Jets Interested In LB Erik Walden
Finally, things could be picking up for free agent Erik Walden. The Jets have had talks with the linebacker in recent weeks, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Costello adds that he is a name to keep an eye on for Gang Green. 
Walden had 11.0 sacks for the Colts last year and few expected him to still be available in June. But, for one reason or another, the market has moved like molasses for the 31-year-old (32 in August). Walden fired agent Todd France at the tail end of March when he wasn’t getting enough bites and hired Michael and Jason Katz of CSE Talent as his new representation. His only known visit of the spring came with the Titans after the Colts informed him he wouldn’t be retained.
The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus might help to explain the lack of interest Walden has generated this offseason. Despite his 11 quarterback takedowns last year, he still graded out as one of the six worst edge defenders in the league.
Walden may or may not be a high-impact player for 2017, but he would represent a cheap linebacker addition in the wake of David Harris‘ release. At minimum, a signing like this Jets can help make a case to fans that they’re trying to win, even though the team is clearly in a rebuilding phase.
Browns Cut Tyvis Powell
The Browns have waived defensive back Tyvis Powell, according to a team announcement. Powell came to the Browns in February when he was claimed off waivers from the Seahawks. 
Powell appeared in eight games as rookie with Seattle last season and tallied three tackles. He did not make it into the postseason with the Seahawks, however. Seattle dropped him from the roster just prior to the playoffs in order to clear a spot for Devin Hester.
Powell will now hit the waiver wire, giving the league’s other 31 teams an opportunity to grab him in the next 24 hours. If he clears waivers, he will be a free agent and permitted to sign with any team. If the Seahawks want to reunite with the 6’2″, 211 pound defensive back, this may be their opportunity.
Branden Albert To Report To Jaguars
Finally, the Jaguars will get to see their starting left tackle in action. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone told reporters that Branden Albert has informed him he’ll be at mandatory minicamp next week (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). 
The Jaguars acquired Albert via trade earlier this offseason from the Dolphins, but the tackle has been distant from the team in an effort to renegotiate his contract. With two years to go and little in the way of leverage, the Jaguars have held firm and refused to open talks with the veteran. Albert, it seems, is accepting that he will have to play out the deal that he inked with Miami. He’s scheduled to play out the 2017 season at an $8.9MM cap number. Next year, that figure jumps to $9.6MM.
Unfortunately for Albert, there is zero guaranteed money left on his contract. And even though he’s no longer considered an elite tackle, he feels that he should have a better deal, particularly when considering the way the tackle market exploded this spring.
Last year, Albert registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on Pro Football Focus. He also missed four games due to injury. In his healthier years, however, he vacillated between above average to very good.
Lions’ Golden Tate Wants Extension?
There’s plenty of time left on his current deal, but Golden Tate could be getting ahead of the game. The Lions wide receiver took to Twitter last night with what is an apparent request for a new deal. 
“I hope I’m one of the next ones to get extended,” Tate wrote. “Big plays can come in all shapes and forms, huh?”
Tate, 29 in August, has two years to go on the five-year, $31MM deal he signed with the Lions back in 2014. Tate’s tweet came moments after Julian Edelman agreed to an extension with the Patriots, but there are some key differences between the two situations, namely that Edelman is entering his contract year. Teams are typically reluctant to enter extension talks with players that have two years to go for fear of setting a precedent with others.
Tate was the Lions’ top receiver in 2016 as he hauled in 91 catches for 1,077 yards and four touchdowns. His current deal pays him an average of $6.2MM per season and places him just 26th among receivers, so it’s not hard to see why he would want a pay bump. But, unless he’s willing to drum up some leverage by skipping out on minicamp, it’s not likely that he’ll get what he’s searching for this summer.
If Tate can reprise his 2016 performance, he should be in line for the extension he’s seeking next summer. The Lions inked cornerback Darius Slay, running back Theo Riddick, and punter Sam Martin to new deals when they were one year out from expiration and defensive back Don Carey got a new deal in the midst of his final season under contract.
Jets Sign LB Spencer Paysinger
The Jets have signed linebacker Spencer Paysinger, according to a team announcement. Paysinger will help fill in for the recently released David Harris. 
[RELATED: Jay Cutler, Jets Couldn’t Line Up Visit]
Paysinger, 29 later this month, has spent his entire career to date with Jets rivals. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Giants in 2011. In 2015, he joined up with the Dolphins and has spent the last two seasons in Miami. Last year, Paysinger made 15 appearances (three starts) for Miami, tallying 52 tackles, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries.
The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus rated Paysinger as the 51st best linebacker in the league last year out of 87 qualified players. His 68.4 overall score wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was better than that of the recently re-acquired Demario Davis (58.4) and 2016 first-round pick Darron Lee (38.3).
Jay Cutler, Jets Couldn’t Line Up Visit
Jay Cutler is going from the field to the broadcast booth this year, but before announcing his retirement, Cutler explored his options. The Jets were among the clubs to reach out to Cutler after he was released by the Bears, but timing was ultimately an issue and the two sides never wound up meeting, the quarterback tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (audio link). 
[RELATED: Jets Notes: Eric Decker, Robby Anderson]
“The stars didn’t really align for me to get out there,” Cutler said (transcript via PFT). “By the time I was scheduled to get out there, my buddy Josh ]McCown] had taken a visit and they worked something out with him. It all worked out. I’m happy for him.”
When the Jets reached out to Cutler, the quarterback was up front with the team and said that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue playing. While Cutler was on the fence, the Jets shifted focus to McCown. Reading between the lines, it sounds like Cutler might have continued playing in 2017 had things timed out better between him and Gang Green.
Cutler reportedly also had “strong” interest in joining the Texans, but things didn’t work out on that front either. For now, Cutler’s playing days are in the rear view mirror as he gears up for his new career with FOX, but it’s clear that the QB still has some desire to play. If the right opportunity comes along for Cutler in the next year or two, it seems possible that he’ll listen.
NFC Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Cards, Lions
Free agent linebacker Daryl Washington says that he has been in conversations with a few clubs, though he hopes to land with his “hometown team,” the Cowboys (Twitter link via SiriusXM). In an interview on Wednesday, Washington made a case for why the Cowboys should sign him. It’s not clear if Dallas has real interest in the linebacker, particularly since he has not played a down of football since 2013. On the flipside, he was a Pro Bowl caliber player when he was at his best in Arizona.
More on Dallas and a few other NFC clubs:
- The Giants regard Paul Perkins a three-down running back, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who points out that their opinion of Perkins explains why they didn’t make a splash at the position in free agency. Perkins averaged 4.1 yards per carry on 112 attempts during his rookie year and is now the clear favorite to start over the likes of Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa, Shaun Draughn and Wayne Gallman. “I really like what Paul Perkins has been doing so far,” said RBs coach Craig Johnson. “He ended last season playing like a guy that is ready to take over the job. There is nothing so far in the offseason to show he’s not going to be able to handle that role. But that is today. It’s a long way from today to the opening game.”
- Cardinals GM Steve Keim says he’s still looking to add a handful of veterans to the mix this summer, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. “(Team president) Michael [Bidwill] and I talked about six to eight players, who are still on the street, who could potentially come in and help us,” Keim said in an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7. Urban speculates that Arizona could look into reinforcements at cornerback or even guard if Evan Boehm doesn’t keep moving forward. A running back could also be in order if Andre Ellington and/or Eli Penny disappoint.
- The Cowboys will not be signing any of the players that auditioned for them on Thursday, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star Telegram (on Twitter). That group included quarterback Ryan Nassib and safety Jeron Johnson. The Cowboys will stick with Zac Dysert as a third-string QB for the time being.
- Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis has emerged as a candidate to earn a roster spot with the Lions since signing a reserve/futures contract in January, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. The former Packer has impressed during OTAs, and the Lions have open spots at receiver behind Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and third-round pick Kenny Golladay. “The guy’s a really good route runner — very, very good just in terms of his ability to find open areas,” coach Jim Caldwell said of Abbrederis. “He has good spatial awareness.” The 26-year-old Abbrederis was a return man during his time at Wisconsin, which could further help his cause in cracking Detroit’s roster, notes Meinke.
Patriots, Julian Edelman Agree To Extension
It’s a done deal. The Patriots and Julian Edelman have agreed to a multi-year extension, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Earlier today, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reported that the two sides were nearing agreement.
The two-year, $11MM pact includes $9MM in total guarantees and $7MM in full guarantees, and will keep Edelman in New England through 2019, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Albert Breer of The MMQB (all Twitter links). The contract also comes with a $5MM signing bonus and $4MM in reachable incentives, giving it a $15MM max. 
[RELATED: Patriots Sign Top Pick Derek Rivers]
Edelman, 31, turned in one of his best seasons to date last year. In 2016, Edelman set a new personal watermark in receiving yards (1,106) and also had 98 catches and three touchdowns. Even with Brandin Cooks in the mix and Rob Gronkowski back in the lineup, Edelman still figures to be a top target for Tom Brady.
Edelman was selected with the No. 232 overall pick in the 2009 draft and it’s safe to say that he has outperformed his draft slot. In his rookie season, Edelman had 37 catches for 359 yards and one score. He wasn’t utilized much in the next few regular seasons, but since 2013, he has been a key part of the Pats’ offense. Now, the new contract should allow the Kent State product to complete his career in New England.
Of course, highlighting Edelman’s regular season achievements only tell half of the story with him. Since the Super Bowl era, Edelman ranks third in career playoff receptions with 89, as James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes. He’s behind only Jerry Rice (151) and Reggie Wayne (93) on that all-time list and could very well pass Wayne before he’s through with football.
Bills WR Walter Powell Hit With Suspension
Bills wide receiver/kick returner Walter Powell suspended for the first four games of the season, according to a team announcement. Powell has violated the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. 
Powell, 25, first entered the league as a sixth round pick of the Cardinals in 2014. Since then, he has bounced around the league quite a bit including stints with the Jets, Raiders, and Bills (twice). Powell was hoping to bounce back in 2017 after last year’s campaign was cut short by a November ankle injury.
The Bills are looking a bit thin at wide receiver, particularly when considering how injury prone top receiver Sammy Watkins is, but Powell still didn’t figure to be a major contributor this season. Although Powell had a chance at making the 53-man roster due to his return acumen, it’s not likely that he’ll make the final cut now. The Bills have several other receivers under contract, including free agent additions Corey Brown, Andre Holmes, Rod Streater, and Jeremy Butler.
Cardinals Sign Rookie Haason Reddick
The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed first round pick Haason Reddick. The linebacker was selected with the No. 13 overall pick. 
Reddick, a Temple product, was one of the most incredible stories of this year’s draft class. Reddick first came to school as a preferred walk-on and eventually blossomed into a starter by the time his junior season came around. As a senior, he turned in his best season ever, tallying 65 tackles and 9.5 sacks for the Owls. Reddick even added one interception, three passes defensed, and a fumble recovery. In the months leading up to the draft, Reddick shot up draft boards everywhere to the point where he had some top ten buzz.
As Deone Bucannon recovers from ankle surgery, it seems possible that Reddick could crack the Week 1 starting lineup. The Cardinals project to start Chandler Jones and Markus Golden at the OLB spots with free agent pickup Karlos Dansby and Bucannon in the middle. Free agent outside linebacker Jarvis Jones also figures to see a decent number of snaps.
The Cardinals have now signed all seven members of their draft class. Here’s the complete list of Arizona’s 2017 draft picks:
- 1-13: Haason Reddick, LB (Temple)
- 2-36: Budda Baker, S (Washington)
- 3-98: Chad Williams, WR (Grambling State)
- 4-115: Dorian Johnson, OL (Pittsburgh)
- 5-157: Will Holden, OL (Vanderbilt)
- 5-179: T.J. Logan, RB (North Carolina)
- 6-208: Rudy Ford, S (Auburn)