Details On Victor Cruz's Contract Restructure
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com has a breakdown of Victor Cruz‘s new deal with the Giants, which reduces his 2016 cap hit from $9.9MM to $4.4MM. Cruz also had $1MM of his base salary in 2017 and 2018 converted into a roster bonus to be paid out early in the offseason, which should force the Giants to make an early decision on whether or not to keep him around.
Jason Fitzgerald Examines Giants' FA Spending
- The Giants were the biggest spenders of this year’s free agent period, signing Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, and Damon Harrison to mega-deals early in the new league year. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com examines New York’s free agent decisions and wonders whether the club will come to regret its big moves.
Giants Spent More Than John Mara Expected; Team Won't Be As Active In 2017
- John Mara and his top front office assistants thought the Giants had a realistic shot of signing two of the three high-priced players on Big Blue’s list of durable, in-their-prime free agents, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports. The cap-rich Giants instead landed their preferred defensive trio of Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Janoris Jenkins in hopes of fixing their last-ranked defense. Mara did concede that troika proved to be pricier than anticipated. “The three guys were a little more expensive than I thought they were going to be, but they are all young, they are all healthy and they fulfill needs,” Mara told media, including Raanan. Jenkins has missed four games in four seasons, while Vernon suited up for every Dolphins contest since 2012. Harrison played and started in each Jets contest since 2013. The Giants were the most injured team in the NFL in each of the past three seasons, per Raanan.
- John Mara and his top front office assistants thought the Giants had a realistic shot of signing two of the three high-priced players on Big Blue’s list of durable, in-their-prime free agents, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports. The cap-rich Giants instead landed their preferred defensive trio of Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Janoris Jenkins in hopes of fixing their last-ranked defense. Mara did concede that troika proved to be pricier than anticipated. “The three guys were a little more expensive than I thought they were going to be, but they are all young, they are all healthy and they fulfill needs,” Mara told media, including Raanan. Jenkins has missed four games in four seasons, while Vernon suited up for every Dolphins contest since 2012. Harrison played and started in each Jets contest since 2013. The Giants were the most injured team in the NFL in each of the past three seasons, per Raanan.
- After allocating more money to this year’s class of free agents than they did in the previous four seasons combined, the Giants expect to dial it back significantly next spring, Mara told media, including Raanan (Twitter link). “I certainly don’t see us being this aggressive next year,” Mara said.
Giants Had Interest In CB Antwon Blake
- Free agent cornerback Antwon Blake ultimately agreed to sign with the Titans, but he had no shortage of potential suitors when he was on the market. Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets that Blake garnered interest from the Steelers, Patriots, Jets, Lions, and Giants.
Raiders Re-Sign Donald Penn
THURSDAY, 2:08pm: The Raiders formally announced the signing.
WEDNESDAY, 10:40am: Penn gets a two-year, $14MM deal from the Raiders, according to Rapoport, who tweets that the first year – worth approximately $7MM – is guaranteed.
7:54am: The Raiders will re-sign left tackle Donald Penn to a new contract today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). As Rapoport explains, Penn had been scheduled to make a visit to the Giants this week, but he won’t end up getting on a plane to make that trip, having struck a deal with the Raiders instead.
Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported overnight (via Twitter) that Penn and the Raiders were finalizing a new contract, with Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com confirming (via Twitter) that the two sides had made “significant progress” toward a deal.
Penn has been one of the more reliable and consistent left tackles in the NFL over the past two seasons for the Raiders. In 2015, he ranked 11th at the position, according to Pro Football Focus — PFF assigned him an especially strong grade as a pass blocker. The Utah State product will turn 33 in April, so he’s unlikely to land a lucrative, long-term contract, but he should be in line for a raise on his last deal, which paid him a little more than $10MM in total over two years.
With Penn back in the fold, the Raiders will be able to play newly-signed Kelechi Osemele at guard, rather than asking him to replace Penn at left tackle. While that means that Osemele will be making left tackle money (nearly $12MM per year) to play an interior line spot, it should strengthen Oakland’s line as a whole, with the team taking advantage of its excess of cap room.
Penn’s agreement with the Raiders is the latest in a string of deals for offensive tackles. In the last 24 hours, we’ve seen Ryan Harris agree to sign with the Steelers, Kelvin Beachum strike a deal with the Jaguars, and Chris Hairston agree to re-sign with the Chargers. Russell Okung and Andre Smith are among the noteworthy free agent tackles still on the board. Now that they’re no longer getting a visit from Penn, it will be interesting to see if the Giants make a more aggressive push to land Okung.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Draft Rumors: Cowboys, Ramsey, Bosa
The Cowboys want Jalen Ramsey, but they fear that he’ll be gone by No. 4, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes (via PhiladelphiaEagles.com). With that in mind, Dallas is eyeing Ohio State standouts Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott. Bosa would help bolster the team at defensive end while DeMarcus Lawrence recovers from surgery and Randy Gregory serves his first month suspension. Elliott, meanwhile, would give the team help at running back.
Here are the latest rumors on the 2016 NFL Draft (all of which come from Pauline, unless otherwise indicated):
- Insiders believe that we could se three offensive tackles – Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, and Jack Conklin – go in the first top 12 picks of the draft. That could start a run and Pauline writes that we could see six tackles taken in the first round.
- The Cowboys would consider trading down, Pauline hears, but they want to stay ahead of the Giants at No. 10.
- Observers at the UCLA pro day described Myles Jack as a “remarkable athlete.” One source told Pauline (in his running log for Walter Football) that “he looked like a defensive back doing linebacker drills.”
- Aaron Wallace, the Bruins’ other notable linebacker, is gaining a lot of momentum in the scouting community, Pauline hears. Wallace currently has official visits set up with the Buccaneers, Browns, and Raiders with more likely on the way.
- UCLA offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch has been graded as a top-75 selection, according to Pauline. Many believe that Benenoch can play tackle and guard in addition to center.
- Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins says that he’ll have private workouts with the Raiders, Patriots, and Saints, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter) reports that Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook has private workouts scheduled with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
- All 32 NFL teams were in attendance at MSU’s pro day, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. At the event, Cook met with the 49ers and Rams before the workout and met with the Browns‘ staff after.
- Michigan State defensive tackle Joel Heath says that he will have a private workout with the Patriots this week, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. In addition to that, he’ll meet with the Titans later this month. Heath previously met with the Colts and Buccaneers.
- Pittsburgh wide receiver Tyler Boyd looked great at his Pro Day and the slowest unofficial 40-year-dash time that has been reported was in the low 4.5s.
- Pittsburgh corner Lafayette Pitts recorded 40-yard-dash times under 4.4 seconds, with some watches marking him at 4.35.
- There’s no definitive word on whether Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller will work out before the draft.
- Youngstown State linebacker Terrell Williams is drawing interest from clubs. The Jets and Eagles, in particular, see him as a quality backup linebacker/core special teams guy.
- The Lions have a private workouts set up with Michigan State offensive linemen Jack Conklin, Jack Allen, and Donavon Clark later this month, Birkett tweets.
Broncos To Host Russell Okung For Visit
A new team has entered the Russell Okung sweepstakes, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who tweets that the free agent left tackle is traveling today to visit the Broncos. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports first reported (via Twitter) that Okung was expected to head to Denver to meet with the Super Bowl champs.
Okung, the highest-ranked player still available from our list of this year’s top free agents, has also received interest from the Giants and Lions, and is still mulling a return to the Seahawks. The former first-round pick had drawn interest from the Steelers as well, but Pittsburgh removed itself from the running for Okung by agreeing to sign free agent tackle Ryan Harris.
Of course, Harris was Denver’s left tackle a year ago, which is one reason the Broncos are potentially in the market for help at the position. The team has been attempting to negotiate a pay cut with veteran tackle Ryan Clady, who missed the entire 2015 campaign due to injury. Okung’s visit could provide the Broncos with additional leverage in talks with Clady, and may give the club a Plan B if a deal can’t be reached with Clady.
Okung has two interesting wrinkles to his free agency situation. The 28-year-old underwent surgery on his injured shoulder in January, and is also representing himself, which is rather rare in the NFL. Okung’s decision to act as his own agent meant that he was barred from talking to every team except for the Seahawks during the legal tampering period, which is likely one reason why he has been on the market longer than anticipated.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Donald Penn Visiting Giants
3:04pm: Penn’s visit with the Giants is expected to happen later in the week, rather than today, tweets Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Meanwhile, Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link) hears that Penn has been “very open” to re-signing with the Raiders, but there’s still “meaningful distance” between the player and the team regarding his value.
11:06am: The game of musical chairs continues for the offensive tackle free agent market, as Donald Penn is scheduled to pay a visit to the Giants today, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport adds that Penn and the Raiders have been “locked in a contract stalemate.”
Penn, who will turn 33 in April, has been one of the more reliable and consistent left tackles in the NFL over the past two seasons for the Raiders. In 2015, he ranked 11th at the position, according to Pro Football Focus, with an especially strong grade as a pass blocker.
However, the Raiders signed Kelechi Osemele to a five-year mega-deal, giving the team an alternative at left tackle, which could allow GM Reggie McKenzie to play hardball to a certain extent with Penn. Given the veteran’s age, he certainly won’t be in line for an Osemele-esque contract of his own.
With a handful of notable free agent left tackles on the market, including Penn, Russell Okung, and Kelvin Beachum, there’s a sense that things may fall into place for multiple players once one of them agrees to a deal. The Seahawks, Okung’s old team, have also been cited as a potential suitor for Penn, while the Steelers – Beachum’s old team – and the Giants are said to be in the mix for Okung.
The Giants have options at left tackle, including Ereck Flowers and possibly Justin Pugh, but landing a solid veteran like Penn or Okung could allow the team to move Flowers to the right side and play Pugh at guard, strengthening the line as a whole.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Sign Keenan Robinson
MONDAY, 5:53pm: The Giants announced that the deal is official, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets. Click here for financial details on Robinson’s deal.
THURSDAY, 5:34pm: Robinson’s agreement with the Giants is on a one-year, $3.5MM contract, Master Tefatsion of the Washington Post (via Twitter) reports.
5:12pm: The Giants will sign linebacker Keenan Robinson, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
On Wednesday, it was reported that the two sides were talking and numbers were exchanged. After Robinson posted a farewell message to Washington’s fans on Instagram, it was clear that he would not be returning in 2016. Instead, he’s headed to a divisional rival. Robinson now becomes the latest addition to a revamped Giants defense, though he’s certainly not the biggest name in the bunch. Other new faces for Big Blue in 2016 include cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive end Olivier Vernon, and former Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison.
In 2015, Robinson appeared in 12 games (8 starts) and racked up 62 tackles and 3 pass deflections. In 2014, he enjoyed his best season to date when he appeared in 13 games (all starts) with 104 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agent Rumors: Raji, Packers, Pats
The latest free agent rumors:
- Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter) heard that Packers lineman B.J. Raji had “five legit offers,” though as Silverstein notes, “legit” is in the eye of the beholder. Raji, he hears, had to weigh those offers versus wanting to spend time with his family plus his own health concerns.
- Free agent receiver Nate Washington met with the Patriots on Monday, according to FOX 26’s Mark Berman (via Twitter). Washington was ranked as Pro Football Rumors’ No. 13 free agent wide receiver in early March.
- Browns free agent linebacker Craig Robertson is on his way to visit the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Robertson just got done visiting with Seattle. As Schefter notes, the Browns have already lost five unrestricted free agents this month and they could be on their way to losing free agent No. 6 if Robertson signs elsewhere.
- Cornerback Antwon Blake will visit the Patriots on Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. Blake visited the Titans today and also has a visit scheduled with the Lions on Wednesday.
- The Giants are looking for cornerbacks, particularly corners that can play in the slot, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets. He adds that Patrick Robinson and Jerraud Powers are two players to keep an eye on. The Eagles, Dolphins, and Bears have also been connected to Robinson.
- Free agent defensive end Chris Clemons completed his visit with the Dolphins, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.