AFC East Notes: Suh, Jets, Bills, Cousins
The Dolphins need for current-year cap space is undeniable and the team has already reportedly made the decision to cut linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas when the new league year begins.
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported earlier this week that the team was looking at all options when it came to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and how to create space with his current deal. That included cutting the five-time Pro Bowler with a post-June 1 designation, saving the team $17MM as of June 2, or trading him, which would open $3.9MM in cap space.
There is an option in which the team could open some cap space next year with Suh’s deal, while also keeping him on the roster, which Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk broke down Saturday.
The Dolphins could essentially turn Suh’s deal into a signing bonus, reducing his salary this season to $1MM while dividing the other $15.95MM he’s set to make this season over the next three seasons. The move would immediately create $10.66MM in cap space. But Florio does note that the would move would place Suh’s 2019 cap hit at $33.5MM but it does give them an option to keep him this season while getting their desired cap room.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- With Jets center Wesley Johnson due to hit free agency, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News identified Iowa center James Daniels as someone the team should keep an eye on at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. Mehta believes that Daniels could present the Jets with a second-day option in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Mehta does point out that Daniels is on the lighter side for a center but thinks he could still be a high-caliber player within the Jets’ scheme. Mehta broke down four other players the team should be looking at as well.
- The Bills are reportedly unwilling to cut quarterback Tyrod Taylor before the league year begins on March 16, meaning his $6MM roster bonus would go into effect. But both Florio and Joe Buscaglia of WKBW Buffalo opine that the move doesn’t mean the Bills are committed to hanging on to Taylor. By taking on the $6MM, they allow themselves the chance to let free agency play out, possibly opening up trade opportunities for Taylor.
- We learned earlier Saturday that while the Jets are set to pursue Kirk Cousins aggressively in free agency, they reportedly won’t give him a record-breaking $60MM in his first year, which has been suggested.
Sam Bradford Intends To Play In 2018
Sam Bradford has made a considerable amount of money over his injury-plagued career but the former No. 1 overall pick has every intention of returning in 2018, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Bradford, 30, started the Vikings‘ first game of last season and was officially shelved for the rest of the regular season after attempting to make a Week 5 return from a knee injury.
Bradford, who was activated in the postseason to serve as the Vikings’ No. 2 quarterback, is one of three Minnesota quarterbacks due to hit free agency, joining Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum. Since being taken by the Rams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Bradford has made over $114MM.
To help alleviate the pain, Bradford had his knee cleaned out and a bone spur shaved by Dr. James Andrews in November. Bradford appeared in 15 games for the Vikings in 2016, which were the most for him since starting all 16 games for the Rams in 2012. Andrews told Bradford his knee joint was in good shape and his ligaments were intact following the November procedure and that he shouldn’t have any fears about the knee heading into free agency, per Pelissero.
The Vikings were 9-8 over the last two seasons when Bradford was under center. His completing percentage of 71.6 last season was the best of his career for a season in which he appeared in at least ten games. Along with the Vikings, the Cardinals, Broncos, Jets, Bills and Browns make up a sampling of teams who could be looking for a quarterback in free agency this offseason.
Dolphins To Cut Lawrence Timmons, Julius Thomas
The Dolphins are planning to cut linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas prior to the beginning of the new league year on March 14 to help relieve cap issues, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Salguero also speculates that the team may look to shed the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James, making him a free agent.
In total, the move would save the Dolphins $21MM and would open up around $11MM in cap space. As it stands without the cuts, the Dolphins are projected to be $7MM-$8MM over a projected $177MM salary cap, with 55 players under contract.
By cutting Thomas, the Dolphins would save $6.6MM in cap room and would save $5,5 MM by cutting Timmons. If they don’t pick up the option on James, that would save them $9.34MM. Salguero points out that $11MM in cap space may not be enough to make a major splash in free agency this offseason, considering what sources described to him as a shallow free agent pool that could lead to prices being driven up for top-level talent.
Timmons signed a two-year, $12MM with the Dolphins last offseason. He appeared in 14 games (13 starts) and recorded 58 tackles, his lowest total since 2009. Thomas ended his first season with the Dolphins on injured reserve. The two-time Pro Bowler was set to enter the second season of a two-year, $12MM deal. James made eight starts at right tackle last season and has made 47 starts through the first four years of his career.
The Dolphins may be in the market for an outside linebacker, with Koa Misi also due to hit free agency. Backup tight end Anthony Fasano is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason as well.
Latest On DeSean Jackson
An investigation surrounding a Christmas Eve crash that involved a car owned by Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson is now inactive, the Tampa (Fla.) police told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday (Twitter link). Jackson claimed a friend was driving a Chevy Silverado registered to him when it struck a tree and was abandoned near a mall in Tampa.
Police also found two .38 caliber hollow-point bullets and 6.3 grams of marijuana in the abandoned car. Auman also noted that the mall in which the car struck a tree does not plan to prosecute the case (Twitter link).
Jackson is set to enter the second season of a three-year, $33.5MM contract he signed with the Bucs last offseason. Jackson was not with the team at the time of the accident as he was inactive for their Week 16 matchup against the Panthers due to an ankle injury. He appeared in 14 games last year, catching 50 passes for 568 yards and three touchdown catches.
In a separate piece, Auman identified the person driving Jackson’s car as Therrian Fontenot, a former teammate from his days with the Eagles. Fontenot also spent six months in jail in 2015 after burglarizing the home of former NFL wide receiver Bernard Berrian. Jackson helped in identifying Fontenot as the driver of the car but did not assist the police in locating him, per Auman. Fontenot and Jackson were seen together in an Instagram post from Fontenot at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 10.
Even if there are no legal consequences for Jackson, it’s still possible that he could face league discipline if the NFL finds any wrongdoing.
Seahawks Unlikely To Franchise Tag Sheldon Richardson
The Seahawks are hoping to keep Sheldon Richardson long term but placing a franchise tag on him is unlikely, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Richardson is currently slated to hit the open market in mid-March.
The Jets traded Richardson to the Seahawks on Sept. 1 for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. Richardson tallied one sack last season – a career low – while making 27 tackles in 15 starts.
Along with Richardson, the likes of Jimmy Graham, Luke Joeckel, Paul Richardson, Luke Willson, Bradley McDougald, Blair Walsh and others are set to become unrestricted free agents. The franchise tag for a defensive lineman this offseason is expected to be $17.5MM. Richardson made $8.01MM in base salary last season.
Recently, Zach Links of Pro Football Rumors categorized Richardson as a “Toss Up” when analyzing potential franchise tag candidates.
Despite being shipped out at the beginning of last season, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported in December that there was mutual interest in the Jets and Richardson reuniting this offseason. Richardson was taken with the 13th overall pick of the 2013 draft by the Jets out of Missouri.
The Jets are likely to part ways with Muhammad Wilkerson this offseason, creating an opening on the team’s defensive line. Wilkerson has disappointed since signing his five-year, $86MM extension prior to the 2016 season.
The Seahawks are set to return Jarran Reed at defensive tackle, after making 15 starts last season, and also have Malik McDowell, Garrison Smith and Nazair Jones under contract next season.
Panthers May Franchise Tag K Graham Gano
The Panthers are leaning toward placing their franchise tag on kicker Graham Gano rather than guard Andrew Norwell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). This is a shift from a report on Monday from Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer that said the team was unlikely to use its franchise tag. 
The franchise tag for kickers and punters is expected to be in the $5MM range. Gano, 30, was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season, connecting on 29 of 30 field goals. There is a precedent for placing the franchise tag on a kicker, as the Ravens and Justin Tucker, as well as Stephen Gostkowski and the Patriots, have done so in recent years. Gano has a career 81.8% success rate through 257 field goal attempts.
Norwell was selected as an All-Pro for the first time last season and the offensive lineman franchise tag is expected to be $14.3MM. Rapoport went on to note (Twitter link) that Norwell is set to be one of the top free agents, regardless of position, but the Panthers are in a tough spot because the offensive lineman franchise tag is meant to apply to tackles. The Patriots were the last team to place a franchise tag on a guard, using it on Logan Mankins in 2011. Norwell has started all 16 games the last two seasons at left guard for the Panthers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
Also serving as a potential franchise tag candidate for the Panthers is defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, though Person noted in his story that the team may elect to give more playing time to 2016 first-round pick Vernon Butler at defensive tackle.
The window for teams to use their franchise tags began Tuesday and ends on March 6, a week before free agency opens.
AFC North Notes: Shazier, Browns, Steelers
Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier said in a podcast hosted by Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix (Twitter link) that he intends to play football again and still has Hall of Fame aspirations after sustaining a spinal injury while making a tackle against the Bengals on Dec. 4.
Shazier was speaking publicly for the first time since the injury. The two-time Pro-Bowler underwent spinal stabilization surgery in December.
“I got to get back,” Shazier said on the podcast. “Right now I’m reading a book and it’s basically saying trust the process. I’m really trusting the process. I know the end goal. So I’m taking every step of the way, I’m giving everything I got. The therapists are like, ‘Man this is crazy; I’ve never seen anyone work this hard.’ They almost see progression every day.”
Shazier, 25, racked up 68 tackles and 11 pass defenses through 12 games prior to the injury and was still selected to the Pro Bowl. He also logged 55 tackles in each of the previous two seasons. He’s made several public appearances since the injury, with the latest one coming at Tuesday’s Penguins game, and has provided updates on his recovery process through social media.
Here’s more from around the AFC North:
- Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer takes a look at some questions facing the Browns‘ receiving corps this offseason, including a reunion with Terrelle Pryor. The Redskins signed Pryor to a one-year $6MM deal last offseason after the Browns converted the former Ohio State quarterback to wide receiver full time in 2015. Cabot also breaks down some questions facing Josh Gordon and 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman.
- Martavis Bryant was identified as a potential trade candidate this offseason as Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com went over some of the players most likely to move via trade. The emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster coupled with the fact that Bryant requested a trade in a trade in October make him a prime candidate. Bryant did tell reporters in January, though, that he’d like to return to the Steelers next season and would be ready for OTAs. Bryant had a career-low three touchdown catches last season despite playing in a career-high 15 games.
- It was reported Wednesday that pending Ravens free agent tight end Crockett Gillmore is looking to move to the offensive line.
Colts To Re-Sign Adam Vinatieri
The Colts and Adam Vinatieri have officially agreed to a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), setting up an opportunity for the veteran kicker to break the NFL’s all-time scoring record.
Vinatieri’s deal is worth $3.63MM in total, with $1MM upon signing and $2.63MM in base salary, per Schefter (on Twitter).
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Wednesday that Vinatieri would be returning for his 23rd season and that he was nearing a deal to re-sign with the Colts.
Vinatieri currently owns the second-most points in NFL history with 2,487 and is second all-time with 559 field goals made. Hall of Famer Morten Andersen is the league’s all-time leader in points at 2,544 and field goals made with 565. Vinatieri, 45, hit 29 of 34 field goals last season, with a long of 54 yards. His 85.3% accuracy rate placed him at No. 13 in the league and was his worst since 2013, the season before he connected on a career-best 96.8% of his field goals. He’s also converted 12 field goals from over 50 yards between the last two seasons.
Vinatieri has been with the Colts the last 12 seasons after spending the first 10 seasons of his career with the Patriots. He stands as one of the most accomplished postseason kickers as well, hitting 56 of 68 career postseason field goal attempts. He’s been a part of four Super-Bowl winning teams (three with the Patriots, one with the Colts).
Nick Folk, Kai Forbath, Matt Bryant, Graham Gano, and Sebastian Janikowski now serve as the top kickers due to become free agents with Vinatieri off the market.
Saints, Drew Brees To Meet At NFL Combine
Drew Brees and his representatives are set to meet with the Saints at the NFL Scouting Combine to make ground on a new deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The combine gets underway on March 2.
Rapoport said the two sides will look “to try to hammer out what is potentially a short-term deal” for the soon-to-be free agent. Brees would have a $18MM cap hit toward the Saints if they were not to agree on a deal before the new league year on March 14. Rapoport expects the two sides to settle on a deal in the range of $20MM-$25MM annually.
Brees expressed his desire to return to the Saints following their loss to the Vikings in the NFC Divisional playoffs. A contract that would give Brees $25MM annually would match Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in terms of average annual salary for third among NFL players, placing him behind Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford ($27MM) and 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ($27.5MM).
Brees and Kirk Cousins serve as the two biggest names at quarterback who could potentially become free agents this offseason. Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum and A.J. McCarron are all set to hit the free agent market as well. While Brees appears to be the Saints’ top priority this offseason, safety Kenny Vaccaro, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and defensive end Alex Okafor are among other Saints who are due to become unrestricted free agents.
AFC East Notes: Gronk, Cousins, Jets, Solder
Following Rob Gronkowski‘s ambivalent statements regarding his future in the NFL after the Patriots‘ Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, tight end may become a position of need for the team this offseason.
Tom E. Curran of NBC Boston explores how Gronkowski’s retirement would shake up the Patriots’ roster and what options they would have to replace him. Along with Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, Martellus Bennett, Will Tye and Jacob Hollister are all under contract for next season. Outside of Gronkowski, Patriots tight ends had just 20 catches on the season, despite Gronkowski missing two regular-season games.
Fortunately for the Patriots, there are ample tight ends who are set to hit free agency. Jimmy Graham headlines the group, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tyler Eifert and Trey Burton all possibly available as well. Curran also identified South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert, Stanford’s Dalton Schultz, Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews and South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst as tight ends who could be targeted through the draft.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Reports indicate the Jets will be in on the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes and Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap broke down a way for the Jets to give the soon-to-be free agent $60MM in his first season of a new deal. Cousins’ contract in the scenario given would be a five-year, $150MM deal in total money. If Cousins were to receive $60MM in his first season, that would serve as an 18% raise from the deal for Matthew Stafford, who’s currently the league’s top earner heading into next season.
- Speaking of Cousins, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY believes the Jets re-signing center Wesley Johnson could help as reinforcement for Cousins picking the team in free agency. The Jets and Johnson have not begun talks toward a deal, a source told Vacchiano. Johnson, 27, has missed just one game over the last two seasons, making 23 starts. Vacchiano points to the deal of 49ers center Daniel Kilgore (three years, $12MM deal; $7MM guaranteed) as similar compensation to what Johnson may receive.
- The Patriots have a host of players set to hit free agency but of the group, Zack Cox of NESN believes tackle Nate Solder would be the biggest loss due to the team’s lack of a backup plan. Solder, 30, has played in at least 15 games at left tackle in six of his first seven seasons with the Patriots. Fellow Patriots tackles Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle are due to become free agents as well this offseason. Antonio Garcia — a third-round pick in last year’s draft — did not suit up last season, spending the year on the non-football illness list.