Draft Rumors: Treadwell, Bengals, Lawson
Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell says the Bengals, Browns, Bears, and Cowboys have shown interest in him, Mike Florio of PFT writes. The first-round prospect also identified “New York” as a team with interest, but it’s not clear if that’s in reference to the Jets or Giants. San Francisco, which owns the No. 7 pick in the draft, has been said to have interest in Treadwell.
Here’s the latest news on the 2016 NFL Draft:
- Clemson DE Shaq Lawson has (or has had) visits/workouts with the Cowboys and 49ers, per Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter links). The Jets, Titans, Saints, Panthers, and Browns have also linked up with Lawson, per previous reports. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) opines that Lawson is a top 10 talent.
- Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com was on hand for Carson Wentz‘s pro day and he felt that it was “a very good workout, but not a great workout.” Pauline feels that Wentz is usually high off the mark when he misses, forcing receivers to get airborne in order to make a reception. However, Wentz is getting “sensational” marks when it comes to his personal character.
- Wentz’s teammate at North Dakota State, offensive lineman Joseph Haeg, is being viewed as a top 100 pick, per Pauline. Haeg is seen mostly as a right tackle or guard, but some feel that he can play any offensive line position that isn’t center.
- Georgia outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins has (or has had) workouts and/or visits with the Vikings and Colts, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). It was previously reported that Oakland, New England, and New Orleans have all checked out Jenkins.
- Florida safety Keanu Neal has been invited to Chicago for the NFL Draft, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Neal had a 38-inch vertical leap and an 11-foot broad jump at the NFL Draft Combine and has intrigued teams with his athleticism. Some evaluators see Neal sneaking into the first round. Atlanta has interest in Neal, who was recruited to Florida by coach Dan Quinn when he was the Gators’ defensive coordinator.
- Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman has workouts and/or visits set with the 49ers, Bengals, Lions, Bears, Panthers, and Browns, Getlin tweets.
- USC linebacker/safety Su’a Cravens will visit/work out for the Falcons, Panthers, Colts, Bills, Patriots, Saints, and Chargers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
- UMass QB Blake Frohnapfel spent time with the Lions and Chargers on Thursday, according to Pauline.
- Alabama offensive lineman Dominick Jackson, who Pauline opines is one of the more versatile and underrated guard/tackle prospects in the draft, worked out for the Buccaneers this week.
- Campbell defensive tackle Greg Milhouse has official visits set up with the Giants and Lions, per Pauline.
- Nebraska offensive lineman Zach Sterup has an official visit set up with the Giants, Pauline writes.
Chargers’ Jahleel Addae Signs Tender
MARCH 24: Addae has officially signed his tender, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Addae is slated to start at safety opposite of Dwight Lowery in 2016.
MARCH 9: The Chargers have applied the second-round tender to safety Jahleel Addae, Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports tweets. The tender would pay Addae $2.553MM in 2016.
Addae went from an undrafted free agent to a starter with the Chargers. Safeties are always in high demand, so the Bolts took an extra step to insure that they would not lose the 26-year-old. In 13 games last season (12 starts), Addae totaled 64 tackles, 1 sack, 4 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery.
Falcons Re-Sign Philip Wheeler
4:40pm: The Falcons formally announced the deal, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
3:15pm: The Falcons have re-signed veteran linebacker Philip Wheeler, the team formally announced today in a press release. The news comes on the heels of head coach Dan Quinn confirming at the owners’ meetings this week that the two sides remained engaged in talks.
[RELATED: Courtney Upshaw visiting Falcons]
Wheeler, 31, began his career with the Colts after being selected in the third round of the 2008 draft. He spent four years in Indianapolis, one in Oakland, and two in Miami before joining the Falcons for the 2015 campaign. Appearing in nine game for Atlanta (two starts), Wheeler recorded 29 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Wheeler saw most of his 2015 playing time in the second half of the season, and may earn an increased role in 2016, but the Falcons have already ensured that linebacker Paul Worrilow received an RFA tender, and brought back Sean Weatherspoon in free agency, so we’ll have to wait and see how the defensive snaps shake out on Atlanta’s linebacking corps.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Contract Details: RGIII, McLendon, Morris
Here are some specific details on contracts that have been agreed upon or signed within the last several days:
- Robert Griffin III, QB (Browns): Two years, $15MM. $6.75MM guaranteed. $3.5MM signing bonus. $750K annually in per-game roster bonuses. Base salaries of $3.5MM (guaranteed) and $6MM. $750K roster bonus on third day of 2017 league year. Up to $3.5MM in annual incentives based on playing time, yards, and passer rating (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Steve McLendon, DT (Jets): Three years, $10.5MM. $4MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. $250K option bonus after 2017 season. $250K annually in per-game roster bonuses in 2017 and 2018. $750K escalator (Links via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com and Wilson).
- Alfred Morris, RB (Cowboys): Two years, $3.5MM. $1.8MM fully guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. Can be worth up to $5.5MM with incentives/escalator. $500K in per-game roster bonuses in 2017. $1MM rushing-yard escalator for 2017. Threshold for incentives begins at 1,000 yards (Twitter links via Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Pelissero, and Wilson).
- Daryl Smith, LB (Buccaneers): One year, $2.5MM. $2MM guaranteed. $650K signing bonus. $500K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times).
- Taylor Mays, S (Bengals): One year, $840K. $25K signing bonus. $35K October 10th 53-man roster bonus (following suspension). $40K playing-time incentive (Twitter link via Wilson).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/24/16
Here are today’s minor roster moves from around the NFL:
- Bills offensive lineman Jordan Mills has inked his low-round tender, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Mills will earn $1.671MM for 2016.
Earlier Updates:
- Defensive tackle Brandon Thompson has re-signed with the Bengals, according to his representatives at Element Sports Group (Twitter link). Thompson, who visited the Seahawks earlier in free agency, figures to join Pat Sims in a rotational role behind starting defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Domata Peko. Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that it’s a one-year deal, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that there will be playing-time bonuses or incentives for Thompson, who tore his ACL near the end of the 2015 season.
- The Bears have re-signed receiver and return man Deonte Thompson on a one-year contract, the club announced today (via Twitter). Thompson, who didn’t play much of a role on Chicago’s offense last season, did post an impressive 29.2 yard average on kickoff returns, though he got just 14 attempts.
- Ravens tight end Chase Ford has signed his restricted free agent tender, officially taking him off the market, the team announced today (via Twitter). Baltimore signed Ford off the Vikings’ practice squad last year, but placed him on IR with a season-ending shoulder injury shortly thereafter. He got the low-end RFA tender, worth $1.671MM.
- The Seahawks have released snapper Andrew East, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
Jets Re-Sign Erin Henderson
THURSDAY, 2:55pm: The Jets have officially re-signed Henderson, the team announced today on its website.
WEDNESDAY, 3:41pm: Free agent linebacker Erin Henderson is heading back to New York for 2016, having agreed to re-sign with the Jets, reports Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. According to Cosentino, the two sides have struck a two-year deal worth up to $5MM, including $750K in guaranteed money. Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), the base value of the pact is a modest $3.1MM, with the remaining $1.9MM made up of various incentives and escalators.
Henderson first joined the Jets last April after missing the entire 2014 season due to off-field issues. The 29-year-old has been arrested multiple times for DUI-related incidents, and has been suspended by the league for his off-field behavior, but made it through 2015 without making any negative headlines.
During his last season as a starter, Henderson racked up 112 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions for the Vikings in just 14 games in 2013. His numbers for the 2015 Jets were more modest, as he didn’t see much action in the first half of the season, but he was solid down the stretch.
In our preview of the Jets’ offseason, I suggested that the team would be wise to let Demario Davis walk and re-sign Henderson on an inexpensive, short-term deal as his replacement, which is what the club has done — Davis inked a two-year, $8MM contract with the Browns last week, so Henderson comes a little cheaper. He currently projects as a potential starter for the Jets, alongside David Harris.
The Jets only have about $2.5MM in cap room, so even though they may be able to squeeze Henderson’s deal under the cap, the team will soon have to restructure, trade, or terminate other contracts to create additional flexibility.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Courtney Upshaw Visiting Falcons
2:18pm: The Falcons have confirmed Upshaw’s visit and announced that free agent guard Ted Larsen is also in town to meet with the team today (Twitter link). Larsen has 57 career NFL starts for the Cardinals and Buccaneers.
11:29am: More than two weeks into free agency, free agent outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw remains unsigned, but it appears a new suitor has emerged. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Upshaw is set to pay a visit to the Falcons. ESPN’s Vaughn McClure confirms (via Twitter) that the visit is taking place today.
A second-round pick in 2012 out of Alabama, Upshaw didn’t miss a regular-season game for the Ravens in his four seasons with the team, making 51 starts, but he never really made the sort of impact the team may have expected. In his four NFL seasons, the 26-year-old has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks, totaling just five sacks. In 2015, Pro Football Focus ranked him 84th out of 110 edge defenders, assigning him a much higher grade against the run than as a pass rusher.
The Falcons may be in the market for a replacement for O’Brien Schofield at their outside linebacker spot — a reunion between the Falcons and Schofield hasn’t been ruled out, but the veteran free agent said last week that the two sides weren’t “seeing eye-to-eye” in contract talks, so it appears Atlanta is exploring other options.
So far in free agency, Upshaw has reportedly visited the Jets, with the Ravens, 49ers, and Patriots among the other teams cited as potential suitors.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC North Rumors: Schwartz, Browns, Steelers
It has already been an eventful day in the AFC North, where the Browns have officially signed Robert Griffin III to a two-year contract and ex-Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby is paying a visit to the division-rival Bengals. Those aren’t the only items of note worth passing along from out of the division today though, so let’s dive in and round up the latest…
- Veteran free agent guard Geoff Schwartz is visiting the Steelers today, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. Pittsburgh currently has a strong trio of Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, and David DeCastro penciled in for its three interior line spots, so it’s not clear what sort of role the Steelers would have in mind for Schwartz if he signs with them.
- Newly-signed Browns quarterback RGIII told reporters, including Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link), that it wouldn’t bother him “at all” if Cleveland drafts a QB early, adding that he’d “take the guy under my wing.” One potential target for the Browns is North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com notes (via Twitter) that Hue Jackson, Pep Hamilton, and Andrew Berry were all at Wentz’s pro day on Thursday.
- The Steelers had a noteworthy contingent at the University of Houston’s pro day, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (all Twitter links), who reports that GM Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin were in attendance. Pittsburgh is believed to be eyeing cornerback William Jackson III, who had a dinner meeting on Wednesday night with Colbert and Tomlin, according to Wilson.
- Asked about the possibility of extending head coach Marvin Lewis‘ contract beyond the 2016 season, Bengals owner Mike Brown was somewhat noncommittal. “He’s going to be our coach this year. That’s in the bank,” Brown said, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Where it goes, we’ll see how it plays out.” Of course, that doesn’t mean Lewis’ job is in jeopardy by any means, but if he doesn’t get a new deal in the coming months, it’s a situation worth watching.
Browns Sign Robert Griffin III
12:40pm: The Browns’ investment in RGIII is not insignificant. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that the two-year pact is worth $15MM, with a signing bonus of $3.5MM and $6.75MM in total guarantees.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links), Griffin can earn up to $750K in per-game active roster bonuses, and has a $750K roster bonus due on the third day of the 2017 league year. He can also make an extra $3.5MM in annual incentives based on playing time, yards, and passer rating, so the deal could max out at $22MM.
11:45am: The Browns have officially signed Griffin, the team confirmed in a press release. According to Schefter (Twitter link), it’s a two-year contract.
11:38am: Griffin and the Browns have agreed to a deal, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter).
11:31am: The Browns are expected to reach an agreement with free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). While nothing is official yet, Schefter reports that RGIII will become a Brown.
The move could have a domino effect on other quarterback situations around the NFL. Cleveland had been viewed as a potential landing spot for trade candidate Colin Kaepernick, but signing Griffin will take the Kaepernick option off the table for the Browns. As for RGIII, he had been viewed as a potential fallback plan for the Jets, so Ryan Fitzpatrick may get a little added leverage in his contract negotiations with New York now that the team’s alternatives have been reduced by one.
Still, as Schefter notes (via Twitter), the Browns’ deal with Griffin could result in another veteran signal-caller becoming available. With Cleveland still likely to select a quarterback in the draft, last year’s primary starter, Josh McCown, could land on the trade block.
Griffin, the 2012 offensive rookie of the year, hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in the playoffs that season. Although the former Pro Bowl quarterback completed a career-best 68.1% of his passes in 2014, he threw just four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions and fell out of favor with Jay Gruden. Subsequently, RGIII didn’t take a snap in 2015 as Kirk Cousins captured Washington’s starting job and ultimately received the franchise tag.
Griffin threw for 3,200 yards as a rookie, rushing for another 815, and totaled 27 touchdowns, including 20 through the air. In 2013, however, Griffin’s completion percentage dropped five points and Washington went 3-10 in games that the former Heisman Trophy winner started.
Injuries knocked Griffin out of the starting lineup in 2014 and ’15, the latter coming in the preseason, when Washington opted to shelve the former No. 2 overall pick and begin its exit strategy from its one-time franchise quarterback. The team released him earlier this month.
After Griffin reached free agency, he visited both the Jets and Browns, but the interest from Cleveland was always viewed as more serious — Jets GM Mike Maccagnan described RGIII’s visit to New York as a “meet-and-greet” situation.
With the Browns believed to be eyeing a quarterback like Carson Wentz or Jared Goff in the draft, the team could pair a first-round rookie with the 26-year-old Griffin this season, giving the franchise a pair of signal-callers with some youth and upside. Although Cleveland’s failure to develop quarterbacks in the past has been well-documented, there is perhaps some reason for optimism this time around, since new head coach Hue Jackson is widely considered to be a strong QBs coach.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Karlos Dansby Visiting Bengals
After being released by the Browns earlier this month, linebacker Karlos Dansby mentioned the Bengals as a team he wouldn’t mind joining. It appears that interest is mutual. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Dansby is visiting Cincinnati today to meet with the Bengals.
[RELATED: Bengals, Brandon LaFell close to deal]
Dansby, racked up 109 tackles, forced three fumbles, and intercepted three passes, including two for touchdowns, during the 2015 season. Pro Football Focus ranked him 25th out of 97 qualified non-rush linebackers. However, with the Browns going younger on defense, the team released the 34-year-old with two seasons left on his four-year contract.
At the time of his release, Dansby told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that he wouldn’t mind joining a Super Bowl contender like the Bengals, Packers, or Cardinals. “Yeah, I think the Bengals are licking their chops right now,” the linebacker said. “I hope they are. We’ll see what it is.”
The Bengals have some depth at linebacker, with Rey Maualuga, Vontaze Burfict, Vincent Rey, and A.J. Hawk among the available options for the three starting jobs. Still, the team did lose Emmanuel Lamur in free agency, and Burfict will serve a suspension to start the 2016 season, so adding a player like Dansby certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Dansby is also said to have received some interest from the Seahawks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.