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NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, 49ers

February 19th, 2015 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

While it’s being viewed as something of an inevitability that the Seahawks will work out an extension with Russell Wilson as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com isn’t so sure it’s a lock. La Canfora thinks it’s possible that Wilson chooses to gamble on himself, playing out the final year of his deal before signing a massive extension next winter.

Sources tell the CBSSports.com scribe that there hasn’t been a ton of progress made so far on any extensions for notable QBs, including Wilson, Andrew Luck, and Cam Newton. That will likely change, and if Wilson does reach an agreement with the Seahawks this offseason, expect to be a “mega-deal” and not anything similar to the more modest arrangements agreed upon by guys like Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.

Here’s more from around the NFC West:

  • Seahawks general manager John Schneider confirmed today that his team won’t be using its franchise tag prior to the March 2 deadline, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. That doesn’t come as a surprise — as I wrote earlier this month, cornerback Byron Maxwell is really the only viable candidate, and the Seahawks aren’t likely to spend big on him.
  • After interviewing Jeff Garcia for the role, the Rams have opted to hire another ex-NFL quarterback as their QB coach, according to ESPN’s Derek Tyson, who tweets that former Heisman winner Chris Weinke is joining Jeff Fisher‘s staff in St. Louis.
  • Echoing comments made by GM Trent Baalke yesterday, albeit using different terminology, 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula told reporters today that he intends to “shoot the bologna” with Justin Smith soon, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. According to Tomsula, he has had a similar conversation with Smith – who may retire – at the end of the last three or four seasons.

Eagles Release James Casey

February 19th, 2015 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

1:09pm: The Eagles have made the move official, announcing (via Twitter) that they’ve cut Casey.

12:54pm: The Eagles will clear some salary cap room for 2015 by parting ways with James Casey, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team will release the veteran tight end. Casey had one year left on his deal, which was set to expire after the 2015 season.

Casey, 30, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Texans, parlaying a solid 2012 season into a three-year, $12MM deal with the Eagles. Although he caught 34 balls during his final year in Houston, Casey hasn’t been used as a pass-catcher in Philadelphia, having totaled just six receptions on nine targets in two seasons with the team.

Casey has still been a positive contributor for the Eagles, grading as an above-average run blocker, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, considering he only played 173 offensive snaps in 2014, it makes sense that the team would view his $4MM salary for 2015 as exorbitant. That entire $4MM figure is non-guaranteed, so releasing Casey clears a nice chunk of cap space for the Eagles.

As a veteran with six years of NFL experience, Casey will immediately be free to sign with another team once the Eagles make the transaction official.

Combine Pressers: Texans, Giants, Panthers

February 19th, 2015 at 12:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we recapped some noteworthy comments made by head coaches and general managers who spoke to the media this morning at the combine in Indianapolis. Those press conferences will continue through the afternoon until Falcons head coach Dan Quinn wraps things up with his appearance at 3:00pm central time. Here are some highlights from a few of the recent sessions, with all links going to the Twitter accounts of reporters in attendance:

Texans general manager Rick Smith and head coach Bill O’Brien:

  • Asked about how Larry Fitzgerald‘s new contract with the Cardinals might apply to Andre Johnson‘s situation in Houston, Smith said the club may have to address the veteran wideout’s cap number, but hopes to see him spend his entire career with the Texans.
  • Smith was very impressed with what he saw from quarterback Ryan Mallett in 2014, and said it was “apparent” he’d picked up leadership traits from Tom Brady during his time with the Pats. Both Smith and O’Brien said they’re hopeful Mallett, a free-agent-to-be, will be back in Houston. That’s not an uncommon sentiment at this time of year, but the enthusiasm coming from the Texans’ brass for Mallett seems genuine, and I’d be surprised if he ends up elsewhere.
  • Smith also expressed interest in re-signing cornerback Kareem Jackson.
  • While re-signing Mallett is a priority, the Texans intend to look at all the draft-eligible quarterbacks in this year’s class, though the top two likely won’t be available by the time the team picks in the first round.
  • O’Brien believes Arian Foster has plenty of football left in him, but wants to try to manage his workload going forward, and identified running back as a position where the team could look to add someone.
  • O’Brien called Case Keenum a “very viable” quarterback option for the Texans, though it’s not clear if the head coach meant as a starter, or simply as a piece on the 53-man roster.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin:

  • The Giants’ goal is to keep Jason Pierre-Paul on their roster not just for 2015, but for many years beyond that, according to Coughlin, who wants to see JPP retire as a Giant. “How that works out remains to be seen,” he added.
  • Asked about his own contract situation, Coughlin said that it’s been set in motion and he hopes to be able to provide an update soon on that front. It sounds as if he may be in line for another one-year contract extension.
  • Coughlin had nothing but praise for safety Antrel Rolle, whom he wants to re-sign, but added that the team “obviously” has some financial limitations. The head coach wasn’t quite as enthusiastic when asked about bringing back defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, declining to comment on whether there’s still a place for Kiwanuka on the roster.

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman:

  • While he thinks the Panthers’ salary cap situation is in a better place than it used to be, Gettleman cautioned that Carolina is “still not out of the hole,” adding that the team wants to make sure to do things right.
  • According to Gettleman, he walked into a situation in which the Panthers had a ton of money tied up in running backs, and is still working his way through it. The GM acknowledged that he has spoken to DeAngelo Williams since the season ended, but declined to say whether the veteran back will remain on the team’s roster for 2015.
  • Although he wasn’t talking specifically about Greg Hardy, Gettleman rhetorically asked, “Who wants a ticking time bomb?” when discussing the possibility of drafting or signing players with a history of domestic violence.
  • As for Hardy, Gettleman told reporters he has nothing to say about the free agent pass rusher as long as he’s still on Carolina’s exempt list.

Falcons Rumors: Maxwell, Thomas, Bryant

February 19th, 2015 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, in our round-up of a few NFC South items, we passed along a couple of noteworthy Falcons-related tidbits — the team has yet to instigate negotiations on a contract extension for standout wide receiver Julio Jones, and new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan received a three-year deal when he was hired by the club. We’ve had a few more Falcons updates trickle in since then, so let’s check those out:

  • There’s “a lot of talk” that the Falcons will be a strong suitor for free agent cornerback Byron Maxwell, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). As Garafolo points out, Maxwell played under new Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn in Seattle, so there’s a logical connection there. Seahawks GM John Schneider also indicated earlier today that he expects the cornerback to reach the open market.
  • The Falcons will likely be interested in Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, another prospective who looks poised to hit the open market, writes D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta has been looking for an upgrade at the position since Tony Gonzalez retired, but the club would likely have plenty of competition for Thomas, who will be the top tight end available this winter.
  • There have been some talks between the Falcons and kicker Matt Bryant, but no substantial progress has been made so far, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The team will meet in Indianpolis with the agent for Bryant, who is eligible for free agency next month

Shane Vereen Aiming For $5MM Per Year

February 19th, 2015 at 11:20am CST by Luke Adams

Patriots running back Shane Vereen is poised to hit the open market next month, and a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald that Vereen is hopeful of landing a contract worth at least $5MM per year. Howe cautions that while Vereen may be aiming high as a starting point for negotiations, he’s far from a lock to land a deal worth that much annually.

Vereen, who turns 26 next month, had his best season in 2014, setting career-highs in rushing yards (391), receptions (52), receiving yards (447), and overall touchdowns (five). He was also a reliable target in the passing game for Tom Brady during the playoffs, recording 18 postseason receptions, including 11 in the Super Bowl.

Those numbers are fairly modest for a running back seeking $5MM annually, especially when taking into account that no free agent running back landed a salary that high a year ago. However, the Patriots’ running back usage is unconventional, and another team may envision a larger role for Vereen. Additionally, if DeMarco Murray‘s huge amount of touches in 2014 count against him, then Vereen’s relatively light workload should be a plus.

Still, an annual salary of more than about $3.5MM for Vereen would be a surprise. That was the going rate a year ago for players like Donald Brown, Toby Gerhart, and Darren Sproles. Danny Woodhead could also provide a point of comparison for Vereen, since he posted similar numbers to Vereen – and played a similar role – during his final year in New England. He received a two-year, $3.5MM contract from the Chargers, then eventually landed a two-year, $5.5MM extension. With the cap on the rise for the 2015 season, Vereen should do a little better in free agency than Woodhead, but a $5MM annual salary may be out of reach for the former second-round pick.

According to Howe, the Patriots and Vereen exchanged proposals last summer, but weren’t close enough to work out a deal. The team will have some decisions to make at the position this winter, with Stevan Ridley also eligible for free agency.

Vikings Notes: AP, Greenway, Draft, FAs

February 19th, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

A day after Vikings general manager Rick Spielman suggested that he was confident Adrian Peterson will stay with the Vikings, head coach Mike Zimmer echoed that stance. As Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, Zimmer doesn’t think the team will look at running backs in free agency, with Peterson set to be reinstated in April. Of course, if the Vikings do pass on free agent running backs, then decide to move on from Peterson, the position figures to be a top priority in the draft.

We’ve got plenty more Vikings-related tidbits to pass along, so let’s dive right in….

  • Although he acknowledged that this year’s free agent and draft classes aren’t particularly strong for middle linebackers, Zimmer would like to add a three-down player at the position, if possible. If the club can’t add a player who fits that bill, Zimmer is fine with using a committe approach at the MLB spot (Twitter links via Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune).
  • Speaking of linebackers, Zimmer also said today in an appearance on KFAN 100.3 that he believes Chad Greenway is still the best player at his position on the Vikings’ roster, and that Greenway will have the opportunity to have a role with the team going forward (Twitter link).
  • In his segment on KFAN, Zimmer also mentioned that the Vikes would like to add a young developmental quarterback in this year’s draft, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Obviously, that QB would be groomed as Teddy Bridgewater‘s backup rather than someone who would replace last year’s first-round pick.
  • Asked on Wednesday about his team’s approach in free agency, Spielman said, “I don’t believe in going out and spending a huge amount in free agency unless it’s something unique” (Twitter link via Tomasson).

Combine Pressers: Cards, Browns, Seahawks

February 19th, 2015 at 10:29am CST by Luke Adams

The media availability portion of the NFL’s 2015 scouting combine rolls on today, with press conferences for 20 head coaches and general managers on today’s schedule. Here’s a recap of the noteworthy comments made during a few of this morning’s early pressers, with all links pointed toward the Twitter accounts of reporters in attendance:

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians:

  • Asked about suspended linebacker Daryl Washington, Arians indicated that he doesn’t consider Washington a part of the team until he’s reinstated by the league. “I don’t even think about him,” the head coach said.
  • The Cardinals would like to re-sign Antonio Cromartie, but the team expects the cornerback to reach the open market, according to Arians. That wouldn’t necessarily preclude a return to Arizona, but it sounds like a reasonable bet that Cromartie will land elsewhere.
  • In Arians’ view, defensive speed is one area the Cardinals need to improve, especially at linebacker.
  • The Cardinals are happy with their current offensive tackles, but Arians acknowledged that the interior line positions could use some work — he hopes to have some competition at those spots this year.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer:

  • Before taking questions, Farmer admitted his role in the ‘Textgate’ controversy surrounding the Browns, apologizing to the organization and to fans for the incident.
  • The GM admitted that he and the Browns understood the red flags on Johnny Manziel prior to the 2014 draft, and take responsibility for selecting him in spite of those warning signs.
  • Echoing what head coach Mike Pettine said yesterday, Farmer indicated that “every option is on the table” for the Browns as they try to find a long-term solution at quarterback. That includes free agency, the draft, and even potential trades.
  • Farmer also didn’t rule out the possibility of trading up in the draft for a signal-caller, adding that he has done a cost-benefit analysis on such a move.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider:

Cards Add Larry Foote To Coaching Staff

February 19th, 2015 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran linebacker Larry Foote was a key piece of the Cardinals’ defense in 2014, and while he’ll contribute to the unit again in 2015, it may be as a coach rather than as a player. According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (via Twitter), Arizona is adding Foote to its coaching staff. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s officially retiring as a player — Marvez adds that Foote will have to decide before the 75-man roster cutdown in August whether or not he wants to play.

Foote, 34, spent all but one season of his NFL career with the Steelers prior to the 2014 campaign, having played briefly for the Lions in 2009. However, heading to Arizona to play for the Cardinals seemed like a natural fit for the Michigan product, since it reunited him with ex-Steelers assistant Bruce Arians. When injuries and a year-long suspension for Daryl Washington decimated the Cardinals’ linebacking corps, Foote gamely stepped up and played more than 1,000 snaps for the club, recording 88 tackles and a pair of sacks.

Still, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Foote 56th out of 60 qualified inside linebackers, and the longtime Steeler will turn 35 in June, so he may decide he doesn’t have any more football left in him. If that’s the case, Foote will end an impressive career with 807 total tackles, 25 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles in 187 contests (134 starts).

If Foote decides to continue his career, he would have to sign a new contract with the Cards, since he’s currently set to become a free agent. Arians also notes that the former fourth-round pick would have to give up his role as a coach in that scenario, since the NFLPA wouldn’t allow him to be a player and coach (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).

South Notes: J. Jones, Titans, Hardy, Jags

February 19th, 2015 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and new head coach Dan Quinn have both expressed in recent weeks how much Julio Jones means to the franchise, but the club has yet to start discussions with the wideout about a contract extension, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Having exercised their fifth-year option on Jones last spring, the Falcons will have Jones under contract at least through the 2015 season, but he’s currently eligible to hit the open market in 2016, so the team figures to open extension talks at some point in the coming weeks or months.

Here’s a round-up of a few more items from around the NFL’s two South divisions:

  • Per McClure (via Twitter), the contract that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan signed with the Falcons is a three-year deal.
  • Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM (on Twitter) that he gets the sense that the Titans are trying to generate interest for a trade of their No. 2 overall pick.
  • Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com examines the Greg Hardy situation, which has become complicated despite the fact that his legal case has been resolved. The Panthers defensive end is a test case for the league’s new personal conduct policy, and the NFL’s decision on him could significantly impact his free agent stock next month.
  • Tight end Julius Thomas makes total sense for the Jaguars and should be near the top of their Plan A list, even if he’ll cost more than Marcedes Lewis, opines Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Besides Thomas, another Broncos free agent – free safety Rahim Moore – would be a solid fit for them in his view.
  • Our preview of the Saints‘ offseason was published earlier this morning.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Offseason Outlook: New Orleans Saints

February 19th, 2015 at 8:55am CST by Zachary Links

Pending free agents:

Top 10 2015 cap hits:

  1. Drew Brees, QB: $26,400,000
  2. Junior Galette, DE: $15,450,000
  3. Jimmy Graham, TE: $11,000,000
  4. Jahri Evans, G: $11,000,000
  5. Jairus Byrd, S: $10,300,000
  6. Marques Colston, WR: $9,700,000
  7. Ben Grubbs, G: $9,600,000
  8. Curtis Lofton, LB: $9,250,000
  9. Cameron Jordan, DE: $6,969,000
  10. Brodrick Bunkley, DT: $6,112,500

Notable coaching changes:

  • Hired 2014 Raiders head coach Dennis Allen as senior defensive assistant.

Draft:

  • No. 13 overall pick
  • No traded picks

Other:

Overview

The PFR staff didn’t agree on much when we submitted our predictions for the 2014 season. However, we were all on the same page when it came to the Saints. Every writer – including yours truly – predicted that New Orleans would win the NFC South. More than one writer saw the Saints playing in February and, why not? On paper, there was no reason to think that they couldn’t be one of the league’s elite once again. Of course, when the Saints finished with a 7-9 mark, we all wound up with a red X, though that record was nearly good enough to take the crown in what proved to be an awful year for the division.

In short, the Saints have some work to do this offseason to get back on top, but not a whole lot of cap room to work with.

Positions Of Need

The Saints’ top need is probably at the cornerback position and they’re widely expected to address that in free agency rather than in the draft. When the Saints’ duo of Keenan Lewis and Jabari Greer patrolled the field in 2013, New Orleans had themselves a solid pairing that gave the team above-average production, as the metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) show. However, Greer suffered a devastating career-ending injury midway through the season and that unit really hasn’t been the same since. This offseason, the Saints are probably looking for something more substantial than a band-aid fix.

Luckily, there should be no shortage of quality options on the open market. At the top of the list, the Saints could find guys like Byron Maxwell, Kareem Jackson, and Brandon Flowers. Veteran Antonio Cromartie will also be there, though teams might be wary of his age and a possible regression towards the kind of play he exhibited during the end of his tenure with the Jets. If the Saints do look to the draft for a CB, guys like Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes, Washington corner Marcus Peters, or LSU’s Jalen Collins could be options, though all have their own drawbacks, including Peters’ off-the-field incidents. Recently, Saints defensive back Corey White, who was seeing time at safety to close out the 2014 season, made it known that he’ll be moving back to cornerback. However, I would expect that he’ll be no higher than the No. 3 option on the depth chart.

The Saints will also look to make upgrades at both outside linebacker and probably inside linebacker. PFF rated Curtis Lofton as one of the very worst starting linebackers in the NFL last season and, frankly, you probably didn’t need advanced metrics to tell you that. And, on the outside, the Saints need a worthy partner for Junior Galette, who might not even be on the field to start the season thanks to his January incident. With a desperate need for an athletic edge rusher, the OLB need will probably take priority even over the inside. Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr. has been widely connected to the Saints at No. 13 and he could be a fit as both a defensive end and outside linebacker. Clemson’s Vic Beasley is another intriguing possibility and one that could potentially fit at both positions, even if some believe he projects more as a defensive end. Meanwhile, reserve Parys Haralson will be back in the fold for the Saints after agreeing to a one-year deal.

Khiry Robinson is promising but the Saints will be in the market for a tailback if Mark Ingram goes elsewhere. New Orleans could also shop for a center if they don’t feel that Tim Lelito is ready for primetime.Mark Ingram (Featured)

Key Free Agents

The Saints are still interested in reaching a deal with Ingram, but GM Mickey Loomis stressed on Wednesday that their ability to keep him will be “intertwined” with the team’s salary cap situation and Ingram’s market value. “In free agency, everyone wants to see what the market is,” Loomis said. “The question is, can that get done prior to March 10? Can both sides get a good feel for that beforehand and do a deal, or do we need to wait and see where all the offers are and respond accordingly?” With limited cap room and multiple teams that could be in the market for a running back, his return is anything but certain. Meanwhile, fellow tailback Travaris Cadet is headed towards restricted free agency.

While the Saints secondary as a whole was disappointing in 2014, especially with the injuries suffered by Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro, Jamarca Sanford was something of a bright spot when he joined the team later in the season. We’re not expecting an overhaul at either strong safety or free safety, but the team probably wants Sanford back as a safety net in case of another letdown.

After taking care of Haralson and kicker Shayne Graham, the Saints don’t have a whole lot of other high-priority free agents. The aforementioned Goodwin will be eligible for free agency, but they’ll probably part ways after a season in which the veteran ranked No. 27 out of 41 qualified centers, per PFF.

Possible Cap Casualties

Marques Colston has been a mainstay on the Saints roster for years, but he has regressed sharply and he has the salary of a top-20 receiver. Releasing Colston would give the Saints $4.3MM in cap room, but it might make more sense to keep him, possibly with a reworked contract. The Saints love to spread the ball around to different receivers from week to week, but Colston is the one who sees more looks that any of them on the whole.

After an atrocious 2014, Lofton’s time in New Orleans could be through, though there isn’t an in-house answer to replace him. Guard Jahri Evans has an $11MM cap charge for 2015 and the Saints could save $6MM by dropping him. However, it’s worth noting that Evans played the second half of the season with a partially torn triangular fibrocartilage complex in his wrist, so the team might have higher hopes for him once he’s healthy. Cutting nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who finished the year on IR, would save the team nearly $2.9MM. Tailback Pierre Thomas could also go, but I think his future will depend largely on what happens with Ingram and Cadet this offseason.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues

With their backs against the wall, the Saints can be expected to try and restructure deals with multiple players. Currently hamstrung with being more than $23MM over the cap, the Saints can play around with the contracts of Jimmy Graham, Byrd, Galette, and Lofton to take care of that overage.

Drew Brees has a cap charge of $26.4MM in 2015 and $27.4MM in 2016, but converting salary to a bonus next season would only cripple the club’s cap in future seasons. Some have suggested that Brees could (or should) effectively take a pay cut like Tom Brady did with the Patriots, but Brees has been outspoken on players’ rights and the Saints would probably be barking up the tree if they went that route.

An extension for Brees, tacking a couple extra years onto a contract that currently runs through the 2016 season, could be a win-win for the player and the team, reducing his short-term cap hit while ensuring that he has the sort of deal that would allow him to finish his career in New Orleans. Extending Cameron Jordan may also allow the club to clear some 2015 cap room, as he’s currently on the books for nearly $7MM. Jordan recorded just 7.5 sacks last year after racking up 12.5 in 2013, and his pass-rushing production dropped off across the board, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). But he’s still capable of getting to the quarterback and more than held his own against the run — it’d be a little surprising if the Saints don’t want to keep him around beyond 2015.

Overall Outlook

The Saints don’t have a ton of breathing room this offseason and they’re not going to make a giant splash in free agency like they did last year with Byrd. Still, they’ll be able to improve with their top-half draft picks and if they make a few sacrifices, they can carve out enough space to get the cornerback they need. New Orleans could expand its cap room even further by effectively living for today and borrowing against their future, but that wouldn’t be the wise long-term play for this team.

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

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