AFC East Notes: Jets, Bell, Patriots
Le’Veon Bell didn’t put up the kind of numbers that the Jets expected in 2019. And, in their estimation, much of that had to do with Bell’s conditioning. The Jets feel that Bell “gained weight and lost explosiveness as the season went on,” Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes.
That sort of talk won’t help the possibility of a Bell trade, and that was already looking pretty slim. The running back is due $13.5MM in guarantees and the Jets would have to eat a portion of his salary if they were to move him. Even in that case, Cimini feels, the Jets wouldn’t do much better than a low draft pick.
Of course, cutting Bell one year into his mega free agent deal isn’t an option either. If they dropped him today, they’d be on the hook for $19MM in dead money and the “savings” would be a net negative.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- It’s impossible to guess exactly what any team will do in the draft, especially before free agency starts, but Jeff Howe of The Athletic ran down some potential scenarios for the Patriots. If they stay at No. 23 overall, Howe believes that Alabama safety Xavier McKinney could be a good fit for Bill Belichick‘s defense, making him a potential fit if Devin McCourty leaves in free agency. If the Patriots don’t go for a safety, they could use the pick on a tackle or a defensive lineman. Tight end, Howe writes, is less pressing given the depth of this year’s TE crop.
- Tom Brady is getting all of the headlines, but the Patriots have 19 free agents to address this offseason. That list includes special teams stalwart Nate Ebner, who hopes to stay in New England (via Zach Cox of NESN).
- Recently, we learned that the Bills may consider the franchise tag for defensive lineman Jordan Phillips.
- Meanwhile, in Miami, the team is planning to hold on to Josh Rosen, even though he doesn’t figure to have much of a role in 2020.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Landry, Steelers
A change of plans for Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Initially, Landry said he would go the rest-and-rehab route for his lingering hip issue. Instead, he went under the knife recently to correct the problem, per a team announcement.
The Browns expect Landry to make a full recovery for the 2020 season, so this shouldn’t impact their plans very much. And, even though there’s a new regime in Cleveland, Landry (and Odell Beckham Jr.) are expected to remain in the fold, giving Kevin Stefanski as many offensive weapons as possible.
Landry, 28 in November, played through the pain in all 16 games last year. In fact, he’s never missed a game in his six-year career. The LSU product – who finished out with 83 catches, 1,174 yards, and six touchdowns – has three years to on his five-year, $75.5MM deal.
More from the AFC North:
- Even after inking nine contract extensions over the past year, the Ravens could have more on the way. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic looked at the club’s remaining extension candidates, including outside linebacker Matt Judon and defensive tackle Michael Pierce. Center Matt Skura hasn’t been talked about as much, but he could also be in line for a fresh deal as he nears unrestricted free agency. The former UDFA gave the Ravens consistent play in the middle up until his major knee injury in November. The injury might complicate things a bit, but he expects to be back in time for training camp.
- Alex Van Pelt is the Browns‘ new offensive coordinator, but he’s not sure if he’ll be the one calling the plays (via WKYC). That responsibility could be kept by Stefanski, who previously donned the headset for the Vikings.
- Steelers cornerback Artie Burns has switched to Drew Rosenhaus, as Liz Mullen of SBJ tweets. Burns, a former first-round pick who had his fifth-year option declined by the team, will be a free agent in March. In 2019, he appeared in just ten games and started only once.
- Another pending Steelers free agent – linebacker Bud Dupree – will be switching representation (Twitter link via Mullen). For now, all we know is that Dupree is parting ways with CAA. In the next few days, we should know who his agent will be. Dupree’s stock is pretty high after he registered 11.5 sacks in 2019, though the Steelers could cuff him with the franchise tag.
Vikings’ Everson Griffen To Opt Out
Everson Griffen informed the Vikings that he will opt out of his contract, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. The defensive end could have remained on his deal for another three years, but he achieved two statistical benchmarks that allowed him to split and he’s taking advantage of it. 
[RELATED: Vikings Add Dom Capers To Defensive Staff]
Griffen’s pact allowed him to opt out by notching six or more sacks (he had eight) and playing in at least 57% of the snaps (he hit 78%). Griffen’s opt-out will give the Vikes roughly $13MM in cap room with just $800K left in dead money.
It’s still possible that the edge rusher will return to Minnesota, but he’ll first explore his options on the open market. This was the expected route. Besides, even if had Griffen stayed on his current deal, he would have been a candidate for release.
Griffen bounced back from his 2018 rough patch as he earned his fourth career Pro Bowl trip last year. He also graded out as the No. 26 ranked edge rusher in the league (tied with Trent Murphy), per Pro Football Focus. That slotted him ahead of notables like Melvin Ingram III, Dee Ford, Dante Fowler Jr., and Yannick Ngakoue.
Griffen, for his part, has said that he would like to stay in Minnesota. Still, a big offer could lure him away from the only pro team he’s ever known.
NFL To Expand Regular Season And Playoffs?
The regular season isn’t the only part of the schedule that could be expanded. In the latest collective bargaining agreement proposal, the league would see the postseason balloon to seven teams per conference with only the top seed receiving a first-round bye, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The change would go into effect immediately, meaning that we’d see two extra playoff teams beginning in 2020.
Schefter adds that the current CBA proposal also includes an increase to 17 regular season games, which has been a long-debated topic between the two sides (and among pundits). Predictably, the preseason would be shortened to three games.
On Thursday, NFL owners and execs will huddle up in New York to consider terms requested by the players, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The NFLPA, meanwhile, will discuss things via conference call on Friday. Jason La Canfora tweets that a vote isn’t expected at the owners meeting, while Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes that the decision could come down to the wire (which would be March 18th). At the very least, this is an indication that CBA talks are progressing and there’s reason to believe that the two sides will avoid a work stoppage with a new deal.
Still, many issues remain unresolved. At last check, the two sides were still haggling over the funding rule, which puts a player’s guaranteed money into escrow. Originally designed to protect players, its become an oft-cited reason for teams avoiding lots of guaranteed money in future seasons.
The players want the funding rule scrapped and NFL owners are aiming to keep it. A compromise could be on the horizon, however – the league has offered to give teams a $10MM credit against the requirement, Mike Florio of PFT hears. The $10MM amount isn’t much, but as Florio notes, it could be a workable solution if the league is willing to push that figure higher.
Further, La Canfora notes that the players would push for fewer training camp and regular season practices. If those conditions (along with a few others) are met, the NFLPA is confident that the players would approve the expanded playoff format.
Bears To Sign Demetrius Harris
The Bears have agreed to sign tight end Demetrius Harris to a one-year deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Harris was let go by the Browns earlier this week, allowing him to reach free agency right away rather than waiting until March. 
Harris has history with head coach Matt Nagy. When Nagy was in command of the Chiefs offense, Harris was featured as a regular. In 2016 and 2017 – Nagy’s two seasons as OC – Harris caught a combined 35 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns.
Harris flashed athleticism in Kansas City, but he didn’t progress as expected when he joined the Browns as a free agent in 2019. After he notched just 15 grabs for 149 yards and three touchdowns, the Browns terminated the second half of his deal.
Last year, Bears tight ends Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Ben Braunecker all finished the season on injured reserve. Harris might not be the team’s No. 1 TE, but he could be a part of the solution.
Eagles Release LB Nigel Bradham
On Tuesday, the Eagles informed Nigel Bradham that his 2020 option year would be declined. On Wednesday, the team officially released him outright, giving him a chance to hook on with a team immediately, rather than waiting until the middle of March. 
Bradham has spent the last four years with the Eagles and was an integral part of their Super Bowl-winning team. Although he did not fit into their plans for this year, the Eagles wanted to do right by him and give him ample opportunity to find his next NFL home.
All in all, Bradham appeared in 58 regular season games for the Eagles – all starts. He’s been first-string throughout his career, pretty much, save for his 2013 season with the Bills.
Bradham seems to have lost a step after turning 30, but he still offers plenty of experience and hard-nosed toughness for teams in need. He should find decent interest on the open market, especially since he has a jump on all the rest as a street free agent.
Bradham finished out 2019 with 61 total stops, one interception, and five passes defensed.
Texans Extend Brandon Dunn
The Texans have signed nose tackle Brandon Dunn to an extension, per a club announcement. Before the deal, Dunn was set to reach free agency in March.
After starting his career with the Bears, Dunn joined the Texans midway through the 2015 season. In 2017, he became a rotational regular as he appeared in every game, including eight starts. Over the last three years, Dunn has compiled 75 total tackles, including five tackles for a loss and one sack from the interior.
Dunn’s new deal helps to address one item on their defensive line to-do list. The Texans are looking to keep interior bruiser D.J. Reader under contract, but there’s still a sizable bridge to be gapped. Reader might not be a big name for most, but he could command something in the vicinity of Brandon Williams‘ 2017 deal with the Ravens. In other words, the Texans might have to pony up about $55MM over the course of five years with more than half guaranteed. Failing that, Reader may be a candidate for the franchise tag.
The exact terms of Dunn’s pact are not yet known.
Seahawks’ Will Dissly Ready For Week 1?
When the Seahawks take the field in September, they’ll have multiple-time Pro Bowler Greg Olsen at tight end. They also expect to have a healthy Will Dissly ready to go, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears. 
[RELATED: Seahawks Sign Greg Olsen]
Thanks to multiple injuries, Dissly has appeared in a grand total of ten games as a pro. Thankfully, the recent checkups on his torn Achilles have been promising.
Before he was shut down in October, Dissly managed 23 catches for 262 yards and four touchdowns in six games. The 2018 fourth-round draft pick from Washington has flashed serious potential to start both of his seasons and the Seahawks believe that he can build off of that and stay on the field in 2020.
The Seahawks signed Olsen on Tuesday, edging out the Bills and Redskins for his services. Seattle plans to feature both tight ends – sometimes in the same set – which could give opposing defenses fits. Dissly had 156 yards and two touchdowns in just four games in his first season as a pro in 2018.
Quarterback Russell Wilson lobbied hard for Olsen, who could help give him a reliable tight end target for the first time since Jimmy Graham‘s departure. Between Olsen (soon to be 35) and Dissly, the Seahawks should be well covered. Dissly has had some tough injury luck, and he tore his ACL as a rookie. Here’s to hoping he can stay healthy in 2020.
Redskins’ Jordan Reed Wants To Play
Jordan Reed missed the entire 2019 season after suffering the seventh documented concussion of his career. Many have wondered if it would be best for the tight end to walk away from the game, but according to one source who spoke with ESPN.com’s John Keim, he “100 percent” wants to continue playing (Twitter link). 
When healthy and on the field, Reed has been a focal point of the Redskins’ offense. He caught 329 passes for 3,371 yaards and 24 touchdowns between 2013 and 2018, even though most of those seasons were shortened by medical issues. When he was at or near full strength, he was nearly unstoppable.
In 2015, when he suited up for a career-high 14 games, he tallied an 87/952/11 stat line with a catch rate of 76.3%. In 2016, he finally secured his first Pro Bowl nod as he notched 66 grabs for 686 yards and six TDs in just 12 games. Unfortunately, in the last three years, he’s suited up for just 13 games out of a possible 48 contests.
Whether Reed returns or not, the Redskins will have to fortify their tight end group this offseason. Veteran Vernon Davis retired earlier this month (he also missed time with concussion issues in 2019), leaving them perilously thin at the position.
Reed has two years to go on his five-year, ~$47MM deal with the Redskins. The team can release him this offseason to save $8.5MM against just $1.8MM in dead money, provided that is cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol. Otherwise, the Redskins would still be on the hook, unless they’re able to negotiate a settlement.
Browns Won’t Re-Sign Greg Robinson
The Browns won’t be re-signing left tackle Greg Robinson, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal tweets. This was relayed to his camp even before his recent arrest for marijuana possession near the U.S./Mexico border. 
[RELATED: Greg Robinson Charged With Intent To Distribute]
Robinson, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, looked the part of a late bloomer after hooking on with the Browns in 2018. After a solid Year One, he was re-upped on a one-year deal with a base value of $7MM, plus incentives that could have taken him to $9MM.
In 2019, he regressed sharply. At points, Robinson was turnstile during the Browns’ trying year and his inconsistency was one of many issues that dogged their talent-laden offense. On the flipside, it’s worth noting that the advanced metrics were somewhat kind to him – he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 41 ranked tackle in the NFL last year. That’s not great for a playoff hopeful’s left tackle, but it’s not a bad slot among 81 qualified players.
Since 2014, Robinson has appeared in 84 games with 70 starts for the Rams, Lions, and Browns.