D’Qwell Jackson Decision Expected This Week
D’Qwell Jackson isn’t the most intriguing name among 2014’s class of free agents, but he’s perhaps the most notable player available before next Tuesday. Because he was released by the Browns last month, Jackson can sign with a new team immediately, and he’s expected to make a decision within the next couple days, a source tells Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
Jackson has visited with several teams within the last week and has narrowed down his choice to four potential destinations, according to Tesfatsion: The Titans, Broncos, Dolphins, and Colts. The Vikings, Cardinals, and Redskins were among the other clubs said to have interest in the veteran inside linebacker, but they didn’t make the cut for Jackson’s short list.
Jackson had been a starter for the Browns since the club selected him in the second round of the 2006 draft. Despite leading the team in tackles in 2013, Jackson graded poorly as a run defender in Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, and placed 42nd overall out of 55 qualified inside linebackers (subscription required). Still, the Maryland alum was Cleveland’s longtime defensive leader on defense and is still just 30 years old, so he should have a few more solid seasons left in him.
Bears Release Adam Podlesh
The Bears have terminated the contract of veteran punter Adam Podlesh, the team announced today (Twitter link). Podlesh had two years remaining on his contract, which carried a cap number of $1.825MM for 2014. By cutting him, Chicago will take on $800K in dead money for the coming season, creating just over $1MM in cap savings.
Podlesh, 30, has been the Bears’ starting punter since the 2011 season, but is coming off arguably his worst year as a pro. Podlesh averaged 40.6 yards per punt in 68 tries, the worst mark of his seven-year career, and his net average of 37.9 was the worst since his rookie season. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former Jaguar ranked dead last out of 41 qualified punters in 2013.
With Podlesh out of the picture, either Drew Butler or Tress Way could end up winning Chicago’s starting punter job for 2014. Discussing the team’s three punters at last month’s combine, GM Phil Emery said, “It’s a wide open competition.”
Steelers Restructure Heath Miller’s Deal
WEDNESDAY, 11:23am: The restructure has added two new years to Miller’s contract, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). The new deal includes base salaries of $4MM in 2015 and 2016, while 2014’s cap number has been reduced to about $6.133MM, a reduction of $3.33MM.
MONDAY, 10:47am: The Steelers have restructured Heath Miller‘s contract in order to create 2014 cap space, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Miller had been a strong candidate to be restructured or released due to his $9.47MM cap number. That cap hit will be reduced, though the specific details aren’t yet available.
Miller’s contract called for a $6.02MM base salary in 2014, to go along with a prorated bonus amount of about $3.45MM. That bonus amount can’t be adjusted down any further, but the base salary could be reduced all the way to the minimum. 2014 was slated to be the last season of Miller’s deal, so it’s not clear yet whether the new agreement will add any extra years to the contract, or if Miller agreed to take a pay cut. If there are new years on the deal, it’s also possible they’re voidable, which would still allow the tight end to become a free agent next year.
The Steelers are among the teams with the most money committed to the 2014 cap, meaning Miller’s deal likely won’t be the last one the club restructures. Even with a higher than expected $133MM cap for ’14, the Steelers may have limited flexibility to bring back their own free agents and add new players.
Dolphins Re-Sign Brent Grimes
WEDNESDAY, 11:19am: Grimes’ contract includes a $6MM signing bonus, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). The cap numbers on the deal are as follows: $4MM (2014), $10MM (2015), $9.525MM (2016), and $8.5MM (2017).
MONDAY, 9:17am: The Dolphins have officially re-signed Brent Grimes to a multiyear deal, the team announced today (Twitter link). Grimes’ new contract is a four-year pact, the Dolphins cornerback tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link), and it’s worth $32MM, with $16MM in guaranteed money, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported that the two sides were closing in on a contract agreement.
While there are a handful of notable cornerbacks eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, including Aqib Talib, Vontae Davis, Alterraun Verner, and Sam Shields, Grimes is arguably coming off the best season of the bunch. The former Falcon returned from an Achilles injury in 2013 to start all 16 games for the Dolphins, playing in more snaps (1132) than all but two cornerbacks in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Grimes, who earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for the second time, was the league’s second-best full-time corner last season. He finished the season with 60 tackles and four interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
Locking up Grimes prior to free agency will allow the Dolphins to focus on other areas of need, and there are plenty to address. Most notably, Miami will have to revamp its offensive line, which will be decimated by the fallout from last year’s bullying scandal. While the terms of Grimes’ deal aren’t yet known, Rapoport tweets that, last he heard, the two sides were discussing a three-year pact worth in the neighborhood of $21MM. An annual salary in the $7-8MM range would give the club plenty of cap flexibility to be active in free agency and to bolster other positions.
Before this year’s free agents hit the open market on March 11, the Dolphins could also make an effort to re-sign some of its other own free agents, such as defensive linemen Paul Soliai and Randy Starks. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that the club is also “very interested” in another defensive back, Louis Delmas, who is eligible to sign with any team right away, since he was released by the Lions last month.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC Notes: Graham, Jones, Tate, Guion
The franchise tag is viewed as a way to essentially take an unrestricted free agent off the market, but that’s not technically what the tag does. It simply makes it more costly for another team to sign that free agent away from his current club, since the signing team would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation.
For some players though, that price tag may be worth paying, and there’s a sense around the league that a team may be willing to do so for Jimmy Graham, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. It’s not clear yet which club might make a run at Graham, but teams with late first-round picks like the Seahawks and Patriots have been mentioned as possible candidates, and Freeman says not to rule out the Ravens either. For what it’s worth, a Packers source tells Freeman that Green Bay making a run at Graham “won’t happen.” Still, it sounds as if the Saints may need to fight to keep their star pass-catcher.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- James Jones isn’t expected to be back in Green Bay next season, but the free agent receiver still thinks there’s a chance he could re-sign with the Packers, as he told Around the League on the NFL Network yesterday (link via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). If he doesn’t continue with the Packers, Jones thinks the Colts and Chargers might be good fits for him.
- With just a few days until he can hit the open market, Golden Tate tells SiriusXM NFL Radio that he hasn’t heard much from the Seahawks, as Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk details. “I’ve kind of just trusted in my agent and him being good at his work,” Tate said. “Todd [France] has had some great deals in the past and so I’m letting him handle it. Just trying to stay stress free and really enjoying being a Super Bowl champ.”
- Veteran defensive tackle Letroy Guion, who only played in about a third of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps in 2013, may be asked to take a pay cut, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Guion has a 2014 base salary worth $3.95MM and a total cap number of $4.3MM.
- If the Buccaneers are going to trade Darrelle Revis this offseason, it will likely happen sooner rather than later. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why.
Colin Kaepernick Seeking $20MM Per Year?
WEDNESDAY, 10:50am: Kaepernick is actually seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $20MM+ annually on his next contract, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, in a lengthy piece on the 49ers quarterback. According to La Canfora, Kaepernick will likely only sign an extension if it’s in the ballpark of $20MM per year, and will be happy to play out his current deal and take his chances next year if no new agreement is in place.
MONDAY, 1:21pm: Within his Sunday notes column for the Boston Globe, Ben Volin included an interesting tidbit on Colin Kaepernick, who is eligible for a contract extension. Citing sources, Volin writes that the 49ers quarterback wants a deal similar to or slightly better than the long-term pacts signed by Jay Cutler and Tony Romo, who are both on contracts worth about $18MM annually. Following up on the story, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Kaepernick is looking for “more than” $18MM per year.
Kaepernick remains under team control for 2014 at a base salary of less than $1MM, so there’s no real urgency yet for the Niners to lock up their signal-caller. While no one believes the 26-year-old is going anywhere anytime soon, Volin writes that Kaepernick appears willing to play out the 2014 season at his current salary if the Niners don’t get near his asking price — he’d prefer to postpone negotiations for a year rather than ink a below-market deal.
Kaepernick’s talks with the 49ers will be tricky, since both sides have reason to be cautious about plunging into a long-term agreement, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk outlines. From the team’s perspective, the young quarterback has only logged 23 career NFL starts and hasn’t yet shown he can consistently produce while facing a heavy pass rush. On the other hand, San Francisco has reached an NFC championship and a Super Bowl in the last two years in large part because of Kaepernick, and the franchise was willing to trade away Alex Smith to pave the way for the Nevada-Reno product.
One potential compromise for the two sides is a shorter-term extension, one that would keep Kaepernick under contract through 2016 or so. A deal like that could allow the team to meet Kaepernick’s $18MM-per-year asking price for his first two free agent seasons while spreading out the cap hit over the 2014 season as well. Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com detailed that scenario recently in his full breakdown of the situation.
Bills Sign Aaron Williams To Extension
The Bills have officially locked up safety Aaron Williams with a contract extension, the team announced today (Twitter link). As a member of the 2011 draft class, Williams had one year remaining on his rookie contract, and was eligible for a new deal for the first time this offseason.
Mike Garafolo of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that Williams’ new pact is a four-year contract worth $26MM, which will keep the young safety under contract through 2018. The deal also includes another $1.25MM in incentives, so it could max out at a total of $27.25MM. According to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), $14.625MM of the contract is guaranteed, including a $6.5MM signing bonus.
Williams, who turns 24 in April, started 14 games for the Bills in 2013, grabbing four interceptions and logging 82 tackles, both easily career highs. The former second-round pick also ranked 28th among 86 qualified safeties according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, giving Buffalo a formidable safety duo consisting of Williams and Jairus Byrd.
With Byrd seemingly set to hit the open market, Williams looks like the most logical in-house replacement, as ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak noted earlier this week. However, Bills CEO Russ Brandon stressed that Williams’ deal is “completely independent” of any other negotiations involving the team (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550). In other words, the extension doesn’t preclude a return to Buffalo for Byrd, even if that possibility is looking increasingly less likely. Re-signing Byrd would likely mean committing $15MM+ per year to the team’s two starting safeties, which probably wouldn’t be the best use of the Bills’ money.
Williams, the 34th overall pick in 2011, is the fourth member of the draft class to sign an extension this offseason. Center Jason Kelce (Eagles), center Daniel Kilgore (49ers), and defensive back Taiwan Jones (Raiders) have also inked new deals.
Browns Cut Davone Bess, Two Others
9:54am: The Browns don’t owe Bess his $3.067MM salary for 2014, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who says the previous regime put specific language into the contract to protect the club (Twitter link). That likely means the club will create $3MM+ in cap savings, though we’ll have to wait for confirmation.
7:17am: The Browns have released wide receiver Davone Bess, the team announced today (Twitter link). In addition to cutting Bess, the Browns also waived wide receiver Brian Tyms and linebacker Paul Hazel.
Bess, who was traded to Cleveland by the Dolphins a year ago, had his worst season on the field in 2013, recording career-lows in receptions (42) and receiving yards (362). He also made headlines off the field, as it was revealed the trouble receiver was involuntarily hospitalized in a mental institution shortly before the trade from Miami. He dealt with several more issues in the ensuing months, including being arrested for assaulting a police officer last month.
Bess had been owed $3.067MM in guaranteed money for 2014, so it’s unclear how the Browns’ cap will be affected by the move. If there were no extenuating circumstances, all $3.067MM of that salary would count as dead money on the team’s books, but Cleveland apparently believes Bess’ guaranteed can be voided, according to a recent report by Pro Football Talk. In any case, the 28-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent, and we likely won’t see him catch on with another team until some positive progress is made on his mental health.
As for Tyms and Hazel, neither player was expected to be a major piece for the Browns in 2014. Tyms played 60 snaps for the club last season, while Hazel appeared in just 14.
Steelers Re-Sign Will Allen
The Steelers have re-signed defensive back Will Allen, according to agent Blake Baratz (Twitter link). Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, but I imagine it will be a one-year, minimum-salary contract, perhaps including a little bonus money.
After being released by the Cowboys last season, Allen caught back on in Pittsburgh, where he had spent the previous three seasons. Allen appeared in 10 games for the team and saw plenty of action in the secondary and on special teams down the stretch. The 31-year-old recorded 35 tackles and an interception for the Steelers, and received slightly above-average grades for his play from Pro Football Focus.
Having also locked up linebacker Jason Worilds as their transition player, the Steelers will need to clear salary in other spots in order to get under the cap before next Tuesday. One potential move for the team would involve restructuring Troy Polamalu‘s contract. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that Pittsburgh won’t release the veteran safety, but the club figures to try to rework Polamalu’s deal, perhaps asking him to take a pay cut.
Broncos Links: RBs, Decker, DRC, Miller
The Broncos signed eight practice squad players to futures contracts and extended the contract of GM John Elway last month, but otherwise the team has been fairly quiet since the Super Bowl. With several prospective free agents seemingly on their way to the open market, let’s check in on the latest Broncos updates….
- The Broncos appear likely to let Knowshon Moreno walk in free agency, and while the team plans to sign a free agent running back for depth purposes, Denver wants to give Montee Ball a chance to earn the No. 1 job, says Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Klis names Donald Brown and James Starks as a couple free agents who the Broncos could target as Ball’s backup.
- Some people in league circles believe the Broncos are hoping to see Eric Decker get a lucrative offer from another team, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That way, the Broncos won’t have to decide between making Decker a below-market offer or “politely telling him they’re not interested.” As we wrote yesterday, the team will be wary about investing in Decker with long-term extensions for Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas due soon.
- In a mailbag for the Post, Klis writes that he thinks the Broncos would bring Decker back if his price doesn’t exceed $7MM. Klis also addresses the team’s top free agent priority (re-signing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and says Denver should be patient with Von Miller rather than considering trading him.