AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bell, Bengals
Is Le’Veon Bell looking for $17MM/year? There have been rumblings about the running back looking for a salary equivalent to Antonio Brown‘s, but as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com understands it, that’s not quite the case. When asked earlier this offseason about how much he would need to take the field, the Steelers star said he wouldn’t take anything less than $14.5MM annually (the value of his franchise tender) over the course of a long-term deal. That answer implies that a deal could be reached for roughly $15MM/year, which may be more realistic.
Here’s more on Bell plus other news out of the AFC North:
- The Steelers seem serious about exploring their running back options in the draft, Fowler writes. Their interest in LSU star Derrius Guice seems genuine, which indicates that the team is prepared for any possible outcome with Bell.
- The Bengals are meeting with safety Eric Reid, but they may just be testing the waters. A contract offer is not immediately on the horizon and the Bengals may wait on any other veteran signings until after the draft, Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer hears. With eleven picks in the draft, the Bengals could find a young cost-controlled rookie safety. Alternatively, the Bengals can preserve their projected trio of sixth-round compensatory picks in 2019, if they wait until May 8 to make a veteran signing.
- The Browns have talent on the defensive line in Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, and Emmanuel Ogbah, but the presence of those players would not preclude the Browns from taking Bradley Chubb at No. 4 overall if they want him, Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com opines. Recently, coach Hue Jackson said that he has dreamed about a scenario in which he has Garrett and Chubb as his top bookends.
Bills OL Richie Incognito May Retire
This could be the end of the line for Bills guard Richie Incognito. Days after firing his agents via Twitter, Incognito has told Peter King of The MMQB (on Twitter) that he is strongly considering retiring, though he might be willing to return for one last season at the right price. Meanwhile, he sounded more definitive about the decision in his conversation with another reporter. 
“I’m done. That’s it,” Incognito tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). “It’s been a long career. Went to the doctor. My liver and kidneys are shutting down. The stress is killing me. It’s just about doing what’s right. I just want to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Incognito, who does not seem likely to reach the Hall of Fame after the Jonathan Martin controversy in Miami, is talking to the Bills about his contract and has until Sunday to change his mind about retiring, King adds (on Twitter).
Incognito may also be motivated by a desire to to turn the tables on the Bills. This offseason, the Bills asked Incognito to accept a reduced base salary, bringing him down to $3.65MM from $6.325MM. The Bills gave him a $1MM bonus in the process, but it was still a significant step back for the veteran.
That sort of contract restructuring is not uncommon in the NFL, but it’s a bit unusual for a player who is coming off of a third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. The advanced metrics also project Incognito as a top performer. Last year, Incognito placed as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked seventh amongst all guards in 2016 and second in ’15, making him the Bills’ top-rated offensive lineman of the last three years.
Incognito will turn 35 in July.
Saints Host OT Austin Howard On Visit
The Saints hosted right tackle Austin Howard for a free agent visit on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Howard has been on the block ever since the Ravens elected not to pick up his option for 2018. 
Howard joined the Ravens on a three-year, $16.5MM free agent deal in March of 2017 after spending the previous three seasons with the Raiders. He’s not a superstar, but he did start in every game for the Ravens at right tackle in 2017. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 offensive tackle last season, which puts him squarely in the category of a starting caliber outside lineman.
At a time when most teams are scrambling for answers at tackle, the Saints are pretty well set on both sides with left tackle Terron Armstead and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk in the starting lineup. The Saints lost Zach Strief to retirement and saw Senio Kelemete sign with the Texans, but Jermon Bushrod was re-signed for depth. Despite his starting experience, Howard would serve as the top backup and Ramcyzk in New Orleans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
New York Giants
- Re-signed: TE Ryan O’Malley
New York Jets
- Re-Signed: OL Dakota Dozier
- Signed RFA Tender: OL Brent Qvale
NFL Draft Rumors: Broncos, Darnold, Vea
The Broncos sent GM John Elway, coach Vance Joseph, and other top executives to watch Sam Darnold work out in Los Angeles on Friday morning, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Darnold, the youngest of this year’s top quarterback prospects, appears to be a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall. It could be a longshot for the Broncos to land him at No. 5, but stranger things have happened and there’s also the possibility of Denver moving up in the order. As a redshirt sophomore, the USC product completed 63.1% of his passes for 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Here’s more NFL Draft news:
- The Redskins will meet with USC running back Ronald Jones on Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. Team president Bruce Allen attended Jones’ pro day earlier this week and apparently came away impressed. Most believe that the Redskins will target a defensive player at No. 13 overall, so Jones might not be in the cards for Washington unless they trade down or acquire an additional pick in the back half of the first round. Jones, who has garnered comparisons to Jamaal Charles for his running style, is among this year’s top players at the position.
- LSU cornerback Donte Jackson has upcoming visits with the Broncos, Bills, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Packers (Twitter link via Jared Tokarz). Jackson ranks 28th on the top 50 list of NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and impressed with a 4.32 second 40-yard-dash at the draft combine.
- Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea will visit with the Bengals on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Cowboys Audition DE Ryan Delair
Former Panthers defensive end Ryan Delaire, who was out of football last year as he recovered from a torn ACL, worked out for the Cowboys on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Delaire played 139 defensive snaps for the Panthers in 2016 in between two separate stints on injured reserve. In six games, Delaire managed five tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.
Last year, he auditioned for the Giants and 49ers, but did not sign with either club. He also discussed a late-season deal with the Eagles in December, but his knee injury prevented him from passing their physical.
The Cowboys made one key defensive end depth signing this week when they inked another ex-Panther, Kony Ealy, to a low-cost one-year deal. If he signs with the Cowboys, Delaire is likely looking at an even cheaper deal with low/no guarantees.
Chiefs Promote Dave Toub To AHC
Chiefs assistant Dave Toub has been given a new title. Toub will continue as the team’s special teams coordinator while also serving as the club’s Assistant Head Coach. 
“Dave has had the opportunity to work with our team on both sides of the football, on the field and in the classroom,” Reid said. “His leadership qualities have entrusted me to promote him to Assistant Head Coach.”
Toub has been the team’s special teams coordinator since 2013. Since then, his name has surfaced as a possible head coaching candidate. The new title – and likely pay bump – may help the Chiefs to ward off other interested suitors down the line.
Since Toub has run KC’s special teams operation, the Chiefs have had ten special teams returns for touchdowns, the most in the NFL over that span. In 2013, they set a new NFL watermark in a single season with 29.9 yards per kick return. Before joining Andy Reid‘s staff, Toub worked with the Bears and Eagles.
Saints Sign Cam Meredith To Offer Sheet
The Saints are signing Bears restricted free agent wide receiver Cameron Meredith to an offer sheet, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The Bears will have an opportunity to match, but they will not receive draft compensation if they decline to do so. 
The offer sheet is a two-year deal worth $9.6MM ($5.4MM guaranteed), plus incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Considering that the Bears declined to use the second-round tender – a one-year, $2.914MM placeholder – it seems unlikely that the Bears will match.
The Saints have a clear need for WR help given their lack of quality options behind starters Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr. The Saints tendered Willie Snead at the original round level, but he is coming off of a down season and can’t be relied upon even if he is retained. Meredith could replace Snead as the Saints’ slot receiver and provide support alongside Tommylee Lewis, Austin Carr, and Paul Turner.
Meredith, 26 in September, is coming off a torn ACL which cost him all of the 2017 season. In 2016, he caught 66 passes for 888 yards in just ten starts.
Rams Release CB Kayvon Webster
The Rams released cornerback Kayvon Webster, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). After adding some high-profile corners this offseason, Webster has apparently been displaced from L.A. 
The Rams signed Webster to a two-year, $7.75MM deal last offseason, reuniting him with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Webster was excited for the opportunity to join up for Denver after being buried on the depth chart behind other corners, including Aqib Talib. Ironically, Talib’s arrival in Los Angeles has helped to push Webster out of the picture.
The Rams, who are now loaded with star power befitting their home city, will start Talib and Marcus Peters at cornerback. Nickell Robey-Coleman will man the slot while free agent pickup Sam Shields and holdovers Kevin Peterson and Troy Hill are among those in support.
Webster suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon during the Rams’ December contest against the Eagles. All in all, he started in eleven games as a Ram, but placed in the lower half of Pro Football Focus’ 121 qualified corners.
Webster will attract interest as a free agent, but teams will be taking a close look at his Achilles as well as his surgically-repaired shoulder.
By cutting Webster, the Rams save roughly $3.5MM against the cap. The move leaves them with just $500K in dead money.
Redskins Notes: Draft, Payne, Vea
The Redskins are expected to target secondary help in the NFL draft, but they’ll have to balance that with other needs. The good news for Washington is that there are late-round safeties such as West Virginia’s Kyzir White, Penn State’s Marcus Allen and Northwestern’s Godwin Igwebuike that the Redskins can target, as Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post writes.
“Depending upon whether you view them as cornerbacks or safeties,” ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper said recently. “Kyzir White, West Virginia, he could go third or fourth round. Marcus Allen, Penn State, could go fourth or fifth round. Godwin Igwebuike from Northwestern could go four to six, in that area. “There’s going to be some guys that drop down a little bit at that spot that have a lot of ability. Igwebuike tested off the charts at the combine.”
The Redskins’ pass defense ranked No. 9 in the NFL last year, but they’ve since traded Kendall Fuller while fellow cornerback Bashaud Breeland continues to float in free agency. Meanwhile, Washington still needs safety depth behind starters D.J. Swearinger and Deshazor Everett.
The Redskins have a history of targeting secondary help on Day 3 of the draft. Last year, they took UCLA corner Fabian Moreau in the third round, Michigan State safety Montae Nicholson in the fourth round, and Auburn cornerback Joshua Holsey in the seventh round.
Here’s more out of D.C.:
- With the No. 13 pick, Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington sees Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne as the odds-on favorite to be the Redskins’ first draft pick. Others likely to be in the mix, in Tandler’s estimation, include University of Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea and Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. He also doesn’t discount the possibility of FSU safety Derwin James landing in D.C. if he has an unexpected slip down the board. Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick and LSU running back Derrius Guice also garner mentions here.
- An offensive player may not be in the mix for the ‘Skins at No. 13 since they have bigger fish to fry, but Tandler wonders aloud if Georgia running back Nick Chubb could be an option for the team in Round 2 or 3. Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in 2015, but he bounced back to run for nearly 2,500 yards in the next two seasons. Chubb shows good power to gut out extra yards, but the Redskins are after a running back who can also catch out of the backfield and he did very little of that in Georgia’s offense.