North Notes: Steelers, Cutler, Patterson
The NFL has informed the Steelers that the seventh-round compensatory pick the team received will actually be a sixth-rounder (Twitter link). The league initially miscommunicated the pick, which will now be the 212nd selection rather than the 252nd (Twitter link). Conversely, the Broncos‘ sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 208) will be bumped down to a seventh-rounder (No. 250), according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). We’ll update our list of draft picks by round and by team this afternoon to reflect the change.
Let’s check in on a few more items from around the NFL’s two North divisions….
- According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (all Twitter links), Bears decision-makers, including new head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace, discussed Jay Cutler‘s contract as the guarantee date for more of the QB’s salary neared earlier this offseason. After meeting with Cutler, the Bears’ brass left convinced that he’s their guy going forward.
- If there was any doubt about the Vikings‘ commitment to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, head coach Mike Zimmer cleared things up on Tuesday, as Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details. According to Zimmer, there’s “no chance whatsoever” that the team will trade Patterson this year.
- Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams will visit the Ravens prior to next month’s draft, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions aren’t pursuing tampering charges against the Dolphins in regard to Miami’s pursuit of Ndamukong Suh prior to the start of this month’s free agent period, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Of course, just because Detroit isn’t pushing for it, that doesn’t mean the league isn’t looking into a potential violation by the Dolphins and other teams who reportedly reached agreements with free agents prior to March 10.
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
AFC Notes: Browns, Housler, Titans, Jags, Pats
Having lost Jordan Cameron to the Dolphins and missed out on Charles Clay, who signed with the Bills, the Browns are considering tight end Rob Housler, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. According to Fowler, the Browns have had discussions with Housler, and there’s mutual interest between the two sides, but no visit has been planned and no deal is imminent. Housler, who turned 27 last week, caught just nine balls for the Cardinals last season after recording 84 combined receptions in 2012 and 2013.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean takes a closer look at Tommy Smith‘s decision to retire as CEO of the Titans, reporting that the decision was made in part because of a shift in thinking within the club’s ownership group. According to Wyatt, there was no longer a consensus among ownership that Smith’s wife, Susie Adams Smith, daughter of the late Bud Adams, should be the franchise’s controlling owner. The Titans are currently on the lookout for a new president and CEO.
- Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley discussed one running back his team landed and one that got away, telling reporters today, including Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links) that GM David Caldwell has done “a lot of research” on Bernard Pierce, and that the team “held [its] stance” in pursuit of DeMarco Murray.
- Patriots owner Robert Kraft pointed to upcoming free agencies for players like Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower in explaining why the team couldn’t offer Darrelle Revis a massive contract, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
- Per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Darian Stewart‘s two-year contract with the Broncos is worth $4.25MM, with a $1.5MM signing bonus and a 2016 escalator.
AFC Notes: Delmas, Broncos, Steelers
Some notes from the AFC on Friday.
- Re-signed to a one-year contract by the Dolphins on Friday, safety Louis Delmas is ahead of schedule in rehabbing a torn ACL, reports ESPN’s James Walker. Delmas is confident he’ll be ready for Week 1 to start in Miami for the second straight season.
- Prior to Jacob Tamme committing to the Falcons and Mitch Unrein deciding to sign with the Chargers on Thursday, the Broncos attempted to bring both back, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. This keeps with Denver’s stingy offseason. The only other player the Broncos opted to keep was also mostly a backup in his first four years, tight end Virgil Green, while they allowed Julius Thomas, Rahim Moore, Terrance Knighton, Orlando Franklin and Nate Irving to leave.
- ESPN reporter Mike Sando listed his 10 worst-value signings (subscription required), placing the Dolphins’ salary cap-reshaping pact with Ndamukong Suh first. Byron Maxwell (Eagles), Chris Culliver (Washington), Buster Skrine (Jets) and Thomas round out the top five.
- In an interview with Steelers president Art Rooney II, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Mark Kaboly notes the team’s signing of DeAngelo Williams may represent the entirety of their outside-the-organization accords. Rooney expects to fill the spots of cornerback and outside linebacker in the draft, just as the team usually does to replace departed free agents.
- The Chargers’ starting lineup will look a bit different in 2015, Eric D. Williams of ESPN said in his projection of the Bolts’ new starters. Williams expects Branden Oliver to succeed Ryan Mathews, with Chris Watt getting the first look at center after the retirement of Nick Hardwick. Defensively, San Diego could go with Ricardo Mathews over former second-rounder Kendall Reyes and Jeremiah Attaochu for the exiting Dwight Freeney, per Williams.
- Rooney expects to implement a rule prohibiting players wearing eligible numbers to line up as ineligible receivers, noted Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Mark Kaboly on Twitter. The Patriots used this surprise tactic in their comeback win over the Ravens in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Minor Moves: Thursday
With this year’s NCAA basketball tournament underway, the Colts‘ latest signing is a topical one. According to a team release, Indianapolis has signed Demarco Cox, a 6’8″, 294-pound basketball center who played his college ball at Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. Cox played football in high school before choosing basketball in college, and will be joining the Colts as an offensive tackle. While he may not be a good bet to make the team’s regular season roster, Cox should get a look from the Colts’ coaching staff this summer.
Here are the rest of Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- Restricted free agent Dezman Moses re-signed with the Chiefs, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted. Kansas City Star reporter Terez Paylor noted Moses’ one-year agreement earlier this month, according to a source (Twitter link). Moses played for the Chiefs in 2013 as a backup linebacker after starting six games for the Packers in 2012. The Chiefs waived Moses during training camp last season after he underwent elbow surgery, and the former undrafted free agent spent 2014 on injured reserve. This marks the second reserve backer Kansas City brought back this offseason after inking Josh Mauga to a new deal earlier this month.
- The Seahawks have brought back defensive lineman D’Anthony Smith, a former third-round pick who was with the team last season, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The ex-Jaguar, who has played 28 regular season NFL games, spent 2014 on Seattle’s injured reserve list.
- Linebacker Reggie Walker has moved from one AFC West team to another, according to agent David Canter, who tweets that the former Charger has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Broncos. After playing a career-high 549 defensive snaps in 2013, Walker returned to a much smaller role for San Diego in 2014, recording 12 total tackles and 0.5 sacks while playing 150 defensive snaps and contributing on special teams.
Earlier updates:
- Former Packers running back DuJuan Harris has signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, according to agent Andy Simms (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Harris, who played sparingly for Green Bay in 2014, was non-tendered by the club earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
- Free agent offensive tackle Byron Stingily has agreed to terms with the Titans on a multiyear contract that will keep him in Tennessee, the club announced today in a press release. According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), it’s a two-year contract worth $2.5MM, and it features an additional $800K in incentives. Stingily, who started at right tackle down the stretch for the Titans in 2014, could have an opportunity to claim the starting job in 2015 with Michael Roos and Michael Oher no longer on the roster.
- The Jets have signed free agent tackle James Brewer, the team announced today in a press release. Brewer, who spent his first four years with the Giants, will be making the move from one New York team to the other, and figures to provide depth on the offensive line for the Jets. Brian Costello of the New York Post first reported (via Twitter) that the team had agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Brewer, who started eight games in 2013 but didn’t play much last season.
FA Notes: Mays, Dent, Tamme
Let’s check out some notes regarding some notable free agents…
- Former Bengals safety Taylor Mays will have dinner with members of the Vikings organization this evening, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Mike Zimmer and his front office had been reportedly eyeing the defensive back for some time.
- According to agent Hadley Engelhard, free agent linebacker Akeem Dent has received interest from the Texans (via Mark Berman of Houston’s Fox26 on Twitter). The agent noted that he is “having extensive dialogue with [two] other teams” regarding his client.
- Free agent tight end Jacob Tamme is visiting the Falcons this evening, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The former Colts and Broncos weapon is reportedly considering a pair of offers, and one of those contracts could be from Denver, as Mike Wilkening of ProFootballTalk.com says the Broncos would like to bring back the 30-year-old.
Chargers Sign Mitch Unrein
7:44pm: The two-year deal is worth $1.9MM, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (on Twitter).
6:53pm: The Chargers have added some reinforcement to their defensive line, as the team announced that they have signed defensive tackle Mitch Unrein. The 27-year-old’s deal is for two years.
The former undrafted free agent originally caught on with the Texans in 2010, and he soon found a home in Denver thereafter. The former Wyoming standout spent four seasons with the Broncos, making 54 appearances. He was relatively productive in 2012 and 2013, nearing 400 snaps in both campaigns while compiling a combined 40 tackles. He found himself in a reduced role in 2014, as Unrein played only 46 snaps in eight games.
Unrein reached restricted free agency last season, and he ultimately accepted the Broncos’ tender at about $1.4MM. Members of the Broncos organization, including general manager John Elway, had previously expressed interest in retaining Unrein for 2015.
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.
AFC West Links: Raiders, Broncos, Hardy
Raiders safety Charles Woodson is excited about what the team was able to do in free agency, despite the lack of one huge signing, writes Jerry McDonald of InsideBayArea.com.
“There’s no question that Suh would have been huge. He would have been huge. He would have been a great addition to the team,” said Woodson. “But at the same time, if you don’t get a Suh, you can get three or four other players to make up for it. And what that does is build depth. So you bring in guys that are possibly starters, that will compete for a starting job, and then we’ve still got money to get three or four other guys. Then you’ve got the draft coming up. So you have the potential to build the team the way you want to. Just because you didn’t get the one guy, we’ll have the opportunity to build this team the right way and that’s what Reggie’s looking at.”‘
- Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie is looking at free agency in the same light as Woodson, and is happy with what they were able to do, according to McDonald. “Every year you go after a lot of guys, and you don’t get them all,” McKenzie said. “Our intent was to go out hard and heavy after each one of these guys, and we were able to land a whole bunch of guys we really liked.”
- The Broncos were big spenders in free agency last offseason, but were more reserved this year as they lost Julius Thomas, Terrance Knighton, and Rahim Moore. Head coach Gary Kubiak stressed the importance of being able to sustain success by replacing veterans with younger players, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “I think you have to understand that’s going to happen with your football team,” Kubiak said. “You can’t keep everybody that you’d like to. Being able to replace guys is part of it. And right now our biggest challenge is that we have to improve a lot of the younger players.”
- One free agent the Broncos were able to bring in was offensive lineman Shelley Smith, who played college ball at Colorado State University. Smith was specifically excited to play for Kubiak, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “We have a lot of friends and family here, a lot of support. And it was very appealing. I think he is a heck of a coach, and some of his staff obviously followed him,” Smith said Saturday. “Obviously the scheme has proven to be a very good system and I think it fits my capabilities well.”
- Kevin Acee of the U-T San Diego asked a few Chargers’ players if they would be receptive to bringing in Greg Hardy despite his legal troubles. He feels the locker room would approve of the signing (via Twitter). However, he warns them that they will lose their right to judge the next player who gets himself into an ugly situation if they do take him in (via Twitter).
Bills Sign Tyrod Taylor, Easley, Wynn
SATURDAY, 5:14pm: Taylor reportedly turned down more money from the Broncos in favor of the Bills deal, ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak tweets. Taylor’s contract runs for three years, voiding to two if he emerges as a starter.
SATURDAY, 11:13am: The Bills have officially announced Wynn’s deal.
THURSDAY, 5:38pm: Taylor’s deal is for two years and can be worth up to $7MM, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets. The deal is worth $1.2MM guaranteed.
9:26am: The Bills have confirmed to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link) that they have indeed signed Taylor.
9:23am: The Bills have reached agreements with three players to new contracts, including two of their own free agents, according to reports today. Head coach Rex Ryan confirmed on The Fan 590 in Toronto that his team has added quarterback Tyrod Taylor (link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550), while Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that Buffalo has re-signed special-teamer Marcus Easley and defensive end Jarius Wynn.
Taylor, whose deal has only been confirmed by Ryan so far, was Joe Flacco‘s quarterback in Baltimore in recent years. Having paid a visit to Buffalo this week, he’ll likely be third on the Bills’ depth chart behind Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel, assuming he has in fact finalized a contract with the team, as the head coach suggests.
According to Wilson, Easley’s new deal is a four-year pact worth $7MM, with $2.2MM of that total guaranteed. While Easley is listed on the team’s roster as a wide receiver, he’s rarely used on offense, serving primarily as a special teams ace. In 2014, he had 11 tackles in kick and punt coverage after racking up 19 in 2013.
As for Wynn, his new two-year deal is worth $2.2MM, with a $250K signing bonus, per Wilson. With Jerry Hughes back in the fold, Wynn will likely once again serve as a reserve and part-time contributor, seeing occasional playing time on the ends behind Hughes and Mario Williams.