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NFC North Notes: Levy, Lions, Waynes, Vikings

June 28th, 2015 at 5:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy is set to become a free agent at season’s end, leading Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press to wonder what an extension between Detroit and the 2014 second-team All Pro might look like. As of April, the two parties hadn’t even begun a conversation about a long-term deal, and Birkett thinks the club might be waiting for fellow OLB Lavonte David to work out an extension with the Buccaneers, and therefore set some sort of baseline for talks.

K.J. Wright is currently the highest earner among 4-3 outside linebackers, as he’ll make $6.75MM under the terms of his December extension. I think David should be able to top that figure, so Detroit (and Levy’s representatives) would need to decide if David’s potential AAV is a ceiling or a floor for Levy. The 28-year-old Levy graded as the third-best 4-3 OLB in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but technically was the best off-the-ball linebacker, as the two players ranked ahead of him — Khalil Mack and Von Miller — aren’t typical 4-3 outside ‘backers.

Let’s look at some more notes from the NFC North, including more from Birkett on the Lions:

  • If the Lions can’t work out an agreement with Levy, the franchise tag would not be an option, per Birkett (via Twitter). It makes sense, as the linebacker franchise figure — inflated by edge-rushing LBs — is more than $13MM for this season. Levy isn’t worth that amount, so knocking out an extension is probably the only way for Detroit to retain him.
  • After making a series of transactions last week, the Lions‘ roster count now sits at 89, so they have one spot to add a player. Responding to a Twitter question, Birkett guesses that Detroit will use the vacancy to add either an offensive or defensive lineman.
  • Vikings first-round cornerback Trae Waynes is finding that the adjustment from college to the NFL isn’t so easy, as Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News writes. “It’s steep,” Waynes said of the learning curve. “It’s like a mountain, but luckily we have guys on the team and the coaching staff that are willing to help you out through that process.” Waynes also divulged that he’s been handling slot duties, as Xavier Rhodes and Terence Newman have been playing on the outside during practice sessions.

NFC Notes: Gurley, Eli, Lions, Cowboys

June 27th, 2015 at 7:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though most first-round picks sign deals containing full guarantees, we learned last week that Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley will only see the first two years of his contract fully guaranteed due to his knee injury, which is considered a non-football injury because it didn’t occur in the NFL. But an NFLPA source tells Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that despite the optics, this scenario is actually a win for Gurley, not the club.

“No player in the league, from [Peyton] Manning to Jadeveon Clowney] to Jameis Winston, has protection against getting cut [and not paid/and guarantees not honored] due to this type of situation,” the source told Volin. “The fact that Gurley’s agent got him two years protected for a non-football injury is better than every other player in the first round, and the league in general.”

More from the NFC:

  • Opining at a truly elite quarterback has never actually hit the open market since the inception of free agency, agent Tom Condon tells Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News that he’s confident his client Eli Manning will eventually work out an extension with the Giants. Manning will earn $17MM in base salary in 2015, the final year of his deal, and while New York could opt to use the franchise tag on him (at a cost of more than $20MM), but Condon seems sure that an agreement can be reached.
  • Responding to reader’s question in this week’s mailbag, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes that the Lions could be on the lookout for a blocking tight end as the regular season approaches. As the questioner points out, most starter Eric Ebron‘s backups are also pass-catching types, so the club want a replacement for Kellen Davis, who played the inline role in 2015. There will be free agent options as roster cutdowns occur (as Rothstein notes), but the Lions could take a look at ex-Bengal Jermaine Gresham, who I recently ranked as the third-best FA left on the market.
  • News of the weird: the Cowboys, Giants, and Patriots will be contacted by the FAA in relation to their use of drones at practices, according to Bloomberg Business. The FAA does allow for the private use of such technology, but the user must agree to certain safety stipulations. None of the clubs had requested such clearance, per the report.

NFC Links: Saints, Seahawks, Lions

June 27th, 2015 at 10:45am CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some notes from around the NFC on this Saturday morning…

  • Taking a payout is never easy, especially for a 31-year-old veteran. However, Saints offensive lineman Jahri Evans understands that it’s part of the business, and he has no animosity over having to accept less money for this upcoming season. “It worked out in the end. You know, it’s part of the business, obviously. And I’m glad to be here,” Evans told ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.
  • Seahawks rookie Frank Clark recognized that his team was criticized for selecting him in the second round of this past year’s draft. A domestic violence arrest ended his career at the University of Michigan, but the organization was apparently satisfied with the defensive end’s character. Despite the backlash, Clark said he wasn’t affected by the negative press. “It didn’t affect me in no kind of way, because after the Seahawks drafted me I dedicated my game to them,” Clark told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I dedicate everything I did as far as on that field to them because I owe them a lot because No. 1, some people say they took a risk, I say they just gave me an opportunity to show what I can showcase and they had faith in me the whole time.”
  • Undrafted offensive tackle La’el Collins ultimately signed with the Cowboys, but the rookie told Birkett (in a separate story) that he seriously considered signing with the Lions. “I talked to coach Caldwell briefly, like, a day after the draft,” Collins said. “First of all, he just wanted me to know he was here for me and that if I needed anything, I could talk to him or if I needed to talk to him, things like that…And honestly, I went on a visit to Detroit and I had a great talk with coach Caldwell while I was there, I had a great meeting with them. We connected in a big way. It was nothing but love and respect for him. I think he’s a great coach; I think they’re going to be a great team.”

Lions Notes: Collins, Mays, Ngata

June 26th, 2015 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

The offensive line was an area of focus during the draft for the Lions, who used their first-round selection on guard Laken Tomlinson. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the team nearly added another talented rookie lineman following the draft, with LSU’s La’el Collins ultimately opting to sign with the Cowboys rather than the Lions. Here’s more on Collins, along with a couple more items out of Detroit:

  • Lions head coach Jim Caldwell called Collins the day after the draft, and the young lineman gave “a lot” of consideration to joining the team, as he tells Birkett. “I went on a visit to Detroit and I had a great talk with coach Caldwell while I was there, I had a great meeting with them,” Collins said. “We connected in a big way. It was nothing but love and respect for him. I think he’s a great coach; I think they’re going to be a great team.”
  • The one-year contract that safety Taylor Mays signed with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit deal that features no signing bonus or guaranteed money, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
  • Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com spoke to defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who will be faced with unenviable task of replacing Ndamukong Suh in Detroit, about his transition to the Lions from the Ravens. Asked if he suspected he might be traded heading into the offseason, Ngata admitted that the possibility wasn’t initially on his radar, but as free agency neared, he thought it might happen and wasn’t surprised when it did.

Lions Sign Taylor Mays

June 22nd, 2015 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

MONDAY, 11:11am: Mays has officially passed his physical and signed with the Lions, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

SATURDAY, 9:31am: The Lions plan to sign safety Taylor Mays, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. This comes four days after their NFC North brethren in Minnesota cut him. Adam Schefter of ESPN first confirmed the deal on Twitter.

Detroit will provide the 27-year-old former second-round selection a chance to contribute as a depth piece, with Mays having started just seven games in his five-year career — six of those came in his rookie season with the 49ers in 2010. Mays, whose $25K signing bonus still counts against Minnesota’s salary cap, served mostly as a special-teamer with the Bengals from 2011-14, but Cincinnati opted not to bring him back after signing him to a one-year deal last March.

Glover Quin and James Ihedigbo played well as the starting back-line defenders for the Lions last season, so Mays’ arrival shouldn’t impact that pair. Mays has 84 career tackles, but Pro Football Focus rated the former USC standout as a mid-tier special teams performer last season after he made 10 stops in that capacity.

 

 

 

Sunday Roundup: Kelly, Beachum, Fauria

June 21st, 2015 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer says that coaches like the Eagles‘ Chip Kelly, who exercise control over both the football and business side of a team’s operations, frequently succumb to the pressures and difficulties of absolute power. Bill Belichick has managed to make it work in New England, but he is the exception to the rule.

Philadelphia’s recent saga with Evan Mathis demonstrates just how difficult Kelly’s position can be. As McLane writes, “Kelly received nothing in return for a Pro Bowl guard who had little leverage and claimed that he was prepared to report and perform without being a disruption – as he did last year.” And if the decision to release Mathis turns out to be a poor one, Kelly will have no higher authority to share the blame.

Although players will typically side with their teammates when asked about contract difficulties, the responses to Mathis’ release suggest that Kelly is still commanding respect in the locker room even as he takes full control of the team’s personnel affairs. McLane says that Mathis’ former teammates offered “vociferous support of management” after Mathis was cut, and tight end Zach Ertz had this to say: “I understand where [Mathis is] coming from. In his mind he thinks he’s underpaid, so he’s got to do what he thinks is best. But we want people here that are going to trust the process.”

Of course, there will be many more difficult personnel decisions to be made, decisions that will truly test whether Kelly can first construct a talented roster and then get that roster to win football games. It is a decidedly tall task, and one that most have been unable to meet.

Now let’s take a look at some links from around the league:

  • One of Kelly’s acquisitions this offseason was Miles Austin, who signed a one-year, $2.3MM deal with the club. Austin might not be getting a lot of attention from those outside the Eagles locker room, but Kelly himself is pleased with what he has seen from the one-time star, writes Connor Orr of NFL.com. “He’s got really, really good range,” Kelly said. “Catches the ball extremely well. Intelligent. Kind of knows the subtleties of the exact route running, kind of exactly where to maybe place his elbow to get separation in terms of pushing off the hip and things like that. And he’s imparted that on the younger guys, which I think has really helped us to have that true veteran route runner in there, and I think he’s been really good at doing that.”
  • The Colts have four locks to make the team at wide receiver in T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, and first-round pick Phillip Dorsett, writes Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. After that, they have three players competing for either one or two spots in Vincent Brown, Duron Carter, and Griff Whalen.
  • David Newton of ESPN.com says Jerricho Cotchery is likely to make the Panthers‘ final roster due to his leadership abilities, but Newton does not see him making a significant on-field contribution considering the talent ahead of him on the depth chart.
  • In the same piece, Newton says he does not see the Panthers making any significant additions along the offensive line unless there is a major injury in training camp, even if a player like the newly-acquired Michael Oher struggles.
  • The Steelers have not spoken with tackle Kelvin Beachum, who is entering the final year of his contract, about a new deal, tweets Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. Beachum though, says he is not sweating his contract situation and is fully focused on the 2015 season.
  • Tashaun Gipson is the talk of the town in Tony Grossi’s latest mailbag for ESPN.com, and Grossi writes that the recent contract drama surrounding Gipson has created a bad vibe between player and team. He also addresses whether the Browns could keep Johnny Manziel inactive all year during his recovery.
  • Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com is somewhat surprised by how limited Lions tight end Joseph Fauria was in the spring, and the fact that the team signed David Ausberry and attempted to claim Tim Wright off waivers suggests that Detroit is at least considering contingency plans. That said, Fauria is expected to be ready for training camp, and the Lions continue to be impressed by his upside.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

NFC Mailbags: Newman, Norman, Bucs, Reed, Cowboys

June 20th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

Our own Sam Robinson took you through some of the AFC Mailbags earlier today. Now to give the NFC some love, here are a few of the mailbags from that other conference:

  • The Vikings have been going with youth across the roster, and the secondary has been no exception with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes slated to start on the outside. However, the team also signed 37-year-old corner Terence Newman to bring a veteran presence in the secondary, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. Newman should take a little pressure of Waynes to be effective from day one.
  • The Panthers will definitely put a lot of focus into extending Luke Kuechly, but David Newton of ESPN.com expects that to come next offseason. Josh Norman is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and after performing well for the team he should be a priority for an extension.
  • Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com is guessing starters in his latest Buccaneers mailbag. He picks George Johnson and Jacquies Smith, Danny Lansanah as their third linebacker, and D.J. Swearinger over Chris Conte at safety.
  • Kyle Van Noy and Theo Riddick are a pair of players that have uncertain roles for the Lions in 2015. Van Noy could earn a starting job at linebacker, but won’t see starter’s snaps due to the likely reliance on nickel and dime packages, according to Mike Rothstein of ESPN.com. Riddick will also likely be an afterthough at running back, but should have ample opportunities to catch passes out of the backfield and in the slot.
  • With Jordan Reed‘s injuries, Washington could have used help at tight end either in free agency or the draft, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. While it is surprising, it means the team has confidence in Niles Paul, and believes contributions from the receivers and running backs catching passes could help them survive without Reed for some time.
  • In our lone entry from a non-ESPN writer, Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News writes that with the versatility of Byron Jones and Corey White in the secondary, the Cowboys defense could give some very creative looks in 2015. Both players are nominally corners, but each has the ability to play safety as well, and that could let the team mix and match in the defensive backfield.

Minicamp Notes: Texans, Bengals, Browns, Lions

June 20th, 2015 at 8:01pm CST by Rob DiRe

As minicamps break, beat writers love to write (and we all love to read) quick notes about players and position groups who are either surprising or disappointing us.

Here are a few links to some of the best stories and observations coming out of minicamps from around the league:

  • The Texans minicamp has completed, and John McClain of the Houton Chronicle notes that Brian Cushing, Jadaveon Clowney, and Louis Nix all should contribute in 2015. McClain also picks Brian Hoyer as the best chance to start, although he writes that Ryan Mallett has terrific upside.
  • The Bengals didn’t get immediate returns from A.J. McCarron after drifting him on Day 3 in 2014, but he is impressing the coaching staff this offseason. The team says he is developing into a starting-quality quarterback, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. However, while he isn’t an immediate threat to take the starting job, the perennially underwhelming Andy Dalton could be on a shorter leash if the coaching staff has faith in McCarron.
  • Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com gives her five takeaways from Browns’ minicamp, including the how good the offensive line and secondary should be, Josh McCown emerging as the clear starter at quarterback, Johnny Manziel still being a work in progress, and the lack of a go-to receiver on the roster.
  • Two players on the Lions who might contribute more than expected are rookie runing back Ameer Abdullah and second-year defensive tackle Caraun Reid, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The team comes out of minicamp high on both players, as well as their secondary, but may add a veteran tackle at some point, according to Birkett.

Minor Moves: Friday

June 19th, 2015 at 6:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

  • The Browns have claimed receiver Shane Wynn off waivers, cutting another wideout, Paul Browning, to make room on the roster, according to a team release. Wynn, a 5’6″ undrafted free agent out of Indiana, signed with the Falcons in May before being waived yesterday by Atlanta.
  • The Chiefs have signed a wide receiver, adding McMurry alum Jeret Smith to their roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). Smith caught 54 balls for 1,143 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014, his senior year.
  • Having been cut yesterday with a failed physical designation, cornerback Bill Bentley is expected to reach an injury settlement with the Lions soon, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • After going unclaimed on waivers, Steelers tackle Micah Hatchie has been placed on Pittsburgh’s injured reserve list, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Cruz, Dez, Mathis, Texans

June 18th, 2015 at 6:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest from around the NFL:

  • Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph will see his base salary drop from $8.75MM to $7MM as a part of his new extension, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. He’ll then earn base salaries of $6.5MM in 2016 and 2017. Joseph will also receive $500K in 46-man roster bonuses each year (link).
  • Titans tight end Dorin Dickerson suffered a ruptured Achilles this week, and will have season-ending surgery to repair the damage sometime in the near future, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). Dickerson didn’t appear in a regular-season game in 2014, but has recently spent time with several teams, including the Texans, Patriots, Bills, and Lions.
  • Newcomer Vince Wilfork is excited to bring his leadership skills to the Texans, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes. “I want to be a guy that’s played the game for a while that they can always turn to and ask questions about anything football-wise or off the field,” said the 33-year-old, who will be playing between J.J. Watt and Jared Crick. “I’ve played with a lot of guys. I’ve played with some Hall of Famers. I’ve been coached by some great guys.”
  • Lions wide receiver TJ Jones missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Now, he’s not just trying to get back to what he did at Notre Dame – he’s looking to top it, as ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein writes. Detroit selected Jones in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.
  • David Ausberry‘s one-year deal with the Lions is worth $660K with no guaranteed cash, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Ausberry signed with Detroit earlier this month.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears add a veteran offensive lineman in advance of training camp.
  • Tarvaris Jackson‘s one-year deal with the Seahawks will pay him a fully guaranteed $1.5MM, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (on Twitter). The 31-year-old Jackson earned $1.25MM in 2014, which was right around the middle of the pack in terms of backup quarterbacks. Jackson attempted just one pass in 2014 (a completion), but he’s started 34 games during his nine-year career, so he would offer valuable experience in the event of a Russell Wilson injury.
  • Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) attributes the delay in Evan Mathis signing to the ongoing veteran minicamps rather than a weak market. Once minicamps are over and teams have fully assessed their offensive lines, Robinson expects the market for the guard to solidify.
  • Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters, including Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter), that he expects that wide receiver Victor Cruz won’t have to start training camp on the PUP list. Cruz is signed through 2018 and carries an $8.2MM cap number — the second-highest figure on the team behind Eli Manning. Cruz’s season ended in October when he tore his patella tendon.
  • Dez Bryant showing up for Cowboys minicamp reinforces why his threat to hold out shouldn’t be taken seriously, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) opines.
  • G.J. Kinne‘s transition from quarterback to wide receiver is going quite well, Eagles coach Chip Kelly told reporters, including the staff from the team’s website (on Twitter). Kelly says that he didn’t know how well Kinne caught the ball until he tried him out at wide receiver. From this point forward, Kelly says gaining familiarity with the position will be his toughest task.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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