Minor Moves: Tuesday
We’ll keep track of today’ minor moves here, with the latest moves being added to the top of the list:
- The Cowboys have signed long snapper Casey Kreiter, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). The 24-year-old was with Dallas last summer before being waived in August. He’ll get another chance with the Cowboys, but he’ll have a hard time beating out incumbent L.P. Ladouceur, a 2014 Pro Bowler.
Draft Notes: Gordon, Hundley, McKinney, Lions
Two clubs who could be in need of a running back will meet with Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, a consensus top-two back in next month’s draft, as both the Cowboys and the Jaguars have lined up visits with the former Badger, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News and Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), respectively. The Cowboys, who hold the 27th overall pick, are aiming to replace DeMarco Murray, while Jacksonville, who would probably target Gordon at the top of the second round, could use another back to team with Denard Robinson.
Let’s take a look at some more pre-draft news…
- After Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, there aren’t many draft options at the quarterback position. One player in the mix to be third QB, however, is UCLA’s Brett Hundley, who says he’s already met with both the Eagles and the Jets, and plans to set up more visits, tweets SiriusXM NFL Radio.
- The 49ers lost linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirement in the past week, and they’ll look to the college ranks to fill that positional void. The club will meet with Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney, who will also visit the Broncos, Texans, and Cowboys, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link).
- The Lions hosted a pair of defensive prospects today, as both Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson and Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips visited the Motor City, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com in a pair of articles.
Cowboys, Seahawks, Bucs In On Greg Hardy
1:15pm: Like the Bucs, the Seahawks have denied that they have a formal visit scheduled for Hardy, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Multiple reporters, including Condotta, have been told by a source that the defensive end will visit Seattle, so it sounds like Hardy’s camp is saying one thing while his potential suitors are saying another. The Seahawks did confirm to Condotta that they’re doing “due diligence” on Hardy.
12:37pm: The Bucs tell Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that their discussions with Hardy have been “exploratory” in nature, and that they don’t have an official visit lined up yet. I’d expect if Hardy leaves Dallas and Seattle without a deal in place, he’d finalize plans to visit Tampa Bay as well.
11:08am: Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports confirms (via Twitter) that Hardy is also scheduled to travel to Tampa Bay to meet with the Bucs later this week.
10:52am: According to La Canfora (via Twitter), the Buccaneers also remain in the mix for Hardy, and a visit to Tampa Bay is a possibility for the defensive end.
10:42am: Hardy intends to visit the Seahawks after meeting with the Cowboys, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com identified Seattle as a potential suitor for Hardy yesterday.
10:22am: Multiple reports yesterday indicated that the Cowboys have some level of interest in Greg Hardy and have engaged in discussions with the defensive end’s camp about a possible contract. Today, Dallas will get a closer look at Hardy, according to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com, who tweets that the 26-year-old is expected to pay a visit to the team’s facility within the next few hours.
As I observed yesterday, Hardy would be an intriguing on-field fit for a Cowboys team that only had a pair of players record more than three sacks in 2014 — Henry Melton (five) has left Dallas via free agency, and Jeremy Mincey (six) will turn 32 later this year. The Cowboys are said to be talking to Hardy’s former coaches to learn more about his character in the wake of his legal issues, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that contract negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.
While Hardy wasn’t found guilty in his domestic violence case, there are still concerns about the situation after he reached a civil settlement with the alleged victim. The NFL has yet to conclude its own investigation into the matter, so there’s still a chance that the league announces a suspension for the defensive end, which has slowed his market during the first week of free agency.
For now, Hardy, who had 15 sacks in 2013 for Carolina before missing most of the 2014 season, remains on the commissioner’s exempt list as the league completes its review of his case. Hardy remains eligible to sign a new contract, even on the exempt list.
The Seahawks, Raiders, Jaguars, Titans, and Falcons are among the other clubs who have been linked to Hardy this month, though some of those teams have since denied having interest in the former Panther.
Cowboys Sign Andrew Gachkar
TUESDAY, 9:14am: Gachkar’s deal with the Cowboys is now official, according to the team.
SUNDAY, 3:44pm: Gachkar will collect $2.2MM guaranteed in 2015, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
3:17pm: The Cowboys have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Andrew Gachkar, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). It’s a two-year deal with a maximum value of $5.5MM, adds Garafolo (via Twitter).
Even though he saw less than 400 snaps on the Chargers’ defense last season, Gachkar has drawn a significant amount of interest around the league since free agency began last week. The Vikings, Panthers, and Raiders all expressed interest in 26-year-old linebacker, who had spent his entire career in San Diego. While he started only five games in 2014, Gachkar was a key contributor on special teams, where he played on 217 snaps and posted 12 tackles.
Gachkar could potentially see a starting role on the Dallas defense, where the club has yet to re-sign linebacker Rolando McClain. Sean Lee will be returning from injury in 2015, and given that he can play either in the middle or on the outside, Gachkar could slot into the other position. Gachkar played inside linebacker in San Diego’s 3-4 defense, so the middle in the Cowboys’ 4-3 look would probably be the best fit.
Not accounting for Gachkar’s addition, the Cowboys have a little over $8MM of cap space left, so incremental additions such as this one are probably all that’s available to the club for the remainder of the offseason. Dallas has seen its linebacking unit depleted, as both Bruce Carter and Justin Durant have signed elsewhere in free agency, so Gachkar might not be the only LB addition the team makes.
Cowboys Sign Jasper Brinkley
TUESDAY, 9:13am: The Cowboys have officially signed Brinkley, per the team’s official website.
THURSDAY, 10:41pm: The Cowboys have struck a two-year deal with former Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Brinkley started 11 games for Minnesota last season, compiling 54 tackles and one sack. The 30-year-old played for Arizona in 2013 before returning to the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft.
As Archer writes, Brinkley is a two-down middle linebacker, so his presence will allow the Cowboys to shift Sean Lee from inside linebacker to weak-side linebacker as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his 2014 campaign before it started. Brinkley is the second free agent to join Dallas’ linebacker corps this offseason. The team also signed Keith Rivers while losing Justin Durant and Bruce Carter to the Falcons and Buccaneers, respectively.
The Cowboys will also have to decide whether they want to bring back Rolando McClain, who was a surprising contributor in 2014 but who is facing a four-game fine for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the third time.
Contract Details: Morgan, Gilchrist, Cameron
Here are some details on several of the new contracts agreed to or signed by free agents within the last few days:
AFC deals:
- Derrick Morgan, OLB (Titans): Four years, $27MM base value. $10.5MM fully guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Marcus Gilchrist, S (Jets): Four years, $22MM base value. $10MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
- Jordan Cameron, TE (Dolphins): Two years, $15MM base value. $5MM fully guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Paul Fanaika, OL (Chiefs): Three years, $6.5MM. $1.75MM signing bonus. Incentives and escalators available (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Alan Branch, DT (Patriots): Two years, $4.3MM base value. $700K signing bonus. Option for 2016 (all Twitter links via Wilson).
- Tyrod Taylor, QB (Bills): Two years, $3.35MM base value. $1.15MM fully guaranteed. $400K signing bonus. Third year voids (all four Twitter links via Wilson).
NFC deals:
- Jasper Brinkley, LB (Cowboys): Two years, $6.5MM base value. $2MM guaranteed, $2MM option bonus in 2016 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Akeem Ayers, LB (Rams): Two years, $6MM base value. $2.75MM guaranteed. $1.3MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Andrew Gachkar, LB (Cowboys): Two years, $5.2MM base value. $1.2MM signing bonus. Up to $1MM in annual incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Nick Fairley, DT (Rams): One year, $5MM base value. $1.5MM roster bonus in 2015. Sack and playoff incentives available (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Erik Pears, OL (49ers): Two years, $4.7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Kurt Coleman, S (Panthers): Two years, $2.8MM base value. $600K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
- O’Brien Schofield, DE (Falcons): One year, $1.7MM base value. $255K signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Chris Conte, S (Buccaneers): One year, $1.5MM base value. $1.25MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com).
Greg Hardy Rumors: Monday
When I ranked Greg Hardy 11th in my list of top 50 free agents of 2015, I noted that no player’s value was more difficult to pin down than Hardy’s, given his off-field troubles and his uncertain status for the start of the coming season. The market so far has reflected the difficult nature of assigning a value to Hardy — of our top 25 free agents, only the former Panthers defensive end remains unsigned.
Here’s the latest on the free agent pass rusher:
- Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (Twitter link) hears from sources that the Cowboys are in talks with Hardy about a possible deal. Hardy would be an intriguing fit for a team that only had a pair of players record more than three sacks in 2014 — Henry Melton (five) has left Dallas via free agency, and Jeremy Mincey (six) will turn 32 later this year.
- The Dallas coaching staff has been in touch with Hardy’s old coaches to learn more about his character, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 Washington (Twitter link), who adds that the Cowboys like what they’ve heard so far.
- After poking around the Hardy market over the weekend, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com came away with the sense that the Cowboys and Seahawks could emerge as legit suitors for the defensive end. However, despite the fact that several teams are monitoring the situation, nothing is imminent and it would be a surprise if any team reached an agreement before the NFL announces its ruling on possible discipline, says La Canfora (Twitter links).
- The Jaguars are unlikely to pursue Hardy, a league source tells Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. GM David Caldwell didn’t rule out the possibility when he spoke to reporters last week, but it doesn’t look as if the team will seriously consider the 26-year-old.
- Earlier today, Peter King of TheMMQB.com reported that many teams believe Hardy will be suspended by the league for the first six games of the 2015 season
King’s Latest: Peterson, Hardy, Winston
After publishing a Wednesday Morning Quarterback last week to recap a crazy first day of NFL free agency, Peter King of TheMMQB.com returns to his usual Monday Morning Quarterback piece this week, and the latest installment includes several noteworthy tidbits from around the league. Let’s round up the highlights….
- Addressing a report about the Cardinals‘ possible interest in Adrian Peterson, King cites a “reliable Cardinals source” who indicates Arizona hasn’t had any contact with the Vikings about Peterson. “There is no way we could live with those numbers,” the source said, referring to the three years and $45MM left on the running back’s contract. “We just got Larry Fitzgerald’s contract under control. No way we’d add that salary.”
- One general manager tells King that Greg Hardy is on his club’s free agent list, “but pretty far down.” Many teams believe the veteran defensive end will be suspended by the league for the first six games of the 2015 season.
- Jameis Winston isn’t currently planning to attend the 2015 NFL draft in Chicago, preferring to spend it with family and friends down south, says King.
- King thinks a team like the Falcons or Buccaneers would be a nice fit for free agent pass rusher Dwight Freeney.
- The Jets likely would have blown any rival offer for Darrelle Revis out of the water, so even if the Patriots had been willing to get into the neighborhood of New York’s five-year, $70MM proposal, the Jets probably would’ve just upped the ante.
- The Cowboys started out at a $5MM-per-year price tag for DeMarco Murray, and were willing to stretch that to $6MM annually, but never considered matching the Eagles‘ final offer, which got up to $8MM+.
East Notes: Cowboys, McCloughan, Wilkerson
After losing DeMarco Murray to the Eagles, the Cowboys will have more financial flexibility the rest of the offseason. However, Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News does not believe the team will be especially aggressive during the remainder of the free agency period. Executive vice president Stephen Jones, echoing his sentiments from last season, said that the team will be “efficient” in free agency, and Sabin has no reason to doubt him.
Indeed, letting Murray go is reflective of the team’s overall philosophy, as Sabin writes in a separate piece. Although Dallas would have liked to bring Murray back, it was not going to break the bank to re-sign him, given the other needs that need to be addressed. Furthermore, the Cowboys have allowed a few of their stronger defensive contributors to depart in their renewed commitment to build through the draft and to stay away from the disappointment that often accompanies highly-lucrative contracts. And assuming they do continue their “efficient” approach to the rest of the offseason, they should be able to net several valuable compensatory selections in next year’s draft.
Now for some more links from the league’s east divisions:
- Speaking of changing philosophies, Mike Jones of the Washington Post describes how new Washington GM Scot McCloughan has adhered to the plan he laid out at the beginning of the offseason: draft and build your own and re-sign your own, while wisely addressing any remaining gaps in free agency. Jones points out that McCloughan has made a number of solid but largely unheralded moves while staying away from the big-ticket items that would have filled a need but that would have handicapped the team’s salary cap.
- Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes that the Giants still have a number of first-unit spots to fill, but most of their efforts to address those needs in free agency have been thwarted. Schwartz writes that the team will likely have to wait until the draft to fill its remaining holes on the offensive line and at pass rusher, but he says the Giants must sign a starting safety, even though the most appealing options are off the board.
- Brian Costello of the New York Post applauds what new Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has accomplished this offseason, and he looks at what Maccagnan has left to do. At this point, any moves in free agency will be necessary but low-key depth signings, and the expectation is that an extension for star defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson will get done this spring.
- To truly make their offseason a resounding success, Gary Myers of the New York Daily News believes the Jets should do whatever it takes to land Marcus Mariota in the draft.
Extra Points: Robinson, Manning, Romo, House
Former Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson will visit the Steelers on Sunday, Dale Lolley of the Washington (Pa.) Observer Reporter notes on Twitter. The sixth-year corner’s drawn interest from several teams thus far into his initial free agency opportunity.
Some other notes from Saturday …
- The New York Post’s Paul Schwartz points out that Ben Roethlisberger‘s latest extension sets the bar for 2004 first-round peer Eli Manning, with $20MM per year being the possible floor for the 12th-year Giants quarterback. Set to count $19.75MM against the Giants’ cap this year, Manning’s entering the last year of the $97.5MM megadeal he signed in 2009. The Giants may have to do another extension with Manning as major deals come to pass for younger signal-callers, according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports.”You are going to see the market escalate if reports are correct that Seattle’s prepared to make Russell Wilson the highest-paid player,” Corry told Schwartz. “And there are reports about Indy doing something uncharacteristically early with Andrew Luck, which would make him the highest-paid player. The market’s gonna go up, and usually people benefit from a trickle-down effect. That’s not even taking Cam Newton into consideration.”
- More on the subject of market-steering QB accords: Tony Romo‘s 2014-inked contract that features a staggering $27.77MM cap number has restrained the Cowboys thus far in free agency, the Dallas Morning News’ Rainer Sabin writes. Beyond the departure of reigning rushing champion DeMarco Murray to the Eagles, the Cowboys have lost Henry Melton, Jeremy Parnell, Bruce Carter and three others in the opening week of player movement. The Cowboys’ brass remain hesitant to reduce Romo’s figure to prevent ramifications down the road, scenarios they’ve dealt with in the recent past.
- New Falcons coach Dan Quinn identified team speed as his top priority upon watching film of his new team, Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes as part of a lengthy Q&A session with Quinn and Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff.
- The Jaguars are betting free agent acquisition Davon House has “another level of upside” despite coming in with scant starting experience with the Packers, the Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran writes. Their primary reason behind this faith that led to House receiving $10MM in guaranteed money was his film against top receivers like Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones, which O’Halloran analyzes.