K’Waun Williams To Meet With Lions, Jets
Former Browns cornerback K’Waun Williams is already making the free agent rounds. As a rare February free agent, he has visits scheduled with the Lions on Monday followed by a meeting with the Jets, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Williams is also on the Saints’ radar, tweets The Advocate’s Joel A. Erickson, though he notes that other teams seem to have more interest in the defender.
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Williams, who had ankle surgery in November, was recently given full clearance by Dr. Robert Anderson. In theory, the young cornerback could sign with a team right away and give a club a quality option to consider in the slot.
Last summer, Williams was embroiled in a high-profile spat with the Browns organization. The Browns suspended Williams for “conduct detrimental to the team” when he said that he independently decided that he could not play in the team’s first preseason game because of the ankle condition. Ultimately, Williams had to have an operation to remove painful bone spurs and he is now pushing for the team to reimburse him for his 2016 $600K salary. In between all of this, Williams had an agreement with the Bears that was scuttled by a failed physical.
Giants Will Not Re-Sign Larry Donnell
The Giants are doing some major house cleaning today. Hours after releasing Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings, the Giants have informed tight end Larry Donnell that he will not be re-signed this offseason, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
Donnell earned $1.671MM in 2016 but wound up with just 15 catches for 92 yards and one touchdown. Donnell broke out for the Giants in 2014, but he hasn’t been quite the same since suffering a severe neck injury in November 2015. That ailment was thought to be a potential career ender and its admirable that he was able to return at all. Unfortunately, the Giants don’t envision him getting back to his old form.
Donnell looked like a star in the making in ’14 when he caught 63 passes for 623 yards and six touchdowns. Since then, he has totaled just 44 catches for 315 yards and three scores. Now, at 28, he’s parting ways with the only NFL team he’s ever known.
The Giants still have Will Tye at tight end but they’re also likely to make an addition or two at the position.
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AFC East Notes: Jets, Williams, Clady
Here’s a look at the AFC East:
- K’Waun Williams‘ visit to the Jets will take place on Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY tweets. The former Cleveland corner will arrive in town on Tuesday night, following his visit to Detroit.
- The Jets’ anticipated roster purge could start with Ryan Clady, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. Clady, who finished the year on IR with rotator cuff surgery, is due a $1MM roster bonus by Wednesday. With a total cap charge of $10.5MM, it seems likely that he’ll be cut loose. However, it’s also possible that the Jets could renegotiate his deal. Clady didn’t set the world on fire last year, but there aren’t a ton of quality options out there in the draft or on the open market. Cimini estimates that a $6MM salary – in line with what he made last year – could work for both sides. The Jets will still need a backup plan for Clady given his injury history, so Cimini also suggests a new deal for Ben Ijalana.
- After Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Martellus Bennett, Alan Branch ranks as the Patriots‘ highest priority free agent, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss writes. Branch, 32, was the team’s most consistent defensive tackle by Bill Belichick’s measure in 2016. Reiss estimates that a two-year, $11MM deal (similar to what Vince Wilfork signed in Houston two years ago) could get the job done. Others listed include cornerback Logan Ryan and wide receiver Michael Floyd.
49ers To Hire Robert Saleh As DC
Former Jaguars linebackers coach Robert Saleh is expected to join the 49ers as defensive coordinator, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was previously reported that Saleh was being considered for a “co-defensive coordinator” role with Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson, but this job will be Saleh’s alone.
Many thought Saleh would follow former Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley and join the Chargers’ staff, but the 49ers came through with a better offer and title. Saleh, 38, has been in the NFL coaching world since 2006. In addition to his time with the Jaguars, he also has experience with the Titans and Seahawks.
San Francisco previously targeted Bradley for this job and also tried to interview Bears DC Vic Fangio, but they were denied permission by Chicago. Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores was also mentioned as a candidate. Ultimately, Saleh has the gig and he’ll be tasked with turning around the league’s worst defense.
Giants Release RB Rashad Jennings
This is shaping up to be a busy day for the Giants. The G-Men are releasing former starting running back Rashad Jennings, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Giants Release Victor Cruz]
Jennings was set to carry a cap charge of $3MM. By releasing him, the Giants will save $2.5MM.
The veteran running back was brought to New York in 2014 with the idea that he would be the team’s workhorse in the backfield. Instead, injuries held him back in two of his three seasons. In 2016, he averaged a paltry 3.3 yards per rush on 181 carries. Jennings made a name for himself in 2013 with the Raiders when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and scored a career-high six touchdowns. Now on the verge of his 32nd birthday, it’s fair to wonder if he can get back to that level of production.
The Giants are now expected to turn to youngster Paul Perkins to hold down the running back job. As it stands, the Giants also have veteran Shane Vereen on the books for one more year at a roughly $5MM cap charge.
Giants To Release Victor Cruz
The Giants informed wide receiver Victor Cruz that he will be released, according to Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record (on Twitter). Cruz would have counted for $9.4MM against the Giants’ cap but his release this afternoon will free up $7.5MM in cap space. 
Last year, Cruz accepted a pay cut which took his base salary from $7.9MM to just $1.3MM. This year, some expected the two sides to work out another pay slash which would allow the salsa dancing wide receiver to stay on board. For one reason or another, that did not come to fruition. For his part, Cruz was vocal about wanting to stay in New York, but he also admits that he’d like to perhaps go elsewhere and return to his roots.
“That’s a good question. Maybe. You never know,” Cruz said earlier this month when asked about the possibility. “I think you’ve just got to take it as it comes, eat the food that’s given to you, and see how it tastes. That’s kind of the term I like to use. But we’ll see. Playing the slot is obviously something that I’m best at, and an opportunity to do that would definitely be great.”
This past season was Cruz’s first full campaign since 2013. In 15 games, he caught 39 of 72 targets for 586 yards and one touchdown. Cruz is still hoping to get back to his 2011-2013 form. In those seasons, he averaged 80 catches for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns. He also earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2012.
Alabama LB Reuben Foster Has Surgery
Former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster recently had right rotator cuff surgery, a league source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Teams have been informed of the operation. The good news is that Foster is projected to be cleared for action in about four months, which means he should be ready before training camp in July. Unfortunately, however, he’ll be unable to participate in drills during the draft combine (Twitter links). 
Back in January, one scout told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Foster has a “perfect grade” on his board. Opinions vary on the Alabama product, but he is widely projected as a first-round pick with many prognosticators saying that he could go inside of the Top 10. Foster, who had five sacks in 2016, is regarded as an exceptionally well-rounded prospect and most see him as the best inside linebacker in this year’s crop.
In other draft news, Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes could reportedly go in the Top 3 and Washington wide receiver John Ross is expected to undergo surgery after the combine. Meanwhile, some are saying that Alabama’s Cam Robinson is no longer the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft.
PFR Live Chat With Zach Links
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Eagles Open To Trading Mychal Kendricks
The Eagles are hoping to clear “significant” financial room this offseason and that could include trading a longtime starter. The team is willing to move on from linebacker Mychal Kendricks this offseason, a source tells PhillyVoice’s Jimmy Kempski. 
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Kendricks is slated to count for $6.6MM against the cap in 2017, but they could save $1.8MM by trading or releasing him. That still leaves $4.8MM in dead money, but every little bit of breathing room will help Philly this March. Kendricks also saw his playing time dip significantly under new head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, so he wouldn’t necessarily be missed. From 2012 to 2015, Kendricks was a regular starter and he was a favorite of Chip Kelly from 2013-15. This past season, he was leapfrogged by Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham in the pecking order. Kendricks was in on 26.8% of the team’s snaps while Bradham and Hicks both eclipsed 95%.
Alternatively, the Eagles could designate Kendricks as a June 1st cut, resulting in $5MM savings right away with $3.2MM in dead money carrying over into 2018. However, Kempski hears it is not anticipated that the Eagles go that route and it’s not clear if they’ll even consider releasing him if a trade can’t be worked out.
The Eagles cannot trade Kendricks until the start of the new league year, which will begin at 4pm ET/3pm CT on March 9. After that, there’s another key date to keep in mind – March 11. That’s when $4.35MM of his $4.85MM 2017 base salary becomes fully guaranteed. That could leave Philly with a short window to get a palatable deal done.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Garoppolo, Ravens
Josh McCown, who was recently released by the Browns, would endorse the team trading for Jimmy Garoppolo, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes.
“I’ve seen him on tape because we had a common opponent in Miami,” McCown said. “He made some high level throws and did some things that would get you excited about his ability to maybe carry a franchise. That’s definitely on the tape.”
Garoppolo, reportedly, is a leading target of the Browns’ front office this offseason. The 25-year-old made two starts while Tom Brady was suspended last season, completing 43 of 63 pass attempts for 502 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. That’s not a large sample size to go on, but execs around the league have been raving about the youngster for some time now.
Here’s more from the AFC North:
- Will the Ravens ask Dennis Pitta to take a pay cut after a solid season? He was willing to do it last year because he missed an entire season of action, but it’s not clear if he’ll go for a repeat of that after a quality 2016, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. If the Ravens ask him to take a pay cut and he says no, they could gain $3.3MM by releasing him. There’s also $3MM to be saved if they release Benjamin Watson, but Hensley seems to think they’ll exercise patience and see what they have in the veteran.
- Bengals cornerback Adam Jones is getting more time to work on alcohol and anger issues before anything happens with his criminal case, The Associated Press writes. Now, court records show the date for possible grand jury action has been delayed from Friday until March 23. Jones was arrested for three misdemeanors and a felony last month after he assaulted a man, kicked police officers, and spit on a nurse in jail. The Bengals, understandably, are unsure about whether they want him back.
- The Steelers want to re-sign linebacker Lawrence Timmons, though they have higher priorities to assess first.