Browns Close To Re-Signing Travis Benjamin
The Browns are close to re-signing Travis Benjamin, per Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear exactly when he feels a deal will be reached, however. 
For months now, the Browns and Benjamin have been discussing a new pact. Recently, when about his pending free agency, Benjamin replied that “the ball is in my court,” suggesting that he hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll sign an extension with Cleveland or explore the open market. However, Benjamin has said multiple times that he’d like to return to the Browns. In December, Benjamin indicated that he was about 75% or 80% of the way to reaching a new deal with Cleveland. Now, it seems that number could be finally closing in on 100%.
In 2015, Benjamin hauled in a career-high 68 catches for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He also served as the team’s primary punt returner, taking 28 punts back for an average of 11.6 yards per attempt. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (sub. req’d) placed Benjamin in a four-way tie for the 66th best receiver amongst all qualified players. To the naked eye, however, the 26-year-old looks the part of a strong No. 2 receiving option.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos To Sign Phil Taylor
The Broncos have signed defensive tackle Phil Taylor, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Taylor was cut by Cleveland in September of last year but never hooked on with another club in the 2015 season. Now, he could be a potential fill-in for Malik Jackson if the Broncos defensive lineman leaves the team in free agency.
A first-round pick in 2011, Taylor was cut by the Browns at his request before the 2015 season when it became clear that Danny Shelton would be the club’s starting nose tackle. Taylor did not find an NFL home after that, though he did get glances from the Steelers, Ravens, and Vikings. In December, he worked out for Denver and he apparently made a good impression on the team.
Had he stayed in Cleveland for the season, Taylor would have earned $5.477MM in salary. Instead, he accepted a three-week injury settlement, which works out to a $966,529 payment. Fiscally, Taylor’s decision did not work out to his benefit.
Taylor, 28, was a starter on defense for Cleveland in 2013, but only played 555 defensive snaps, serving primarily as a run stopper. While he wasn’t a full-time player, Taylor’s performance against the run still placed him a solid 26th among 69 qualified defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He then played just 133 snaps in 2014 before being sidelined with a knee injury.
Taylor was the Browns’ last remaining player from the Julio Jones trade with the Falcons several years ago. After his release, the Browns had nothing to show for that deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Community Tailgate: Titans’ No. 1 Draft Pick
With the NFL offseason underway, there are plenty of topics and storylines to discuss, and PFR’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those stories. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. We’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
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With the NFL’s 2016 free agent period right around the corner, names like Von Miller, Kirk Cousins, and Alshon Jeffery figure to dominate headlines for the next couple weeks, but there’s already plenty of speculation mounting about what the Titans will do with the first overall pick in the draft a couple months from now.
Unlike in 2015, when the Buccaneers were viewed throughout the process as likely to select Jameis Winston first overall, there’s no clear consensus on what the Titans will do, though one may be forming. As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk outlines, most experts’ recent mock drafts have Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil heading to Tennessee with that No. 1 pick.
“[Tunsil] is certainly viable as the No. 1 player on the board,” Kiper said today on a conference call, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. “He is right in that discussion to be the No. 1 player in the draft, just by ratings. By need, it is definitely a need, because you have to protect Marcus Mariota. You have [Taylor] Lewan who could move to right tackle, and now you would bring in Tunsil (at left tackle) and you would have tremendous young bookends.”
While Tunsil is a popular choice, he’s not the only option for the Titans at No. 1. Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa and Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey are among the other candidates who have been mentioned as possibilities to come off the board first.
There’s also a chance the Titans won’t even be the team picking first overall — GM Jon Robinson admitted last week that he has already spoken to teams about the No. 1 selection, and if Tennessee can land a nice haul of picks, I think Robinson would be willing to move down a few spots. In that event, it’s possible that a quarterback like Carson Wentz or Jared Goff could be drafted first overall.
What do you think? Will the Titans keep the No. 1 pick, or will they trade down? If they stay atop the draft, will they select Tunsil or someone else? How do you expect the start of the 2016 draft to play out? Weigh in below in our comments section with your thoughts!
Eagles Sign Malcolm Jenkins To Extension
2:06pm: According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the value of the four new years on Jenkins’ extension is $35MM. If the safety earns Pro Bowl salary escalators, the total value can increase to $36MM, which would be an average of $9MM annually, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com.
Rapoport says the deal features $21MM in guaranteed money, though only $16MM is fully guaranteed, per Corry (Twitter link). One portion of that fully guaranteed money is the signing bonus, which Jason Cole of Bleacher Report says is worth $7.5MM (Twitter link).
12:22pm: The Eagles and safety Malcolm Jenkins have agreed to terms on a new five-year contract, the team announced today in a press release. Jenkins had been set to enter the final year of his current deal, but the new extension will keep him under team control through the 2020 season, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
[RELATED: PFR previews the Eagles’ offseason]
Jenkins, who signed a three-year, $15.5MM contract with the Eagles in 2014, quickly turned into one of the best bargains on the roster. In his two seasons with Philadelphia, the ex-Saint has only missed a total of seven defensive snaps, appearing in more total plays than any other player during that time. That huge snap count can be attributed both to Jenkins’ durability and to former head coach Chip Kelly, whose offensive style resulted in the Eagles’ defense seeing the field more than any other team’s D.
In his two seasons with the Eagles, Jenkins has averaged 92 tackles per season, grabbed five total interceptions – including two for touchdowns – and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s second-best safety in ’15, behind only Harrison Smith of the Vikings.
Based on his performance in Philadelphia so far, Jenkins figures to be in line for a nice raise on his new deal. He had been set to earn a base salary of $5MM and a roster bonus of $500K in 2016, with a total cap hit exceeding $7MM. The extension may slightly reduce that cap figure, depending on its structure, but a bump to an average annual salary of at least $8-9MM seems probable. PFR’s Connor Byrne recently pointed to Devin McCourty‘s five-year, $47.5MM contract as a potential comparable for Jenkins’ next deal.
Jenkins’ contract is the latest extension in what has been an offseason full of them for the Eagles. The team has already locked up Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Vinny Curry, and Lane Johnson to new deals, and is said to be working on an extension for Fletcher Cox as well.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Joe Flacco’s Agent To Meet With Ravens
Joe Linta, the agent for quarterback Joe Flacco, tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he expects to meet with the Ravens this weekend at the draft combine in Indianapolis. While that doesn’t mean any sort of restructuring or extension for Flacco is imminent, those topics will certainly be on the agenda if and when the Ravens meet with Linta.
Flacco, who signed a six-year deal with the Ravens three years ago, is currently projected for a cap hit of $28.55MM in 2016, and that number will increase to $31MM+ in 2017. General manager Ozzie Newsome indicated at the start of the Ravens’ offseason that the team has a plan to work around Flacco’s massive cap hit, but it would obviously make things easier in Baltimore if the club can reduce that figure by $10MM or so.
Of course, as Florio observes, a simple restructure of Flacco’s contract would only be a band-aid solution for the Ravens. Converting a portion of his base salary to a signing bonus could create more than $11MM in cap savings for 2016, but it would bump up his 2017 hit to more than $36MM. So, in all likelihood, if the two sides get something done this offseason, it will involve tacking at least a couple more years onto the contract to spread out a signing bonus.
As of last week, the Ravens and Flacco reportedly hadn’t discussed reworking his deal, so if the two sides do meet this weekend at the combine, it figures to be the first time they engage in any real negotiations. For his part, Flacco has said he would be interested in working something out with the club.
“I know it’s a huge number,” Flacco said last month, referring to his cap hit. “I’m open to doing something. I want to be here for a while.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jets Release Antonio Cromartie
A year after bringing him back on a four-year contract, the Jets have released cornerback Antonio Cromartie, the team announced today in a press release. As a vested veteran, Cromartie will become an unrestricted free agent without having to pass through waivers, giving him a head start on this year’s free agent period.
Cromartie, who turns 32 in April, had earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2012 to 2014, earning him a four-year, $32MM deal with the Jets last March. However, he wasn’t as effective as usual during his first season back in New York — Pro Football Focus ranked him 86th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks.
Because Cromartie’s pact was essentially a pay-as-you-go deal, it allowed the Jets to get out of it this year without taking on any dead money for the veteran corner. In his first year, Cromartie earned a $5MM base salary and a $2MM roster bonus. For 2016, his $8MM base salary was fully non-guaranteed, so New York creates $8MM in cap savings by releasing him.
While Cromartie will hit free agency, it doesn’t appear likely that the Jets’ other big cornerback signings from 2015 are going anywhere this offseason. With Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, and former first-rounder Dee Milliner among the cornerbacks in the mix for New York heading into 2016, the team may look to fortify the position with an addition or two in free agency and/or the draft.
As for Cromartie, he figures to draw interest on the open market, despite coming off a down year. A reunion with the Cardinals, his 2014 team, is one possibility, though he’ll likely have other suitors.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agent Rumors: Berry, Laurinaitis, Jackson
There have been multiple reports this month suggesting that the Chiefs are working on a contract extension for safety Eric Berry, making it one of their top priorities this offseason. Despite Kansas City’s obvious interest in getting something done with the All-Pro defender, no significant progress has been made at this point between the two sides, tweets Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.
I identified Berry as a strong candidate to receive the franchise tag when I examined potential recipients last week, noting that the price for safeties is reasonable compared to some other positions. While that may be where this is heading, the Chiefs still have another week to try to work out something longer-term with the 27-year-old.
Let’s check in on a few other free agents, or free-agents-to-be….
- Appearing today on SiriusXM NFL Radio, linebacker James Laurinaitis, who was cut by the Rams on Friday, said that he’d like to join a team with a shot to win the Super Bowl. According to Laurinaitis, agent Tom Condon told him that teams have already reached out, and he should have a better idea of his options after the combine. While he admitted that he grew up as a Vikings fan, Laurinaitis maintained that he’s open to any potential suitor (all Twitter links).
- While one veteran Seahawks running back – Marshawn Lynch – has announced his retirement, Fred Jackson doesn’t appear ready to call it a career. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Jackson want to play in 2016. It’s not clear yet if Seattle will be interested in bringing back the veteran, who doesn’t have a contract for next season.
- A year after being traded to Detroit by the Ravens, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is unlikely to reunite with his old team in free agency, says Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. As Hensley writes, the Ravens simply don’t have a real need for a player like Ngata, and will likely focus on edge defenders instead.
- Quarterback Kirk Cousins holds all the cards in contract discussions with Washington, and the team knows it, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
- The Jets would like to re-sign running back Bilal Powell, but there were other suitors – including division rivals – lurking if New York can’t lock him up by March 9th, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com outlines.
Colts Cut Jonathan Newsome, Andy Studebaker
10:55am: The Colts have confirmed they’ve waived Newsome, and have also cut veteran linebacker Andy Studebaker, per a team release. Studebaker played primarily on special teams during his time in Indianapolis.
10:35am: Following his arrest last week, linebacker Jonathan Newsome has been cut from the Colts’ roster, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Newsome himself suggested in a tweet this morning that his time in Indianapolis had come to an end.
“I would like to thank Coach [Chuck] Pagano, Ryan Grigson, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts organization for the opportunity of a life time,” Newsome wrote.
A fifth-round pick in 2015, Newsome had an impressive rookie season with the Colts, recording 33 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. However, the 25-year-old failed to make the same sort of impact in 2015, with his season totals slipping to 18 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Of course, Newsome’s decrease in production during the 2015 season isn’t what cost him his roster spot. The Ball State alum was arrested early last Wednesday morning on possession of marijuana charges, as Matt Adams of FOX59 detailed at the time. Authorities first came to his home to follow up on a noise complaint and during the investigation, officers found marijuana. Police said Newsome cooperated with authorities as he was taken into custody.
Because he has just two years of NFL experience, Newsome will be subject to waivers, meaning another team could claim him tomorrow, assuming the Colts make his release official today. If Newsome clears waivers, Indianapolis will be on the hook for about $89K in dead money on the 2016 cap.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR Social Media Feeds By Team
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AFC South
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AFC West
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NFC East
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NFC West
NFC Notes: C. Long, Randle, Lions, 49ers
Of the three veteran players the Rams parted ways with last week, Peter King of TheMMQB.com thinks defensive end Chris Long could be the one the team regrets releasing. According to King, Long – who turns 31 next month – is already being pursued by contending teams. However, it’s not clear yet whether the veteran pass rusher will sign quickly, since he and his wife are expecting their first child in the near future, says King.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- According to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, two Giants sources recently questioned wide receiver Rueben Randle‘s “work ethic and desire to be great.” Raanan estimates there’s only about a 15% chance of Randle re-signing with New York this winter.
- “The salary cap is not our enemy. It can be our friend,” Lions president Rod Wood said last week in an appearance on WMGC-FM in Detroit. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press passes along some other Wood quotes from that interview, and examines the state of the Lions’ salary cap as the new league year approaches.
- Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones expressed disappointment in defensive end Randy Gregory over his four-game suspension for a substance-abuse violation, as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram details. However, the Cowboys should also shoulder some of the blame, since they knew what they were getting into when they drafted him and were responsible for helping to avoid repeating his failed combine drug test, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
- Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at three key positions of need for the 49ers heading into this week’s draft combine, and considers potential targets for the club’s No. 7 overall pick.