $3.5MM base salary and a $1MM escalator.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- David Climer of the Tennessean wonders if Johnson’s agent was responsible for getting the running back cut by the Titans, since it seems as if he didn’t thoroughly explore the possibility of his client accepting a pay cut. However, Climer ultimately concludes that both sides were probably ready for a change anyway.
- Johnny Manziel‘s and Jadeveon Clowney‘s visits with the Texans are happening today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Both prospects should have a chance to make their case to be the first overall pick.
- We heard yesterday that the Jets are bringing in cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Darqueze Dennard for pre-draft visits this week, and we can add another name to that list, after Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert tweeted that he’ll visit the Jets today. According to Gilbert, he’ll also be visiting the Broncos, Lions, and Falcons.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has already visited six NFL teams, including the Dolphins.
- UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr and Wisconsin defensive tackle Beau Allen are visiting the Steelers today, tweets ESPN.com’s Scott Brown.
- The Raiders are conducting a private workout for Purdue offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile today, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
King’s Latest: Draft, Texans, Jags, Cards, Rams
As usual, Peter King of TheMMQB.com has kicked off the week by sharing a number of interesting tidbits that can be found in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column. Let’s dive right in and round up several of the highlights from King….
- Vikings general manager Rick Spielman on this year’s crop of quarterbacks: “There’s no Andrew Luck, no Peyton Manning. It is such a mixed bag with each player — every one of them has positives, every one of them has negatives. And if that’s the way you end up feeling, why don’t you just wait till later in the draft, and take someone with the first pick you’re sure will help you right now?”
- One friend of Texans general manager Rick Smith tells King that the GM prefers Buffalo’s Khalil Mack over Jadeveon Clowney. King adds that he thinks Houston will try to choose a sure thing with the No. 1 pick, which could mean Mack, Clowney, or Greg Robinson, but may rule out the top quarterbacks.
- At No. 3 overall, the Jaguars want a pass rusher “badly” and would be a good fit for Mack or Clowney, depending on who is still available, says King.
- Top tight end Eric Ebron recently suggested he thinks the Lions will draft him, though King is skeptical the club would go that route with its first pick.
- The Cardinals are “sweet on” signal-callers Derek Carr and A.J. McCarron. King says he expects Arizona to draft a QB within the first two rounds and the Rams to take one within the first three.
- Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandin Cooks are drawing interest from the Steelers, who are weighing the possibility of drafting a wideout in the first round.
- In King’s view, current draft risers include Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin, and Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. Players whose stock may be falling include Louisville signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr, and Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.
North Notes: Lions, Haden, Bears
Let’s round up a handful of Saturday afternoon updates out of the NFL’s two North divisions….
- The Lions, who have been eyeing draft prospects likely to be off the board by No. 10, will host another one this week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who says Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack will visit the club. When we asked earlier in the week about the likelihood of the Lions trading up, more than half of you expected the team to do so, though you were split on exactly how far up.
- According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the upcoming contract negotiations between the Browns and cornerback Joe Haden will be of particular interest to other teams and players around the NFL. If Haden gets less than $12MM per year, it will be harder for players like Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson to make a case for more.
- Finding a safety next month in the draft looks like the Bears‘ top priority, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. It’s possible that one or both of the top safeties in this year’s class – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor – will still be on the board when Chicago picks 14th overall.
Largest Free Agent Contracts Of 2014
No NFL free agent signed a contract this offseason with a larger overall value than Aqib Talib‘s $57MM deal with the Broncos, which would keep the cornerback under contract through 2019 if he played out the entire pact. Of course, the odds of that are extremely slim. Talib’s deal includes just $11.5MM in guaranteed money, about 20% of the total value, so it’s a sort of pay-as-you-go arrangement for the Broncos, who could easily cut bait after a couple seasons without owing Talib anywhere near $57MM.
As Talib’s case exhibits, total overall value isn’t necessarily the best way to evaluate which free agent contracts were the most lucrative signed in a given offseason. But if we combine it with other factors and variables, it can help provide a more complete picture.
So rather than just looking at the 2014 free agent contracts with the largest overall value, let’s break down the deals with the most fully guaranteed money and the highest per-year value as well. With the help of OverTheCap.com’s free agent tracker, here are the top 10 contracts in each category signed by the members of the 2014 free agent class (not including deals signed prior to free agency):
Largest contracts by overall base value:
- Aqib Talib (CB, Broncos): $57MM, six years
- Jairus Byrd (S, Saints): $54MM, six years
- Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $47MM, five years
- Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers): $43.75MM, five years
- Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $42.5MM, five years
- Alex Mack (C, Browns): $42MM, five years
- Eugene Monroe (OT, Ravens): $37.5MM, five years
- Eric Decker (WR, Jets): $36.25MM, five years
- Vontae Davis (CB, Colts): $36MM, four years
- (tie) Jared Veldheer (OT, Cardinals), Lamarr Houston (DE, Bears), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB, Giants): $35MM, five years
Largest contracts by per-year average:
- Darrelle Revis (CB, Patriots): $16MM
- DeMarcus Ware (DE, Broncos): $10MM
- Aqib Talib (CB, Broncos): $9.5MM
- Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $9.4MM
- (tie) Jairus Byrd (S, Saints), Vontae Davis (CB, Colts): $9MM
- Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers): $8.75MM
- Julius Peppers (DE, Packers): $8.667MM
- Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $8.5MM
- Alex Mack (C, Browns): $8.4MM
- (tie) DeSean Jackson (WR, Redskins), Jared Allen (DE, Bears): $8MM
Largest contracts by fully guaranteed money:
- Branden Albert (OT, Dolphins): $20MM
- Everson Griffen (DE, Vikings): $19.8MM
- Eugene Monroe (OT, Ravens): $19MM
- Jairus Byrd (S, Saints): $18.3MM
- Alex Mack (C, Browns): $18MM
- DeMarcus Ware (DE, Broncos): $16.5MM
- (tie) Michael Johnson (DE, Buccaneers), DeSean Jackson (WR, Redskins): $16MM
- Jared Allen (DE, Bears): $15.5MM
- (tie) Vontae Davis (CB, Colts), Eric Decker (WR, Jets): $15MM
- Linval Joseph (DT, Vikings): $12.5MM