Cardinals To Sign CB Marcus Williams
The Cardinals have signed cornerback Marcus Williams, according to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). Williams finished the 2017 season with the Texans. 
Williams started 15 games in three seasons with the Jets, but did not start a contest in 2017. The Jets shopped him last summer and later waived him in October, leading him to Houston. With the Texans, he appeared in ten games as a reserve and totaled 12 tackles, four pass deflections, and came up with an interception against the Seahawks in a late October game. His most notable season came in 2015 when he tallied six interceptions in 13 games with Gang Green.
Williams will now fight for a reserve job on a cornerback depth chart that is presently headlined by Patrick Peterson and Brandon Williams. If the Cardinals can land an impact cornerback early in the draft, they’ll likely have a rookie starting opposite of P2. Other reserve corners in Arizona include C.J. Goodwin, Ronald Zamort, Jonathan Moxey, Jarell Carter, and free agent pickups Bene Benwikere and Louis Young.
Bucs’ Kendell Beckwith Injured In Car Crash
Buccaneers strongside linebacker Kendell Beckwith was involved in a car accident last week in Louisiana, Bucs GM Jason Licht told reporters (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com). Beckwith suffered a fractured ankle in the crash and had to undergo surgery. He will miss a significant portion of the offseason as a result and it’s not clear whether he’ll be ready to go in Week 1. 
“We’re very fortunate that it wasn’t life-threatening,” Licht said (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times). “He’ll be out of OTAs and in training camp, we’ll have a better idea of how far along he is.”
Beckwith, a third round pick in the 2017 draft, fell to the Bucs after suffering a torn ACL. It’s presently unknown whether his broken ankle is on the same leg.
Last year, the Bucs used Beckwith at all three linebacker spots as he appeared in all 16 games with eleven starts. The 23-year-old had 73 total tackles on the year, including a huge 14-tackle game against the Patriots in the first month of the season. Beckwith wasn’t originally ticketed for a starting role, but he wound up playing on 847 snaps as a rookie.
Beckwith’s injury could prompt the Bucs to take a closer look at linebackers in the later rounds of next week’s draft. The team may also lean more heavily on linebacker Adarius Glanton, though he is recovering from an injury of his own after breaking a leg in December (a side note – Glanton recently took on his father’s surname, so he will take the field as Adarius Taylor in the fall).
NFL Draft Rumors: Bengals, Ragnow, Browns
It increasingly sounds like Arkansas center/guard Frank Ragnow has a good chance to be drafted in Round 1, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com hears. The Bengals got a last minute meeting in with Ragnow and it’s possible that they could consider him with the No. 21 overall pick. Pelissero wonders if we could be in for a run on interior linemen towards the back of the first round, with guys like Ragnow, Iowa center James Daniels, Georgia guard Isaiah Wynn and Ohio State center Billy Price (despite his partially torn pec) coming off of the board sooner than expected.
“Those guys are just safe. They’re steady. The bust factor is very low on those guys,” an AFC executive said. “Maybe they’re not the sexiest picks, but worst-case scenario, you’re going to end up with a solid player who can step in and contribute pretty early.”
Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- Most people believe the Browns are zeroed in on a quarterback, but GM John Dorsey isn’t publicly ruling out Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 1 overall (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Of course, draft season is full of smokescreens, so we shouldn’t necessarily take Dorsey’s comments at face value. In all likelihood, the Browns will be selecting their QB of the future with the top pick while considering other players at No. 4.
- Draft visits are officially over, but the Seahawks are still doing their homework. On Thursday night, they’ll dine with Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, Rapoport tweets. The Seahawks pick at No. 18, so they may have to trade up if they want him. It will be interesting to see if they go in that direction since they have opted to trade down in recent drafts.
Breer On NFL Draft, Dolphins, Moore
Have pre-draft workouts gotten out of control? Many in the football world believe that is the case, Albert Breer of The MMQB writes.
“I worked out a guy who was dead because he got smoked by the team that worked him out two days before,” said one NFC assistant coach. “I had some questions about his toughness coming in, but I had to give him a pass on the whole thing. And it’s on the coaches for doing that.”
After a workout season that saw Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson tear his meniscus while working out for the Lions and N.C. State defensive tackle Kentavius Street tear his ACL while with the Giants, it may be time to bring some reform to the way teams conduct auditions with prospects.
Here’s more from Breer:
- The Dolphins say they have the ammo to get into the Top 6 of the draft if there is a player they like, but Breer gets the sense that Miami probably won’t deal up for any of this year’s top quarterbacks. If they stand pat at No. 11, Breer believes that UCLA’s Josh Rosen is the most likely signal caller to fall to them. Of course, Miami has holes to fill elsewhere, so a Ryan Tannehill successor/alternative isn’t necessarily their top priority.
- The Cardinals seem unlikely to make a big play to land one of the best four QBs. However, if a QB they like slips into the bottom part of the Top 10, Breer could see them making a move.
- More than one team prefers Maryland’s D.J Moore to Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, Breer hears. This is consistent with recent buzz we’ve heard about the rise of Moore. Recently, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport categorized Moore as a firm first-round prospect, which is a change from what we were hearing just a couple of weeks ago. Still, Breer thinks Ridley will be the first WR off of the board and pegs the Cowboys as a likely destination since they have a clear need after cutting Dez Bryant.
- Overall, this draft has depth that will lead to better-than-usual quality into the fourth round, Breer writes. However, the feeling is that this group isn’t stocked with blue-chippers, which means that teams in the 20s feel that they essentially have high second-round picks. “(Picks) 20 and 55 may wind up being the same,” one exec said. “The guy in the last third of the first round, you might be paying a first-round premium on him and he’s no different than the guy at 35 to 40. And those guys in the last third of first round, top half of the second, they’re the same not only in ability but value of their role in the game.” Breer wonders if this could hamper the Bills in their efforts to trade up using the No. 22 pick.
2019 Fifth-Year Option Decision Tracker
Teams across the NFL have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2019 options on players who are entering the final year of their rookie contracts. These fifth-year options can only be exercised on first-round picks, and the salaries are determined by where players were drafted and what position they play.
If a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2020, after the conclusion of the 2019 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market a year earlier. Of course, if a 2015 first-rounder is no longer on his rookie contract, there will be no option to exercise or decline. We explained the intricacies of the fifth-year option in a PFR Glossary post, so you can read up on the specific details there.
Soon, we’ll learn the official salary figures for all 2019 fifth-year options. What we do know is that the option salaries for top 10 picks is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. So, because the transition tag for quarterbacks this year was $20.922MM, we already know that Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston‘s fifth-year option will be worth that amount.
With next month’s deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league based on various reports and official announcements. Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions so far:
1. Jameis Winston, QB, $20.922MM (Buccaneers): Exercised
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, $20.922MM (Titans): Exercised
3. Dante Fowler, DE, $14.2MM (Jaguars): Declined
4. Amari Cooper, WR, $13.924MM (Raiders): Exercised
5. Brandon Scherff, G, $12.525MM (Redskins): Exercised
6. Leonard Williams, DE, $14.2MM (Jets): Exercised
7. Kevin White, WR, $13.924MM (Bears): Declined
8. Vic Beasley, DE, $14.2MM (Falcons): Exercised
9. Ereck Flowers, OT, $12.525MM (Giants): Declined
10. Todd Gurley, RB, $9.630MM (Rams): Exercised
11. Trae Waynes, CB, $9.069MM (Vikings): Exercised
12. Danny Shelton, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined
13. Andrus Peat, OL, $9.625MM (Saints): Exercised
14. DeVante Parker, WR, $9.387MM (Dolphins): Exercised
15. Melvin Gordon, RB, $5.605MM (Chargers): Exercised
16. Kevin Johnson, CB, $9.069MM (Texans): Exercised
17. Arik Armstead, DE, $9.046MM (49ers): Exercised
18. Marcus Peters, CB, $9.069MM (Rams): Exercised
19. Cameron Erving, OL, $9.625MM (Chiefs): Declined
20. Nelson Agholor, WR, $9.387MM (Eagles): Exercised
21. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, $9.625MM (Bengals): Declined
22. Bud Dupree, LB, $9.232MM (Steelers): Exercised
23. Shane Ray, LB, $9.232MM (Broncos): Declined
24. D.J. Humphries, OT, $9.625MM (Cardinals): Exercised
25. Shaq Thompson, LB, $9.232MM (Panthers): Exercised
26. Breshad Perriman, WR, $9.387MM (Ravens): Declined
27. Byron Jones, S, $6.26MM (Cowboys): Exercised
28. Laken Tomlinson, G, $9.625MM (49ers): Declined
29. Phillip Dorsett, WR, $9.387MM (Patriots): Declined
30. Damarious Randall, CB, $9.069MM (Browns): Exercised
31. Stephone Anthony, LB, $9.232MM (Dolphins): Declined
32. Malcom Brown, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined
NFL Draft Rumors: Cowboys, Key, Bills
Wednesday marks the final day for NFL draft visits, and we have some notable ones to pass along. Here’s the latest NFL Draft news:
- LSU linebacker/defensive end Arden Key worked out with the Cowboys on Tuesday and met with the Saints on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans is visiting the Bills and Texas tackle Connor Williams is visiting the Packers, Rapoport tweets.
- The Patriots are hosting Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley on a pre-draft visit, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter). The Patriots aren’t known for taking receivers in the first round, but Ridley could be an exception as they look to rebuild that group. Ridley also visited the Bears on Tuesday.
- Maryland wide receiver D.J. Moore seems to be a firm first round prospect, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). For a while, Moore appeared to be a fringe first/second round type, so his stock is improving as the draft draws near. Moore met with the Bills, who pick No. 12 and 22, on Wednesday.
- Ohio State center Billy Price will meet with the Seahawks, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM tweets. Price is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle he suffered during the bench press at the combine. The good news is that Price is expected to be ready in time for training camp.
NFC South Notes: Panthers, Boston, Saints
Safety Tre Boston remains unsigned and Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer wonders if the Chargers free agent’s history of social activism is hampering his market. Much has been written about Eric Reid‘s ongoing unemployment, but Boston was fairly outspoken following the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by a Charlotte police officer two years ago while with the Panthers. For his part, Boston isn’t sure that his public stance in 2016 is working against him.
“I have no idea. But if I told you there’s a 25-year-old out there, no nagging injuries, no off-field issues, [eight] career picks, 180 tackles-plus, [two] sacks, what would you tell me?” Boston said. “I don’t know. I can’t say what upstairs is thinking,” he added. “But I know I have the stats and the numbers to play with the best of them. So for me it’s just being patient. Things are gonna happen.”
Late last month, Boston said that he has drawn interest from the Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, and Giants this offseason. We haven’t heard much about him in recent weeks, however.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- Former Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis is negotiating a settlement over an injury grievance he filed while in New Orleans, multiple sources tell Nick Underhill and Ramon Antonio Vargas of The New Orleans Advocate. Lewis was released by the Saints before the 2016 season as he was dealing with a hip injury that has since required multiple surgeries. In a visit before the 2017 season, Steelers doctors found that he had undergone a “failed surgery,” according to Lewis. Lewis’ issue could be tied to former Saints doctors Deryk Jones and Misty Suri, who were fired after misdiagnosing cornerback Delvin Breaux‘s leg injury.
- The Falcons‘ biggest needs in the upcoming draft include defensive tackle and wide receiver, as George Henry of The Associated Press writes. Atlanta owns the No. 26 pick in the first round and picks in every subsequent round, except for the fifth. The interior defensive line is a need after the departure of Dontari Poe and a pass catcher is needed after losing Taylor Gabriel to free agency.
- Buccaneers wide receiver Adam Humphries inked his restricted free agent tender on Tuesday.
Raiders Work Out Lamarr Houston
The Raiders are hosting veteran pass-rusher Lamarr Houston for a workout today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. If Houston signs with the Raiders, it’ll mark a homecoming for Oakland’s former 2010 second-round pick. 
Houston played the best football of his career when he was with the Raiders for his first four NFL seasons. After signing a five-year, $35MM contract with the Bears, he was unable to keep the momentum going thanks to injuries. In his first three campaigns with Chicago, Houston appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only ten starts.
The Bears cut Houston before the start of the 2017 season, eventually leading him to the injury-marred Texans’ front seven. When Houston was cut by Houston, the Bears brought him back in for the final stretch of the season. In five games with Chicago, he managed four sacks, including two sacks against the Lions on Dec. 16.
There’s reason to believe that Houston can be a solid contributor once again, though perhaps only as a situational pass rusher on limited snaps. If Jon Gruden likes what he sees, it probably won’t cost much for the Raiders to sign him on a one-year deal.
Titans Pick Up Marcus Mariota’s Option
No surprise here, but the Titans will exercise Marcus Mariota‘s fifth-year option. Titans GM Jon Robinson confirmed the news in a radio interview on Wednesday (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky). 
“The plan is over the next couple of days to exercise Marcus Mariota’s fifth-year option,” Robinson said in a press release. “He is an important part of this team, as are a lot of players. We’re excited to have him around here for the next couple of years and hopefully after the next season we can start to figure something out to keep him around him even longer.”
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft, is coming off of another solid season in which he conducted four game-winning drives, the most of any QB in the NFL. Mariota’s numbers weren’t great overall (his 13:15 TD/INT ratio leaves much to be desired), but many of those missteps can be forgiven in light of the injuries he played through last year. Mariota went into the offseason dealing with hamstring, leg, and ankle issues and managed to miss just one start and played through the pain in both of Tennessee’s playoff contests.
In his playoff debut, Mariota led the Titans on a remarkable second half comeback to top the Chiefs in the Wild Card round. In the next round, the Patriots largely kept Mariota in check as he completed less than 60% of his passes and threw for only two touchdowns.
The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Titans can escape the additional 2019 season in the event that his performance suffers for non-health reasons.
Agent Denies Steering Saquon Barkley Away From Browns
Saquon Barkley‘s handlers at Roc Nation do not want the Browns to draft him at No. 1 or No. 4, according to Ben Baskin of Sports Illustrated. However, Barkley’s agent Kim Miale says that’s simply not true. 
“I can say on behalf of our entire team that we would be thrilled for Saquon to go to whichever team drafts him,” Miale wrote to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “We know he will be a resounding success for any team fortunate enough to select him.”
Of course, this could wind up being a non-issue with the Browns. Cleveland is widely expected to take a quarterback – probably Sam Darnold – with the No. 1 overall pick. If Darnold goes at No. 1, there is increasing chatter that the Giants will pounce on Barkley at No. 2, which would satisfy Roc Nation’s goal of putting him in the No. 1 media market, according to SI’s report. However, in the event that the Giants do not take Barkley and the Jets take a QB at No. 3, as expected, this is a story to keep an eye on.
For what it’s worth, Basking hears that Barkley would in fact be “happy” to play for any team that selects him. Meanwhile, Roc Nation may have to do a bit of damage control as they also represent Browns head coach Hue Jackson.