AFC Notes: Ginn, Titans, Jaguars, Dunlap
A quick look at the AFC, which will now include star running back LeSean McCoy..
- Ted Ginn Jr. visited the Titans on Tuesday and is expected to visit the 49ers on Wednesday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Browns and Panthers have also been linked to Ginn.
- All things considered, Jonathan Massaquoi couldn’t have landed in a much better spot even if he had picked it, Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk writes. The 26-year-old was picked off of waivers by the Titans, who are rather thin an outside linebacker. The Titans also have starter Derrick Morgan approaching unrestricted free agency.
- Defensive tackle won’t be a priority position for the Jaguars in free agency, even if the team believes Sen’Derrick Marks won’t be ready for the start of the season, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com writes. All in all, defensive tackle is one of the strongest position groups on the team with Roy Miller, Ziggy Hood, and Abry Jones also in the fold.
- King Dunlap‘s new deal with the Chargers will count against the team’s cap for $4.15MM in 2015, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Tuesday
Today’s minor moves..
- The Toronto Argonauts of the CFL announced that they have signed running back Bernard Scott. Scott spent the bulk of his NFL career with the Bengals but also spent a couple of games with the Ravens in 2013. Over parts of five years in the league, Scott ran the ball 259 times for 1,049 yards and four touchdowns.
- The Falcons announced that they have signed linebacker Nate Stupar to a contract extension. The specials teams ace, originally selected by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 2012 draft, was claimed off waivers by the Falcons in August of lsat year. In 2014, he appeared in 15 games and finished the season ranked second on the team with nine (seven solo) special teams tackles. Stupar had been eligible for exclusive rights free agency, and will receive a minimum salary for 2015.
- The Jaguars signed first-year kicker Jason Myers from Marist College, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets. Myers connected on 24 of 38 field goal attempts in his collegiate career and also saw some time as a punter. In 2014, Myers spent some time in the Arena Football League.
- The Colts signed free agent defensive end Earl Okine, according to team Assistant Director of Communications Matt Conti (via Twitter). Okine, a University of Florida product, signed with the Texans 2013 and has also had stints in the CFL, AFL, and FXFL.
AFC South Notes: Pollard, Jags, A. Johnson
Having been granted his release from the Titans yesterday, as he requested, safety Bernard Pollard explained to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean that he wasn’t a fit on a roster that was heavy on young players, and wasn’t close to being a legit contender.
“This was a business move for me. I don’t see fans argue when teams cut players under contract. This is a business. I am my own agent, and I have to do what is right for me and my family. I want more hardware, I want another ring,” Pollard said. “I thought it was a great decision to come here. But looking at where this thing is going, a lot of mistakes have been made and they need to be fixed to put a defense together. I am 30, and I have two or three years left in me. I want to go somewhere and play where I can play a key role.”
Here’s more from out of the AFC South:
- The Jaguars are expected to be in the market for a running back this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Jacksonville plans to move Toby Gerhart around, using him at H-back as well as running back.
- A source close to Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson said this is “definitely” the end of him in Houston, per Rapoport (on Twitter). As we heard last night, the team has given the veteran wideout permission to seek a trade, and it looks like Johnson will end up being released if a deal can’t be reached.
- Rapoport also ran down some possible landing spots for pending free agent running back DeMarco Murray. A pair of AFC South teams were among the potential suitors identified by Rapoport, who rattled off the Colts, Jaguars, Cardinals, and Seahawks.
- Earlier today, we learned that the Jaguars are “very interested” in free-agent-to-be Brian Orakpo.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Jaguars Interested In Brian Orakpo
After he played on the one-year franchise tag in 2014, Brian Orakpo unsurprisingly did not receive another tag this time around from Washington, having appeared in just seven games before going down for the year with a pectoral injury. While the team would like to work something out to keep him in the fold, Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington (Twitter link) hears that it’s “not looking good” for the two sides to reach an agreement before Orakpo hits the open market.
Last night, we heard that the Falcons are a potential frontrunner for Orakpo, and Russini confirms the team’s strong interest in the edge defender. She also adds another potential destination to the mix, reporting (via Twitter) that the Jaguars are “very interested” in Orakpo.
Jacksonville would be a somewhat curious fit for Orakpo. The Jags are a 4-3 team, so the 28-year-old would presumably make the move from his outside linebacker position in Washington’s 3-4 scheme into a new role, perhaps as the team’s “Leo” rusher. Even if that transition went smoothly, pass rushers aren’t necessarily one of Jacksonville’s many needs — the team actually tied for sixth in the NFL in 2014 with 45 sacks.
Still, Pro Football Focus’s data (subscription required) suggests the Jaguars’ defensive ends weren’t getting after the quarterback at an elite level on an individual basis. Of the team’s four regular DEs, only Chris Clemons had more than 17 total QB pressures, and Clemons, Red Bryant, and Tyson Alualu all received pass-rushing grades that were well below average. Additionally, no team heads into the offseason with more cap room than the Jags, who have the flexibility to splash around in free agency if they so choose.
Although Orakpo wasn’t playing all that well before he landed on injured reserve last season, he has averaged nearly 10 sacks per year when he’s been healthy, so it’ll be interesting to see how he does in a free agent market where two of the top two pass rushers – Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul – have been franchised.
AFC Notes: Chiefs, Raiders, Jaguars
Having officially made the decision today to use their non-exclusive franchise tag on Justin Houston, the Chiefs will be back over the projected cap for 2015 until they make some more cuts or restructure some contracts. Still, that doesn’t mean the team won’t be able to eke out some cap room to potentially make some moves in free agency, as chairman Clark Hunt said this weekend (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).
“We always want to be a smart player in free agency,” Hunt said. “We want to sign guys that can be here and make a contribution, not necessarily (sign) somebody just because he makes a splash. … We also pay a lot of attention to the salary cap because you … can spend whatever you want and circumvent the cap, but every one of those dollars eventually comes back and hits you on the cap. So when we look at the salary cap, I’m not just looking at 2015, I’m thinking about 2016, 2017. So those decisions are made in that context.”
Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC….
- Teams like the Raiders and Jaguars will have to spend over the next two years to reach the NFL’s minimum requirement of 89% of the cap over a four-year period, and both clubs have the cap space to make a splash in free agency this month. However, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) points out that both teams have starting quarterbacks eligible for extensions after the 2016 season, so if Blake Bortles and Derek Carr develop as expected, the Raiders and Jags could extend them prior to the 2017 league year as a means of reaching that 89% threshold. In other words, there’s no urgency to reach that minimum threshold immediately.
- In another video for Bleacher Report, Cole weighs in on Percy Harvin, reiterating what we’ve heard as of late: the Jets receiver appears open to restructuring his deal, but not to taking a pay cut. Harvin is confident that he’ll do fairly well on the open market, and it looks like that’s where he’ll end up, since the Jets are very unlikely to keep him at his current price.
- The Jaguars have yet to decide whether or not to tender contract offers to any of their players eligible for restricted free agency, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. The club has been in touch with UFAs Tyson Alualu and J.T. Thomas though.
2015 NFL Salary Cap Set At $143.28MM
The salary cap for the 2015 NFL league year has been set at $143.28MM. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) was the first to report the ’15 figure, which has since been confirmed by a handful of reporters around the league.
The latest projections had the cap coming in at $143MM, so this is just a marginal uptick from that figure, and will subsequently increase the projected franchise and transition tag numbers very slightly. Here are the official non-exclusive franchise tag figures for 2015 based on the official cap of $143.28MM, via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links):
Quarterback: $18.544MM
Running back: $10.951MM
Wide receiver: $12.823MM
Tight end: $8.347MM
Offensive line: $12.943MM
Defensive end: $14.813MM
Defensive tackle: $11.193MM
Linebacker: $13.195MM
Cornerback: $13.075MM
Safety: $9.618MM
Kicker/Punter: $4.126MM
And here are the transition tags for the coming year, per Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). These figures double as the fifth-year option amounts for 2016 for the top 10 picks from the 2012 draft:
QB: $16.155MM
RB: $9.037MM
WR: $10.971MM
TE: $7.071MM
OL: $11.096MM
DE: $11.958MM
DT: $9.314MM
LB: $11.058MM
CB: $11.082MM
S: $8.263MM
K/P: $3.716MM
Per NFLPA executive director George Atallah (via Twitter), the Rams were the only team in the NFL that chose not to carry over cap space to 2015. Atallah adds (via Twitter) that the Jaguars are the team with the most carryover room, at nearly $22MM.
This is the second consecutive year that the cap has increased by $10MM.
Extra Points: Jackson, Raiders, NFL Rosters
Earlier today, we learned that the Buccaneers would keep receiver Vincent Jackson on their 2015 roster without asking him to accept a pay cut or a contract restructure. After speaking to an executive with another NFL team, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that those around the league believe Tampa’s decision could lead to a “market reset” for receivers. In essence, players like Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, or Percy Harvin, all of whom could be asked to accept a pay reduction in the near future, could refuse, citing Jackson as an example. The 32-year-old Jackson had a down season in 2014, but he’ll still earn $9.7MM in base salary next year.
Elsewhere around the league …
- The league is considering expanding roster sizes from 53 to 55 players, a source informed Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Fifty-three-man rosters (45 active players on game days) have been the standard in the NFL since 1993, when rosters ballooned from 47 to 53 in the first year of modern free agency. Although this will mean a bit more money to allocate to players, 10 NFL teams are below the salary floor of 89 percent that must be used from the 2013-16 seasons and haven’t had to spend as much on rookies in recent years. Practice squads went in this direction last year, expanding from eight to 10 players.
- Speaking of that salary floor, some of this decade’s doormats will use that initiative to splurge on top free agents, ESPN’s John Clayton writes in his mailbag. The Jaguars and Raiders have over $120MM of salary cap space between them, and some of that cash needs to be spent this season to fall in line with the CBA’s four-year floor, which both teams are well under at 80 percent spending (Jaguars) and 82 percent (Raiders). Dallas and Washington also appear on the list of off-the-pace spenders. That comes not via the thriftiness of Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder, but from those owners’ free spending — and subsequent cap penalties — in the uncapped 2010.
- The Jets are also in that insufficient-spending bracket and are in strong cap position ($51MM+ over) with only free agent starter, David Harris. Explaining why the Jets should retain the longtime starting linebacker while allowing exits of Michael Vick, Dawan Landry and their other top free agents, the New York Daily News’ Seth Walder takes a look at Gang Green’s offseason approach.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report
AFC Mailbags: Bengals, Ravens, Jags, Raiders
It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start with some notes from the AFC…
- With Robert Geathers now out of the picture, Coley Harvey believes there’s little chance that the Bengals move on from defensive tackle Domata Peko. While the 30-year-old didn’t have a great 2014 season, the writer opines that he played well at times, and Harvey notes that Peko is viewed as a leader in the locker room.
- Considering the Bengals only have A.J. Green‘s future contract to worry about, Harvey could envision the team making a splash in free agency. The writer suggests Greg Hardy and Jerry Hughes as options, but he warns that the duo may prove to be too pricey.
- If the Ravens lose out on Justin Forsett in free agency, Jamison Hensley says the team will pursue a running back in both the draft and free agency. The team still hopes to keep the veteran back, though, especially considering his impact on younger players.
- Hensley isn’t worried if Torrey Smith ultimately decides to leave Baltimore. When taking a look at potential cap casualties in the wideout market, the writer points to Saints wideout Marques Colston as being an option for the Ravens.
- Michael DiRocco says the Jaguars focus heading into free agency is acquiring a wideout, a right tackle and a “pass-catching” tight end. The writer suggest Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga and Julius Thomas for each of the three, respective positions.
- Bill Williamson believes the Raiders could trade their first-round pick as they look to compile as many selections as possible.
AFC Notes: Browns, Raiders, Jags
The Browns made the NFL’s most significant Friday move when they signed veteran quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year contract. Aside from a short, red-hot stretch with the Bears in 2013, McCown has never performed like more than a backup during his 12-year career. Combining that with Johnny Manziel‘s on- and off-field issues, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto expects the Browns to make more additions at quarterback this offseason. That said, Pluto would be “stunned” if Brian Hoyer, last year’s starting signal-caller and a pending free agent, returns to Cleveland. Moreover, he doesn’t think the Browns will use a first-round pick on a QB in the upcoming draft.
Here are some other newsworthy items from the AFC, including more on the Browns:
- Tom Reed, also of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, opines that the Browns should be interested in Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes if he becomes a free agent in March. Hughes and current Browns head coach Mike Pettine both joined the Bills prior to the 2013 season. Hughes, formerly of the Colts, looked like a first-round bust at the time. With the help of Pettine’s work as the Bills’ defensive coordinator, Hughes racked up 10 sacks to resurrect his career. Pettine subsequently left for Cleveland, but Hughes was still productive without him last year (9.5 sacks). Reed believes that reuniting Hughes with Pettine would improve a Browns defense that finished 27th in the league in sacks in 2014. When Reed asked Hughes about Pettine last summer, the 26-year-old had nothing but praise for his ex-coordinator. “He’s a players’ coach,” said Hughes. “He knows how to have fun when it’s time and he knows when it’s time to get serious and work.”
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link) that tight end Julius Thomas “has no talks scheduled with the Broncos” and will have a “very active market” if he hits free agency next month. According to Rapoport, two teams to watch are the AFC West rival Raiders and the Jaguars. New Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio knows Thomas well from their time in Denver, where Del Rio was the defensive coordinator the last three years. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have plenty of money to spend – OverTheCap.com lists their available space at a league-leading $68.20MM – and are seeking skill-position help. Thomas, who has caught a combined 24 touchdowns the last two seasons, would seemingly provide it.
- In a move that will be made official next week, the Raiders informed safety Tyvon Branch of his release Thursday. Branch spent seven years with the Raiders and, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com, he might be the first of many vets on the team’s chopping block. Per Bair, defensive end LaMarr Woodley, quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Maurice Jones-Drew and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe could all be out of Oakland by next season.
North Notes: Felton, Peterson, Canty, Suh
Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, former Vikings fullback Jerome Felton, who opted out of his contract at season’s end, said he has talked to his old team about the possibility of a reunion (Twitter link). Felton went on to say he wouldn’t close the door on re-signing with the Vikings, though it sounds as if a possible return for the veteran fullback may hinge on whether or not Adrian Peterson stays with the team. Felton has, of course, been Peterson’s lead blocker since 2012, earning a Pro Bowl nod during the season in which the MVP ran for nearly 2,100 yards.
Here’s more on Peterson, along with a few more items from out of the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Barring something unexpected, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) expects Peterson to ultimately end up with the Vikings, Cowboys, Colts, or Cardinals for the 2015 season.
- Although the Ravens released veteran defensive lineman Chris Canty today, he expects to continue playing in 2015, and Baltimore hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing him back at a lesser salary, according to GM Ozzie Newsome. “We certainly would not close the door to Chris coming back to us,” Newsome said (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com).
- If the Lions shell out the money necessary to keep Ndamukong Suh locked up for multiple seasons, it may be a big gamble for the franchise, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As Birkett outlines, teams in similar situations in the past have had mixed results when making a big investment in a star player.
- Birkett has a second piece on Suh today for the Free Press, identifying the Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, and Jets as the likeliest suitors for the star defensive linemen if he doesn’t return to the Lions.