Pre-Draft Visits: Garopollo, Cooks, Lee
The Browns brought Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in for a private visit earlier today, writes Jeff Schudel of the Morning Journal (he writes March 4, but he most likely means April 4). Schudel examines the idea of the Browns selecting a position other than quarterback at the top of the first round, and looking to grab the rookie signal caller with the 26th pick in the first round, or the third pick in round two.
Schudel writes that Browns star receiver Josh Gordon believes the team will take a quarterback with the fourth pick, and that Teddy Bridgewater would be his choice.
Here are some notes from some other pre-draft visits:
- Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks is visiting the Jets, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Cooks also has received interest from the Patriots and the Panthers.
- In addition to Cooks, the Patriots have expressed interest in receivers Marqise Lee of USC, Mike Evans of Texas A&M, Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU, and Kelvin Benjamin of Florida State, according to Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter).
- The Saints have scheduled a visit with Lee, but have not yet set a date to meet with Cooks, reports Larry Holder of NOLA.com (via Twitter).
- The Giants worked out quarterback Rusty Smith, reports Howard Balzer of LockerDome.com (via Twitter). Smith appeared in three games for the Titans between 2010 and 2012, throwing no touchdowns and four interceptions.
- Balzer also notes that Kurt Coleman visited the Colts, and while he is not an ideal candidate to replace the departed Antoine Bethea, he could add depth to the safety position
NFC Notes: Pre-Draft Visits, Contract Updates
The Rams are hosting Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy for a workout, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch (via Twitter). Because it is considered a local visit, Ealy will be allowed to work out with the team.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- The 49ers are bringing in wide receiver Albert Wilson out of Georgia State for an official visit, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The team has been open about the possibility of using a high draft pick at the position.
- The Seahawks have not begun talks of a contract extension with Earl Thomas yet, reports Todd Dybas of the Tacoma News Tribune (via Twitter).
- Colt McCoy‘s deal with the Redskins is a one-year agreement and carries a $730K base salary with a $65K signing bonus, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Packers re-signed John Kuhn to a one-year deal worth $1.03MM, according to Wilson (via Twitter). The contract includes $855K in base salary, and a $100K signing bonus. Additionally, Kuhn can earn a $25K workout bonus and $3,125 in per-game active roster bonuses.
- Details of former Toronto Argonauts safety Marcus Ball’s contract with the Saints have been reported by Wilson via Twitter. Ball’s three-year deal will be worth $1.536MM, with minimum salaries and a $6K signing bonus.
Saints, Champ Bailey Agree To Two-Year Deal
3:40pm: Bailey’s two-year contract will have a max value of $7MM, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
2:19pm: Several weeks after locking up the best free agent safety on the market, the Saints have agreed to sign arguably the most accomplished free agent cornerback available this offseason. New Orleans has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with free agent cornerback Champ Bailey, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com first reported (via Twitter) that Bailey was on the verge of deciding on a team.
Bailey, will turn 36 this summer, appeared in just five regular season games in 2013 due to a foot injury, and his exorbitant cap hit made him a cap casualty for the AFC champion Broncos. However, his all-time resumé, which includes 52 career interceptions and spots on 12 Pro Bowl teams, suggests it would be unwise to count him out as a key contributor in 2014.
In his last healthy season (2012), Bailey grabbed a pair of interceptions and racked up 66 tackles. His combination of positive grades against the run and in pass coverage resulted in a top-10 rank at cornerback in ’12, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
Given the Saints’ cap limitations, it’ll be interesting to see the terms on Bailey’s contract with the team, as well as whether or not any other players rework their own deals to help create flexibility. Signing Bailey seems to signal that the team may not be inclined to match the Falcons’ offer sheet for safety Rafael Bush. A decision on Bush is due by Tuesday.
Bailey will be joining a Saints secondary that includes aforementioned top safety Jairus Byrd, as well as returning players like Keenan Lewis, Corey White, and Kenny Vaccaro. With Byrd and Vaccaro penciled in as the starting safeties, Bailey likely won’t be asked to change positions, which he expressed an openness to consider following the Super Bowl. Instead, the veteran corner could step into Jabari Greer‘s old role — Greer is on the free agent market after being cut loose by the Saints in February.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC South Notes: Bucs, Godfrey, Draft Visits
The Buccaneers, who agreed today to send Mike Williams to the Bills, talked to all 31 teams about a trade, but only had two clubs interested in a deal, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. As was the case with DeSean Jackson, potential off-field issues likely dissuaded many teams from getting involved, but unlike Jackson, Williams’ 2014 cap hit was extremely affordable, allowing the Bucs to get something for their diminished asset.
Here’s more on the Bucs and their division rivals in the NFC South:
- The Buccaneers will be in the market for receiving help now that Williams is gone, and the club has already started considering options, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, who tweets that the team took a look at longtime Titans receiver Lavelle Hawkins. Hawkins, who last played for the Chargers, had 47 receptions for Tennessee in 2011.
- With Thomas DeCoud visiting the Panthers, there are question marks about Charles Godfrey’s future with the team, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer details. Godfrey’s cap number jumps to $7.1MM in 2014, and he’s returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
- The Panthers and Saints will be hosting USC wideout Marqise Lee for pre-draft visits, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter).
- Alabama-Birmingham offensive tackle Kaycee Ike will have a private workout with the Falcons on April 15, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
NFC Links: Saints, 49ers, Rams
Here are an assortment of NFC links to get you through this Thursday evening…
- With Darren Sproles and Lance Moore both departing this offseason, the Saints should be looking for a return man, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. While Travaris Cadet has shown some abilities to return kicks, Triplett thinks the team could find their answer in a trio of potential first-round receivers: Odell Beckham Jr., Marqise Lee and Brandin Cooks.
- When asked if LaMichael James could be traded to help the 49ers move up in the draft, ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson answered that the two-year veteran is more likely a “throw-in” than an actual trade chip.
- The Rams will be hosting two offensive prospects, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The first is potential first-round pick, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (via Twitter). The other is Missouri native Reggie Jordan, who is taking part in the team’s local visit day (via Twitter).
Draft Notes: 49ers, Patriots, Verrett
At the beginning of the offseason, it was thought the 49ers might target a receiver in the first round, but with the draft a month away, cornerback has become the team’s top draft need, writes Doug Williams of NBC Bay Area.
In other draft prospect news…
- TCU cornerback Jason Verrett has visits lined up with the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals, according to Fox’s Alex Marvez (via Twitter). All three teams value speed, athleticism and man-coverage skills. Verrett boasts sub-4.4 speed and outstanding leaping ability.
- Drafting Aaron Dobson in the second round last year won’t preclude the Patriots from taking a receiver in the first round this year, writes NESN’s Doug Kyed, who lists five prospects who would be good fits.
- When asked about the likelihood of a quarterback run in the draft’s top ten picks (consequently pushing down highly regarded prospects at positions of need), Lions GM Martin Mayhew acknowledged momentum might be slowing on that scenario. “I think (if) you said that a month ago, everybody would have signed off on that,” Mayhew told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But if you say that now, you don’t know how it’s going to go with the quarterbacks.”
- Middle Tennessee State guard Josh Walker worked out for the Ravens and will also work out for the Saints and Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. A potential late-round pick, Walker was not invited to the Combine.
Saints Agree To Sign Marcus Ball
The Saints have agreed to terms on a three-year contract for former Toronto Argonauts safety Marcus Ball, the team announced today in a press release.
Ball, a Georgia native, began his college career at Florida State, spent a year in junior college and finished with two seasons at Memphis. He went undrafted in 2011 before migrating to Canada, where the 26-year-old totaled 142 tackles, four interceptions (two touchdowns) and seven sacks over two seasons.
Draft Notes: Bridgewater, Amaro, Steelers
Word broke on Tuesday that Johnny Manziel would be visiting the Patriots today, a few days after the club met with Blake Bortles in Orlando. It shouldn’t be too surprising then that Teddy Bridgewater is also visiting the team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As we noted yesterday, the Pats are likely just doing due diligence on the top players in this year’s quarterback class, but those meetings are still worth keeping an eye on.
Here’s more on pre-draft visits, with May 8 just over five weeks away:
- Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, who is said to be drawing interest from the Jets, is working out for the Falcons today, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Steelers are hosting a pair of defenders today, in Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard and Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt, tweets Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- Washington State safety Deone Bucannon visited the Lions today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along word of a pair of visits, reporting that Sam Houston State running back Timothy Flanders will meet with the Saints, while Middle Tennessee State cornerback Sammy Seamster has a visit on tap with the Chiefs.
Saints Sign Parys Haralson
The Saints have re-signed free agent LB Parys Haralson to a one-year deal, the team announced (via Twitter).
New Orleans acquired Haralson last season in a trade with the 49ers, sending a 2014 seventh-round draft pick to San Francisco in exchange for the veteran linebacker. Haralson played in all 16 games for the Saints last season, starting eight of those games and finishing with 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Over the course of his eight-year career, the former Tennessee Volunteer and 2006 fifth-round draft pick has played in 102 games, including 76 starts, and has amassed 330 tackles, 25 sacks, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and 24 special teams stops. Haralson is capable of playing either on the weak-side or the strong-side, and is particularly particularly adept against the run; his presence would have been missed in New Orleans had he signed elsewhere.
Champ Bailey Visiting Saints
Free agent defensive back Champ Bailey is visiting New Orleans to meet with the Saints, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter and Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter), other teams have expressed interest in Bailey, so the veteran figures to take at least one more visit if he doesn’t ink a deal with the Saints right away.
Bailey, will turn 36 this summer, appeared in just five regular season games in 2013 due to a foot injury, and his exorbitant cap hit made him a cap casualty for the AFC champion Broncos. While he can walk away from the game as one of the top cornerbacks of his time and a likely ticket to Canton, Bailey indicated after the Super Bowl that he would like to continue playing. The longtime cornerback also previously expressed reluctance about moving from corner to safety, as many veterans do, but sounded at least open to the idea when asked again after the Super Bowl.