Bengals Considering QB With First-Round Pick?
There has been talk around the league that the Bengals are considering drafting a QB with their first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in this month’s draft, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter).
The Bengals have deployed Andy Dalton under center since 2011, but even though he is a three-time Pro Bowler, he has never been considered one of the best passers in the game. He is under contract through the 2020 season, though Cincinnati could release him without any dead money ramifications. We heard back in December that Dalton was almost certainly going to be back with the club in 2019, but in January, director of player personnel Duke Tobin left the door open for the team to draft a future replacement.
New head coach Zac Taylor, who served as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach in 2018 and whom the Bengals believe offers the same type of QB development ability as Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay, may be ready to find “his guy” in the draft and have him learn behind Dalton for a year.
It seems unlikely that the Bengals will be players for the top two signal-callers in the draft, Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins, who will probably be off the board by the time Cincinnati is on the clock with the No. 11 pick. The Bengals do have 11 picks in total this year, but the only round in which they have multiple selections is the sixth (they have five sixth-rounders), so if they want to trade up, they would likely have to dip into their 2020 draft capital.
But signal-callers like Drew Lock and Daniel Jones should be available to them if they want to go that route, and if Taylor believes in one of those players, the team may very well pull the trigger.
Examining How The OBJ Trade Came Together
Ever since the blockbuster trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns last month, reports have trickled in that have allowed us to piece together how the deal ultimately unfolded. But in an excellent piece that examines the timeline of the trade in detail, Pat McManamon and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com provide a comprehensive look at what is likely to be the biggest blockbuster of the offseason, which could have massive ramifications on both of the league’s conferences.
The entire piece is worth a read, but the highlights are below (some of this has already been reported, but it helps put everything in context):
- The Browns had been monitoring the Beckham situation as far back as March 2018 — before OBJ signed his five-year, $90MM extension with the Giants — but New York had made it clear that it would not trade Beckham for less than two first-round picks. Since Cleveland was holding the No. 1 and No. 4 overall selections last year and was unwilling to part with either, no discussions ever took place between the two clubs.
- But OBJ’s relationship with the Giants deteriorated throughout the 2018 campaign, so the Browns kept Beckham in mind, knowing that if there was even a one percent chance New York could be persuaded to pull the trigger, Cleveland would try to break down the door. The fact that Browns GM John Dorsey and Giants GM Dave Gettleman have been friends for 37 years was certainly a major factor in pushing the deal along.
- Gettleman did call the Bills early last month to discuss OBJ after Buffalo reportedly showed interest in acquiring Antonio Brown, but the Bills’ involvement in the Beckham sweepstakes was so minimal that the idea never reached head coach Sean McDermott‘s desk.
- On the other hand, Gettleman did have numerous conversations with 49ers GM John Lynch — who wanted OBJ badly — over the course of a few weeks. Lynch was willing to swap 2019 first-round picks with the Giants (No. 2 for No. 6), but he was not willing to give up the No. 2 pick and leave his team with no selections in the first round, so that became the sticking point in the deal.
- Ultimately, the Browns got word that the 49ers were in serious pursuit of Beckham, so Dorsey decided it was time to act. When the Giants and Browns were discussing a deal for Olivier Vernon, Dorsey brought up Beckham, and the trade came together shortly thereafter.
Very Little Progress In Russell Wilson Contract Talks
We’re almost a week away from the April 15 deadline that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has set for a new contract, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times hears that there has been very little progress between player and team as of yet. That is despite the fact that the Seahawks were reportedly aware of the deadline in January, and despite the fact that head coach Pete Carroll indicated that extension talks would begin in January (which did not actually happen).
Of course, it’s not as if the two sides are somehow precluded from working out a deal after the April 15 deadline, which has no significance other than being the start of the Seahawks’ offseason training program. Condotta suggests that Wilson set the deadline simply because he wants to avoid an offseason of speculation about his contract, and because it’s unlikely that the quarterback market is going to change much between April and July, so it doesn’t necessarily make sense to wait if he can avoid it.
Additionally, both Wilson and the Seahawks know that Wilson has more leverage than he did when he signed his last extension in 2015, and Wilson likewise knows that the team is more apt to go year-to-year with the franchise tag. Wilson has already said that he would not hold out if he is hit with the tag, and given the success that Kirk Cousins had going year-to-year, it makes sense that a player like Wilson would be open to the idea.
As Condotta observes, Wilson also would not hold out this year if his April 15 deadline passes without a new contract in place. But if that happens, the “strong implication” is that the 30-year-old passer would tell the team that he doesn’t want to negotiate again until after the 2019 season is over. And that may be just fine with the Seahawks, who could put the franchise tag on Wilson in 2020 and 2021. The QB franchise tender for those two seasons are projected to come in at $30.6MM and $35MM, respectively, and those numbers are not too far removed from what Wilson would get under a new contract anyway. Plus, Wilson would still be able to hit the open market at age 33 — a franchise tag in 2022 would come in at an unpalatable $52MM — and 2021 is the last year of Carroll’s current contract. The head coach will be 70 at that point, and he may choose to call it a career.
Indeed, if Wilson and the Seahawks are able to hammer out a new deal, the current thinking is that it would only be a three-year pact that runs through the 2021 season. There is speculation that the deal would be worth $100MM guaranteed, which would give Wilson the satisfaction of setting new precedents while allowing him to get at least one more big payday three years down the road.
Seahawks Want To Extend Jarran Reed
The big news coming out of Seattle today is that star quarterback Russell Wilson has set an April 15 deadline to complete negotiations on a new contract. Whether that happens or not is anyone’s guess, and even if it doesn’t, it’s not as though 2019, the last year of Wilson’s current deal, will be his last in Seattle.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network notes that the Seahawks have just $104MM in committed cap space for 2020, so they have the financial flexibility to fit a Wilson deal, but he also points out that Wilson’s contract is not the only one the team needs to address (video link). We already heard that Seattle has begun extension talks with linebacker Bobby Wagner, and franchise-tagged DE Frank Clark will likely get a lucrative multiyear deal in the immediate future.
But Pelissero says that the team also wants to extend defensive lineman Jarran Reed, who, like Wilson and Wagner, is entering the last year of his contract. Reed had a breakout campaign in 2018, registering 10.5 sacks and making 16 starts. He graded out as an above average interior defender per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, and he has set himself up for a nice payday.
He was under investigation for domestic violence in May 2017, but nothing came of that investigation. The Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft, and he is starting to live up to that draft status.
Steelers OL B.J. Finney Signs RFA Tender
Restricted free agent offensive lineman B.J. Finney has signed his second-round tender, per the league’s transactions wire. Finney will now collect $3.095MM for the 2019 campaign.
A former undrafted free agent out of Kansas State, Finney has appeared in 43 games over three seasons in Pittsburgh, but has made only nine total starts. Finney has typically earned excellent grades from Pro Football Focus, but sample size is an issue, as he’s never topped 300 offensive snaps in a single season.
However, he has proven himself as a capable reserve, and he could be the next man up should starting guards Ramon Foster or David DeCastro suffer an injury.
If he continues to perform well in limited action, he could put himself in line for a starting job when he hits unrestricted free agency next year.
Ravens Expect Marshal Yanda To Play In 2019
As of January, Ravens right guard Marshal Yanda had not publicly committed to playing in 2019, and as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets, there has been some speculation that Yanda, 34, could choose to hang up the cleats. But Hensley says that the Ravens fully expect Yanda to return this season.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro, Yanda has long been one of the best offensive lineman in the league. The Ravens have some uncertainty at left guard and center in advance of this month’s draft, and losing Yanda would be a major blow, especially as they are deploying second-year QB Lamar Jackson under center.
But Yanda has dealt with some health concerns in recent years, including a broken ankle that ended his 2017 season after just two games. He is owed $7MM this year, a relative bargain, but it is the last year of his current deal. Even if he returns this season, he could choose to retire once his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
The former third-round pick out of Iowa has spent his entire career with the Ravens.
Giants Host Clemson DL Dexter Lawrence
The Giants are said to be eyeing pass rushers with their No. 6 overall pick, and while Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence does not fit the bill per se, he would be a strong addition to the club’s front seven. Per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Giants hosted Lawrence on a pre-draft visit today (Twitter link).
Lawrence is a first-round talent, and given the mass exodus of defensive playmakers that Big Blue has witnessed over the last several seasons, it would not be particularly surprising to see the club double dip on defense in the first round of the 2019 draft. In addition to the No. 6 pick, the Giants also hold the No. 17 selection, and Lawrence may still be on the board when they are on the clock with the latter choice.
Lawrence finished his collegiate career with 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, and while he may not be a sack machine at the next level, he does offer the ability to apply at least some interior pressure.
As Garafolo notes, Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher was in attendance at Lawrence’s pro day.
CB Jamar Taylor Visits Seahawks
Veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor is visiting with the Seahawks today, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (via Twitter). After losing former slot corner Justin Coleman to the Lions, Seattle is looking for reinforcements in the secondary.
Taylor, a 2013 second-round pick, spent the first three seasons of his career with the Dolphins before being dealt to the Browns. He was productive during his two seasons with Cleveland, including a 2016 campaign where he had three interceptions and 13 passes defended. He finished the 2017 season having appeared in a career-high 16 games and finishing with a career-high 62 tackles.
Last May, the Browns traded him to the Cardinals, who hoped to deploy him as their No. 2 CB opposite Patrick Peterson. Taylor agreed to a significant pay cut to facilitate the trade, but things did not go well for him in the desert. Arizona cut him in November, and he caught on with the Broncos to finish out the 2018 season.
Still just 28, Taylor provides experience and can be a solid contributor in a CB rotation.
In other Seahawks news, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that safety Taylor Mays, whose last NFL action came in 2015, will work out with the team tomorrow. Mays a former USC Trojan, could be reunited with Pete Carroll, who was USC’s head coach during Mays’ collegiate career.
Broncos DL Shelby Harris Signs RFA Tender
Broncos restricted free agent defensive lineman Shelby Harris has signed his second-round tender, the team announced. Harris will now collect $3.095MM for the 2019 campaign before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency next year.
A seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2014, Harris bounced around the league, spending time with the Jets and Cowboys before signing a futures deal with the Broncos in 2017. That low-risk move has paid off in a big way for Denver, as Harris has appeared in all 32 possible games over the past two years, seeing action on more than 35% of the Broncos’ defensive snaps in each season. He could see a further increase in playing time this year, as the club is expected to make him its starting nose tackle.
Harris, 27, posted seven sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 15 tackles for loss from 2017-18, and he graded as the NFL’s No. 8 interior defender last year, per Pro Football Focus.
The Broncos also announced that the following exclusive rights free agents have signed their ERFA tenders:
- LB Joe Jones
- WR Tim Patrick
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
- S Dymonte Thomas
Draft Notes: Sternberger, Jets, Thorson
The Patriots are on the lookout for tight end help in the wake of Rob Gronkowski‘s retirement, and the club will have a top-30 visit with Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The Pats could use their No. 32 overall pick on a tight end, and while that may be a little high for Sternberger, top prospects Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson may be off the board by that point. Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. could be available, though, and there is no reason why New England, which has deployed two tight ends to great effect in the past, could not use several of its 12 picks in this year’s draft on the tight end position.
Now for more draft-related rumblings from around the league:
- In addition to the Patriots, Wilson reports that Sternberger has visits lined up with the Chiefs, Packers, Lions, Cowboys, Vikings, and Seahawks.
- Brian Costello of the New York Post does not believe that the Jets will invest high-end draft capital on the WR, RB, or TE positions this year in light of their free agent expenditures, but he still thinks the club could bolster those units with collegiate prospects. He suggests that Gang Green could use a middle- or late-round selection on a wideout, particularly if that player offers return ability, and he thinks a Day 3 blocking tight end and power back could also be in the cards. Of course, with only six draft picks at the moment, New York may need to focus on areas of greater need.
- Penn State DE Shareef Miller will visit with the Ravens, Cardinals, and Jets, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Miller currently projects as a Day 3 pick, but all three clubs could use pass rushing help, and Miller has the raw ability to succeed as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB.
- The Broncos may be hosting some of the top QBs in this year’s draft class, but they’re looking at more under-the-radar passers as well, as Mike Klis of 9News.com tweets that Denver will be working out Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson in early April. Thorson is expected to be a middle-round selection.
- Valdosta State CB Stephen Denmark has top-30 visits lined up with the Browns and Saints, per Wilson (via Twitter).