NFC West Notes: Rams, 49ers, Alexander
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is gone, but the Rams will continue to operate in a 3-4 base under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, as ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry writes.
Still, personnel changes may be on the horizon – defensive lineman Michael Brockers, outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., and inside linebacker Cory Littleton are all slated for free agency. The Rams will also be on the lookout for safety help following the retirement of 13-year pro Eric Weddle.
Things are fluid at this stage of the offseason, but it seems as though Brockers and Littleton are likely to find paydays elsewhere. Fowler, on the other hand, could be cuffed with the $15MM+ franchise tag or signed to a new deal.
Interestingly, Thiry also frames cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman as a cap casualty. Despite coming off of another strong season, she believes the Rams could drop the final year of his three-year, $15.7MM contract and fill the void internally by giving more slot snaps to Troy Hill.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander agreed to restructure his contract back in November, but word of the revised deal only started to trickle out recently. According to Over The Cap, the Niners prorated $333K of Alexander’s 2019 salary to signing bonus while adjusting his 2020 salary from $11.25MM to $976K with the rest to be paid as an option bonus on April 1. Meanwhile, three added three voidable years were tacked on. Alexander’s contract will now void on the 5th day of the 2023 waiver period. This will make Alexander an unrestricted free agent in 2023, same as he was scheduled based on the original contract. Ultimately, these changes resulted in $8.1MM in badly needed cap space for the NFC champs.
- Even with the Alexander restructure and tweaks to Weston Richburg‘s deal, SF still has only $13MM to spend. To carve out more room, the 49ers could dump running back Tevin Coleman to create another $4.9MM in space, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner suggests. Coleman, 27 in April, averaged 4.0 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns off of 137 totes. Through the air, he had 21 grabs for 180 yards and one score.
- The Seahawks – who finished second in the NFC West – will soon find out whether they’ve won the Greg Olsen sweepstakes. After meeting with the ‘Hawks, Bills, and Redskins, the tight end is expected to make his decision this week.
Davon House Retires From NFL
It’s official – Davon House is hanging ’em up. Although the former Packers cornerback has not played since 2018, he did not make his retirement official until Tuesday, when the club announced that he’s leaving the game. 
[RELATED: Packers To Move On From LB Blake Martinez?]
House started his pro career with the Packers back in 2011, when Green Bay selected him in the fourth round of the draft. That’s where he played through the 2014 season, before joining the Jaguars for a couple of years. After that, he returned to the Packers for the 2017 and 2018 campaigns – his final seasons in the NFL.
With House in the fold, the Packers captured four NFC North titles and won at least eleven games in three different seasons. That included the 2011 season, when they went 15-1 in their Super Bowl follow-up.
In total, House spent six years with the Packers and eight seasons as a pro. Statistically, his best work came in Jacksonville in 2015, when he notched 60 tackles, four interceptions, and 23 passes defensed. A shoulder injury cut House’s final season short, meaning that he has not played since September 23, 2018.
We here at PFR wish House the best in (official) retirement.
Latest On Redskins, Trent Williams
It’s not a sure thing that Trent Williams will return to the Redskins in 2020, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. The left tackle touched base with new head coach Ron Rivera and the two had a “positive” conversation, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Redskins’ Quinton Dunbar Wants Out]
There are still hurdles to clear and hard feelings to be soothed, but there’s hope for a future together now that Bruce Allen is no longer in the equation. Williams has endured a lot over the years with the Redskins, but they’re the only franchise he’s ever known, and Rivera’s calm demeanor could pave the way towards the veteran staying put.
Williams missed the 2019 season after a surgery to remove a cancerous growth prevented him from playing and even putting on a helmet. When he was placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list, the Redskins opted not to pay him the remainder of his salary, taking away about $5.1MM in earnings. For Williams, the issue was about much more that football – he also accused team doctors of misdiagnosing his issue way back in 2013, putting his health in jeopardy.
Williams, who will turn 32 prior before the start of the season, graded out as Pro Football Focus’ best tackle in the NFL in 2016. He’s missed a combined 29 games over the past four seasons, but he still profiles as one of the league’s most talented and accomplished linemen.
As it stands, Williams is set to earn a $12.5MM salary in 2020.
Ryan Tannehill Changes Agents
On the verge of potential free agent fortune, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has changed agents. On Tuesday, the QB dropped Pat Dye Jr. to join up with Brian Ayrault and Todd France of CAA, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Dye, who has about 30 years of experience, is far from small time, but CAA boasts an entire stable of NFL stars and has a history of scoring major paydays in free agency. Among their many clients – Titans free agent running back Derrick Henry.
Tannehill had a rocky tenure in Miami, but he impressed after taking over for Marcus Mariota in 2019. Thanks to incentives, the QB netted $10.25MM for his showing. On his next deal, he’ll see a major pay bump.
Tannehill took over as the Titans starting quarterback in Week 7, and he went on to lead them to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth. In his 12 games (ten starts), Tannehill completed 70.3% of his throws for 2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Then, in the postseason, he was under center for the Titans’ upset victory over the Patriots.
This time last year, Tannehill was something of an afterthought in NFL circles. Now, he’s primed to be one of the brightest stars in free agency. The Titans want to keep him – and Henry – but they can only use the franchise tag on one of them.
Latest On Panthers, Cam Newton
Cam Newton “absolutely” expects to return to the Panthers next season. However, team sources that spoke with The Athletic’s Joe Person are less-than-certain about his odds. 
Earlier this year, owner David Tepper was non-committal when asked about the longtime franchise star. Given his health situation and the team’s move to part ways with beloved head coach Ron Rivera and tight end Greg Olsen, no one would be shocked to see Newton in a different uniform next year.
“Every player that buys into this, the more they buy into this, the more things can work,” Tepper said in January. “And that’s what we’re going to need here, is buy-in from people, OK? If we can get that kind of buy in sooner rather than later, no matter what the personnel is. We will try to use our personnel to the best possible [advantage], whoever that personnel is.”
Newton is still recovering from foot surgery and waiting for the green light to resume football activities. Thanks to the lingering Lisfranc injury, the former No. 1 overall pick was limited to just two games in 2019. We’ve heard that the Panthers want to see Newton on the practice field before making a determination on his future, but there’s no telling when he’ll be ready. If he can’t prove that he’s healthy within a reasonable timeframe, the Panthers could cut him to save $19.1MM.
Newton, 31 in May, captured the MVP trophy in the 2015 season. And, in 2018, he managed to complete a career-best 67.9% of his throws. Still, it’s been a rocky couple of years for the Panthers and the team seems intent on a rebuild under new head coach Matt Rhule. The Panthers could be in range for some of this year’s top quarterbacks with the No. 7 overall pick, but they’re reportedly higher on the 2021 crop which includes Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. It’s also worth nothing that LSU’s Joe Burrow will be long gone by the time they take the podium, and many expect Tua Tagovailoa to go No. 5 overall to the Dolphins.
If released, Newton would join an unusually high-profile crop of available free agent quarterbacks, a group that will include some mix of Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, and Ryan Tannehill.
Raiders To Let DeAndre Washington Test Market
It’s possible that DeAndre Washington will return to the Raiders, but not before he chats with some other teams, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic hears. 
Last week, the Raiders re-upped Jalen Richard on a two-year, $7MM deal with $4.6MM guaranteed that could pay up to $8MM through performance bonuses. That deal doesn’t necessarily push Washington out of the picture, but the Raiders’ feeling is that it might be hard to keep both ‘backs, Tafur hears.
Washington, meanwhile, is still scheduled to reach free agency in March. Serving as the other backup to rookie Josh Jacobs, Washington had 108 carries for 387 yards (3.6 yards per carry) versus Richard’s 39 carries for 145 yards (3.7 ypc, in a smaller sample). Their receiving numbers were somewhat similar, too – Washington had 36 grabs for 292 yards; Richard had 36 catches for 323 yards.
Richard was prioritized over Washington, in part, for his route-running and pass-blocking. Both Richard and Washington stand at 5’8″ and Tafur notes that the Raiders could probably use a larger back in the mix.
Washington, who turns 27 later this month, first joined the Raiders as a fifth-round pick in 2016. As a rookie, he impressed with 5.4 yards per tote on a limited sample size of 87 carries. Since then, he’s been a solid backup for the silver-and-black, but he has yet to replicate that production. Over the course of his four-year rookie deal, he’s earned a total of $2.34MM in base salary.
Latest On Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa
Good news for Tua Tagovailoa. The Alabama product’s latest CT scan showed that his fracture has healed and his hip’s range of motion is solid, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Tagovailoa likely needs another month before he’s cleared for football activities, but it’s a big step in the right direction for the highly-coveted quarterback. Things are trending in the right direction and Tagovailoa’s camp expects him to test well at the draft combine later this month (Twitter link).
There’s been tons of chatter connecting the 6’1″ passer to the Dolphins, though owner Stephen Ross admits that he’s concerned about his medicals. If all goes well, the Dolphins No. 5 overall pick could represent Tagovailoa’s floor in the draft. If the medicals uncover serious red flags, however, there’s no telling where the one-time consensus top pick will land.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, of course, is expected to be the first overall pick of the Bengals. Beyond that, Tagovailoa could wind up as the second quarterback drafted in April. Other top signal callers like Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Utah State’s Jordan Love offer potential, but no one presents the same kind of upside and game-changing talent as Tagovailoa.
As a sophomore, Tagovailoa threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 43 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He went on to finish second in Heisman voting, behind Oklahoma star Kyler Murray.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Meets With Roger Goodell
Myles Garrett could be one step closer to reinstatement. On Monday, the Browns defensive end met with commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his return from indefinite suspension, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets.
It’s expected that Garrett will be allowed to play in 2020, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Garrett must satisfy certain terms from the league in order to suit up again, however. The league has mandated counseling for the former No. 1 overall pick and other off-the-field steps required for re-entry.
Garrett was at the center of an ugly brawl between the Steelers and Browns in November. After striking Mason Rudolph with his own helmet, Garrett was kept out of the final six games of the season. Between the lost paychecks and a $45K fine, the incident cost Garrett $1.6MM and put his football future in jeopardy.
For his part, Garrett says that the incident was sparked by a racial slur from Rudolph. The Steelers QB and his attorney have categorically denied the accusation.
In December, the NFL permitted Garrett to return to join his club at the team practice facility, which was an indication that he would ultimately be allowed to play in the 2020 season. Still, the league has given no official word on what’s next for No. 95.
Garrett, 24, has recorded 30.5 sacks for the Browns over the past three seasons. Remarkably, he’s done that in just 37 total games – Garrett lost a combined eleven games due to injury in his rookie season and last year’s ban.
Chargers Won’t Re-Sign Philip Rivers
On Monday, the Chargers announced that they will not bring back Philip Rivers for the 2020 season. With that, Rivers will move on to free agency where he’ll seek another team for his 17th year a a pro.
[RELATED: Eric Weddle Retires From NFL]
“After stepping back a bit from last season, we reconnected with Philip and his representatives to look at how 2019 played out, assess our future goals, evaluate the current state of the roster and see if there was a path forward that made sense for both parties,” said General Manager Tom Telesco in a press release. “As we talked through various scenarios, it became apparent that it would be best for Philip and the Chargers to turn the page on what has truly been a remarkable run.”
Rivers will leave the club after setting more than 30 franchise records and 224 consecutive starts. For his part, the eight-time Pro Bowler says there are no hard feelings as he leaves the only NFL franchise he’s ever known.
“I am very grateful to the Spanos family and the Chargers organization for the last 16 years,” said Rivers. “In anything you do, it’s the people you do it with that make it special. There are so many relationships and memories with coaches, support staff and teammates that will last forever, and for that I am so thankful. I never took for granted the opportunity to lead this team out on to the field for 235 games. We had a lot of great moments, beginning in San Diego and then finishing in LA. I wish my teammates and coaches nothing but the best moving forward.”
Many of Rivers’ career numbers also stand as league-wide benchmarks. With 123 career wins in the regular season, he’s ninth among QBs on the all-time list, ahead of names like Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana. He’s also one of just six quarterbacks to have thrown for more than 58,000 passing yards.
But, in the NFL, you’re only as good as your last season, and executives are always thinking one, two, and three years ahead. Rivers’ 2019 season was marred by turnovers – he was picked off 20 times and his 23 touchdowns weren’t nearly enough to erase those INTs. Historically, though, Rivers has been strong in that department. In 2018, for example, he lobbed 32 TDs against just 12 interceptions.
Rivers will join a potentially crowded field of free agent quarterbacks in March. Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, and Teddy Bridgewater are just some of the other names that could be available for teams in need. The Chargers could consider those options alongside this year’s crop of quarterback prospects in the draft, or turn the starting job over to backup Tyrod Taylor. Meanwhile, with Rivers out of the picture, they may use the franchise tag to hang on to tight end Hunter Henry.
Cowboys’ Sean Lee To Play In 2020
Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee will play in 2020, agent Mike McCartney tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The only question that remains is where the 33-year-old (34 in July) will play. 
Lee is scheduled for free agency in March and the Cowboys have yet to decide whether they want to bring the veteran back for another season. First, they’ll have to address other priorities, including a potential extension for star quarterback Dak Prescott. McCartney says that Lee intends on exploring his options on the open market, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see the two sides reach a deal in the coming weeks.
Lee has spent his entire pro career in Dallas. A second-round pick in 2010, Lee cracked the starting lineup in 2011 and notched 104 total tackles. In 2013, he came away with four interceptions and ran them the other way for a league-high 174 yards. Still, injuries have hampered him throughout the years. Out of 160 possible regular season games, Lee has played in just 109 contests. That includes a 2014 season that was completely wiped out by a torn ACL and the trying 2017 and 2018 seasons which saw just 18 combined appearances.
Late last year, Lee left the Cowboys with a solid impression – he tallied double-digit tackles in two of his final five games, including a 17-stop showing in their Week 16 game against the Eagles. Still, after the Cowboys dropped four of their final six, they’re taking a hard look at every position on the roster.
In 2019, Lee finished out with 86 stops, one interception, one sack, and four passes defensed. It also marked the first ever complete 16-game slate of his career.