HEADLINES

East Notes: Pats, Dolphins, Suh

March 2nd, 2015 at 8:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Bill Belichick knocked pretty much every single free agent decision out of the park last year en route to a championship, and Ben Volin of The Boston Globe is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the Patriots perplexing decision to franchise kicker Stephen Gostkowski over safety Devin McCourty. After all, at $9.6MM, that’s a steep price to pay for McCourty and the Rutgers product himself would have been thrilled to get it, even as he seeks a new long-term deal. The Patriots are playing hardball with McCourty and Darrelle Revis now, but there’s still an entire week to hammer out these deals. More from the AFC and NFC East..

  • Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (via Twitter) sees the Dolphins as a wildcard candidate to land coveted defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Earlier today, we learned that Washington has interest in Suh after the Lions opted not to use the franchise tag on him.
  • Giants star Jason Pierre-Paul will command a huge contract once he has the franchise tag removed, Adam Schefter tells ESPN New York’s Michael Kay (audio link).
  • Veteran linebacker Brad Jones was won over by the Eagles‘ culture, prompting him to sign with them, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes. “From the first day you get here … you kind of realize it’s a different kind of thing they got out here,” the former Packer said via conference call. “It’s unique. I wanted to be a part of that.”
  • The Eagles overlooked adding an inside linebacker last offseason and they made sure not to repeat the same mistake this time around when they made Jones their first addition, Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.

AFC Notes: Chiefs, Raiders, Jaguars

March 2nd, 2015 at 7:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Having officially made the decision today to use their non-exclusive franchise tag on Justin Houston, the Chiefs will be back over the projected cap for 2015 until they make some more cuts or restructure some contracts. Still, that doesn’t mean the team won’t be able to eke out some cap room to potentially make some moves in free agency, as chairman Clark Hunt said this weekend (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).

“We always want to be a smart player in free agency,” Hunt said. “We want to sign guys that can be here and make a contribution, not necessarily (sign) somebody just because he makes a splash. … We also pay a lot of attention to the salary cap because you … can spend whatever you want and circumvent the cap, but every one of those dollars eventually comes back and hits you on the cap. So when we look at the salary cap, I’m not just looking at 2015, I’m thinking about 2016, 2017. So those decisions are made in that context.”

Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC….

  • Teams like the Raiders and Jaguars will have to spend over the next two years to reach the NFL’s minimum requirement of 89% of the cap over a four-year period, and both clubs have the cap space to make a splash in free agency this month. However, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) points out that both teams have starting quarterbacks eligible for extensions after the 2016 season, so if Blake Bortles and Derek Carr develop as expected, the Raiders and Jags could extend them prior to the 2017 league year as a means of reaching that 89% threshold. In other words, there’s no urgency to reach that minimum threshold immediately.
  • In another video for Bleacher Report, Cole weighs in on Percy Harvin, reiterating what we’ve heard as of late: the Jets receiver appears open to restructuring his deal, but not to taking a pay cut. Harvin is confident that he’ll do fairly well on the open market, and it looks like that’s where he’ll end up, since the Jets are very unlikely to keep him at his current price.
  • The Jaguars have yet to decide whether or not to tender contract offers to any of their players eligible for restricted free agency, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. The club has been in touch with UFAs Tyson Alualu and J.T. Thomas though.

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Hayne, Smith

March 2nd, 2015 at 6:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have emerged as the frontrunners for Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne, according to Michael Chammas of The Sydney Morning Herald. There has been mutual interest between the two sides for some time and Chammas hears that the 49ers are likely to be the call when he announces his decision on Tuesday. Hayne is also considering offers from the Lions and Seahawks, according to the report. Here’s more from the NFC West..

  • Justin Smith is contemplating retirement, but there’s cautious optimism among the 49ers that he’ll return for one last season, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. Smith is set to meet with head coach Jim Tomsula later this week to discuss a potential future together. Despite the injuries he has dealt with, Smith is still regarded as one of the top defensive linemen in the league. Smith, for his part, looks like he’s in great shape and from just looking at him it would seem like he’s not ready to ride off into the sunset.
  • While veteran cuts are likely coming for the 49ers, it doesn’t appear as if linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are going anywhere, says Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Examining the Seahawks‘ coming offseason, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes that the team probably doesn’t need to make a major push to bring back any of its unrestricted free agents. Byron Maxwell, specifically, could command a contract that exceeds his true value, given the limited number of top cornerback options available, Fitzgerald writes.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Titans Release Bernard Pollard

March 2nd, 2015 at 5:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have released Bernard Pollard, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (via Twitter). Pollard first requested his release back in late January but he only recently reached the point health-wise where he was able to be let go (link). The move won’t officially hit the waiver wire until later, but the team has informed the safety that he’ll be released (link).

Last year was Pollard’s second season in Tennessee. After playing under a one-year deal in 2013 that netted him $2MM, Pollard re-signed with the Titans last March, inking a two-year extension. His base salary was set to increase from $1.65MM last year to $3.1MM in 2015, but that money isn’t guaranteed. By honoring his request for release, the Titans will only be on the hook for a prorated portion of his signing bonus, leaving them with just $425K in dead money.

Pollard has also spent time with the Chiefs, Texans, and Ravens and he captured a Super Bowl ring with Baltimore in 2013. He played in just five games last season before landing on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, but he was a solid player as recently as 2013, when he racked up 77 tackles while starting all 16 games, and rated as the league’s No. 21 safety among 86 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In total, Pollard has amassed almost 550 tackles during his nine-year career, while adding 12 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles.

 

Randall Cobb’s Price Up To $12MM Per Year?

March 2nd, 2015 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

The Packers elected not to use their franchise tag on Randall Cobb, meaning he won’t be in line for a salary of $12.823MM for the 2015 season. However, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cobb’s price tag in free agency may approach that figure. A source tells Silverstein that word going around at the NFL combine among league executives and personnel staff suggested Cobb’s asking price is up to $12MM per year.

A report a couple weeks ago suggested that Cobb would be seeking $9MM per year, which I said at the time would be reasonable for the Packers. That would have put Cobb in line with No. 1 receiver Jordy Nelson, who is earning just under $10MM per season. If Cobb’s asking price is up to $12MM though, it makes sense that Green Bay would allow the wideout and agent Jimmy Sexton to explore the open market. While Cobb certainly wouldn’t be easily replaceable, he’s not as crucial to Green Bay’s offense as Nelson or – of course – Aaron Rodgers, and investing significant money in him would limit the club’s ability to add talent elsewhere.

In his first full season as a starter in 2014, Cobb put up No. 1 receiver numbers, totaling 1,287 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 91 receptions. Still, those numbers likely wouldn’t look quite as good if he weren’t catching balls from arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. As we saw with Eric Decker a year ago, posting huge numbers in a dynamic offense led by an MVP quarterback doesn’t always lead to a massive payday — Decker’s deal with the Jets averaged just over $7MM annually.

While Cobb may not ultimately land $12MM per year, his best chance of doing so should come on the open market. There are several teams with a need at wide receiver, and many of those teams have a ton of cap space available. One club to watch would be the Raiders — GM Reggie McKenzie was in the Packers’ front office when the team drafted Cobb in 2011, and only Jacksonville has more projected cap room than Oakland this winter.

Minor Moves: Alexander, Hampton

March 2nd, 2015 at 4:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Tonight’s minor moves..

  • The Seahawks have signed linebacker Mister Alexander, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Alexander, who spent part of the year on Dallas’ taxi squad, was signed to a futures deal in January by Dallas before being let go in February. Seattle got a look at Alexander back in November and apparently kept his number handy.
  • The Ravens released cornerback Victor Hampton, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. Hampton, 22, was arrested over the weekend on DUI charges while he was driving 100 mph in a 55 mph zone in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Ravens signed the South Carolina product to a futures deal in January. After going undrafted in 2014, he spent part of the season with the Giants and Bengals.

Washington Interested In Ndamukong Suh

March 2nd, 2015 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lions’ decision not to use their franchise tag on Ndamukong Suh today meant the star defensive lineman moved one step closer to free agency. If Detroit doesn’t reach a long-term agreement with Suh by Saturday, his agent will be free to negotiate with rival teams, and according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington (Twitter link), Washington will be among his potential suitors. Russini cites sources within the organization in reporting that Washington is interested in the 28-year-old.

Assuming Suh does reach the open market, there will be no shortage of clubs vying for his services. Players of his caliber rarely become available, and there are plenty of teams around the league with more cap room than Washington, and many with an even greater need along the defensive line. I expect many teams to kick the tires on Suh if given the opportunity.

Still, it makes some sense that new GM Scot McCloughan and the Washington front office would have interest in the former second overall pick. In 2014, five defensive linemen played in more than 25% of Washington’s defensive snaps, and only Jason Hatcher recorded a positive grade, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The club has already signed Ricky Jean-Francois to help add depth to the position, but adding a player like Suh would transform the unit into an elite defensive front.

2015 NFL Franchise/Transition Tags

March 2nd, 2015 at 3:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The deadline to designate franchise or transition players for 2015 has now passed, and six players received tags. Here’s a breakdown of the action:

Franchise players (non-exclusive):

Transition players:

Candidates who didn’t receive tags:

Players who received franchise or transition tags can sign those one-year tenders, if they so choose. They can also negotiate long-term agreements with their own teams, or – once free agency begins next week – with another team. If any tagged player signs an offer sheet with a new club, his current club would have five days to match the offer.

Giants Release J.D. Walton

March 2nd, 2015 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

A year after inking him to a two-year, $6MM contract, the Giants have parted ways with center J.D. Walton, releasing him today, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Walton had been slated for a $3.625MM cap hit in 2015, so the move creates $3MM in cap savings, leaving $625K in dead money on the team’s books.

The signing of Walton looked like a curious move for the Giants a year ago, considering he was coming off consecutive seasons that had been wiped out by major injuries. The 27-year-old did manage to stay healthy in 2014, starting all 16 games for New York and playing 1,145 offensive snaps, the most of any center, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Of course, PFF’s data also suggested that Walton’s overall play wasn’t particularly good. The former Bronco ranked as the league’s 38th-best center out of 41 qualified players, recording below-average grades as both a pass blocker and a run blocker.

With Walton out of the picture, second-year lineman Weston Richburg is poised to take over the center job in New York.

Steelers Cut Lance Moore

March 2nd, 2015 at 3:05pm CST by Luke Adams

A month after Lance Moore reportedly requested his release from the Steelers, the team has granted his request. The club announced today (via Twitter) that it has parted ways with the veteran wideout, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Moore, 31, caught just 14 balls for the Steelers in 2014, matching his lowest total since his rookie season. While Moore was never the focal point of New Orleans’ pass game, he had three seasons of 65+ receptions with the Saints, but saw his usage decline significantly in Pittsburgh. With Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Markus Wheaton all ahead of him on the team’s depth chart, Moore played just 264 offensive snaps in 2014. The veteran wideout hinted at season’s end that he’d like to join a club that would give him more playing time.

After releasing Moore, the Steelers will carry about $323K in dead money on their 2015 cap from his contract, wiping his $1.5MM base salary off the books. As a vested veteran, Moore will immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers.

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