Eagles Extend Jason Peters
10:12am: Peters’ new contract, which has now been confirmed by the team, will create about $2MM in cap savings for the Eagles in 2014, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
8:52am: The Eagles have reached an agreement to extend the contract of Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters, agent Vincent Taylor tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). According to Schefter, Peters will ink a four-year deal worth $41.3MM, with $19.55MM in guaranteed money.
Peters, 32, had been set to enter the last year of his contract, which would have paid him a base salary of $9.65MM. It’s not clear yet exactly how the new deal will break down season to season, but according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), the contract adds four new years onto Peters’ current pact, rather than including the 2014 season. As such, the Eagles will have their left tackle under contract through 2018, and his full five-year deal maxes out at $51MM+.
The agreement will also create more short-term flexibility for the club by reducing Peters’ $10.292MM cap number for the ’14 season, tweets Pelissero. Meanwhile, the Arkansas alum will earn $10MM in bonuses before July 1 of this year, his agent tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Although the contract runs through Peters’ age-36 season, there’s no guarantee he’ll remain on Philadelphia’s roster until the end of the 2018 season. Still, it’s a significant commitment on the Eagles’ part, and one that will likely allow Peters to retire as an Eagle, for which his agent praised Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman, according to Rapoport.
It’s also the sort of commitment that Peters has earned. Coming off an Achilles injury that wiped out his 2012 season, the former Bill started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2013, earning his sixth Pro Bowl berth and his second first-team All Pro nod. While Peters didn’t quite return to the very top of Pro Football Focus’ rankings, he got close, placing fourth among 76 qualified tackles (subscription required). He’ll anchor the Eagles’ line and protect Nick Foles‘ blind side for the foreseeable future.
Dolphins Plan To Pursue Monroe, Albert
Overhauling the offensive line will be one of the Dolphins’ top priorities this offseason, and the team intends to get started on that process in free agency. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins like free-agent-to-be left tackles Eugene Monroe and Branden Albert, and plan to pursue both players in the hopes of landing one of the two.
Bryant McKinnie and Jonathan Martin handled left tackle duties for the Dolphins in 2013, and neither player was particularly effective, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). McKinnie will be eligible for free agency himself, and Martin is extremely unlikely to return to Miami following last season’s bullying scandal, so left tackle represents a major hole for the club. And as I suggested earlier this week, Monroe and Albert both qualify as first-tier options on this year’s free agent market.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that both Monroe and Albert even make it to free agency. A report from two weeks ago indicated that the Chiefs were likely to let Albert walk, but GM John Dorsey said last week that’s not necessarily the case, confirming that the team has talked to the veteran’s representatives. As for Monroe, he expressed last week that he’s not interested in accepting a discount to remain in Baltimore, but head coach John Harbaugh has still conveyed optimism about the two sides working something out.
With those two players high on their wish list, the Dolphins hope to land a left tackle in free agency, then address the right tackle position in the draft, according to Jackson, who notes that Notre Dame’s Zack Martin could be an option at No. 19 overall. Considering Richie Incognito and John Jerry certainly won’t return, Miami will also need to revamp its guard rotation, though it sounds like shoring up the outside of the offensive line ranks higher on the team’s to-do list than bolstering the inside.
Falcons Expected To Release Thomas DeCoud
The Falcons are expected to release veteran safety Thomas DeCoud by the fourth day of the 2014 league year, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). A portion of DeCoud’s salary becomes guaranteed if he remains on the team’s roster beyond March 14, but it’s possible he’ll be released even before then, as Atlanta looks to get its cap in order by March 11.
DeCoud, 28, earned a spot in the Pro Bowl a year ago due in large part to his six interceptions during the 2012 season. However, he didn’t grade well according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics that season, and was even worse in 2013, ranking 83rd out of 86 qualified safeties (subscription required). The longtime Falcons starter has three years remaining on his contract, but the club could create $3MM in 2014 cap savings by releasing him within the next couple weeks. Cutting him would reduce his cap number rom $4.8MM to just $1.8MM in dead money.
If and when the move becomes official, DeCoud will join a group of free agent safeties that currently includes T.J. Ward, Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner, Chris Clemons, and James Ihedigbo, among others. The free agent market should provide plenty of options for teams looking to address their secondary prior to the draft.
Free Agent Market For Centers
Centers may not be the coveted commodities on the open market that left tackles or even guards are, but as the first play of this year’s Super Bowl exhibited, their impact shouldn’t be overlooked. Even once the ball is in the quarterback’s hands, an above-average center can help anchor a line, allowing a team to establish a running game and giving a QB the room to step up in a pocket.
That’s why it’s no so surprise that the Browns’ top priority this offseason is re-signing Alex Mack, the No. 1 center among this year’s free agent class. Mack, a two-time Pro Bowler who is still just 28 years old, represents the cream of the 2014 crop, but there are several other names to watch, particularly since so many teams could use help in the middle of their offensive line.
Cleveland will be in the market for a replacement if they lose their incumbent starter, and the same can be said for the Saints, Packers, Bears, Patriots, and 49ers. The Colts, Ravens, Giants, Falcons, and Rams received subpar production from their centers in 2013 and could be scouring the free agent market for an alternative, while the Jaguars will need to replace Brad Meester, who appears headed for retirement.
Finally, the Dolphins may consider bringing in someone new if they decide to part ways with Mike Pouncey, whose name was splashed all over the Ted Wells report. But given his contract status, his solid play in 2013, and the fact that the Dolphins have a couple fall guys in free-agents-to-be Richie Incognito and John Jerry, Pouncey likely isn’t going anywhere.
Even with the Dolphins not in the mix, we’ve still listed a dozen teams potentially involved in 2014’s free agent market for centers. Let’s take a look at some of the players those clubs will have to consider….
First tier:
As mentioned above, no other center among this year’s group of prospective free agents is in the same class as Mack, who has graded as a top-10 center in each of his first five NFL seasons, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. Designating Mack as a franchise player may not be in the Browns’ best interests, since he’d qualify for the same one-year salary as a left tackle, but Cleveland should still be able to find a way to lock him up.
After Mack, the two most intriguing options at center seem to be Evan Dietrich-Smith and Brian De La Puente. Both remain solidly in their primes at age 27 and 28, respectively, and have experience in two of the most dynamic passing offenses in the NFL. Dietrich-Smith started all 16 games for the Packers in 2013, while De La Puente has been the Saints’ starting center for multiple seasons. Of the two, De La Puente looks like the safer bet, given Dietrich-Smith’s relative lack of experience as a full-time player, but both should be solid pickups, particularly as pass blockers.
Second tier:
Jonathan Goodwin and Roberto Garza are longtime starters that continued to perform at an above-average level in 2013 — both ranked among the top 15 centers according to PFF’s grades. However, considering Goodwin having turned 35 years old in December, and Garza will turn 35 next month, teams may be wary of committing to either player on more than a very short-term contract. Still, for 2014 at least, both players should be reliable starting options, with Goodwin a more effective run blocker and Garza excelling in pass blocking.
Neither Ryan Wendell nor Fernando Velasco had a career year in 2013. After an excellent 2012 season, Wendell had a down year in 2013, grading as the league’s worst pass-blocking center, according to PFF. While he would like to return to the Patriots, a team like New England that relies on a potent passing attack may not be an ideal fit for Wendell, who is a more accomplished run blocker.
As for Velasco, he was cut by the Titans after a solid season in 2012 and caught on late with the Steelers in 2013 when Maurkice Pouncey tore his ACL. Velasco, 29, didn’t match his 2012 performance in Pittsburgh, but it’s reasonable to believe that missing training camp contributed to some of his struggles. If he’s on a roster for a full camp and preseason, Velasco looks capable of being a solid starter in 2014.
The rest:
While the rest of the prospective free agent centers come with some question marks, there should be some upside among this group too. Dan Koppen, J.D. Walton, and Ryan Cook were all sidelined due to injuries in 2013, but if they’re healthy, they should be capable of starting. Koppen’s age (34) and injury history (he missed virtually all of 2011 as well) are concerns, and Walton hasn’t played since the first month of the 2012 season, so Cook might be the most desirable player of this trio — he played well as Dallas’ center in 2012 and is a former second-round pick.
As for other names to watch? Ted Larsen didn’t play well as a Tampa Bay part-timer in 2013, and Robert Turner wasn’t good in the six games he started for the Titans. But both players received above-average grades from PFF in 2012, so they could still have potential in the right system. Meanwhile, former fourth-round pick Joe Hawley never received an extended run of playing time in his four seasons in Atlanta, but was having a decent season in part-time action in 2013 before a disastrous Week 17 performance. He also won’t turn 26 until October.
Previously:
Free Agent Market For Quarterbacks
Free Agent Market For Running Backs
Free Agent Market For Wide Receivers
Free Agent Market For Tight Ends
Free Agent Market For Offensive Tackles
AFC Notes: Bortles, Ravens, Chiefs, Colts
We checked in on the NFC earlier this afternoon, so let’s head over to the AFC now and round up a few of the latest updates….
- Blake Bortles had formal interviews with eight franchises at the combine in Indianapolis, according to Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel. Of those eight teams, three – the Texans, Jaguars, and Titans – were AFC South squads. The Jets and Raiders also met with the UCF quarterback.
- With James Ihedigbo expected to leave in free agency, the Ravens would like to add a free safety this offseason, shifting Matt Elam to strong safety, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Still, the team feels good about its secondary overall, and safety won’t be the top priority in May’s draft.
- The Chiefs had formal interviews in Indianapolis with Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy and Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links).
- Cornerback Vontae Davis and safety Antoine Bethea are potential candidates to receive the Colts‘ franchise designation, but the free agent most likely to be tagged might be kicker Adam Vinatieri, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.
QB Rumors: Vick, Cassel, McCown
As Andrew Cohen writes at OverTheCap.com, at least two former starting quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez and Matt Schaub, will likely be cap casualties in the coming days or weeks. Both players are expected to be released, as their respective teams move on to alternative options and take advantage of the cap savings.
While Sanchez and Schaub haven’t reached free agency yet, several other signal-callers appear poised to hit the open market in a couple weeks, assuming they don’t re-up with their current teams before March 11. Here are the latest rumors on a few of the top options on the QB market, mostly courtesy of Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com:
- A strong market is forming for Michael Vick, and while the Jets have been mentioned as a potential suitor, league sources believe the team may refrain from spending in the range that Vick would require, says La Canfora.
- The Raiders are considering multiple free agent quarterbacks, and Oakland may represent the best spot for Vick to start immediately. However, it’s still possible that Vick re-signs with the Eagles.
- The Vikings, 49ers, Buccaneers, and Texans are exploring free agent options as well, according to La Canfora.
- Matt Cassel is viewed as a decent bet to return to Minnesota, but if he doesn’t, the Texans are a likely suitor for him.
- Josh McCown is drawing interest from several teams, including, as we’ve already heard, the Bears and Jets. However, New York’s interest will again be dependent on how much the club is willing to spend on a veteran QB.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com makes a case for why the Jets should re-sign Vick.
Teams Inquiring On Darrelle Revis
While a number of solid cornerbacks appear poised to hit the free agent market next month, a few NFL clubs also appear to be eyeing a corner whose contract extends well beyond March. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, teams are calling the Buccaneers to inquire about Darrelle Revis, with many rival executives believing that Revis is “ripe to be dealt” at the start of the 2014 league year.
Despite some apparent interest, no firm offers have been extended yet, and the Bucs certainly aren’t shopping their standout cornerback, according to La Canfora. The CBS Sports scribe also cautions that Revis’ age and sizable salary figure to limit the potential return for Tampa Bay. Still, inquiries and negotiations could ramp up as March 11 approaches, particularly since the team has hired a new general manager and head coach.
The lack of a prorated signing bonus in Revis’ deal makes a trade more palatable for the Buccaneers. The 28-year-old has five years and $80MM remaining on his contract, but there’s no signing bonus money included in that amount. If the pact featured, for instance, $2MM per year in prorated bonus money, all that money would accelerate onto the Bucs’ current cap in a trade, just as it does when a player is released. In a hypothetical Revis swap, the Bucs could clear his entire cap number.
Still, as La Canfora suggests, Revis’ age and base salary ($13MM per year, plus $3MM annually in roster and workout bonuses) figure to act as a deterrent in any talks. After missing most of the 2012 season, the veteran reclaimed his spot as Pro Football Focus’ top cornerback in 2013 (subscription required), so the Bucs would likely be seeking a sizable return, and teams may not be willing to give up high draft picks to take on such a massive contract.
Eagles Rumors: Ryans, Mathis, Brown, FAs
DeMeco Ryans finished the 2013 season as the 54th-ranked inside linebacker of the 55 that qualified, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). But despite the subpar grades from PFF and a $6.9MM cap number in 2014, the Eagles linebacker isn’t going anywhere, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Even asking Ryans to take a pay cut is unlikely, according to McLane, who says that the veteran commands more respect than virtually any other player in the locker room, and that “forcing” him to accept a reduced salary wouldn’t go over well with his teammates.
McLane also provided several other Eagles-related tidbits from the combine in Indianapolis, so let’s round them up….
- All-Pro guard Evan Mathis figures to barely crack the top 15 highest-paid guards in the NFL next season, but don’t expect Philadelphia to increase his salary, says McLane, adding that a holdout from Mathis isn’t likely either.
- Head coach Chip Kelly may prefer running back Chris Polk to Bryce Brown as LeSean McCoy‘s primary backup. That makes Brown a trade candidate this offseason, and there’s a “healthy market” for him, according to McLane. However, reaching a deal won’t be easy, due to the increasing salary cap.
- According to McLane, several agents asked him at the combine if there was any chance of cornerback Brandon Boykin and linebacker Mychal Kendricks leaving their current reps. In other words, both players, who will enter their third seasons in 2014, are viewed as hot commodities. Boykin and Kendricks will be eligible for contract extensions after the ’14 season.
- McLane can’t see the Eagles going into the 2014 season with Matt Barkley as the primary backup behind starting quarterback Nick Foles. Multiple scouts at the combine told McLane that they’ve seen enough to declare the former fourth-round pick a backup at best.
- Cornerback Cary Williams is expected to remain on Philadelphia’s roster beyond the fifth day of the new league year, which would ensure that his $4.75MM base salary for 2014 becomes guaranteed.
- “All signs” point to punter Donnie Jones re-signing with the Eagles, though other free agents like safety Kurt Coleman, defensive end Clifton Geathers, and linebacker Phillip Hunt look like good bets to hit the open market.
NFC Notes: Panthers, Rams, Saints, Vikings
Restructuring multiple contracts has helped the Panthers create some cap flexibility for 2014, which should increase the odds of prospective free agent Greg Hardy remaining with the team, writes ESPN.com’s David Newton. Still, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com writes, pushing back cap commitments to several players ensures that Carolina’s long-term cap outlook remains shaky at best. Additionally, while some outlets have reported that the latest moves will create nearly $29MM in cap room for the club, Fitzgerald and Joel Corry (Twitter link) believe that figure is closer to $19MM based on recent cap projections.
As the Panthers continue to maneuver to field a competitive roster under the 2014 cap, let’s check in on a few more Tuesday notes from across the NFC….
- Although the Rams met with Rodger Saffold‘s representatives at the combine, the team has yet to make a contract offer, writes Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The club is expected to propose a new deal soon in an effort to lock up the free agent offensive lineman.
- The Saints are holding early discussions with several of their own free agents, according to reports by ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett and Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. In addition to talking to Zach Strief, which we heard about yesterday, the Saints have approached wide receivers Joe Morgan and Robert Meachem, as well as linebacker Parys Haralson. There seems to be mutual interest in each case, though no deals appear imminent yet.
- Redskins defensive lineman Adam Carriker has only played in two games in the last two seasons due to quadriceps issues, but he’s optimistic about returning for 2014 and is hopeful that the Redskins will give him that chance, as he tells John Keim of ESPN.com. Carriker is viewed as a likely cap casualty, since releasing him would create nearly $3MM in cap savings for Washington.
- Dave Campbell of The Associated Press passes along comments from Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman on the organization’s search for a long-term answer at quarterback.
Martin Not Interested In Return To Dolphins
12:35pm: According to La Canfora (all Twitter links), Martin’s agent Rick Smith has released a statement saying La Canfora’s initial report isn’t true. “We have no idea where you got this information,” Smith said. “But it wasn’t even close.”
Despite Smith’s strong denial, it’s worth noting that Abramson published a separate report on Martin not wanting to return to the Dolphins (linked below), so it’s hard to believe there’s no truth to that aspect of the story. Perhaps Smith is shooting down some of the specific details reported by La Canfora about the meeting.
12:07pm: The Dolphins have publicly suggested that Jonathan Martin‘s time in Miami doesn’t necessarily have to come to an end this offseason, and while that was viewed as a tactic to attempt to boost his trade value, the team conveyed a similar sentiment at the combine, sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. According to La Canfora, Dolphins CEO Dawn Aponte, GM Dennis Hickey, and head coach Joe Philbin met with Martin’s agents in Indianapolis and expressed interest in retaining the offensive lineman. However, La Canfora continues, Martin’s reps informed the Miami decision-makers that their client isn’t interested in returning to the organization.
Hickey, who La Canfora says did most of the talking on the Dolphins’ side during the meeting, expressed a desire to bring Martin back into the fold. According to the CBS scribe though, Philbin was “staring daggers” across the room during the meeting, and blames Martin’s agents for the situation reaching this point — the head coach felt that the tackle’s discomfort could have been addressed more privately, and handled differently.
Richie Incognito and John Jerry are eligible for free agency this offseason and neither player will return to Miami, which eliminates a pair of the linemen implicated in the Ted Wells report. Still, center Mike Pouncey, who was also identified as one of Martin’s harassers in the report, remains under contract and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere for 2014. Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post was also told that Martin doesn’t want to return to the Dolphins, and Abramson’s source pointed to Pouncey’s presence as one reason why it wouldn’t work.
“How do you take him back?” the source said. “Do you get rid of Pouncey? All these guys talked s**** about him. I don’t even know how it’s possible.”
For his part, Martin has continually expressed a desire to continue his playing career. With his trade value at an all-time low and no interest in reporting to the Dolphins, the 24-year-old appears likely to be cut, which would give him a chance to join another NFL franchise. Nonetheless, Abramson notes that Miami owner Stephen Ross still intends to meet with Martin this week.