Offseason In Review News & Rumors

Offseason In Review: Jacksonville Jaguars

July 12th, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

2015 was a good year for the Jaguars on the offensive side of the ball, as quarterback Blake Bortles, running back T.J. Yeldon, and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns showed they can be part of a core that could lift the club out of the AFC South basement. Unfortunately, Jacksonville’s defense didn’t make a similar leap, and the end result was a 5-11 record and another top-five draft pick. But with that draft choice and a bundle of cap space, the Jaguars had an opportunity to make headway this offseason.

Notable signings:

Malik Jackson, DL: Six years, $85.5MM. $31.5MM guaranteed.
Tashaun Gipson, S: Five years, $36MM. $12MM guaranteed.
Chris Ivory, RB: Five years, $32MM. $10MM guaranteed.
Marcedes Lewis, TE: Three years, $12MM. $5MM guaranteed.
Chad Henne, QB: Two years, $8MM. $4.5MM guaranteed.
Prince Amukamara, CB: One year, $5.5MM. $3MM guaranteed. $500K available via incentives.
Brad Nortman, P: Four years, $8.8MM. $1.65MM guaranteed.
Kelvin Beachum, T: One year $4.5MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. Club can exercise $5MM option bonus after 2016 that will lock in remaining four years, $41.5MM, and $13MM guaranteed. $11MM available via incentives and escalators.
Mackenzy Bernadeau, G: Two years, $3MM. $750K guaranteed.
Ryan Davis, DE: One year, $2.553MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.
Abry Jones, DT: One year, $2.553MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.
Bjoern Werner, DE: One year, $755K.
Patrick Omameh, G: One year, $675K.
Jeff Linkenbach, OL: One year, minimum salary benefit.

For the third consecutive year, the Jaguars and general manager Dave Caldwell were among the league leaders in available cap space, and for the third consecutive year, the club entered the free agent market with an aggressive plan. And for the third consecutive year, Jacksonville used its ample funds to target help along the defensive line.

After acquiring Red Bryant and Chris Clemons in 2014 and Jared Odrick in 2015, the Jaguars lured in former Broncos defensive lineman Malik Jackson, handing him the largest deal — in terms of total value — of the 2016 offseason. On its face, the contract looks like it certainly has a higher chance of success than either the Bryant or Clemons pacts. Bryant was nearing 30, and Clemons had already turned 32, when each signed with Jacksonville. Jackson, meanwhile, just turned 26 years old in January, so his deal should take him through the prime of his career.

Detractors would likely note that Jackson has only one season as a full-time starter under his belt, perhaps comparing him to offensive tackle Jermey Parnell, whom the Jags inked to a relatively large contract last offseason despite him only having seven career starts. But Jackson had been a heavily-used rotational lineman for Denver even before last season, playing on half the Broncos’ snaps in both 2013 and 2014 before seeing that percentage jump to about 75% in 2015.

And Jackson has also been quite good. He posted 5.5 sacks last year, a solid figure for a 3-4 defensive end, and earned the seventh-highest pass rush grade among interior rushers, according to Pro Football Focus, which also assigned him positive marks against the run. Jackson will move inside to defensive tackle in Jacksonville’s 4-3 scheme, lining up at the three-technique next to Roy Miller, Odrick, and 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr., who has yet to play an NFL down after tearing his ACL last summer. Head coach Gus Bradley, a former Seahawks defensive coordinator, is likely hoping Jackson can become the Jaguars’ version of Michael Bennett.

Jacksonville didn’t stop trying to improve its defense after inking Jackson, and it shouldn’t have, as the unit hasn’t ranked better than 20th in defensive DVOA during Bradley’s three-year tenure (and actually regressed to 26th last season). The club was especially poor against the pass — 28th in yards allowed through the air, 31st in passing defense DVOA — so after signing cornerback Davon House last offseason, Jacksonville brought in former Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, giving him a five-year deal to roam center field.

The Jaguars’ 2015 safety crop was possibly the worst in the entire NFL last season, as Jonathan Cyprien, Josh Evans, and Sergio Brown were all incredibly unproductive. Brown has since been released, and while Cyprien will compete with James Sample for a starting job, Gipson will bring an air of respectability to the Jacksonville secondary. One of the more effective defensive playmakers in the league, the 25-year-old Gipson ranks third in interceptions among safeties since 2013, the year he became a full-time starter.

Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, the Jaguars added former Giants corner Prince Amukamara, inking him to a one-year deal that contains less than $2MM guaranteed. Although it may seem as though as he’s been in the league forever, Amukamara is still only 27 years old, and he’s expected to man the slot while Aaron Colvin serves a four-game suspension. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Amukamara ends up holding down the job for the entire season, or eventually takes over for House on the outside.

Ryan Davis and Abry Jones will return to northern Florida after being assigned second-round restricted free agent tenders, and the pair will add to what is quickly becoming an above-average defensive line rotation. Davis, 27, is the better player, having posted 10 sacks during the past two seasons despite limited playing time. Jones, meanwhile, isn’t a lock to make the Jags’ 53-man roster given all the team’s options on the interior, and his $2.553MM salary is not guaranteed. Jacksonville also added former first-round defensive end Bjoern Werner on a risk-free deal, hoping to capitalize on the upside that led the Colts to take the Florida State alum with the 24th overall pick in 2013.

On offense, the Jaguars signed former Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum to one of the more creative free agent deals signed this offseason. The club will pay Beachum only $1.5MM in guarantees in 2016, before being forced to decide on a $5MM option bonus that would lock in the rest of the contract (and $13MM in guaranteed money). If Beachum stays healthy and plays well during the upcoming season, Jacksonville would presumably be more than willing to pick up the rest of the deal, which would only average $9MM annually.

Of course, Beachum’s health is no sure thing, as the reason he was forced to agree to such a unique deal was an ACL injury wiped out most of his 2016 season. Recent reports have been positive, as Caldwell recently told reporters there’s a “very high percentage” chance that Beachum will be ready for the start of training camp. If and when he does get back on the field, Beachum isn’t expected to be placed in a competition for the left tackle job with former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel — Beachum, rather, will simply be handed the job, with Joeckel possibly moving to guard.

If Joeckel does lock down the left guard position, then free agent addition Mackenzy Bernadeau will act as the Jacksonville’s top reserve along the interior offensive line. With 49 career starts under his belt, Bernadeau, 30, is more experienced than any member of the Jaguars’ projected starting front five. He’s also extremely versatile, as he boasts starts at three positions — 40 at left guard, seven at right guard, and two at center.

Among the skill positions, the only major new face who will be present at Jaguars’ training camp in a few weeks is running back Chris Ivory, lured away from the Jets with a five-year, $32MM deal. A bruising runner, Ivory finally managed to stay healthy for most of last season and posted the best campaign of his career, rushing for than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns while also managing a career-high 30 receptions. He’ll team with last year’s second-round pick T.J. Yeldon, but after inking a contract that contains $10MM in guarantees, it’s hard to imagine that Ivory won’t see the majority of carries. At the very least, he should get into the end zone often as the team’s go-to back near the goal line.

Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis and quarterback Chad Henne both re-signed with Jacksonville, but neither should have a large role next year if all goes to according to plan. Lewis actually outpaced Julius Thomas snap-wise in 2015 as the latter dealt with injury concerns, but Henne didn’t see a single snap in relief of Blake Bortles. Lewis could act as the in-line, blocking tight end while Thomas acts as the move option next season, but obviously something will have gone terribly wrong if either he or Henne are forced to step in for serious amounts of time.

Continue reading about the Jaguars’ offseason…

Notable losses:

The Jaguars didn’t lose a ton of free agents that played key roles in 2015, but they will see a bit of turnover along their offensive line. Stefen Wisniewski proved valuable on a one-year investment, grading as the No. 19 center in the NFL according to PFF, but he won’t be back in Jacksonville next season, having agreed to a new contact with the Eagles. As such, the Jags will move former guard Brandon Linder to center, and the switch has apparently being going well, at least in the early stages.

Like Wisniewski, guard Zane Beadles played every offensive snap for the Jaguars last year, but unlike Wisniewski, Beadles’ production simply wasn’t there. After signing a five-year, $30MM deal prior to the 2014 season, Beadles started every game during the next two seasons. But Jacksonville cut bait this offseason, clearing out his entire $5.5MM cap charge, and will instead roll with former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel at left guard.

Running back Toby Gerhart was another free agent bust to come out of that 2014 free agent class as the former Viking delivered less than 400 yards on the ground after inking a three-year, $10.5MM contract. Injuries sapped his ability, but Gerhart simply never looked as talented in a full-time role as he did as Adrian Peterson‘s backup. After losing time to Denard Robinson and T.J. Yeldon over the past two seasons, Gerhart was released earlier this year, and has yet to find a landing spot.

Unfortunately for general manager Dave Caldwell, defensive end Chris Clemons was yet another player signed during that 2014 offseason who ultimately didn’t work out. Clemons followed former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to Jacksonville, and the club hoped that he’d have success in the same LEO role that he played with the Seahawks. Last season, Clemons lost his starting job halfway through the season, and ended up grading as the single-worst edge defender in the league, according to PFF. After being cut, Clemons decided to head back to the Pacific Northwest, signing a one-year deal with the Seahawks.

Sergio Brown joined the Jaguars in 2015 after spending several seasons with the Patriots and Colts, and ended up splitting time at safety, starting four games and playing about half the club’s defensive snaps. The 28-year-old posted 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and was also a contributor on special teams. There’s a spot in the NFL for Brown, who can get by playing near the line of scrimmage, but there wasn’t a place for him in Jacksonville after the Jags added Tashaun Gipson.

After being selected with the 38th overall pick in 2012, defensive end Andre Branch never lived up to his draft status. He didn’t become a full-time starter until this past season, and only registered 14 sacks in his four seasons with the Jaguars. Like Brown, Branch is a player who can play a specific role, and he’ll add value as a rotational rusher with his new club, the Dolphins. But Jacksonville continued its augmentation of its defensive line over the past few months, rendering Branch obsolete.

The Jaguars didn’t make an effort to re-sign tight end Clay Harbor, allowing him to join the Patriots while re-upping Marcedes Lewis instead. Perhaps the club wanted to reward Lewis for being something of a franchise icon over the past decade, but Harbor probably offers a lot of what Lewis can bring to the table, and for a much cheaper price. While Lewis will earn $4MM a year (and was handed $5MM guaranteed), Harbor signed for only $3MM over two years with New England.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 36) from the Ravens in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 38) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 146).

The Jaguars traded up on Day 2 of the draft in order to nab UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, whom many (including myself) thought was a candidate to head to Jacksonville in the first round. Although trading up is typically a poor strategy, the Jaguars didn’t give up all that much, sacrificing just 102 cents on the dollar per Jimmy Johnson’s draft value chart and 121 cents on the dollar according to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective. In this specific case, the upside and potential offered by Jack — provided he can stay healthy — was probably worth the risk of moving up.

Draft picks:

1-5: Jalen Ramsey, DB (Florida State)
2-36: Myles Jack, LB (UCLA)
3-69: Yannick Ngakoue, DE/OLB (Maryland)
4-103: Sheldon Day, DT (Notre Dame)
6-181: Tyrone Holmes, DE (Montana)
6-201: Brandon Allen, QB (Arkansas)
7-226: Jonathan Woodard, DE (Central Arkansas)

The football gods were smiling upon the Jaguars during this year’s draft, as the event simply couldn’t have gone much better for Jacksonville. The Cowboys opted to select Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, and reportedly turned down a trade offer from the Ravens, who were looking to move up to No. 4 to choose Jalen Ramsey. Instead, the Jags stayed put at No. 5, and picked up a player whom many considered to be the top talent available in the entire draft.

Ramsey has the ability to play inside corner or safety, but it sounds like he’ll begin his career on the outside in Gus Bradley‘s defense. The model, of course, is Richard Sherman, a player whom Bradley coached in Seattle, and the Jaguars hope that Ramsey will evolve into a lockdown corner who shuts down one half of the field. It’ll be interesting to see if Jacksonville uses Ramsey in the slot at at all during his rookie campaign, or perhaps lines up him against particularly imposing tight ends.

Jacksonville’s run of good luck continued in the second round, as UCLA linebacker Myles Jack was still sitting on the board after pre-draft injury concerns popped up. The Jags traded up with the Ravens to select Jack, whose coverage skills are a perfect fit for today’s NFL. Jack, who also played safety and some running back for the Bruins, saw time at middle linebacker during minicamp, but is expected to play outside during the regular season, likely usurping Dan Skuta.

After adding Malik Jackson in free agency, the Jaguars continued to add to its pass rush via the draft, selecting Yannick Ngakoue, Sheldon Day, Tyrone Holmes, and Jonathan Woodard on Day 3. Day, especially, can be considered something of a steal, as many observers projected him to be picked in the second round. Pro Football Focus, notably, was high on the Notre Dame alum, and graded him as the most productive defensive tackle in the FBS last season.

Extensions and Restructures:

Allen Hurns, WR: Extended though 2020. Four years, $40.05MM. $16MM guaranteed.

There are a number of ways to analyze any contract, and no deal exemplifies that notion better than the extension signed by wide receiver Allen Hurns. On its face, the agreement is for four years and $40.05MM, and ranks 12th among receiver contracts in terms of annual average value. However, another way to look at the pact is to consider that the Jaguars would have likely placed a first-round restricted free agent tender on Hurns in 2017. As a former undrafted free agent, Hurns would have had no other choice but to accept the tender, provided no other club signed him to an offer sheet.

Let’s assume, for simplicity, that the first-round tender next season is worth $4MM (it was $3.635MM this year). So in alternate scenario where Hurns doesn’t sign this extension, he’s controlled through 2017 at a cost of $4.6MM — his scheduled 2016 base salary plus the 2017 first-round tender. It’s possible to argue, then, that this new deal is “effectively” worth $35.45MM over three years, which works out to an average of roughly $11.82MM per year. That AAV would place Hurns seventh among wide receivers instead of 12th. If I were Hurns’ agent, that’s how I’d frame the agreement.

The extension will have wide-reaching implications, not just for receivers around the league, but for the pass-catcher who lines up opposite Hurns. Allen Robinson posted better numbers than Hurns last season, has a higher draft pedigree (Robinson was a second-round pick), and can’t be controlled through the RFA system. Of course, Robinson can’t even negotiate an extension until after the 2016 season, so this discussion is a bit premature, but with the cap continuing to rise, Robinson should easily usurp Hurns’ deal, and could push for more than $15MM annually.

Other:

Extended head coach Gus Bradley through 2017.
Hired Todd Wash as defensive coordinator to replace Bob Babich.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for T Luke Joeckel ($11.902MM).
Learned CB Jalen Ramsey will return by training camp after suffering a knee injury.
Learned DE Jonathan Woodard will miss the 2016 season after tearing his Achilles.
Learned CB Aaron Colvin will be suspended four games (substance abuse policy).
Signed nine undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The Jaguars haven’t seen a huge turnaround under head coach Gus Bradley, as the club has posted four, three, and five wins in each of three seasons during his tenure. Surprisingly (given Bradley’s background), the club’s defense also hasn’t seen much improvement, but Jacksonville’s offense, buoyed by additions like Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, and Allen Hurns, has made the jump to No. 21 in offensive DVOA, its best ranking under Bradley and his staff.

Despite not advancing much in the standings, the Jags extended Bradley through the 2017 season, a move that is likely procedural due to the fact that teams don’t like the head coaches to enter lame-duck seasons. Some observers have deemed 2016 a “make-or-break” season for Bradley, opining that his seat is especially hot given that front office’s level of free agent spending over the past few offseasons. But general manager Dave Caldwell downplayed that sentiment earlier this year, saying that that club had embarked on a four-to-five-year plan when the new staff took over prior to 2013.

Caldwell’s first draft pick, offensive lineman Luke Joeckel, has been an unmitigated disaster in his first three years in the league, struggling so much that the club signed Kelvin Beachum this offseason with the intention of moving Joeckel to guard. As such, there was no chance Jacksonville would exercise its 2017 fifth-year option for Joeckel, which would have paid him nearly $12MM. He’ll play out the last year of his rookie deal, hoping the move inside can salvage his career.

Another of Caldwell’s first-round picks, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL, and Jags fans held their breath after reports that this year’s first-rounder, defensive back Jalen Ramsey, had suffered an injury during rookie minicamp. Luckily, will be ready to return by training camp after undergoing an operation on his meniscus, and he’s reportedly experiencing no physical limitations. Jacksonville’s run of bad rookie luck did continue with seventh-rounder Jonathan Woodard, who will miss the entire season after tearing his Achilles.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Malik Jackson, DL: $10,000,000
Allen Hurns, WR: $9,001,668
Jared Odrick, DL: $8,000,000
Julius Thomas, TE: $7,300,000
Luke Joeckel, OL: $6,745,963
Jermey Parnell, T: $6,500,000
Davon House, CB: $6,000,000
Blake Bortles, QB: $5,633,128
Prince Amukamara, CB: $5,593,750
Kelvin Beachum, T: $5,375,000

The AFC South is one of the more interesting divisions in the NFL, and it seems like any of the four teams could make a run at the crown. The Colts will hope for a healthy season from quarterback Andrew Luck, the Texans will lean on their vaunted defense and a few new offensive additions, and the Titans will rely on growth from signal-caller Marcus Mariota and an improved running game. The Jaguars showed last season their offense can be explosive, and any jump in the win department will likely require development on the defensive side of the ball. Whether the club makes that leap could determine whether head coach Gus Bradley, and possibly general manager Dave Caldwell, returns in 2017.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac , and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Kansas City Chiefs

July 12th, 2016 at 9:34am CST by Sam Robinson

In an offseason with some landmark signings and departures in the AFC West, the Chiefs wound up being the group’s steadiest franchise, opting instead to mostly to keep their core together. After ascending past the first round of the AFC playoff bracket for the first time since the 1993 season, Kansas City stands to return most of its starting lineup this year.

Exactly how good are the Chiefs? That’s a little tough to figure out since the team suffered many of its losses to quality opposition and saw most of its wins come against substandard opposition or quality teams that happened to be depleted at quarterback. The organization has done well to return to the position of an annual postseason contender, but how much further can this group carry this franchise as presently constructed in a division that features the defending Super Bowl champions and a potentially resurgent Raiders team?

Notable signings:

Mitchell Schwartz, T: Five years, $33MM. $12.66MM guaranteed.
Tamba Hali, LB: Three years, $21MM. $11.5MM guaranteed.
Eric Berry, S: One year, $10.806MM. Fully guaranteed. Assigned franchise tag.
Derrick Johnson, LB: Three years, $21MM. $8.75MM guaranteed.
Jaye Howard, DL: Two years, $10MM. $5.76MM guaranteed.
Frank Zombo, LB: Three years, $3.6MM. $500K guaranteed.
Jamell Fleming, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K guaranteed.
Rod Streater, WR: One year, $810K. $10K guaranteed.
Andy Mulumba, LB: One year, $620K. $10K guaranteed.
Stevie Brown, S: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Drew Nowak, C: One year, $525K.
Mike Williams, WR: Contract terms unknown.

The Chiefs entered the offseason with half of their starting defense bound for the UFA market, but they’ll now head into the season with ten starters back from last season’s No. 7-ranked defense. In a continued effort to keep a core together that’s been responsible for the franchise securing two playoff berths in a three-season span for the first time since the 1990s, Kansas City brought back Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, Jaye Howard, and Eric Berry.

After his heroic recovery from cancer, Berry delivered one of his finest seasons to date. The former No. 5 overall pick’s return to full-time status coincided with the Chiefs becoming only the second 1-5 team since the merger to make the playoffs, and Berry blazed to his second All-Pro honor while securing comeback player of the year acclaim.

Berry is viewed as the face of the Chiefs, an organization that has strived for stability since John Dorsey and Andy Reid took over. Because of that, many have expected Berry’s contract to be completed by the July 15 deadline. Kansas City reached a deal on July 15 of last year to make Justin Houston the highest-paid linebacker ever, so despite an offseason where little has emerged from these talks, the 27-year-old Berry is a good bet to be signed. Using Harrison Smith‘s five-year, $51.25MM Vikings extension — one that contains $15.28MM fully guaranteed and averages $10.25MM per year — as a primer should make this pact simpler than Houston’s to negotiate.

The other re-signings should give the Chiefs a good chance at again being a top-10 defense, but the team is now heavily committed financially to two linebackers who will be firmly in their mid-30s by the time their three-year contracts end. The Chiefs picked Dee Ford two years ago in the first round despite Hali and Houston residing in their primes, doing so with the presumed intent to plug in the ex-Auburn edge defender into Hali’s spot once his contract expired. However, Ford has not proven to be up to the task to this point, and Houston’s ACL surgery further clouded the Chiefs’ pass-rushing situation. These factors led to bringing Hali back.

While the 32-year-old lifetime Chief had another Pro Bowl season, Hali’s sack numbers continued to dwindle. He notched 6.5 last season after a six-sack 2014. The 2006 first-round pick finished with at least nine during the previous four slates, and he spent his 10th NFL season battling knee injuries. Committing three years — two are essentially guaranteed — and $21MM to Hali prevented the Chiefs from either attempting to retain Sean Smith or adding a veteran cornerback to help compensate for his defection.

Hali still resides as a quality player, but both he and Ford being employed in K.C. this season shows somewhat of a planning failure. The Chiefs’ clogged 2017 payroll, once cap numbers for the extended veterans balloon, illustrates this.

Set to turn 34 this season, Johnson remains one of the NFL’s top inside linebackers. He’s obviously nearing the finish line, but the identical three-year, $21MM deal fell in line with similar accords given to aging non-rush ‘backers in recent years. Karlos Dansby‘s Browns deal and David Harris‘ Jets pact laid the groundwork for a third Chiefs-Johnson agreement. Johnson’s outplayed both and returned from a 2014-erasing Achilles injury to enhance Kansas City’s run defense. The Chiefs going from 28th to eighth in that span included Johnson as the key variable, and he has a good chance of remaining productive for at least the largely guaranteed portion of his deal — 2016-17.

Kansas City also faced the prospect of losing Howard, but the emerging defensive end’s market didn’t price him out of Missouri. As a result, the Chiefs brought the 27-year-old starter back on a deal hat looks like a team-friendly accord after Howard enjoyed a breakout season. His contract is similar to fellow starting end Allen Bailey‘s 2015 re-up (four years, $25MM). This is the best trio of defensive linemen the Chiefs have housed since they moved to a 3-4 in 2009, and the Howard pact keeps it intact for another year.

Retention represented the theme of the Chiefs’ offseason, but their biggest upgrade came at one of their more troublesome modern-day spots. Mitchell Schwartz will fill a gaping hole at right tackle after becoming one of the best right-edge blockers in football during his latter Browns seasons. The Chiefs haven’t deployed a consistent option at right tackle since the early 2000s, with those famed lines featuring John Tait prior to his 2004 exit.

Schwartz, whose older brother Geoff Schwartz spent time at right tackle for the 2013 Chiefs, rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 tackle last season and No. 2 right tackle. He’ll help fortify an edge that contributed to Alex Smith being sacked a career-high 45 times in each of the past two years. Kansas City will now boast above-average options at both tackle spots and center, with Mitch Morse impressing as a rookie and Eric Fisher improving, after not trotting out many players who could have qualified for that distinction over the past two seasons.

Continue reading about the Chiefs’ offseason…

Husain Abdullah, S: Retired
Jeff Allen, OL
Jason Avant, WR
Tyvon Branch, S
Chase Daniel, QB
Mike DeVito, DE: Retired
Paul Fanaika, G: Released
Ben Grubbs, G: Released, then retired
Sean Smith, CB
Donald Stephenson, T

However, Schwartz’s arrival comes as the Chiefs lost their best-performing incumbent lineman for the third straight season. After Branden Albert and Rodney Hudson signed top-market deals following their strong contract years, Allen continued that string of well-timed proficiency by joining the Texans for four years and $28MM. The Chiefs experimented with Allen at right tackle for parts of two years before he returned to guard and fared much better than his previous stay inside. Allen helped the ground game compensate for Jamaal Charles‘ season-ending injury, helping lead the team to 11 straight victories behind Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware.

The Chiefs will plug in low-investment guards after the former second-round pick’s exit. Allen and Grubbs did not get a chance to play together much last season. A trade acquisition from the Saints, Grubbs’ neck injury came after he played well at left guard during his seven-game Chiefs sample, which doubled as the 31-year-old former Pro Bowler’s last NFL action. But Allen didn’t enter the starting lineup until that seventh game. A lack of guard depth didn’t seem to matter as the Chiefs continued to reel off victories in their friendlier second-half schedule sector, but it might this year now that both are gone.

Kansas City will turn to Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to reassume his right guard post in all likelihood, with fellow 2014 sixth-rounder Zach Fulton set for another crack at a starting job. Neither received good reviews from PFF in their respective years as starters — Fulton in ’14, Duvernay-Tardif last season — but in an era where offensive linemen are taking longer to develop due to practice-time constraints, the Chiefs are banking on enough reps in the system covering for their bargain-buy approach here. Kansas City’s other primary guard competitors are swing tackle Jah Reid, a waiver claim (Jordan Devey) and a fourth-round rookie (Parker Ehinger).

Defensively, the Chiefs will deploy almost the same unit as what Bob Sutton sent out in 2015, except without their No. 1 cornerback from the past three years. The Raiders’ four-year, $38MM offer for Smith went unmatched by the Chiefs, who did not make a serious effort to retain the 6-foot-3 corner. The rangy 29-year-old talent outplayed his three-year, $16.5MM Chiefs deal, and the team’s steady pass defense over the past three years can be partially attributed to their reliance on the right cornerback’s man-coverage prowess.

Without Smith, the Chiefs’ entire cornerback corps will consist of rookie-contract players. They drafted three rookies but will count on either Phillip Gaines or Steven Nelson — third-rounders in 2014 and ’15, respectively — seizing at least one of the three primary corner jobs. Gaines looks like the better bet at this point, having opened last season as the team’s primary slot option. His Week 3 ACL tear induced the Chiefs to unveil a rare two-corner, four-safety dime package, one that left Nelson out of action throughout the season.

Kansas City will need to rely on its corners a bit more because it lost both of the ancillary parts of that four-safety sub package.

Branch parlayed his season as the de facto dime back into a two-year, $8MM deal with the Cardinals, doing so after signing a one-year, $2.1MM Chiefs accord. The former Raiders standout rehabilitated his value while helping the cornerback-limited Chiefs. A UFA before retiring, Abdullah probably could have continued his career as well after being a quality starter in 2014 and a key backup last season. The Chiefs shifted Abdullah to his old safety spot alongside Eric Berry and often shuttled Ron Parker into the slot often, with the since-retired defender further diversifying one of the league’s best back-line contingents.

Despite starting in just two games in his three-season Chiefs tenure, Daniel set a new standard for backup quarterbacks by inking a $7MM-per-year deal to follow Doug Pederson to Philadelphia. The 29-year-old Daniel’s defection opens the door for homegrown talents Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray to attempt to capture the backup job. Neither has thrown an NFL pass, so the Chiefs would be much more vulnerable if Alex Smith went down. Bray currently holds the job out of offseason workouts, but the former 2013 UDFA missed the past two regular seasons due to injuries. A 2014 fifth-rounder, Murray worked as a third-stringer the past two seasons. Both could be competing for one roster spot after the Chiefs drafted Kevin Hogan in this year’s fifth round.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 37), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 105), and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 178) from the 49ers in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 28) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 249).
Acquired a 2016 third-round pick (No. 74) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 106) from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 59).

Draft picks:

2-37: Chris Jones, DT (Mississippi State)
3-74: KeiVarae Russell, DB (Notre Dame)
4-105: Parker Ehinger, G (Cincinnati)
4-106: Eric Murray, CB (Minnesota)
4-126: Demarcus Robinson, WR (Florida)
5-162: Kevin Hogan, QB (Stanford)
5-165: Tyreek Hill, RB/WR (West Alabama)
6-178: D.J. White, CB (Georgia Tech)
6-203: Dadi Nicolas, OLB (Virginia Tech)

After trading back, the Chiefs drafted for talent given their current strength on their defensive line. However, Jones proved to be a disruptive presence in the SEC and could take over as a key depth piece as a rookie after Mike DeVito retired due to concussion concerns. The early-entree draftee should see playing time quickly and may prove to be a higher-ceiling talent than either Jaye Howard or Allen Bailey. Jones is the highest-drafted defensive lineman the Chiefs have selected since Dontari Poe in 2012 and could soon end up replacing the longtime nose tackle up front, given Poe’s contract situation and Howard’s ability to play nose.

The other big takeaway from Kansas City’s draft was its persistent effort to add cornerback depth. The Chiefs entered the draft in dire need of a corner to potentially pair with Marcus Peters, but they did not go about it like a team that knew it had to have a starter.

Instead of filling the need with its first- or second-round pick, Kansas City approached it from a volume standpoint. The strategy will flood the Chiefs’ already-young stable at this position, with Kansas City hoping to unearth at least one immediate contributor from its newest crop. Because as presently constructed, the Chiefs could need it, especially given the state of their pass rush.

Russell excelled at press coverage at Notre Dame despite being just 5-foot-11, and the Chiefs aren’t averse to pressing. Murray graded well in coverage last season, according to Pro Football Focus, with White profiling as another lottery ticket-type grab for a group comprised of two second-year players (Peters and Steven Nelson), one third-year cog who is coming off injury (Phillip Gaines), a trending-down ex-waiver claim (Marcus Cooper) and now three rookies.

It’s a formula that could be tested early. The Chiefs did not hold up well in coverage against quality passing attacks in 2015, but it’s difficult to gauge their readiness. They seemed to improve as the year progressed, only most of said development came against substandard offenses.

Tabbed by most analysts as a depth-level guard, Ehinger will see a cozier path to a starting role than most in his position thanks to the Chiefs’ guard circumstances. The Cincinnati product has experience at tackle as well and graded, per PFF, as a plus pass-blocker in all but one game last season. Of course, he was facing American Athletic Conference opposition.

Hogan will vie with Brady and Murray for the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback job, which hasn’t been this inexperienced since Tyler Palko was forced into action in 2011 — when he went 1-3 as a starter to help keep the Chiefs out of the playoffs — before Kyle Orton arrived as a waiver claim.

Extensions and Restructures:

Travis Kelce, TE: Extended through 2021. Five years, $48.842MM. $10.517MM guaranteed.
Spencer Ware, RB: Extended through 2018. Three years, $4.2MM. $1.6MM guaranteed. $5MM available via incentives.
Charcandrick West, RB: Extended through 2018. Three years, $4.2MM. $1.6MM guaranteed. $6M available via incentives.

The Chiefs have emerged as one of the most build-from-within franchises in the league over the past three years. Their extension for Kelce served as one of many extensions or re-signings under this management’s watch, and the Andy Reid/John Dorsey duo has now extended players drafted under three regimes.

At 26 and entering his fourth season, Kelce has emerged as the No. 2 option in Alex Smith‘s pass-catching pecking order and a top-10 tight end. The Chiefs’ longtime issue finding a steady No. 2 wideout helped place Kelce in this role, and he’s delivered near-identical seasons over the past two years, recording between 860 and 875 receiving yards and scoring five touchdowns in each year. He’s now the league’s second-highest-paid tight end on a per-year basis at $9.37MM and one of the many core players the Chiefs have locked up long-term.

Ware and West aren’t exactly core performers, but they kept Kansas City’s running game afloat better than Jamaal Charles‘ replacements did after he tore his ACL in 2011. The tandem combined for more than 1,250 yards from scrimmage after Charles went down in mid-October and profile as a low-cost power/speed pairing should Charles be unable to return to form.

Neither was set to be eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2018 on their rookie contracts, and these re-ups could be significant for Charles. Now 29 and rehabbing from another knee surgery, the longest-tenured starting back in franchise history is under contract through the ’17 season — but on non-guaranteed $5.3MM and $7MM cap numbers, respectively. Charles not showing his best stuff this season could make him a cap casualty or trade candidate come 2017, when money will be tight for the Chiefs.

Other:

Promoted QBs coach Matt Nagy and spread game analyst Brad Childress to co-offensive coordinator to replace Doug Pederson.
Exercised 2017 fifth-year option for T Eric Fisher ($11.902MM).
Learned LB Justin Houston underwent ACL surgery.
Forfeited 2016 third-round pick, 2017 sixth-round pick, and $250K as a result of free agent tampering.
Claimed OL Jordan Devey off waivers.
Signed, then released, DB Jimmy Wilson.
Signed seven undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

Houston’s surprise surgery could be the biggest road block standing between the Chiefs and their first AFC West title in six years.

The star left outside linebacker’s recovery timeline remains murky going into training camp, but expecting an immediate return to form even if the one-time All-Pro proves able to start in Week 1 seems optimistic. Houston’s ACL issue stands to be a key factor for the Chiefs’ pass defense. A lot will be asked of the supplementary edge defenders and a young corner corps to keep the unit functioning without the operation’s linchpin at his best.

Despite Fisher’s fifth-year option being exercised, putting the middling left tackle in line to be the sixth-highest-paid offensive lineman in 2017, it shapes up as a defining year for the former No. 1 overall pick. Those options being guaranteed against injury only, the Chiefs can still move on from Fisher and his near-$12MM ’17 salary before it becomes fully guaranteed. Although they’re devoid of a surefire left-side option beyond Fisher, the Chiefs could well be over 2017’s projected salary ceiling once a likely Eric Berry extension is processed. However, the Chiefs have enjoyed quality campaigns from most of their contract-year blockers in recent seasons.

Another mid-level campaign could make cutting Fisher, whose best season came in 2015 when Pro Football Focus tabbed him as its No. 36 tackle, a legitimate conversation. It would create cap room for a Dontari Poe extension or franchise tag, neither option seeming feasible right now.

The move from Doug Pederson to a Brad Childress/Matt Nagy co-coordinator arrangement shouldn’t change much. Andy Reid‘s offenses have been among the more consistent in football over the past 16 years. Following his flameout as Vikings head coach, the now-60-year-old Childress spent one season as the Browns’ OC before becoming the spread-game overseer in Kansas City. Just 38, Nagy could prove a rising star after serving under Reid as a coaching intern in Philadelphia as recently as 2009. The former Arena League quarterback spent the past three years coaching K.C.’s signal-callers.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Justin Houston, LB: $19,100,000
Alex Smith, QB: $17,800,000
Jeremy Maclin, WR: $12,400,000
Eric Berry, S: $10,806,000
Eric Fisher, T: $7,060,613
Dontari Poe, DT: $6,146,000
Jamaal Charles, RB: $5,313,500
Allen Bailey, DE: $5,212,500
Ben Grubbs, G: $5,200,000 (dead money)
Rod Streater, WR: $4,810,000

The Chiefs’ quick ascent has been fairly remarkable given how ugly things were at the end of a 2-14 2012 slate. But, if they’re going to take the next step, they’ve positioned that window for the next two years. The Chiefs are committed financially to this nucleus through 2017 and are banking on stability to lift them past the more volatile, and more successful, Broncos and hold off the remade Raiders.

The ’16 season will go a long way toward determining how legitimate the franchise’s prospects at advancing further in the playoffs are. Kansas City has booked only one AFC title game berth since 1970 despite making 14 playoff appearances in that span. But the Chiefs haven’t employed this kind of core since their steady run in the ’90s and that streak could be snapped soon.

Proving they can defeat quality opposition consistently will be paramount as they attempt to climb onto the conference’s top tier. While it’s debatable as to whether that can occur with a limited offense, the Chiefs are likely to be in contention for a playoff spot for the fourth straight year. Of course, to justify the commitment to the current cast, they’ll have to get back there and be a threat to advance.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Arizona Cardinals

July 11th, 2016 at 9:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After eking out a victory in one of the most memorable postseason contests in some time, the Cardinals advanced to the NFC Championship Game — and proceeded to get stomped. But most of the core of a team that finished last season with a 13-3 record, and Arizona also made a few additions through free agent signings, draft picks, and one notable trade.

Notable signings:

Tyvon Branch, S: Two years, $8MM. $5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via incentives.
Drew Stanton, QB: Two years, $6.5MM. $4.5MM guaranteed. $8.7MM available via incentives.
Evan Mathis, G: One year, $4,000,069. $3,000,069 guaranteed. $2MM available via incentives.
Jermaine Gresham, TE: One year, $3.5MM. $3MM guaranteed. $500K available via incentives.
Chris Johnson, RB: One year, $1.5MM. $1MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via incentives.
Drew Butler, P: Two years, $2.4MM. $100K guaranteed.
Jaron Brown, WR: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Tony Jefferson, S: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
D.J. Swearinger, S: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Chris Clemons, S: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Red Bryant, DL: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The Cardinals already possessed an excellent offensive line, having ranked third in adjusted line yards and fifth in adjusted sack rate — both Football Outsiders metrics — in 2015. That front five has the potential to be even better this season, as the club inked former Eagles and Broncos guard Evan Mathis to a one-year deal. Any contract that only spans a single season is typically considered a relatively risk-free endeavor, but Mathis’ pact is especially favorable for Arizona.

Despite the fact that Mathis ranked as the third-best guard in the league last season (and posted the NFL’s best grade in the run game) according to Pro Football Focus, he’ll earn just over $4MM in 2016. For reference, that salary is in line with the scheduled earnings of the likes of Shawn Lauvao and Zane Beadles, both of whom are inferior to Mathis. Though he’s entering his age-35 season, Mathis is still one of the most effective guards in football, and this deal can be deemed a win.

Mathis will be blocking for a Cardinals running back group that includes not only David Johnson and Andre Ellington, but veteran Chris Johnson, who agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5MM. Johnson garnered interest from both the Dolphins and Patriots before re-signing with Arizona, and reportedly turned down more money elsewhere to return to the desert.

Given that he did have offers from other clubs, it’s a tad surprising that Johnson ended up returning to the Cardinals, if only because he could have presumably gotten more playing time elsewhere (especially in Miami). Though some reports have hinted otherwise, Johnson figures to be the clear-cut No. 2 option on the Arizona depth chart, and it will take an injury for him to approach his 196-carry total from last season. Still, Johnson claimed that his “heart was in Arizona,” so the Cardinals’ culture and locker room evidently sold him more than straight cash.

Along the same lines, tight end Jermaine Gresham also asserted he took less money to reunite with the Cardinals. Gresham said he had offers from both the Bears and Jets, including one four-year, $23MM deal that included $12MM in guarantees. Of course, we’re taking Gresham’s word that he had those offers in hand, and we can’t know the exact structure of the rejected contracts. But it seems apparent that players are willing to join (or stay with) Arizona for less money, either in the hopes of winning a championship or because of the club’s strong clubhouse (or both).

Gresham, 28, has never quite lived up to his first-round draft status, and given the weapons available to quarterback Carson Palmer, Gresham probably won’t ever again come close to his career-high in receiving yards (737). But he’s an able and willing blocker, especially in the run game, and for the cost of $3.5MM, he’s a bargain as Arizona’s second tight end behind Darren Fells.

Quarterback Drew Stanton will also return to the Cardinals, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $6.5MM to once again serve as Palmer’s backup. The accord provides a healthy amount of upside for Stanton — who apparently drew interest from the Colts, Titans, Dolphins, and Cowboys — as it contains $8.7MM in available incentives. If Palmer were to suffer another major injury (he’s already undergone two ACL surgeries during his career), Stanton would be well-compensated as the next man up. Arizona, additionally, is reportedly viewing Stanton as a possible successor to Palmer when he eventually hangs up his cleats.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arizona’s only major free agent addition was safety Tyvon Branch, who resurrected his career with the Chiefs last season following an injury-marred end to his tenure with the Raiders. The Cardinals value versatility in their secondary, and Branch, who can play both safety positions and nickel corner, will help the defensive backfield make up for the loss of Tyrann Mathieu if he’s forced to miss any time after tearing his ACL last season.

Like Branch, safety Tony Jefferson will see expanded playing time if Mathieu is absent early in the season, and he could emerge as a full-time player after signing his restricted free agent tender over the offseason. The Cardinals placed the lowest tender on Jefferson, meaning he could have signed an offer sheet with another club and left without Arizona receiving compensation. The Raiders and Texans did express interest in signing Jefferson, and the 24-year-old admitted that he came close to inking a deal with a new team.

The Cardinals also brought back two veterans who recently spent time with the organization, re-signing defensive back Chris Clemons and defensive lineman Red Bryant to minimum salary benefit contracts. The “defensive back” title is a little misleading in the case of Clemons, as he’ll reportedly back up Deone Bucannon at dime linebacker. Bryant, as anyone who’s watched Amazon’s All or Nothing series knows, was simply overjoyed to return to an NFL field last season, and will provide depth on the defensive line once again.

Continue reading about the Cardinals’ offseason…

Kenny Demens, LB
Dwight Freeney, LB
Rashad Johnson, S
Ted Larsen, G
Mike Leach, LS: Retired
Bobby Massie, T
Jerraud Powers, CB
Cory Redding, DL: Released then retired
Lyle Sendlein, C
Bradley Sowell, T
Sean Weatherspoon, LB
Corey White, CB
LaMarr Woodley, LB

Arizona saw upheaval at a couple of position groups this offseason, but no unit will look as different as the Cards’ offensive line, which could see as many as three new starters. Center Lyle Sendlein, at this point, has not been re-signed, and head coach Bruce Arians said earlier this year that he expects Sendlein to retire. Sendlein has had a successful career by almost any definition, as he entered the league as undrafted free agent back in 2007 and wound up starting 124 games for the Cardinals. He’ll be replaced at the pivot by one of A.Q. Shipley or third-round rookie Evan Boehm.

The loss of guard Ted Larsen is a little less momentous. He started 26 games for Arizona over the past two seasons, but consistently ranked near the bottom of PFF’s guard ratings — last season, PFF graded him as one of the ten-worst at his position. Larsen signed a one-year deal with the Bears during the offseason, but the Cardinals have replaced him with Evan Mathis, a better player in all facets of the game.

The most significant defection along the offensive line wasn’t Sendlein or Larsen, but rather right tackle Bobby Massie, who will join Larsen in Chicago after agreeing to a three-year pact. Massie, 26, was never anything more than an average tackle, but he was a known quantity. The Cardinals didn’t seriously entertain re-signing him, largely because they had invested a 2015 first-round pick on tackle D.J. Humphries, who is now expected to man the right side after not seeing a single snap during his rookie season. As such, I listed Arizona as one club that could have interest in free agent tackle Eugene Monroe.

The other area of the Cardinals’ roster that will look a bit different in 2016 is the secondary, and given that the unit ranked fourth in DVOA against the pass last year, it’s not clear that change will be a good thing. Cornerback Jerraud Powers is gone after playing 75% of the team’s defensive snaps last season, inking a deal with the Ravens after also generating interest from the Giants. Arizona expressed some desire to re-sign Powers, but apparently couldn’t come to an agreement on his value (he’ll earn $1.75MM with Baltimore). Powers’ absence leaves a major hole at corner opposite Patrick Peterson, where career special-teamer Justin Bethel currently looks the like the favorite to start.

Fellow defensive back Rashad Johnson also had talks with the Cardinals about a possible return, but the veteran safety said the club never made him an official offer before he signed a one-year deal with the Titans. Johnson saw even more playing time last year than did Powers (about 80% of Arizona’s snaps), but his loss might be a little easier to overcome, as the Cards boast Tyrann Mathieu, Tony Jefferson, Tyvon Branch, and D.J. Swearinger at safety.

Pass-rush specialist Dwight Freeney hasn’t re-upped with the Cardinals to this point, but he’s made it known that he’d prefer to return the desert. Arizona, for their part, is said to be comfortable with their current crop of edge rushers, and would like to get a look at its younger options in camp before turning to Freeney, who posted eight sacks in 11 games last season. Fellow linebacker LaMarr Woodley also looks to be done with the Cardinals, although he won’t be difficult to replace after grading out poorly against the run and pass in only 279 snaps.

Sean Weatherspoon inked a one-year deal with the Cards last season that paid him nearly $4MM, and although he appeared in 13 contests, he didn’t make much of an impact, seeing just 126 snaps. His limitations may have been injury-related, as Weatherspoon was coming off a Achilles tear that cost him nine games in 2014. Nevertheless, inside ‘backer will be manned by Kevin Minter and safety-turned-linebacker Deone Bucannon for the foreseeable future.

Lastly, defensive lineman Cory Redding was released in April, and then decided to call it a career about a month later. The Cardinals have a history of bringing in seemingly over-the-hill veterans and milking their last bit of production, but Redding can be considered a miss for general manager Steve Keim. Redding, 35, was paid $3MM for less than 200 snaps, and wasn’t particularly effective when he was on the field.

Trades:

Acquired LB Chandler Jones from the Patriots in exchange for C/G Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round pick (No. 61)

The most important move of Arizona’s offseason wasn’t a signing, or a loss, or a draft pick. It was a trade that shocked the NFL world in mid-March, as the Cardinals acquired pass-rusher Chandler Jones from the Patriots. From my vantage point, the deal was a clear win for Arizona, as Jonathan Cooper, a former first-round pick, had essentially no value after starting only 11 games during his first three seasons in the league. Handing over the No. 61 pick, then, for Jones — whose 36 sacks since 2012 ranks 10th among edge rushers — was a steal.

Jones’ impending free agent status, and likely contract demands, surely played a role in New England’s justification of the trade. The 26-year-old Jones will play 2016 under his fifth-year option at a price of $7.799MM, and is scheduled to hit free agency next spring. There’s almost no chance Jones actually reaches the open market, as Arizona would likely use the franchise tag on him if the two sides can’t work out a long-term deal. Head coach Bruce Arians, however, was confident that the Cardinals would be able to retain their new sack-master. “When he hits free agency, we’ll have the dollars to make sure he stays,” Arians said in March.

At the time of the trade, reports indicated that Jones would shift from his longtime role as a defensive end in New England to a 3-4 standup linebacker in Arizona’s scheme. That change will have to be worked out during training camp and the preseason, and it’s possible that Jones will play a variety of roles under defensive coordinator James Bettcher. Jones’ 2017 payday could be affected by his specific position, though, as defensive ends cost about $1.5MM more than linebackers under the terms of this year’s franchise tag.

Draft picks:

1-29: Robert Nkemdiche, DL (Ole Miss)
3-92: Brandon Williams, CB (Texas A&M)
4-128: Evan Boehm, C (Missouri)
5-167: Marqui Christian, S (Midwestern State)
5-170: Cole Toner, T (Harvard)
6-205: Harlan Miller, CB (Southeastern Louisiana)

Defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche fell to the 29th pick due to character concerns, but most observers are convinced that the former Ole Miss Rebel will have an immediate impact in the NFL. As Jeff Dooley of Pro Football Focus noted, Nkemdiche wasn’t the most polished or productive collegiate player. He is, however, a measurables freak who oozes potential.

As far as athletic outliers go, Nkemdiche is near the top of the list. He ranked fourth among all draftable defensive lineman in SPARQ score, a metric that compiles combine data and transitions it into a single score. Nkemdiche also grades as a Force Player, a classification developed by Justis Mosqueda that also uses combine numbers to project edge rushers. Clearly, neither metric ensures that Nkemdiche is guaranteed to be an NFL success, but he’ll have every opportunity to prosper in Arizona. He’ll begin his rookie year as rotational rusher, vying for snaps behind Chandler Jones, Calais Campbell, Rodney Gunter, Corey Peters, and others.

Beyond Nkemdiche, the rest of the Cardinals’ draft class earned a middling grade (Mel Kiper of ESPN.com assigned Arizona’s picks a “B-“). Brandon Williams is a former collegiate running back who has only one season of experience at cornerback, and he likely won’t earn much playing time on defense in year one. Evan Boehm, on the other hand, could easily become the Cards’ starter at center, as his only competition is veteran A.Q. Shipley, who’s has trouble holding down starting snaps during his career. At the very least, Boehm figures to be Arizona’s top reserve on the interior, as he can play both center and guard.

Other:

Signed 16 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Carson Palmer, QB: $17,875,000
Larry Fitzgerald, WR: $15,850,000
Calais Campbell, DE: $15,240,000
Patrick Peterson, CB: $13,072,377
Jared Veldheer, T: $9,000,000
Chandler Jones, DE/LB: $7,799,000
Michael Floyd, WR: $7,320,000
Mike Iupati, G: $5,700,000
Evan Mathis, G: $4,000,069
Tyvon Branch, S: $3,500,000

The Cardinals are now one of the best-run franchises in the NFL, a statement that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago. General manager Steve Keim has shown a willingness to use free agency to augment his roster, and isn’t afraid to sacrifice draft pick compensation to acquire a game-changer like Chandler Jones. Head coach Bruce Arians offers not only a colorful personality (and colorful language), but a mastery of offensive concepts that is unparalleled in the league. The NFC West clearly won’t be a cakewalk — the division-rival Seahawks were, along with the Cardinals, were the only other club to rank among the top-five in both offensive and defensive DVOA — but Arizona is well-positioned to make another run at the Super Bowl in 2016.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos

July 11th, 2016 at 10:00am CST by Sam Robinson

Arguably the least talented of the Broncos’ four Peyton Manning-era teams, the 2015 iteration allowed the franchise to collect its third Super Bowl title, and the 2016 version will prepare to defend it in interesting fashion. Denver not only lost its starting quarterback of the past four years but allowed his backup to exit as well, creating a strange scenario for a defending Super Bowl champion.

The Broncos’ quarterback quagmire notwithstanding, they still will probably return nine starters from their No. 1 defense and remain one of the AFC’s favorites. Whereas many once thought Manning’s retirement would double as the end of Denver’s championship window, the team’s dominant defense looks to keep it pried open. But has Denver gambled too much at the game’s most important position to make a realistic title defense?

Notable signings:

Von Miller, LB: One year, $14.26MM. Fully guaranteed. Assigned exclusive franchise tag.
C.J. Anderson, RB: Four years, $18MM. $7.6M guaranteed. Broncos matched Dolphins’ RFA offer sheet.
Donald Stephenson, T: Three years, $14MM. $6MM guaranteed.
Jared Crick, DE: Two years, $4MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Ronnie Hillman, RB: One year, $2MM. $500K guaranteed.
Garrett Graham, TE: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Jordan Norwood, WR: One year, $880K. $50K guaranteed.
Russell Okung, T: One year, $5MM. $3MM available via incentives. Club can exercise $1MM option bonus after 2016 that will lock in remaining four years, $48MM, and $19.5MM guaranteed.
Brandian Ross, CB: One year, $675K.
Shiloh Keo, S: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Dekoda Watson, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The latest in the Broncos’ steady line of franchise tag impasses has predictably been the team’s most complex battle, with Miller having turned down a six-year, $114.5MM deal that would make him the league’s highest-paid defender. His negotiation takes on a much more seminal essence than John Elway‘s previous midsummer value debates. Miller’s team does not feel the full guarantees included in Denver’s initial proposal were sufficient given what Ndamukong Suh and now Fletcher Cox received. Cox’s Eagles deal doesn’t contain more guaranteed cash at signing but includes nearly $60MM in full guarantees within nine months, essentially tethering the defensive tackle to Philadelphia’s payroll for the next three seasons.

However, the Broncos have increased their efforts to retain Miller by Friday’s deadline, pushing more guaranteed money toward the former No. 2 overall pick within the first nine months of the prospective deal. Miller’s camp has not accepted or rejected these new terms, and either way, a resolution is coming this week.

Miller’s options remain the same, realistically speaking: sign a long-term deal by July 15, or play 2016 on the exclusive franchise tag. The 27-year-old pass-rusher has threatened to hold out, refusing to play the season on the tag, but would miss out on $14MM+ if he sat out the season. However, he may need to keep up this threat since the Broncos aren’t negotiating against any other team like the Dolphins were with Suh or Giants with Olivier Vernon.

The Broncos have received an incredible bargain from Miller. In his initial five seasons with the Broncos, Miller earned barely half of what Suh raked in ($60MM) in his five Lions years after being drafted No. 2 overall under the old CBA.

While a Miller-less 2016 could deal a knockout blow to a potential Broncos repeat that rests on its defense’s shoulders, Denver has signed all three of its franchise players under Elway — Matt Prater (2012), Ryan Clady (’13) and Demaryius Thomas (’15) — to long-term deals. And Thomas’ standoff with the Broncos lasted until minutes before the deadline, much like Miller’s could.

The Dolphins’ Suh pact is playing a key role in the Miller talks, and the Fins signing Anderson to an offer sheet also heavily impacted the Broncos’ offseason. The running back will now more than triple what his salary would have been had he signed the low-end RFA tender ($1.67MM) after Denver pulled an about-face of sorts and matched Miami’s offer. Anderson received interest from several teams, with the Bears offering the most money, and it appeared the Broncos miscalculated their starting ball-carrier’s market.

That said, Anderson’s deal may end up benefiting the Broncos if he can continue to be an effective runner. After the Dolphins frontloaded the offer sheet to give the 25-year-old back a $6MM cap number in 2016, the figures drop to $3MM in ’17 and $4.5MM in ’18; the latter three sums are almost completely non-guaranteed. As the salary cap continues to rise, the Broncos may have backed into a favorable agreement with someone who could be their first long-term solution at running back since Terrell Davis.

Their Super Bowl conquest notwithstanding, the Broncos did not receive much from their tackles last season. After Ryan Clady and Ty Sambrailo were lost for the season, Ryan Harris and Michael Schofield underwhelmed. The defending champions’ line will likely feature Okung and Stephenson as its bookends. Each comes with risk.

Stephenson actually slotted below both Harris and Schofield in Pro Football Focus’ 2015 tackle rankings after an injury-plagued season with the Chiefs. Given many chances to start during the past four years, Stephenson couldn’t keep Kansas City’s right tackle job. A third-round pick in 2012, the 6-foot-6 Stephenson has always looked the part but lost his job due to a PED suspension in 2014 and couldn’t hold off replacement-level talent Jah Reid as last season progressed. Gary Kubiak is high on the Broncos’ first free agent signing of 2016, and Stephenson hasn’t been tried as a zone-blocker yet. But the results haven’t come to this point for a player given starter-level money.

Okung also did not receive starter-level cash, at least not guaranteed. The self-represented player took the same two-pronged deal Kelvin Beachum did with the Jaguars as a bet on himself in advance of what will be an audition season for him in Denver. But the soon-to-be 29-year-old Okung didn’t receive any guaranteed money and can be cut easily. The Broncos don’t have another option to plug in here, but if the former Seahawks tackle’s injury-prone ways persist, he may be back in free agency at age 30 and have to accept another short-term deal. Of course, Okung received quite a bit of cash from Seattle as an old-CBA top-10 pick, but he took considerable risk signing this deal.

Had the Broncos known Devontae Booker was going to fall to them in the fourth round, they probably would have moved on from Hillman. Last season’s primary starter, but a player whose production faded badly down the stretch, Hillman did not find much of a market for his services and now looks to be a temporary stopgap behind Anderson while Booker develops. However, this does create an interesting scenario for the Broncos.

After Davis’ knee issues forced a retirement after 2001, the Broncos plugged in numerous backs. They traded four starters — headlined by 2004’s Clinton Portis-for-Champ Bailey swap — in the 2000s and moved on from Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno after they led the team in rushing. Odd circumstances now have the same runners set to reside atop the backfield depth chart for the third straight year.

Graham and Crick represent the latest Kubiak disciples to venture to Denver from Houston. Both are short-term options in all likelihood, having signed later in free agency. Crick struggled across from J.J. Watt last season but is known for his above-average play against the run. Graham may be an insurance policy in case Jeff Heuerman is not ready to take on the starting tight end position for which the Broncos seem to be preparing him.

Notable losses:

Omar Bolden, S
Aaron Brewer, LS: Released
David Bruton, S
Josh Bush, S
Andre Caldwell, WR
Owen Daniels, TE: Released
Vernon Davis, TE
Ryan Harris, T
Malik Jackson, DL
Peyton Manning, QB: Retired
Evan Mathis, G
Lerentee McCray, LB
Brock Osweiler, QB
Tyler Polumbus, OL: Retired
Antonio Smith, DE
Danny Trevathan, LB
Louis Vasquez, G: Released

After one of the greatest stretches of quarterback play in NFL history, Manning declined immensely around October 2014. But, the Broncos rolled to two Super Bowls with their prescient 2012 free agent signing and re-established themselves as one of the league’s powers after years of middling play. Manning quarterbacked the Broncos to four AFC West titles, four first-round byes – Denver was just the fourth team in NFL history to accomplish that feat – and returned from a career-threatening foot injury to lead Denver to three playoff wins to leave the game as a Super Bowl champion.

What happened next for Denver doesn’t have a historical parallel, at least not the way the Broncos did it. By watching Osweiler venture to Houston for four years and $72MM (John Elway didn’t go higher than $16MM AAV for the four-year backup’s late-20s seasons), the Broncos will now be the second Super Bowl champion in the free agency era to watch their top two QBs depart. The 2001 Ravens also signed Elvis Grbac, whose reputation and resume at the time surpassed 2016 Broncos trade acquisition Mark Sanchez.

The 25-year-old Osweiler’s market may have formed when the Eagles signed Sam Bradford to a deal worth $18MM per season, and the Broncos then became linked to just about every available quarterback this offseason — including Bradford — before selecting Paxton Lynch in the first round.

Denver pursued Colin Kaepernick, brought Brian Hoyer in for a visit and was also connected to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown briefly. It will mark the first time since the those Ravens that a defending Super Bowl champion will enter the following season without either of its top two QBs from the championship campaign.

The quintet assigned to block for Manning’s eventual replacement will look much different as well, with the Broncos parting ways with two All-Pro guards. Cutting Vasquez and letting Mathis walk deprives the Broncos of two of the best guards in team history. Vasquez struggled with knee problems last season and did not perform as well as he had during his 2013 All-Pro slate or a 2014 season that saw a relocation to right tackle. The 29-year-old lineman remains unsigned, an indication of his perceived health going into what would be an eighth NFL season.

Mathis battled maladies as well but still finished as Pro Football Focus’ best run-blocking guard in 2015. The emergency signing last summer delivered on his one-year contract, leading a three-guard rotation that also included current left guard Max Garcia. Denver still did not make a concerted effort to retain Mathis, and the All-Pros’ departures leave Garcia and Ty Sambrailo as the projected first-string guards.

The Jaguars and Bears plucked two defensive starters from the Broncos’ roster. Denver went to nearly $11MM per year in an effort to keep Jackson but didn’t make a concerted attempt to re-sign Trevathan.

An analytic Malik Jackson (vertical) s darling in 2013-14 as a part-time player in Jack Del Rio‘s 4-3 defense, Jackson broke out as a starter in his contract year despite playing his third position in three seasons. The former fifth-round pick lined up as a 3-4 five-technique end after spending the ’13 season as a 4-3 three-technique tackle — where he’ll start in Jacksonville — and ’14 slate as a 4-3 end. Jackson became the eighth-highest-paid defensive lineman at $14.25MM per year this offseason, and the Broncos will likely turn to a committee to replace him at right defensive end.

The team’s leading tackler in both of its recent AFC championship seasons, Trevathan functioned as a three-down linebacker as both a 4-3 outside presence under John Fox and on the inside under Wade Phillips. The ex-sixth-round pick’s last full season under Fox produced 152 tackles — the Broncos’ most in a season since Michael Brooks in 1992. Denver did not opt to address the position in the draft or via free agency and will give incumbents Todd Davis and Corey Nelson, former Day 3 draft picks themselves, the chance to slot in alongside Brandon Marshall.

The team does not have a surefire replacement at tight end. Daniels came to Denver a step slower than his Houston days and struggled oftentimes to separate from coverage during the season. But he did produce 517 receiving yards, just 10 more than his 2014 Ravens output and nearly 100 more than Julius Thomas‘ injury-limited 2014 work in Denver, and scored twice in the AFC championship game. After being cut a day before free agency opened, Daniels remains unsigned.

Trades:

Acquired QB Mark Sanchez from the Eagles in exchange for a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
Acquired a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 157) from the Jets in exchange for T Ryan Clady and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 235).
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 26) from the Seahawks in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 31) and a 2016 third-round pick (No. 94).
Acquired a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176) and a 2017 sixth-round pick from the Titans in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 157) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 253).

Going from Clady and Peyton Manning to Russell Okung and Mark Sanchez on a resume page, Denver exchanged nine first-team All-Pro appearances combined for zero. But Manning’s retirement came as a result of a rapid decline, and Clady missed 36 total Broncos games due to foot and knee maladies in 2013 and 2015. Although Clady could still be better than the Broncos’ current tackles, his best days are probably behind him.

The 29-year-old left tackle volunteered to renegotiate his contract, but the sides couldn’t agree on terms, inducing the Broncos to trade their longest-tenured player. A two-time All-Pro prior to the Lisfranc setback in 2013, Clady appeared a step slower in his last starts in Denver in 2014, inducing hesitancy from the team about bringing him back on an $11.6MM cap figure this season.

It was somewhat surprising the Broncos’ veteran quarterback option became Sanchez given his disappointing career to date. The 29-year-old quarterback is a career 56% passer and has just one 20-touchdown pass season to his credit (2011), but like in New York, a lot doesn’t figure to be asked of Sanchez. He’ll have a strong defense and probably the two best wide receivers he’s played with during his career to target. But unlike the Jets in 2009-10 — when Sanchez quarterbacked Gang Green to back-to-back AFC title games — the Broncos’ run game is not an unquestioned offensive centerpiece, however, given the fact four of their offensive line spots will be housed by new full-time starters at those positions.

The Broncos didn’t give up anything of relevance for Sanchez and have him under contract for just one more season. But the former No. 5 overall pick may be the team’s best option under center if it wants to claim a sixth straight AFC West crown.

Draft picks:

1-26: Paxton Lynch, QB (Memphis)
2-63: Adam Gotsis, DT (Georgia Tech)
3-98: Justin Simmons, S (Boston College)
4-136: Devontae Booker, RB (Utah)
5-144: Connor McGovern, G (Missouri)
6-176: Andy Janovich, FB (Nebraska)
6-219: William Parks, S (Arizona)
7-228: Riley Dixon, P (Syracuse)

The final pages of the Broncos’ layered offseason quarterback screenplay led to Lynch becoming the heir apparent Brock Osweiler was supposed to be. Also a 6-foot-7 early-entry prospect considered a developmental player, Lynch is believed to possess a higher ceiling than Osweiler did coming out of college four years ago. Enough so that Jerry Jones publicly lamented not offering enough to the Seahawks to trade up to No. 26. The Memphis alum’s skills aren’t disputed, but Lynch’s timetable is.

Denver going only with Sanchez as a veteran gatekeeper option will force Lynch to the field far quicker than Osweiler got there. The mobile Lynch threw 28 TDs compared to four INTs in the mid-major American Athletic Conference last season but is viewed by most experts as a project. Reports of the Broncos deeming him ahead of schedule notwithstanding, he remains behind Sanchez and Trevor Siemian going into training camp and could need a year to observe. Sanchez might not offer him that luxury, making the Broncos’ quarterback plan a short-term risk at a time when the franchise boasts an otherwise-strong nucleus capable of succeeding in January.

Gotsis and Simmons both figure to be rotational presences as rookies. Viewed as a reach by some, the Georgia Tech product is coming off a torn meniscus and looks to be behind Vance Walker and Jared Crick in the defensive end rotation. Simmons intercepted five passes at Boston College as a senior but won’t start over T.J. Ward or Darian Stewart this season. The latter’s contract expiring after 2016 could create a long-term competition between Simmons and Parks at free safety.

McGovern could end up a starter at right guard soon, should the Broncos deem his strength more important than Ty Sambrailo‘s agility. Both played guard in college before moving to tackle later in their respective careers at Missouri and Colorado State. They figure to be matched up in a head-to-head competition.

Dixon’s arrival may end the Britton Colquitt era despite the incumbent being a key player in the postseason, punting 23 times in the playoffs. He averaged 46.61 yards per boot, exactly a three-yard increase from his regular-season production, and forced the Steelers, Patriots and Panthers to make long drives against the Broncos’ No. 1 defense. That said, the 31-year-old Colquitt has a $4MM cap number, which is the third-highest among punters. The$1.4MM pay cut Colquitt accepted last August did not affect his 2016 salary.

Extensions and Restructures:

Brandon Marshall, LB: Extended through 2020. Four years, $32MM. $15.053MM guaranteed.

The Broncos’ penchant for reaching extensions at or near deadlines continued this June when they retained Marshall a day before teams could rescind tenders assigned to RFAs. Although the June 15 date doesn’t bring the high stakes July 15’s franchise tag deadline does, Marshall’s future in Denver would have become less certain if he played this season on the $2.55MM second-round tender and hit free agency. Marshall becomes the Broncos’ most notable non-rush linebacker extended since they re-upped D.J. Williams in 2008.

As I anticipated in May, Marshall landed on the second tier of 3-4 inside linebacker contacts. His $8MM-AAV deal, which was nearly $2MM more per year than the Bears gave Trevathan, placed the 26-year-old former practice squad player seventh at his respective position — between Brian Cushing and Mychal Kendricks.

Marshall led Broncos ‘backers in snaps the past two seasons and has a longer track record of being a plus coverage player than Trevathan. Denver’s decision not to draft or sign another inside ‘backer pointed to the team prioritizing a Marshall deal, with the former Jaguars fifth-rounder profiling as the only non-rush linebacker on the roster with much experience.

Other:

Declined 2017 fifth-year option for DT Sylvester Williams ($6.757MM).
Learned CB Aqib Talib was shot at a Dallas nightclub.
Signed 21 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

Williams’ 2017 option would have made him the second-highest-paid 3-4 nose tackle in the league, behind only Marcell Dareus, in 2017. And the Bills dynamo earned his contract on the strength of his work in a 4-3 scheme, which is much friendlier to tackles’ stat pages. Williams, who did not flash much as a 4-3 tackle in 2013-14, will also turn 29 in what would have been his fifth-year option season after entering the league a bit later due to a delayed college start. A middling talent who did not factor into the Broncos’ historically elite nickel package last year, Williams has not yet justified that price, so the former North Carolina standout will join DeMarcus Ware and Darian Stewart as expiring defensive starters.

Talib’s situation looms as less certain. The Broncos signed him two years ago to a frontloaded six-year deal that really profiled as a three-year pact with an escape hatch after Year 3. He’s delivered on the six-year, $57MM accord to date but still stood as unlikely to see all six of those years when he signed the deal. Now 30, Talib could be a darkhorse release or trade candidate in 2017 due to this latest off-the-field incident — one that could induce a suspension soon — and the fact that the dead money on his deal shrinks from $11.5MM in 2016 to $2MM in ’17.

However, the Broncos have the cap space to keep Talib on their books next season. So, the top-tier trio of Talib, Chris Harris and Bradley Roby could remain intact going forward if the troika’s highest-paid member continues to produce in 2016. The former first-round pick sees more work against No. 1 receivers, with Harris sticking to the slot on passing downs in most instances, so it’s clear the Broncos value Talib. How much they’ll continue to tolerate from probably their most polarizing player, especially with both Harris and Roby booked long-term at cheaper rates, poses as a key question.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Demaryius Thomas, WR: $15,200,000
Von Miller, LB: $14,129,000
Aqib Talib, CB: $9,968,750
Chris Harris, CB: $9,000,000
DeMarcus Ware, LB: $8,010,418
Derek Wolfe, DE: $6,800,000
Emmanuel Sanders, WR: $6,600,000
C.J. Anderson, RB: $6,000,000
T.J. Ward, S: $5,750,000
Russell Okung, T: $5,200,000

Well-positioned on defense even if it will be tough to repeat 2015’s level of performance, the Broncos stand in good position to vie for another AFC West championship. Assuming Miller signs an extension, the questions for Denver loom inside the hash marks on offense. Like it will be difficult for the defending champions’ defense to replicate that showing, it stands also to be hard to advance deep in the playoffs again with substandard quarterback play. The Broncos’ bold strategy here will play the biggest part in determining how close they can come to defending their title.

Contract information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Cleveland Browns

July 7th, 2016 at 6:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the NBA’s Cavaliers have brought a title back to Cleveland, the city’s true love remains the Browns, a club which is seemingly stuck in a cycle of perpetual reassembly. After once again overhauling their front office and coaching staff, the team finally seems to have to be moving in the right direction, formulating a plan both for free agency and the draft (and sticking to it). The 2016 Browns offseason may not have been flashy, but the organization accomplished a number of goals and — more importantly — accrued assets, all with an eye towards the future.

Notable signings:

Robert Griffin III, QB: Two years, $15MM. $6.75MM guaranteed. Max value of $22MM.
Demario Davis, LB: Two years, $8.1MM. $4.1MM guaranteed.
Alvin Bailey, OL: Three years, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Rahim Moore, S: One year, $1.85MM. $400K guaranteed.
Tank Carder, LB: Two years, $2.5MM. $300K guaranteed.
Don Jones, DB: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Austin Pasztor, OL: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Terrelle Pryor, WR: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Justin Tuggle, LB: One year, $700K.
Patrick Murray, K: One year, $525K.

The Browns entered the free agent period armed with nearly $50MM in cap space, but given that they’re in the midst of a full rebuild, they didn’t figure to spend much of it. And they didn’t, as the club still has roughly $42MM in 2016 cap room. But while Cleveland wasn’t very active over the past several months,the team did manage to ink a few interesting free agents, and former Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is atop that list.

Griffin isn’t the only signal-caller on the Browns’ roster, as Josh McCown, Austin Davis, and third-round rookie Cody Kessler are also under the team’s employ. Cleveland reportedly did not promise Griffin the starting job, but all expectations are that he will be under center come Week 1. Head coach Hue Jackson likely won’t officially name a starter until the preseason begins, but with rumors swirling that McCown could be traded (or released), Griffin is the overwhelming favorite to handle snaps for the Browns.

And for a team in transition, Griffin makes a ton of sense as a high-upside play. There’s no question that Griffin, who is still only 26 years old, never built upon the highs of his 2012 campaign, when he was named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. But despite reports of infighting and constant media attention on his situation in Washington, Griffin handled his time in the nation’s capital relatively well, especially during the past two years when he was benched in favor of Kirk Cousins. Signed to what is effectively a one-year deal with an option for 2017, both Griffin and the Browns have quite a bit to gain from this working relationship.

Cleveland’s only other significant addition on the offensive side of the ball was former Seahawks offensive lineman Alvin Bailey, whom the club lured with a three-year agreement. Bailey never made a true impact during his time with Seattle, although he does have youth on his side, as he won’t turn 25 until next month. However, it’s telling that Bailey could never find his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup on a consistent basis given how poor Seattle’s offensive line has been in recent years (he only played about a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps in 2015). He figures to compete with rookie Shon Coleman for time at right tackle, the only open spot on the Browns’ offensive line.

On defense, the Browns managed to land linebacker Demario Davis, who had spent the entirety of his career with the Jets. Davis, who started all 48 games during the past three seasons with New York, will take over at inside linebacker for Karlos Dansby, who was released. The decision to go forward with Davis over Dansby must have come down to age alone — Davis is 27, Dansby is 34 — as Dansby is clearly the superior player and would have actually been a little bit cheaper in 2016. Dansby is regarded as a solid locker room presence, and given that neither linebacker will be in his prime the next time Cleveland is in contention, it was surprising to see the club make the swap.

In the secondary, veteran Rahim Moore will fill the void at safety left when Tashaun Gipson departed for Jacksonville in free agency. As Roster Resource shows, Moore isn’t locked into a starting job, as he’ll have to compete with Jordan Poyer — who played roughly 40% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps last year — for time at free safety. Although Moore bombed with the Texans after inking a three-year pact (he was benched by November), he was a full-time starter for the Broncos from 2012-2014, so he isn’t lacking in experience.

The Browns also invested resources in two linebackers, Tank Carder and Justin Tuggle, who are primarily special teams players. Carder, for his part, played on more than 80% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps in 2015, and was rewarded for his efforts with a $300K guarantee. The Browns ranked in the middle of the pack in special teams DVOA last year, so perhaps that’s an area of the game where they feel they can show marked improvement on the cheap.

Clearly, the Browns didn’t see much use in using their ample cap space during this free agent period. Rather, the club will continue to carry that cap room over to future seasons, allowing them to spend more freely when they enter a period of contention. It’s a solid strategy, and one that will only help Cleveland in the long run, as there’s little reason for the team to sign a few more veterans in order to improve from, say, three wins to five wins in 2016.

Continue reading about the Browns’ offseason…

Johnson Bademosi, S
Travis Benjamin, WR
Dwayne Bowe, WR: Released
Karlos Dansby, LB: Released
Jim Dray, TE: Released
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB: Waived
Tashaun Gipson, S
Brian Hartline, WR: Released
Alex Mack: Opted out of contract
Johnny Manziel, QB: Waived
Craig Robertson, LB
Mitchell Schwartz, T
Connor Shaw, QB: Waived
Scott Solomon, LB: Waived after being re-signed
Randy Starks, DT: Released
Donte Whitner, S: Released

The Browns saw a mass wave of defections during the free agent period, and while that was probably by design, it’s likely still hard for Cleveland fans to stomach the losses of some of the most talented players on the roster. Some agents voiced a concern that the Browns front office was acting in a hesitant manner during negotiations, and that tenor of talks may have led to a few desertions. As Adam Schefter of ESPN said earlier this year: “Players treat the Browns like it’s a college experience — four years and done.”

While the Browns’ declination to engage with some of their internal free agents made sense based on price or the age of the player, the loss of tackle Mitchell Schwartz was perhaps the most difficult to rationalize. Schwartz is a former-second round pick who was drafted and developed by the Browns, and not only started all 64 possible games during his tenure with the club, but grew into one of the best tackles in the league, ultimately grading out as the sixth-best at his position in 2016, per Pro Football Focus.

The 27-year-old Schwartz drew a decent amount of interest from other teams on the first day of free agency, but after Cleveland reportedly pulled its offer, Schwartz landed with the Chiefs on an entirely reasonable deal. His five-year pact is worth $33MM in total, but only $12.66MM is fully guaranteed. It’s a solid pact, and of the top right tackle contracts in the league, but given Schwartz’s relative youth, excellent play, and history with the organization, his loss struck me as the most surprising among the Browns’ divorces.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, center Alex Mack finally left the Browns after attempting to do two years ago. For those who might not recall, Mack signed an offer sheet with the Jaguars after
being designated as Cleveland’s transition player in 2014 — the Browns matched Jacksonville’s offer, which included an opt-out clause that triggered after the 2015 campaign. Mack utilized that option this offseason, and landed a deal with the Falcons that made him the highest-paid center in the league. Given the presence of 2015 first-rounder Cameron Erving, Mack likely wasn’t a priority for Cleveland’s front office.

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is also gone after posting the type of breakout season that many had been expecting for some time. As Matt Harmon explained in his excellent Reception Perception profile, Benjamin unsurprisingly ran a large percentage of vertical routes (thanks to his speed), but he was also successful when deployed in other fashions. After grabbing 68 passes and nearly crossing the 1,000 yard barrier, Benjamin signed a four-year, $24MM pact with the Chargers.

Benjamin isn’t the only wideout who won’t be back with the Browns in 2016, as both Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline were handed walking papers in the past few months. Bowe, specifically, turned out to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory, managing just five receptions while earning $9.75MM for one season. Entering his age-32 season, Bowe has had a nice career, including a memorable 15-touchdown season with the Chiefs in 2010, but he’s nearing the end of the line. Hartline, meanwhile, can still function as a second or third receiving option, but choosing to save $3MM by releasing him was a no-brainer move by Cleveland.

On defense, safety Tashaun Gipson might not be a household name, but he’s been a worthwhile contributor for a number of seasons. Gipson was reportedly unhappy with the restricted free agent tender Cleveland assigned for the 2015 season, and had been prepared to leave the Browns for some time. The one-time Pro Bowler received $12MM in guarantees as a part of the five-year contract he signed with the Jaguars. Like Schwartz, Gipson was another free agent whom I thought Cleveland might try to retain given his age (25), and I even wondered if the franchise tag might be an option. Executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown admitted the tag would be a possibility for Gipson, but the Browns de facto general manager had hoped to hammer out a long-term deal with his free agent safety.

Cleveland’s other starting safety, veteran Donte Whitner, is also out of the 2016 picture after being cut in April. Whitner was miffed about the timing of his release, and he should’ve been. Instead of being let go prior to the free agent period, Whitner was set loose on the open market three weeks after many clubs had spent their allotted cap space. At 31 years old, he was never going to land a massive deal, but Whitner is still a productive player, and he could have scored a multi-year pact with some guarantees instead of the one-year deal that he’ll now likely have to accept.

We’ve already touched on Cleveland’s release of Karlos Dansby above, but fellow linebacker Craig Robertson also left the club, agreeing to a contract with the Saints after hitting free agency. Robertson has never been particularly adept against the run, but he’s always shined in pass coverage — in 2015, for example, PFF ranked him as the league’s 14th-best ‘backer in the pass game. That’s a valuable asset in today’s NFL, but a linebacker who can’t stay on the field for all three downs probably isn’t much of a value.

A few other veterans won’t be back in Cleveland next year, including safety/special teams ace Johnson Bademosi, who became one of the league’s highest paid special teams players after signing a deal with Detroit that guarantees him $2.9MM fully guaranteed. Jim Dray was released after grading out as one of the worst tight ends in the NFL last season, while defensive lineman Randy Starks was cut in a cost-saving move.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t note that the Browns also waived former first-round pick Johnny Manziel after numerous off-the-field issues. There isn’t much to add to the Manziel saga that hasn’t already been written, as he continues to make headlines with his bizarre and seemingly unhinged behavior. He’s earned a four-game suspension for the 2016 season, but that won’t matter much to the Browns — aside from the possibility that the club might be able to recoup some previously guaranteed money — as they’d already given up on Manziel after only two unproductive, incident-filled seasons.

Trades:

Acquired CB Jamar Taylor and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 250) from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 223).
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick from the Eagles in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 2) and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), and a 2017 third-round pick from the Titans in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176).
Acquired a 2016 third-round pick (No. 93), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 129), and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 168) from the Panthers in exchange for a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 141).
Acquired a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 154) from the Raiders in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100).

And now, we come to the most successful part of the Browns’ offseason. Cleveland made hay through their trades, swinging deals both before and during the draft that allowed them accrue assets in 2016, 2017, and 2018 drafts. Through this series of moves, the Browns demonstrated that they might be using a different value chart than most of the league, perhaps something closer to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective’s model than the traditional, Jimmy Johnson-created table.

The trade to hand over the No. 2 overall pick to the Eagles was Cleveland’s most successful deal, as they acquired roughly 175 cents on the dollar, obtaining a smorgasbord of draft choices that will be of great benefit to the club as it continues its rebuild over the next few seasons. But the move from No. 8 to No. 15 was nearly as valuable, as the Browns received about 148 cents on the dollar from the Titans as the latter moved up to select offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Even in a more fair deal — their pick swap with the Panthers — the Browns came out ahead, getting about 114 cents on the dollar.

Aside from simply winning a number of trades (which is always a positive), the Browns showed that they’ve been reading some of the research available regarding the NFL draft. In a paper published in 2012, economists Cade Massey and Richard Thaler explained that NFL organizations simply aren’t that proficient at making correct decisions in the draft, so trading down and amassing more picks is the smarter strategy — in other words, clubs need to give themselves more bites at the apple. Additionally, the pair discovered that choices at the top of the draft are dramatically overvalued; mid-round picks are far more likely to provide surplus value.

And that’s essentially what the draft is all about — asset management. Call it “analytics,” call it “Moneyball,” call it whatever you like. But a front office that isn’t trying to squeeze out every remaining bit of value from an asset isn’t doing its job. The Browns made the most of the hand they were dealt this offseason, and despite the organization’s history of ineptitude, they are now firmly on the right track.

Draft picks:

1-15: Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)
2-32: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB (Oklahoma State)
3-65: Carl Nassib, DE (Penn State)
3-76: Shon Coleman, T (Auburn)
3-93: Cody Kessler, QB (USC)
4-99: Joe Schobert, LB (Wisconsin)
4-114: Ricardo Louis, WR (Auburn)
4-129: Derrick Kindred, S (TCU)
4-138: Seth DeValve, WR/TE (Princeton)
5-154: Jordan Payton, WR (UCLA)
5-168: Spencer Drango, OL (Baylor)
5-172: Rashard Higgins, WR (Colorado State)
5-173: Trey Caldwell, CB (Louisiana-Monroe)
7-250: Scooby Wright, LB (Arizona)

The Browns acquired a bundle of future draft choices, but they also accrued a multitude of 2016 picks — 14, to be exact, three more than any other club. The strategy to obtain a horde of picks won’t matter much, however, if the majority of Cleveland’s selections don’t pan out. But the club did seem to employ the practice of positional-based drafting. Of the Browns’ 14 picks, 10 play the “high-value” positions — quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. (That total rises to 12-of-14 if Joe Schobert is counted as pass rusher and Spencer Drango is viewed as a tackle rather than a guard.)

Of Cleveland’s 2016 class, Corey Coleman is the favorite to offer the most immediate contribution. The speedy pass-catcher might have some work to do in terms of learning a more complete route tree, but at the very least, he can act as a deep-ball weapon during his rookie season. Fellow receiver Rashard Higgins doesn’t offer the measurables of Coleman, but he was well-reviewed by a number of draftniks, and is on pace to start opposite Coleman on the outside.

Offensive tackle Shon Coleman also has a chance to start as a rookie, as he’ll be engaged in a training camp battle with Alvin Bailey, with the winner taking up the mantle at right tackle. Cody Kessler, a third-round pick like Coleman, has been bandied about as a potential 2016 starter, but that seems highly unlikely. Many observers were surprised that Kessler was chosen as high as he was, and he could probably use another year (or two) of seasoning.

On defense, Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib will have every opportunity to earn roles as situational pass-rushers early in the season. Ogbah, a collegiate defensive end, will make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, so he may need some reps in coverage before he’s ready to become a full-time player. Nassib, meanwhile, is staying put at end, and word is that the Browns would like him to bulk up from his current 275 pounds so that he can slide inside on passing downs.

Other:

Hired Sashi Brown as executive VP of football operations to replace general manager Ray Farmer. Hired former MLB executive Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer. Hired Andrew Berry as president of player personnel.
Hired Hue Jackson as head coach to replace Mike Pettine.
Won’t hire formal offensive coordinator to replace John DeFilippo. Hired Al Saunders as senior offensive assistant, Pep Hamilton as assistant head coach/offense, and Kirby Wilson as running game coordinator.
Hired Ray Horton as defensive coordinator to replace Jim O’Neil.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for LB Barkevious Mingo ($11.925MM).
Claimed DE/LB Jackson Jeffcoat off waivers.
Learned LB Armonty Bryant would be suspended four games (PED policy).
Signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The Browns (again) underwent a leadership change this offseason, replacing both the top executives in the front office and much of their coaching staff. The personnel team, now lead by executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and president of player personnel Andrew Berry, is light on NFL experience, but the group has already shown that they have an executable plan for their franchise. DePodesta, a former MLB general manager, got most of the offseason publicity, but he’s essentially taking this year to learn about the finer points on the NFL game before diving into his role, per a number of reports.

New head coach Hue Jackson, meanwhile, does have a long NFL history, and always seemed likely to get another coaching gig after succeeding both as an offensive coordinator and during a short stint as Oakland’s head coach. Considered one of the more innovative minds in the league, Jackson’s long-term goal will be to lead the Browns back to respectability, but his more immediate objective is to resurrect the career of quarterback Robert Griffin III. Jackson will have help, as he brought a number of highly-regarded voices — both on offense and defense — with him to northern Ohio.

Barkevious Mingo, Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2013, has never lived up to his draft billing, and by last season had essentially become an overpaid special teams player. He only played 256 defensive snaps, and didn’t offer much in terms of pass rush (zero sacks). Mingo saw action on nearly 85% of the Browns’ special teams plays, but that type of production doesn’t equal the ~$12MM salary he would have earned had the club exercised his 2017 fifth-year option. Truth be told, there’s no guarantee Mingo even makes this year’s 53-man roster.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Joe Haden, CB: $13,400,000
Joe Thomas, T: $9.500,000
Paul Kruger, LB: $7,700,000
Desmond Bryant, DL: $7,000,000
Tramon Williams, CB: $6,981,250
Barkevious Mingo, LB: $5,201,319
Robert Griffin III, QB: $5,046,875
Josh McCown, QB: $5,041,666
Dwayne Bowe, WR: $4,600,000 (dead money)
Donte Whitner, S: $4,500,000 (dead money)

The 2016 season isn’t going to be pretty for the Browns, and it isn’t meant to be. With three other clubs in their division lined up to contend for the AFC North crown, Cleveland has no real shot at reaching the postseason. But bottoming out and landing another top draft pick won’t be the worst outcome. If all goes according to plan, this could be the last truly embarrassing Browns season for quite some time.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills

July 1st, 2016 at 5:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After finishing 8-8 in 2015 and extending their NFL-worst playoff drought to an absurd 16 years, a dearth of cap space prevented the Bills from acquiring significant veteran upgrades during the offseason. The club instead had to use the bulk of its spending room to re-sign its two best offensive linemen, leaving it to go the draft route to supplement a defense that was surprisingly underwhelming last season.

Notable signings:

Cordy Glenn, T: Five years, $60MM. $26.5MM guaranteed. Had been assigned franchise tag.
Richie Incognito, G: Three years, $15.75MM. $5.45MM guaranteed. $850K available via incentives.
Colt Anderson, S: One year, minimum salary benefit. $500K guaranteed.
Zach Brown, LB: One year, $1.25MM. $450K guaranteed.
Robert Blanton, S: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Jim Dray, TE: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Sterling Moore, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Fernando Velasco, OL: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Corey White, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Lorenzo Alexander, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $75K guaranteed.
Corbin Bryant, DT: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Jordan Mills, T: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Leonard Hankerson, WR: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Dan Herron, RB: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Jamari Lattimore, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The Bills’ offense improved across the board last season after a dismal 2014 performance, going from 18th in the NFL in points to 13th, 26th in yardage to 12th and 26th in DVOA to ninth. That was thanks largely to the unexpectedly effective play of dual-threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the additions of running backs LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee, and the hiring of coordinator Greg Roman to replace Nathaniel Hackett. But Taylor and the backs wouldn’t have helped the unit take such a sizable leap forward without the work done by the offensive line’s left side, where tackle Cordy Glenn and guard Richie Incognito started all 16 games and thrived.

Glenn ranked as Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) 10th-best tackle among 77 qualifiers, while the site gave Incognito a better mark than every left guard in the league. Glenn’s strength was in pass blocking, in which he graded as PFF’s fifth-best tackle. Incognito, on the other hand, was top seven among all guards in both pass and run blocking. His efforts in the latter category enabled the Bills’ ground attack to finish first in the league, and the team’s rushers averaged an incredible 6.58 yards per carry when they ran behind the left guard (per ESPN’s Mike Rodak). The only negative to glean from the excellence of Glenn and Incognito is that the Bills had to award the pair appreciable raises to keep them in the fold.

After the Bills initially slapped the franchise tag on Glenn to stop him from testing free agency, he inked a five-year, $60MM pact with the club that features $26MM in guarantees. Glenn – whom the Bills selected out of Georgia in the second round of the 2012 draft – parlayed his consistently stellar blocking and durability (61 appearances and starts in 64 regular-season games) into a deal that ranks fifth among left tackles in total value, fourth in yearly average and second in guarantees.

Incognito is six years older than Glenn (32 to 26) and plays a position of less prestige, so the Bills didn’t have to surrender nearly as much cash to retain him. Nonetheless, he procured a notable payday after settling for a prove-it deal the prior offseason, recovering from a 2013 bullying scandal in Miami to haul in $15.75MM and $5.45MM in guarantees over three years. Incognito, who made his second Pro Bowl last season, is now eighth among left guards in average annual value and 10th in guarantees. In the event Incognito declines as he climbs toward his mid-30s, his accord is easy to escape after the 2017 season, when Buffalo will save $6.43MM in cap space and take on just $1.15MM in dead money if it releases him.

Locking up both Glenn and Incognito was a must for the Bills, but it left them without the spending room necessary to make even medium-sized splashes elsewhere. That led them to scan free agency for bargain bin pickups like linebacker Zach Brown, cornerback Sterling Moore and receiver Leonard Hankerson, who first joined the Bills last December before signing with the team again in March.

Considering his production in Tennessee, where he piled up 261 tackles, 10 sacks, six interceptions and two forced fumbles in 49 appearances (33 starts) from 2012-15, it was surprising that the best Brown could do was a one-year, $1.25MM deal. After appearing in 46.6 percent of the Titans’ defensive snaps in 2015 and ranking an impressive 30th among 97 qualifying linebackers at PFF, Brown should at least provide the Bills with useful depth. Buffalo is projected to rely heavily on two younger LBs, second-round rookie Reggie Ragland and third-year man Preston Brown. The latter followed a terrific rookie campaign with a disappointing showing in 2015, though new assistant head coach/defense Rob Ryan heaped praise on him earlier this month.

“This Preston Brown is going to be a star,” said Ryan, who comes from a family known for making bold declarations.

If Preston Brown doesn’t meet Ryan’s expectations this year, at least the Bills have Zach Brown in the equation as a fallback option.

Moore, meanwhile, started in nine of 16 appearances with the Buccaneers last season and led their corners in defensive snap percentage (64.9) and pass breakups (six), and added three forced fumbles and a pick. He now has an opportunity to replace the departed Leodis McKelvin as the Bills’ top corner option behind stalwarts Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby.

Hankerson, 27, could catch on in a Bills receiving corps that lacks starting-caliber targets aside from injured star Sammy Watkins – whose status for training camp is uncertain because of a minor foot fracture – and fourth-year man Robert Woods. Over 34 games dating back to 2012, Hankerson has amassed 94 catches on 150 targets, averaged 13.2 yards per reception and posted nine touchdowns. Those aren’t great numbers – and it’s important to note that both the Falcons and Patriots waived Hankerson last season – but they’re enough to rank behind only Watkins, Woods and January reserve/futures signing Greg Little on Buffalo’s roster. With Percy Harvin having retired and Chris Hogan having joined the Pats in free agency, the Bills will need someone to serve as a respectable complement to Watkins and Woods, and either Hankerson or Little might have the most realistic shot.

Continue reading about the Bills’ offseason…

Nigel Bradham, LB
Ron Brooks, CB
Alex Carrington, DL
Stefan Charles, DL
Anthony Dixon, RB: Released
MarQueis Gray, TE
Percy Harvin, WR: Retired
Chris Hogan, WR: Bills declined to match Patriots’ offer sheet
Josh Johnson, QB
Leodis McKelvin, CB: Released
Ty Powell, LB
Bacarri Rambo, S
Tony Steward, LB: Waived
A.J. Tarpley, LB: Retired
Kraig Urbik, G: Released
Mario Williams, DE: Released
Jarius Wynn, DL: Released

Thanks to both his subpar output in 2015 and his exorbitant cap number ($19.9MM), the release of four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams was a foregone conclusion entering the offseason. Williams was a bust under head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman – his sack total plummeted from 14.5 in 2014 to five, and he was largely invisible otherwise – and the 31-year-old was unafraid to voice his disenchantment with their scheme throughout the season. Still, Williams’ sack production tied for the most on a defense that took down enemy quarterbacks just 21 times, the fewest in the AFC and the second-worst mark in the league.

Aside from Williams, the most noteworthy defenders to exit Western New York were linebacker Nigel Bradham and the aforementioned McKelvin.

Bradham finished second among Buffalo’s linebackers in snaps last year, but he took a big step backward under Ryan and Thurman, making his decision to reunite with ex-Bills D-coordinator Jim Schwartz in Philadelphia unsurprising. Given Bradham’s inability to fit into the Bills’ defense in 2015, Ragland doesn’t exactly have a tough act to follow.

As was the case with Williams, it was an easy call for the Bills to release McKelvin in favor of cap savings. The Bills drafted McKelvin 11th overall in 2008, but he never lived up to his first-round status with the club and, like Bradham, is now in Philadelphia. Whether someone – be it Moore, Nickell Robey or sixth-rounder Kevon Seymour – will capably take the reins as the Bills’ third corner remains to be seen. Like Bradham, though, McKelvin’s 2015 production shouldn’t be overly difficult to replicate or improve upon.

As mentioned earlier, the Bills absorbed multiple blows at wideout with Harvin’s retirement and Hogan’s pay raise in New England. In his age-27 season, the injury-prone Harvin appeared in only five games, but he added 19 catches and accrued 30 targets. Although general manager Doug Whaley wanted to bring back Harvin, the physical toll of football led the once-electrifying playmaker to call it quits.

The loss of Hogan is a more serious issue for the Bills, whose cap problems prevented them from matching the front-loaded offer sheet the division-rival Patriots presented the 27-year-old. Hogan pulled in 77 receptions, 876 yards and six scores between 2014-15 and would have continued as the Bills’ third-best option at wideout had they been able to match the three-year, $12MM deal the Pats gave him. He also pitched in on special teams for the Bills, ranking ninth on the team in snap percentage (39.1) last season.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 41) from the Bears in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 49), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 117), and a 2017 fourth-round pick.

Draft picks:

1-19: Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB (Clemson)
2-41: Reggie Ragland, LB (Alabama)
3-80: Adolphus Washington, DT (Ohio State)
4-139: Cardale Jones, QB (Ohio State)
5-156: Jonathan Williams, RB (Arkansas)
6-192: Kolby Listenbee, WR (TCU)
6-218: Kevon Seymour, DB (USC)

The Bills had one of the league’s premier defenses in 2014, when they led the sport in sacks (54) and finished fourth in yards allowed and second in DVOA. As the pass rush disappeared last season, so did the Bills’ defensive dominance. The unit’s 31st overall ranking in sacks accompanied 19th- and 24th-place finishes in the other two categories.

After racking up 12.5 sacks at Clemson last season, first-round edge rusher Shaq Lawson – the 19th overall pick – figures to provide the Bills some much-needed pass-rushing prowess. It’s unknown precisely when he’ll be able to help, however, as Lawson had to undergo post-draft surgery after aggravating his balky right shoulder during rookie minicamp in early May. Lawson’s shoulder troubles were known coming into the draft, but the Bills didn’t expect him to require surgery until after his rookie season. The 22-year-old is now likely sidelined until sometime in October, thus costing him minicamp and OTAs, training camp, the preseason and a handful of regular-season games. That doesn’t mean Lawson will prove to be a poor long-term investment, but it’s fair to say his career is off to an inauspicious beginning. It’s also fair to wonder just how much he’ll contribute this year, which should worry a team whose pass rush was so woeful in 2015.

On the heels of grabbing Lawson, the Bills swapped second-rounders with the Bears and traded two other picks (a fourth- and seventh-rounder in 2017) to move up eight spots and select Ragland. It’ll be quite costly, then, if Ragland doesn’t pick up where he left off at Alabama, with which he was the SEC’s top defender last season. Barring injury, Ragland’s set to join Preston Brown and Manny Lawson as the Bills’ most relied-on linebackers, perhaps giving Rex Ryan the David Harris-type LB his scheme was missing last year.

Buffalo continued the defensive theme in the third round, where it selected ex-Ohio State tackle Adolphus Washington 80th overall. With an enviable D-tackle duo in Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, the Bills aren’t counting on Washington to play a huge role this year. That could change in 2017, however, as Williams will then be 34 and going into the final year of his contract. If the Bills release Williams after next season, they’ll save $6.8MM in cap space and deal with only $1.5MM in dead money. For now, Washington is insurance behind him and Dareus.

With their fourth-round choice, the Bills took another former Buckeye, quarterback Cardale Jones, who became one of college football’s most famous names despite accruing a limited amount of playing time. Ohio State went 11-0 overall with Jones, whose crowing achievement under center was helping the Buckeyes to a national championship to cap off the 2014-15 season. However, Jones didn’t keep the starting job for all of last season, and he only attempted 270 total passes in college. Prior to the draft, one pro offensive coordinator told NFL.com that the mobile 6-foot-5, 253-pounder has more physical tools than the Vikings’ Teddy Bridgewater and the Raiders’ Derek Carr, but he “can’t touch their poise and leadership as young quarterbacks.” Given the presences of Taylor and backup EJ Manuel, Jones is unlikely to see the field in any meaningful action this season. Taylor and Manuel are unsigned beyond then, though, so Jones has a chance to at least become the Bills’ No. 2 QB by 2017.

Extensions and Restructures:

Dan Carpenter, K: Accepted pay cut, creating $250K in cap space by reducing 2016 base salary from $2.025MM to $1.775MM. Can earn $250K bonus by making Week 1 roster, and another $250K through performance incentives.
Charles Clay, TE: Restructured contract to create $7.5MM in cap space, converting a $10MM roster bonus into a signing bonus.
Corey Graham, S: Restructured contract to create $600K in cap space, converting a $500K roster bonus into a signing bonus.
Kyle Williams, DT: Accepted pay cut, creating $1.75MM in cap space by reducing 2016 base salary from $6MM to $4.25MM.

Other:

Extended general manager Doug Whaley through 2019.
Hired former Saints DC Rob Ryan as assistant head coach/defense.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for QB E.J. Manuel ($11.357MM).
Learned DE/LB Shaq Lawson would require shoulder surgery and miss regular-season games.

In order to avoid a lame-duck situation this year, the Bills elected in January to award Whaley an extension through 2019. That doesn’t mean he’ll hang on past 2016 if the team takes a step backward, however. Since the Bills promoted him to GM in 2013, Whaley has acquired the likes of Taylor, McCoy, Karlos Williams, Watkins, Charles Clay, Incognito, Jerry Hughes, Darby and Corey Graham, but his tenure isn’t without warts. Cap management has been an issue, for one, as the questionable contracts given to McCoy and Clay have helped sap the Bills of financial breathing room. Despite Watkins’ all-world talent, Whaley’s bold gambit to trade up five spots for him in 2014 and surrender a first-rounder both that year and in 2015 hasn’t gone over well – especially considering Odell Beckham was ultimately still on the board for the club’s original choice. Still, thanks in part to Whaley’s roster-building skills, the Bills have gone a passable 17-15 over the previous two seasons. Sadly enough, that’s the franchise’s most successful two-year stretch since 1999-2000.

Whether Whaley remains in Buffalo beyond this year could rest largely on the arm and legs of Taylor, on whom the GM struck gold via free agency in March 2015. After signing a low-cost deal with Whaley’s Bills, the ex-Ravens reserve ended up top seven among QBs in yards per attempt (7.99) and passer rating (99.4) in 2015. He also accounted for 24 touchdowns (20 passing, four rushing) against a meager six interceptions. Further, Taylor paced signal-callers in yards per carry (5.5) and trailed only MVP Cam Newton in rushing yards (568). Whether to extend the soon-to-be 27-year-old Taylor prior to the season or let him play the campaign without a new deal is the most crucial dilemma Whaley is currently facing.

In an effort to bolster his defensive coaching staff, Rex Ryan hired his equally entertaining brother in a prominent role. Rob Ryan was previously the defensive coordinator for the Saints, who fired him last November after he oversaw a unit that was allowing 424.7 yards per game at the time of his dismissal. Had the Saints kept up that pace, it would’ve been the second-worst all-time mark for a full season. Nevertheless, Rex Ryan spoke glowingly about his brother in May, and Rob Ryan showed off his family’s signature confidence in vowing to take down the Patriots.

A few months after adding another Ryan to the payroll, the Bills made the no-brainer move to decline Manuel’s $11MM-plus fifth-year option for 2017. Manuel, whom the Bills took 16th overall out of Florida State in 2013, has appeared in 22 games, logged 16 starts and tossed 19 TDs against 15 INTs. Thanks to an uninspiring rookie campaign and a lack of progress early in 2014, Manuel has mostly served as a backup – first to Kyle Orton and now to Taylor – and is probably going into his last year with the Bills.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Marcell Dareus, DT: $14,550,000
Stephon Gilmore, CB: $11,082,500
LeSean McCoy, RB: $7,675,000
Jerry Hughes, LB: $7,575,000
Mario Williams, DE: $7,000,000 (dead money)
Eric Wood, C: $6,725,000
Kyle Williams, DT: $6,250,000
Cordy Glenn, T: $6,200,000
Aaron Williams, S: $6,100,000
Charles Clay, TE: $6,000,000

Aside from their rookie draft class, whose injured top pick will only make a somewhat limited impact this year, the Bills weren’t able to land game-changing talent during the offseason. Thus, in order to end its seemingly interminable skid and return to the playoffs, Buffalo will need its offense to match or better last season’s respectable showing and its defense to look something like its 2014 self. With Ragland as the defense’s biggest healthy pickup, a return to the elite on that side of the ball looks like an especially tall order, though the ever-confident Ryans would certainly disagree.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals

June 30th, 2016 at 10:44am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bengals have a tried and true offseason approach that’s enabled them to reach the postseason for five consecutive seasons — winning a game once they’ve made the playoffs has been a different story, however. Still, the club followed their template: re-sign their own free agents, extend young players that they believe are a part of their core, and bring in a few veterans who won’t affect the compensatory formula. Let’s take a look at how Cincinnati executed that strategy over the offseason…

Notable signings:

Adam Jones, CB: Three years, $22MM. $6MM guaranteed.
George Iloka, S: Five years, $30MM. $5MM guaranteed.
Vincent Rey, LB: Three years, $10.5MM. $3MM guaranteed.
Brandon LaFell, WR: One year, $2.5MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Karlos Dansby, LB: One year, $2MM. $700K guaranteed. $500K available via incentives.
Pat Sims, DT: Two years, $2.3MM. $250K guaranteed. $600K available via incentives.
Brandon Tate, WR: One year, $1.024MM. $100K guaranteed.
Eric Winston, T: One year, $1.09MM. $80K guaranteed.
Brandon Thompson, DT: One year, $840K. $50K guaranteed.
Taylor Mays, S: One year, $840K. $25K guaranteed.

While the Bengals weren’t able to retain either one of their key free agent receivers, they did re-sign the two most important members of their secondary, agreeing to new deals with cornerback Adam Jones and safety George Iloka. Jones received the seventh-highest full guarantee among all free agent corners, an unusual accomplishment for a player entering his age-33 season. But Jones doesn’t have wear-and-tear of a typical veteran — in fact, Jones has the started the fewest career games among 2005 draftees who can still be considered starters at this point in their careers, and it isn’t particularly close. For example, Jones has only 77 starts under his belt, while Antrel Rolle, the other defensive back selected in the top eight of the ’05 draft, boasts a whopping 146. Jones, for all intents and purposes, only has about half the tread on his tires of a typical starter with a decade in the NFL, making this deal less onerous that it looks at first glance.

Iloka, meanwhile, can be considered a victory of Cincinnati’s “draft, develop, and retain” model — a former fifth-round pick, Iloka blossomed into a full-time starter during his second year in the league, and graded out as the NFL’s No. 15 safety during his platform season, according to Pro Football Focus. Still, he didn’t fully cash out during the free agent process, garnering only $5MM in guaranteed money. Rodney McLeod, a comparable player who is the same age as Iloka, got more than double that figure from the Eagles, while Tyvon Branch, a middle-of-the-road veteran nearing age-30, equaled Iloka’s guarantees (and only on a two-year deal!). Iloka is incredibly likely to play out his entire contract — most Bengals do — but even then, he doesn’t rank inside the top-10 in average annual value among safeties, and he’ll continue to be pushed further down that list as the cap increases and salaries rise.

The Bengals did venture away from their internal free agents to bring in a couple of outside additions, but they were sure to only sign players who had been released by their former clubs, ensuring that they wouldn’t sacrifice any precious compensatory selections (Cincinnati is projected to snag four comp picks, the maximum allowed under the system). Wide receiver Brandon LaFell will line up opposite A.J. Green on the outside, and the Bengals are hoping that the former Patriot can come closer to his 2014 numbers — when he caught 74 passes for nearly 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns — than his 2015 production (37 receptions for 515 yards and zero scores). LaFell, 29, should see a good deal of single coverage as defenses shift their focus towards Green, so he’s a decent candidate for a rebound season.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby, another external addition, was signed to supplement Cincinnati’s front seven — on the surface, he’s replacing fellow veteran A.J. Hawk, but Dansby will be counted on to play a much larger role than Hawk, who saw action on just over a quarter of the Bengals’ defensive snaps last season. Not only will Dansby help account for the absence of Vontaze Burfict, who is suspended for the first three games of the year, but he’ll stay on the field in sub packages. A starting caliber, three-down linebacker for just $2MM is a solid deal, and Dansby figures to make a sizable contribution to a Cincinnati defense that will seek to match — or better — its 2015 No. 10 DVOA rating.

Elsewhere in the linebacking corps, the Bengals also re-signed Vincent Rey, a former undrafted free agent who’s made his NFL name as something of a jack-of-all-trades ‘backer. Need a direct replacement for Burfict while he’s suspended? Vincent Rey. Who will stay on the field in nickel packages alongside Dansby? Vincent Rey. Special teams unit needs an extra body? Vincent Rey. Rey played the most defensive snaps of any Cincinnati linebacker in 2015, and given that Dansby is aging, Burfict will miss almost 20% of the season, and Rey Maualuga is a two-down run-stuffer, Rey could end up leading the Bengals LBs in playing time once again.

Pat Sims appeared in only eight games in 2015, but the Bengals apparently saw enough during his second tenure with the club that they re-signed him to a two-year deal (though it’s essentially a one-year deal with an option for 2017). The 30-year-old Sims will compete with fourth-round rookie Andrew Billings for playing time as a rotational lineman behind starter Domata Peko. Fellow defensive tackle Brandon Thompson tore his ACL in January, but he still generated interest from the Seahawks before inking a new deal with Cincinnati. The PUP list is clearly an option for Thompson as he recovers, but he could be late-season contributor.

Brandon Tate, Eric Winston, and Taylor Mays are all veterans with experience in the Bengals’ system, and none figure to have large responsibilities next season if all goes as planned. Tate’s lack of dynamic ability as a return man has frustrated Cincinnati fans for years, but he’ll continue to act in that capacity until the club finds someone who’s as reliable. Winston will compete to serve as the second swing tackle behind Jake Fisher, while Mays, in his second Bengals tour, will handle special teams duties and play the occasional dime linebacker role. If any player from this trio plays significant snaps in 2016, something went terribly wrong.

Continue reading about the Bengals’ offseason…

Wallace Gilberry, DE
Leon Hall, CB
A.J. Hawk, LB: Released
Marvin Jones, WR
Emmanuel Lamur, LB
Reggie Nelson, S
Mohamed Sanu, WR
Andre Smith, T

With all due respect to Reggie Nelson — who had the best 2015 season of any Bengals free agent — the most important offseason decisions for Cincinnati management involved their two wide receivers who were entering the open market. Mohamed Sanu never seemed incredibly likely to re-sign with the Bengals, as he was a prime candidate to be overpaid during the free agent period. Entering his age-27 season, Sanu was never a key feature of the Cincinnati offense, and he struggled when he was forced to act as the club’s de facto No. 1 receiver in 2014 following injuries to A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, falling victim to drops. The Falcons handed Sanu $6.5MM annually and $14MM in full guarantees, figures that the Bengals had no intention of matching.

Jones, on the other hand, had proven himself as a top-tier No. 2 option in the Bengals’ offense, and the team had every intention of retaining him. Reports indicated that Cincinnati matched not only the $8MM annual salary offered by Detroit, but the $40MM total value of the contract Jones ultimately signed with the Lions. Whether the guarantees and structure were similar is unclear (Jones will earn $27MM from 2016-18 with Detroit), but Jones apparently wanted to forge his own way and join a club where he could act as the No. 1 option in the passing game. That was never going to happen with the Bengals given the presence of Green, so if playing a more significant role was atop Jones’ free agent wishlist, there wasn’t much Cincinnati could do.

Back to Nelson, who not only led the league with eight interceptions, but graded as the ninth-best safety in the NFL, according to PFF. But the Bengals, who had Shawn Williams waiting in the wings, were only going to re-sign one of their two free agent safeties, and Nelson is more than six years older than George Iloka. It’s essentially that simple, and although Cincinnati did reportedly offer Nelson a deal to return, the numbers were likely so low that Nelson had no choice but to decline, instead joining the Raiders on a two-year deal that pays $4.25MM annually.

Fellow veteran defensive back Leon Hall hasn’t officially left the Bengals, as he remains on the free agent market for the time being. He’s garnered quite a bit of interest, meeting with the Falcons, Cardinals, and Cowboys, among others, but clubs could be scared off by the fact that Hall underwent back surgery over the offseason. Hall is expected to sign this week, and surprisingly Cincinnati apparently remains an option. I’d have to think that the Bengals won’t offer Hall much over the minimum, but bringing him back to man the slot wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Tackle Andre Smith was once the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, and while he’s never lived up to that billing, he’s been a serviceable right tackle for the duration of his career. He’s reached free agency twice, but he returned to the Bengals both times after not finding much demand for his services on the open market. This time around, however, a return to Cincinnati wasn’t in the cards, given that the Bengals spent their first two picks in the 2015 draft on offensive tackles. Smith will instead head to Minnesota, reuniting with former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Like Smith, linebacker Emmanuel Lamur will head north to play for the Vikings, as there simply wasn’t clear-cut role for him on the Bengals following the addition of Karlos Dansby and the re-signing of Vincent Rey. Rotational defensive end Wallace Gilberry also defected to the NFC North, joining the Lions on a one-year pact — the Bengals didn’t put up much of a fight, as they have younger options who need snaps in order to develop. Veteran linebacker A.J. Hawk, meanwhile, was cut, and his career could be nearing its end. The 32-year-old doesn’t offer special teams value, and with his defensive ability dwindling, he might struggle to find another NFL home.

Draft picks:

1-24: William Jackson III, CB (Houston)
2-55: Tyler Boyd, WR (Pittsburgh)
3-87: Nick Vigil, LB (Utah State)
4-122: Andrew Billings, DT (Baylor)
5-161: Christian Westerman, OL (Arizona State)
6-199: Cody Core, WR (Ole Miss)
7-245: Clayton Fejedelem, S (Illinois)

For the third time in five years, the Bengals spent a first-round pick on a cornerback, selecting Houston’s William Jackson III, who many observers ranked as the No. 2 defensive back available. Cincinnati loves a first-round pedigree when it comes to secondary players, and in a passing league, there’s nothing wrong with continually investing in corners who will play on cheap contracts. Jackson will be buried on the depth chart during his rookie season, but he’ll play on special teams and be ready to play in the event of injuries.

Tyler Boyd, on the other hand, will be expected to start right away — a pure slot receiver, Boyd will be counted to help offset the loss of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu. He’ll be the fourth option in passing game (and perhaps fifth if you count running back Giovani Bernard), but Boyd should flirt with 45 receptions during his rookie year.

Andrew Billings and Christian Westerman were tremendous values on Day 3 of the draft, and both could see relatively large roles in 2016. Billings, considered a first-round talent by some evaluators, will instantly be a contender for rotational duties along the interior of the defensive line, and should be the long-term replacement for Domata Peko at nose tackle. Westerman has a very outside chance to emerge as Cincinnati’s starting center at some point during the upcoming season, but at the least, he’ll serve as the top interior offensive line reserve.

Extensions and Restructures:

Giovani Bernard, RB: Extended through 2019. Three years, $15MM. $5MM guaranteed.
Shawn Williams, S: Extended through 2020. Four years, $19.5MM. $4MM guaranteed.

Giovani Bernard is the type of running back (smallish, excels in the passing game), who doesn’t get paid on the open market, as Bill Barnwell detailed in a 2014 Grantland article, so it makes sense that he accepted an extension now rather than try to cash out in free agency next offseason. The new deal places Bernard inside the top-10 in terms of running back annual value, and it’s hard to argue that he’s not worth it. He’s averaged roughly 700 yards rushing and 450 yards receiving during each of his first three years in the NFL, and he’s been the sixth-most valuable member of the entire 2013 draft class, according Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric.

The fact that Shawn Williams signed an extension now, however, is a little more surprising, given that he could have hit the free agent market next season with a good shot at a sizable contract. As Bryce Johnston of Over the Cap writes in his excellent analysis of the deal, Williams is sacrificing quite a bit of upside for minimal guarantees. He’s exceptionally likely to play out the deal and reach free agency again at age 29, but Williams, who will start for the first time in 2016, could have eyed a contract in the $6-7MM range had he performed well during the upcoming season. Instead, it’s another win for the Bengals front office.

Other:

Extended head coach Marvin Lewis through the 2017 season.
Promoted Ken Zampese to offensive coordinator to replace Hue Jackson. Hired former Dolphins OC Bill Lazor as QBs coach to replace Zampese.
Hired former Dolphins DC Kevin Coyle as secondary coach to replace Vance Joseph.
Exercised 2017 fifth-year option for TE Tyler Eifert ($4.782MM).
Learned TE Tyler Eifert required ankle surgery and may miss regular season action.
Learned LB Vontaze Burfict would be suspended three games (safety violations).
Learned S Taylor Mays would be suspended four games (substance abuse policy).
Signed 13 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The biggest loss of the Bengals’ offseason wasn’t a free agent, it was a coach — Hue Jackson helped transform the Cincinnati offense into one of the best units in the league, and Andy Dalton‘s 2015 turnaround clearly wouldn’t have been possible with the assistance of Jackson. Continuity is key om the Bengals’ coaching staff, and former quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese will employ many of the same concepts as he takes the reigns of the offense. Still, given that Jackson is considered one of the more innovative offensive minds in the NFL, some regression is inevitable.

Head coach Marvin Lewis has taken on so many personnel responsibilities that he can essentially be considered the club’s de facto general manager. He’s infamously failed to win a playoff game during his Bengals tenure, but his record of perpetual regular season success, especially during the past five seasons, can’t be disputed. At this point, I’d imagine that Lewis will be allowed to leave on his own terms. Rolling one-year extensions for as long as he wants to continue to lead the club seem likely, assuming Cincinnati doesn’t completely bottom out in the next few years.

Vontaze Burfict will miss three games after being suspended for safety violations — his abrasive play came to a head in the Bengals’ playoff game, when a personal foul call on the veteran linebacker helped lead to Cincinnati’s collapse. Tight end Tyler Eifert‘s situation, meanwhile, is more volatile, as reports have indicated that he could miss the first few games of the season after undergoing ankle surgery in May.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Andy Dalton, QB: $13,100,000
A.J. Green, WR: $13,000,000
Geno Atkins, DT: $9,600,000
Kevin Zeitler, G: $8,070,000
Andrew Whitworth, LT: $8,000,000
Adam Jones, CB: $7,604,166
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB: $7,507,000
Carlos Dunlap, DE: $7,250,000
Michael Johnson, DE: $6,125,000
George Iloka, S: $5,075,000

Tossing the playoff losses aside for a moment, many clubs would like be in the Bengals’ position. Smart cap management, the ability to find value in the draft, a solid developmental strategy, a multi-branched coaching tree, and a sustained record of regular season success are all areas that Cincinnati has mastered over the past half-decade. But until the Bengals win a least one postseason game, none of it will matter much.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2015 NFL Offseason In Review Series

August 31st, 2015 at 12:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the last couple months, with the 2015 regular season fast approaching, Pro Football Rumors has been taking a look back at the offseason. Our writers have tackled all 32 NFL teams, examining free agent signings, trades, draft picks, and all the other moves made by clubs in 2015, breaking down what sort of impact those decisions will have going forward. If you missed any of our Offseason in Review posts, be sure to check them out below, where we’ve rounded them all up in one place:

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Offseason In Review: Arizona Cardinals

August 30th, 2015 at 3:05pm CST by Zachary Links

For the second straight season, Bruce Arians and the Cardinals were surprise contenders, but unlike in the 2013 season, when Arizona won 10 games only to finish outside the playoff picture, the 2014 Cardinals managed 11 wins, earning a postseason berth via a wild card spot. Arians won Coach of the Year for the second time in three years, but the Cardinals had a quick exit from the playoffs, thanks in large part to the absence of a viable quarterback. Arizona thrived on the other side of the ball, however, and there’s reason to believe the team can do big things in 2015 with better luck on its side.

Notable signings:

Mike Iupati, G: Five years, $40MM. $15.75MM guaranteed.
Corey Peters, DL: Three years, $9MM. $4MM guaranteed.
Cory Redding, DE: Two years, $6MM. $2MM guaranteed.
Sean Weatherspoon, LB: One year, $3.85MM. $1.25MM guaranteed.
Lyle Sendlein, C: One year, $1.4MM. $500K guaranteed.
Chris Johnson, RB: One year, $870K. $400K guaranteed. $1.13MM available via incentives.
A.Q. Shipley, C: Two years, $1.57MM. $300K guaranteed.
Bradley Sowell, T: One year, $760K. $100K guaranteed.
LaMarr Woodley, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K guaranteed.
Alameda Ta’amu, DL: One year, $901K. $25K guaranteed.
Cameron Bradfield, T: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Darryl Sharpton, LB: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The Raiders were said to be “hot after” Mike Iupati, who also had serious interest from the Bills and Jets. The Cardinals weren’t really mentioned as a leading suitor for his services, but they were the team that inked him in March. The three-time Pro Bowler graded out as the 14th best guard in the NFL out of 78 qualified players, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Iupati, a former first-round pick who’s started missed only five games during his career, is regarded as a strong run blocker, so he should open up a lot of holes for Andre Ellington & Co. once he returns from a knee injury.

Early on in the free agency process, the Cardinals also signed two former members of the Falcons’ front seven. First came linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who inked a one-year deal worth a little less than $4MM. Weatherspoon, 27, was viewed as a priority for the Falcons, but we learned early in free agency that Arizona would be waiting with its arms “wide open” if the linebacker didn’t work something out with Atlanta. The Saints were also believed to have interest in Weatherspoon, who has missed all but seven games during the last two seasons due to an Achilles injury in 2014, and knee and foot issues in 2013. In spite of Weatherspoon’s health problems, Luke Adams of PFR listed him as one of the top options at 4-3 outside linebacker this offseason. Weatherspoon, who averaged 110 tackles per season in 2011 and 2012, looks like a good bet to assume one of the inside linebacker spots in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme.

After Weatherspoon signed, the Cardinals inked defensive lineman Corey Peters. Peters, a former third-round pick, had spent the entirety of his career with the Falcons, starting 55 games in five seasons. Unfortunately, Peters tore his Achilles in late August and was ruled out for the entire 2015 season. Unlike Weatherspoon, Peters is signed with the team beyond 2015, so he should eventually have an opportunity to make his mark in Arizona.

In October, defensive end Cory Redding said that he was considering retirement. By the spring, however, he had a change of heart, signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals. Redding, 34, started at least 14 games for the Colts the past three years. In 2014, Redding started all 16 regular season games for the Colts, racking up 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three pass deflections. He also made his presence felt in the postseason, recording two sacks and two pass deflections to go with 9 total tackles.

Last season was something of a lost year for LaMarr Woodley, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Steelers. After playing strictly as an outside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme, Woodley moved to defensive end in Oakland’s 4-3 look, and didn’t adjust particularly well, ranking 44th out of 59 qualified 4-3 DEs per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Michigan alum played in just six games before tearing his biceps and missing the remainder of the season. Now, he’ll look to have a bounce back year in Phoenix.

Lyle Sendlein was released in March to save the Cardinals a little over $3MM. However, when the Cardinals found that they were less-than-satisfied with the play of their centers later in the offseason, they circled back to him. Sendlein, 31, has been the Cardinals’ starting center for a long time, appearing in 121 regular season games (109 starts) for the team since 2007. The veteran offensive lineman started all 16 games at the position for Arizona in each of the last two seasons. However, he graded out as the NFL’s second-worst center out of 41 qualified players in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required).

After Arians aired his concerns about his club’s running back corps, Arizona made a veteran addition, agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran Chris Johnson, who spent 2014 with the Jets. Johnson will be 30 years old in September, and was shot in the arm earlier this year, but he did average 4.3 yards per carry with New York last season, so there’s a chance he could gain a meaningful if Andre Ellington and/or David Johnson falter.

Notable losses:

John Abraham, LB
Sam Acho, LB
Marcus Benard, LB
John Carlson, TE: Retired
Antonio Cromartie, CB
Darnell Dockett, DL: Released
Jonathan Dwyer, RB
Paul Fanaika, G
Larry Foote, LB: Released (added to coaching staff)
Ted Ginn Jr., WR: Released
Rob Housler, TE
Tommy Kelly, DL
Ryan Lindley, QB
Dan Williams, DT

Antonio Cromartie made no secret of the fact that he wanted to sign with the Jets this offseason. Cardinals teammate Patrick Peterson even complained in February that all Cromartie talked about was “freaking New York.” The Cards maintained interest all along in bringing Cromartie back to Arizona, but the Jets ultimately won out. Cromartie had a pretty atrocious year for the Jets in 2013, finishing with an overall grade of -11.4 (per Pro Football Focus, subscription required), placing him in the bottom 10 of all qualified cornerbacks. However, he had something of a resurgence in Arizona, finishing with a much less harsh -0.2 overall grade, putting him 45th out of 108 cornerbacks. That uptick was largely credited to Todd Bowles and they will continue that partnership in New York.

Dan Williams, who ranked as the No. 33 free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list, started 40 games over five years with the Cardinals, who selected him in the first round of the 2010 draft. In March, Williams parted ways with the Cardinals when he inked a lucrative deal with the Raiders. The Raiders could have the biggest interior defensive line in the NFL if Williams and Justin Ellis, who combine to weigh 665 pounds, line up side by side.

Darnell Dockett‘s 2014 season ended before it could get started when he was carted off the field during a preseason contest with a torn ACL. As it turns out, that was Dockett’s last time wearing Cardinals red. Dockett’s cap number for 2015 was nearly $10MM, which forced the club to cut him. Now, he’ll be lining up for the divisional rival 49ers. In 2013, the former third-round pick started all 16 games for the Cards, logging 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks. San Francisco is hoping to see that same kind of production out of him in 2015.

John Abraham, 36, suffered a concussion during Arizona’s Week 1 game against the Chargers, and took some time away from the team to consider the possibility of retiring. At that time, it was reported that Abraham had been suffering from memory loss, so it was somewhat surprising that the linebacker returned to the Cardinals. When Abraham was unable to pass concussion tests, the team chose to place him on IR. Doctors told Abraham to sit out for a year after those tests and we haven’t heard much about the veteran this offseason. In all likelihood, Abraham has played his last down of NFL football.

In May, tight end John Carlson announced his retirement to the surprise of many. Carlson, 31, was coming off a solid first season with the Cardinals. In 16 games (12 starts) for the club, the former second round pick totaled 33 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers brought his career marks to 210 catches, 2,256 yards, and 15 TDs in 90 overall regular season contests. Later, Carlson explained that he was concerned for his health and also wanted to be around more for his family.

Wide receiver and return man Ted Ginn Jr. spent the 2013 season with the Panthers and this offseason he returned to them after Arizona showed him the door. Ginn was an all-purpose threat for the Panthers in ’13, accumulating 36 catches, 26 punt returns, 25 kickoff returns, and even four carries. In his first and only season in Arizona, Ginn didn’t have the same impact, outside of one 71-yard punt return touchdown back in September. For the season, Ginn posted a career-low 19.0 yards per return on kickoffs, and caught just 14 balls on offense.

Trades:

Acquired a 2015 second-round pick (No. 58; DE/OLB Markus Golden) and a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 158; DE Shaq Riddick) from the Ravens in exchange for a 2015 second-round pick (No. 55; TE Maxx Williams).
Acquired a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 116; DL Rodney Gunter) from the Browns in exchange for a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 123; WR Vince Mayle), a 2015 sixth-round pick (No. 198; TE Randall Telfer), and a 2015 seventh-round pick (No. 241; CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu).

Draft picks:

1-24: D.J. Humphries, T (Florida): Signed
2-58: Markus Golden, DE/OLB (Missouri): Signed
3-86: David Johnson, RB (Northern Iowa): Signed
4-116: Rodney Gunter, DL (Delaware State): Signed
5-158: Shaq Riddick, DE (West Virginia): Signed
5-159: J.J. Nelson, WR (UAB): Signed
7-256: Gerald Christian, TE (Louisville): Signed

The 24th overall pick in this year’s draft, D.J. Humphries was initially expected to start at right tackle for the Cardinals, across from Jared Veldheer. However, head coach Bruce Arians indicated this summer the right tackle job is Bobby Massie‘s to lose. Humphries is now being prepared for a swing role.

Linebacker Markus Golden could be a significant part of Arizona’s pass rush attack in 2015. Golden didn’t get as much attention in college as teammate Shane Ray, but he has been widely praised for his work ethic and the Cardinals see big things in his future.

Other:

Signed general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians to contract extensions through 2019.
Exercised 2016 fifth-year option for WR Michael Floyd ($7.32MM).
Learned G Mike Iupati will be sidelined until at least October with a knee injury.
Learned T Bobby Massie will be suspended for three games.
Learned DT Corey Peters will miss the 2015 season after tearing his Achilles.
Claimed CB Alfonzo Dennard off waivers from the Patriots, then waived him in July.
Signed 15 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

Both general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians will be in Arizona for years to come thanks to their brand-new contract extensions. Since taking over as Arizona’s head coach prior to the 2013 season, Arians has led the team to a 21-11 record, earning a playoff berth in 2014. While the Cardinals ultimately couldn’t withstand all their health problems – including injuries that sidelined quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton – Keim provided a roster deep enough that the team was able to win 11 games despite losing multiple QBs and defensive contributors.

Arians, who was named the PFWA’s Coach of the Year for 2014, was believed to earning between $3-4MM a year on his old contract — his new deal will likely bump him up into the salary range of coaches like Rex Ryan and Jason Garrett, who signed contracts last month reportedly worth $5.5-6MM annually.

Back in April, the Cardinals were said to be on the fence regarding Michael Floyd‘s fifth-year option for 2016. However, prior to the draft, the Cardinals decided to pull the trigger on it. Floyd is now in line to earn a salary of $7.32MM and his salary is guaranteed in the event of an injury. Larry Fitzgerald has long been the face of the Cardinals and the focal point of their passing attack but in 2014 we saw the torch being passed a bit to the younger Floyd. In 16 regular season games, Floyd caught 47 balls for 841 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.

Arizona’s offensive line, which already featured question marks at center and right guard, took two more hits during the past few months, as left guard Mike Iupati will be out until October at the earliest after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, while right tackle Bobby Massie was handed a three-game ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

Patrick Peterson, CB: $14,791,491
Calais Campbell, DL: $14,750,000
Larry Fitzgerald, WR: $10,850,000
Jared Veldheer, LT: $8,500,000
Carson Palmer, QB: $7,375,000
Mike Iupati, G: $6,700,000
Daryl Washington, LB: $6,500,000
Jerraud Powers, CB: $5,350,000
Jonathan Cooper, G: $3,967,909
Drew Stanton, QB: $3,866,668

The Cardinals didn’t have the most eventful offseason in the NFL, but they did make some necessary upgrades headlined by run-blocking expert Iupati. Now, with their starting quarterback healthy once again, the Cards will look to finish the job they started in 2014.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

Offseason In Review: Seattle Seahawks

August 29th, 2015 at 7:39pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After falling a yard short of winning their second straight Super Bowl title, the Seahawks used the offseason to lock up three franchise cornerstones to long-term deals and add a feared playmaker to supplement their passing game.

Notable signings:

Cary Williams, CB: Three years, $18MM. $7MM guaranteed.
Tarvaris Jackson, QB: One year, $1.5MM. $1.5MM guaranteed.
Ahtyba Rubin, DT: One year, $2.6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Clint Gresham, LS: Three years, $2.705MM. $300K guaranteed.
Mike Morgan, LB: One year, $1MM. $150K guaranteed.
Greg Scruggs, DE: One year, $785K. $100K guaranteed.
Anthony McCoy, TE: One year, $905K. $75K guaranteed.
Will Blackmon, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Demarcus Dobbs, DE: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Lemuel Jeanpierre, OL: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Will Tukuafu, FB/DL: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Jermaine Kearse, WR: One year, $2.356MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.

The Seahawks’ only significant move in free agency was the three-year, $18MM signing of cornerback Cary Williams, who is now on his fourth team in eight seasons. The 30-year-old was most recently a member of the Eagles, with whom he spent the past two seasons and collected five interceptions. Williams graded out slightly above average relative to his competition last year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked him the NFL’s 35th-best corner out of the 74 who played at least 50 percent of defensive snaps. The durable Williams has appeared in 64 straight regular-season games and his presence in Seattle should help make up for the loss of Byron Maxwell – who, ironically enough, took Williams’ spot in Philly. However, there’s no guarantee Williams will join No. 1 man Richard Sherman as one of the Seahawks’ starting corners. That job could go to Tharold Simon, Stephen Cohen of SeattlePI.com wrote Thursday.

Regardless of whether Williams starts for the Seahawks, they’re happy to have the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder aboard their defense.

“It starts with his length and his height, his aggressiveness and just the style of play that we have here, playing a lot of press,” general manager John Schneider said in March, according to 710 ESPN Seattle.

Notable losses:

James Carpenter, G
Heath Farwell, LB
Jeron Johnson, S
Byron Maxwell, CB
Zach Miller, TE: Released
Tony Moeaki, TE
Stephen Schilling, G
O’Brien Schofield, LB
Malcolm Smith, LB
Bryan Walters, WR
Kevin Williams, DT

The Seahawks lost one major defensive contributor via free agency, the aforementioned Maxwell – whom they couldn’t afford to retain. Maxwell broke out as a member of the Seahawks’ dominant defense the previous two years and parlayed that success into a $63MM contract with the Eagles. With Sherman still in the fold and a pair of capable corners in Williams and Simon competing for time opposite him, the Seahawks are properly equipped to handle the loss of Maxwell and defend their reign as the league’s top-ranked pass defense. Of course, much of that will also depend on the statuses of star safeties Kam Chancellor (holdout) and Earl Thomas, who’s on the mend after undergoing offseason surgery on a torn labrum.

Offensively, Seattle’s most noteworthy departure in free agency was left guard James Carpenter, who signed with the Jets. A first-round pick in 2011, Carpenter spent four years in Seattle and made 39 starts – including a personal-best 13 last season. PFF (subscription required) wasn’t enamored with Carpenter’s play the previous two seasons, rating him 47th out of 78 qualifying guards last year and 65th out of 81 in 2013. Nevertheless, the Seahawks are having trouble finding an able replacement for Carpenter. They recently courted two-time Pro Bowler Evan Mathis, but he ended up signing with Denver. That means Carpenter’s successor is very likely to come from within. One candidate is Justin Britt, a 2014 second-round pick who started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie. Britt shifted to left guard earlier this month and lined up there in the Seahawks’ preseason contest against the Chiefs a week ago. Head coach Pete Carroll said Britt “looked very comfortable at left guard,” Gregg Bell of The News Tribune tweeted. Britt is the fifth different left guard the Seahawks have lined up with their No. 1 offensive unit this summer, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times wrote last week, which points to the lack stability that Carpenter’s exit has led to.

Trades:

Acquired TE Jimmy Graham and a 2015 fourth-round pick from the Saints in exchange for C Max Unger and a 2015 first-round pick.
Acquired a 2015 third-round pick (No. 69; WR Tyler Lockett) from Washington in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick (No. 95; RB Matt Jones), a 2015 fourth-round pick (No. 112; G Arie Kouandjio), a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 167), and a 2015 sixth-round pick (No. 181; S Kyshoen Jarrett).

The Seahawks made a bold, game-changing trade in March when they acquired three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham from the Saints for center Max Unger and a first-round pick. While Unger was an integral part of their offensive line, he struggled to stay healthy, missing 13 games the previous two seasons, and certainly isn’t the impact player Graham is.

One thing the Seahawks’ offense sorely needed in recent years was an elite weapon in their passing game, and Graham fits the bill. The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder has put up staggering totals over the last four years – since 2011, the 28-year-old has averaged 89 receptions, 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns per season. Those numbers dwarf the ones Doug Baldwin, Seattle’s previous leading pass catcher, accumulated in 2014: 66 catches, 825 yards, three scores. Regardless of Graham’s production this year, opposing defenses are going to have to focus on him. That will open things up for the rest of Seattle’s offense, and could make running back Marshawn Lynch an even bigger problem for defenses to contain.

Of course, the negative to adding Graham was losing Unger. As with Carpenter, the Seahawks are still looking for a replacement for Unger. They reportedly visited with free agent Samson Satele earlier this week and have been holding an in-house competition between Drew Nowak and Lemuel Jeanpierre, Condotta wrote Wednesday.

Satele, an eight-year veteran, has started a combined 114 games for three different teams. He made 16 starts last season for the Dolphins and ranked 22nd out of 29 centers who played in at least 50 percent of snaps, per PFF (subscription required). However, he has been a decent run blocker through most of his career and might help ease the pain of losing Unger in that respect – to an extent, anyway. If the Seahawks don’t sign Satele, it would mean a starting job for Nowak or Jeanpierre. That would be a significant step for either, as Nowak has zero NFL starts under his belt and Jeanpierre has a mere 11 during his four-year career in Seattle.

Extensions and restructures:

Marshawn Lynch, RB: Extended through 2017. Three years, $31MM. $7.5MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $4.5MM, $9MM, $7MM. $3MM roster bonus in 2017.
Russell Wilson, QB: Extended through 2019. Four years, $87.6MM. $31MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $12.34MM, $12.6MM, $15.5MM, $17MM.
Bobby Wagner, LB: Extended through 2019. Four years, $43MM. $8MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $3MM, $4MM, $10MM, $10.5MM.

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch considered retirement early in the offseason, but the Seahawks summarily put that thought to bed by giving him a new contract. A future without Lynch surely isn’t one Seattle wants to ponder, as the 29-year-old has been a revelation during his five seasons with the team. Lynch has totaled 56 touchdowns (48 rushing, eight receiving) and accrued at least 280 carries and 1,200 yards in four of those seasons, also eclipsing the 100-yard mark on the ground in six playoff games. Thanks largely to Lynch, the Seahawks have finished top five in the league in rushing – including first overall last year – three straight times.

One of the other reasons Seattle has had such a tremendous rushing attack lately has been the work of dual-threat quarterback Russell Wilson, to whom the team also gave a new contract. The 26-year-old got a much richer deal than Lynch, inking a four-year, $87.6MM agreement with a $31MM signing bonus and $60MM in guarantees. Wilson’s new contract strongly resembles Ben Roethlisberger‘s pact with the Steelers – a four-year, $87.4MM deal with a $31MM signing bonus – and it’s deserved company for Wilson. Since the Seahawks took Wilson in the third round of the 2012 draft, the ex-NC State and Wisconsin standout has dazzled both through the air and on the ground, helping lead the team to its first-ever championship and nearly another one. Wilson has thrown 72 touchdowns against just 26 interceptions and put up a 98.6 passer rating in 48 regular-season starts, averaging a lofty 7.95 yards per attempt along the way. He’s been just as difficult to stop as a rusher, confounding defenses for 1,800-plus yards and 11 more scores. Last season, Wilson totaled career bests in rushing yards (849) and touchdowns (six), and led the league in yards-per-carry average (7.2). Wilson’s personal success has helped lead to resounding team success for the Seahawks, who have a ridiculous .750 winning percentage with him under center (36-12 in the regular season, 6-2 in the playoffs).

Linebacker Bobby Wagner followed in the footsteps of Lynch and Wilson and became the third Seahawks Pro Bowler to sign an extension this year. Wagner is now the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league after inking a four-year, $43MM extension ($22MM in guarantees). Despite missing five games in 2014 with turf toe, Wagner racked up a prolific 135 regular-season tackles and was named an All-Pro for the first time. PFF (subscription required) ranked the 25-year-old fifth out of 60 qualified ILBs in 2014, grading him as an above-average contributor in pass coverage, as a pass rusher, and especially against the run.

Draft picks:

2-63: Frank Clark, DE (Michigan): Signed
3-69: Tyler Lockett, WR (Kansas State): Signed
4-130: Terry Poole, T (San Diego State): Signed
4-134: Mark Glowinski, G (West Virginia): Signed
5-170: Tye Smith, CB (Towson): Signed
6-209: Obum Gwacham, DE (Oregon State): Signed
6-214: Kristjan Sokoli, OL/DL (Buffalo): Signed
7-248: Ryan Murphy, S (Oregon State): Signed

The Seahawks’ defense finished last season toward the top of the league in most major statistical categories, but the unit ended up just 21st in sacks. Second-round pick Frank Clark could help in that department, and he’s been impressive this summer. In his preseason debut earlier this month, a loss to the Broncos, Clark led the Seahawks with nine tackles and showed off his ability to play on both the right and left sides.

“We’re trying to gain some information about where he’s most effective,” Carroll said afterward, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN 710 Seattle. “He had a good edge rush and (chased) the football, too. He forced a fumble tonight. He looked really good, so we’ll just figure it out and see where he’s best suited. It will take us all the way through the preseason to do that.”

While Clark has acquitted himself well on the field, the same wasn’t true off the field during his college football career. A domestic violence arrest last November got him kicked off the team at Michigan, but the Seahawks were apparently satisfied enough with Clark’s character to draft him.

“Our organization has an in-depth understanding of Frank Clark’s situation and background—we have done a ton of research on this young man,” Schneider said after the draft, per Condotta. “There’s hasn’t been one player in this draft that we have spent more time researching and scrutinizing more than Frank. That is why we have provided Frank with this opportunity, and we look forward to him succeeding in our culture here in Seattle.”

Joining Clark as a potential high-impact player from the Seahawks’ 2015 draft class is third-round receiver and return man Tyler Lockett, a former Kansas State star. Lockett has been rather effective in two preseason games with the Seahawks: He totaled 146 yards on four kick returns, including a 103-yard touchdown, and 18 on a punt return against the Broncos. He followed that with a solid performance as a receiver in the Seahawks’ loss to the Chiefs last week, leading the team with 42 yards on three catches. Lockett has the potential to end up as the type of electrifying, multi-threat presence Percy Harvin was supposed to be for the Seahawks. That would make him one of the steals of this year’s draft.

Other:

Promoted Kris Richard to defensive coordinator to replace Dan Quinn.
Declined 2016 fifth-year option for LB Bruce Irvin ($7.751MM).
Signed 11 players to reserve/futures contracts.
Signed 12 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

In 2013, the Seahawks lost defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to the Jaguars, who hired him as their head coach. History repeated itself this past offseason, as Bradley’s successor in Seattle, Dan Quinn, left to be the Falcons’ head man. Quinn’s absence probably won’t be felt to any large extent in Seattle, which has the talent to continue as one of the league’s premier defenses. It might help that a familiar face, Kris Richard, is taking over for Quinn. Richard has been a member of Seattle’s defensive staff since 2012, previously coaching their secondary.

This season could be the last in Seattle for linebacker Bruce Irvin, who has been a Seahawk since they used a first-rounder on him in 2012. Despite his on-field prowess (16.5 sacks, six forced turnovers), he’s likely to be a victim of the Seahawks’ success. With a salary cap in place and multiple breakout players on the Seahawks having already signed big-money extensions, not every star can be retained long term. Thus, the team decided in April not to pick up Irvin’s fifth-year option for 2016, which means he could become a free agent next winter.

Top 10 cap hits for 2015:

Richard Sherman, CB: $12,200,000
Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000
Cliff Avril, DE: $8,000,000
Michael Bennett, DE: $8,000,000
Jimmy Graham, TE: $8,000,000
Earl Thomas, S: $7,400,000
Russell Okung, LT: $7,280,000
Percy Harvin, WR: $7,200,000 (dead money)
Brandon Mebane, DT: $5,700,000
Kam Chancellor, S: $5,650,000

The Seahawks aren’t perfect (their offensive line is a testament to that), but they’re about as close as any team in the league. They’re a good bet to win the NFC West for a third straight year, clinch a fourth consecutive playoff berth, and vie for their third Super Bowl trip in a row.

Contract information from Over the Cap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

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