HEADLINES

Kearse, Lamur Receive RFA Tenders

March 6th, 2015 at 8:14am CST by Luke Adams

A pair of potential restricted free agents have received one-year contract tenders at the second-round level, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have tendered wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, while the Bengals have tendered linebacker Emmanuel Lamur.

When a player is eligible for free agency, his team can choose to submit one of three contract tenders to him — the higher the offer, the higher the compensation for his club if he ends up signings elsewhere. In the cases of Kearse and Lamur, their respective teams offered them one-year deals worth $2.356MM, ensuring that if either player signs an offer sheet with another team and that sheet goes unmatched, the Seahawks or Bengals would receive a second-round pick as compensation.

Neither Kearse nor Lamur has signed their one-year tender yet, and I’d imagine the agents for both players will at least poke around on the open market next week to see if a rival suitor is willing to make a long-term offer. It’s possible though that both players will simply end up signing the one-year offer from their current clubs — they’ll have until April 24 to find offer sheets elsewhere.

Kearse, 25, caught just 38 balls for 537 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks during the regular season last year, but hauled in a pair of TDs in the postseason. Most notably, after Russell Wilson‘s threw four interceptions trying to get him the ball in the NFC Championship game, Kearse hauled in his first reception of the day in overtime, in the end zone, to send Seattle to the Super Bowl.

As for Lamur, in over 900 defensive snaps for the Bengals, he graded as a below-average in pass coverage, run defense, and as a pass rusher, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked him 39th out of 40 qualified 4-3 outside linebackers. However, the team clearly viewed the 25-year-old’s performance more favorably, with his 97 tackles and two interceptions earning him a one-year offer that will almost certainly keep him in Cincinnati.

The Bengals may have been wary about assigning the low-end tender to Lamur after doing so with Andrew Hawkins a year ago and eventually losing him to the Bengals. That tender would only have been worth about $1.54MM, but it would have allowed other teams to sign Lamur to an offer sheet without risking any draft picks.

Minor Moves: Thursday

March 5th, 2015 at 11:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ve already covered today’s restricted free agency decisions, so let’s take a look at the other minor moves happening around the league…

  • Via an Instagram post, defensive lineman Greg Scruggs says he’s been re-signed by the Seahawks. Scruggs, 24, appeared in three games for Seattle last season.

Earlier updates:

  • The Broncos have agreed to a four-year, $4MM extension with long-snapper Aaron Brewer, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The 24-year-old Brewer was set to become an unrestricted free agent, where the lowest tender is $1.59MM; instead, he’ll earn a $1MM AAV.
  • The Dolphins have re-signed safety Jordan Kovacs, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Signed off the Eagles’ practice squad in November, Kovacs went on to appear in eight games for Miami.
  • CFL linebacker Josh Francis has agreed to a deal with the Packers, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Francis went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2012, and spent 2014 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Extra Points: Yates, Titans, NFLPA, Pats, Rams

March 5th, 2015 at 10:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Four teams are expressing interest in free agent quarterback T.J. Yates, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Yates did start five games during his rookie season in Houston, but none since, and he attempted just four passes for the Falcons last year. Even with a weak crop of free agent QBs, Yates is likely only receiving inquiries that involve backup jobs.

Let’s look at some more items from around the league…

  • Despite many denials on the part of the team, the Titans could still be for sale in 2015, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). La Canfora reported the same in December, but club CEO Tommy Smith has insisted the Titans are not for sale.
  • Another candidate has emerged in the race for NFLPA executive director, as senior director of the players’ union Jason Belser announced that he’ll be running against incumbent DeMaurice Smith, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
  • The Vikings are close to a new deal with long snapper Cullen Loeffler, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Another long snapper, Denver’s Aaron Brewer, received a new contract earlier today.
  • Appearing on CSN New England, NFL.com’s Albert Breer said he’d be surprised if the Patriots lose both Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty, adding that Revis is the favorite of the two to return to New England.
  • After acquiring a pack of picks for giving up the right to draft Robert Griffin III, the Rams should now reverse themselves and surrender whatever is needed to move up and select Marcus Mariota in next month’s draft, argues La Canfora in a separate piece.
  • Jets receiver Percy Harvin is due a $10.5MM salary next season, and if he’s still on the roster as of March 19, New York’s draft-pick compensation to Seattle increases from a sixth-rounder to a fourth-rounder. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com runs through Gang Green’s options with its mercurial pass-catcher.

North Notes: Suh, Hoyer, Cutler, Tulloch

March 5th, 2015 at 9:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

When he officially becomes a free agent next Tuesday, Ndamukong Suh is expected to garner a “massive” contract, in the words of Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who hears from insiders that the Lions defensive tackle could receive $17MM per year with as much as $60MM guaranteed.

That guaranteed figure in particular sounds high, as that total would be the highest in the NFL (Aaron Rodgers currently is No. 1 with $54MM in guarantees). However, with the league-wide salary cap continuing to rise, and a number of clubs enjoying ample amounts of cap space, nothing is out of the question. La Canfora adds that the Dolphins are hot on Suh’s trail, noting that if Miami doesn’t add the 28-year-old, it “won’t be for lack of effort.”

Here’s more from the North divisions…

  • After the Browns signed Josh McCown last month, fellow quarterback Brian Hoyer‘s tenure in Cleveland presumably came to an end. Hoyer confirmed as much to Jim Corbett of USA Today, saying that he’ll be looking to compete for a starting job elsewhere. “It’s good for both sides to get a fresh start and go our separate ways,” said Hoyer, who should sit near the top free agent QB market alongside Mark Sanchez.
  • Though not a free agent like Hoyer, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been the subject of just as many rumors during the offseason, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms what most already suspected: teams around the league know that Cutler is available via trade. I outlined why it could be difficult for Chicago to deal Cutler in our Bears’ Offseason Outlook.
  • Via an Instagram post, Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch indicates that he’ll return to Detroit next season. Tulloch isn’t a free agent, but his $5.8MM 2015 cap hit, combined with an ACL injury, lead to speculation that he’d be released. Tulloch is reportedly progressing well in his recovery, and while his post obviously doesn’t make his return official, one can assume that Lions management has told him he’ll be retained.

Eagles To Target Byron Maxwell, McCourty

March 5th, 2015 at 9:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

By making a series of moves in recent days, the Eagles have cleared quite a bit of cap room — with more than $40MM available (the seventh-highest figure in the NFL), Philadelphia is clearly set up to spend when free agency opens next week. The club’s secondary, in particular, could be in need of a talent infusion, and sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com that defensive backs Byron Maxwell and Devin McCourty will be the team’s “top targets” come free agency.

Philadelphia’s defensive backfield is an obvious area of concern, as the club ranked second-to-last in passing yards allowed in 2014, besting only the Falcons. Additionally, the club has already released cornerback Cary Williams — while not an outstanding player by any means, Williams was a steady presence on the Eagles’ defense, playing on 1,198 snaps, second-most among Philly defenders.

The 27-year-old Maxwell is considered the top corner available on the free agent market, and will be in line for contract that averages more than $10MM per year. A report last month indicated that Philadelphia would be the frontrunners to sign Maxwell, who has only been a full-time starter for one season with the Seahawks. However, the Jets are also expected to target Maxwell, and New York has more both more cap space and arguably a greater need at CB, meaning the Eagles could be forced to overpay.

Like Maxwell, McCourty is the premier player available at his position, and there’s perhaps even less free agent talent available at safety than at corner. Somewhat surprisingly, the Patriots opted to place the franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski instead of McCourty, so while it isn’t a fait accompli that McCourty won’t return to New England, the odds are certainly lower than they were just a week ago. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com wrote yesterday that the Giants will be interested in adding McCourty, and the 27-year-old should enjoy a robust market starting next week.

The Eagles have been perhaps the most active team in preparing for the opening of free agency, as they’ve traded LeSean McCoy, released Williams and Trent Cole, and signed linebacker Brad Jones. Additionally, Maxwell and McCourty aren’t expected to be their only targets among defenders, as they also reportedly have their eyes on free agent outside linebacker Jason Worilds.

West Rumors: Cole, S. Johnson, Myers, Dockett

March 5th, 2015 at 8:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Since being released by the Eagles yesterday, Trent Cole has garnered a decent amount of free agent interest, as he was scheduled to meet with the Buccaneers today. Two more NFC teams could be interested in signing the 32-year-old edge rusher, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that both the 49ers and the Seahawks have inquired about Cole. As PFR’s Luke Adams notes in the link above, Cole is viewed as a better fit for a 4-3 defense (which both Tampa Bay and Seattle utilize). San Francisco, though, fields a 3-4 look, so it presumably believes Cole is still an option at outside linebacker.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from San Francisco and the rest of the West divisions…

  • With Jerome Simpson now in the fold, the 49ers might not have a role for fellow receiver Stevie Johnson. Indeed, Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 tweets that the 28-year-old Johnson is expected to be released in the coming days. With no remaining guarantees on the books, Johnson would leave no dead money on San Francisco’s cap, and his release would save the club more than $6MM.
  • Whereas Johnson hasn’t yet been released, former Texans center Chris Myers has already been handed his walking papers, officially being cut by Houston yesterday. But Myers could stay in the AFC, where the Raiders are set to lose free agent Stefen Wisniewski, as Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports (Twitter link) that Oakland does have interest in bringing in the 33-year-old Myers. Bill Williamson of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that he senses the Raiders will target Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, with Myers serving as backup option.
  • After being released by Arizona, defensive lineman Darnell Dockett signed with the 49ers earlier today, but he insists that staying with the Cardinals was initially possible. “I was willing to restructure my contract,” Dockett said on FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). “I was willing to take less money than what SF was offering.” Dockett ultimately inked a two-year, $7.5MM deal with San Francisco.

Aldon Smith Restructures Contract

March 5th, 2015 at 7:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After making a move to strengthen their defense earlier in the day, the 49ers have made a second, more finance-based, transaction, as linebacker Aldon Smith has agreed to restructure his contract, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Smith was set to earn $9.754MM in 2015 after San Francisco exercised his fifth-year option — per Barrows, he’ll earn the same amount next season, but none of that money will be guaranteed.

Smith’s salary would have become fully guaranteed on Tuesday; because it was a result of a fifth-year option decision, his salary had been protected for injury only during the offseason. However, Smith’s new deal appears to be structured a bit differently, as it’s broken up into monthly bonuses beginning in April, and weekly bonuses during the season, adds Barrows.

The reported deal is interesting for several reasons, the first of which is that it allows the 49ers to release Smith with limited financial ramifications, which makes this restructure an appealing move given Smith’s history of off-the-field incidents. Second, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets, the transaction indicates that Smith himself is confident he’ll remain on the Niners roster for the entirety of the season, thus earning his full paycheck.

Third, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap notes (Twitter link), the restructure could create a bit of cap room for San Francisco, for the time being at least, if Smith’s bonuses are of the per-game variety as indicated. Per-game bonuses are considered likely-to-be-earned based on the percentage of games the player was active during the previous season — Smith was active for nine games, so the 49ers will only have to carry 9/16 of his bonus on their cap for now.

While the concerns with Smith are obvious, he is a dominant player when on the field, as evidenced by his 33.5 sacks during his first two years in the NFL. If he can remain clean off-the-field, I’d imagine the Niners would look into extending him during the season. Meanwhile, San Francisco is near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, with only about $6.5MM to work with, so this move should create a little more room.

Offseason Outlook: New England Patriots

March 5th, 2015 at 7:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Darrelle Revis, CB: $25,000,000 (option)
  2. Tom Brady, QB: $14,000,000
  3. Jerod Mayo, LB: $10,287,500
  4. Rob Gronkowski, TE: $8,650,000
  5. Nate Solder, T: $7,438,000
  6. Sebastian Vollmer, T: $7,020,833
  7. Danny Amendola, WR: $5,700,000
  8. Brandon Browner, CB: $5,500,000
  9. Julian Edelman, WR: $4,656,250
  10. Kyle Arrington, CB: $4,625,000

Notable coaching changes:

  • None

Draft:

  • No. 32 overall pick
  • Acquired fourth-round pick from Buccaneers in deal for Logan Mankins.
  • Acquired sixth-round pick from Buccaneers in deal for Jonathan Casillas.
  • Acquired seventh-round pick from Titans in deal for Akeem Ayers.
  • Owe fifth-round pick to Buccaneers in deal for Jonathan Casillas.
  • Owe sixth-round pick to Titans in deal for Akeem Ayers.
  • Owe seventh-round pick to Rams in deal for Greg Salas.

Other:

Overview:

The hype surrounding the Patriots last offseason was in regards to their additions, and the buildup proved to be warranted. Several pickups, including wideout Brandon LaFell and cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, helped put the team over the top as they won their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.

The story this offseason may be the complete opposite, as the team could potentially lose several key contributors, including safety Devin McCourty.

The team’s biggest decision surrounds a player the Patriots could realistically keep. The Patriots hold a pricey team option on Revis, but all signs are pointing to the team declining the one-year deal. That would mean the team would have to address two sizable holes in the secondary.

If New England hopes to retain its premier defensive backs, the team will have to do some finagling to make the necessary cap room. This will mean veterans will be asked to take a pay cut, and if they refuse, their tenure with the Patriots may be finished.

As always, it should be an exciting offseason in New England.

Key Free Agents:

McCourty has established himself as one of the top safeties in the league since switching to the position in 2012. The former first-rounder has consistently finished atop Pro Football Focus’ rankings, and the 27-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, as he’s missed only one game over the past three seasons.

Devin McCourtyThe Patriots surprised some earlier this week when they opted to not tag the All-Pro safety, instead opting for kicker Stephen Gostkowski. McCourty said it’s now “realistic” that he could be playing elsewhere in 2015, and that was the risk the Patriots were taking when the decided to not franchise the former first-rounder. As the bona fide top safety available this offseason, McCourty should have plenty of suitors to choose from.

The Patriots will presumably be in on the player, but it’s uncertain what they’d be willing to offer. Conventional wisdom would suggest that McCourty is less valuable to the Patriots considering the presence of Revis, who can be relied on to shut down the opponent’s top receiver. This allows McCourty to shadow the Patriots’ No. 2 cornerback or linebackers, while also spying on the quarterback. That’s not a ridiculous task to expect from any safety, meaning the Patriots could reasonably replace McCourty will a less expensive (albeit less talented) alternative.

Of course, that final point is made moot if Revis decides to bolt from New England. The cornerback’s cap hit would be worth $25MM if the Patriots opt to pick up his option, and at that price, such a move would be a bit of a surprise. The ideal situation for the team would be to decline the option, and re-sign the veteran to a deal that satisfies both parties. Of course, there’s plenty of risk in letting Revis test the free agent waters, especially with potential suitors, including Rex Ryan’s Bills, licking their chops at the prospect of signing the Pro Bowler. PFR’s Luke Adams had examined the various options the Patriots have in regards to the All-Pro cornerback last month.

If the Patriots decide to decline the option, it has to be assumed that Revis would instantly become the team’s top priority in free agency. The cornerback had perhaps the biggest impact of any free agent addition in 2014, and his presence was a big reason why the Patriots won the Super Bowl.

The Patriots also made news today when they declined to pick up the option on defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, making the 33-year-old an unrestricted free agent. The former first-rounder was limited by a torn Achilles in 2013, but the lineman seemed to be back to full strength in 2014. PFF’s advanced metrics ranked Wilfork as the sixth-best defender on the Patriots, and his run defense rating was far and away the best score on the team. Of course, the defensive tackle isn’t getting any younger, and his $8.9MM cap hit for next season would have been hard to justify, especially considering the players the Patriots may be looking to re-sign. Wilfork could very well return to New England on a cheaper contract, but based on his reaction to taking a pay cut last season, it seems unlikely that he’ll take too much of a discount.

The Patriots will also be looking to bring back several offensive contributors from last season. Running back Shane Vereen had his best season in 2014, playing in all 16 games for the first time in his career. The former second-rounder is a proven threat catching the ball, recording 52 receptions for 447 yards last season. Meanwhile, fellow running Stevan Ridley is also a free agent. The 26-year-old is only two seasons removed from a 1,200-yard season, but the presence of LeGarrette Blount could mean that Ridley’s time in New England has come to an end.

Offensive lineman Dan Connolly proved to be a reliable presence in multiple spots, and the Patriots seem to value his versatility.

Finally, mid-season additions Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas are still young enough to deserve a second look.

Possible Cap Casualties:

If the Patriots hope to keep both Revis and McCourty, someone is going to have to either take a pay cut or move on. The Patriots already cleared up some room by declining Wilfork’s option, and the team could clear up an additional $7MM by releasing another defensive veteran, linebacker Jerod Mayo.

The former first-round pick has only played 12 games over the past two seasons as he’s recovered from a torn pectoral muscle and a torn patellar tendon. While the 29-year-old could now be considered an “injury risk,” there’s no denying his impact on the defense. Despite missing more than half his team’s games last season, Mayo still played the 14th-most snaps on the Patriots defense, and PFF ranked him as a top-11 defender on the squad. Given the presence of linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones, Mayo is certainly expendable. However, considering the versatility of the Patriots defenders, Mayo could still have a major impact on the team if he sticks around.

Other than Mayo, no other Patriots would immediately create an abundance of cap room if they were released. Receiver Danny Amendola’s $5.7MM cap hit doesn’t necessarily reflect his production (81 receptions, 833 yards, three touchdowns in two seasons with Patriots), but his postseason performance may indicate that he’s getting more comfortable with the team’s offense. Cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington combine for a $10MM cap hit, and the team has enough depth in the secondary to move on from the duo. Of course, those potential moves would depend on where Revis and McCourty end up.

Positions Of Need:

Many of the Patriots’ offseason “needs” will depend on where their own free agents land. If Revis and McCourty sign elsewhere, the team will certainly be seeking some reinforcement in their secondary. Both players are the class of their respective positions, so it’s unlikely the situation will resemble last offseason, when the Patriots replaced the departing Aqib Talib with Revis.

With Wilfork presumably moving on, the team may be looking to fill a 325-pound hole on their defensive line. 24-year-old Sealver Siliga played well in limited snaps last season, and the former undrafted rookie could be ready for a bigger role in the defense. The Patriots essentially red shirted their first-round pick from last season, defensive lineman Dominique Easley. The 23-year-old is presumably a key piece for the future of the franchise, but it’s uncertain if the Florida alumnus is ready for a full-time role in the NFL.

On offense, the Patriots could potentially lose a pair of running backs in Vereen and Ridley. While there are plenty of buy-low candidates for the team to consider, Bill Belichick could be just as content going forward with his current group. Besides Blount, the team could turn to Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White, or Tyler Gaffney. Based on the Patriots unpredictability at the position, there doesn’t need to be any panic in retaining the pair of free agents.

The team has been rumored to be looking for a “deep threat” receiver in recent years, but the success of the offense in 2014 may indicate that the team doesn’t need any additional weapons. The team knew what they had in Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, and the team got some much-needed production from LaFell in 2014, as the wideout finished with career-highs in receptions (74), yards (953) and touchdowns (seven). Amendola came on strong during the postseason, and tight end Tim Wright (acquired in the Logan Mankins trade) proved to be a red-zone threat with seven touchdowns last season.

The offensive line is one area where the team could certainly use some depth. The group received plenty of criticism following the Patriots’ slow start in 2014, and their production down the stretch was a big reason for the team’s turnaround. However, the squad still featured a number of unheralded players, as half of the offensive line were originally undrafted rookies (and another three, Marcus Cannon, Bryan Stork and Cameron Fleming, were drafted in the fourth round or later). While the team got some unexpected production from this group (particularly from Ryan Wendell and Stork), the line could use an additional veteran presence.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

If the Patriots wanted to clear up additional cap room for this offseason, the team could work on an extension with offensive lineman Nate Solder. The former first-round pick has a cap hit worth $7.5MM next season, and while the team could get most of that money back by cutting him after June 1st, it seems unlikely that they’d just cut bait with the 26-year-old. Solder is entering the final year of his contract, so it may be in the Patriots best interest to work on an extension now.

Overall Outlook:

When Belichick has opted to let his veteran talent exit via free agency or trade, he’s typically been correct with his assessment. Ty Law, Richard Seymour, and even Logan Mankins failed to show the type of talent they displayed in New England following their departures, allowing the coach some leeway when he opts to let a beloved or contributing member of the team loose.

However, considering the talent the Patriots may be losing, it would be tough for Belichick to justify losing two key members of the secondary. Revis and McCourty had a significant impact on the Super Bowl-winning defense, and their presence would be difficult to replace, whether via trade, free agency or the draft.

Of course, the Patriots have plenty of flexibility in how they can approach the offseason. Regardless of their moves, with Belichick and Tom Brady back for another season, the Pats should still be considered the class of the AFC.

Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

RFA Decisions: Thursday

March 5th, 2015 at 5:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Unrestricted free agency will get most of the publicity, but UFAs aren’t the only players impacted by the beginning of the new league year on March 10. By 3pm CT on that date, clubs must decide whether to tender offers to restricted free agents — players who have exactly three years of service time. We’ll round up those decisions here, with the latest updates being added to the top…

  • The Colts made several moves today, announcing they’ve tendered restricted free agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman, as well as three exclusive rights free agents: running back Dan Herron, and linebackers Daniel Adongo and Cam Johnson. Freeman and Herron are the biggest names here — despite missing four games, Freeman finished with the fifth-most snaps on Indy’s defense, while Herron took over as the club’s starting running back by the end of the season.
  • On the other hand, the Colts won’t tender an offer to RFA center A.Q. Shipley, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Shipley was the club’s Week 1 starter at center, and received positive marks from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), so he should find some interest on the open market.
  • Following their trade of LeSean McCoy, the Eagles don’t have much depth at running back, and while they plan to offer an RFA tender to RB Chris Polk, it will only be at the “right of first refusal” level, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Therefore, Philadelphia will only commit about $1.5MM to Polk, and won’t receive any compensation if another club signs him away.
  • The Bills have decided to bring back three ERFAs, tendering offers to receivers Justin Brown and Chris Hogan, as well as defensive tackle Corbin Bryant, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Hogan, who saw the most snaps of the three, was a prominent feature of the Dolphins’ Hard Knocks season on HBO in 2012. Additionally, Buffalo did not tender an offer to ERFA kicker Jordan Gay, per Rodak (Twitter link).
  • The Giants have tendered exclusive rights free agent corner Chandler Fenner, tweets Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. Fenner, 24, saw action in 11 games for New York last season.

Lance Briggs Won’t Return To Bears

March 5th, 2015 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

He won’t be released, like many other long-tenured players have been within the last week or two, but veteran linebacker Lance Briggs won’t return to the Bears for the 2015 season, reports Jen Lada of CSNChicago.com (via Twitter). Briggs is eligible for free agency, and it appears he’ll hit the open market and sign elsewhere.

Briggs, who entered the league as a third-round pick in 2003, has spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in Chicago, appearing in 173 total regular season games (170 starts) for the Bears. A Pro Bowler for seven straight seasons from 2005 to 2011, Briggs was a key piece on the defensive side of the ball for the Bears for more than a decade.

Within the last two seasons, however, the usually durable Briggs has missed 15 of 32 games, after missing just four total contests in his first 10 seasons. The veteran defender will also turn 35 this November, and the Bears – like they did with Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester in recent years – seem to have made the decision to move on.

Given the mileage he has piled up over the last 12 years, Briggs may not be viewed as a starter or a regular contributor by potential suitors this month, but I expect he’ll generate some interest as a part-time player and a source of veteran leadership. A reunion with former Bears head coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay is one possibility, though having played for 12 seasons, Briggs has connections to a number of other coaches around the league as well.

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