Ravens Ask Dennis Pitta To Take Pay Cut
In an effort to open up cap space, the Ravens have asked tight end Dennis Pitta to take a pay cut, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Pitta has yet to agree to anything in that respect and there is nothing imminent on that front, he adds. 
[RELATED: PFR’s Top 15 Free Agent Tight Ends]
Pitta, 32 in June, is slated to carry a $5.5MM cap number in 2017. It remains to be seen whether he’ll accept a hair cut here, particularly since he already did that last year. Prior to the 2016 season, Pitta agreed to trim his salary from $5MM to $1MM, though the team added $3MM in incentives which Pitta managed to secure.
Last year, Pitta had a career season, hauling in 86 receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns. Coming off of that performance, Pitta might be inclined to explore his value on the open market, but he is fond of Baltimore and he might not get much in the way of guarantees given his age and history of hip problems.
Pitta has two more seasons to go on his five-year, $32MM contract.
49ers To Sign Pierre Garcon
The 49ers have agreed to sign wide receiver Pierre Garcon, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s expected to be a three-year contract that pays about $23MM over the first two years with a ~$12MM signing bonus, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. League sources tell Mortensen that Garcon will earn $16MM in the first year of the contract. 
As one of the best wide receivers on the open market, Garcon was expected to fetch a nice payday for himself. However, it’s perhaps a little surprising to see him land $16MM in effectively guaranteed money. Garcon will turn 31 in August and he hasn’t been used to stretch the field in recent years with DeSean Jackson running the bulk of the deep routes.
I had Garcon ranked as the seventh-best available wide receiver on the market, behind Alshon Jeffery, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills, Kenny Britt, DeSean Jackson, and Brandon Marshall. However, I slotted him ahead of Jackson and Marshall on my Top 50 list, which rates players by earning power. So far, that prediction is looking good. Marshall signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Giants on Wednesday morning.
Garcon drew substantial interest on the open market but will reunite with former Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan. He had his best statistical year in Shanahan’s final season at the controls, going for 113 catches, 1,346 yards and five touchdowns in 2013.
Garcon played out his entire five-year, $42MM Redskins contract and proved not to be a Peyton Manning creation. His production increased at times after moving from Indianapolis to Washington. Garcon posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2013 and ’16 and surpassed 700 in both 2014 and ’15. Last season, Kirk Cousins‘ near-5,000-yard season included 79 Garcon receptions and three touchdowns.
Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.
Latest On Raiders, Adrian Peterson
The Raiders have been frequently mentioned as a possible landing spot for Adrian Peterson. However, Peterson’s interest level in joining Oakland is higher than Oakland’s interest level in bringing him aboard, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Recently, Peterson’s father praised the Raiders’ offensive line while taking a clear dig at the Vikings’ unit.
“What we personally like is [the Raiders’] offensive line,” Nelson Peterson told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, while adding that the Vikings have yet to make a follow-up offer after declining his option. “The offensive line, they haven’t been playing around. They haven’t been trying to get offensive linemen from the bottom of the barrel and trying to make them into something.”
Peterson, my No. 2 ranked free agent running back and No. 35 ranked free agent overall (based on earning power), might not have the kind of market that he anticipated. The Seahawks are not presently interested in him and he might have to accept a deal with a modest base salary if he wants to join up with the Patriots. The Giants, who said they would “take a look” at Peterson, are not in the running.
All things considered, Peterson’s best bet might be to circle back to the Vikings. His popularity in Minnesota and history with the team could make them willing to pay him more than any other potential suitor.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Raiders Unlikely To Keep McGloin, Smith
Linebacker Malcolm Smith, tight end Mychal Rivera, and quarterback Matt McGloin are expected to sign elsewhere this week, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Right now, the Raiders are prepared to go with Connor Cook as their No. 2 quarterback, though they could conceivably bring in competition for him (Twitter link).
Last week, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio spoke openly about the club possibly installing Cook as the No. 2 QB, but he also did not ruled out acquiring another backup for starter Derek Carr.
“I think, for us, we want to develop Connor Cook first as our backup quarterback. He’s the guy we know we have right now,” Del Rio said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). “But there’s always competition in this league, and I wouldn’t close the door there, to say we wouldn’t make it competitive for him.”
“Moxy” McGloin is presently ranked as my No. 8 free agent quarterback. He’s highly unlikely to garner consideration as a starter, but he has had his moments over four years as a reserve in Oakland.
Smith, our No. 12 linebacker remaining on the board, is coming off of a two-year deal which had a $7MM base value and $3.75MM fully guaranteed. After taking on a starting role with the Raiders, he may be in line for a raise. Last year, Smith totaled 103 tackles. In 2015, he had 123 total tackles and a career-high four sacks.
The Raiders’ primary receiving tight end prior to the team elevating Clive Walford, Rivera started 13 games between the 2013 and ’14 seasons. The 2014 season proved to be his best to date, with his second season including 58 receptions, 534 receiving yards and four touchdowns. However, Pro Football Focus consistently scrutinized his work, rating Rivera near the bottom of its tight end hierarchy in both the ’14 and ’15 seasons. The site graded Rivera as its No. 33 tight end in 2016, but he caught just 18 passes, as Walford usurped him on the depth chart.
Jets, 49ers Showing Interest In Brian Hoyer
The Jets and 49ers are showing “strong interest” in quarterback Brian Hoyer, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. At last check Hoyer has only lukewarm interest from the incumbent Bears. 
Hoyer is looking for a team that will offer him a chance to start, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). There are one or two teams offering him that chance right now, he adds, but it’s not clear which clubs are eyeing him as a possible No. 1 option. The Jets might be one such team.
Hoyer wouldn’t be the most glamorous quarterback choice for the either team, but the fact is that he is one of the best options on this year’s open market. I currently have Hoyer ranked as the third-best free agent QB, behind Mike Glennon and Nick Foles. Unlike Glennon, Hoyer would not cost a fortune.
The Jets are not overly interested in Glennon and they can’t afford him if the projected contract values being thrown around are accurate. The 49ers, who have some room to work with, may prefer a cheaper one-year bridge option like Hoyer over taking a QB at No. 2 overall or giving up a ton for an established quarterback via trade. The Niners have been connected to both Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Both will require the forfeiture of significant draft compensation.
Extra Points: Bouye, Landry, Marshall, Mixon
A.J. Bouye‘s staggering rise from unknown RFA to one of the most coveted UFAs on this year’s market did not come completely unbeknownst to the Texans. Houston offered its undrafted gem a multiyear contract in 2016 at a “significant raise,” but Bouye opted to bet on himself, Peter King of TheMMQB.com reports. Bouye signed the low-end RFA tender last March, worth $1.67MM, setting up his dominant breakout campaign. His market is set to be north of $12MM per year as Day 2 of the legal tampering period gets underway, and while the Texans are in on it, they could lose him to a division rival.
Here’s more from around the league with free agency barely a day away.
- The Dolphins have received trade inquiries on wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. However, the team has no real interest in trading him. Late in their 2016 season, the Dolphins were working on an extension plan for their slot target, so it’s a good bet the team’s most consistent weapon stays in Miami. The two-time Pro Bowl wideout has posted back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, doing so in two different schemes.
- The prospect of staying in New York would on the surface allow Brandon Marshall to continue being a rare in-season media regular, but Judy Battista of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) the Giants and Jets’ schedules aren’t structured equally. Inside the NFL tapes on Tuesdays, when many teams give their players off days, but Battista points out the Giants work on Tuesdays. This might not be a deal-breaker, though, with Marshall having established himself on the long-running weekly show the past two years and signing with the only other team that would keep him in the city.
- Between Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon is set to meet with 24 teams in total as a part of his pro day gauntlet, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Mixon met with the Bengals, Browns, Lions and Saints on Tuesday night, per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (via Twitter), in advance of what will be a critical showcase for the controversial running back.
- Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris was arrested for felony possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. A converted basketball player, Harris saw his role increase last season. The third-year pass-catcher saw 476 snaps and caught 17 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but Pro Football Focus graded him as its worst full-time tight end.
- Chris Banjo‘s two-year deal with the Saints will pay him $2.6MM with another $500K available through incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report.
Giants May Cut WR Dwayne Harris
The Giants seeking to restructure the deal of wide receiver Dwayne Harris, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. If the Pro Bowl special teamer and the Giants cannot come to terms on a new deal, he could be released, according to a source close to the situation. 
[RELATED: Giants Sign WR Brandon Marshall]
The Giants gave Harris a sizable deal (by special teams standards) prior to the 2015 season in order to pry him away from the Cowboys. Harris is now slated to enter the third season of his five-year, $17.5MM contract ($7.1MM guaranteed), and it makes sense that the Giants would want to shave down that number. Harris will now have to weigh his potential market before making a call on a proposed pay cut. On one hand, he’s coming off of his first career Pro Bowl selection. On the other hand, he’s going to turn 30 in September, so he’s unlikely to fetch anything with significant long-term guarantees.
Last year, Harris returned 29 punts for 170 yards (5.9 average) and took back 22 kickoffs for 533 yards (24.2 average).
Latest On Brandin Cooks Trade Talks
The Saints are still in discussions with the Eagles, Titans, and Patriots regarding a potential Brandin Cooks deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Saints are looking for draft picks or a front seven player that can pressure opposing quarterbacks, Rapoport adds. 
Saints head coach Sean Payton has publicly denied that the team is shopping Cooks, but he did stress that the club is willing to listen to any offer on any player. In short, he wants rival clubs to know that he will not just give away the star wide receiver, but he can be had for the right price. Cooks offers more talent and potential than any wide receiver on this year’s open market and he’s under control at a very team friendly rate for the next two years, so the Patriots, Eagles, and Titans have not been warded off by the Saints’ demands.
The Titans are said to have a leg up on the Patriots and Eagles in the Cooks chase. The Patriots are said to be dangling their No. 32 overall pick in a package for Cooks, so that appears to be the floor for any return on the 23-year-old. However, the Titans are armed with the Nos. 5 and 18 overall picks, so they can pretty much top any offer in terms of draft compensation. The Eagles have the No. 14 overall selection and they could perhaps sweeten the pot with linebacker Mychal Kendricks.
Browns Pursuing FB Kyle Juszczyk
The Browns are very interested in Ravens free agent fullback Kyle Juszczyk, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Meanwhile, the expectation is that Juszczyk will wind leaving Baltimore as the Ravens are not prepared to match what he’ll get elsewhere, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter links). Meanwhile, Juszczyk will look to sign with a team that will allow him to do more than play fullback.
Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-rated fullback in 2016, Juszczyk is reportedly looking to sign with a team that will deploy him in a hybrid fullback/tight end role. He has 97 career receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns. The former fourth-round pick started three seasons for the Ravens and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016.
The Ravens were attempting to retain him as recently as Monday, and the league’s highest-paid fullback — the Chiefs’ Anthony Sherman — makes just $2.1MM per season. But if the fifth-year blocker is seeking a tight end role as well, the fullback AAV bar could soon be raised.
The Browns, of course, lead the league in cap room, entering Monday with a league-record $102MM in space. Cleveland boasts needs across the board but has a proven tight end locked up long-term in Gary Barnidge. Baltimore holds $12.5MM in cap space, the fourth-fewest mark in the league.
49ers Targeting Pierre Garcon
After re-signing one of Kirk Cousins‘ favorite offensive weapons, another could be on his way out. The 49ers have set their sights on signing Pierre Garcon, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Garcon, of course, offers familiarity with Kyle Shanahan‘s system, making him a logical fit in San Francisco. The Niners are also in need of a quality receiver after cutting Torrey Smith loose. As of this writing, the Niners’ only receiver of note is Jeremy Kerley, who was re-signed to a multi-year deal.
This past season, he had 79 catches for 1,041 yards with a 69.1% catch rate. Shanahan knows what Garcon is capable of, having served as the Redskins coordinator during his masterful 2013 season. In that year, he had a league-high 113 receptions for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns. Garcon doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as just a possession receiver and Shanahan allow him to show his full range of skills, even as he nears his 31st birthday.
The Redskins only just reached out to Garcon’s reps this week, so we’ve had the sense that he would be going elsewhere this month.