Teams Eyeing Teddy Bridgewater As Starter
Free agent Teddy Bridgewater, in all likelihood, will be leaving the Saints this offseason. When he hits the open market next month, multiple teams expect him to attract interest as a starting quarterback option or, at minimum, a bridge to a younger QB, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com hears (via Twitter).
Assuming Drew Brees returns for another season, the Saints are expected to move forward with Taysom Hill as the future Hall of Famer’s backup. In that scenario, Bridgewater would be priced out of New Orleans. Plenty of other clubs see Bridgewater as a top option and the 27-year-old (28 in November) would likely relish the opportunity to run his own show once again.
The Saints went 5-0 with Bridgewater under center while Brees was out, but they seem more tantalized by the ability of Hill, another athletic quarterback who is on the cusp of his 30th birthday. Hill, who has flashed with his catching ability, has thrown just 13 passes over the course of his career to Bridgewater’s 1,070 throws as a pro.
In his nine total appearances last year, Bridgewater completed 67.9% of his passes with nine touchdowns against just two interceptions. He’s also respected league-wide as a locker room leader and an all-around positive influence. Years removed from his devastating injury in Minnesota, Bridgewater has the shown the ability to do much more than hold the clipboard as a third-string afterthought.
This offseason, he’ll be treated accordingly, even though he doesn’t offer the same kind of star power as others in a deep free agent QB class.
Lions Discussing Darius Slay Trade
The Lions have spoken with multiple teams about trades involving cornerback Darius Slay, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Other clubs believe that the Lions will ultimately wind up moving the Pro Bowler, Schefter hears, but the Lions are insistent on getting fair value in return. 
The Lions might not have much in the way of leverage. Slay is entering the final year of his contract and it appears that extension talks have stalled. Any team that acquires the Pro Bowler would have to cough up a significant amount of draft capital and give Slay a new deal that would reflect his place as one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
As it stands, Slay has one more year to go on his deal at $10MM. That’s well-below the going rate for a CB of his caliber – Slay is in position to ask for somewhere around $15MM over the course of a long-term pact.
Slay has expressed a desire to stay put, though he also wants to be appropriately compensated. Over the last year, the Lions have mulled the possibility of moving on from him, including a pre-deadline conversation with the Broncos about a blockbuster that would have sent Chris Harris Jr. to Detroit.
Before the deadline, the Eagles also made a serious push for Slay. Those talks did not result in a deal either, as the Lions held out for a whopper of a haul. It’s not clear exactly what the Lions were asking for, but it was enough to make the ever-aggressive Howie Roseman walk away, even after he lost out on Jalen Ramsey.
Browns Release Carrie, Harris, Kush
The Browns are in the midst of some serious spring cleaning. On Monday, the Browns announced that they’ve cut cornerback T.J. Carrie, tight end Demetrius Harris, and guard Eric Kush, in addition to the previously reported release of linebacker Adarius Taylor.
In total, the moves will open up more than $13MM in cap room for the Browns with less than $4MM in dead money left over. It’s yet another signal that the club is committed to a significant roster haul under the guidance of new head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry. All four released players were brought on board by former GM John Dorsey.
Carrie joined the Browns on a four-year deal in 2018 after turning in a strong contract year as the Raiders’ slot cornerback. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in every possible game and started in 14 of those contests. Last year, he notched 52 tackles and one interception, but he was unable to get into a rhythm and his coverage was nowhere near his best work in Oakland.
Harris, too, will see his contract terminated at the midway point. In his lone Browns season, he had 15 grabs for 149 yards and three scores. On the line, Kush had a perfect attendance record and started seven times, but the advanced metrics painted him as one of the worst qualified interior linemen in the NFL.
While those four players will be let go, much of the Browns’ core will remain in tact. At his introductory presser, Berry indicated that Odell Beckham Jr. will probably not be traded, despite all of the speculation. The latest misstep of running back Kareem Hunt, meanwhile, won’t rule him out for 2020.
Steelers’ Tomlin On Big Ben, AB
In an interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, head coach Mike Tomlin touched on some of the biggest storylines surrounding the Steelers this offseason. A quick rundown of the highlights:
- Despite missing the bulk of the 2019 season with detached tendons in his arm, Ben Roethlisberger has vowed to come back stronger than ever in 2019. In the interview, Tomlin expressed unwavering confidence in Big Ben’s road to recovery. “I have no hesitation,” Tomlin said when asked about Roethlisberger’s availability for the 2020 season (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). Recently, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert echoed those sentiments. The Steelers will not be among the many clubs engaged in this year’s QB carousel, though it stands to reason that they’ll consider quality backups and prospects who can be groomed for the future.
- Antonio Brown is seeking to restore his reputation and return to the NFL, but he won’t be getting a second chance with the Steelers. “We have no current business interest at this time,” Tomlin said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor). No surprise here – even before Brown’s personal life went into a tailspin, the wide receiver spent his final Steelers seasons at odds with Tomlin, Big Ben, and other key figures within the organization. It’s hard to see a path for Brown to get back to football, but he says that he’ll be in attendance at the combine later this month in hopes of talking with NFL teams.
- After his reinstatement, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett stood by his claim that Steelers QB Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur to ignite the infamous brawl. Rudolph has rejected those claims and Tomlin stands with him. “I think his reputation needs to be defended and defended aggressively,” Tomlin said (Twitter link via Pryor).
Browns To Release Adarius Taylor
The Browns will release Adarius Taylor, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (on Twitter). By releasing the linebacker, the Browns will save $2.4MM against the salary cap for 2020.
[RELATED: Browns Hire Ryan Grigson]
Taylor – who went by Adarius Glanton until taking on his father’s surname in 2018 – joined the Browns on a two-year, $5MM deal last year. He went on to appear in 15 games for the Browns as a reserve, but the club’s new regime did not see him as a fit for their defense.
Taylor was deployed primarily on special teams with Cleveland and took only 60 defensive snaps in total. By shedding his deal, the Browns will only be left with $500K in dead money and much more to spend on the open market in March.
Taylor, who will turn 30 in September, profiles mostly a special teamer for other clubs at this stage of his career. His most productive year as a defender came in 2018 with the Bucs, when he notched 60 tackles, five passes defensed, one sack, and one interception.
AFC West Notes: Chargers, Rivers, Broncos
Where will quarterback Philip Rivers land after parting ways with the Chargers this offseason? This week, longtime teammate and pending free agent Melvin Gordon took an educated guess.
“I think he’ll go to the Colts,” Gordon told CBS Sports Network. “I don’t know, that’s just my thought. He has Nick (Sirianni) there, the (offensive coordinator), he came from here. They run the same playbook, so it’d be easy, he could come right in….That’s probably the best fit.”
Gordon doesn’t claim to have inside info, but it’s a logical thought – Rivers’ familiarity with Sirianni and head coach Frank Reich (the Bolts’ QB coach and OC during some of Rivers’ best seasons) would make for a seamless transition. The Colts, meanwhile, are far from sold on Jacoby Brissett and they have a clear need for a proven winner under center.
Rivers, 38, says that he has two years left of football, at max. After moving on from the only franchise that he’s ever known, he could spend his twilight years with familiar faces for one more chance at a Super Bowl ring.
Here’s a look at the AFC West:
- Could the Chargers replace Rivers with Tom Brady? Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with league execs about Brady’s potential destinations and found a wide range of takes on Brady’s odds of landing with the Bolts. “I think the Chargers would write whatever contract Brady needs to get,” an exec said. “They are the only team that would do that, in my opinion…If they can get Brady, then I think all of a sudden they become a real competitor for the Rams in the market.” Others, however, were quick to point out the Chargers’ organizational philosophy of spreading dollars around. “The Chargers ain’t paying anybody $30 million – anybody,” another exec said.
- In an in-depth and worthwhile read, The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala examined the power struggle surrounding the Broncos‘ ownership situation. Ultimately, the messy in-fighting could result in the sale of the franchise.
- Last week, former Raiders edge rusher Lamarr Houston announced his retirement from football after eight seasons in the NFL.
Dolphins Cooling On Tua, Warming Up To Justin Herbert?
The Dolphins have been heavily connected to Tua Tagovailoa for months, but they’re far from locked in on him. The Dolphins have concerns about Tagovailoa’s ability to recover from his serious hip injury and, beyond that, they’re worried about his long-term durability, sources tell Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. At the same time, they’ve been drawn more and more to Oregon star Justin Herbert, sources say.
[RELATED: Charges Against Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Dropped]
Even owner Stephen Ross has spoken on the record about Tagovailoa’s question marks. It’s a debate that will take place in the front office of any team considering the quarterback – had he stayed healthy, Tagovailoa likely would have been the consensus No. 1 overall pick. Now, teams need to take a close inspection of his hip and also weigh the effects of his previous ankle injuries.
With the No. 5 pick, the Dolphins could have every QB available to choose from, with the exception of LSU’s Joe Burrow. Their concerns about Tagovailoa could lead them to Herbert, who boasts arm strength, size (he stands at 6’6″; one inch taller than Ben Roethlisberger), and the ability to escape pressure in a collapsing pocket.
By the same token, Tagovailoa has been the much more accurate passer of the two and has demonstrated superior field vision. The latest news doesn’t mean that the Dolphins will select Herbert at No. 5 overall, but it’s a strong reminder that draft plans are far from settled in February.
AFC Notes: Patriots, Brady, Jets
No surprise here, but the Patriots and Tom Brady have still yet to discuss a potential new deal, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. This echoes the non-update updates that we’ve heard over the past few weeks – Brady is still on course for free agency with the intent of exploring all options before considering a New England reunion.
At this point, the Patriots can only hope for a heads up on Brady’s intentions before the “legal tampering” period gets underway. At this point, they’ll have to account for every possible scenario in their offseason puzzle while their biggest piece remains up in the air.
More from the AFC:
- There’s been a lot of chatter about Jets inside linebacker Avery Williamson being released as a cap casualty to save $6.5MM, but Brian Costello of the New York Post believes he’s “less likely” to go than veterans such as cornerback Trumaine Johnson and guard Brian Winters. Neville Hewitt, who is set for free agency, played well following Williamson’s ACL tear and could be retained on a cheaper deal. A compromise could be struck in the form of a lower cost deal; after notching 120 tackles in 2018, Williamson is a proven contributor and the Jets would rather not shed him entirely.
- Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who was recently reinstated by the NFL, maintains that Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph prompted last year’s brawl with the use of a racial slur, as ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter writes. Rudolph’s camp, meanwhile, continues to strongly reject those accusations. Late last week, his camp responded with a statement (Twitter link) implying that a lawsuit could be on the way. “He is now exposed to legal liability,” Rudolph’s lawyer wrote.
- Former Steelers star Antonio Brown says he plans to attend the NFL’s draft combine later this month in hopes of drumming up interest and returning to football.
Latest On CBA, Expanded Season
The players may be willing to expand the regular season to 17 games, but they want to adjust the owners’ proposed window for activation, sources tell PFT’s Mike Florio. The NFL is seeking the option to implement the longer season sometime between 2021 and 2023. The players want to take 2021 off the table and push that off until 2022 or 2023.
This is, in part, due to logistical reasons. With many players contracted through 2021, and approximately 70 players under contract through 2023, those players would need to be given additional compensation on their existing deals in order to make something work. The later the start date, the easier it becomes to facilitate that.
Despite plenty of opposition to the longer season within the union, it seems as though the NFLPA is warming up to a compromise. And we’d speculate that the later start date would be more palatable to players for other reasons. For example, veterans who are in the final years of their career could be more open to the proposal if they are only facing one or two extended seasons.
We should know more about where the NFLPA stands after their meeting on Thursday, which could include a vote among union leadership. In exchange for the 17-game season, owners have reportedly some key concessions, including a revamp of the fifth-year option for first round picks, relaxed testing for marijuana, and a larger cut of league revenue.
Giants Rumors: Williams, Solder, Tate
The Giants sacrificed two draft picks in order to acquire Leonard Williams from the Jets. Now, there’s a chance that the defensive lineman could depart in free agency, which would effectively turn the trade into a rental.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY ran down the Giants options, including the transition tag, which they haven’t used in roughly 15 years. The transition tag would extend a one-year tender to Williams at the average of the top ten salaries for defensive tackles, rather than the franchise tag, which is the average of the top five salaries at the position. The franchise tag would amount to a one-year, $15MM tender, keeping Williams locked in with the possibility of an extension before the summer deadline. The transition tag, meanwhile, would be a one-year, $12MM tender – the Giants could match any offer, but they’d receive no compensation if they declined.
Williams, the former No. 6 overall pick in the draft, doesn’t figure to have tons of suitors throwing major money at him, so the transition tag wouldn’t be a major risk. But, if one team is aggressive enough, the Giants could come away from the Williams deal virtually empty handed. While his departure would leave them with improved position in the compensatory pick formula, it wouldn’t guarantee them a third-round pick to replace the one they gave up for him, nor would it bring back the fifth-round choice they also traded to the Jets. Also worth noting: If the Giants extend Williams before the start of free agency, that conditional 2021 fifth-rounder becomes a fourth-round choice.
Here’s more on the G-Men:
- The Giants’ spring cleaning could see the departure of some big names, as Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes. His list starts with linebacker Alec Ogletree, who our own Rory Parks profiled as a release candidate late last week. Others on the block, as Schwartz notes, include tight end Rhett Ellison, defensive end Kareem Martin, and safety Antoie Bethea. Those four cuts would amount to a combined savings of more than $20MM, though the dead money charges would be even steeper. Other big names like left tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Golden Tate, in theory, could be dropped, but Schwartz expects the Giants to stick with both.
- More from Schwartz, who expects first-year head coach Joe Judge to get a longer leash from the Giants than his predecessors Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur. Shurmur, the most recent coach to get the axe, went 9-23 in his two seasons at the helm.
- The Giants will have the No. 4 overall pick in the draft as they look to reshape the team under Judge. The full rundown of the first-round draft order can be found here.