- Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports examined the job security of each NFL head coach entering the season. In La Canfora’s estimation, Rex Ryan (Bills), Gus Bradley (Jaguars), Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike McCoy (Chargers), Marvin Lewis (Bengals), Bill O’Brien (Texans) and Jason Garrett (Cowboys) are the least secure coaches going into this year. Of that group, two (Lewis and O’Brien) were at the helm of playoff teams last season. Ryan has only been in Buffalo for a year, making him the shortest-tenured member of the septet.
- Free agent running back Joique Bell told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) on Friday that a few teams are interested in signing him. Bell added that he hopes to join his next team in July. The 29-year-old, who stated last week that he has “two or three offers on the table,” has been on the market since the Lions cut him in February.
Today’s minor moves:
- The Lions have waived wide receiver Corey Washington with an injury designation, reports ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. Washington, who caught five passes with the Giants in 2014, spent last season on the Lions’ practice squad.
- The Patriots have waived/injured tight end Michael Williams, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). Williams, who suffered a torn ACL on Wednesday, will revert to IR if he clears waivers.
- The Chiefs (Twitter link) announced that they have signed defensive back Bryce Cheek and waived safety Peni Vea.
- The Cowboys announced that they have waived cornerback Terrance Mitchell, who had one of their two interceptions by cornerbacks last season. The move is slightly surprising because Jason Garrett spoke highly of Mitchell earlier in the offseason, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer observes (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys also waived cornerback Brandon McGee with an injury designation.
Linebacker Stephen Tulloch still isn’t sure whether he’ll be a member of the Lions going forward. “My gut is we’ve got to wait and find out. Couple more days. We’ll see,” Tulloch said (Twitter link via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press). The veteran was told in February he wouldn’t be part of the team, but he remains on the team’s roster today. The 31-year-old has spent the last five years with Detroit.
- Giovani Bernard‘s new contract with the Bengals should bode well for Lions running back Theo Riddick, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Bernard, who agreed to a three-year, $15.5MM extension, is a more balanced tailback than Riddick, but the Lions back may offer more in the way of pass-catching value. Last season, Riddick caught 80 passes for 697 yards and three scores. Riddick can’t run like Bernard, so he probably won’t match him in terms of money, but the deal does give his agents a decent comp to work off of. Age is also working in the Notre Dame product’s favor as he only just turned 25 in May.
The Lions are hosting veteran Kroy Biermann on a visit today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). To date, the edge defender has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Falcons. 
Last season, Biermann was expected to be a contributor in the defense rolled out by new Atlanta coach Dan Quinn. However, Biermann wound up being relegated to a smaller role and made zero starts after starting in 15 contests the previous year. For the year, Biermann recorded 51 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. In total, Biermann was on the field for less than 50% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Biermann offers experience at both defensive end and linebacker, but Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that Detroit is looking at him as a defensive end. If Detroit signs Biermann, he’ll join a group of bookends that includes Ziggy Ansah, Devin Taylor, and former Cincinnati defensive end Wallace Gilberry.
In 2014, the 30-year-old started a career-high 15 games for the Falcons, racking up 77 tackles and 4.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. The numbers showed that he was an above-average run defender and held his own as a pass rusher. He’ll try to get back to that level of play in 2016, potentially in Detroit.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- The Lions announced they’ve signed wide receiver Damian Copeland and cut guard Andrew Zeller, Dave Birkett of The Detroit Press tweets.
The Vikings‘ draft strategy means that there will be more big contracts following Harrison Smith‘s payday, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com writes. Between now and March 2017, the Vikings will have to determine whether they want to stay in business with left tackle Matt Kalil. Beyond him, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd will play out their fifth-year options in 2017. In 2018, the Vikings will have to make decisions on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and linebacker Anthony Barr. This could make for some tough calls but, then again, it’s a good problem to have when your draft picks work out well.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- On Monday, Lions GM Bob Quinn declined to provide reporters with an update on Stephen Tulloch‘s status with the team (link via ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein). The veteran was told in February he wouldn’t be part of the team, but as of this writing he is still on the roster.
- Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he has “no long-term concern” with Jared Cook‘s situation, Michael Cohen of the Journal Sentinel writes. Cook had foot surgery earlier this week and will be sidelined at least until training camp, but it sounds like he’ll be back on the field before long.
- After using first-round picks on offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Laken Tomlinson, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com is optimistic about the Lions‘ run game in 2016. The Lions also added Stevan Ridley in free agent to help round out the running game. Of course, a lot will hinge on second-year player Ameer Abdullah returning healthy.
- The Lions seemingly drafted long snapper Don Muhlbach‘s replacement this year, but he’s not going to cede his job without a fight, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. “I’m like, ‘I didn’t get fired,’” Muhlbach said when asked about sixth-round pick Jimmy Landes. “I’m still there. I’m not going to leave just now….I still think I’m OK. I want to play some more. My body feels fine, so I’d like to keep going.”
- The Bears inked third-round defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard earlier today, meaning that every player in their 2016 class is now under contract.
- The Lions are pleased with Riley Reiff‘s move to right tackle, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes. Reiff, a 2012 first-round pick, was previously playing at left tackle and he’s now being asked to change positions in a contract year. In 2014, Reiff’s Pro Football Focus grade placed him in a tie for 23rd out of 84 qualified offensive tackles. Last year, PFF’s numbers (subscription required) ranked him No. 39 out of 77 qualified tackles.
The concern with Arian Foster has always been health. Foster, who will turn 30 in August, racked up 6,472 rushing yards during his seven years as a Texan, and earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2010 to 2012, averaging about 1,900 all purpose yards and 16 touchdowns in those seasons. But he’s now coming off a major injury, having ruptured his Achilles in late October of last year.
As he’s presumably still recovering from that malady, Foster apparently won’t work out for teams until late July, so it could be awhile before he finds a new club. Still, as we noted when ranking him as the third-best offensive free agent remaining on the open market, Foster possesses the highest upside of any player still on the board, meaning that he should be able to generate interest around the league.
Let’s take a look at the clubs that could make sense as fits for Foster in the coming months…
- Denver Broncos — Foster spent the first five years of his career under Gary Kubiak in Houston, so it would make sense that the current Broncos head coach would have interest in his former bellcow back. There hasn’t yet been any reported link between Denver and Foster, and perhaps the club feels that their backfield is too crowded given that they re-signed both C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman — handing the former a four-year, $18MM deal — and used a fourth-round pick on Devontae Booker. But if they’d have him, Foster might welcome the opportunity to not only play in a zone-based scheme that he knows well, but to join the defending Super Bowl champions.
- Detroit Lions — After finishing dead last in the NFL in rushing yards last season, the Lions haven’t done much to address their backfield, having only signed Stevan Ridley in free agency while using a seventh-round pick on Dwayne Washington. Detroit did invest in its offensive line, spending a first-round pick on Taylor Decker (who looks to be the club’s preferred option at left tackle) while picking up Graham Glasgow and Joe Dahl, who figure to be key reserves during their rookie seasons, in rounds three and five, respectively. But adding another back to their rotation, and limiting their dependence on Ameer Abdullah (who underwent shoulder surgery over the offseason), Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner, might be the best route for the Lions.
- Indianapolis Colts — Like the Lions, the Colts chose to address their rushing game concerns not by adding to the crop of backs, but by concentrating on their offensive line, using four draft picks (including their first-rounder) on front five help. Indy’s running back depth chart is still perilously thin behind 33-year-old Frank Gore, with Robert Turbin and Jordan Todman representing the best fill-in options if Gore goes down. New offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will reportedly add more zone-blocking concepts to the Colts’ game-plan, so Foster, who’s spent his career in that scheme, might feel at home.
- Miami Dolphins — Miami was the first known club to show interest in Foster, having him in for a visit at the end of March. While that meeting didn’t result in a deal getting finalized, the Dolphins are reportedly still monitoring Foster’s free agency, likely waiting for him to show signs of full health. Head coach Adam Gase has said that second-year running back Jay Ajayi has the inside track at leading Miami’s backfield in touches, and the team spent a third-round pick on fellow back Kenyan Drake, but after striking out on C.J. Anderson, Chris Johnson, and Ezekiel Elliott over the past several months, the Dolphins are clearly in the market for another runner as they seek to replace Lamar Miller.
- New England Patriots — The Patriots have spent the past few months adding solid veteran role players like Chris Long, Terrance Knighton, Shea McClellin, Nate Washington, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bill Belichick & Co. wrap the offseason by signing Foster. New England reportedly had “preliminary interest” in Foster last month, and he’d make for a nice fit in a backfield that includes LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis, James White, Donald Brown, and Brandon Bolden. That stable of backs would mean that Foster wouldn’t be required to carry the full load, and limited touches could be a boon to his health.
- Oakland Raiders — Latavius Murray was one of only seven running backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2015, and he did so behind an offensive line that ranked just 19th in adjusted line yards. But the Raiders seemed set on adding another back this offseason, expressing interest in both Doug Martin and DeMarco Murray before drafting DeAndre Washington in the fifth round. Oakland is clearly an ascending team, with a young offensive core that already includes Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Clive Walford, and Murray. A playmaker of Foster’s talent could be the final piece that allows them to knock off the Broncos in the AFC West.
- Philadelphia Eagles — Having already shipped out DeMarco Murray, the Eagles have dealt with trade rumors regarding fellow running back Darren Sproles — while both team and player have downplayed any such speculation, Sproles could be in danger of not making Philadelphia’s final roster even if he isn’t dealt away, as Over the Cap’s performance-neutral Expected Contract Value metric gives Sproles a 92% chance of being released. With Ryan Mathews and fifth-round rookie Wendell Smallwood the only guarantees to earn roster spots, a veteran like Foster could add a spark and depth to a backfield that could use both.
- San Diego Chargers — San Diego had high hopes for its rushing attack after trading up to select Melvin Gordon in the first round of last year’s draft, but offensive line injuries and Gordon’s own poor play led to the Chargers finishing 31st in rushing DVOA. Gordon then had microfracture surgery in January, and while his long-term prognosis is positive, serious knee injuries are always unwelcome news for young running backs. The Chargers have the useful Danny Woodhead, the small-statured Branden Oliver, and the wonderfully-named Dreamius Smith behind Gordon, but there’s certainly room for another back.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- True to his scouting report, Lions rookie defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson is having little trouble getting used to Detroit’s scheme. “Athletically, strength-wise, he’s all the things we thought and he can do what we’re going to need him to do,” Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin told Justin Rogers of MLive.com. “What you look at is when you go work them out, can they move? Can they bend? Can they redirect? How powerful are they? He had all those traits and so we thought it would be a no-brainer that he would be able to transition to play for us.”
- The Lions worked out cornerback Rod Sweeting, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. Sweeting, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech three years ago, and has bounced around the league since then. While his most recent action came in Cowboys camp last year (where he was waived during final cutdowns), Sweeting’s most notable time was with the Saints, with whom he played nine games in 2013.
Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns says that teammates, including tight end Julius Thomas, have been busting his chops over his $40MM contract extension.
“Like he hasn’t been paid,” Hurns said of Thomas (via ESPN.com’s Mike DiRocco). “He’s just loud. Me and [Allen Robinson] gave him a lot of problems last year and he said that our time was going to come around.”
Thomas, of course, signed a five-year, $46MM deal with the Jaguars last year. Today, however, Hurns is the talk of Jacksonville. Here’s a look at some of the reactions to Hurns’ fat new contract plus a glance at how it may affect the wide receiver market going forward:
- The market for No. 2 wide receivers has been reset after Hurns inked a four-year, $40MM extension with the Jaguars, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets. Dehner adds that the deal puts Marvin Jones‘ sizable contract in perspective. This spring, Jones got a five-year, $40MM deal from the Lions with $17MM fully guaranteed ($20MM guaranteed overall).
- Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com looked at how Hurns’ deal with Jacksonville could affect Doug Baldwin‘s negotiations with the Seahawks. Baldwin, he argues, has a legitimate case to be paid at Hurns’ level. While Hurns’ average of 16.1 yards per reception was better than Baldwin’s 13.7 ypc offering, Baldwin was more efficient with a catch rate of 80.4%, compared to 62.1% for Hurns. One notable difference, of course, is age – Hurns is 25 and Baldwin is 28. When all is said and done, Kapadia feels that the Seahawks will at least have to match the four-year, $40MM extension given to Hurns if they want to keep Baldwin in the long run.
- Hurns, who broke into the league as an undrafted free agent, is making $9.935MM in his first three NFL seasons. Only 2014’s top ten picks made more in the first three years of their rookie deals, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets.