Panthers’ Davis Hopes To Play Beyond ’18
In January, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis indicated that 2018 would probably be his final year in the league. Now, it sounds like the veteran wants to continue his career into 2019, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. 
It’s possible that Davis has had a change of heart after learning that he would be suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season. What would have been a 16-game regular season swan song has now been reduced to 12 games, and Davis is probably looking to leave the game on a high note. Davis has denied taking performance-enhancing substances and told fans that he is “not a cheater.”
Davis has just one year to go on his deal, so he’ll need a new deal or an extension in order to stay on board. When asked whether he has discussed an extension with new owner David Tepper or GM Marty Hurney, Davis said, “We haven’t had those conversations.”
The Panthers value Davis, but they also have a younger linebacker in Shaq Thompson that has flashed serious potential at times. If Thompson excels during Davis’ four-game ban, the Panthers could opt to move on from the 35-year-old.
Despite his age, Davis continues to play at a high level. Last year, he earned his third straight Pro Bowl berth and finished second on the team with 88 tackles. He also stands as the franchise’s all-time leading tackler.
Vikings To Sign Mike Hughes
The Vikings have reached agreement on a deal with top pick Mike Hughes, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Hughes will now look to build on a productive spring and compete for nickel and punt return duties when he reports to the team on Tuesday. 
Hughes, the No. 30 overall pick in this year’s draft, was one of several late first rounders to be held up in talks this year. The contract of Seahawks rookie running back Rashaad Penny was to blame as the No 27 overall pick took less in fourth year guarantees than last year’s No. 27 selection, Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White. After that happened, the Vikings and other clubs near the back of the order had a bit of extra leverage. After some delay, the two sides reached a compromise on Thursday.
Hughes will fight for playing time behind incumbent corners Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes this year. He also figures to see time as a kick returner given his special teams success at UCF.
With Hughes’ deal in the books, there are only 12 unsigned draft picks left in the NFL. For a complete look at the status of all 256 draft picks, check out PFR’s tracker.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bell, Browns
As good as Le’Veon Bell has been for the Steelers, Albert Breer of The MMQB sees both sides of the coin. Bell has been an electrifying force for years, but history dictates that the Steelers have probably seen the bulk of his prime already. With questions about whether Bell can continue to perform at such a high level for at least the next three years, the Steelers’ are right to have reservations about giving him significant guarantees on a long-term deal, Breer argues.
The Steelers’ final offer to Bell was reportedly worth $70MM over five years, but contained only $10MM in fully guaranteed money. Similar to last season’s offer, Bell would have made $33MM over the first two years “in a rolling guaranteed structure,” resulting in $45MM over three years.
While you ponder Bell’s future in Pittsburgh, here’s more from the AFC North:
- If No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield looks good this offseason, could the Browns trade Tyrod Taylor to a team that loses its quarterback to injury? Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com doesn’t envision that happening since coach Hue Jackson wants to win immediately and doesn’t want to have a rookie learning on the job. Cabot isn’t sold on Taylor’s long-term future in Cleveland, but she believes that he’ll open the season as the Browns’ starter and remain with the club through at least 2018.
- Ravens’ guard Marshal Yanda is on the PUP list because of a shoulder surgery he had after the season, not because of his ankle issue (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). There is no timetable on his return, but the team believes he will be ready for the regular season. “We’re going to be cautious with him,” coach John Harbaugh said.
- A Bengals rookie has retired to join the ministry.
Bears’ Allen Robinson Won’t Go On PUP
New Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson has not participated in most of the team’s offseason program as a result of last year’s torn ACL. However, coach Matt Nagy says he’ll be ready to roll as the team reconvenes and will not open camp on the PUP list (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). 
The Bears signed Robinson to a $14MM/year contract this offseason and they are banking on him becoming their top offensive target this year. Robinson’s 2017 was a lost cause, but the Bears believe that he can get back to his 2015 form, a season in which he had 80 catches for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. Even as he regressed in 2016, Robinson still finished out with 73 grabs for 883 yards and six TDs, so his floor is fairly high, provided that he can stay healthy.
Nagy also indicated that offensive lineman Kyle Long will be cleared for camp. Long missed a significant portion of last season and underwent shoulder, elbow, and neck procedures, but it sounds like he’s on track to play in Week 1.
The Bears went 5-11 last year and finished with the worst record in the NFC North. After retooling their offense and using a top ten pick on linebacker Roquan Smith, the Bears are feeling optimistic about their chances in 2018.
Ravens, C.J. Mosley Not Progressing On Deal
Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley has been pushing for an extension this offseason, but it doesn’t sound like a new deal is imminent. Mosley told reporters on Thursday that there are no updates to give with regards to his contract extension (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). 
[RELATED – Extension Candidate: C.J. Mosley]
Mosley is entering the final year of his contract and is a prime candidate for a multi-year extension. Mosley has been open about his desire to stay with the Ravens, but he’s scheduled to reach free agency after he earns $8.718MM in 2018.
Mosley has been a durable, locker room leader since being drafted by the Ravens in 2014. With three Pro Bowl nods and eight career interceptions, the 26-year-old has made a strong case for a pay raise on a new multi-year deal. Except for Luke Kuechly, no linebacker has amassed more interceptions than Mosley over the last four seasons.
A new deal for Mosley would almost certainly call for more than $10MM per season. Recently, Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney and Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks landed five-year, $50MM deals. Neither player has ever made a Pro Bowl, so it would be surprising to see Mosley settle for less than $11MM per season.
Last year, Mosley amassed 132 total tackles, one sack, eight pass defenses, and three forced fumbles from the inside linebacker position. His 1,077 snaps last year were the eighth most of any LB in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ravens To Pick Up Perriman’s Bonus
The Ravens will pick up wide receiver Breshad Perriman‘s $649K roster bonus on Saturday, a source tells Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. However, there is still no guarantee that he will be on the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster. 
Perriman has been held back by injuries throughout his career. The Ravens had high hopes when they selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft, but he has yet to do much of anything on the field. The UCF product has just 43 catches for 576 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games with the team.
Perriman, who is hoping to participate in the first full training camp of his career, is entering the final year of his four-year, $8.7MM rookie deal. He’ll try to stand out this year while playing behind fellow wide receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead. That is, if he makes the roster.
For what it’s worth, Ravens coach John Harbaugh is hopeful that Perriman can get on the right track this year.
“I’m confident he can do it. I’m hopeful he can do it; I want him to do it,” Harbaugh said earlier this year. “I’ll do everything I can; we’ll do everything we can, as a coaching staff, to make him the best he can be, because we need him to be great. But if it doesn’t work out, then it’s going to be somebody else. That goes for any player.”
Chiefs To Work Out Martayveus Carter
The Chiefs will audition running back Martayveus Carter on Thursday, according to Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The Grand Valley State product entered the supplemental draft, but was not selected on July 11.
Carter was the only offensive player eligible for the July draft this year. Cornerbacks Sam Beal (Giants) and Adonis Alexander (Redskins) were selected while defensive back Brandon Bryant, linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu, and Carter were not. Bryant has since signed with the Jets.
In 2016, Carter finished fifth in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player in Division II football. In that season, Carter ran for 1,908 yards and 20 touchdowns, but he had just 957 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Scouts feel that Carter might not have the bulk to succeed at the next level, but he’s out to prove them wrong.
The Chiefs project to start Kareem Hunt at running back with Spencer Ware, Kerwynn Williams, Damien Williams, and Charcandrick West in support. They seem more than set at the position, but it doesn’t hurt to kick the tires on a player when rosters allow for 90 players.
Falcons Won’t Give Julio Jones New Deal
The Falcons have informed Julio Jones that they have no plans to give Julio Jones a raise before the 2018 season starts, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic hears. However, the Falcons maintain hope that Jones will report to training camp next week. 
The Falcons have never renegotiated a contract with more than one year left on a deal, and Jones has three years to go on his pact. The Falcons are apparently holding the line for now, even though Jones is a transcendent talent. Instead, they’ll focus on extensions for players like defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, left tackle Jake Matthews and safety Ricardo Allen, all of whom are entering their walk years.
The Falcons have told Jones that they are willing to discuss his deal after the 2018 season, Schultz hears. The Falcons may feel that is a solid compromise given their position on early extension talks, but Jones may not see it that way.
After skipping the Falcons’ voluntary offseason program and mandatory minicamp, Jones watched Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks ink a five-year, $80MM contract earlier this week. The new money average gives Cooks a higher average salary, even though he is not as accomplished as Jones. That development has almost certainly rankled the Falcons star.
Falcons training camp begins on Wednesday afternoon with the first practice scheduled for Thursday.
South Notes: Falcons, Jones, Titans, Casey
Everyone is waiting to see whether Julio Jones will show up for Falcons training camp, but fans received an encouraging sign this week when Jones arrived at Matt Ryan‘s offseason passing camp (Twitter link via team). Jones has stayed away from the team this offseason in hopes of reworking his contract and it’s not clear if he’ll join his teammates on July 26 in Georgia.
Jones is underpaid for what he does, but he has three years to go on his deal and the Falcons aren’t under any real pressure to revise his deal. His yearly average of $14.25MM once seemed like a lot, but it’s now good for eighth among wide receivers. Jones could, in theory, improve his leverage by continuing to skip team activities, but he’ll have to pay substantial fines.
Here’s more from the South divisions:
- Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he’ll stay on the field and protest during the national anthem, while accepting any fines levied against him under the terms of the new anthem policy. “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” said Casey (via CNN). “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.” Casey, 28, inked a four-year, $60.4MM extension with the Titans in 2017, so he can probably afford to pay some fines. It remains to be seen whether other players will follow suit.
- Linebacker Darius Leonard is the only unsigned rookie left in the Colts‘ draft class yet to sign his contract, but that might not be the case for long. The Colts still expect to have a deal done by the time rookies report on Sunday, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter).
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Lawrence, Eagles
The Cowboys don’t want to make DeMarcus Lawrence the highest-paid pass rusher in the league, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic writes. However, with another strong year, Watkins believes that the Cowboys would be willing to place him somewhere in the top three.
This year, Lawrence is set to play out the 2017 season on his one-year, $17.1MM franchise tag. Technically, the Cowboys can tag him again next year, but the $20.5MM cost is probably too high for the Cowboys to consider. Instead, the two sides could use that price as a reference point to hammer out the five-year deal that Lawrence is reportedly seeking.
After the Cowboys locked up Zack Martin to the highest contract for a guard in league history, Watkins doubts that the Cowboys will allow Lawrence to get away in 2019. They shelled out big bucks to give Martin a six-year, $84MM deal with $40MM in guarantees and structured the deal in a way that his cap number won’t be cumbersome until 2021, when it rises to $15MM. The Cowboys are skittish about overpaying Lawrence, but they don’t want to let their best pass rusher walk away and there’s likely a way to make the numbers work.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Do the Eagles have a better roster than last year entering training camp? Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks so, arguing that the defending champs have taken a step forward on paper. The offense had to replace tight end Trey Burton with rookie Dallas Goedert, but Mike Wallace might be an upgrade over Torrey Smith and they should see improvement from Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins. Meanwhile, there are questions on the other side of the ball, but the Eagles’ secondary should be better with a healthy Sidney Jones and Ronald Darby working off of a full offseason.
- The Redskins invested a lot in their D-Line after drafting Da’Ron Payne in the first round, and JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington expects big improvement across the board. Their biggest upgrade may come from within, however, now that 2017 first-rounder Jonathan Allen is expected to be completely healthy this fall.
- Former Giants running back Shane Vereen signed with the Saints on Wednesday.