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Offseason In Review: Tennessee Titans

July 7th, 2017 at 5:21pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Even though the Titans extended their playoff drought to eight years in 2016, the team made noticeable progress for the first time in a while. The Titans matched the Texans at 9-7, only finishing behind the AFC South champions because of a tiebreaker, and ranked a division-best 13th in the NFL in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. After his club nearly broke through last year, Titans general manager Jon Robinson spent the offseason making meaningful upgrades on both sides of the ball.

Notable signings:

Logan Ryan, CB: Three years, $30MM. $12MM guaranteed.
Sylvester Williams, DT: Three years, $16.5MM. $7.25MM guaranteed.
Jonathan Cyprien, S: Four years, $25MM. $7MM guaranteed.
Brynden Trawick, S: Two years, $4.75MM. $3MM guaranteed.
Eric Decker, WR: One year, $4MM. $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via incentives.
Daren Bates, LB: Three years, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Karl Klug, DL: Two years, $5MM. $1MM guaranteed. $800K available via incentives.
Phillip Supernaw, TE: Two years, $3MM. $600K guaranteed.
Matt Cassel, QB: Two years, $5.25MM. $500K guaranteed.
Nate Palmer, LB: Two years, $2.3MM. $350K guaranteed.
Eric Weems, WR: Two years, $2.6MM. $275K guaranteed.
Tim Lelito, OL: One year, $1MM. $100K guaranteed.
Demontre Hurst, S: One year, $690K.

Robinson’s most recent splash came last month with the signing of wide receiver Eric Decker, who unexpectedly fell into the Titans’ laps after the rebuilding Jets released him. A shoulder injury limited Decker to three games last season and kept him out of the Jets’ lineup for the final three months of the campaign, but there’s no indication that it’ll hamper him going forward. That means a Tennessee offense which finished 2016 atop the league in red zone touchdown percentage should continue to be a force inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Decker has been a major threat near the goal line throughout his career, and he’s second only to ex-Jets teammate Brandon Marshall in red zone TD receptions since 2012 (33). The 30-year-old figures to mesh beautifully with Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who dominated in the red zone with 18 TD passes and no interceptions during his initial two years in the league.

When he signed with the Titans, Decker became the fourth potentially significant passing game weapon Robinson picked up for Mariota this offseason. The executive struck three times in the draft, using high selections on two wideouts – first-rounder Corey Davis and third-rounder Taywan Taylor – and another on tight end Jonnu Smith (Round 3). Of course, the headliner is Davis, who went fifth overall after surpassing 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons at Western Michigan. Interestingly, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com likens Davis to Decker, calling the 6-2, 205-pound rookie a “touchdown juggernaut.”

With Decker, Davis, Rishard Matthews and Taylor serving as the top four in their receiving corps and Smith joining the prolific Delanie Walker at tight end, Mariota has an enviable supply of aerial options on hand. Plus, the dual-threat signal-caller should again be a key contributor to a top-tier rushing attack. DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and Mariota ran behind arguably the NFL’s best offensive line and led a ground game that finished third in the league in rushing and fourth in yards per carry in 2016. Murray and Henry remain in the fold, as does the Titans’ starting O-line from last year, which is an unfortunate reality for opposing defenses.

Speaking of defenses, the Titans’ Dick LeBeau-coordinated unit entered the winter in need of a makeover after ranking 20th in the league in yardage and 24th in DVOA. Robinson came through at the outset of free agency, reeling in two proven starters for his secondary in Jonathan Cyprien and Logan Ryan.

Cyprien spent the first four years of his career as a member of the division-rival Jaguars, with whom he started in all 60 appearances. He ranked as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best safety last year, when he earned a near-flawless grade as a run defender.

Ryan, on the other hand, is a far bigger asset against the pass, and he’s coming off an excellent four-year showing in New England. As the Patriots’ former scouting director, Robinson was in their front office when they chose Ryan in the third round of the 2013 draft. Ryan, 26, is now a two-time Super Bowl champion who contributed heavily to New England’s defense with a combination of durability (64 straight appearances, including 40 starts) and productivity (13 interceptions).

Ryan and the Titans’ second first-rounder, 18th overall pick Adoree’ Jackson, are in line to helm a remade corner corps that also includes veteran Brice McCain, who started 10 games last year and rated as PFF’s 33rd-best CB. Jackson, like Ryan, is a ball hawk, having closed his USC career with five picks last season. Those two and McCain make for an impressive trio on paper, though it’s questionable whether the Titans have enough behind them. The pro track records of their other corners – Leshaun Sims, Kalan Reed, D’Joun Smith and Bennett Okotcha – range from nonexistent to extremely limited.

Considering Tennessee’s defense ended last year 26th in DVOA against the pass and 10th versus the run, it’s no surprise Robinson devoted most of his attention earlier this offseason to the secondary. But he didn’t ignore his team’s defensive line, where he signed nose tackle Sylvester Williams and re-upped role player Karl Klug early in free agency.

Despite starting 48 of 60 appearances in Denver 2013-16, Williams didn’t really live up to his first-round status in the Mile High City. With 5.5 career sacks, he won’t do a lot to aid the Titans’ pass rush (granted, after tallying the league’s fifth-most sacks and 12th-most hurries in 2016, it didn’t really need any), and it’s up for debate how much the 313-pounder will boost their run ‘D’. PFF assigned Williams a rather abysmal grade in that department last year, when 337 of his 644 snaps came in run situations. The outlet was much more bullish on Klug, whom it rated 22nd among 127 qualified interior defensive linemen (Williams was 46th). Klug has been valuable as defensive depth and on special teams since the Titans used a fifth-round pick on him in 2011, so it was likely a no-brainer for Robinson to bring him back for a meager $1MM in guaranteed money.

Notable losses:

Antonio Andrews, RB
David Bass, LB
Byron Bell, OL
Valentino Blake, CB
Anthony Fasano, TE
Rashad Johnson, S
Marc Mariani, WR
Jason McCourty, CB: Released
Brian Schwenke, OL
Sean Spence, LB
Daimion Stafford, S
Chance Warmack, G
Al Woods, DT: Released
Kendall Wright, WR

The Titans secured some potential high-impact players during free agency and the draft. At the same time, they didn’t say goodbye to any indispensable cogs. Jason McCourty stands out as the best of their departures. Prior to his release in April, the corner was the Titans’ longest-tenured player. McCourty had been with the team since it stole him in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, and he went on to start 90 games and pick off 13 passes in Tennessee. He accumulated 14 of those starts and two INTs last year, though PFF only regarded him as a middle-of-the-pack corner. The Titans, meanwhile, viewed him as too pricey. McCourty, now with the Browns, can still play, but he’s an obvious step down from Ryan at this juncture.

Unlike McCourty, others who exited the Titans’ roster in recent months didn’t come close to leaving indelible marks on the franchise. However, Sean Spence, Al Woods, Daimion Stafford, Rashad Johnson and Anthony Fasano did have semi-prominent roles with the club last year. The addition of Cyprien made Stafford and Johnson expendable, though, and the Titans immediately signed Williams to replace the released Woods. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s hope is that the blocking skills of Jonnu Smith and its offensive line will cover for Fasano’s exit.

Replacing Spence, who played half the Titans’ defensive snaps last year, could be a more difficult task. Now with the Colts, Spence was one of the most efficient tacklers in the league in 2016, according to PFF’s Michael Manning, who noted in May that the defender was also quite productive as a pass rusher. The Titans, to their credit, have a quality starting inside linebacker tandem with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard. But going from Spence to the re-signed Nate Palmer as the top reserve in the middle looks like a downgrade.

Trades:

Acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 72; WR Taywan Taylor) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 200) from the Patriots in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick (No. 83; DE Derek Rivers) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 124).
Acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 207) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 241; RB Khalfani Muhammad) from the Giants in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 200; T Adam Bisnowaty).
Acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 217; OL Corey Levin) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 227; LB Josh Carraway) from the Bengals in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 207; S Brandon Wilson).

Draft picks:

1-5: Corey Davis, WR (Western Michigan)
1-18: Adoree’ Jackson, CB (USC)
3-72: Taywan Taylor, WR (Western Kentucky)
3-100: Jonnu Smith, TE (FIU)
5-155: Jayon Brown, LB (UCLA)
6-217: Corey Levin, OL (Chattanooga)
7-227: Josh Carraway, LB (TCU)
7-236: Brad Seaton, T (Villanova)
7-241: Khalfani Muhammad, RB (California)

Extensions and restructures:

Wesley Woodyard, LB: Extended through 2019. Three years, $10.5MM. $2MM guaranteed.
Harry Douglas, WR: Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2017 base salary of $3.75MM to $1.75MM. $1.75MM available via incentives.
Da’Norris Searcy, S: Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2017 base salary of $5.625MM to $3.4MM, and 2018 base salary of $6.125MM to $2.8MM. $750K available via annual incentives.

A former Bronco, Woodyard joined the Titans after the 2013 season and did enough over his first three years with the organization to earn a reasonably priced extension. The 31-year-old Woodyard, who’s now under Tennessee’s control through 2019, has appeared in 48 games in a row as a Titan. Thirty-eight of those contests have been starts, including 10 last season, when Woodyard graded as PFF’s 29th-best linebacker. Overall, Woodyard has collected 10 sacks and three INTs in Tennessee.

Other:

Exercised 2018 fifth-year option for T Taylor Lewan ($9.341MM).
Signed 12 undrafted rookie free agents.

Picking up Lewan’s fifth-year option was an easy call for Robinson, who was one of the premier acquisitions of previous GM Ruston Webster’s tenure. Lewan, whom Webster took 11th overall in 2014, is coming off his first 16-start season, in which the left tackle earned a Pro Bowl nod. He’ll be a Titan through at least 2018, meaning they’ll have the elite-caliber offensive tackle duo of Lewan and Jack Conklin for a minimum of two more seasons.

Top 10 cap charges for 2017:

Brian Orakpo, LB: $9,450,000
Logan Ryan, CB: $8,666,666
Jurrell Casey, DT: $8,588,750
Derrick Morgan, LB: $7,968,750
DeMarco Murray, RB: $6,950,000
Marcus Mariota, QB: $6,603,811
Rishard Matthews, WR: $6,333,333
Delanie Walker, TE: $5,317,708
Jonathan Cyprien, S: $4,750,000
Sylvester Williams, DT: $4,666,666

Robinson has done laudable work during his two offseasons as Tennessee’s GM, and the moves he made this past winter and spring just might propel the team back to the playoffs. It appears the Mike Mularkey-coached Titans will enter the season with the strongest roster in a division that’s there for the taking.

Information from Over the Cap and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Arizona Cardinals

July 7th, 2017 at 2:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Last year, things didn’t exactly go according to plan for the Cardinals as they finished out 7-8-1, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013. With little salary cap room to work with, it’s not exactly clear if the Cardinals have put themselves in position for a big turnaround.

Notable signings:

Chandler Jones, LB: Five years, $82.5MM. $21MM guaranteed. Had been assigned franchise tag.
Jermaine Gresham, TE: Four years, $28MM. $13MM guaranteed.
Antoine Bethea, S: Three years, $12.75MM. $2MM guaranteed.
Phil Dawson, K: Two years, $6MM. $1.5MM guaranteed.
Jarvis Jones, LB: One year, $2.25MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Karlos Dansby, LB: One year, $2MM. $750K guaranteed.
A.Q. Shipley, C: Two years, $3.5MM. $725K guaranteed.
Frostee Rucker, DL: One year, $1.08MM. $80K guaranteed.
Andre Ellington, RB: One year, $905K. $80K guaranteed.
Tony Bergstrom, C: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Blaine Gabbert, QB: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Jeremy Ross, WR: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Aaron Dobson, WR: One year, $615K.
Jumal Rolle, CB: One year, $615K.

The Cardinals knew they’d have to pony up a massive deal when they acquired Chandler Jones via trade from the Patriots. This year, they applied the franchise tag to Jones but the two sides shook hands on a massive extension just days later. Jones’ new deal makes him the third-highest paid 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, trailing only Von Miller and Justin Houston in terms of yearly average. When it comes to average guarantees per year, he’s in second place with $6.2MM, ahead of Houston. It wasn’t cheap to lock up Jones, but he is one of the league’s very best edge defenders and the market is only growing for those players. If Jones continues on this trajectory, it will all be worth it for Arizona.

Considering the Cardinals’ cap situation, their four-year, $28MM deal for tight end Jermaine Gresham was a bit perplexing. Before the free agent market officially opened, I had Gresham ranked as the ninth-best option available. The 28-year-old (29 in June) had 37 catches for 391 yards last year, but he doesn’t offer much in the way of blocking. The good news is that the 29-year-old will only carry a $3.75MM cap number in 2017, but his contract doesn’t look so great after that. In 2018, the Cardinals are saddled with a $7.25MM cap number and releasing him ($9.25MM) isn’t really a viable option. In 2019, they’ll be stuck with $3.5MM if they release Gresham.

Free agent addition Antoine Bethea projects as the Cardinals’ starting strong safety, but he may have to duke it out with the team’s second round pick (more on him later). The soon-to-be 33-year-old did well for himself on this deal and the Cardinals are hoping that he will continue to be an above-average playmaker in the secondary. Bethea has started all 162 games he’s played since entering the league and he has 19 career interceptions to his name.

The Cardinals added two notable free agents to the linebacking group in Karlos Dansby and Jarvis Jones. Dansby returns to the Cardinals after spending the first six years of his career with them, plus the 2013 season. Dansby night not be a top 15 type like he was in 2013 and 2014, but he’s still quite productive even at his advanced age. The linebacker, 36 in November, had upwards of 100 tackles last year and finished out as Pro Football Focus’ 46th best linebacker out of 87 qualified players.

Jones, a former first round pick, has only posted six sacks in four NFL seasons. He recorded a career-high 43 tackles in 2016, however, and started nine games for the Steelers. He has not lived up to his draft status, but he is still a solid run defender and he could still have some untapped potential. With talented veterans in front of him, the Cardinals will only be using Jones on a limited basis, a role that might suit him well.

Not long ago, Andre Ellington was the main rusher in Arizona. Now, the emergence of David Johnson has pushed him down the pecking order. The Cardinals were exploring the idea of moving Ellington to wide receiver this year, but they abandoned that midway through the offseason. It’s still a good bet that Ellington will make the 53-man cut as a reserve behind Johnson.

Taylor Boggs, OL
Calais Campbell, DE
Chandler Catanzaro, K
Marcus Cooper, CB
Zac Dysert, QB: Waived
Darren Fells, TE
Tony Jefferson, S
Mike Jenkins, CB
Chris Johnson, RB
Evan Mathis, G: Retired
Kevin Minter, LB
Sio Moore, LB
Alex Okafor, DE
D.J. Swearinger, S
Stepfan Taylor, RB
Daryl Washington, LB: Released
Earl Watford, G

The Cardinals worked to keep Tony Jefferson before the start of free agency but they couldn’t come up with enough cash to keep him from exploring free agency. Reportedly, Arizona’s final offer to Jefferson was a four-year, $24MM deal. He wound up signing with the Ravens on a four-year, $37MM deal and even that reportedly wasn’t his highest offer. The Cardinals sensed early on that they wouldn’t be able to retain Jefferson and his market only improved when Eric Berry re-upped with the Chiefs. After a season in which he placed as PFF’s fifth-best safety, he’ll be missed in Arizona.

When the Cardinals acquired Jones from New England, Calais Campbell became something of an afterthought. Perhaps motivated by a perceived slight, Campbell turned in his best season to date. The Cardinals were probably expecting to move on from Campbell this offseason, but his performance made his departure a bitter pill to swallow. The University of Miami product got $60MM over four years with $30MM guaranteed from the Jaguars – numbers that Arizona couldn’t come close to matching. The Cardinals were able to cobble together a nice Plan B after Jefferson left, but they are looking a little shaky on the defensive line now that Campbell is gone. Frostee Rucker, Corey Peters, and rising sophomore Robert Nkemdiche project as the starters. It’s a capable group, but that unit is far from a sure thing.

Out of nowhere, linebacker Daryl Washington was finally reinstated by the league office this spring. The move left the Cardinals with a decision to make on his $2.9MM salary. After early word that the Cardinals would definitely dump him, it appears that the team did actually want him around – just at a lesser pay grade. Ultimately, the two sides could not come to terms on a deal and Washington is still seeking employment. The one-time standout has not been on the field since 2013.

The Cardinals made an under-the-radar smart trade prior to last season, sending a 2018 seventh-round pick to Kansas City for cornerback Marcus Cooper. Cooper wound up making 13 starts for the Cardinals and turning himself into a sought-after cornerback on the market this spring. Cooper was another victim of the Cards’ cap crunch and there wasn’t a great effort made to retain him. He landed a three-year, $16MM deal with the Bears.

Trades:

Acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 36; S Budda Baker) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 221) from the Bears in exchange for acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 45; TE Adam Shaheen), a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 119; RB Tarik Cohen), a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197), and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
Acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 98; WR Chad Williams) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 115; OL Dorian Johnson) from the Panthers in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick (No. 77; DE Daeshon Hall).
Acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 208; S Johnathan Ford) from the Raiders in exchange for a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 221; DB Shalom Luani) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 231; T Jylan Ware).

Draft picks:

1-13: Haason Reddick, LB (Temple)
2-36: Budda Baker, S (Washington)
3-98: Chad Williams, WR (Grambling State)
4-115: Dorian Johnson, OL (Pittsburgh)
5-157: Will Holden, OL (Vanderbilt)
5-179: T.J. Logan, RB (North Carolina)
6-208: Rudy Ford, S (Auburn)

The Cardinals lost some big names this year and they didn’t have a lot of dollars to spend on the open market to compensate. If the Cardinals are to get back to contention this season, they’ll need their rookies to quickly get comfortable with the pace of the NFL.

The buzz around Haason Reddick became deafening in the months leading up to the draft. Reddick came to Temple as a preferred walk-on and, at one time, he was almost pushed out of the program. Towards the end of his time in Philadelphia, the light turned on for Reddick and he solidified himself as one of the best linebackers in the 2017 class. In the long run, Reddick may be used as an edge rusher if he can bulk up. For right now, it looks like he’ll start the year at inside linebacker as Deone Bucannon recovers from ankle surgery. When Bucannon is back, Reddick figures to be a big part of the team’s plans, even if he is in the role of supersub.

Aside from Reddick, no rookie will be more central to Arizona’s plans than Budda Baker. The Washington product may start the year as Bethea’s backup, but they could wind up switching spots during the season. Baker has a high football IQ for such a young player and his aggressive playing style could trump the vast experience of Bethea at some point.

Extensions and restructures:

Josh Mauro, DL: Extended through 2018. Two years, $5.8MM. $3MM guaranteed.
Tyvon Branch, S: Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2017 base salary from $4MM to $2MM.

Other:

Exercised 2018 fifth-year option for LB Deone Bucannon ($8.718MM).
Signed 17 undrafted rookie free agents.

Top 10 cap charges for 2017:

Carson Palmer, QB: $24,125,000
Larry Fitzgerald, WR: $15,850,000
Patrick Peterson, CB: $13,706,965
Chandler Jones, LB: $10,000,000
Jared Veldheer, T: $10,000,000
Mike Iupati, G: $9,700,000
Tyrann Mathieu, S: $8,100,000
Drew Stanton, QB: $4,150,000
Jermaine Gresham, TE: $3,750,000
Corey Peters, DT: $3,660,418

The Cardinals are still the NFC West team best equipped to challenge the Seahawks for the divisional crown, but it could be a challenge after losing two big stars on defense. Of course, injuries were a big issue for the Cards in 2016 and staying healthy will go a long way towards putting Arizona back in the playoff mix.

Information from Over the Cap and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Poll: Will Darrelle Revis Play In 2017?

July 7th, 2017 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

Darrelle Revis is currently working out in south Florida with an eye on playing this season. Trouble is, the $6MM owed to him by the Jets comes with offset language, meaning that he’ll effectively be playing for free if he signs for a penny less than $6MM.

At one point in time, Revis was one of the league’s very best cornerbacks. Unfortunately, that changed during his second stint with the Jets in 2015. In ’15, Revis was solid but unspectacular. The version of Revis that we saw in 2016 could not be counted upon as a regular starter. Throughout the season, there were rumblings that Revis was dogging it and the film seemed to back it up. There were a number of plays where Revis wasn’t going all out to make the tackle and he was routinely getting torched on routes that he should have been able to keep pace with.

Needless to say, no one wants to pay Revis more than $6MM for the 2017 season. Even if a contending team were to lose a starting corner to injury in training camp, it would be hard to see anyone offering more than a few million for the veteran’s services. So, what now? It’s possible that Revis, who has already made a boatload of money in the NFL, will cave and agree to play for free.

Alternatively, he could use a creative workaround to get on the field while still cashing his Jets check. As suggested yesterday by Mike Florio of PFT, Revis could sit out the 2017 regular season and sign with an NFL club just before the start of the playoffs. This way, Revis can earn his $6MM, have a chance at capturing another Super Bowl championship, and audition for his next contract. Revis would also have the added benefit of taking the field in January with fresh legs.

One way or another, do you see Darrelle Revis playing in the NFL in the 2017 season? Click below to cast your vote and back up your position in the comment section.

Will Darrelle Revis Play in 2017?

Yes 53.31% (515 votes)

No 46.69% (451 votes)

Total Votes: 966

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Rams

July 6th, 2017 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

You only get to make one first impression and the Rams’ Los Angeles debut was less than impressive. The Rams got uneven performances out of rookie quarterback Jared Goff (to put it mildly), finished 4-12, and wound up sacking coach Jeff Fisher before the season was through. Now, the Rams are sharing the L.A. market with another team and they hope to set themselves apart with a better showing in 2017.

Notable signings:

Trumaine Johnson, CB: One year, $16.742MM. Fully guaranteed. Signed franchise tag.
Andrew Whitworth, T: Three years, $33.75MM. $15MM guaranteed.
Robert Woods, WR: Five years, $34MM. $10MM guaranteed.
Kayvon Webster, CB: Two years, $8MM. $4.25MM guaranteed. $4MM available via incentives.
Greg Zuerlein, K: Three years, $6.75MM. $2.375MM guaranteed.
Lance Dunbar, RB: One year, $1.5MM. $1.375MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via incentives.
John Sullivan, C: One year, $1MM. $100K guaranteed.
Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
Connor Barwin, LB: One year, $3.5MM. $3MM available via incentives.
Dominique Easley, DT: One year, $1.797MM. Signed original round RFA tender.
Ethan Westbrooks, DE: One year, $1.797MM. Signed original round RFA tender.

Last year, the Rams had two standout cornerbacks set to hit the open market and only one franchise tag to use. They opted to retain Trumaine Johnson while allowing Janoris Jenkins to test free agency. The Rams were apparently close to keeping Jenkins, but he ultimately left to sign a big money deal with the Giants. After watching the 2016 season play out, the decision to roll with Johnson over Jenkins doesn’t look so great. Determined to not lose a star cornerback two years in a row, the Rams used the tag on Johnson for the second year in a row, resulting in a hefty one-year, $16.742MM tender.

Now, the two sides have until July 17th (not July 15th) to hammer out an extension. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like we will see a new deal struck in the coming days. Unless things change, Johnson will play out the year with the highest yearly salary of any cornerback in the NFL. Johnson graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 26th-best cornerback last season, indicating that he is starting caliber, but far from elite. Los Angeles would like to tamp down that bloated cap number and lock Johnson up through his prime years, but he seems willing to bet on himself.

The Rams landed this year’s most talented free agent tackle when they signed veteran Andrew Whitworth. A three-year deal with strong cash flow in the first two years may not seem ideal for a 35-year-old, but that’s the cost of doing business when trying to add top offensive tackles. In 2016, PFF rated him as the second-best tackle in the entire NFL and he’s been a Top 5/Top 10 guy for the last five years in a row. The Rams are hoping that the addition of Whitworth will help to give Goff extra time in the pocket, allowing him to make better throws when he’s not under duress. Last year, the Rams finished out with the sixth-worst offensive line in the NFL, according to PFF’s metrics.

Goff will have some new mouths to feed this year, including free agent Robert Woods. Woods made a name for himself in Buffalo as a solid stand-in for Sammy Watkins when he dealt with injury. Now, he’s being counted upon as the WR1 in Los Angeles. Even though he signed a five-year deal, it should be noted that he won’t be long for Los Angeles if he can’t handle his new responsibilities. Woods is due $5MM on the third day of the 2018 league year and nothing is guaranteed for the former Bills complementary target past Year 2.

Kayvon Webster was blocked by corners Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby and safeties Justin Simmons and Will Parks in Denver. He was vocal about wanting playing time in 2017 and he’ll get his shot with the Rams. Wade Phillips imported Webster to serve as a starting CB opposite Johnson and we’ll soon find out whether he’s top 60 at the position or simply a talented special teams guy.

The Rams may have found two of the offseason’s best values by signing Connor Barwin (one-year, $3.5MM deal) and slot specialist Nickell Robey-Coleman (one-year, minimum salary deal). Barwin played for Phillips with the Texans from 2011-12, and the 30-year-old chose L.A. in part because of the lovable defensive coordinator.

“Wade did a lot for me in the two years I was with Houston,” said Barwin. “He taught me so much about being a pro, enjoying being around the game every single day, and he really elevated my game as a pass rusher.”

Barwin now joins a talented linebacker group which includes Robert Quinn, Alec Ogletree, and Mark Barron. Coupled with the great potential of the defensive line, Phillips has one heck of a front seven to work with.

Robey-Coleman’s release from the Bills was a surprised rivaled only by the low price tag on his deal with the Rams. Last year, the corner earned a higher grade from PFF than former Buffalo teammates Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. It would be a surprise if he bested both of them again in 2017, but there’s no question that there is great potential for Robey-Coleman to outperform his contract.

Notable losses:

Tim Barnes, C: Released
Kenny Britt, WR
Benny Cunningham, RB
Case Keenum, QB
Lance Kendricks, TE: Released
T.J. McDonald, S
Brian Quick, WR
Chase Reynolds, RB
Demetrius Rhaney, C: Waived
Eugene Sims, DE: Released
Cam Thomas, DT

This offseason, the Rams said adios to Kenny Britt. The highly talented Rutgers product was never able to put it all together at the NFL level until last year when he had managed to turn in his first career 1,000+ yard campaign, despite playing in the league’s worst offense. Britt’s work ethic frequently came into question during his college days and it’s possible that the Rams had questions about his maturity when it came time to pay him. It’s also possible that they just saw a four-year deal worth $32.5MM with $17MM guaranteed (the deal he got from the Browns) as too rich of a price tag. Ultimately, they’re betting on better production out of Woods than Britt and you won’t find many talent evaluators willing to support that choice. The Rams will also forge ahead without Brian Quick, who projects to be the WR4 in Washington.

A couple other familiar faces are gone on the offensive side. The Rams’ old regime had high hopes for Lance Kendricks, signing him to a four-year, $18.5MM pact some time ago. The new regime wasn’t as crazy about him. The Rams got out of the deal two years early, even though he had a career-high 50 receptions last year for 499 yards and two scores. There’s now a youth movement going down at tight end, something that we’ll explore a little further down the page.

In two years with St. Louis/Los Angeles, Keenum appeared in ten games with nine starts. The results were less than spectacular and it didn’t seem like the team made much of an attempt to retain him. Now that he’s gone, Sean Mannion will be the primary backup for Goff.

McDonald was the Rams’ starting safety since entering the league in 2013 all the way through 2016. This spring, however, the Rams made no attempt to retain him. The safety is facing an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, but that will be a headache for another team (the Dolphins) in 2017.

Sims, 31, appeared in all 16 games for the Rams last season and made eight starts. The advanced numbers at PFF have never been high on Sims and neither was Phillips, apparently. Sims was dropped during a major player purge around the start of free agency and we haven’t heard any word of teams being interested in him in the last four months. That’s a sign that Sims is still not healthy enough to play (he was cut with a failed physical designation) or that teams no longer see him as a quality defensive end.

Trades:

Acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 206) from the Dolphins in exchange for DE William Hayes and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 223).
Acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 44; TE Gerald Everett) and a 2017 third-round pick (No. 91; S John Johnson) from the Bills in exchange for a 2017 second-round pick (No. 37; WR Zay Jones) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 149).
Acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 117; WR Josh Reynolds) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197) from the Bears in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 112; S Eddie Jackson).
Acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 125; LB Samson Ebukam) from the Jets in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 141; WR Chad Hansen) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197; CB Jeremy Clark).
Acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick from the Lions in exchange for T Greg Robinson.

It’s hard to find fault with the William Hayes deal from the Dolphins’ perspective. From the Rams’ side, however, the deal is a bit perplexing. Hayes had two years to go on his three-year, $17.5MM contract, a good value considering the way that lesser pass rushers have gotten paid since then. It seems that Phillips didn’t like his chances of transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. If Hayes (and McDonald, for that matter) breaks out in Miami, there will be a lot of second guessing going on in L.A. On a related note, Hayes’ deal was shortened to allow him to reach the free agent market after the 2017 season.

The Rams moved back in the second round and got themselves a new starting tight end seven spots down. Gerald Everett will now take the place of Kendricks in the offense and the Rams are hoping for better results. Interestingly, the Rams’ failsafe for Everett is also a relative youngster. Tyler Higbee, who slid down draft boards in 2016 thanks to his off-field behavior, is expected to see significant snaps behind the rookie. Beyond them, there’s Cory Harkey – a relatively unknown holdover from the old regime – and 2016 sixth-round choice Temarrick Hemingway. If the Rams don’t like what they see from the TE group in August, don’t be surprised if they look at external options.

Rams fans were tired of waiting for Greg Robinson to do something at the professional level and so were the Rams. When Taylor Decker went down with an injury, the Rams pawned the former No. 2 overall pick off on the Lions in exchange for a sixth-round choice. Maybe a change of scenery will do Robinson good, but it was abundantly clear that things were just not going to work for him with the Rams. In each of the last three seasons, the advanced numbers have pegged Robinson as one of the league’s worst tackles.

Draft picks:

2-44: Gerald Everett, TE (South Alabama)
3-69: Cooper Kupp, WR (Eastern Washington)
3-91: John Johnson, S (Boston College)
4-117: Josh Reynolds, WR (Texas A&M)
4-125: Samson Ebukam, LB (Eastern Washington)
6-189: Tanzel Smart, DT (Tulane)
6-206: Sam Rogers, FB (Virginia Tech)
7-234: Ejuan Price, DE (Pitt)

The Rams did not have a first-round choice in this year’s draft thanks to the Jared Goff trade of 2016. After this year, we might have a better handle on whether that was a smart trade for L.A.

Other:

Hired Sean McVay to replace Jeff Fisher / John Fassel (interim).
Hired Matt LaFleur as offensive coordinator to replace Rob Boras. Hired former Jaguars OC Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach.
Hired Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator to replace Gregg Williams. Hired former Redskins DC Joe Barry as assistant head coach/linebackers.
Exercised 2018 fifth-year option for DT Aaron Donald ($6.892MM).
Claimed C Austin Blythe off waivers from the Rams.
Claimed DT Mike Purcell off waivers from the 49ers.
Learned CB Troy Hill was suspended two games (substance abuse).
Signed RFA OL Ryan Groy to two-year, $5MM offer sheet. Bills matched the offer.
Signed, then released, DT Tyrunn Walker following rape allegations.
Signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents.

This offseason, the Rams made Sean McVay the youngest coach in the NFL’s modern era. He might not have as much experience as other candidates, but his fresh perspective is exciting to GM Les Snead.

“Exciting, because you see the young head coach but you also see him bring this unbelievable energy and passion to the job with that thought of how he wants to put together his staff and the puzzle there and what he’s trying to accomplish,” the GM said. “You’re working together to problem-solve, come up with solutions, come up with decisions and try to come up with what’s best for the Rams…. You can feel the chemistry developing based on just rolling up your sleeves and going to work and making your first decisions together.”

The former Redskins offensive coordinator has developed a reputation as a quarterback whisperer after helping to turn Kirk Cousins into a top signal caller. Goff was inconsistent under center last year and the Rams are hoping that McVay will be able to get him on the right track. Ultimately, the fates of the young quarterback and the young coach may be tied together.

McVay is not daunted by the challenge of being a 31-year-old head coach and he’ll even be calling the plays on offense. On the other side of the ball, veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is calling the shots. The Broncos effectively let Phillips skip town this offseason and the Rams were thrilled to give him a new home.

Top 10 cap charges for 2017:

Trumaine Johnson, CB: $16,742,400
Tavon Austin, WR: $14,977,116
Mark Barron, LB: $11,000,000
Michael Brockers, DT: $11,000,000
Robert Quinn, LB $10,750,334
Andrew Whitworth, T: $9,166,666
Alec Ogletree, LB: $8,369,000
Robert Woods, WR: $7,000,000
Jared Goff, QB: $6,349,471
Rodger Saffold, G: $6,190,983

The worst contract in this bunch probably belongs to Tavon Austin, and he inked his extension less than one year ago. Austin, 26, hasn’t done a whole lot to justify being taken No. 8 overall in 2013. Now, he has a deal that averages $10.5MM through the 2021 season. Last year, Austin set a career high with 58 catches, but he averaged only 8.8 yards per grab. Next year, the Rams can drop Austin if they’re willing to take on $5MM in dead money while saving $3MM against the cap. If he can’t take a step forward, don’t be surprised if McVay & Co. cut ties.

Information from Over the Cap and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Finding A Fit For RB DeAngelo Williams

July 5th, 2017 at 6:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Two years ago, at the age of 32, DeAngelo Williams started 10 games for the Steelers and produced 11 rushing touchdowns, 4.5 yards per carry, and 40 receptions through the air while filling in for Le’Veon Bell, who had been suspended and subsequently injured. In 2016, sidelined for seven games by his own health questions, Williams managed only 3.5 yards per touch on 98 attempts.

Thus far, Williams hasn’t been linked directly linked to any clubs, but he made clear earlier today that he intends to play during the 2017 campaign. It’s possible that he’ll have to wait for an injury to occur before receiving a call, something to which Williams alluded to today. I recently ranked Williams as the third-best free agent back available, behind fellow veterans Chris Johnson and Rashad Jennings.

Williams said today there are four teams he won’t play for, but wouldn’t identify those clubs, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. With the hope that we’re not listing one of those squads, let’s take a look at six teams that could use Williams immediately:

Detroit Lions

Detroit’s 2016 rushing offense was, by almost any measure, putrid. On an NFL-low 350 rushing attempts, the Lions finished 27th in yards per carry, 25th in DVOA, and 31st in adjusted line yards, the latter a measure of a club’s offensive line strength. Detroit attempted to rectify its front five this offseason, swapping out Larry Warford and Riley Reiff for T.J. Lang and Ricky Wagner, but the team’s crop of backs has essentially remained stagnant. Getting former second-round pick Ameer Abdullah back from a Lisfranc injury should help matters, and the Lions have praised reserve Dwayne Washington, but the club’s only free agent addition or draft choice in the backfield was former Viking Matt Asiata, who plodded to a 3.3 yards per carry average a season ago. Williams, then, could offer Detroit a bit more dynamic safety net behind its younger runners.

Los Angeles Chargers

Among the 19 running backs that managed at least 200 carries in 2016, Melvin Gordon finished 13th with only 3.93 yards per rush. So although he scored 10 touchdowns on the ground, it stands to reason the former first-round pick could use a breather from time to time. Kenneth Farrow, who served as Gordon’s primary backup last season, posted only 3.2 yards per carry on 60 attempts, while Branden Oliver (who hasn’t seen the field since October 2015), Andre Williams, and Kenjon Barner aren’t exactly an inspiring crop. With Danny Woodhead having left via free agency, the Chargers have a need for a back like Williams, who can succeed in the passing game.

Los Angeles Rams

Like Gordon, Todd Gurley struggled from a lack of team running back depth, as he finished 19th out of 19 on the list linked above with just 3.18 yards per attempt. The Rams offense was a disaster as a whole, ranking 32nd in both pass and rushing DVOA. Los Angeles has seemingly found a fix at left tackle, upgrading from Greg Robinson to Andrew Whitworth, and are now 18th in Pro Football Focus‘ offseason offensive line rankings. Still, when the “running back” with the most carries behind Gurley is Tavon Austin with 28, backups are an issue. The Rams already signed former Cowboy Lance Dunbar to handle third-down work, but Williams would offer a more prototypical skill-set as a reserve.

Miami Dolphins

Jay Ajayi was excellent during his second NFL season, rushing for more than 1,200 yards while ranking seventh in DYAR and finishing third in PFF’s running back grades. But there are certainly reasons to be concerned about Ajayi, and chief among them is the knee issues that led to his draft slide in 2015. Severe knee injuries scared off teams that year, and Ajayi has put a lot of work in during the past four seasons. Between Boise State and Miami, Ajayi has managed 249 carries in three of the past four seasons (including a whopping 347 attempts during his final collegiate campaign). Personally, I’m a fan of backup of Damien Williams, but his lack of production during his three-year NFL tenure may leave the Dolphins looking for an experienced reserve such as DeAngelo Williams.

New York Giants

The Giants regard second-year runner Paul Perkins as a three-down back, but they haven’t added much insurance in the event Perkins doesn’t perform (or gets injured) in 2016. Shaun Draughn and Orleans Darkwa haven’t done much in their limited NFL action, Shane Vereen has proven himself to be a passing game specialist, while fourth-round rookie Wayne Gallman was labeled an impatient runner and compared to journeyman Khiry Robinson in Lance Zierlein’s NFL.com predraft profile. Big Blue’s rushing attack ranked 26th in DVOA a season ago, and doesn’t figure to improve if Perkins doesn’t grow into a No. 1 role. Still, the Giants are the least likely club on this list to bring in Williams or any other veteran.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Williams was an excellent investment for the Steelers, as he provided stability in the club’s backfield (especially in 2015) while earning only $4MM over the life of a two-year contract. He could conceivably play a similar role for Pittsburgh in 2017, but the Steelers have added other factors behind Le’Veon Bell. In addition to signing free agent Knile Davis, Pittsburgh also spent a third-round choice on local product James Conner. Fitzgerald Toussaint is also in the discussion for backup carries after posting 4.1 yards per attempt in 58 touches last year. General manager Kevin Colbert said in March the Steelers weren’t yet closing the door on Williams, but that statement was made before Pittsburgh draft Conner. Williams himself said today he wasn’t ruling out a return to the Steelers.

Extension Candidate: Akiem Hicks

July 4th, 2017 at 8:03pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As a quality player entering a contract year, Bears lineman Akiem Hicks has a realistic chance of ending up as one of the richest defenders in next winter’s free agent class. While there’s no indication that the Bears have prioritized an extension for Hicks, it’s fair to suggest that an ideal scenario for general manager Ryan Pace would include keeping the five-year veteran in the fold for the long haul.

In March 2016, Hicks’ first trip to free agency, Pace lured him from New England on a two-year, $10MM deal. Hicks entered the NFL in 2012 as a third-round pick of the Saints, who employed Pace at the time. Three years later, New Orleans deemed Hicks expendable, sending him to the Patriots for tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. That proved to be yet another shrewd move by the Pats, with whom Hicks fared well across 13 games in 2015 before departing for a richer payday.

Pace made an astute decision of his own when he signed Hicks, as the 318-pounder thrived last year while taking on more responsibility than he had in either New Orleans or New England. Hicks tied a career high with 16 starts and established new personal bests in snaps (930, which led all Bears defensive linemen), tackles (54), sacks (seven) and forced fumbles (two). Those are impressive traditional numbers, and Hicks also fared well in terms of advanced metrics, as Pro Football Focus ranked his performance a stellar 15th among 127 qualified interior D-linemen last season.

Now, eight months from potentially becoming a free agent again, Hicks is in the market for a new representative, and he seems cognizant that he’s on the verge of a raise.

“I am a free agent that is almost a free agent,” Hicks said last month. “You get it?”

Preventing an unsigned Hicks from leaving Chicago via the franchise tag next winter would cost the club a lofty amount, somewhere in the $17MM neighborhood. With that in mind, when the defensive end hires an agent, it would behoove Pace to reach out to his representative regarding an extension. The question is: What would be a fair offer for the 27-year-old Hicks, who went from a solid lineman from 2012-15, when he combined for 33 starts and 9.5 sacks, to a borderline excellent one last season? Among PFF’s other top 15 interior linemen from last year, several have recently landed contracts, including Calais Campbell (No. 2), Kawann Short (No. 3), Fletcher Cox (No. 5), Damon Harrison (No. 7), Mike Daniels (No. 9) and Malik Jackson (No. 12). Here’s a quick rundown of those deals:

Campbell: Four years, $60MM, including $30MM guaranteed (March 2017)
Short: Five years, $80MM, including $35MM guaranteed (April 2017)
Cox: Six years, $103MM, including $63MM guaranteed (June 2016)
Harrison: Five years, $46.25MM, including $24MM guaranteed (March 2016)
Daniels: Four years, $42MM, including $12MM guaranteed (December 2015)
Jackson: Six years, $90MM, including $42MM guaranteed (March 2016)

At around $10MM per year over a handful of seasons, the Harrison and Daniels contracts look like more reasonable benchmarks than the others for Hicks, though the guaranteed money would likely have to approach Harrison’s total. It’s important to note that the salary cap has risen since those two signed, and it’s only going to continue going up. Both the NFL’s ever-increasing cap and another terrific season would enable Hicks to further make his case for something closer to the pact Campbell landed earlier this offseason. So, having already received one decent-sized payday in his career, it’s possible Hicks will bet on himself this year, go without an extension and try to play his way to Campbell-type money (if not more) by next winter.

Poll: Which 2016 Division Winners Will Miss Playoffs?

July 4th, 2017 at 5:19pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A year ago at this time, the Broncos, Panthers and Cardinals were popular picks to rank among the NFL’s elite teams in 2016. Denver was the reigning Super Bowl champion, after all, while Carolina was coming off a 15-1, conference-winning campaign and Arizona was second to the Panthers in the NFC. Each of those teams won their divisions two years ago, and not only were they unable to repeat that feat in 2016, but all three watched the playoffs from home last winter. They were among a whopping six division-winning clubs from 2015 that failed to qualify for the playoffs last season, joining the Bengals, Redskins and Vikings.

If the volatility from 2015 to ’16 is any indication, some of the league’s eight division champions from last year are in trouble as the upcoming season approaches. Once again, both Super Bowl representatives won their divisions in 2016, with the Patriots coasting in the AFC East and the Falcons knocking the Panthers from the NFC South throne. Like the Pats and the Falcons, the Chiefs, Steelers, Texans, Cowboys, Seahawks and Packers are aiming to repeat atop their divisions this season.

Of those teams, the Patriots look as though they’re in the best position to secure their division again. The Bill Belichick– and Tom Brady-led outfit has ruled the AFC East eight consecutive times, and during New England’s latest Lombardi Trophy-winning season, the club was a 14-2 juggernaut that easily led the league in point differential. While Brady’s a year older, set to enter his age-40 season, he hasn’t shown any signs of mortality, and even if he suffers an injury or falls off dramatically in 2017, the Patriots may have a starting-caliber quarterback behind him in Jimmy Garoppolo. Of course, there’s also plenty of talent on hand elsewhere on the Pats’ roster, including new additions in wide receiver Brandin Cooks, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, defensive lineman Kony Ealy, linebacker David Harris, tight end Dwayne Allen and running back Mike Gillislee.

There might not be any shoo-ins to repeat among the league’s seven other returning division winners, but it’s hard to bet against clubs with franchise quarterbacks. In the cases of the Falcons (Matt Ryan), Packers (Aaron Rodgers), Seahawks (Russell Wilson) and Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger), there’s little reason to expect anything other than excellence from under center, which makes potential playoff berths more realistic for each. The Cowboys also seem to have an outstanding signal-caller in sophomore Dak Prescott, who was so stunningly great as a fourth-round rookie that he took Tony Romo‘s job and essentially forced the four-time Pro Bowler into retirement.

Kansas City (Alex Smith) and Houston (Tom Savage) aren’t as well off under center, though the Chiefs have done plenty of winning in the regular season since turning to Smith in 2013. But if he and the untested Savage disappoint this year, they have first-rounders behind them in Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, respectively. Poor performances or injuries could force either Mahomes or Watson into action, perhaps paving the way for the emergence of a Prescott-like rookie this year in KC or Houston and making another postseason appearance more likely.

While some of these teams look to be in enviable shape at QB, the game’s most important position, things could still go awry. The Panthers had the reigning MVP 12 months ago in Cam Newton, but his play took massive steps backward, as did the team’s, en route to a 6-10 season and a last-place NFC South finish. The likelihood is that some of last year’s division winners will end up in similar situations in 2017, going from playoff teams to bitter disappointments overnight.

Which of last year's division winners will miss the playoffs this season?

Texans 36.19% (2,560 votes)

Chiefs 22.65% (1,602 votes)

Cowboys 13.81% (977 votes)

Falcons 8.12% (574 votes)

Seahawks 7.15% (506 votes)

Steelers 5.17% (366 votes)

Packers 4.41% (312 votes)

Patriots 2.49% (176 votes)

Total Votes: 7,073

Only 10 NFL Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

July 4th, 2017 at 11:15am CST by Zachary Links

Rookie contracts are no longer a negotiation nightmare for general managers, but some deals take longer than others to come together. When PFR’s Dallas Robinson checked in on unsigned rookies in June, there were a dozen stragglers. Weeks later, we still have ten players without deals, including some very notable names:

First Round

1-2: Mitch Trubisky, QB (Bears)
1-3: Solomon Thomas, DL (49ers)
1-5: Corey Davis, WR (Titans)
1-6: Jamal Adams, S (Jets)
1-10: Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs)
1-24: Gareon Conley, CB (Raiders)
1-25: Jabrill Peppers, S (Browns)

Second Round

2-56: Obi Melifonwu, S (Raiders)

Third Round

3-88: Eddie Vanderdoes, DT (Raiders)
3-93: Montravius Adams, DT (Packers)

Nearly 22% of this year’s first round picks are still without contracts and the likely culprit is offset language. No one wants to be this year’s Joey Bosa, but teams don’t want to risk having a holdout situation in training camp either. For what it’s worth, Trubisky says that he’ll be practicing with the Bears no matter what. The 49ers’ situation with Thomas, on the other hand, has the potential to get complicated. The Niners already made a big concession when they agreed to give No. 31 overall pick Reuben Foster guarantees that extend into his fourth year, so they could have a hard time standing their ground with Thomas on something like offset language. Last year, it took the Niners and Joshua Garnett until July 29th to agree to terms. They might have to play the waiting game again with this year’s first round pick from Stanford.

Besides the glut of unsigned first round picks, the list also has one other common thread: the Raiders. Although the Raiders have agreed to terms with six of their draft picks, their top three rookies remain unsigned. The extended talks for Conley, Mlifonwu, and Vanderdoes could be a sign that the Raiders are holding firm on the same issue, but they could also be for entirely different reasons.

In the case of Conley, his legal situation could be holding things up, in addition to the typical offset language issues with first round picks. Vanderdoes is only one of two third round stragglers this year, but as we saw in 2016, negotiations with third rounders can be complicated. That’s because base salaries are usually maxed out for all first- and second-round picks while picks in rounds 4-7 receive the minimum. However, there is no set number for third round picks, which means that there is extra wiggle room.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Offset Language

July 4th, 2017 at 10:26am CST by Zachary Links

Since the NFL’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement has made rookie contracts fairly regimented, negotiations between teams and draft picks have become smoother than ever, with few – if any – players expected to be unsigned by the time training camp gets underway. Still, ten players have yet to ink their rookie deals, including several first-rounders:

1-2: Mitch Trubisky, QB (Bears)
1-3: Solomon Thomas, DL (49ers)
1-5: Corey Davis, WR (Titans)
1-6: Jamal Adams, S (Jets)
1-10: Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs)
1-24: Gareon Conley, CB (Raiders)
1-25: Jabrill Peppers, S (Browns)

Although we don’t know the inner workings of each negotiation, one factor that continues to play a role in contracts for first-round picks relates to offset language. Over the last several years, only a handful of players in each year have managed to avoid having offsets language written into their deals. In 2015, Marcus Mariota‘s camp haggled with the Titans until the two sides finally reached an accord with partial offset language, a compromise that was not consummated until late July. Last year, Joey Bosa’s holdout dominated headlines until the linebacker inked his deal on August 29th. In most cases, a lack of offsets for a player simply relies on which team drafted him — clubs like the Rams and Jaguars traditionally haven’t pushed to include offsets in contracts for their top picks, even in an era where most other teams around the league do.

Offset language relates to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the first four years of his career, while he’s still playing on his rookie contract. For the top 15 to 20 picks in the draft, those four-year salaries will be fully guaranteed, even if a player is waived at some point during those four seasons. For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.

However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. If there’s no offset language on that first deal, the old team would continue to be on the hook for the full $4MM, and the player would simply earn an additional $1MM from his new club.

Although the negotiation of offset language might potentially delay a rookie’s signing, the offsets rarely come into play, since few top picks flame out badly enough that they’re released during their first four seasons. And even in those rare instances, if a player has performed poorly enough to be cut in his first few years, he likely won’t sign a lucrative deal elsewhere, so offset language wouldn’t help his old club recover more than perhaps the league minimum.

Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry, modified from an earlier post by PFR editor emeritus Luke Adams. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Information from OverTheCap.com was used in the creation of this post.

Poll: Will The Bucs Make The Playoffs?

July 4th, 2017 at 9:09am CST by Zachary Links

In 2007, the Jon Gruden-led Buccaneers won the NFC South with a 9-7 record, but quarterback Jeff Garcia could not get his squad past the Giants in the Wild Card round. In the nine years since, the Bucs have not returned to the postseason. Yup, its been a while since the Bucs have been in the playoffs.

This year, the Buccaneers are hoping to snap their skid after making a handful of key roster upgrades. The biggest splash was the addition of DeSean Jackson and the speedy veteran should give Jameis Winston a steady deep ball threat to work with. Last year, Winston pretty much had to make do without Vincent Jackson, so the presence of DJax should represent a major boost for the offense. They say speed doesn’t age well, but the 30-year-old hasn’t really lost a step. In 2016, Jackson led the NFL in yards per reception for the second time in his career as he totaled 56 receptions for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns.

Cameron Brate was a revelation for the Bucs last season. This season, opposing defenses may find themselves in double trouble as rookie O.J. Howard comes into the picture. The Alabama star was widely projected as a top 10 pick coming into the draft, so GM Jason Licht was doing cartwheels when he had the opportunity to snag him at No. 19 overall. At 6’6″, Howard has the size to win almost any jump ball and also has the speed to beat most linebackers across the middle of the field. In a two tight end set with Howard and the 6’5″ Brate, Dirk Koetter‘s Bucs could create one of the league’s biggest matchup nightmares.

On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers have retooled their safety group with the additions of second round pick Justin Evans and former Cowboy J.J. Wilcox. Those two plus the returning Chris Conte should help turn one of the team’s former weaknesses into a strength. It also helps that the Bucs safeties will be sandwiched between standout corners Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes.

Will the Bucs’ offseason moves be enough to propel them to the playoffs in 2017? Cast your vote and back up your decision in the comment section.

Will The Bucs Make The Playoffs This Year?

Yes 63.86% (585 votes)

No 36.14% (331 votes)

Total Votes: 916

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