NFC Links: Peterson, Munnerlyn, Lacy
In some news in the NFC Saturday night …
- One of the Cowboys‘ biggest fears in their debate on retaining NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray is that it would cost them the chance at adding long-coveted Adrian Peterson, sources told Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Cowboys’ rare offseason thrift may not preclude the notoriously splashy franchise from making a deal for native Texan Peterson. Despite Peterson’s $12.75MM salary, the 30-year-old running back could still be acquired via draft-weekend trade, per Hill.
- The Vikings have not looked into free agents Michael Crabtree and Justin Blalock, notes Darren Wolfson of KSTP on Twitter.
- After previously fearing his up-and-down play could result in his release one year into a three-year deal, Captain Munnerlyn is confident he can beat out the recently added Terence Newman for the starting job opposite Xavier Rhodes, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A four-year starter soon to be 27, Munnerlyn, who graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 37th-best corner (subscription required), probably has the inside track. Newman, PFF’s 56th-best corner in 2014, is 37 and signed a one-year, $2.5MM contract Friday — a lesser investment than the Vikings made in Munnerlyn (three-year, $11.25MM deal signed in ’14).
- Mike McCarthy is attempting to keep Eddie Lacy fresh without taking him off the field on third downs, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. Lacy’s snap totals spiked to more than 65% last season after hovering at an injury-reduced 60 as a rookie in 2013. Lacy’s touch total, however, declined from Year 1 to Year 2, however, and the Packers‘ powerful running back’s 246 carries didn’t reach the standard McCarthy planned before last season.
- Washington represents another stop on Marcus Mariota‘s spring itinerary, and CSNWashington.com’s Tarik El-Bashir previews the summit (audio link). Sources have noted Washington either taking the Heisman winner at No. 5 or strongly considering it. The Jets were the latest team to publicly court the Oregon star.
NFC Mailbags: Peterson, Rams, Gurley, Newton
We already took a look at some of the AFC mailbags, now let us turn our attention to what ESPN.com’s writes are saying about the NFC:
- The biggest question left for the Cowboys in terms of building their team outside the draft is whether or not they will trade for Adrian Peterson. Todd Archer writes that while you can never rule anything out with the Cowboys, he doesn’t see it as a real possibility.
- The Rams are in an odd spot drafting at No. 10, with no obvious players or needs going in that range. Nick Wagoner opened his mailbag to questions about what the team will do if one of the better prospects falls to them, despite not being an immediate fit. He believes the team would have to consider players like Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Vic Beasley, and Randy Gregory should they be available.
- The Cardinals have a lot of questions at running back, and Josh Weinfuss explores two options, with the likeliness of either Todd Gurley or Peterson starting at halfback for the team in 2015. Weinfuss writes that while every player is different, Gurley should be ready for the beginning of the season. In the case of Peterson, he notes that the chances of a deal materializing lessen as time goes on.
- Cam Newton is coming closer to a contract extension with the Panthers, and David Newton answers questions about his progress this offseason and the team’s opinions of him. He also touches on whether the team would be willing to trade up in the draft, which he hasn’t seen precedent of under general manager Dave Gettleman.
NFC East Notes: Mariota, Giants, Eagles, Cowboys
Washington has been insistent that they are committed to Robert Griffin III as their franchise quarterback, but that does not mean they aren’t doing diligence on the top passers in the draft. The team plans to host Marcus Mariota for a pre-draft visit, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
“If we think it’s worth the risk to hit the ‘reset button,’ if he’s that good of a football player, if we decide in the building that he’s that good of a football player and that we should do that, then we should do that, you know?,” said head coach Jay Gruden said. “But we’ll see. It has not been determined yet, obviously. We still have some time to determine whether or not we want to go in that direction.”
It is uncertain if Mariota would even be available for the team at the fifth selection.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:
- Building off reports that Washington will have Mariota for a visit, John Keim of ESPN offers some thoughts on the connection between player and team. He writes that it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the team is at least having him in for a visit, as he is projected to go in the range of their selection, and the teams are allotted 30 visits. He also notes that there are real concerns over Griffin’s standing within the organization, as well as concerns about Mariota’s NFL projection.
- While Washington has expressed some interest in Mariota, Ross Jones of Fox Sports highlights three players who make more sense for the team. He picks pass rushers Randy Gregory and Shane Ray as options, as well as offensive tackle Brandon Scherff.
- The Giants have a need at safety after losing Antrel Rolle to the Bears, but may be able to fill that hole on the second day of the draft, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Citing Mel Kiper of ESPN, Raanan picks out a few safeties who could be available when the Giants come to the podium in rounds two and three, including Byron Jones of Connecticut and Eric Rowe of Utah.
- The Eagles have been engaged in trade talks with the Dolphins, who are reportedly interested in a member of their defensive backfield, writes Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. While the specific player is not known, Shorr-Parks surmises it is either Brandon Boykin, Earl Wolff, or Jerome Couplin.
- The Cowboys are known for having one of the top offensive lines in the league, but that wouldn’t preclude them to adding to a strength in the draft, and Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News has profiled a number of offensive linemen that could be of interest to the team.
NFC Links: Ball, McClain, Panthers, Cardinals
Veteran cornerback Alan Ball rejected the Panthers offer in free agency, eventually opting to sign with the Bears. The former seventh-round pick discussed his decision to join Chicago with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune:
“I just see opportunity in a new defense that is coming in. I’ve watched Vic [Fangio]’s defense in the past and what he does for his players and the situations he puts them in. You have to be excited about that. [Ed] Donatell does a good job with players as well and John Fox, no matter who you ask, they say the same thing about him as a head coach.
“I like the whole situation with those guys after being around them and (general manager) Ryan Pace. It’s good energy and it is something to be excited about. I don’t want to talk numbers. The Bears were competitive. The reason I made the decision overall was because of fit.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFC…
- Despite previous reports the the Cowboys wanted to bring back linebacker Rolando McClain, Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News says the two sides are very far apart. Following the deals signed by linebackers Bruce Carter and Justin Durant, Sturm concludes that it’s a “buyer’s market.” Our own Luke Adams analyzed McClain’s free agent stock yesterday.
- Free agent offensive lineman Ben Ijalana visited the Panthers on Friday, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The former second-round pick has played only seven games since joining the NFL in 2011.
- An interesting detail on Alameda Ta’amu‘s contract with the Cardinals (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com): the nose tackle’s $216K workout bonus is based on the player making weight. The 24-year-old will make $36K for making weight at each of his six weigh-ins.
Draft Notes: Mariota, Cowboys, Ravens, Giants
Some assorted draft notes on this Saturday morning…
- Marcus Mariota is scheduled to meet with the Chargers in mid-April, reports NFL.com’s Albert Breer (via Twitter). The writer notes that Washington is also trying to set up a visit with the prospect.
- The group over at CSNChicago.com analyzed the draft stock of prospect Gerod Hollimon, and the group concluded that the former Louisville safety would be a fit for the Bears. Despite the team’s addition of Antrel Rolle, the prospect’s “ballhawking” and “good coverage skills” are sorely need in Chicago.
- Cowboys representatives were on hand at TCU’s Pro Day on Friday to watch linebacker Paul Dawson workout, writes Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News. Despite the player’s disappointing performance at the league’s scouting combine, scouts were much more impressed this time around, Sabin reports.
- Louisville wideout DeVante Parker is set to meet with the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The projected first-round pick is also scheduled to meet with the Titans and Dolphins. Despite missing seven games this past season, Parker still finished with 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns.
- The Giants attended LSU’s Pro Day on Friday, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The writer points to offensive lineman La’el Collins as a realistic target for the G-Men, and he also includes cornerback Jalen Collins, linebacker Kwon Alexander and defensive end Danielle Hunter among the school’s top prospects. The Giants have selected numerous LSU alumni in recent years, including wideout Odell Beckham last season.
NFC East Notes: RGIII, Murphy, Carr
Scot McCloughan has been putting his stamp on Washington’s roster since he took over as the team’s general manager in January. That’s not going to stop anytime soon, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (video link). McCloughan didn’t draft a single one of Washington’s players, which means he has no built-in loyalty toward those individuals and could look to replace anyone on the roster, per El-Bashir. One of those players is quarterback Robert Griffin III, whose future in Washington beyond next season is nebulous. RGIII has a player option for 2016 worth over $16MM, and El-Bashir speculates that Washington is either still discussing what to do with that option or has decided not to pick it up. The club has until May 3 to make its decision known.
Let’s take a further look at the most recent news regarding Washington and one of its NFC East rivals:
- Washington used a 2014 second-round pick on outside linebacker Trent Murphy, who had just 2.5 sacks as a rookie. Now there’s speculation that Washington will spend another high selection on an outside linebacker this year, perhaps its first-rounder (fifth overall). Despite that, head coach Jay Gruden still believes in the 24-year-old Murphy, writes El-Bashir. “He’s very young up top, his frame, and he’s going get a lot stronger,” said Gruden. “He’s got the hands. He’s got the hips. He’s got the flexibility to be an effective pass rusher.”
- Pittsburg State cornerback De’Vante Bausby is an unheralded draft prospect to keep an eye on for Washington, El-Bashir tweeted. Washington attended his pro day Thursday.
- The Cowboys’ pass defense ranked 26th in the NFL last season, but Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News reports that the team hasn’t hosted any cornerback prospects as the draft nears. The Cowboys have instead focused on running backs and linemen.
- Speaking of Dallas’ corners, Sturm took a look at Brandon Carr‘s situation. Carr’s agent said earlier this week that the 28-year-old is not going to take a pay cut for 2015, when he’s due to count $12.7MM against the salary cap, which means Dallas could eventually cut him loose. Doing so after June 1 would save the Cowboys $8MM on next season’s cap. However, Sturm thinks Carr will ultimately stick around at a reduced rate – perhaps with the help of a contract extension – as the Cowboys aren’t in position to find another corner to adequately replace the seven-year veteran and the 1,000-plus downs he’ll play in 2015.
NFC Links: Cowboys, AP, Saints, Bears, 49ers
The Cowboys seemingly downgraded significantly at running back this offseason in replacing reigning rushing champ DeMarco Murray, who signed with the NFC East rival Eagles, with Darren McFadden. Given that and Adrian Peterson‘s unhappiness with the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com took a look at whether Dallas should attempt to acquire the former NFL MVP.
Peterson, 30, has three years left on his current contract, and missed all of last season because of domestic violence issues. His off-field problems aside, Fitzgerald opines that Dallas would be better off steering clear of Peterson because of the difficulty that would come with fitting him under the team’s salary cap. The Cowboys have worked hard in recent years to better their long-term cap situation and they still have to find a way to retain wide receiver Dez Bryant beyond the 2015 season. Adding Peterson, although enticing, would be imprudent.
Here’s a look at some other NFC clubs currently in the news:
- The Saints need an edge rusher and could take one with their first-round pick, the 13th overall selection, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com. “I think we’ll have to draft at least one if not two defensive linemen and or outside linebacker pass rushers,” head coach Sean Payton said. The Saints must generate a better pass rush going forward after finishing an underwhelming 21st in the league in sacks last year.
- The staff at CSNChicago.com is analyzing possible draft prospects the Bears could target. The site examined Colorado State offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo, whom it sees as a fit for the Bears in the second or third round.
- The 49ers waived cornerback Cameron Fuller on Friday, according to the team’s website. San Francisco signed Fuller to its practice squad late last season and activated him for one game, in which he didn’t play.
NFC Notes: Falcons, Gregory, 49ers
With a little over a month to go between now and the draft, the Falcons are working hard to identify pass rushers that can help them in the short-term and long-term, as Robert Klemko of The MMQB writes. New head coach Dan Quinn knows what he’ll be looking for.
“Initial speed,” Quinn says. “You have to be able to beat someone off the ball who is going to be stronger than you. Then you have to be able to use the length—length is important—and have the relentlessness to finish. Then with the mental makeup, with both cornerbacks and rushers, you have to be a relentless fighter. There’s a 330-pound bear in front of you, and you just have to figure out a way to beat him. You have to be fast enough to run with the running backs and tight ends and strong enough to fight a bear. You have to be a unique dude.”
Here’s more from the NFC..
- Speaking of the Falcons‘ draft, one scout theorized to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) that Atlanta could target Randy Gregory at No. 8. Earlier today we learned that the Nebraska pass rusher failed his combine drug test, but Rapoport says that the Falcons are now open to taking “edgier” players.
- You can add the 49ers to the list of teams that Texas A&M Commerce wide receiver Ricky Collins will be visiting, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets.
- Even with Greg Hardy in the fold, pass rusher remains a big need for the Cowboys, Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News writes. Much has been made of the Cowboys’ needs at the cornerback position, but he puts the pass rush on even footing.
NFC East Notes: Murray, Cowboys, Eagles
Despite the speculation of some, Eagles coach Chip Kelly insists that he didn’t sign DeMarco Murray as a ploy to weaken the Cowboys, as David Moore of The Dallas Morning News writes. “We never look at it that way,” Kelly said. “We’re just trying to acquire players. We don’t say let’s take this player over that player because it’s going to make that team weaker. I know Dallas is going to be a tough opponent when we play them this year.” Here’s more from the NFC East..
- It sounds like in either this draft or the next, the Cowboys are likely to select a quarterback, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News writes. Tony Romo turns 35 next month and owner Jerry Jones says he’s thinking about the future of the position.
- Eagles center Jason Kelce told reporters, including Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine (on Twitter), that he’s not expecting the team to trade up for Marcus Mariota, though a “lot of things” have surprised him this offseason.
- New Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has no hard feelings about Kelly, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. “I still believe in Chip,” Maclin said of the Eagles coach.
- Todd Gurley may have more upside, but Melvin Gordon could be a better fit for the Cowboys, Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News writes.
Cowboys Notes: Hardy, Secondary
The Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones are awaiting news regarding the NFL’s oncoming disciplinary action against newly signed defensive end Greg Hardy, who missed almost all of last season because of domestic violence issues. According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Jones spoke to NFL Network on Wednesday and touched on the subject of Hardy, stating that the team signed Hardy with the belief that he’ll stay out of trouble going forward.
“When the Dallas Cowboys made this decision, we knew there was going to be a ton of awareness and a ton of debate,” said Jones. “That’s just what happens when we get involved. So in that sense, I think that Greg won’t do this again and that’s why we signed him to the team.”
If Jones is right and Hardy is able to clean up his act, the Cowboys should benefit greatly on the field. The 26-year-old Hardy is an elite pass-rushing talent who’s likely to boost a Cowboys defense that was just 21st in the league in sacks last season. Hardy combined for 26 sacks from 2012-13, his last two full seasons, as a member of the Panthers.
Here’s more on Hardy and the Cowboys:
- David Moore, also of the Dallas Morning News, writes that Hardy will line up at right defensive end for the Cowboys, per head coach Jason Garrett. “From a position standpoint he is a right defensive end for us,’’ said Garrett. “But if you watch him play in Carolina, he plays 3-technique (defensive tackle). He plays the nose tackle. He plays left end. He rushes outside on third down. He rushes inside on third down. He has great versatility as a player, a lot of different skills.”
- Garrett and the Cowboys are under the assumption that the league will suspend Hardy for some of 2015, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw, who speculates that Hardy might be forced to sit for six games. Garrett indicated that Dallas isn’t tied to Hardy if he doesn’t fit in with the team, saying, “If at any point we don’t like what he’s doing as a player or a person, we can move on without any salary cap consequences.” Garrett went on to state that the Cowboys are “going to approach this on a day-to-day basis.”
- The Morning News’ Rick Gosselin addressed the Cowboys’ defense, largely the secondary, in a mailbag. Gosselin believes the team’s ‘D’ needs pass-rush help on the interior, a playmaking safety, a cornerback with size and a linebacker. Per Gosselin, Brandon Carr should continue to play cornerback – not move to safety, as a fan asked – and the team should look to add an outside corner via the draft and leave its top cover man, Orlando Scandrick, on the inside.