Ravens Rumors: Wallace, Mallett, Wagner
In Indianapolis today, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh fielded a wide range of questions from reporters about the offseason. Here’s a quick look at the highlights:
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh says his “anticipation” is that Mike Wallace will remain with the team (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). Wallace, who has an $8MM cap figure for 2017, has been considered a potential cap cut. That number is the fifth-highest on the team as of this writing.
- Harbaugh said the Ravens are negotiating to bring back quarterback Ryan Mallett (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun). We ranked Mallett as one of the ten best quarterbacks in free agency last month. He may slide a bit down the list with the expected additions of QBs like Tyrod Taylor, Tony Romo, and Colin Kaepernick.
- Harbaugh said the franchise tag is not in play for Brandon Williams or any other Ravens free agent, Zrebiec tweets. On Wednesday morning, we heard that the Ravens will not apply the tag to the defensive tackle. The Ravens also have a priority free agent in tackle Ricky Wagner, but the one-year tender is a bit too pricey for him as well.
Giants HC: We’ll “Take A Look” At Peterson
Adrian Peterson appears poised to hit the open market after having his option declined by the Vikings. Already, we have at least one confirmed suitor. Coach Ben McAdoo told reporters today the team will “take a look” at the soon-to-be free agent (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle).
The Giants will have to make some changes in the running game after parting ways with Rashad Jennings earlier this offseason. Peterson comes with as many durability concerns as Jennings (if not more), but also offers greater upside. Peterson could serve as the Giants’ No. 1 back with rising sophomore Paul Perkins taking on a good chunk of the workload. The Giants could also supplement a Peterson-led RB depth chart with an addition or two in the draft or free agency. As Eli Manning heads into his late 30s, the Giants are eager to capitalize on their closing window and build a winner for 2017.
On Tuesday, a person close to Peterson told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press the Raiders could also be a frontrunner for his services. Here’s a look at a few more potential landing spots from Peterson and other Giants items:
- In addition to the Giants, the best team fits for Adrian Peterson would be the Seahawks, Patriots, Broncos, and Cowboys, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) opines.
- Long snapper Zak DeOssie‘s deal with the Giants is for two years and $2.315MM, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. There is also $400K guaranteed in the deal.
Bills Intend To Keep RB LeSean McCoy
Even though he might have the highest cap hit of any running back in 2017, it doesn’t sound like the Bills want to move on from LeSean McCoy. New coach Sean McDermott thinks highly of the veteran and says he’s looking forward to working together in a new city. 
“LeSean is going to be with the Buffalo Bills moving forward,” McDermott said (via PFT). “He’s a great player. We worked together in Philadelphia and when you look at the skill set LeSean brings to the table, we’re excited to be working with him.”
This week, agent Drew Rosenhaus said that he has had any discussions with Buffalo about the team possibly moving on from McCoy. It appears he was telling the truth. McCoy might be approaching the age where running backs tend to slow down, but he is coming off one of his best campaigns to date and he is a proven difference-maker. In 2016, he amassed 1,623 total yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns, and 50 receptions.
McCoy is due to count $8.875MM against the cap in 2017 and will turn 29 in July. In theory, the Bills could have dropped McCoy and given the starting job to understudy Mike Gillislee, but the Florida product will have to wait a bit longer before getting his shot at a starting job.
Rams To Franchise Tag Trumaine Johnson
The Rams are applying the franchise tag to Trumaine Johnson, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. With the designation, Johnson is now scheduled to be the league’s highest-paid cornerback with a ~$16MM salary. 
Schefter reported earlier this week that a franchise tag was “expected” for the corner. As a second-time tag recipient, Johnson is slated to earn more than the projected ~$14.297MM tender for franchised corners. The two sides now have until July to work out a long-term deal. If they do not come to an agreement, Johnson will play out the year at this hefty rate and wait until the season is through to potentially discuss an extension.
Last year, the Rams tagged Johnson and watched fellow standout corner Janoris Jenkins leave via free agency. This time around, the Rams were not willing to let their secondary take another step back. After Jenkins turned in a strong season with the Giants and Johnson arguably took a step back, one could argue the Rams made the wrong decision. Today, they are doubling down on their call to retain Johnson.
In 2016, Johnson had 57 total tackles and one interception in 14 games. In the year prior, he racked up 71 total tackles and seven interceptions.
Bengals Not Shopping QB A.J. McCarron
The Patriots aren’t trading their talented backup quarterback and it doesn’t sound like the Bengals will be doing so either. Bengals executive Duke Tobin indicated to reporters that A.J. McCarron is probably staying put. 
“We are not actively trying to diminish our team by trading A.J. McCarron,” Tobin said (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
At the same time, he would not completely rule out the possibility of a deal, telling reporters “the phones in our office work.” Tobin also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an intra-divisional trade, though he said it is unlikely.
McCarron, 27 in September, has completed 66% of his passes in the NFL, though that is drawing from a very small sample. For his part, McCarron is hoping to get more burn in 2017 and wouldn’t mind a trade that would free him from serving as Andy Dalton‘s understudy. McCarron’s trade value increased further when it was learned that he will be a restricted free agent after the 2017 season. At the same time, that makes him even more attractive to the Bengals who would like to keep McCarron as a quality and inexpensive Plan B behind Dalton.
Vikings Stuck With Sharrif Floyd For 2017?
The Vikings, in theory, have a big decision to make when it comes to Sharrif Floyd. By March 9th, Minnesota must decide whether to keep Floyd at a base salary of $6.8MM or release him, per the terms of his fifth-year rookie contract option. However, the option is guaranteed for injury and Floyd has still not fully recovered from his left knee injury, according to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. 
[RELATED: Vikings Interested In Latavius Murray]
Floyd, 26 in May, went down in the Vikings’ 2016 season opener and never returned to action. Since joining the team as a first-round pick in 2013, he has appeared in 44 games with 24 starts, missing two games in 2014, three games in 2015, and just about every game in 2016. The Vikings would probably like to get out of their obligation to Floyd, but recent comments by GM Rick Spielman indicated that the team has accepted the inevitable: he probably won’t get the greenlight from doctors and the Vikings will remain on the hook for his salary.
It remains to be seen when/if Floyd will be cleared for football activities.
Johnny Manziel Drawing Real NFL Interest
After a Josh Gordon update on Wednesday morning, it’s only fitting that we get some Johnny Manziel news. The former Browns quarterback has re-hired agent Erik Burkhardt and is drawing “real interest” from teams at the Draft Combine, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter links). 
[RELATED: Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement]
Last month, there was word that Manziel worked out for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the CFL, though the team strongly denied the report. A CFL stop would make sense for Manziel given his off-the-field issues and overall rust, but it sounds like some teams might be willing to kick the tires on the former A&M star.
Apparently, Manziel has made “serious commitments” to Burkhardt, which led to the two reuniting. As you may recall, Manziel went through multiple agents within a two month span last year. Power agent Drew Rosenhaus cut ties with Manziel when he was unable to get his substance issues under control.
In January, Manziel declared that he is sober and focusing on his comeback. Furthermore, he is reportedly willing to subject himself to drug testing to prove to a team that he is serious. Of course, if any team signs him, the league will force Manziel to take frequent drug tests anyway.
NFL Sets Salary Cap At $167MM
The league has set the salary cap at $167MM for the coming year, according to Judy Battista of NFL Network (on Twitter). That marks a $12MM+ bump over last year’s cap figure of $155.27MM. Here is the year-by-year breakdown of the cap, going back to 2013:
- 2013: $123MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.28MM
- 2016: $155.27MM
- 2017: ~$167MM
The $167MM figure falls in line with the most recent estimates we heard, which pegged the cap to be somewhere between $166MM-$169MM. Starting on March 9th, teams will be able to put this extra cash to use in free agency and we should see monster deals for the top players on the open market. The Browns will lead all teams in cap space with $102MM+ in room to spend.
We’ve come a long way in the last twenty years. In 1997, the salary cap was set at $41.5MM. In 1994, the first year of the salary cap, the number limit was just $34.6MM.
No Tag For Dontari Poe, Brandon Williams
It sounds like two big-time defensive tackles have avoided the franchise tag. The Chiefs are not expected to tag Dontari Poe and the same goes for the Ravens and Brandon Williams, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Now that Kawann Short has been franchised, Williams and Poe stand as our Nos. 3 and 4 available defensive tackles, respectively. Calais Campbell might be a better player than both of them right now, but we’re expecting the duo to outearn the Cardinals veteran based on age. Poe will turn 27 in August while Williams just turned 28.
After inking Eric Berry to a lucrative long-term contract on Tuesday, some believed the Chiefs would apply the franchise tag to Poe. However, it sounds like the Chiefs feel the potential one-year, $13.468MM deal is too pricey for the former first-round pick.
As good as Williams is, he never really seemed to be a candidate for the franchise tag. The Ravens will presumably work to re-sign the defensive tackle, but any deal would be at a lower average annual value than the one-year tag.
Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is applying today (Wednesday) for reinstatement, business manager Michael Johnson tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Gordon has not played since 2014. 
“Josh is living with me and is in the best place mentally that he has been in dating back years before entering the NFL,” Johnson told Schefter (Facebook link). “He has taken the proper steps to treat his issues and has followed a very strict protocol that the league and our team here has laid out for him. He’s also in the best shape of his life and feels even better than he did when he had his breakout year in 2013. This will be a special year for Josh and we are all very proud of the way he has taken the necessary steps to turn his life around.”
When he’s been on the field, Gordon has performed like one of the very best wide receivers in the NFL. In 2013, his last full season, he totaled 87 receptions, a league-leading 1,646 yards, and nine touchdowns in 14 games. In 32 career games, he has racked up 161 catches, 17.1 yards per reception, and 14 touchdowns.
The Browns control Gordon’s rights through at least 2017, but it was reported last fall that they plan to move on from him. He was working to return to the NFL in 2016 but wound up checking into rehab in late September after a “slip up.” Before that point, the Browns were shopping Gordon with the hope of netting a high draft choice.