PFR Originals News & Rumors

The Ravens Need To Sign TE Gary Barnidge

July 3rd, 2017 at 6:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Perhaps no position group has taken as many hits as the Ravens’ tight ends over the past month, as Dennis Pitta suffered another devastating hip injury in early June (which ultimately led to his release and will likely end his career) while athletic backup Darren Waller was hit with a one-year PED suspension last week. With Pitta and Waller out of the picture for 2017, Baltimore is left with five tight ends on its roster: Ben Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, Nick Boyle, and Ryan Malleck, all of whom come with significant risk.

Watson is entering his age-36 campaign coming off a torn Achilles, but he’s likely to make the Ravens’ roster after accepting a pay reduction earlier this year. Having missed 15 games over the past two seasons, and dealing with back and leg injuries, Gillmore is no bet to be available next year. The same goes for Williams, a former second-round pick who may begin the 2017 campaign on the PUP list, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Boyle, meanwhile, has already been banned twice for PEDs (a third positive test would net him a yearlong suspension, à la Waller), while Malleck is a 2016 undrafted free agent with no game experience.

Given the amount of question marks among their tight ends, the Ravens need to consider scouring the free agent market for reinforcements. While other players such as Ladarius Green or Jacob Tamme could be on Baltimore’s radar, the most reliable veteran who still remains unsigned is former Brown Gary Barnidge, whom Zrebiec notes (Twitter link) would make for a sensible Ravens target. I didn’t originally list Baltimore as a potential destination for Barnidge when I ran down landing spots for him in May, but given the events of the past month, the Ravens should give Barnidge a call.

While Barnidge could simply serve as insurance for the Ravens, he might also represent improvement over the club’s tight end production from a year ago. While Pitta finished first among tight ends in receptions, and seventh in yards, various advanced metrics indicate he wasn’t all that successful on a rate basis in 2016. Among 46 qualified tight ends, Pitta finished 45th in DYAR and 40th in DVOA (both are metrics from Football Outsiders which measure a receiver’s value). Pro Football Focus was also critical of Pitta’s 2016 play, ranking him 47th among 63 tight ends.

Barnidge, on the other hand, ranked higher than Pitta in all three metrics (15th in DYAR, 13th in DVOA, 25th in PFF’s grades). On a yards per reception basis, Barnidge finished with 11.13 YPR while Pitta managed only 8.48 YPR, second-to-last among tight ends with at least 25 receptions. The 31-year-old Barnidge has also done well on deep passes, long a staple of Baltimore’s offense. On passes that travel more than 20 yards in the air, Barnidge ranked third and 15th in yardage among tight ends in 2015 and 2016, respectively, according to Mark Chichester of Pro Football Focus.

Of course, a tight end is responsible for not only receiving, but blocking, and after losing right tackle Ricky Wagner to free agency, the Ravens can use all the edge blocking help they can get. PFF ranked Baltimore’s offensive line 23rd heading into the 2017 season, specifically noting question marks at right tackle, where James Hurst is now projected to start. Barnidge can aid in that capacity, as PFF graded him as the No. 1 pass-blocking tight end in the league in 2016.

Barnidge could also benefit from staying in the AFC North, as none of the clubs in the division besides Baltimore are above-average at defending the tight end. Cleveland, Barnidge’s former team, ranked dead last in DVOA against tight ends last season, allowing an average of 7.2 receptions and 63.4 yards per game (30.2% worse than the NFL mean). Neither the Steelers (13) nor the Bengals (15) could crack the top-10 in DVOA against opposing tight ends, either.

In terms of salary, it’s difficult to believe Barnidge will be able to command much more than a incentive-laden minimum deal, especially given that he hasn’t been signed yet. Even so, adding Barnidge could be difficult for the Ravens, who rank third-to-last in the NFL with only $5.833MM in cap space, per Over the Cap. Baltimore could potentially restructure the contracts of veterans such as Jimmy Smith, Marshal Yanda, or Eric Weddle to create a bit of breathing room if it wants to bring in Barnidge.

Poll: Who Should Browns Start At Quarterback?

July 2nd, 2017 at 7:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hue Jackson identified the goal to name a starting quarterback by the Browns’ preseason opener. While that might be ambitious given that the team again brought in multiple new pieces to vie for this job, that date is approaching fast. And Cleveland boasts one of the more NFL’s more interesting quarterback competitions.

The Cody Kessler-vs.-DeShone Kizer-vs.-Brock Osweiler battle brings disparate profiles. While the Browns aren’t exactly in position to challenge for a playoff spot now, they spent an offseason loading up on long-term deals for when they are. So, establishing a quarterback now will be important.

Kessler entered the Browns’ offseason program as the man to beat here. The former USC passer and 2016 third-rounder was thrust into action midway through last season after injuries befell both players in front of him.

Although he obviously did not win any games, going 0-8 as a starter, the 6-foot-1 Kessler fared decently for a player viewed as more of a developmental project. He completed 66 percent of his passes and threw six touchdown passes compared to two interceptions despite the Browns not having much in the way of skill-position depth.

Kizer, though, closed the gap during OTAs and minicamp. The Browns having made a second-round investment in the former Notre Dame signal-caller positions him well in the quarterback-of-the-future discussion. The team is not interested in the 6-4 player sitting just to sit this season, with Jackson saying he will play if he’s ready.

Viewed as relatively raw and coming with the kind of questions his 2017 rookie-QB peers also had, the 21-year-old Kizer may benefit from observing for a bit. But he’s not exactly blocked by a proven player, so Jackson may want to get him reps soon. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot saw Kizer show superior physical skills during OTAs compared to the other quarterbacks, and QBs coach David Lee said the rookie has a bright NFL future.

The obvious wild card here after arriving in one of the weirdest trades in NFL history, Osweiler has impressed thus far. He brings the most experience, even if no action of consequence occurred until his fourth season, but is a polarizing presence after the way the Texans season unfolded.

Osweiler is being paid $16MM this year as part of the agreement with the Texans, and he helped the 2015 Broncos secure home-field advantage en route to their Super Bowl title. But after his Denver audition had peaks and valleys, the 26-year-old passer bombed in Houston, throwing 16 interceptions and limiting the Texans’ offense. Lee is working on refining the 6-7 quarterback’s three-quarters delivery, and Cabot notes he is a viable threat to start in Week 1.

Kessler probably has the best handle on Jackson’s system, with Kizer having a higher upside as of now. One anonymous exec still thinks the Browns will find a way to trade Osweiler before the season. The team tried to do so after acquiring him, making Osweiler’s chances at securing the job interesting. But he also isn’t facing the kind of steep odds most backup-type passers are around the league. Kevin Hogan is also on the team, and Jackson said he would receive first-team reps, but the 2016 fifth-rounder is not likely to be a serious candidate come camp.

So, who will win this job? Did Kessler show enough on a 1-15 team last season to earn another opportunity? Or will Jackson throw Kizer into the fire despite his age and seeming need for development? How much of a chance do you give Osweiler here? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Who will be the Browns' starting quarterback?

Brock Osweiler 46.40% (1,127 votes)

Cody Kessler 30.18% (733 votes)

DeShone Kizer 19.88% (483 votes)

Kevin Hogan 3.54% (86 votes)

Total Votes: 2,429

PFR Originals: 6/25/17 – 7/2/17

July 2nd, 2017 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

The Chiefs are the latest team to mount a GM search well into the offseason. PFR’s Zach Links compiled a list of the candidates Kansas City is considering to replace John Dorsey. Some familiar names from past 2017 searches popped up, and the Chiefs have contacted multiple internal candidates to replace Dorsey. The recently fired GM held this title since the beginning of the 2013 offseason.
Nick Fairley was dealt a brutal blow recently, and the heart condition the Saints defensive tackle encountered will cost him at least the 2017 season — and maybe the rest of his NFL career. As for the Saints, who re-signed Fairley in March after a productive 2016, PFR’s Dallas Robinson looked at a variety of ways the team can attempt to replace the ailing interior defender. From trades for players like the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson or the Browns’ Desmond Bryant, to the free agent market — where the likes of Jared Odrick and Vince Wilfork still reside — many assistance avenues are mentioned.
The Patriots are as of now a runaway favorite to repeat as AFC champions, but after that, a glut of contenders are on roughly the same level. I asked readers who they thought would be the chief challenger to New England this season. As of Sunday afternoon, the Raiders are the clear leader. The Steelers and “other” are in second and third, respectively, with many fans evidently seeing some sleepers I left off as more viable threats than the Chiefs or Texans.
Thanks to the fifth-year option, players like Odell Beckham Jr. and Aaron Donald are under team control for two more years at salaries far below market value. I took a look at how this issue is affecting them and other players, such as the Raiders’ Khalil Mack, around the league in PFR’s latest Community Tailgate piece. Weigh in with your thoughts about how these fourth-year players should proceed as training camp nears.
The Vikings have a player who is closer to his contract year than the aforementioned superstars, and PFR’s Rory Parks took a look at how an extension for Xavier Rhodes would play out. The 2013 first-round pick is set to play 2017 on a fifth-year option as of now. The Falcons’ recent Desmond Trufant re-up looks to provide reasonable parameters for Minnesota’s talks with Trufant.

Extension Candidate: Xavier Rhodes

July 2nd, 2017 at 9:46am CST by Rory Parks

The Vikings’ defense finished 2016 ninth in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), third in yards allowed per game, and sixth in points allowed per game. In short, Minnesota boasted a pretty strong defense, and there is a lot of credit to go around for that performance.

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes deserves a great deal of that credit. Rhodes, whom the Vikings selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, turned in the best season of his career in 2016, which earned him his first Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics were fairly kind to his overall effort, as Rhodes graded out as the 29th-best corner in the league out of 111 qualified players, but PFF really loved his performance against the run, where he graded as the top CB in football. Whatever issues he had in coverage he helped to make up for with his five interceptions, one of which he returned 100 yards for a score.

Minnesota picked up Rhodes’ fifth-year option last year, so he is currently under contract through 2017, and he is set to earn a tidy $8.026MM this season. But that doesn’t mean Rhodes wouldn’t be open to a long-term deal, and the Vikings do have a history of signing key players to extensions during contract years. Indeed, we heard back in February that the team was expected to begin negotiating a new contract with Rhodes, and while there have been no public reports of such negotiations, it does not appear that either side has put a deadline on contract talks. As such, it could be that a deal gets hammered out at some point during the season.

Former NFL agent Joel Corry says Desmond Trufant‘s recent extension with the Falcons could serve as a barometer for Rhodes’ negotiations with Minnesota. Trufant, whose total contract value is currently the third-highest in the league among cornerbacks — and who was drafted three picks ahead of Rhodes — pulled down a five-year, $68.75MM deal from Atlanta, including $41.53MM in guaranteed money. In addition to being just about the same age, Trufant and Rhodes are similarly talented players, both solid in coverage and stout against the run, so it would not be a surprise to see Rhodes land a contract that matches or exceeds Trufant’s pact.

Since he became a full-time starter in 2014, Rhodes has also been pretty durable. He started all 16 regular-season contests in 2014 and 2015, and after missing the first two weeks of 2016 with a knee injury, he started and finished the remaining 14 games. The Vikings have about $13.5MM in cap space at the moment (under the Rule of 51), so theoretically they could even front-load a Rhodes extension to give themselves some wiggle room down the road. In any event, expect to see Rhodes and fellow Pro Bowler Harrison Smith sharing Minnesota’s defensive backfield for the next few years.

Community Tailgate: Fifth-Year Options

July 1st, 2017 at 7:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

A few of the NFL’s best players find themselves in contract predicaments due largely to the CBA, and their courses of action could become major issues for their respective teams.

Thanks to the fifth-year option, Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack — and many others from a talented 2014 first-round contingent — are tied to the franchises that drafted them for two more seasons as part of their rookie contracts. Despite several of these players having outperformed their deals, none more than the aforementioned trio, these performers are all attached to 2017 salaries far below their market values.

Beckham did not show for Giants OTAs before reporting in advance of minicamp, and although the superstar wideout has downplayed concerns about his contract going into his fourth season, John Mara categorized this extension as a lower-priority matter right now. That likely wouldn’t be the case if Beckham had been a second-round pick.

Donald gave a non-answer regarding a potential training camp holdout. Though he’s been in talks with the team on a new deal, that situation appears to be dragging. The two-time All-Pro has become the league’s top defensive tackle, but his situation doesn’t leave him the kind of leverage then-UFA Ndamukong Suh had when he set the bar at six years and $114MM.

Despite being the defensive player of the year, Mack looks like he will have to wait until 2018 to secure a long-term commitment from the Raiders. While Reggie McKenzie said Mack will be re-signed — likely for more money than any defender has made — the fact that the player who is probably the Raiders’ best has to wait behind other standouts from his draft class simply because Derek Carr and Gabe Jackson‘s deals didn’t include fifth-year options is a loophole. It affects top talents annually.

Other players like Mike Evans, Anthony Barr and Jadeveon Clowney are part of the above group. But in the case of Beckham, Mack and Donald, these are three elite NFL talents who are tied to modest amounts while lesser players from the ’14 draft are prioritized because they are entering their contract years. Von Miller and Muhammad Wilkerson had to wait five years for their extensions, with teams also having the more lucrative franchise tag to apply as a stall tactic. It worked out for those stalwart defenders, but this system creates drama consistently.

Teddy Bridgewater can be used as an example of it backfiring, although the timing was different. The Vikings declined Bridgewater’s fifth-year option months after his knee injury put his career in jeopardy. While Bridgewater was not eligible for an extension at the time he was hurt, the Vikings almost certainly would have picked up his option in March to keep him around on an $11MM-plus salary in 2018. Now, the quarterback’s camp could be preparing for a battle since a PUP list stay could cause the fourth-year passer’s contract to toll, thus tying him to his Year 4 salary ($2.18MM) for another season. That would be quite the fall after being in line for a possible extension down the road.

Attached to respective salaries of $3.23MM, $3.31MM and $5.94MM, Donald, Beckham and Mack don’t have many courses of action. They could hold out, however, to apply pressure to their teams.

The Giants and Raiders wouldn’t be the same without their superstar 2014 draftees, and while the Rams haven’t made the playoffs with Donald around and are in more of a rebuilding phase now, they would certainly be weakened without Donald’s services. But the players could incur $30K fines per day by doing this. That’s not exactly a harsh deterrent to someone who stands to sign for more than $100MM at some point, but given that such money isn’t assured yet, these penalties would be more severe.

These options have turned out to be quite team-friendly, despite the pay increases that come in Year 5. They also delay a first-rounders’ prospective free agencies as peers chosen in later rounds venture onto the open market, forcing teams to pay for another prime year of service. Robert Griffin III and D.J. Fluker found out how unfriendly the options can be to players after their teams rescinded them free of charge over the past two offseasons.

But this setup is the law until a new CBA emerges. For the time being, fourth- or fifth-year players who feel they’ve outperformed their deals will be thrust into uncertainty the way some of their peers drafted later aren’t.

So, should talents like Beckham and Donald follow through with holdouts to ratchet up the pressure? Or would showing goodwill toward their teams by working until an extension comes be a better course of action? Should teams display more expediency regarding these deals to avoid these situations, in an effort to show future players they are valued? Or are the pay bumps that come in Year 5 enough to justify the delays? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Poll: Who Is Patriots’ Top AFC Challenger?

July 1st, 2017 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

An offseason that saw the Patriots trade several draft picks for immediate help leaves the defending Super Bowl champions as the favorite to at least defend their AFC title. Las Vegas is inclined to agree, with top sites showing a sizable odds gap between the Patriots and the AFC’s other contenders.

But if there’s a line of demarcation between the Pats and their competition, there doesn’t appear to be much of one separating the challenger tier. Several teams can make cases they are in the best position to push the Pats.

This conference hasn’t featured much parity this century, with only the 2012 Ravens infiltrating the Tom Brady/Peyton Manning/Ben Roethlisberger rotation on the Lamar Hunt Trophy since the 2002 season. The Steelers are certainly in this conversation, but what about a team not steeped in modern excellence?

Certainly, you’d first look to the AFC West as the division housing the most viable threats. The Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos reside among Vegas’ top challenging prospects, but none is without issue going into training camp.

The defending division champions just cut the player most figured would be their No. 1 wide receiver and fired their GM three weeks later. While the departures of Jeremy Maclin and John Dorsey aren’t necessarily deal-breakers for the Chiefs’ effort, they also did not do much to help their cause in free agency and used their top draft choices on players who might not see the field much in 2017. While Kansas City went 6-0 against its divisional brethren in 2016 en route to its first playoff bye since 2003, the Chiefs have not reached an AFC championship game in more than 20 years and have lost narrow divisional-round contests to more proven playoff franchises in the past two.

The Raiders are receiving more preseason hype and used June to lock in pieces of their core long-term in extending Derek Carr and Gabe Jackson. The team now has a mixture of hired guns and homegrown cogs to make a legitimate push after a long time away from the spotlight. Already possessing an ascending franchise quarterback and a top-flight offensive line, Oakland bolstered its offense with additions of Jared Cook, Cordarrelle Patterson and Marshawn Lynch. The Silver and Black, though, have not established much defensive success — Khalil Mack‘s dominance notwithstanding — and still have uncertainty on that unit.

Denver’s enjoyed the most success in stopping New England runs in recent years, but the Broncos’ run of playoff berths stalled at five last season. The defensive nucleus that spearheaded the Super Bowl 50 title remains, but the Broncos now have a new coach and new coordinators. They also have yet to establish a quarterback plan, and their offensive line has notable questions after a rough year. They did spend quite a bit to upgrade up front, however, and showed two years ago they don’t need a great offense to win a title.

While the Steelers have proven they can win in January, they didn’t fare well in Foxboro. Although they weren’t exactly a healthy operation by the AFC title game, the Steelers did not account themselves well that night. They might be the No. 1 AFC contender based on Roethlisberger and host of skill-position threats, but while the Patriots added several new pieces this offseason, the Steelers continued their cautious strategy when it comes to outside talent procurement. But the defending AFC North champions do return a strong outfit capable of making an AFC charge.

The AFC South houses the team that ranked No. 1 defensively last season, doing so without J.J. Watt for the most part, but the Texans also are without an immediate quarterback answer. Deshaun Watson could prove to be that in due time, but for the purposes of 2017, this query will follow Houston despite its defense’s potential. The Titans made a big jump last season and added some weaponry in 2017. They figure to make matters tougher on another Texans division crown. The Dolphins also ended their playoff drought and have an intriguing skill-position corps. Ryan Tannehill remains a question mark, though, as far as January viability goes, and Miami’s defense struggled in 2016.

So, who will be the top threat to stop the Patriots from repeating in the AFC? Who did we leave off that has a legitimate opportunity this season? Take PFR’s latest poll and drop your sleeper picks in the comments section.

Who is the Patriots' top AFC challenger?

Oakland Raiders 43.19% (777 votes)

Pittsburgh Steelers 25.74% (463 votes)

Other 16.23% (292 votes)

Kansas City Chiefs 6.89% (124 votes)

Denver Broncos 4.28% (77 votes)

Houston Texans 3.67% (66 votes)

Total Votes: 1,799

How The Saints Can Replace Nick Fairley

June 27th, 2017 at 7:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints officially placed defensive tackle Nick Fairley on the non-football injury list on Monday, ending Fairley’s 2017 season before it began and casting doubt on the future of his career. New Orleans already added one potential reinforcement earlier this month, agreeing to terms with veteran Tony McDaniel, but the club could still pursue more help on the interior.

Let’s take a look at the possible solutions for the Saints, beginning with players that could potentially be acquired via trade:

Trade options

Arik Armstead, 49ers — Now that the 49ers have made several additions to their defensive line, Armstead — the 17th overall selection just two years ago — could become expendable. Free agent signee Earl Mitchell is projected to start at defensive tackle alongside 2016 first-rounder DeForest Buckner, but a trade of Armstead could allow Buckner to see more snaps on the edge opposite Solomon Thomas. Dealing Armstead could also allow San Francisco to get Aaron Lynch more playing time at end. At 6’7″, 292 pounds, Armstead has the size to play the interior in the Saints’ 4-3 scheme.

Desmond Bryant, Browns — Bryant doesn’t fit in with a Browns team that is going young, and he’s entering the final year of his contract. He’s eminently affordable (he’d cost the Saints just $3MM), and, like others on this list, has the ability to play on the edge and inside. Bryant’s health is a question mark, as he missed the entire 2016 campaign with a torn pectoral, but he returned to Cleveland’s practice field last month. It’s possible the Browns release Bryant later this summer, so New Orleans wouldn’t even have to sacrifice a pick.

Vinny Curry, Eagles — Curry may be the unlikeliest trade candidate listed here, especially given that he just signed a five-year, $46.25MM extension last February. But the Eagles haven’t been afraid to deal recently-signed players in the past (see: Sam Bradford), and trading Curry would allow Philadelphia to part with his $7MM guaranteed base salary. Listed as a defensive end, Curry is an excellent pass rusher from the interior, but the snaps haven’t been there with the Eagles (43% in 2016). With Chris Long now in tow, Curry could struggle to find consistent playing time again next season.

Carl Davis, Ravens — Heading into the 2015 draft, Davis was considered a potential first- or second-round selection, but the Ravens ended up picking him up in the third round. After struggling through 239 defensive snaps during his rookie campaign, Davis missed all of 2016 with an ankle injury. He’s now third on the depth chart at nose tackle behind Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce, meaning he could be superfluous. Only 25 years old, Davis is signed through 2018 at palatable rates.

Steve McLendon, Jets — Gang Green has already unloaded several notable veterans this offseason, and a rebuilding club like the Jets doesn’t particularly need to employ a run-stuffing defensive tackle earning nearly $3MM like McLendon. The 31-year-old McLendon played on roughly a third of New York’s defensive snaps a year ago, and that’s the type of reserve role he’d likely play for the Saints. A player-for-player trade could be a possibility here, as the Jets were the free agent runners-up for running back Travaris Cadet, whom New Orleans is now shopping.

Sheldon Richardson, Jets — I’ve banged the drum for a Richardson-to-New Orleans trade in the past, but had previously considered the former first-round pick as an ideal complement to Cameron Jordan at defensive end. The Saints didn’t do much to address their edge rushing problem, with free agent Alex Okafor and third-round selection Trey Hendrickson comprising most of the team’s attempted improvement. Richardson, then, would make a perfect candidate to play end in base packages before becoming an interior rusher on passing downs.

Free agents

Arthur Jones — Jones, who will turn 31 years old later this week, managed to appear in only 17 games through three seasons after signing a five-year deal with the Colts prior to the 2014 season. While he’s typically served as a two-gapping, 3-4 defensive end throughout his career, Jones has the size (6’3″, 315 pounds) to play tackle for the Saints. Clearly, Jones has question marks, including severe health issues and a 2016 PED suspension, but those factors should make him come cheap.

Jared Odrick — While a number of clubs have expressed interest in Odrick this offseason, he hadn’t been on the Saints’ radar as of yet. That could change now that Fairley is lost for 2017, and Odrick offers a recent track record of success. Although his Jaguars tenure was not successful, Odrick was a high-caliber player for the Dolphins as recently as 2014. Additionally, Odrick still has youth on his side, as he’s entering just his age-29 season.

Vince Wilfork — As of earlier this month, Wilfork still hasn’t decided whether he wants to hang up his cleats, as he claims he’s “50-50” on the idea of retirement. At age-35, Wilfork wasn’t very effective last season, but the Texans may have been asking too much of him, as he played on roughly half the club’s defensive snaps. Perhaps he could still play a role for New Orleans if his workload was reduced, although Wilfork may wait to sign in order to avoid another training camp.

Dan Williams — Among available free agents, Williams earned the highest 2016 marks from Pro Football Focus, as he graded as the No. 44 interior lineman among 127 qualifiers. Although the 6’3″, 330 pound Williams is viewed as a massive space-eater, PFF actually assigned him much higher marks for his pass rushing acumen than his run defense. As such, Williams could possibly push the pocket a bit, but his main goal would still be to clog the middle.

I recently ran down the best available players at each defensive position. Other free agents of interest could include: Tyson Jackson, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Sen’Derrick Marks, Roy Miller, Devon Still, and Vance Walker.

Chiefs GM Search Tracker

June 26th, 2017 at 4:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs surprised everyone last week by firing GM John Dorsey. The timing of the move was puzzling, to say the least, since Dorsey already called the shots during the important stages of free agency and the draft.

Coach Andy Reid, who finalized a multi-year extension just minutes before the Dorsey news was announced, may or may not have played a role in the team’s GM change. And although the team press release indicated that the parting of ways was mutual, the call was actually made unilaterally by owner Clark Hunt. Hunt apparently grew tired of Dorsey’s easy-going demeanor and lack of internal communication, particularly since that did not jibe with the way Reid conducts himself.

The Chiefs will be looking at both internal and external candidates to fill the vacancy. Here’s an up-to-date list of the names involved in the search:

Brett Veach, Co-director of player personnel (Chiefs): Hired
Mike Borgonzi, Co-director of player personnel (Chiefs): Expected to be interviewed
Ryan Cowden, Director of Player Personnel (Titans): Interview requested
Scott Fitterer, Co-director of player personnel (Seahawks): Interview requested
George Paton, Assistant GM (Vikings): Turned down interview
Louis Riddick, TV analyst: Denies report saying he’s been contacted by Chiefs, says he is not interested in job

PFR Originals: 6/18/17 – 6/25/17

June 25th, 2017 at 4:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

Although premier players typically aren’t available at this point in the NFL calendar, teams can still attempt to make incremental roster improvements via the players that are on the market. With that in mind, I took a look at the the best remaining free agents on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Colin Kaepernick, Chris Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Gary Barnidge, Dwight Freeney, and Darrelle Revis are among the top players still available.
The Jets are likely to roll with Josh McCown under center (at least to begin the season), but in PFR’s latest Community Tailgate segment, Rory Parks asked readers to discuss how Gang Green will proceed at the quarterback position for the long term. While Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are conceivably incumbent options, the Jets could also target another passer in the 2018 draft.
In PFR’s second Community Tailgate piece of the week, Zach Links wondered whether Raiders quarterback Derek Carr should have pressed for a larger contract. Yes, Carr is now the highest-paid NFL player in terms of annual salary, but his cash flow doesn’t match up to that of Andrew Luck. For what it’s worth, Carr said he took less money in order to help Oakland lock up other players.
The Titans haven’t earned a postseason berth since 2008, but following a successful offseason, Connor Byrne asked PFR readers whether the club will head back to the playoffs this year. Tennessee addressed both sides of the ball, adding Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, and Eric Decker on offense while bringing in Jonathan Cyprien, Logan Ryan, and Adoree’ Jackson on defense. As such, more than three-quarters of respondents think the Titans will make a postseason appearance in 2017.
With the 2017 draft nearly two months in the rearview mirror, Zach asked PFR readers which top-10 pick will have the most career success. So far, the voting is extremely tight, as Leonard Fournette (Jaguars), Mitch Trubisky (Bears), Jamal Adams (Jets), Myles Garrett (Browns), and Christian McCaffrey (Panthers) all received more than 10% of the vote.
Only a handful of 2017 draft choices remain unsigned (11 of 253 at last count). I examined those remaining unsigned picks and went over possible reasons why they haven’t reached deals.

Top Remaining NFL Free Agents: Defense

June 25th, 2017 at 2:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Any NFL club aiming to seriously upgrade its roster through free agency in June is clearly not adept at personnel management, but small tweaks can still be made as the summer begins. While headliners such as Colin Kaepernick and Anquan Boldin remain unsigned, it’s often lesser-known players that can make incremental differences once the season gets underway.

After looking at offense on Saturday, let’s examine the best remaining free agents on the defensive side of the ball:

Edge defender

Now entering his age-37 campaign, Dwight Freeney had to wait until August to find a contract last offseason, and it’s possible he’ll be on the market until late summer once again in 2017. He’s made it clear that he intends to play, however, and the Falcons could conceivably be interested in a reunion. Atlanta will see Derrick Shelby return from an injury-plagued campaign, and the club also spent a first-round pick on Takkarist McKinley, so it’s unclear if the Falcons are searching for another pass rusher.

Mario Williams is the bigger name, but Erik Walden has actually drawn more interest on the free agent market. While Williams hasn’t been mentioned in connection with any team, Walden has been linked to both the Titans and Jets. Per Pro Football Focus‘ grades, Williams was the far more effective player in 2016, as he ranked roughly 50 spots higher than Walden and earned positive marks in run defense.

One edge rusher who didn’t quite make this list is former Buccaneer Howard Jones, who is still recovering from a torn ACL. Jones is only 27 years old and managed five sacks in limited snaps as recently as 2015. He met with the Jets earlier this year and was expected to make a decision on a new team, but still has yet to land a deal.

Interior defensive line

Dan Williams is the type of defensive lineman that is slowly being removed from the field as NFL offense move to more spread-based looks. The 6’2″, 330-pounder played on only a third of the Raiders’ defensive snaps a year ago before being released in the spring, and hasn’t met with any clubs since. Massive run-stuffers aren’t a need for most clubs in 2017, but if a team wants a force in the middle, Williams is the best available.

Like Williams, Jared Odrick received his walking papers earlier this year, but he’s drawn a bit more interest than the former Oakland defender. Odrick has been linked to the Seahawks, Eagles, and Giants, and also met with the Patriots (although Odrick may not want to play in New England). Although he played in only six games in 2016, Odrick has been a reliable defender for much of his career and isn’t yet 30 years old.

Arthur Jones and Vance Walker are very similar players: classic 3-4 defensive ends who probably are best in a two-gap scheme. Unfortunately (at least for them), NFL teams are exponentially moving towards one-gap fronts, meaning Jones and Walker might fit better as defensive tackles. Both have dealt with injuries in recent seasons and could struggle to find much — if any — guaranteed money.

Linebacker

Based solely on 2016 production, Perry Riley may be the single most notable player who’s still on the free agent market. In fact, he’s one of only two of PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents who has yet to find a contract (the other being offensive tackle Ryan Clady). The Raiders seem to want Riley back, especially after not adding much to their linebacking unit this offseason, and given that some rumblings of retirement seem to have been unfounded, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Riley in silver and black by the time the season gets underway.

While Riley posted a breakout season in 2016, DeAndre Levy regularly posted excellent campaigns for the Lions before injuries severely limited his production. In 2013-14, Levy was one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL, but he’s appeared in only six games over the past two years. Levy was reportedly planning a health grievance against the Lions earlier this year, which could suggest his knee condition won’t allow him to play any time soon.

D’Qwell Jackson and Rey Maualuga are essentially worse versions of fellow linebacker David Harris, who signed with the Patriots last week. Harris landed a two-year, $5MM deal that contains only $1.25MM guaranteed. The former Jet graded as the league’s No. 35 linebacker in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, while Jackson and Maualuga ranked as bottom-10 at the position. Maualuga, for what it’s worth, did meet with the Chiefs earlier this year.

Cornerback

Darrelle Revis will earn $6MM in guaranteed base salary from the Jets in 2017 even though he’s no longer on their roster, and that money could complicate his free agent market. Any salary he makes from a new team will offset his New York cash, and no club is likely to offer Revis more than the $6MM he’s earning from Gang Green. Two clubs reportedly showed interest in Revis in May, but his market may be limited. I ran down the top eight fits for Revis earlier this year.

Given that both are best served in the slot, Alterraun Verner and Leon Hall are very similar players. Hall may still be the more talented defensive back, but given that Verner is four years younger, the former Buccaneer figures to draw more free agent interest. Indeed, Verner worked out for the Jaguars in May and expects to sign with a club this summer.

One player who should be listed here based on talent is former 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock. Brock, 28, posted a superb 2016 campaign but was released after being arrested on domestic violence charges. Teams were reportedly “keeping tabs” on Brock and may have been interested if the charges had been dropped, but given that Brock was officially charged earlier in June, his NFL career may be over.

Safety

Corey Graham has been consistently excellent since becoming a starter in 2012, posting positive marks for the Ravens and then Bills while playing both corner and safety. He’ll be 32 years old later this summer, which could limit his appeal, but Graham would add a veteran presence to any team in need of experience in the back end. The Giants, Browns, and Buccaneers stand out as potential fits for the 10-year pro.

Both Jairus Byrd and Marcus Gilchrist were recently released from large contracts with the Saints and Jets, respectively, but both players could still contribute as deep safeties on cheap deals. Most depth safeties are going to be asked to play special teams, and Byrd (103 snaps) and Gilchrist (45 snaps) both did a little of that in 2016. If clubs are searching for more pure special teamers, however, Steven Terrell, Kelcie McCray, and Jonathan Meeks could be of interest.

As with the cornerback list, there’s one safety who isn’t included here based on non-performance reasons: former Dolphins defensive back Isa Abdul-Quddus. IAQ was released in March after suffering a serious neck injury last year. Certainly, Abdul-Quddus shouldn’t risk his future health in order to return to the field, but if he can get medically cleared, he should be able to contribute to a safety-needy club.

Load More Posts