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Patriots Exploring Backup QB Options

By Zachary Links | at March 3, 2017 11:55 am

Maybe Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t off the market after all. The Patriots are exploring backup quarterback possibilities in free agency, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Connecting the dots, it seems that New England is doing its homework in the event it trades the highly-coveted young QB.

If the Patriots move Garoppolo, it seems that they would sign a veteran quarterback to slot behind Tom Brady. Depending on who it is, that out-of-house addition could be put into a competition with Jacoby Brissett to determine who gets No. 2 QB status. This year’s free agent market is flush with experienced backup types, including Nick Foles, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colin Kaepernick, Brian Hoyer, Case Keenum, Matt McGloin, Mark Sanchez, and more.

The 49ers and Browns have been heavily connected to Garoppolo. While they will continue to explore all of their options at quarterback, it sounds like they shouldn’t give up on prying the 25-year-old away from the defending champs.

26 comments Cleveland Browns New England Patriots San Francisco 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo

Top 3 Offseason Needs: New England Patriots

By Ben Levine | at March 3, 2017 8:44 am

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors has been detailing each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We conclude the series today with the Super Bowl champs.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Martellus Bennett, TE
LeGarrette Blount, RB
Brandon Bolden, RB
Alan Branch, DT
Malcolm Butler, CB
Justin Coleman, CB
James Develin, RB
Cameron Fleming, OT
Michael Floyd, WR
Duron Harmon, S
Dont’a Hightower, LB
Brandon King, S
Matt Lengel, TE (ERFA)
Chris Long, DE
Barkevious Mingo, LB
Logan Ryan, CB
Greg Scruggs, TE
Jabaal Sheard, DE
Michael Williams, TE

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Tom Brady, QB: $14MM
Nate Solder, LT: $11.17MM
Devin McCourty, S: $10.94MM
Danny Amendola, WR: $7.8MM
Rob Gronkowski, TE: $6.75MM
Julian Edelman, WR: $5.75MM
Patrick Chung, S: $5.4MM
Stephen Gostkowski, K: $4.5MM
Marcus Cannon, LT: $3.37MM
Shea McClellin, LB: $3.2MM

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over The Cap): $59,667,426
No. 32 overall pick in draft

Three needs:

1) Help on the Defensive Line: With linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Malcolm Butler set to hit free agency, most pundits will say that those two positions should be the Patriots’ main priority as they head into the draft and free agency.

However, the team should be absolutely fine at both spots, even in the unlikely event that both of these top free agents depart. Now, there’s nothing to suggest that the potential linebacker or cornerback replacements would immediately replace the production of Hightower and/or Butler. Rather, history tells us that the Patriots will adequately fill those roles with rookies or veterans.

Hightower didn’t have his most productive season when it comes to plain statistics. In 13 games, the former first-rounder finished with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Of course, the 26-year-old proved his worth in the Super Bowl, where he collected a sack and a key forced fumble. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was particularly fond of his performance this past season, as the website ranked him as the 12^th best linebacker in 2016 (as well as the second best at his position in pass rushing).

The organization made it clear that they were committed to Hightower following the trades of impending free agents Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones. Despite the team’s abundance of cap room, it was unlikely that the organization would be able (or willing) to sign the trio to lengthy, lucrative contracts. By moving on from the other talented defenders, the front office made it clear that Hightower was going to be the anchor of their defense for years to come.

That sentiment still seems to be the case, although a recent report indicated that the team wasn’t going to slap Hightower with their franchise tag. The linebacker presumably won’t command the franchise tag’s $14.7MM annual salary in free agency (although it may be close), so this news seems to be more of a financial decision, and there haven’t been any reports suggesting that the Patriots are prepared to move on without Hightower. Rather, I’d expect the team to approach his situation similarly to how they handled Devin McCourty’s free agency. They’ll offer the linebacker a contract and allow him to shop around for better offers from inferior teams. Assuming Hightower gets a better offer, he’ll presumably allow the Patriots to match. Therefore, the ball still seems to be in the organization’s court.

If Hightower does leave the Patriots, the team’s remaining linebackers shouldn’t be relied on to fill his starting role. Following the trade of Collins, coach Bill Belichick relied on a rotation of Elandon Roberts, Shea McClellin, Barkevious Mingo, Kyle Van Noy, and Rob Ninkovich (when he wasn’t playing defensive end) to play opposite Hightower. While the Patriots were able to rely on the hot hand through the rest of the season and the playoffs, it’d be tough to rely on two of those guys as starters next season.

Fortunately, in the event that Hightower does leave town, the Patriots shouldn’t be overly worried. While the team has generally struck out on all of their recent late-round linebackers (Xzavier Dickson, anyone?), the team has had plenty of success drafting the position in the first two rounds. Hightower, Collins, Jerod Mayo, and Brandon Spikes are among the team’s successful linebackers taken in the first two rounds of the draft. Furthermore, there’s plenty of depth at the position in free agency, and a number of aging veterans could adequately fit the role that the Patriots coaching staff is seeking. After all, the team doesn’t need a game-changer at linebacker. Instead, they just need someone who is capable in pass protection and stopping the run. Of course, all of this is moot if Hightower re-signs with the team.

Butler’s situation is a bit different than Hightower’s. There’s no denying that the cornerback is one of the most indispensable members of the Patriots defense, and his role is arguably more essential to the Patriots’ success than Hightower’s. The former undrafted free agent put his name on the map during the 2015 Super Bowl, and he was solid during his first season as a starter. In 2016, the 26-year-old established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the game. Butler finished the campaign with 63 tackles, two fumbles recoveries, and four interceptions, and PFF ranked him as the seventh-best cornerback in the NFL.

Logan Ryan may have had his best season in a Patriots uniform (ranking 16^th among cornerbacks by PFF), but there’s no way the former third-rounder can be relied on as a number-one cornerback (not to mention that he’s a free agent himself). Additionally, former Eagles cornerback Eric Rowe flashed plenty of potential during his nine games this season, and the squad clearly thinks highly of rookie Cyrus Jones. Still, there’s no reason to think that any of these players could step in and seamlessly replace Butler.

Fortunately for the Patriots, Butler is a restricted free agent, so the team will have the opportunity to match any contract he receives. Belichick has shown that he’s willing to spend big on the position (Darrelle Revis and Aqib Talib come to mind), so it’d be a shock if the team let Butler walk without a clear replacement in place. His return is all but inevitable, and that means cornerback shouldn’t be a position of need.

That brings me back to my original point. While a hypothetical Butler or Hightower departure would certainly open a giant hole on the depth chart, no part of the Patriots defense needs as much work as the defensive line. The team’s pass rush was plenty impressive during the Super Bowl, but the unit struggled for stretches during the season. Despite finishing the season as one of the top defenses in the NFL, the Patriots still ranked 16^th in sacks (34) and failed to develop a consistent pass-rush.

Furthermore, while Hightower and Butler more-or-less seem to be shoo-ins to return to New England, many of the team’s impending defensive line free agents do not. Chris Long already made it clear that he won’t be returning next season, and Alan Branch may be looking for a payday following the best season of his career (49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble). Jabaal Sheard is also set to be a free agent, and I’m not convinced that he’ll return after getting benched during the regular season.

Fortunately, the team does have some young stars on the defensive line in Trey Flowers and Malcom Brown. Flowers was a revelation this past season as he essentially replaced Chandler Jones in the lineup. After sitting out his entire rookie campaign, the former fourth-rounder responded with 45 tackles and seven sacks in 2016. Meanwhile, Brown looked a lot more confident during his second season in the league, compiling 50 tackles and three sacks while ranking as PFF’s 31^st-best interior defender. The Patriots can at least take solace in the fact that they have two spots on their defensive line covered.

However, considering the impending free agency of Long, Sheard, and Branch, the Patriots could be lacking depth at multiple positions, and these players all played an integral role in the team having one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The draft seems to have plenty of talented edge defenders, so the team could theoretically use several of their picks to fill that depth. The team could also look to free agency to fill those holes, especially if they’re seeking the play-making type of player they lost when they traded Jones.

2) Offensive Skill-Player Depth: It seems a bit silly to suggest that the Patriots need even more offensive reinforcement, especially when the team finished towards the top of the league in most offensive categories this past season. The team especially showcased that depth in the Super Bowl, as Tom Brady completed a pass to seven different receivers. Still, you can never use enough depth when it comes to offensive skill players, and the offense could take a considerable hit depending on how the offseason shapes out.

It likely starts at tight end, where Martellus Bennett is set to get paid. The veteran bounced back following an underwhelming 2015 campaign in Chicago, collecting 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. The 29-year-old is obviously getting older, but his ability to serve as a dependable big target will certainly earn him a huge contract this offseason. He isn’t vital to the Patriots offensive success, but the team has proved that they’re even more dangerous when they have a pair of pass-catching tight ends on the field.

The status of Rob Gronkowski could also play a role in Bennett’s future with the team. The 27-year-old hasn’t played in 16 games since 2011, and his 25 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns were all career-lows. While there have been trade rumors surrounding the talented tight end, I’m under the belief that the team would be foolish to bail on him in a year where he holds an incredibly affordable $6.75MM cap hit. Gronk’s presence doesn’t necessarily deemphasize Bennett’s role in the offense, as the two showed that they can co-exist. Still, the team might not be willing to invest big money in Bennett if they’re planning on keeping Gronkowski long-term.

In the case that Bennett does leave, the team will surely bring in another veteran tight end who could catch the ball (Rob Housler and another scrapheap tight end will presumably fill the role of blocking tight end). Vernon Davis, Jermaine Gresham, and Jared Cook would fit the mold of the veteran, pass-catching tight end.

The team is set when it comes to their pass-catching running back, as the team can rely on the two-headed monster of Dion Lewis and James White. However, starting running back LeGarrette Blount is set to be a free agent, and there’s no guarantee that the veteran will be back – no matter what kind of pay cut he’s willing to take.

The 30-year-old had his best NFL season in 2016, compiling 1,161 yards and a league-high 18 rushing touchdowns. While those numbers are certainly eye-popping, a further look implies that the stats may be more a product of opportunity than talent. Blount finished second in the NFL with 299 carries, and his 3.9-yards-per-carry (30^th in the NFL) implies the former sentiment. These numbers went down in the playoffs, as Blount averaged 3.1-yards-per-carry during the Patriots’ three postseason games.

There’s something to be said for Blount’s familiarity with the Patriots system, and the veteran presumably won’t command a huge contract (especially if he’s open to returning to New England). On the flip side, there’s also something to be said for looking for minor improvements, and a more reliable running back could help preserve the aging Brady. Plus, this year’s crop of free agent running backs could allow the Patriots to secure an upgrade without breaking the bank.

Rival fans probably have nightmares of an Adrian Peterson, a Jamaal Charles, or even an Eddie Lacy joining the Patriots. I have a feeling that these players will likely command a contract the exceeds what New England is willing to offer, but it’d be surprising if the Patriots don’t at least explore these veteran options. The fact that the team stuck with Blount throughout the entire campaign indicates that they weren’t overly worried about his mediocre yards-per-carry stats, but the Patriots also won’t be willing to just hand him the starting role in 2017.

Wide receiver seemingly has the least amount of question marks, as Michael Floyd is the only bona fide member of the unit to hit free agency. I’m skeptical that veteran Danny Amendola will be willing to take another pay cut (especially following a successful postseason), so there’s probably a 50-50 chance that he could be gone. Julian Edelman will obviously be back as Brady’s binkie, while Chris Hogan is perfectly suited to be the team’s number-three wideout.

This means the team could be seeking another playmaker to play opposite Edelman. The Patriots could already have that option in-house with Malcolm Mitchell. You rarely see Brady trust a rookie as much as he did the fourth-round pick this past season, as Mitchell finished the campaign with 32 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns. The electric, speedy wideout should continue to improve, and that would eliminate the necessity to add another top receiver. On the flip side, Mitchell could follow the path of Aaron Dobson and Brandon Tate to become the next highly-touted Patriots receiver to peak too early.

3) A Trade Partner for Jimmy Garoppolo: Considering all of the team’s apparent needs, the biggest question surrounding the Patriots as they head into the offseason is the status of back-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The conclusion of the former second-rounder’s rookie contract is quickly approaching, so it’s apparent the Patriots need to make a decision sooner than later.

After serving as Belichick’s personal human victory cigar for the first two years of his career, Garoppolo looked like he was more than able to manage a team through his two starts in 2016. During that one-plus game sample, the quarterback completed 71-percent of his passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Garoppolo ultimately sat out the next two games as he recovered from an AC joint sprain, and Brady was back from suspension by the time the young quarterback was ready to play.

Of course, we know how that story ended. Brady put up MVP numbers through his 12 regular season games, and he helped lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl championship. If there were any doubts regarding Brady’s future with the organization, they were certainly hushed following his postseason performance.

So why wouldn’t the Patriots want to keep their apparent heir apparent to Brady? The easy answer is money. Garoppolo will be hitting free agency following the 2017 season, and there’s no world where the organization will want to commit plus-$30MM to a pair of quarterbacks. After having seen teams commit themselves to the likes of Matt Flynn and Brock Osweiler, it shouldn’t be too shocking that rival organizations are rather infatuated with Garoppolo, and the quarterback will presumably earn a pretty penny when he reaches the open market. Therefore, instead of risking losing the quarterback for nothing, it’s in the Patriots’ best interest to trade Garoppolo while his value is at his highest.

The Patriots could theoretically head into next season with both Brady and Garoppolo (as well as second-year quarterback Jacoby Brissett), and then be forced to make a decision next offseason. The team could always franchise Garoppolo before he hits free agency, and then they could deal him once he’s locked into that one-year contract. This certainly isn’t an awful route. If Brady shows a sudden Peyton Manning-like decline, the team already has their replacement ready to go. If Brady continues cruising, they can simply trade Garoppolo. On the flip side, if the team trades Garoppolo and Brady shows signed of decline, the team could be forced to hand the reigns to Brissett. While the rookie looked competent during his two starts in 2016, he’s yet to prove that he can even reach Garoppolo’s level.

However, the old sports adage says that players lose trade value every day that they remain on their current team. With a weak crop of quarterbacks in this year’s draft and an abundance of aging veteran signal-callers littering the free agency pool, team’s hoping to get a jump start on their rebuild will want their franchise quarterback as soon as possible. Therefore, it’s likely that the Patriots will receive the best Garoppolo trade offers this offseason as opposed to next.

Former Brady backups like Matt Cassel and Brian Hoyer proved to be capable quarterbacks, but they certainly weren’t franchise players. Still, that fear won’t stop other teams from offering a haul for Garoppolo. The Browns, 49ers, and Bears are three of the more popular teams when it comes to rumors surrounding the quarterback, and as our own Connor Byrne noted, the Browns second first-rounder (12^th overall) may convince the organization to pull the trigger on a Garoppolo trade.

As of right now, a trade seems unlikely, as reports from earlier this week indicated that the Patriots are not expected to trade their young signal-caller. Of course, this could just be a leverage attempt from the organization. For what it’s worth, more than 72-percent of our readers believe New England should indeed trade their young quarterback.

During the Patriots victory parade, Belichick started an awkward “No Days Off!” chant. We can only assume that the front office will be working tirelessly as they presumably look to trade Garoppolo before the upcoming draft.

4 comments New England Patriots PFR Originals Top 3 Offseason Needs

Latest On Jimmy Garoppolo, A.J. McCarron

By Connor J. Byrne | at March 2, 2017 8:07 pm

While the Patriots are reportedly unlikely to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, they haven’t ruled out moving him if the right offer comes along, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. New England is likely to want at least a first-rounder for Garoppolo, writes Cabot, who hears that the team has already received one preliminary “offer.” However, a deal is unlikely to come together during the combine.

The Browns, 49ers and Bears, who are set to pick first, second and third in this year’s draft, have drawn the most connections to Garoppolo this winter. Cleveland has seemingly shown more interest than anyone else in Garoppolo, and it could help the club’s cause that it has a second first-rounder (No. 12 overall) that it could dangle to land the 25-year-old.

Should they fail to reel in Garoppolo, the Browns could look for a signal-caller via free agency, elsewhere on the trade market, or in the draft. Cabot reported earlier Thursday that they’re eyeing North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky at No. 1 overall, and she now adds that the Browns could inquire about Bengals backup A.J. McCarron.

Although the Bengals aren’t necessarily aiming to trade McCarron, they might do it if they receive at least a second-rounder, and they wouldn’t be averse to sending him to a division rival, a source told Cabot. Moreover, McCarron “would love” to reunite with Browns head coach Hue Jackson, Cabot notes. McCarron played under Jackson when he was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator from 2014-15.

44 comments Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns New England Patriots A.J. McCarron Jimmy Garoppolo

Patriots Likely To Re-Sign James Develin

By Connor J. Byrne | at March 2, 2017 7:01 pm

Impending free agent fullback James Develin is likely to re-sign with the Patriots in the coming days, tweets CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. A member of the Pats since 2012, Develin hasn’t touched the ball much in his career (13 receptions, seven carries), but he has registered three straight 16-game seasons and won two Super Bowls. He took part in 33.7 percent of the Patriots’ special teams snaps and 31.3 percent of their offensive plays in 2016.

1 comment Kansas City Chiefs New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers James Develin Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Le'Veon Bell Mike Glennon

PFR’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents For 2017 1.0

By Zachary Links | at March 2, 2017 3:13 pm

[UPDATE: CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST EDITION OF PFR’S TOP 50 FREE AGENTS]

There will be oodles of free agents available in March, but only a certain percentage of them can be real difference makers for your team. To help separate the wheat from the chaff, we’ve assembled our early list of the Top 50 Free Agents for 2017.

Our early version of the NFL’s top 50 free agents may include players who will be re-signed between now and March 9. When we update this list next week, a few of the big names will be spoken for while new high-profile names will join the fray as veterans become cap casualties.

Last month, we broke down the top free agents by position on both offense and defense, but our rankings below may not have each player listed in the same order. Those position lists took the short-term value of a player into account more heavily, meaning many players in their 30s received prominent placement. Our overall top 50 list favors longer-term value, and is more about forecasting which players will be in highest demand when it comes to years and dollars.

With those caveats out of the way, let’s dive in! Here are Pro Football Rumors’ top 50 NFL free agents for 2017:

A.J. Bouye, CB (Texans): Out of nowhere, Bouye went from unknown to elite. The Texans would like to retain him, but they opted against using the franchise tag to get it done. That means that we’re about to see one of the most intriguing free agent cases in recent memory play out. Bouye doesn’t turn 26 until August and he finished out the year as one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Conversely, he didn’t do much of note in his previous three NFL seasons. Recently, one executive told Albert Breer of The MMQB that he’s expecting Bouye to be the highest-paid free agent in this year’s class, “assuming the guys we believe will be franchised actually are.” Another posited that he could match Janoris Jenkins‘ five year, $62.5MM contract from last spring, a deal that included $28.8MM fully guaranteed. The Jets could be among the clubs to pursue Bouye.
Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): There are question marks a-plenty, but no one can deny Jeffery’s natural ability. Not long ago, it seemed like Jeffery would fetch a free agent deal to totally reset the wide receiver market. Even after an iffy season, the projected salary cap increase and lack of available star receivers should allow Jeffery to become a very rich man.
Kenny Stills, WR (Dolphins): Stills is going to get paid this offseason and the average annual value on his next deal could be far, far more than anticipated. The latest reports indicate that he could make up to $12MM/year on his next deal. The Eagles are said to be high on him and other WR-hungry teams like the Titans could also show interest.
Dont’a Hightower, LB (Patriots): The market is capped for non-rush linebackers, but Hightower is pretty much the best at what he does and is also lauded for his intangibles. The Patriots have always embraced the “next man up” philosophy, so it is possible they will allow him to go elsewhere.
Kevin Zeitler, G (Bengals): Zeitler has age on his side and he’s one of the safest free agents in the top ten after three consecutive years of dominance. Interior offensive linemen don’t get as much love as their counterparts on the outside, but they are still incredibly vital and Zeitler’s next contract will reflect that.
Calais Campbell, DL (Cardinals): Campbell was supposed to be a goner in Arizona. However, instead of staying in Chandler Jones‘ shadow, Campbell turned in one of his best seasons to date. Now, the Cardinals would very much like to keep him, but they can only go so far as they back up the Brinks truck for Jones. If Jones does not agree to a cap-smoothing long-term deal between now and March 9th, the odds of the former University of Miami star leaving increase.
T.J. Lang, G (Packers): In 2016, Lang earned a strong 87.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (8th amongst guards), including a 92.9 score for pass blocking (2nd). Lang, who turns 30 in September, also spent some time at tackle early in his career and could be moved around the line in a pinch.
Tony Jefferson, S (Cardinals): The metrics at PFF actually placed Jefferson slightly ahead of Eric Berry in 2016. He’s also a full three years younger than the KC star. The Cardinals want to keep Jefferson, but he will test the open market no matter what.
Terrelle Pryor, WR (Browns): Pryor and the Browns haven’t exactly played it coy about their intentions. Both sides badly want to get a long-term deal done and we’d be surprised if that didn’t come to fruition. The franchise tag was too expensive here, so Pryor will garner considerable attention as a young WR2 type if a multi-year pact is not struck in the coming days.
Logan Ryan, CB (Patriots): There are bigger names available at the cornerback position, but Ryan slots ahead of many of them after a career year. It also doesn’t hurt that this fresh-faced Super Bowl champ only just turned 26 in February. If the Patriots don’t tie him down, Ryan’s earning power could conceivably vault him past Trumaine Johnson in terms of guaranteed cash.
Ricky Wagner, OT (Ravens): Wagner could reportedly fetch around $10MM/year. The free agent market is short on young, quality tackles and this year’s draft is no great shakes.
Duron Harmon, S (Patriots): Surprised to see Harmon so close to fellow safety Tony Jefferson on this list? Don’t be. Free safety is where the money is at and Harmon figures to get make more than any of us anticipated six months ago. Like Ryan, Harmon is also just 26.
Martellus Bennett, TE (Patriots): Rob Gronkowski‘s injury woes were unfortunate, but the Patriots barely missed a beat thanks to Bennett. Recently, Bennett gloated about Super Bowl winners getting overpaid and he’s not wrong – the shine of a championship ring tends to illuminate free agents. Still, Bennett shouldn’t sell himself short: he’s a big, bruising tight end who can be a major factor in the red zone, as evidenced by his seven touchdowns last season.
Stephon Gilmore, CB (Bills): In terms of pure talent, Gilmore might be the best cornerback available. Trouble is, no one knows what to make of him after a down 2016. Some have openly theorized that Gilmore was playing it safe to avoid injury in his pivotal contract year. It’s also possible that Buffalo’s injuries in the front seven put undue stress on the secondary. GMs will use these justifications and more to convince ownership to pony up big dollars.
Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens): The Ravens are prioritizing a new deal for Williams this offseason, but if they don’t re-sign him, the Dolphins could be among the teams in pursuit. Williams doesn’t fill up a stat sheet, but he is an effective run-stuffer with age on his side. At 28, teams won’t be hesitant about making a multi-year commitment.
Dontari Poe, DT (Chiefs): Poe is a bit inconsistent, but when he’s on it’s a clear reminder of why the Chiefs made him the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Memphis product boasts two Pro Bowl selections and his athleticism may allow him to occasionally play a bit on the outside.
Nick Perry, DE (Packers): After this year’s premier edge defenders were franchised, Perry stands as the best defensive end available. In just 14 games (12 starts), the former first-round pick amassed 11 sacks. Teams employing a 3-4 scheme will be especially interested in his services.
Kenny Britt, WR (Rams): Britt managed to turn in his first career 1,000+ yard season despite playing in the NFL’s worst offense. He could match or even best Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson when it comes to average annual value and his age could lead to a longer deal. The Giants could bring the Rutgers product back to New Jersey to fill Victor Cruz‘s spot and take attention away from Odell Beckham Jr., but we’re expecting them to put their resources in other areas.
Mike Glennon, QB (Buccaneers): I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that players are ranked here based on projected earnings, not ability. As of this writing, Glennon is the second-best QB in this year’s free agent class (and, remember, Kirk Cousins could be inked to a long-term deal or given the exclusive tag). When we revisit this list next month, Glennon’s placement among QBs may be challenged by Tyrod Taylor and others.
Johnathan Hankins, DT (Giants): Hankins has youth on his side as he won’t turn 25 until late March. He also played a hand in the Giants’ strong run defense last year – as a team, they allowed just 88.6 yards on the ground per game.
Larry Warford, G (Lions): The knock on Warford when he was coming out of Kentucky was that he might not be able to make it at the next level due to his lack of agility and athleticism. Today, he’s not the quickest guard in the NFL, but he’s unquestionably starting caliber. Warford has never missed more than three games in one NFL season and he’s just entering his age-26 season.
Kevin Minter, LB (Cardinals): The Cardinals have lots of free agents to address this offseason and that could lead to the 26-year-old Minter going elsewhere. Last year, he racked up 81 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games.
Andrew Whitworth, OT (Bengals): Whitworth is a stud, but his earning power is capped by his age (he’ll celebrate his 36th birthday in December). Last year, PFF rated him as the second-best tackle in the entire NFL and he’s been a Top 5/Top 10 guy for the last five years in a row. It should also be noted that he has been remarkably durable throughout his career, missing only two games since 2009.
Pierre Garcon, WR (Redskins): Garcon is a solid possession receiver, a label that he personally rejects. We understand where he’s coming from. This year, the Redskins had the veteran running deeper routes than he has in the past and he showed that he could stretch the field a bit, even though he wasn’t the fastest guy on the WR depth chart. He didn’t approach his gaudy 2013 numbers, but he still turned in a respectable stat line of 79 catches for 1,041 yards. His 69.1% catch rate was a career-high.
Zach Brown, LB (Bills): Finally, Brown lived up to his second-round draft status in 2016. After settling for a cheap one-year deal last year, Brown should do a lot better this time around.
Chris Baker, DT (Redskins): Baker is well-rounded and can be used on both the interior and outside of the defensive line. The Redskins have been leaning on him more each year and he has thrived with the increased responsibilities.
Prince Amukamara, CB (Jaguars): After being slowed by injuries in New York, Amukamara managed to stay on the field for most of the season in Jacksonville. He probably won’t blossom into a shutdown corner this late in the game, but the former first-round pick would make a fine CB2 somewhere.
DeSean Jackson, WR (Redskins): Jackson is on the wrong side of 30 and, typically, blazing speed does not age well. Still, he’s one of the game’s best deep threats and we can’t help but think that the Eagles will overspend to bring this fan favorite home.
Jabaal Sheard, DL (Patriots): Sheard saw his playing time reduced in the middle of the season and was even a healthy scratch for one game in November. Despite that bump in the road, the 27-year-old (28 in May) still managed to finish out the year with five sacks and 33 total tackles. Teams may have some questions about Sheard’s effort and/or conditioning after he wound up in Belichick’s doghouse. His stock could be affected if the Patriots don’t make a genuine effort to re-sign him.
Jonathan Cyprien, S (Jaguars): Jacksonville fans are often frustrated with Cyprien, but he’s coming off of a career year and he appears to have put many of his bad habits behind him. He finished out 2016 with 126 total tackles, one sack, and four pass deflections. PFF’s 87.8 overall grade was the best of his career and placed him No. 7 among safeties, just ahead of Eric Berry.
Ronald Leary, G (Cowboys): Leary has no interest in a reserve role and he’ll get the full-time starting job he craves this spring.
Adrian Peterson, RB (Vikings): As expected, the Vikings will decline Peterson’s hefty option for the 2017 season. A return to Minnesota is still possible and contenders like the Giants and Raiders will also be making a strong push to add AD to their backfield. Still, given his injury history, it’s hard to see Peterson getting a lucrative multi-year deal on the cusp of his 32nd birthday, hence his ranking this far down on the list. We have him as our top running back in the Top 50 because he should still score a fat one-year contract.
Barry Church, S (Cowboys): Church isn’t a megastar, but he is a well-rounded strong safety who should draw plenty of interest. Berry re-signing with the Chiefs should cause a domino effect that enhances his market.
J.C. Tretter, C (Packers): In an admittedly small sample last year, PFF rated Tretter as the ninth-best center in the NFL last season. Despite playing in only six games before his season-ending injury, Tretter should outearn every other center thanks in large part to his youth. The former fourth-round pick just recently turned 26.
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Bengals): We’re still waiting for Kirkpatrick to live up to his first-round billing.
Eddie Lacy, RB (Packers): Lacy’s weight issues are well documented but when he’s on, he’s on. Before his unfortunate injury this past fall, Lacy was averaging 5.07 yards per carry.
Riley Reiff, OT (Lions): Personally, I prefer Russell Okung and Kelvin Beachum to Reiff, but I anticipate Reiff getting more money than both. He’s younger than Okung and coming off of a much better year than Beachum.
John Simon, LB/DE (Texans): J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus get the attention in Houston, but Simon is a quality edge rusher in his own right. This spring, the 26-year-old could go from supersub to starter with a significant pay bump.
T.J. McDonald, S (Rams): I’m not as high on him as others, but he’s young and can knock receivers into next week.
Morris Claiborne, CB (Cowboys): After multiple disappointing seasons, Claiborne broke out in his contract year. Then, his campaign ended after seven games. Will teams take the glass-half-full view of the former No. 6 overall pick? We believe they will, but there’s also a good crop of defensive backs in this year’s draft.
Micah Hyde, S (Packers): Hyde, who just turned 26 in December, offers versatility and can be slotted anywhere in the secondary. In that respect, you might be thinking that he’s Darius Butler-lite. Many will prefer Butler as a player for the here and now, but Hyde could get more years and dollars thanks to the age gap.
Latavius Murray, RB (Raiders): He’s not the most explosive runner out there, but he’s a quality option for teams in need. Here’s an interesting scenario based on what we’ve been hearing: Murray could land with the Vikings while Peterson joins up with Oakland.
Russell Okung, OT (Broncos): Last year, Okung went into free agency without an agent. That decision bit him in the behind after he turned in a so-so year and the Broncos turned down his pricey multi-year option. This time around, I hope he doesn’t cheap out and hires proper representation. Regardless, his market will be a lot softer than it was in 2016.
Jamaal Charles, RB (Chiefs): After releasing Charles, the Chiefs issued a press release thanking the “future Hall of Famer.” Charles could very well be Canton-bound someday, but the jury is still out on what he can do in 2017. In the last two years, Charles has appeared in just eight games.
Kayvon Webster, CB (Broncos): Webster has been vocal about his desire for more playing time and he’s not going to get it in Denver where he is blocked behind proven corners. Webster will go elsewhere and I see him getting a solid payday based on his age (just turned 26), athleticism, and special teams ability.
Perry Riley, LB (Raiders): After he was a cap casualty of the Redskins last year, Riley quietly had a bounce-back year in Oakland.
Bennie Logan, DT (Eagles): The rival Redskins are apparently among the teams with interest in Logan.
Darius Butler, DB (Colts): His ability to play multiple positions will work in his favor.
Ryan Clady, OT (Jets): Lots of injury concerns, but also lots of potential.
Terrance Williams, WR (Cowboys): Markus Wheaton, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Michael Floyd may offer more upside, but Williams could edge them in earnings. We’ll find out soon.

Honorable mention (in no particular order): LeGarrette Blount, Nick Mangold, Colin Kaepernick, Nick Fairley, D.J. Swearinger, Bradley McDougald, DeMarcus Ware, Stefen Wisniewski, Lawrence Timmons, Captain Munnerlyn, Jairus Byrd, Darrelle Revis, Jared Odrick, Alterraun Verner, Kelvin Beachum, Lorenzo Alexander, Brandon Carr, Charles Johnson

14 comments Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants New York Jets Newsstand PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders A.J. Bouye Adrian Peterson Alshon Jeffery Alterraun Verner Andrew Whitworth Barry Church Bennie Logan Bradley McDougald Brandon Carr Calais Campbell Captain Munnerlyn Chris Baker Colin Kaepernick Cordarrelle Patterson D.J. Swearinger Darius Butler Darrelle Revis DeMarcus Ware DeSean Jackson Dontari Poe Dre Kirkpatrick Duron Harmon Eddie Lacy J.C. Tretter Jabaal Sheard Jadeveon Clowney Jairus Byrd Jamaal Charles Janoris Jenkins Jared Odrick John Simon Johnathan Cyprien Johnathan Hankins Kayvon Webster Kelvin Beachum Kenny Britt Kenny Stills Kevin Minter Kevin Zeitler Larry Warford Latavius Murray Lawrence Timmons LeGarrette Blount Logan Ryan Lorenzo Alexander Markus Wheaton Martellus Bennett Micah Hyde Michael Floyd Mike Glennon Morris Claiborne Nick Fairley Nick Mangold Perry Riley Pierre Garcon Prince Amukamara Ricky Wagner Riley Reiff Ronald Leary Russell Okung Ryan Clady Stefen Wisniewski Stephon Gilmore T.J. Lang T.J. McDonald Terrance Williams Terrelle Pryor Tony Jefferson Victor Cruz Whitney Mercilus Zach Brown

Patriots Rumors: Hightower, Branch

By Zachary Links | at March 2, 2017 2:08 pm

The Patriots and Dont’a Hightower are maintaining positive, productive dialogue, Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald writes. Still, Hightower is intrigued by the idea of finding out his value on the open market, so there remains a real chance that he reaches free agency on March 9. The Pats have not extended a formal, written proposal since last summer.

The Patriots believe they made a solid offer to Alan Branch this week and the two sides are deep in negotiations, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. We have Branch rated as the seventh-best interior defender among unrestricted free agents.

0 comments Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets Alan Branch Darrelle Revis Dont'a Hightower Isa Abdul-Quddus

Latest On Browns’ QB Possibilities

By Connor J. Byrne | at March 1, 2017 4:47 pm

Colin Kaepernick has informed all 32 NFL teams he’s going to opt out of his contract with the 49ers and become a free agent. When that happens, one team that definitely won’t pursue Kaepernick is the quarterback-needy Browns, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson has demonstrated an affinity for Kaepernick in the past, so it’s conceivable the 29-year-old could have been on their radar. Jackson had interest last offseason in Kaepernick, who was then coming off an injury-plagued, statistically subpar campaign. But Kaepernick bounced back to a degree in 2016, as he tossed 16 touchdown passes against four interceptions, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt (up from 6.2 in 2015) and finished second among QBs in rushing yards (468, on a lofty 6.8 per carry) as part of a two-win team.

The only signal-caller who outrushed Kaepernick last year, the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor, will be on the Browns’ list if Buffalo releases him, reiterates Cabot. So could Buccaneers backup and soon-to-be free agent Mike Glennon, and the Browns also aren’t going to give up on acquiring either Patriots No. 2 Jimmy Garoppolo or Bengals reserve A.J. McCarron via trade, according to Cabot. The Patriots are reportedly unlikely to deal Garoppolo, though, while the Bengals will place a high price tag on McCarron – a former Jackson pupil – if anyone inquires about his availability.

Should the Browns fail to reel in a palatable long-term option via trades or free agency, the draft – in which they’re set to pick first and 12th overall – could be the avenue they take. Cabot notes they’ll “strongly consider” selecting a potential franchise passer then.

For now, their most established option under center is Robert Griffin III, who’s due a $750K roster bonus March 11. It’s possible Griffin will stay on the roster beyond that date, though, head of football operations Sashi Brown said Wednesday (via Cabot).

“That’s not going to be a major decision for us one way or the other in terms of a lever for making that decision,” he revealed. “We’re going to evaluate Robert, not his contract. And we’ve had some discussions there.”

21 comments Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns New England Patriots A.J. McCarron Colin Kaepernick Jimmy Garoppolo Mike Glennon Robert Griffin III Tyrod Taylor

Chris Long, Patriots To Part Ways

By Zachary Links | at March 1, 2017 1:53 pm

Chris Long took to Instagram to announce that he will not be re-signing with the Patriots this offseason. The 31-year-old (32 in late March) hinted that he is looking to join a team that will give him increased playing time and a more prominent role.

“This has zero to do with money, etc,” Long wrote. “It’s the right move in my heart because I want to get back to being the player I was before. I’m thankful for my role this year, but as a competitor, I’m itching to do what I do best.”

Soon after the Patriots traded Chandler Jones to the Cardinals, they added Long on a one-year, $2MM deal. After playing in just 18 regular season games in two seasons, Long appeared in every single regular season game for the Pats. His season was capped off with a Super Bowl win, but he might not have been satisfied with his amount of burn in the postseason.

Now that Long is out of the picture, the Patriots could look to add a defensive end like Jared Odrick. Odrick met with the Pats recently and passed their physical.

5 comments New England Patriots Chris Long

Salary Cap Numbers For All 32 Teams

By Zachary Links | at March 1, 2017 12:20 pm

On Wednesday, we learned that the 2017 salary cap will be set at roughly $167MM. However, every team’s number will be different depending on how much money each team elects to rollover from the previous season.

Courtesy of the NFLPA, we now have the total cap numbers for all 32 clubs. Here they are, listed by division and in descending order:

AFC East

Dolphins – $175.36MM
Patriots – $171.29
Bills – $169.84MM
Jets – $167.37MM

AFC North

Browns – $217.12MM
Bengals – $173.58MM
Steelers – $170.27MM
Ravens – $169.55MM

AFC South

Jaguars – $206.31
Titans – $191.05MM
Colts – $173.61MM
Texans – $171.94MM

AFC West

Raiders – $175MM
Broncos – $174.24MM
Chiefs – $172MM
Chargers – $167.11MM

NFC East

Redskins – $182.06MM
Eagles – $174.93MM
Cowboys – $169.4MM
Giants – $168.8MM

NFC North

Bears – $175.1MM
Packers – $174.98MM
Lions – $171.73MM
Vikings – $167.4MM

NFC South

Panthers – $180.21MM
Saints – $172.75MM
Buccaneers – $172.33MM
Falcons – $167.93MM

NFC West

49ers – $205.71MM
Cardinals – $171.4MM
Seahawks – $169.07MM
Rams – $167.3MM

3 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Opinion: Patriots Would Be Fit For Peterson

By Zachary Links | at March 1, 2017 11:28 am

In addition to the Giants, the best team fits for Adrian Peterson would be the Seahawks, Patriots, Broncos, and Cowboys, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) opines.

3 comments Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos New England Patriots New York Giants Newsstand Seattle Seahawks Adrian Peterson Zak DeOssie

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