AFC Notes: Ravens, Pats, Chargers, Moreno
The Ravens’ free agent activity has been characterized by value signings, writes ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley. The team was able to sign four starters and their top kick returner without breaking the bank. Additionally, the Ravens will actually be paying Steve Smith less ($4.5MM) than the Panthers ($5MM) are on the hook for this season.
Other AFC news and notes:
- In a mailbag piece, Hensley also says 2014 will be an important season for Lardarius Webb, whose cap hit jumps from $5.39MM to $10.5MM. Meanwhile, 2013 third-rounder Brandon Williams figures to have an increased role on the defensive line following the departure of Arthur Jones.
- In the past, Bill Belichick has built his defenses inside out, but Boston.com’s Erik Frenz wonders if the signings of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner “point to a change in that philosophy — or, at the very least, a golden opportunity to make the switch.”
- Free agent Knowshon Moreno visited the Dolphins on Friday, but departed without a contract, writes the Palm Beach Post’s Andrew Abramson, who compares Moreno to Miami’s current running backs.
- Chargers personnel has been getting in-person looks at edge pass rush prospects, including UCLA’s Anthony Barr, Boise State’s DeMarcus Lawrence and BYU’s Kyle Van Noy, according to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The team’s projected outside linebacker starters, Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson, will be 34 and 33, respectively, this season, while disappointing 2009 first-rounder Larry English is a free agent at season’s end.
NFC Notes: Rams, Redskins, Cowboys, Falcons
The upcoming season has long been targeted as the year the Rams will be legitimate contenders. Accordingly, the team has “margin for error next to zero in the NFL draft,” says ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. The Rams have been quiet in free agency, instead relying on the development of their young team and the potential to bolster the roster with draft picks, including two in the top 13, the first of which (No. 2 overall) is on the auction block. Wagoner asserts the time is now for the team to close the gap on Seattle and San Francisco, especially in the trenches. “…the most glaring difference between the Rams and their NFC West foes last year was how overmatched they were on the offensive line,” says Wagoner, who mentions tackles Greg Robinson (Auburn) and Jake Matthews (Texas A&M) as potential plug-and-play, impact options.
Other morning news and notes in the NFC:
- The Redskins have signed three inside linebackers this offseason, but the linebacker corps isn’t settled yet, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post: “The Redskins would like for [Perry] Riley to emerge as the leader of the defense, and become an extension of [defensive coordinator] Jim Haslett. But that could take some time. Riley led Washington in tackles last season, but he tended to disappear at times.” Meanwhile, the other inside linebacker spot is “up for grabs” with Adam Hayward, Akeem Jordan and Darryl Sharpton set to compete.
- With Miles Austin out of the Cowboys’ plans, the team is open to adding a veteran receiver, writes ESPNDallas.com’s Calvin Watkins, who calls free agent Nate Burleson a “perfect fit.”
- The Cardinals will look to add depth and size on defense in the draft, writes ESPN.com’s John Weinfuss. More specifically, the team is searching for a prospect to groom as Darnell Dockett‘s replacement, a taller, more athletic safety capable of matching with tight ends and another body at inside linebacker.
- The Falcons, in desperate need of pass rush, will have a private workout with with UCLA rush linebacker Anthony Barr before the end of the month, according to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Barr could be an option for the No. 6 pick if South Carolina’s Jadaveon Clowney is off the board. Buffalo’s Khalil Mack could also fit the bill, but he does not have a visit scheduled with the Falcons as of Friday.
- The Lions could have their pick of defensive backs with the 10th overall selection, speculates Dustin Hockensmith of pennlive.com.
Packers Re-Sign James Starks
WEDNESDAY, 4:44pm: The Packers have officially re-signed Starks, the team announced today in a press release.
MONDAY, 9:24pm: Free agent running back James Starks is expected to remain with the Packers on a two-year contract, according to Adam Schefter, who says the deal is imminent (via Twitter).
Starks, 28, played 13 games last season (missed three with a knee injury), making one start, and had 89 carries for 493 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He rejoins a deep backfield, including Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy, second-year back Johnathan Franklin and DuJuan Harris, who showed promise in 2012 before missing 2013 because of a knee injury.
Giants Sign Trindon Holliday
TUESDAY, 2:38pm: Holliday’s one-year pact with the Giants, which has been made official (Twitter link), includes a $570K base salary, a $100K signing bonus, and a $30K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
MONDAY, 6:31pm: The Giants have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with kick returner Trindon Holliday, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter).
Holliday, who turns 28 next month, is a diminutive speedster who spent the last two seasons with the Broncos. In his 31-game career, he’s averaged 27.1 yards per kickoff return and 9.4 yards per punt return. He has the ability to break games open, as evidenced by his four career return scores (two kickoffs, two punts), but has also fumbled 11 times.
Raiders Sign Kevin Boothe
TUESDAY, 1:28pm: The base value of Boothe’s two-year deal is $2.625MM, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). That includes a $300K roster bonus for this year, $125K annual workout bonuses, and base salaries of $900K (2014) and $1.175MM (2015).
MONDAY, 9:35pm: Boothe gets $3.4MM over two years, according to NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter).
7:27pm: The Raiders have signed Giants offensive lineman Kevin Boothe to a two-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Boothe was drafted by the Raiders in 2006 when he started 14 games before being waived and picked up by the Giants the following year. The 30-year-old started all 16 games last season, beginning the year at left guard before shifting to center when David Baas was lost to injury. Boothe rated near the bottom of the league’s centers according to Pro Football Focus, finishing the season with a -6.4 rating.
NFC Notes: Britt, Panthers, Vick, Collins
At present time, the Panthers are devoid of an NFL receiving corps, having let go their top four receivers from a year ago. Now they’re in a position of desperation, as evidenced by the team’s interest in troubled, albeit talented, free agent Kenny Britt, as reported by Adam Schefter (via Twitter) and Pro Football Talk.
- Meanwhile, Panthers GM Dave Gettleman is starting to draw criticism over how he’s managed (or botched, according to pundits) the Panthers’ offseason. Both Eric Edholm of Yahoo and David Newton of ESPN put the magnifying glass over Gettleman’s decisions.
- In February, free agent Michael Vick was hopeful he would be a starting quarterback in 2014. Two weeks into free agency, he has yet to visit a team, let alone land a contract, writes Anwar Richardson of Yahoo Sports.
- Earlier this month, Bears defensive tackle Nate Collins signed a one-year deal worth $730,001, and the extra dollar is significant, writes Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Because Collins will make more than the minimum, the Bears will have the opportunity to extend his contract prior to next year’s free agency.
NFC Notes: Kiwanuka, Melton, Peppers, Rams
A short while after the Giants signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, it was learned Mathias Kiwanuka took a pay cut, as reported by Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Kiwanuka sees his base salary decrease from $4.38MM to $1.5MM (with $700k roster bonus and $125k worth of incentives) and the team nets just over $2MM in cap space, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The finagling created flexibility to add Rodgers-Cromartie, says NJ.com’s Jordan Rannan, who points out Kiwanuka signed a deal in 2012, restructured in 2013 and took a pay cut in 2014.
Other NFC news and notes:
- Bears free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, visiting with the Cowboys today, is seeking a short-term, “prove-it” deal, according to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- Packers free agent acquisition Julius Peppers was a shell of himself last season and looked like an unmotivated player, according to anonymous evaluators quoted by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Rams free agent safety Darian Stewart visited the Panthers on Monday, according to St Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Jim Thomas (via Twitter). However, Stewart was not offered a contract, says Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
- The Rams will not receive a compensatory pick for Cortland Finnegan signing with the Dolphins, but they will save $3MM in cap space, writes ESPN.com Rams reporter Nick Wagoner.
- The Lions interviewed Colorado WR Paul Richardson at the Combine and sent a personnel executive to his pro day in Boulder, according to MLive.com’s Kyle Meinke.
AFC Notes: Jets, Spikes, Raiders, Broncos
Losing free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Giants is not sitting well with members of the Jets who blame GM John Idzik for losing the player, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. In a three-pack of Tweets, Mehta says Idzik blew it by letting Rodgers-Cromartie visit the Giants, quotes an employee saying Idzik “operates on his own time and schedule” and adds head coach Rex Ryan “is pissed” about losing out on Rodgers-Cromartie. This on the heels of Ryan reportedly wanting the team to bring back Darrelle Revis, who landed with the division rival Patriots.
In other AFC news:
- Free agents Kevin Boothe and Alex Carrington “are still in the building,” according to San Francisco Chronicle Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur (via Twitter).
- The Bills introduced Brandon Spikes on Monday (contract details here), and ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak relayed some of Spikes’ first comments as a Bill, most notably that Spikes chose Buffalo because of his relationship with Pepper Johnson.
- The Broncos have made a handful of expensive free-agent additions, and ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold explains how they were able lure and afford marquee talent. For starters, the roster consists of 34 players with cap hits of $2MM or less.
- Packers free agent offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse will meet with the Bengals, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
NFC Notes: Greenway, Melton, Miller
The Vikings have restructured Chad Greenway‘s contract, according to Jason Fitzgerald at OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Greenway will take a $1MM pay cut in 2014 in exchange for the the club guaranteeing his $5.5MM base salary. Factoring in prorated signing bonus money, Greenway will now count $7.2MM against the cap in 2014.
In other Vikings/NFC-related news:
- Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press expanded on Greenway’s restructuring here, including news of fullback Jerome Felton and safety Jamarca Sanford also reworking their deals to free up some cash. The Vikings now have just over $16MM in cap space.
- Bears free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton is on an extended visit with the Seahawks, tweets Josina Anderson, but still plans to meet with the Cowboys if a deal doesn’t get done.
- The Seahawks and Zach Miller have agreed to restructure his deal, enabling him to stay in Seattle for the next two years, writes Danny O’Neil of 710 ESPN Seattle. The team was prepared to cut Miller, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
- Free agent kick returner Trindon Holliday is visiting with the Falcons today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS (via Twitter).
- Speaking of return men, free agent Devin Hester spoke with the Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins about free agency and claims he still has 4.38 speed.
AFC East Notes: Edelman, Sanchez, Cooks
As of last night, the Patriots and free agent receiver Julian Edelman were talking about a contract that would keep Tom Brady‘s most productive receiver in New England. Edelman visited the 49ers Friday, but CBS’ Jason La Canfora believes a deal with the Pats remains the most likely scenario (via Twitter).
Other Pats and Jets news and notes:
- The Patriots were supposed to meet with Steve Smith, but they never got the chance, writes Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.
- In a detailed explanation, Jason Fitzgerald of overthecap.com writes the Jets are playing a game of poker with the Mark Sanchez situation.
- The Jets have been “all over” Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks in pre-draft preparation, according to ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (via Twitter). That news could be telling, especially remembering back to last year when the team was reportedly fixated on Tavon Austin before the Rams swooped in. While not as versatile, productive or hyped as Austin, Cooks is also a smallish, playmaking receiver who brings an explosive element, something the Jets 31st ranked passing offense sorely needs, even with the signing of Eric Decker. Cooks, who is capable of working inside or outside, blazed 40-yard dash times in the low 4.3s at the Combine. He’s expected to go in the second round, where the Jets hold the 18th pick.