Packers Not Pursuing Dez Bryant
Former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten thinks the Packers would be a logical landing spot for Dez Bryant, but we shouldn’t expect to see the wide receiver land in Green Bay. At this point, the Packers are not engaged with Bryant’s camp and nothing is imminent on that front, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link) hears. 
Shortly after Bryant’s release from the Cowboys, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that the Packers were one of four potential destinations for the veteran. Some would argue that the Packers could use more firepower in the WR department, but Packers decision makers do not agree – or, at the very least, they do not see Bryant as a fit at this time.
Bryant turned down a multi-year offer from the Ravens earlier this offseason, a proposal that would have paid him roughly $21MM over three years. Bryant turned down Baltimore as his preference is to play on a one-year deal and cash in next year. Given the lack of league-wide interest in Bryant at this time, he may already be regretting that decision. Since then, the Ravens have moved on by signing restricted free agent Willie Snead.
Bryant’s lack of production in 2017 is obviously at the root of his employment problems, but one has to imagine his perceived attitude issues are also a factor.
Colts Meet With RB Terrance West
Former Ravens starting running back Terrance West visited the Colts on Tuesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). West also met with the Eagles last week, so it sounds like his market is starting to pick up. 
At this stage of the offseason, the signing of unrestricted free agents no longer counts against the 2019 compensatory draft pick formula. While West has talent, it seems that teams were waiting out the deadline before engaging with him.
In 2016, West led the Ravens in rushing attempts (193), yards on the ground (774) and rushing touchdowns (five). Last year, however, he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry off of 39 attempts and his season ended in October due to a calf injury.
The Colts will use Marlon Mack as their primary running back this year with Robert Turbin and fourth-round rookie Nyheim Hines mixed in. Christine Michael, fifth-round pick Jordan Wilkins, and Josh Ferguson jockeying for position behind them.
Patriots Adjust Phillip Dorsett’s Deal
The Patriots adjusted wide receiver Phillip Dorsett‘s contract in order to open up some cap space. Dorsett was supposed to collect a $450K roster bonus on the fifth day of training camp, but that was slashed to $150K, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, he can collect on the full $450 by achieving $100K in added per-game roster bonuses and $150K in reception incentives. 
It’s not clear how many receptions Dorsett will need in order to achieve that $150K bonus, but it may be challenging at any level. Currently, Dorsett profiles as the Patriots’ fifth wide receiver, behind Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, and Jordan Matthews. Cordarrelle Patterson is also in the mix and the Pats may use him as a wideout in addition to being a return specialist. And, of course, there’s no guarantee that Dorsett makes the roster with special teams ace Matt Slater, Malcolm Mitchell, and Braxton Berrios also under contract.
Dorsett is entering the final year of his deal with the Pats. His $1.1MM base salary is not guaranteed, so the Pats can cut him between now and September without penalty. The Pats could have extended his option through 2019 through the fifth-year option, but it was a no-brainer to decline given his lack of production thus far in the NFL.
Dorsett played sparingly in his first season with the Patriots and totaled just 194 receiving yards. His best season to date came in 2016 when he had 33 catches and 528 yards with two touchdowns for the Colts. Needless to say, the Colts were expecting more of him when taking him in the first round of the 2015 draft.
AFC Notes: Bengals, Jefferson, Colts
The College Advisory Committee told Malik Jefferson to stay in school for another year. After becoming a third-round pick of the Bengals, Jefferson is glad that he didn’t listen.
“It’s not really good feedback,” Jefferson said, via Max Olson of The Athletic. “If a guy wants to come out early, they have to make a decision on their own. Really, if you’re not like a top-10 guy coming out early, it’s just up in the air from there. You just don’t know. Anything can happen.”
Instead of continuing his education without being compensated for playing, Jefferson will now back up Nick Vigil and Vontaze Burfict with a contract worth $3.4MM over four years.
“You say stay in school, but a kid wants to better himself and his future,” Jefferson said. “So you can be making money for the university, struggling, trying to eat dining hall food, waking up early, having to go through extreme pressures and not getting paid for none of that. Or you can not go to school, just play football all day, study film and get better and work out all day and max yourself out.”
Jefferson may be happy with his choice, but in defense of the CAC, the Texas product probably anticipated going late in the first round or somewhere in the second when he declared for the draft.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- The Colts met with safeties Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro on Monday, but Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter) hears that nothing is imminent with either player at this time. Boston and Vaccaro both offer significant starting experience, but the free agent market has been painfully slow to develop for them and other safeties this year.
- Jets linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis struck an agreement with Kansas prosecutors to have his drug-possession charge dropped if he completes one year of probation, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. While with the Chiefs in January, Pierre-Louis was charged with several misdemeanors, including marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Jets signed him to a two-year, $5.25MM deal this offseason.
- The Bills are taking a look at former Cowboys and Bucs defensive end Ryan Russell.
Packers Notes: Bryant, Kizer
Dez Bryant remains unsigned, but former teammate Jason Witten has some thoughts on where he might land.
“I think he’s going to end up going to the Green Bay Packers,” Witten told ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram). “I think that’s a great spot for him. Aaron Rodgers, he throws that back-shoulder throw so well, and Dez [can have] great chemistry with a good quarterback that can put the ball wherever he wants.”
The Packers could be a logical fit for Bryant after the team moving on from Jordy Nelson earlier this offseason. The Packers added a proven weapon for Rodgers in tight end Jimmy Graham, but Bryant would fortify a wide receiver group that is currently headlined by Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and Geronimo Allison.
Here’s more from Green Bay:
- Bryant’s market has been underwhelming, to say the least, but at least two talent evaluators tell Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports they feel he can still be a contributor on the field. “I know his skillset is still there,” one evaluator said. “Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs to get back to those numbers he’s been putting up the previous years with [Tony] Romo. I certainly feel like he can still play at a very high level. He’s a football player and a very good one that’s sometimes misunderstood.” Reportedly, there are a number of teams who are unwilling to consider Bryant for even the league minimum, possibly because of his attitude.
- The Browns apparently didn’t see much in quarterback DeShone Kizer, but the Packers view him as a first-round caliber talent, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. “In my opinion, if he was in that [draft] class this year, he would’ve been part of that group of first four guys, or first five,” coach Mike McCarthy said, in reference to Baker Mayfield (the No. 1 overall pick), Sam Darnold (No. 3), Josh Allen (No. 7), Josh Rosen (No. 10) and Lamar Jackson (No. 32). “I always felt there were five — the five quarterbacks — first-round guys.” The Packers acquired Kizer from Cleveland earlier this offseason in exchange for cornerback Damarious Randall.
- On Tuesday morning, the Packers formally inked first-round cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Bills To Meet With DE Ryan Russell
Buccaneers free agent defensive end Ryan Russell will visit the Bills on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Bills are scoping out the remaining available pass rushers and Russell could be a fit. 
The Bucs non-tendered Russell earlier this year, allowing him to go from a restricted free agent to an unrestricted free agent. Despite starting in seven games for Tampa Bay last year, he has not garnered a ton of interest over the last two months.
In 2017, the former fifth-round pick had two sacks – the most of his career – and 16 total tackles. The advanced metrics were not crazy about his work, however, as he graded out as one of the four worst qualified edge rushers in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
The Bills have revamped their defensive line this year by adding defensive ends Trent Murphy, Owa Odighizuwa, and Terrence Fede as well as defensive tackles Star Lotulelei, Tenny Palepoi, and third-round pick Harrison Phillips. Given the strange nature of Odighizuwa’s previous tenure with the Giants, it only makes sense for the Bills to explore other reserve options at DE.
Rams Waive 2017 Draft Pick
The Rams released 2017 draft pick Sam Rogers on Tuesday morning, per a team announcement. Running back Lenard Tillery was also waived and the team signed undrafted defensive tackle Dalton Keene and UDFA safety Charles Williams to take their places on the roster. 
The fullback made a name for himself at Virginia Tech with his aggressive playing style. The Rams saw him as a tough, versatile player who could contribute on special teams. Last year, he missed the final cut but spent the year on the practice squad. This year, he apparently couldn’t cut it in camp.
The addition of Keene and Williams gives the Rams 16 undrafted rookies on their 90-man roster, plus eleven draft picks. With Rogers out of the picture, the Rams do not have any fullbacks under contract. At running back, the Rams have Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Justin Davis, sixth-round rookie John Kelly, and Kent State UDFA Nick Holley.
Saints’ Kikaha Switches To Drew Rosenhaus
On the cusp of his contract year, Saints outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha has switched agencies. Kikaha is now represented by power agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link). 
Injuries have held Kikaha back over the course of his three-year NFL tenure. The second-round pick out of Washington missed all of 2016 with a torn ACL. Then, last year, he missed four games due to injury, including the final two weeks after suffering an ankle injury. An ankle malady also interrupted his otherwise productive rookie season.
The Saints shopped Kikaha before the 2017 trade deadline, likely in an effort to recoup the draft capital spent on moving up for running back Alvin Kamara. We haven’t heard much on that front this offseason, but Kikaha is thinking about his future beyond 2018 either way.
Last year, Kikaha had four sacks and ten total tackles as a reserve. He saw time on just 209 snaps in total and is likely itching to show what he can do in a larger sample. The Saints project to start Craig Robertson and free agent addition Demario Davis on the strongside and weakside, respectively, putting Kikaha and Manti Te’o in line for bench roles.
Packers Sign CB Jaire Alexander
The Packers announced the signing of first-round pick Jaire Alexander. The cornerback out of Louisville was the No. 18 overall selection in the draft.
Alexander put himself squarely in the Round 1 conversation despite missing time with a knee injury in 2017. Some evaluators had concerns about Alexander’s slender build leading to another injury, but the potential was too much for Green Bay to pass up.
The Packers moved around on draft night and still came away with the cornerback they wanted. The Packers shipped their original pick to the Saints for the No. 27 pick, a fifth-round choice, and the Saints’ first-round selection in 2019. Then, the Packers moved up nine spots by giving up their third and sixth-round choices in a swap with the Seahawks.
Alexander will get an opportunity to prove himself right off the bat with the Packers as he projects to start alongside free agent addition Tramon Williams. Veteran Davon House, 2017 second-round pick Kevin King, and this year’s second-rounder Josh Jackson are also in support.
As shown on PFR’s rookie contract tracker, the Alexander signing leaves Jackson and third-round linebacker Oren Burks as the last remaining unsigned members of the Packers’ draft class.
David Tepper To Purchase Panthers
Steelers’ minority owner David Tepper is expected to sign the deal today to buy the Panthers, league sources tell Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be finalized upon the NFL’s approval at the league meetings on Tuesday, May 22.
The $2.2 billion sale marks a new NFL record, though it was not necessarily the highest bid. During the process, there have been rumblings of bids in the $2.5 billion range. Late last year, there was some talk of a sale in the neighborhood of $3 billion, but that never came to pass.
However, Tepper’s purchase comes mostly in cash, which gave him a leg-up over the competition. He’s also a slam dunk to pass the NFL’s vetting process since he already owns a piece of the Steelers and the Panthers likely wanted to move on from the Jerry Richardson situation as quickly as possible.
The sale is indicative of the continued growth and health of the league, despite some fretting in 2017 over sagging television ratings. It’s also likely a product of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow states to legalize gambling. The decision from the country’s highest court is expected to open up new revenue streams for sports league, boost overall interest, and bring new fans into the fold.
In terms of football operations, it remains to be seen how the purchase affects the team. What we do know, per Schefter, is that Tepper will keep the team in Carolina. Meanwhile, Tepper is hoping to bring the Steeler way to Charlotte as he will emphasize “continuity, stability, progressive thinking on player contract extensions, and not setting the market on free agents,” per Schefter (Twitter link).