2015 NFL Compensatory Draft Picks
The NFL has officially announced the 32 compensatory draft picks for 2015 that have been handed out to teams who had the most significant losses in free agency a year ago. These picks, which can’t be traded, are determined by a formula that accounts for salary, playing time, and postseason honors. Teams can’t receive more than four picks each, and this year’s selections were divided up among 14 clubs.
Here’s the list of 2015 compensatory picks by team, with the round and overall selection number included:
- 49ers: 4th (132), 7th (254)
- Bears: None
- Bengals: 3rd (99), 4th (135)
- Bills: None
- Broncos: 4th (133), 6th (208), 7th (250), 7th (251)
- Browns: None
- Buccaneers: None
- Cardinals: 7th (256)
- Chargers: None
- Chiefs: 3rd (98), 5th (172), 5th (173), 6th (217)
- Colts: 7th (255)
- Cowboys: None
- Dolphins: None
- Eagles: None
- Falcons: None
- Giants: None
- Jaguars: None
- Jets: None
- Lions: None
- Packers: 6th (210), 6th (212)
- Panthers: 5th (169), 6th (213)
- Patriots: 3rd (97), 7th (253)
- Raiders: None
- Rams: 6th (215)
- Ravens: 4th (136), 5th (171) , 5th (175)
- Saints: None
- Seahawks: 4th (134), 5th (170), 6th (209), 6th (214)
- Steelers: 7th (252)
- Texans: 5th (174), 6th (211), 6th (216)
- Titans: None
- Vikings: None
- Washington: None
Bengals’ Brown Talks Green, Lewis, Contracts
The Bengals and A.J. Green could be heading toward a franchise tag arrangement next March, according to Paul Dehner Jr., of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Our problem is what you just said, the money is so big,” Bengals owner Mike Brown told Dehner Jr. “We are going to have a finite cap room with a handful of players who are going to be eligible for free agency. We are going to have to see what we can get done with that. We don’t know yet where we are going to end up but we have tried to prepare ourselves for it some by holding back on cap expenditures this year which can be rolled over into next year.”
A four-time Pro Bowler who has offered four-digit receiving-yardage totals in each of his four seasons, Green may not have a clear market as of now, with top-five wideout peers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas being tagged this month.
Brown expressed obvious desire to strike a long-term accord with the Bengals’ top 2016 free agent priority, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, but Green’s deal will affect the team’s ability to pay other ’16 free agents. Starters Andrew Whitworth, Leon Hall, Andre Smith and Reggie Nelson are among the lineup bastions with expiring contracts this season, and Andy Dalton‘s cap number vaults from $9M+ this season to more than $13MM in 2016. Excluding Smith, however, each of those will-be free agents are over 30.
Green will make $10.17MM this season on his fifth-year option and will almost certainly play in Cincinnati in 2016 on either a long-term deal or tag.
Brown hasn’t shown any urgency to give Marvin Lewis another one-year extension which would keep the coach out of lame-duck status this season, with Lewis joining the aforementioned contingent with expiring contracts. Lewis, who signed a one-year extension last March to avoid this expiring-deal scenario, is the second-longest-tenured coach in the league behind Bill Belichick.
“We have a good relationship. I hope that relationship goes forward into the future. But we aren’t at the future yet,” Brown told Dehrer Jr. “We don’t have to make this decision until after this year. He doesn’t have to make this decision until next year. Right now he’s under contract, and he’s fulfilling it as we would expect and he knows he should.”
The Bengals’ much-publicized playoff win drought extended to four straight years under Lewis, which may explain the owner’s reluctance to commit to giving him a potential 14th season (via Dehner Jr., on Twitter).
Other iteams from Brown, via Hobson: they haven’t made a decision on offering fifth-year options to 2012 first-rounders Dre Kirkpatrick and Kevin Zeitler; A.J. McCarron will get the chance to become Dalton’s understudy with the third quarterback likely coming through the draft, and Brown won’t vote for replay expansion (Twitter link) this week at the owners’ meetings.
AFC Rumors: Broncos, Steelers, Sims
Amid an offseason mostly defined by subtraction with the departures of Julius Thomas, Terrance Knighton and several other starters or contributors, the Broncos may have a fit as a result of an under-the-radar acquisition, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
The team’s signing of tight end/fullback Joe Don Duncan, an undrafted Division II product who missed what would’ve been his rookie season in 2014 due to injuries, occupies the Broncos’ new need for a fullback. Per Klis, the Broncos plan to convert Duncan to fill their need at fullback, a position the team hasn’t used much since Spencer Larsen and Peyton Hillis in 2008.
An Associated Press D-II All-American in 2013, Duncan caught 71 passes for 1,045 yards as a senior. Denver used recently re-signed Virgil Green and former undrafted running back Juwan Thompson at the position last season.
Gary Kubiak also mentioned in Klis’ story that Chris Myers, who he coached for six seasons with the Texans, Samson Satele, Scott Wells and 2014 Broncos snapper Will Montgomery as available free agent centers before alluding to the front office’s positive outlook on Matt Paradis, a sixth-round pick last season. Recently added ex-Dolphins guard Shelley Smith could also factor in at center, per Klis, if the Broncos see a left guard they prefer instead of a center.
Elsewhere on Sunday night …
- The Bengals are interested in bringing back defensive tackle Pat Sims, notes Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Paul Dehner Jr. via Twitter. The former third-round Bengals selection in 2008 played five years in Cincinnati before signing with the Raiders in 2013. A starter in Oakland in 2013, Sims served as a backup last season, playing in 37% of the snaps.
- Cincinnati will probably wait until at least April before attempting to re-sign role players Taylor Mays or Cedric Peerman, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com writes. Hobson also noted A.J. McCarron could be moved up to the Bengals’ No. 2 quarterback spot, with the team’s reluctance to devote much financially to Andy Dalton‘s backup. 2014 backup Jason Campbell remains a free agent.
- Third-year Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones could switch to the left edge, reports Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Mark Kaboly on Twitter. GM Kevin Colbert told Kaboly newly re-signed backer James Harrison probably won’t move. Soon to be 37, Harrison was partially signed to mentor the Steelers’ young linebackers. According to Colbert, both outside backer slots and both cornerback starters are open competitions. But the GM imagines re-signed Arthur Moats will start on the left side after the retirement of Jason Worilds vacated that position. (Twitter links).
- The Dolphins won the offseason, writes Grantland’s Robert Mays. for their addition of Ndamukong Suh, Jordan Cameron and Kenny Stills while also shedding the excess contracts of Mike Wallace and Dannell Ellerbe. Mays also speculates a fit in Miami for All-Pro guard Evan Mathis, who the Eagles are reportedly open to dealing, if Mike Pouncey indeed shifts back to center from right guard.
Draft Notes: Gardner, Funchess, Irving
With teams beginning to set their draft boards in stone, many are meeting with prospects to try to learn as much as they can as they prepare for the 2015 NFL Draft.
Here are a few prospects that have visited with organizations, with new updates added to the top:
- LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins will visit with the Ravens prior to the NFL draft, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Collins had already met with the team during both the NFL Combine and the Senior Bowl.
- Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner says that between three and four teams are interested in him as a passer, while the rest of the league views him as a wide receiver, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN (via Twitter). Gardner has already worked out with the Falcons and Bengals, and has visits with the Patriots and Chiefs coming up next week (via Twitter). He will also be meeting with the Steelers before the draft as well (via Twitter).
- Rothstein also notes thats fellow Wolverine Devin Funchess worked out for the Falcons last week, at both wide receiver and H-back (via Twitter).
- Former Iowa State defensive tackle David Irving will work out in San Jacinto, California on Monday morning. Despite being dismissed from the team due to an arrest and missing the 2014 season, at least two NFL teams are expected to attend, writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter).
AFC Mailbags: Jets, Ravens, Bengals, Jags
We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now switch our focus over to the AFC…
- When asked about the opportunity for the Jets to add a veteran quarterback, Rich Cimini said he’d eagerly swap the sixth pick for Chargers‘ star Philip Rivers.
- Meanwhile, Cimini believes there’s a good chance the Jets will select a running back in the draft. With Bilal Powell, Chris Ivory and Daryl Richardson under contract, the writer says the team could use a versatile, pass-catching back.
- Jamison Hensley predicts the Ravens will either select a wide receiver, tight end, cornerback or pass rusher with their first-round pick.
- Hensley says the Ravens could look to bring in a veteran tight end. When asked about former Seahawks weapon Zach Miller, the writer says the organization should be wary of the injury risk. For an “under-the-radar” pick, Hensley points to Cardinals tight end Rob Housler.
- Quarterback Jason Campbell and running back Cedric Peerman are “the most likely” of the Bengals free agents to return, according to Coley Harvey.
- If the Jaguars don’t select a pass rusher with their first-round pick, Michael DiRocco could envision the team selecting a wide receiver. Looking towards veteran help at the position, DiRocco suggests Greg Jennings as an option.
Bengals Sign Brandon Ghee
The Bengals are bringing back a player they selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft, announcing today that they’ve signed cornerback Brandon Ghee to a new contract (Twitter link).
Ghee, 27, saw the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his four years with the team before signing with the Chargers last year and then landing with the Titans in October. In six contests for Tennessee in 2014, Ghee made four tackles and grabbed his first career interception. However, he was cut in December by the Titans, making him a free agent again.
Having battled injuries in the past, Ghee should have an opportunity to make the Bengals’ 53-man roster if he stays healthy, but he likely won’t be counted on to have a significant role in the team’s secondary in 2015.
Bengals Re-Sign Devon Still
It’s been a great week for defensive lineman Devon Still, who revealed on Instagram on Tuesday that doctors are optimistic about the prognosis for his daughter Leah, with recent tests not showing “any active disease in her body.” The latest positive development for Still is a new contract with the Bengals, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, who congratulated his client today on Twitter.
Still, 25, had been eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but the Bengals decided not to extend him an RFA tender last week. At the time though, we heard that Cincinnati had made a one-year contract offer to Still, who was mulling the proposal while also weighing family issues — as Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes (via Twitter), Still had been waiting for the results of Leah’s tests before making a decision on the Bengals’ contract offer.
On the field, Still saw a career-high 237 defensive snaps as a part-time player for Cincinnati last season, recording 19 tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. Assuming he earns a spot on the 53-man roster in 2015, the former second-round pick should play a similar role for the Bengals.
Jermaine Gresham To Undergo Back Surgery
Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham was diagnosed with a herniated disc earlier today, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the former Bengals weapon is scheduled for back surgery on Thursday. While Rapoport notes that the tight end will determine his timetable following the surgery, previous reports estimated that Gresham would be ready for training camp.
The 26-year-old was certainly one of the more intriguing options on the free agent market, but his subpar 2014 campaign didn’t earn him a place on Luke Adams’ list of the top 50 free agents. He finished last season with 62 catches for 460 yards and five touchdowns, earning him a negative rating from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, it was a step up from his performance in 2013 and 2012, when PFF rated him as one of the two worst tight ends in the entire league.
The former first-round pick had previously met with the Raiders, but as of last week, the talks were reportedly “dead.” Meanwhile, the Browns had shown interest in Gresham, while the Bills were also rumored to be keeping an eye on the two-time Pro Bowler.
FA Rumors: Moore, Rubin, Jennings, Selvie
If Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News were in charge of the Cowboys, he would have tendered a contract offer to cornerback Sterling Moore. Cowboys coaches didn’t see enough from Moore in 2014 to want him back, apparently, but at a cost of $1.542MM, he could have given them inexpensive depth at the position. Moore, who visited the Steelers earlier this week, is in San Francisco today meeting with the 49ers, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Here’s more on a handful of free agents around the NFL:
- The Seahawks are still in the market for defensive line help and they’ll host Browns free agent defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin today, Rapoport tweets. Back in December, Rubin said that he wanted to stay in Cleveland for life. So far, nothing like that has materialized.
- Wide receiver Greg Jennings told Stephen A. Smith on Sirius XM/Mad Dog Sports Radio that he’d be open to a reunion with the Packers, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. Jennings said that he’d never “tear down” a bridge, but Demovsky notes that Jennings might have done that already with some harsh comments towards the Packers and Aaron Rodgers upon joining the Vikings.
- We heard earlier this week that the Vikings have interest in defensive end George Selvie, but Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities tweets that Minnesota appears to have backed off a little, while the Buccaneers are now “very much” in the mix for Selvie.
- Free agent offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds is paying a visit to the Rams, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). St. Louis has holes at multiple spots on its offensive line, and Reynolds is capable of playing both guard and tackle.
- Washington, the Vikings, and the Bengals are all vying to sign free agent safety Taylor Mays, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A source tells Tomasson that Cincinnati “desperately” wants to re-sign Mays, who is considering his options.
- The Ravens have maintained interest in potentially re-signing defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, who is visiting the Jets tomorrow, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Former Dolphins defensive end Rakim Cox has been invited to the veterans combine, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (on Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
FA Notes: Newman, Johnson, Clay, Lowery
As Peter King of The MMQB.com observes in his latest column, spending big in free agency often doesn’t translate to wins in the next season or two. As such, this year’s spenders – such as the Jets, Eagles, Dolphins, and Jaguars – should be wary about how much of an on-field impact their signings will have in 2015. A team like the Ravens, on the other hand, has enjoyed great success by consistently letting big free agents leave for other teams, then collecting compensatory picks for those players and replenishing the roster with young talent.
Here are a few more free agent updates:
- Veteran cornerback Terence Newman will turn 37 in September, but he intends to continue his playing career. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Newman visited the Vikings yesterday, and is headed to New England today to meet with the Patriots.
- When Michael Johnson‘s new four-year contract with the Bengals was initially reported, figures of $20MM and $24MM were cited as the overall value of the deal. Rapoport offers some clarity on that front, tweeting that the $20MM base value increases to $24MM if Johnson records 10 or more sacks during the 2015 season.
- Rex Ryan has been the “driving force” behind the Bills‘ pursuit of tight end Charles Clay, a source tells Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. Having become familiar with the Dolphins tight end over the last few years of AFC East divisional games, Ryan badly wants Clay in Buffalo, and the Bills continue to prepare an offer sheet for Miami’s transition player.
- Safety Dwight Lowery admits that the Falcons haven’t shown much interest in re-signing him, and says he hasn’t spoken to new head coach Dan Quinn, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. Atlanta is still without a starting free safety, so it’s possible the team will circle back to Lowery at some point.
- Referring to an article in Australia’s Courier-Mail, former Seahawks defensive lineman Jesse Williams suggested in a tweet that he didn’t actually speak to the outlet. The Courier-Mail piece indicated that Williams himself said he expected to re-sign with Seattle, so it’s not clear whether or not a new deal with the club is actually in the works.
- Earlier today, I listed a few of the top free agents still on the board at each position.