2014 Rookie Draft Pool Estimates
Thanks to our friends at OverTheCap.com, we have a good look at the rookie pool allocations for the year. These estimates are based on a number of factors — the number of draft picks each team, the 2014 salary cap, and the salaries of the top 51 paid players under contract.
You can view the complete 2014 NFL Draft order here, as well as a breakdown of the draft picks by team.
All figures are courtesy OverTheCap.com.
NFC Notes: Clark, Seahawks, Culliver
Could Ryan Clark be the newest member of the “Legion of Boom”? The former Steelers safety recently visited the Seahawks, a league source told National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson, then tweeted how impressed he was with the city and the organization. Clark, who played the last eight of 12 seasons with the Steelers, has also received interest from the Redskins, Ravens and Jets. Seattle Times beat writer Bob Condotta chimed in on the report, saying that the Seahawks need a backup free safety with Chris Maragos departing for the Eagles. Jeron Johnson, who signed a second-round tender earlier this offseason, is better suited at strong safety, Condotta notes.
Other news and notes from the NFC this Saturday morning…
- 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is out of jail following his arrest last night for felony hit-and-run and weapons possession, KTVU.com reports. The team released a subsequent statement indicating its awareness of the incident: “The 49ers organization is aware of the recent matter involving Chris Culliver. We will remain in contact with Chris and the local authorities as we continue to gather the facts regarding this situation. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will reserve further comment at this time.” Culliver was last in hot water during the run up to Super Bowl XLVII in February 2013, when he said he wouldn’t welcome a gay player in the locker room.
- Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith weighed in on recently released receiver DeSean Jackson, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “He’d have to be the right fit on and off the field,” Licht said. “I don’t want to dismiss him right away but we’re looking at a bunch of other players, too.” Smith was more complimentary of the three-time Pro Bowler, calling him a great football player and saying the team will look at everyone they think can help them win.
- Further down in Stroud’s piece, Smith says the team “might move up” from the No. 7 pick, and that he and Licht have talked about that possibility, as well as the possibility of moving back.
AFC Notes: Jones-Drew, Blount, Collie
As new Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew restarts his career in Oakland, he won’t be handed the starting job. Jones-Drew told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle that it’s a “wide-open” competition at running back (Twitter link), presumably between himself and incumbent Darren McFadden, who was re-signed to a one-year deal earlier this month.
Neither runner did much of anything in 2013, with McFadden rushing for 379 yards in 10 games, while Jones-Drew totaled 803 yards rushing in 15 games, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, just 0.1 yards better than McFadden. Behind McFadden and MJD are Latavius Murray, Kory Sheets and Jeremy Stewart, none of whom have starting experience.
Jones-Drew said on his conference call today that he’s looking forward to playing for an organization that he has loved since he was a little kid, and that he feels he was done wrong by the Jaguars (Twitter links).
Catch more AFC notes in the links below:
- The Patriots were interested in re-signing running back LeGarrette Blount, but only for one year, reports Boston Globe writer Ben Volin (via Twitter). Blount ended up signing a two-year deal with the Steelers worth $3.85MM.
- Looking to add weapons to a somewhat depleted receiving corps, Boston Herald beat reporter Jeff Howe tweets that the Patriots could re-sign Austin Collie and add a “Miles Austin-type” in the future.
- The Texans are still almost $9MM under the salary cap after signing safety Chris Clemons to a two-year deal worth $2.7MM, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
Draft Notes: Texans, Bills, Rams, Watkins
Buried deep below speculation on how Michael Vick will be utilized by the Jets, Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei reports that the Texans are working hard to trade the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. According to Pompei’s sources, the Bills, who own the No. 9 selection, might be a possible trade partner, and that the team could potentially select a quarterback. That would be two first-round quarterbacks in two drafts after selecting former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel with the 16th overall pick a year ago. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle refuted the report, saying (via Twitter) there’s “no way” the Texans trade back to No. 9.
More draft notes from a busy Friday around the league…
- After selecting a wide receiver with a top-10 selection in last year’s draft (West Virginia’s Tavon Austin No. 8 overall), it sounds as if the Rams will forgo making it two years straight, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Despite the gamebreaking ability of Clemson standout Sammy Watkins, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he’s expecting improvements from Austin and Stedman Bailey, and added that he is pleased with Austin Pettis‘ performance in a backup role. St. Louis has the No. 2 overall pick.
- Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, slated to pick No. 10 overall in the upcoming draft, said there aren’t 10 elite players in the draft pool, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit currently has eight selections, including two compensatory picks in the fourth round.
- University of Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who was unblockable at the Senior Bowl, told ESPN reporter Michael Rothstein that he has visits set up with the Rams and Cowboys, and that he has already visited the Steelers (via Twitter).
- Georgia State wide receiver Albert Wilson has an official visit scheduled with the 49ers, reports DraftInsider.net’s Tony Pauline (via Twitter).
- A quarterback’s stock whose rising is Southern Methodist University’s Garrett Gilbert, who completed 88 of 89 passes at his pro day, according to NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt. Gilbert, who was not invited to the scouting combine, could wind up being drafted as high as the third round now after the performance (Twitter links).
Falcons Sign Robert McClain
The Falcons have signed restricted free agent Robert McClain, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). McClain, a cornerback who started five games last season for Atlanta, was the team’s only restricted free agent this offseason. The tender McClain signed was for one year and $1.431MM.
Roundup: DeSean Jackson Rumors
It’s been a busy few days of rumors involving wide receiver DeSean Jackson, so allow us at Pro Football Rumors to round them up for you:
- The trade market for Jackson might be thin, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- It’s “highly unlikely” that Jackson lands in New England with the Patriots, says Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com. But, that’s what they said about Darrelle Revis, too, Curran notes.
- The Jets, with ample cap space and newly acquired Michael Vick, have had had internal discussions with regard to trading for Jackson.
- Philadelphia reportedly wants at least a third-round pick for Jackson, but that might be too much to ask for.
- A link to the story discussing Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News’ report that Jackson will be released if he cannot be traded.
- A report that Jackson is “troubled” by what has been written about him and is unsure of his standing with the team.
- Two sources close to Jackson believe he is done with the team.
- A poll asking the question if the Eagles will trade Jackson.
- Our updates as of Wednesday regarding Jackson.
- The Eagles have been with respect to Jackson, but the team’s decision-makers won’t be able to avoid the media at the league’s annual meetings next week.
- Another report linking the Jets to Jackson.
- A report of whether the Eagles may gauge interest in Jackson.
NFL Notes: Smith, Vick, Jones-Drew
In his first public comments since the team signed Michael Vick, Jets quarterback and second-year pro Geno Smith was unabashed in his praise of the move and the man himself.
“Awesome, man. Vick’s my guy,” Smith said Saturday, according to the Associated Press. “We needed to find a guy that was legitimately a guy that could come in and play. I think that’s what we did.”
Signing just a one-year deal for $5MM, Vick figures to compete with Smith for the starting job.
Check the notes below for more NFL-related content…
- Looking at potential landing spots for Maurice Jones-Drew, Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union mentions the Cowboys, Bears, Vikings, Patriots, Browns, Chiefs, Raiders and Steelers as candidates to employ the diminutive running back.
- Browns head coach Mike Pettine liked Mark Sanchez when the two were together with the Jets, but a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer there was “nothing important” regarding Sanchez and the team to report.
- With news coming out that the Jets are interested in trading for Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday.com weighs the pros and cons of Gang Green landing the former Cal-Berkeley product.
- Bob Brookover of Philly.com says the Eagles might have been better off keeping Vick on the roster rather than heading into next season with last year’s fourth-round pick, Matt Barkley, as presumptive starter Nick Foles‘ backup.
Blount’s Visit To Steelers Pushed Back
LeGarrette Blount‘s visit to the Steelers won’t happen until after the league meetings, sources told Aaron Wilson of National Football Post.
Blount was scheduled to visit the Steelers tonight and Monday. The annual meeting in Orlando runs from March 23-26.
The rescheduling will allow the former Patriots running back to meet with coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert, Wilson reports.
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review opined via Twitter that this indicates the team is more interested in Blount than they were in Maurice Jones-Drew, who visited the Steelers on Wednesday.
Extra Points: 49ers, Sanchez, Saints
The other side of the coin to being a team that drafts talent well is that all that talent must be compensated appropriately. This is the conundrum examined by CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco, responding to a reader who questioned the 49ers‘ cap situation. “Teams that do a good job of acquiring talent will always have a difficult time holding onto that talent for future contracts,” Maiocco writes, citing Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati as players in line for blockbuster deals after their contracts expire next offseason.
Rounding up some more links from today in the NFL…
- ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini looks at what’s next for former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, including a top-five list of potential landing spots: the Rams, Bears, Browns, Bills and Seahawks.
- Sanchez deserved better from the Jets, writes Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. Cannizzaro contends that the Jets knew their plans for Sanchez — releasing him — long ago, but waited only until right before his $2MM roster bonus was due, and thus decreased the amount of potential landing spots for 2009 fifth overall pick.
- Mike Triplett of ESPN.com expects Saints head coach Sean Payton to be “more committed than ever to running the ball successfully” next season, Triplett writes in his latest mailbag. But he still takes the “over” on 4,800 passing yards.
- Can Brian Hoyer be “The Guy” for the Browns? ESPNCleveland.com’s Tony Grossi doesn’t know, but he wants to find out.
- With electrifying wide receiver DeSean Jackson potentially on his way out of Philadelphia, he could potentially find a home with Andy Reid and the Chiefs, but don’t expect Kansas City to trade for him, writes Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. As Paylor notes, the Chiefs don’t have the necessary cap space to make the move — just $4.8MM — and the team is light on draft picks after the Alex Smith trade.
Patriots Sign Brandon LaFell
TUESDAY, 10:59am: Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston breaks down the specifics of LaFell’s deal, which actually has a base value of $9MM, including a $3MM signing bonus. While Reiss doesn’t mention them, it’s possible incentives could push the value of the deal up to $11MM, as Rapoport suggested over the weekend. That doesn’t appear to be the case though.
MONDAY, 3:47pm: The Patriots have officially announced the signing of LaFell.
SATURDAY, 9:57pm: LaFell’s deal is expected to be worth roughly $11MM over three years, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter).
9:51pm: In the next move of the game, “Anything you can do I can do better,” the Patriots have reached agreement with wide receiver Brandon LaFell, reports Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).
Curran tweets that it’s a three-year deal between LaFell and the Patriots.
Though probably not a direct response to the Broncos signing Emmanuel Sanders, there does seem to be a bit of an arms race building between the two teams.
LaFell was selected 78th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Panthers, starting 28 games and totaling 93 catches the last two seasons. He caught a season-high seven passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s 24-20 win over New England last season.