NFC South Notes: Williams, Saints, Falcons
DeAngelo Williams, who was recently informed by the Panthers that he will be released, was unhappy with the team’s support (or lack thereof) last year at the time of his mother’s death. “That was the end. That was it. Nobody came to the funeral,” Williams told WBTV’s Molly Grantham. “The owner didn’t reach out. He didn’t say anything. Never talked to me. Nobody upstairs ever talked to me. The only two people who ever said anything to me was coach Rivera and Dave Gettleman. . . . There’s nothing that coach Rivera and Dave Gettleman can do to me that will make me mad or make me hate them because in my darkest hour they were there for me. More from the NFC South..
- While Williams said the Panthers informed him they didn’t run the ball enough to justify his contract, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer notes that only four teams had more rushes than Carolina last season. Meanwhile, over the last three seasons, only the Texans ran the ball more than the Panthers. Williams’ release had more to do with his declining production and his age, according to a team source.
- Two team negotiators confirmed to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) that the Panthers will get a $1MM 2016 salary cap credit from Williams’ option bonus that’s being prorated by cutting him.
- The Saints have a tough cap situation this offseason and some tough decisions to make. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) would put money on linebacker David Hawthorne, guard Ben Grubbs, and Brodrick Bunkley getting cut. Meanwhile, he sees wide receiver Marques Colston, guard Jahri Evans, and linebacker Curtis Lofton agreeing to pay cuts. Pro Football Rumors recently looked at the Saints’ situation as a part of our ongoing Offseason Outlook series.
- Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter) is hearing from agents that the Falcons are still evaluating which players fit their scheme before re-signing or releasing anyone.
- D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution looked at pending Falcons free agent Javier Arenas. The fifth-year cornerback played just 54 snaps in six games and couldn’t win the nickelback job on the worst defense in the league. It doesn’t seem all that likely that new head coach Dan Quinn will push to re-sign the unrestrictd free agent.
Offseason Outlook: Carolina Panthers
Pending free agents:
- Byron Bell, T
- Chase Blackburn, LB
- Colin Cole, DT
- Ed Dickson, TE
- James Dockery, CB
- Dwan Edwards, DT
- Greg Hardy, DE
- Kevin Matthews, C
- Fernando Velasco, G
- Joe Webb, QB
- Garry Williams, T
Top 10 2015 cap hits:
- Charles Johnson, DE: $20,020,000
- Cam Newton, QB: $14,666,000
- Ryan Kalil, C: $11,795,000
- Thomas Davis, LB: $9,900,000
- Jonathan Stewart, RB: $8,300,000
- Greg Olsen, TE: $7,800,000
- DeAngelo Williams, RB: $6,333,333
- Luke Kuechly, LB: $4,002,283
- Mike Tolbert, RB: $3,425,000
- Graham Gano, K: $3,100,000
Notable coaching changes:
- None
Draft:
- No. 25 overall pick
- No traded picks
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $15.65MM
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2016 for LB Luke Kuechly.
- Top extension candidates: Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly, Josh Norman
- Already released RB DeAngelo Williams, released S Thomas DeCoud, re-signed OL Chris Scott.
Overview
If you need further evidence that the NFC South was the worst division in the NFL last season, it’s this: the Panthers regressed in nearly every major statistical category from 2013 to 2014 — they fell from 10th to 20th in offensive DVOA, while moving No. 3 to No. 14 in in defensive DVOA — shaved five wins off their final record, and gave Derek And
erson two starts at quarterback…and still won the division.
Cam Newton started 14 games — missing Week 1 with a rib injury and Week 15 after being involved in a car accident — and completed 58.5% of his passes for for 3,127 yards an 18 touchdowns; he added another 539 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. It wasn’t a spectacular season, but Newton was playing behind an offensive line that had lost Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton, and throwing to receiving corps that had witnessed the defections of Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Ted Ginn Jr.
Similarly, Carolina’s defense had been ravaged by free agency, as Mike Mitchell, Captain Munnerlyn, and Drayton Florence all left the squad before 2014. Star defensive end Greg Hardy, who had 26 sacks in the two seasons prior, missed all but one game after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following a domestic violence incident. Somehow, though, the Panthers managed to earn a postseason berth despite winning only seven games, and even won a playoff game, defeating the Cardinals in the wild card round before succumbing to the Seahawks in the divisional round.
The Panthers have already begun to overhaul their roster in anticipation of the new league year next month. Today we learned that the club will release longtime running back DeAngelo Williams, a move which will actually cost the team cap space (unless he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut). Williams’ release comes on the heels of Carolina cutting veteran safety Thomas DeCoud last week.
Key Free Agents
Hardy is the clear No. 1 free agent on the Panthers’roster — charges against the 26-year-old were recently dismissed, but it still remains unlikely that he’ll return to Carolina. He played last season under the franchise tag, so the cost to use that tag on him for a second consecutive season would be exorbitant. Moreover, the Panthers seem opposed to retaining Hardy due to the headache he caused last season. While not speaking about Hardy directly, Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman recently asked “Who wants the ticking time bomb?” regarding players with off-the-field concerns.
Elsewhere on the defensive line, the Panthers have two veteran tackles — Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole — eligible for free agency. Both are older free agents (Edwards is 33, Cole 34), but each played in excess of 350 snaps in 2014; Edwards, specifically, saw nearly 600 snaps. Carolina might want to get younger at the position, but a club can never have too much depth up front. Perhaps the team will look to retain at least one of Edwards or Cole on a modest, one-year deal.
Following Gross’ retirement, Byron Bell emerged as the starter at left tackle, but his production was extremely disappointing. Per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Bell ranked as the second-worst tackle in the league, finishing ahead of only Falcons rookie Jake Matthews. Bell wasn’t as bad as the starting right tackle during the early portion of his career, but he was still well below-average. Offensive line figures to be an area the Panthers address either in free agency or the draft, and both Bell and team source indicated today that the 26-year-old won’t be retained.
On the other hand, Carolina should look to retain reserve interior lineman Fernando Velasco, who started seven games last season, seeing action at both guard positions. The 30-year-old Velasco is probably something close to a replacement level talent at this point, but he was an above-average starter as recently as 2012. The Panthers have young players — Amini Silatolu and Trai Turner — at the guard spots, so Velasco could add valuable experience as the backup both there and at center.
27-year-old tight end Ed Dickson landed with in Carolina on a one-year deal prior to 2014 after spending his entire career with the Ravens. He played 532 snaps as the No. 2 TE to Greg Olsen, but wasn’t a standout blocker and caught only 10 passes. Dickson has expressed interest in re-signing with the Panthers on a multi-year deal (a lofty goal), but the club can probably do better.
Possible Cap Casualties
The Panthers don’t have a ton of players who could be pushed off the roster due to salary cap concerns. The only obvious candidate for release might be RB/FB Mike Tolbert, who’s scheduled to count $3.425MM against the cap next season. The 29-year-old is entering the final season of his two-year deal, and Carolina could clear $2.425MM in space by releasing him. He saw just 226 snaps in 2014, but given that the club just cut Williams, Tolbert’s role figures to grow in 2015, making his release unlikely.
Releasing veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Roman Harper could give the Panthers a combined $3MM windfall (if both were post-June 1 cuts). But both saw an extended amount of playing time last season, and performed at a capable level, so cutting them probably doesn’t make sense.
Positions Of Need
Pending any further cost-cutting maneuvers, the Panthers should have roughly $15.65MM of cap space to work with as free agency approaches. It’s not a ton of room, but Gettleman indicated last month that the club wouldn’t have to shop at the “dollar store” this offseason, meaning they probably won’t need to target the bargain-bin type of free agents they have during the past two years (although I would note that many of those low-cost signings worked out rather well).
The No. 1 area of concern on the Panthers roster — offensive line — hasn’t changed since last year. Tackle, specifically, needs to be upgraded, with Bell unlikely to return and right tackle Nate Chandler also not showing improvement. Following King Dunlap‘s re-upping with the Chargers on Sunday, there aren’t many options on the left side. If Michael Roos decides to hold off on retirement, I wonder if the Panthers would pay a premium to land the veteran. Alternatively, Carolina could try for Bryan Bulaga, the top right tackle available, with the intention of moving him back to the left side, the position he played in college. Or, Carolina could sign Bulaga, Doug Free, or another solid right tackle, and pursue a LT upgrade with the No. 25 pick in the draft.
If it solves its problem at tackle, Carolina could then shift its focus to receiver. Kelvin Benjamin was a revelation in his rookie season, but the club could use another weapon opposite him. Luckily, the free agent market for WRs is flush with options. Jeremy Maclin might be a little out the Panthers’ price range, but Torrey Smith could be a viable target. Moving a little further down the list, Michael Crabtree could be signed with the hopes of bounce-back season, or perhaps Denarius Moore tries to restart his career in Carolina.
Assuming that Hardy leaves for greener pastures, the Panthers will also need help at defensive end. In terms of pure skill, Carolina might not find anyone with the talent level that Hardy brings to the table, but there are certainly other options out there. Brandon Graham was solid for the Eagles in 2014, but if reports of him demanding $20MM in guarantees are true, he’d probably be too spendy for the Panthers. If the club continues its strategy of signing seemingly over-the-hill veterans, I could see them adding Osi Umenyiora, who wasn’t great as a stand-up pass-rusher with the Falcons but could succeed if returned to a 4-3 DE role, or taking on a chance on a 35-year-old Dwight Freeney.
Corner could be another area of concern, although Josh Norman and Bene Benwikere played very well, especially near the end of last season. The free agent CB market is barren, so that’s an area that will probably be addressed via the draft instead. With the release of Williams, the Panthers might also look to bring in another back to complement Jonathan Stewart, who often deals with injury concerns. I doubt they’d spend any significant money on the position, but they could bring in someone like Daniel Thomas or Jacquizz Rodgers as a insurance option.
Extension Candidates/Contract Decisions
The most pressing issue in Carolina at the moment is the future of Newton, who is signed through only 2015 thanks to the Panthers exercising his fifth-year option; he’ll be paid $14.67MM during the upcoming season. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported over the weekend that the Panthers and Newton’s reps were set to meet at the combine in Indianapolis to begin discussing an extension, but noted that Newton prefers to let Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson ink out long-term deals first, setting the market for QB deals.
Newton probably won’t see the type of cash that Luck and Wilson will — rather, he’ll probably shoot for an AAV in the $20MM range. He’s already made it clear that he isn’t interested in a Colin Kaepernick-esque contract structure, so it sounds like he’ll be aiming for some relatively large guarantees. The Panthers could use the franchise tag on Newton in 2016 (at a hefty price), but I’d expect the two sides to agree to a deal at some point.
2013 Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly is probably the best inside linebacker in the league, and among the top five or 10 defensive players in the game. The Panthers have a fifth-year option on him that will keep him under contract for the 2016 season at a reasonable rate. But Carolina can now open extension talks with their 23-year-old defensive stalwart, and Kuechly should be able to top the $10MM average salary brought in by Patrick Willis, currently the top earner among inside ILBs.
Olsen will become a free agent at season’s end, at it make sense for the club to get something done with him, as well. With major departures at wide receiver, Olsen (along with Benjamin) became Newton’s primary target, hauling 84 passes for more than 1,000 and six scores. He’ll be 30 years old next month, so he’s not young, but he should still be able to secure a three- or four-year commitment, possibly in the $7-8MM per year range.
Finally, Carolina will probably need to take a look at the contract of veteran defensive end Charles Johnson before the season. The eight-year veteran is scheduled to count $20.02MM against the cap next season, the highest such figure among 4-3 defensive ends. He’s still an excellent player (PFF’s No. 11 4-3 DE), so he’s not a candidate for release, but the Panthers probably need to ask Johnson to restructure his deal, something he’s done in each of the prior two offseasons. He only has two years left on his current pact, which doesn’t leave much room for spreading out prorated bonus money. So instead of a simple restructure, Carolina might need to extend him, tacking on a few years to his contract to make the forthcoming cap hits more palatable.
Overall Outlook
To the casual fan, the Panthers are coming off a highly-successful two-year run during which they made the playoffs in both seasons. More tuned-in observers, however, realize that Carolina was extremely lucky to play in such a subpar division last season, and that there are still numerous holes on the current roster. Newton needs to be re-signed, but Gettleman and head coach Ron Rivera can’t rest until other areas on the team — tackle, receiver, defensive end — are addressed, as well.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Panthers Won’t Re-Sign Byron Bell
5:53pm: A team source confirmed to Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer that Bell won’t return in 2015.
5:07pm: Panthers tackle Byron Bell took to Instagram on Monday to announce that he won’t be returning to Carolina, according to David Newton of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bell’s Instagram is private, but Panthers blog Catscratch Reader has a screenshot of the post.
Bell, 26, first joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico on 2011. The Texas native went on to become a staple on the Panthers’ offensive line over the next four years, appearing in 62 games and making 56 starts.
This past season, Bell lined up at left tackle and the results were not pretty. Bell graded out as the second worst qualified offensive tackle in football with a -33.4 overall rating, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required and recommended). Only Jake Matthews of the Falcons (-36.8) finished lower. Bell just completed a one-year, $2.187MM deal with the Panthers and he might have to take a little less on his next contract.
Panthers, Cam Newton Begin Extension Talks
The Panthers were scheduled to meet with the representatives for quarterback Cam Newton at the combine in Indianapolis today, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, and the two sides are expected to open talks on a contract extension. Newton is under contract for 2015 via his fifth-year option, which will pay him a base salary of $14.67MM.
According to Person, Newton isn’t in a hurry to get a long-term deal hammered out. Instead, the 25-year-old would prefer to wait for Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson to sign extensions, presumably setting the market (and ceiling) for his own contract. Luck is expected to receive an annual average value nearing $25MM, while recent reports have suggested that Wilson could garner a fully guaranteed contract, or something close to it. As Person writes, Newton would probably fall within the $20MM per year range, with a contract comparable to Joe Flacco or Tony Romo.
After Luck and Wilson ink their extensions, Newton will hear Carolina’s offer, and then decide if he’d like to remain with the club for the foreseeable future, says Person. Newton, the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, has made it clear that he isn’t interested in a Colin Kaepernick-like contract structure — the 49ers QB accepted a deal with a hefty total value but little guaranteed money. The Panthers could opt to place the franchise tag on Newton to retain him in 2016, but the one-year cap hit to keep a quarterback is prohibitive.
NFC Mailbags: Cowboys, Panthers, Lions, Rams
We took a look at ESPN.com’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now shift our focus to the NFC…
- Todd Archer took a look at the Cowboys free agents, with a focus on the big names. The writer believes Dez Bryant, Justin Durant, Doug Free and Sterling Moore will be back, but he isn’t optimistic about the return of Rolando McClain and Bruce Carter. The writer notes that he is doubtful about DeMarco Murray re-signing, but he adds that his opinion changes daily.
- David Newton believes the Panthers will mostly pursue the second-tier of free agents this offseason. He mentions general manager Dave Gettleman‘s assertion that the team wouldn’t be shopping at either the “Dollar Store” or “Tiffany’s.”
- Michael Rothstein isn’t under the impression that the Lions negotiations with Ndamukong Suh will hold up talks with free agent kicker Matt Prater. The writer notes that Prater is a priority for the organization, so the timing of the Suh talks are irrelevant.
- If the Rams choose to spend some money in free agency, Nick Wagoner says Chiefs offensive lineman Rodney Hudson could be a realistic target. In regards to the team’s own free agents, Wagoner says tight end Lance Kendricks could prove to be too pricy for the organization.
Combine Pressers: Broncos, Falcons, Panthers, Chiefs
As we’ve done several times over the last couple days, we’re rounding up noteworthy comments from head coaches and general managers from their sessions with the media at the combine in Indianapolis. Here are a few of this afternoon’s highlights, with all links going to Twitter:
Broncos general manager John Elway (via Lindsay Jones of USA Today):
- Elway sidestepped a question about whether or not Peyton Manning‘s contract situation will play a role in the QB’s decision for 2015, but said that he believes the future Hall-of-Famer will return. “We’re hopeful Peyton comes back. We want him back. He has not given me a definitive answer,” Elway said.
- There’s no deadline for Manning to make his decision, according to Elway. That includes March 9, when his 2015 salary becomes guaranteed.
- Elway confirmed that the Broncos intend to use their franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas if the two sides don’t work out a longer-term agreement by March 2.
- Terrance Knighton has recently voiced frustration with the slow process of contract negotiations, and Elway said today that he “can’t calm” that frustration. Per Elway, most deals for free-agents-to-be will be consummated right before the free agent period begins on March 10.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff (via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com):
- The Falcons are excited about the No. 8 overall pick, and while they could go in any number of directions, adding a pass rusher figures to be their preference.
- According to Dimitroff, the team has yet to make any decisions on its current players, including free-agents-to-be or potential cap casualties.
- Dimitroff said today that his first order of business after the club hired Dan Quinn was to discuss the team’s new scheme and how players will fit into that scheme. Presumably, that discussion covered players currently on the roster as well as potential outside targets.
- The general manager stressed that he’s “very excited” about working with Quinn, who will have control over the 53-man roster. The two men will work together, and if there’s a disagreement, the head coach will make the final call, per Dimitroff.
- Dimitroff said there’s no doubt in his mind that Josh McDaniels, who interviewed with the Falcons, will be an NFL head coach again.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera (via David Newton of ESPN.com):
- The Panthers were pretty quiet last year when it came to adding free agent receivers, but Rivera said today that GM Dave Gettleman will pull the trigger on a wideout in the right situation. The head coach also noted that the team needs to find a way to make plays over the top and to stop those plays on defense, which suggests Carolina will be targeting speedy wideouts and/or cornerbacks.
- The Panthers aren’t in the market for a quarterback, per Rivera. While that’s not particularly surprising, given the presence of Cam Newton, it’s a little notable since the former first overall pick is entering the final year of his contract.
- Left tackle Byron Bell, who is eligible for free agency, did some nice things for the Panthers in 2014, according to Rivera. However, the coach didn’t say whether or not the team would look to retain Bell for 2015 and beyond.
Chiefs general manager John Dorsey (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star):
- Asked about free-agent-to-be Justin Houston, Dorsey said discussions with the pass rusher’s agent are “ongoing.” The GM didn’t explicitly say that the Chiefs will franchise Houston if a long-term deal can’t be reached, but he did say he plans on having the NFL’s sack leader back in 2015, which strongly suggests that the tag is in play.
- Kansas City can afford to keep backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who has a cap hit of $4.8MM in 2015, according to Dorsey. However, he didn’t go so far as to say Daniel will return.
- Third-string quarterback Tyler Bray also remains in the Chiefs’ plans for now, per Dorsey.
Combine Pressers: Texans, Giants, Panthers
Earlier today, we recapped some noteworthy comments made by head coaches and general managers who spoke to the media this morning at the combine in Indianapolis. Those press conferences will continue through the afternoon until Falcons head coach Dan Quinn wraps things up with his appearance at 3:00pm central time. Here are some highlights from a few of the recent sessions, with all links going to the Twitter accounts of reporters in attendance:
Texans general manager Rick Smith and head coach Bill O’Brien:
- Asked about how Larry Fitzgerald‘s new contract with the Cardinals might apply to Andre Johnson‘s situation in Houston, Smith said the club may have to address the veteran wideout’s cap number, but hopes to see him spend his entire career with the Texans.
- Smith was very impressed with what he saw from quarterback Ryan Mallett in 2014, and said it was “apparent” he’d picked up leadership traits from Tom Brady during his time with the Pats. Both Smith and O’Brien said they’re hopeful Mallett, a free-agent-to-be, will be back in Houston. That’s not an uncommon sentiment at this time of year, but the enthusiasm coming from the Texans’ brass for Mallett seems genuine, and I’d be surprised if he ends up elsewhere.
- Smith also expressed interest in re-signing cornerback Kareem Jackson.
- While re-signing Mallett is a priority, the Texans intend to look at all the draft-eligible quarterbacks in this year’s class, though the top two likely won’t be available by the time the team picks in the first round.
- O’Brien believes Arian Foster has plenty of football left in him, but wants to try to manage his workload going forward, and identified running back as a position where the team could look to add someone.
- O’Brien called Case Keenum a “very viable” quarterback option for the Texans, though it’s not clear if the head coach meant as a starter, or simply as a piece on the 53-man roster.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin:
- The Giants’ goal is to keep Jason Pierre-Paul on their roster not just for 2015, but for many years beyond that, according to Coughlin, who wants to see JPP retire as a Giant. “How that works out remains to be seen,” he added.
- Asked about his own contract situation, Coughlin said that it’s been set in motion and he hopes to be able to provide an update soon on that front. It sounds as if he may be in line for another one-year contract extension.
- Coughlin had nothing but praise for safety Antrel Rolle, whom he wants to re-sign, but added that the team “obviously” has some financial limitations. The head coach wasn’t quite as enthusiastic when asked about bringing back defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, declining to comment on whether there’s still a place for Kiwanuka on the roster.
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman:
- While he thinks the Panthers’ salary cap situation is in a better place than it used to be, Gettleman cautioned that Carolina is “still not out of the hole,” adding that the team wants to make sure to do things right.
- According to Gettleman, he walked into a situation in which the Panthers had a ton of money tied up in running backs, and is still working his way through it. The GM acknowledged that he has spoken to DeAngelo Williams since the season ended, but declined to say whether the veteran back will remain on the team’s roster for 2015.
- Although he wasn’t talking specifically about Greg Hardy, Gettleman rhetorically asked, “Who wants a ticking time bomb?” when discussing the possibility of drafting or signing players with a history of domestic violence.
- As for Hardy, Gettleman told reporters he has nothing to say about the free agent pass rusher as long as he’s still on Carolina’s exempt list.
South Notes: J. Jones, Titans, Hardy, Jags
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and new head coach Dan Quinn have both expressed in recent weeks how much Julio Jones means to the franchise, but the club has yet to start discussions with the wideout about a contract extension, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Having exercised their fifth-year option on Jones last spring, the Falcons will have Jones under contract at least through the 2015 season, but he’s currently eligible to hit the open market in 2016, so the team figures to open extension talks at some point in the coming weeks or months.
Here’s a round-up of a few more items from around the NFL’s two South divisions:
- Per McClure (via Twitter), the contract that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan signed with the Falcons is a three-year deal.
- Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM (on Twitter) that he gets the sense that the Titans are trying to generate interest for a trade of their No. 2 overall pick.
- Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com examines the Greg Hardy situation, which has become complicated despite the fact that his legal case has been resolved. The Panthers defensive end is a test case for the league’s new personal conduct policy, and the NFL’s decision on him could significantly impact his free agent stock next month.
- Tight end Julius Thomas makes total sense for the Jaguars and should be near the top of their Plan A list, even if he’ll cost more than Marcedes Lewis, opines Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Besides Thomas, another Broncos free agent – free safety Rahim Moore – would be a solid fit for them in his view.
- Our preview of the Saints‘ offseason was published earlier this morning.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Panthers Release Thomas DeCoud
Veteran safety Thomas DeCoud has been released by an NFC South club for the second consecutive offseason. Less than a year after being cut by the Falcons, DeCoud has been let go by the Panthers, the team announced today in a press release. Within the same release, Carolina also confirmed its previously-reported one-year deal with offensive lineman Chris Scott.
DeCoud, who turns 30 next month, started 11 of 15 games for the Panthers in 2014, after having started all but one game he played in during the previous five seasons in Atlanta. The former third-round pick totaled 50 tackles and three passes defended to go along with an interception last season, and ranked 74th out of 87 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).
The Panthers signed DeCoud to a two-year contract back in April that was worth a base value of $3.525MM, including a $500K signing bonus. Half of that bonus will remain on the team’s 2015 cap, counting for $250K in dead money, but Carolina still creates close to $2MM in cap savings by parting ways with the safety.
As for DeCoud, as a seven-year veteran, he won’t have to clear waivers, and is immediately free to sign with another team.
South Notes: Titans, Roos, Panthers, Texans
Late last month, when I considered the idea of the Titans making use of their franchise tag this year, I singled out edge defender Derrick Morgan and punter Brett Kern as the likeliest candidates, but suggested that the club was unlikely to tag anyone. General manager Ruston Webster confirmed as much today, as Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com writes. “I don’t see it as in play,” Webster said of the franchise and transition tags, suggesting that if the Titans decide to bring back players like Morgan, Kern, and kicker Ryan Succop, they’ll simply negotiate new deals rather than locking them up with a tag.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:
- Longtime Titans tackle Michael Roos still hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll play in 2015, a source tells Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link). Presumably, Tennessee is planning to move on without Roos, since there’s a good chance he retires, and he’s eligible for free agency anyway.
- The Panthers have promoted secondary coach Steve Wilks, who also leads the team’s pass defense, to the position of assistant head coach, the club announced today (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that colleagues believe Wilks has a future as a head coach.
- John McClain of the Houston Chronicle takes a look at a few items on the Texans‘ offseason checklist, suggesting that the team has four potential free agents it should “make every effort” to re-sign: cornerback Kareem Jackson, offensive tackle Derek Newton, outside linebacker Brooks Reed, and quarterback Ryan Mallett.
- Speaking of Jackson, the Texans corner appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio (SoundCloud link) today and indicated that he and the team hope to work out a new agreement prior to the start of next month’s free agent period. Jackson added that he wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of being franchised, since he’d prefer more long-term security, though I’d be surprised if Houston used its tag on him anyway, given the cost.