2018 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.908MM in 2018. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2018 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Trent Brown, T; Eli Harold, LB
Bears: Adrian Amos, S
Bengals: Tyler Kroft, TE; Josh Shaw, DB
Bills: John Miller, G
Broncos: Max Garcia, G; Trevor Siemian, QB
Browns: Duke Johnson, RB
Buccaneers: Kwon Alexander, LB
Cardinals: David Johnson, RB; J.J. Nelson, WR
Chargers: Kyle Emanuel, LB
Chiefs: Chris Conley, WR; Steven Nelson, CB
Colts: Henry Anderson, DE; Mark Glowinski, G; Denzelle Good, OL
Dolphins: Bobby McCain, CB
Eagles: Jay Ajayi, RB; Jordan Hicks, LB
Falcons: Grady Jarrett, DT
Jaguars: A.J. Cann, OL
Lions: Quandre Diggs, CB
Packers: Jake Ryan, LB
Panthers: Daryl Williams, T
Patriots: Trey Flowers, DE; Shaq Mason, G
Raiders: Clive Walford, TE
Rams: Jamon Brown, G
Ravens: Za’Darius Smith, LB
Redskins: T.J. Clemmings, OL; Jamison Crowder, WR
Saints: Tyeler Davison, DT
Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR
Steelers: Jesse James, TE
Vikings: Stefon Diggs, WR; Danielle Hunter, DE
OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
League Disapproves Saints’ Deals With WR Josh Huff, LB Jayrone Elliott
The Saints’ contracts for linebacker Jayrone Elliott and wide receiver Josh Huff were disapproved by the league, according to the league’s transactions wire. It’s not immediately clear why the deals were voided, but Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayne (Twitter link) notes that the Saints were at the 90-man roster maximum before agreeing to deals with both players. It’s possible that the Saints just have to make a pair of roster moves before bringing both players back. 
The Saints plan on bringing Huff back, Teope hears (on Twitter), but we have no word on Elliott one way or another just yet. The pair signed futures deals with New Orleans last week but are now considered free agents.
The Saints now must address their roster issue and refile with the league if it intends to bring one or both players back.
Huff entered the league in 2014 as a third-round pick with the Eagles. He has tallied 51 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Signed by the Buccaneers down the stretch in 2016, Huff was cut heading into 2017. He worked out for the Saints on two occasions during the season.
Undrafted in 2014, Elliott spent three seasons with the Packers before joining the Cowboys in 2017. He has posted four sacks and an interception in 39 career games.
Saints Notes: Brees, Mayfield, Fairley
Drew Brees has already claimed that he has no intention of testing the free agent market, and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said today that doesn’t anticipate any “big issues” in negotiating a new deal for the the veteran quarterback, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. However, Loomis did admit the Saints and Brees have not yet entered into talks regarding a fresh contract. New Orleans used a void provision when it re-signed Brees prior to the 2016 campaign, so if the club fails to ink another deal with its 39-year-old signal-caller this offseason, it will absorb an $18MM dead money charge in 2018.
Here’s more from New Orelans:
- Speaking of quarterbacks, Saints head coach Sean Payton is “squarely in the camp” of Oklahoma passer Baker Mayfield defenders, reports Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). Aside from boasting a similar stature to Brees, Mayfield reportedly has a “wicked competitive streak” that will fit in with the Saints’ culture. Per Robinson, former New Orleans quarterback Garrett Grayson “got steamrolled mentally” while trying to keep up with Brees’ competitiveness, but Mayfield may not have that issue. Given Brees’ age, the Saints shouldn’t be ruled out as a potential contender for a first-round quarterback in the 2018 draft.
- The Saints have filed a grievance in an attempt to recoup some of the money paid to defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who was forced to sit out the 2017 season due to a heart condition, as Joel Erickson of the Advocate writes. This was the expected outcome, as New Orleans began exploring ways to recover portions of Fairley’s salary last summer. Coming off a career year in 2016, Fairley signed a four-year, $28MM contract with the Saints that contained $9MM in full guarantees. He’s already been paid a $8MM signing bonus and a $1MM base salary for 2017, and he’s due a $4.25MM base salary in 2018 that is guaranteed for injury only.
- Loomis & Co. have been busy with offseason work since the Saints’ postseason run ended, and the club made two notable futures signings over the past week, agreeing to terms with wide receiver Josh Huff and linebacker Jayrone Elliott.
Saints Get Pick From Adrian Peterson Trade
When the Saints shipped Adrian Peterson to the Cardinals in March, they received a conditional sixth-round draft pick in return for the future Hall of Fame running back. On Wednesday, Saints GM Mickey Loomis confirmed that those conditions have been met and the pick will in fact be conveyed to New Orleans (Twitter link via Joel Erickson of The Advocate).
[RELATED: Peterson Plans To Play In 2018]
Peterson averaged just 3.5 yards per carry for the Cardinals as he filled in for David Johnson, but he did show flashes of his old self on a couple of occasions. In his first game with Arizona, Peterson ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns off of 26 attempts. A couple of weeks later, he racked up 159 rushing yards against the Niners. It’s not clear what the conditions of the trade were, but he did enough to satisfy them and give the Saints a return on the deal.
Meanwhile, Peterson’s future in Arizona is in flux. The veteran remains under contract for one more season, but the Cardinals could save $3.5MM against the cap by releasing him. With Johnson returning, the Cardinals could apply that money elsewhere and turn to a younger, cheaper back as insurance. For his part, Peterson says he intends to play in 2018.
Saints Sign LB Jayrone Elliott
The Saints signed linebacker Jayrone Elliott to a futures deal, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. The former Packer and Cowboy is now slated to be a part of the team’s 90-man roster and will push to make the final 53-man cut in September. 
Elliott joined the Packers as a UDFA in 2014 and appeared in 38 games for the team over the course of three years. Before the final cuts in 2017, Elliott was shipped to the Cowboys in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. The Packers never collected on that pick, however, as Elliott was cut after two games.
After getting dumped by Dallas, Elliott hit the workout circuit with auditions for the Seahawks, Colts, Jets, 49ers, Texans, Redskins, Patriots, Giants, Saints, Chiefs, Broncos, and Browns. Although more than 1/3 of the league kicked the tires on him, Elliott did not sign with any other club in 2017.
Elliott amassed four sacks and 47 tackles in his three years with Green Bay. He’s not a superstar, but the Saints know the value of having depth at the linebacker position after losing Hau’oli Kikaha, A.J. Klein, Nathan Stupar, and Alex Anzalone to IR at various points in 2017.
Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the conference championship games in the books, we now know the draft order for 30 of the first round’s 32 picks. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
32. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
Saints To Sign Josh Huff
Josh Huff went from being the primary Eagles kick returner for three seasons to spending the 2017 season out of the league, but the wide receiver looks to soon have another chance.
The Saints are planning to sign Huff on Friday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Wilson notes Huff has been training in Houston. He’s certainly traversed the NFL workout circuit over the past few months.
Huff twice worked out for the Saints this season, auditioning for New Orleans in September and December. In between, he received tryouts with the Jets, Texans and Redskins (twice) but remained a free agent. The Buccaneers sent Huff to free agency in September.
Arrested for unlawfully possessing a weapon in 2016, Huff did not see any jail time on that charge, instead receiving six months’ probation.
The 26-year-old wideout/return man played seven games with the Eagles and three with the Bucs in 2016 and has two kick-return touchdowns to his credit. Huff showed the Saints a glimpse of his receiving abilities in 2015, when he caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown against them that October.
NFL Workout Updates: 1/17/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Carolina Panthers
- Gs Isame Faciane, Josue Matias; S Ed Reynolds (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- WRs DeAndre Smelter, Nelson Spruce (Twitter links)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Ja’Juan Story (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Marcus Lucas (link)
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Chris Matthews (link)
Extra Points: Saints, Strief, Patriots, Flores
Saints right tackle Zach Strief is considering retirement, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate writes.
“The reality is that we all love some part of this game and there’s a part of that that’s just in us,” Strief said. “So it makes it very difficult always when that happens, when that time comes. And like I said, I think take some time, really make that decision away from football and make it with your family. When it is time, I will have no regrets. I know that when I decide that this has gone on so much longer and so much better than I ever could have imagined.”
Strief still feels like he can play at a high level and believes that his 2016 campaign was among his best. However, 2017 was a trying year for him after he suffered major knee injuries in the fall. If Strief walks away this offseason, the Saints will have to prioritize the RT position in the spring.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- If Arizona ultimately hires Patriots‘ linebackers coach Brian Flores head coach, New England would become the first NFL team to lose three assistant coaches to head coaching jobs in the same offseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes. It is expected that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will become the Colts’ next head coach while defensive coordinator Matt Patricia appears to be headed for the Lions. Flores’ odds of getting the Cardinals’ top job improved on Wednesday morning when Mike Munchak declined to return for a second interview.
- Former Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell could be a candidate for the Bears’ quarterbacks coach position, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Matt Nagy and Bevell have a common link in that they both have history with Brad Childress. Nagy is close with Childress and Bevell served as Childress’ offensive coordinator in Minnesota.
- The Texans have parted ways with Jason Lowrey as their director of football operations, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Lowrey was close with former GM Rick Smith and new GM Brian Gaine likely has someone else in mind for the position.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
- S Marcelis Branch
- CB Deante Burton
- OL Daniel Brunskill
- WR Reggie Davis
- TE Alex Gray
- QB Garrett Grayson
- DL Joey Ivie
- DL J’Terius Jones
- DL Taniela Tupou
New Orleans Saints
- LB Adam Bighill
- WR Travin Dural
- TE Alex Ellis
- CB De’Vante Harris
- DE Alex Jenkins
- OL Gabe Ikard
- LB Shayne Skov
- G Nate Theaker
- S Mykkele Thompson
- G Landon Turner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DE Lavon Hooks
- LB Keith Kelsey
- WR Justin Thomas
- WR Marcus Tucker