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NFL Franchise Tag Contract Deadline Primer

July 15th, 2016 at 10:12am CST by Zachary Links

**Updated Friday morning, 10:12am CT**

This afternoon, we’ll know the fates of seven franchise-tagged players for the 2016 season and beyond. If their respective teams do not sign them to long-term contracts by 4pm ET/3pm CT, Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, Chiefs safety Eric Berry, Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker will all play out the 2016 season on their one-year franchise tenders.

Will some of these players will reach lucrative multi-year deals between now and Friday afternoon? Or could we see all seven players nudged towards free agency in 2017? Here’s a complete rundown of what’s happening with each of these seven players as the deadline approaches:

Von Miller, Broncos

This offseason, Von Miller went from Dancing With The Stars to wrestling with the Broncos. Naturally, there is strong mutual interest in a new multi-year deal between Denver and the reigning Super Bowl MVP and the two sides even seem to have agreed upon terms of about $114.5MM over six years. However, there remains a significant gulf between the two sides when it comes to guaranteed money and cashflow in the first couple of years. As we’ve seen before, NFL contract terms are often not what they appear to be on the surface. In this league, you can be promised a small fortune, but it doesn’t mean much unless a significant portion of it is guaranteed and comes early on in the deal when the team values you most.

Back in June, the Broncos offered up a six-year, $114.5MM deal with nearly $40MM guaranteed in the first two years. However, Miller wanted more in the way of guaranteed cash and wanted a higher payout in the first three years. Soon after, Miller doubled down on his threat to hold out in 2016 if he does not get the multi-year deal that he is after and his teammates say that he’s not bluffing. Would one of the league’s best defensive players and fiercest competitors really stay home all year long rather than chase another ring and earn more than $14MM? It’s hard to imagine, but there’s also considerable incentive for Miller to stick to his guns in this situation.

If Miller opts to sit out the 2016 season, the Broncos will only be able to use the non-exclusive franchise tag on him and will not have the exclusive franchise tag at their disposal. Typically, a team that is able to pry a player away on the non-exclusive tag would have to forfeit two first-round picks to the former team. However, per the terms of the CBA, the compensation price would drop from two first-round picks to a first and a third if Miller were to sit out. Some teams would consider forfeiting two first-round choices to land Miller and even more teams would mull it over if that price drops to a first- and third-round choice.

Reportedly, Miller still harbors resentment towards the Broncos for the way that talks have gone this offseason. However, things could be changing now that Denver has updated their offer to give Miller $70MM in “solid guarantees.”

Because of Miller’s holdout threat, there’s arguably more at stake for the Broncos than the other six teams negotiating with their franchise-tagged stars.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins

After a breakout 2015 season, Kirk Cousins wants to be paid like a top NFL quarterback. The Redskins, meanwhile, want to see him do it all over again in 2016 before committing major dollars to him across a five or six-year period.

After watching Brock Osweiler go from backup to baller this offseason, Cousins’ camp is salivating at his potential payday on the open market. For Cousins to forego a shot at free agency down the line, his agents are demanding $43.89MM in guarantees over the first two years of the pact, for starters. Wonder where that number comes from? That’s the combined value of the 2016 franchise tag ($19.95MM) and the franchise tag in 2017 ($23.94MM), if the Redskins were to use it again. If Washington wanted to go for an unprecedented three-peat of franchise tags, it would cost them $34.47MM (!) in 2018.

Cousins earned just $660K in 2015, making him one of the league’s very best values last year. Now, he’s looking to cash in on his next deal and he’s made it clear that he’s willing to bet on himself in 2016. As of this writing, the two sides are not expected to come to an accord by Friday afternoon.

Alshon Jeffery, Bears

Alshon Jeffery is regarded as one of the league’s top wide receivers – when he’s healthy. That’s likely the sticking point for the Bears, who want to see the 26-year-old give them a complete season before they give him enough money to buy his own private island. The 6’3″, 216-pound receiver missed six games during his rookie season because of hand and knee injuries. Last year, he sat out seven contests due to calf, hamstring, groin, and shoulder ailments.

However, despite missing a good chunk of the 2016 season, Jeffery still racked up 54 catches for 807 yards and four touchdowns. Since his breakout campaign in 2013, the former second-round pick has averaged 89 receptions, 1,312 yards, and eight touchdowns per 16 games. Jeffery might not have a perfect attendance record, but he is a true game-changer when he is on the field.

Right now, it doesn’t sound like the Bears are going to get a deal done with Jeffery. GM Ryan Pace doesn’t have any qualms about moving on from players of the past regime and he could theoretically allow Jeffery to walk thanks to the presence of Kevin White.

Continue reading about the rest of this year’s franchise-tagged stars:

Muhammad Wilkerson, Jets

The Jets have shown very little interest in re-signing Muhammad Wilkerson to a long-term deal and, frankly, their lack of movement on that front is perplexing. Sure, the team already has a star lineman in Sheldon Richardson with another budding talent in Leonard Williams, but Wilkerson is a proven commodity who has delivered for the team ever since his rookie debut in 2011.

“It’s shocking. It’s frustrating,” Wilkerson said of the barely existent contract talks last month. “Because I feel like I’ve earned it and I deserve it. It would be different if I was just a mediocre player. I feel like each and every week I’m dominating and it’s showing. The stats speak for themselves. Basically, what more do I need to do? You know what I mean?”

We know exactly what you mean, Mo. The 26-year-old enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2015, racking up a career-high 12 sacks and forcing three fumbles, to go along with 64 tackles. Arguably the best defensive player for the Jets last season, Wilkerson also earned his first Pro Bowl berth. Still, the Jets seem quite comfortable with letting him ply his craft somewhere else after the 2016 season.

The two sides are reportedly making an effort to talk as the deadline approaches, but an accord still seems like a longshot.

Eric Berry, Chiefs

As the face of the franchise, many viewed a lucrative multi-deal between Berry and the Chiefs to be a foregone conclusion. However, we’re less than 24 hours away from the deadline and there’s no pact in place.

This offseason, Vikings safety Harrison Smith set a new bar at the position with his five-year, $51.25MM contract, giving him a higher AAV than Jairus Byrd, Devin McCourty, and Earl Thomas. Understandably, Berry wants to top Smith, even though the Vikes standout was rated by Pro Football Focus as the league’s best safety in 2015.

Lately, talks have been moving slowly between the two sides and that’s partially due to KC’s tight cap situation. While a backloaded Berry deal would actually help create some breathing room against the cap limit for 2016, it would simultaneously put the squeeze on for 2017. Of course, the Chiefs have other players and needs to address, including a contract for nose tackle Dontari Poe. If you asked us to wager on Berry signing a long-term deal with KC back in March, we would have bet the house. A deal was thought to be unlikely as of Thursday evening, but the latest word on Friday morning is that talks are active and the two sides are planning to work up until the deadline to get something done.

Trumaine Johnson, Rams

For weeks, we’ve been hearing that a long-term deal between Trumaine Johnson and the Rams is unlikely. On Thursday morning, word leaked out that a deal is still pretty darn unlikely. On Friday morning, we heard more of the same.

This offseason, the Rams had a choice between giving the franchise tag to either Johnson or fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins. While Johnson was invited to make the move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, Jenkins was allowed to test the open waters and wound up signing a five-year, $62.5MM deal with the Giants. Logically, Johnson’s reps view Jenkins’ deal as a perfect comp and they are not interested in taking a dollar less. While things have gotten chippy for others (see: Miller and the Broncos), talks have remained civil between Johnson and L.A. The cornerback seems content to play out the 2016 season under the $13.952MM tender.

Johnson, 26, had just 20 career starts on his NFL résumé prior to 2015, but he established himself as a reliable starting cornerback last season, picking up 71 tackles, seven interceptions, and 17 passes defended, grading out as the No. 17 CB in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

Justin Tucker, Ravens

Just as one of the seven dwarfs always seems to get forgotten, there hasn’t been much talk nationally about Justin Tucker’s negotiations with the Ravens. The Ravens took the somewhat unusual step of tagging their kicker with the franchise tag this offseason and the two sides have been working on a long-term deal ever since. Earlier this week, Tucker expressed confidence that a deal would get done by the Friday deadline, though he admitted that momentum has stalled:

“As of right now, there hasn’t been a whole lot happening, but there’s still time. Like I’ve said before, I’m optimistic that something will get done. It’s a matter of when, not if,” Tucker said. “I know there’s a lot of things to juggle from their perspective, so all I can do is just be patient and let the process unfold how it’s going to unfold,” he said. “There’s no sense in complaining about it. I’m definitely in a very fortunate position, and I just hope that I can take this one year and turn it into four or five, or perhaps even more.”

On Thursday, things apparently regressed between the two sides. Tucker is said to be so upset with the tenor of the talks that he’s promising not to re-sign with Baltimore after the 2016 season if no extension is reached by the deadline. Baltimore’s latest proposal to Tucker was not only for less than their past offers, but less than what the Packers are paying fellow kicker Mason Crosby. Baltimore’s latest proposal to Tucker was not only for less than their past offers, but less than what the Packers are paying fellow kicker Mason Crosby.

Tucker, meanwhile, is likely looking to top the contract signed by Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski last year. Gostkowski’s deal four-year, $17.2MM deal gave him significant guarantees up front while reducing the Pats’ present-day cap hit. A similar deal could still be on the way for Tucker, but if they can’t come to terms, he’ll play out 2016 on a one-year, $4.572MM contract. If that’s the case, Tucker could be taking his leg elsewhere.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Impact Rookies: Miami Dolphins

July 14th, 2016 at 1:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Today, we continue PFR’s Impact Rookie series with his insight on the Miami Dolphins’ draft class:

Well, I must say, the folks in South Beach surely know how to make draft day proceedings interesting. On Day One, they somehow managed to walk away with a player most had been calling the best prospect in the draft – Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil slid to the Dolphins at No. 13 due to a myriad of off-field issues back in college that was capped by a social media disaster (love your head gear, Laremy, but in the NFL, you have to wear a Riddell model).

The Dolphins entered the draft with eight selections and went home with the same, but they played a little bit of musical chairs in swapping out draft slots before they were done. They even ended playing doing ping-pong with the No. 186 overall selection in round six. Miami had first made a deal with Minnesota, sending two mid-round 2017 slots, along with pick No. 186 to the Vikings in order to move up and select Rutgers receiver Leonte Caroo with the draft’s 86th pick (round three). As the draft continued, the two teams again came to a deal – this time, Minnesota returned that No. 186 selection to South Beach for the No. 196 and No. 227 overall choices. They then used that choice to snatch another receiver, taking Texas Tech’s Jakeem Grant.

After an entertaining and active draft weekend, here are the Dolphins rookies that I expect to make a mark in 2016:

First Round – Laremy Tunsil, OT (Ole Miss, No. 13 overall)

The new Miami coaching staff is looking to make major changes to their offensive front wall and Tunsil, if he lives up to his college hype, could be that unit’s foundation, much like high-priced veteran Ndamukong Suh is for the defensive line. Despite some poor decisions in life, there is no questioning Tunsil’s talent, but now comes the task of getting him into the lineup from Day One.

The coaches have slotted the rookie into the left guard spot, lining him up next to a man he will eventually replace at left tackle – Branden Albert. Gone from the first unit is 2015 left guard starter, Dallas Thomas. The team also signed New Orleans castoff, Jermon Bushrod. If the former Saint has anything left in the tank, he gives the Dolphins left side of the line three capable bodies to move around, if injuries do occur during the season.

Continue reading about Tunsil and the rest of the Dolphins’ rookie class..

Tunsil’s arrival also pushed Billy Turner into a battle for the right guard position, where former Bills starter Kraig Urbik is expected to do battle. Thomas is still around, but like Turner, he’s failed to impress in his time on the field. If the team is looking to take the “penny saved, dollar earned” approach, Thomas ($787K) or Turner ($712K) in 2016, could give way to former Niner Anthony Steen, who is commanding a $525K sum in 2016. With Urbik signed for $1.25MM and Bushrod taking home $1.5MM, it is hard to see Thomas or Turner being considered starting material any longer.

Tunsil leaves the Rebel program having allowed only two quarterback sacks through twenty-nine appearances that included twenty-seven starting assignments at the demanding left tackle position. During his time in the trenches, he has registered 249 knockdown/key blocks, including 37 that resulted in touchdowns. He has shown excellent stalking ability, producing nineteen of those blocks down field. He registered a blocking consistency grade of 89.38% for his three-year performance, easily the highest grade attained by any blocker eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Tunsil has natural strength and quickness, as his 40-yard dash clocking does not properly highlight that quick initial step he possesses that can consistently shock and stall a lethargic defender. He shows excellent balance and change of direction flexibility, along with outstanding acceleration when working into the second level, perhaps due to his prep experience on the basketball court and in track. He plays on his feet well, thanks to superb balance and shows the body control to play and adjust in space and pick up blocks on the move down field. He can slide and readjust to mirror edge rushers in pass protection.

The Ole Miss blocker also displays the lower body flexibility to drop his pads and anchor firmly versus stunts and the bull rush. He shows ease of movement accelerating into the second level and excellent change of direction agility to make plays working down the line. He plays with a strong base, keeping his feet wide and pad level low to generate enough explosiveness coming off the snap. He has the lateral range to make adjustments in his pass set. Tunsil bends his knees with good flexibility and shows that he has the quickness to get out on the edge and seal off the rush (see 2015 Auburn, Louisiana State, and Oklahoma State games). He has the agility to pull and trap with effectiveness from the outside position and displays good hand usage and the redirection skills to mirror on stunts and blitzes.

Historically, Ole Miss is not really known for being a feeding ground for blocking expertise. Since the universal draft in 1970, only ten Rebel offensive tackles have been drafted, with 1971 seventh round pick Worthy McClure the first one to be taken. McClure would be one of four Ole Miss offensive tackles who were drafted, only to never appear in an NFL regular season game.

The Ole Miss first tackle draftee since 1970 to actually perform professionally was 1993 fifth round pick, Everett Lindsay, who was taken 133rd overall in the fifth round by Minnesota. In 136 contests, he started 63 times before retiring after the 2003 schedule. Todd Wade was a second round choice by Miami in 2000, earning 96 starting assignments through 99 games during his eight-year career. Cincinnati followed in 2004 by taking Stacy Andrews with the 123rd pick. Injuries would limit the powerhouse blocker to just 49 starts before he was forced to retire in 2011.

Ole Miss may not have the best track record for tackles, but Tunsil could be the guy to snap the cold streak.

Second Round – Xavien Howard, CB (Baylor, No. 38 overall)

With Brent Grimes and his wife’s eloquent messages on social media thankfully a thing in the past, at least in South Beach, the Dolphins new they had to make cornerback a top priority. Word in the scouting industry was that they had coveted the Giants’ Eli Apple, but when he went three picks earlier, it was a no-brainer either way that they could not pass on Tunsil for any defensive back at No. 13. By the time the second round rolled around, Miami was ready to pounce on Howard, a player several other teams pegged as a rising player with late first round potential.

Sensing that the Giants might go for another cornerback in the second round and knowing full-well that Baltimore intended to take one, Miami moved up four spots in the second round in a deal with the Ravens, giving up the No. 42 overall pick and a fourth rounder (No. 104 overall) to get the deal done. Wasting little time, Howard was slotted in as the Dolphins’ starting right cornerback before the ink could dry on his contract.

The two-time All-Big Twelve Conference cornerback was a key member of Baylor’s most successful four-year span in school history that included two conference championships, two bowl victories and 40 wins (22-3 home mark) in four seasons. As a starter, Howard helped the starting right corner, he helped the Bears record a 32-7 record, finishing his career ranked tenth on the school record chart with ten interceptions. He paced the squad with five thefts as a senior and tied for the title with four more his junior year. All told, he collected 98 tackles (84 solo) with 23 pass deflections, gaining 121 yards via his interception runbacks.

Howard is the perfect NFL press-cover cornerback, thanks to his combination of size, strength and speed. He needs to be more patient in man coverage, as he gets in a lot of trouble when he attacks the ball, rather than keep relationship with his coverage assignment. Then, he will come up with a big play, make proper reads versus the receiver’s move and react quickly. He possesses quick feet and smooth hips to turn and run, doing a nice job of maintaining contact with most any receiver down the sideline. He’s the type than can close well when playing off the line, as he attacks the midsection of ball carriers and receivers while staying low in his pads to wrap and tackle.

Seventh Round – Brandon Doughty, QB (Western Kentucky, No. 223 overall)

I’m not trying to be funny here, folks, but don’t you find it a bit interesting that the coach known as the “Quarterback Whisperer,” Adam Gase, has a starting quarterback who has been dogged by the press for not living up to his first round status in Ryan Tannehill? After all, last year, a Tannehill-led offense ranked 19th in the league in passing yards (3,811) and pass completion percentage (62.1), tied for 19th with 24 touchdowns, tied for 17th worst with twelve interceptions and ranked as the eighth-worst team in protecting the quarterback, allowing 45 sacks for a league-worst minus 420 yards.

Miami finished 26th in total offense (331.7 ypg), 30th in third down conversions (30.7%; 63-of-205) and 29th in time of possession (27:22 minutes). The result was a paltry 88.7 quarterback rating for Tannehill. Right now, the coaching staff is saying all the right things, but while he appears to be a longshot, this seventh rounder might be making a big move up the depth charts in Miami before long. With Matt Moore and Zac Dysert as his competition, Doughty has a pretty good chance for at least holding the clipboard in 2016, if the team keeps three quarterbacks, as expected.

After being granted a medical hardship waiver and a sixth year of eligibility, Doughty lived up to lofty 2015 expectations and surpassed even his record-shattering performance from 2014. The owner of 37 school records, he again led the country in passing yards (5,055) and touchdown passes (48) and added another national-best mark, completion percentage (71.9). He also became just the third quarterback in the last 50 years to lead the country in all three categories, joining Colt Brennan (Hawaii, 2006) and Steve Young (BYU, 1983).

Doughty quarterbacked the Hilltoppers to their first-ever FBS conference championship, first-ever Associated Press Top 25 ranking and a second consecutive bowl victory. The Hilltoppers dominated C-USA play, winning by an average margin of 27.1 points, the second-largest margin by a league champion ever. They were also the first team to go undefeated in conference play and win the championship game. Doughty threw for at least 200 yards in all 14 games and a FBS-best’s of 10 games of 300-yards or more and six games of 400-yards or more.

Doughty not only impressed teams throughout the East-West Shrine Game practices, but carried that performance over to the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. With his production numbers, he has shown that he can attack the middle of the field, but there are obvious mechanical flaws, especially when trying to zip the ball. He just seems to lack great velocity and must rely more on timing. He can be rattled in the pocket and when this happens, his footwork gets sloppy and he forces his throws (33 interceptions the last three years). Still, you can imagine Gase getting the most out of this interesting prospect. It would only add to the coach’s “quarterback whisperer” legend, if this ends as a happy story.

Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service providing insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, you can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Baltimore Ravens

July 13th, 2016 at 10:55pm CST by Rory Parks

The Ravens’ 2015 campaign was ruined by injury and under-performance as marquee players like Terrell Suggs, Joe Flacco, and Steve Smith saw their seasons cut short by injury while others like Jimmy Smith and C.J. Mosley failed to live up to expectations. Indeed, if Baltimore is competitive in 2016, it will be as much as a result of its ability to stay healthy as anything else.

But the team did make efforts to address its beleaguered secondary and add some much-needed youth and athleticism to its pass rush, and Flacco, who has never been had an elite group of offensive weapons, could be working with his best collection of talent to date. The AFC North again looks as if it will again be one of the toughest divisions in the league in 2016, so Baltimore will need to make the most out of that talent to keep pace with the Steelers and Bengals.

Notable signings:

Eric Weddle, S: Four years, $26MM. $9MM guaranteed. $3MM available via incentives.
Shareece Wright, CB: Three years, $13MM. $4.76MM guaranteed.
Justin Tucker, K: One year, $4.572MM. Fully guaranteed. Accepted franchise tag.
Mike Wallace, WR: Two years, $11.5MM. $4.5MM guaranteed. Club can exercise $1MM option bonus to lock in 2018 season.
Ben Watson, TE: Two years, $7MM. $3MM guaranteed.
Jerraud Powers, CB: One year, $1.75MM. $750K guaranteed.
Morgan Cox, LS: Five years, $5.6MM. $700K guaranteed.
Albert McClellan, LB: Two years, $2.2MM. $600K guaranteed.
Vlad Ducasse, G: One year, minimum salary benefit. $65K guaranteed.
Kamar Aiken, WR: One year, $2.553MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.
Chris Carter, LB: One year, $1MM.
Trent Richardson, RB: One year, $675K.
Josh Johnson, QB: One year, minimum salary benefit.

The Ravens made a rare foray into the deep end of the free agent waters this year, and they came away with one of the biggest catches in safety Eric Weddle. Weddle instantly provides credibility and stability to a secondary that sorely needs it, and his presence alone should give the unit a major boost. The team will also move Lardarius Webb from cornerback to safety on a permanent basis, a transition that should suit the veteran’s skill-set fairly well. As long as both players can stay healthy, a Weddle/Webb safety tandem certainly looks as if it will be a significant upgrade over last year’s primary duo of Kendrick Lewis and Will Hill.

But even if the Ravens’ safety performance is markedly improved, their cornerback prognosis is still questionable. Jimmy Smith, whose 2014 season was cut short by a Lisfranc injury, still appeared to be ailing in 2015, as he was beaten deep on numerous occasions and was rated by Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) as the 77th-best corner out of 111 eligible players. While Shareece Wright was a pleasant surprise and was rewarded for his strong 2015 campaign with a new three-year contract in March, it is not as if he has an especially illustrious track record, and it is difficult to predict whether his 2015 success will carry over to 2016.

The team also brought in Jerraud Powers, who is a solid but unspectacular player and who lasted for a surprisingly long time on the market before inking a one-year deal with Baltimore two months after free agency opened. Powers is much better in the slot than he is outside the hash marks, but the Ravens already have several other players who fit the same description in rookie Tavon Young and last-year’s free agent acquisition Kyle Arrington. It can never hurt to have too much depth, as the Ravens know all too well, and Arrington is widely considered to be a candidate for release in the coming months, so it would clear up the nickel corner picture a bit if he were to receive his walking papers. In any event, Baltimore will be relying on uncertain talent at the top two spots on its cornerback depth chart, with Jimmy Smith holding down one of those spots and Powers or Wright presumably manning the other. The addition of Weddle will make the rest of the secondary better, but it does not answer all of the questions the Ravens have in the defensive backfield.

Another of the team’s major free agent acquisitions was Mike Wallace, who is coming off a disappointing one-year stint in Minnesota. On paper, Wallace’s speed and big-play ability–which may have diminished some since his heyday in Pittsburgh but which could still be unlocked in in the right circumstances–look to be a perfect fit with Flacco’s cannon arm and penchant for the deep ball. Last season, the Ravens were counting on 2015 first-rounder Breshad Perriman to replace the speed element that the team’s offense lost when Torrey Smith took his talents to San Francisco, but Perriman was never able to recover after a knee injury suffered in training camp, and Flacco was left with Steve Smith and a plethora of underwhelming targets. Perriman’s health is once again up in the air, but with Wallace and rookie Chris Moore in the picture, Baltimore should be better-equipped to handle Perriman’s absence.

The third major free agent acquisition was Ben Watson, who will join a largely uncertain but potentially dynamic crop of tight ends. Watson, who will turn 36 in December, had a terrific year with the Saints in 2015, posting career bests in receptions (74) and receiving yards (825) while matching his career best in touchdowns (six). Dennis Pitta, who missed almost all of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and who sat out the entire 2015 season, is attempting to come back from his second major hip injury, but given the nature of the injury and the amount of time he has spent on the shelf, it is difficult to say whether he will even crack the team’s roster, let alone return to his pre-2013 level of performance. Third-year player Crockett Gillmore and second-year Maxx Williams have shown flashes in their young careers, and both have a fair amount of upside (particularly Williams, the consensus top tight end in the 2015 draft), but they are still unproven as pass catchers. If nothing else, Watson is a reliable starter, and if Pitta can stay healthy and Gillmore and Williams continue to make strides, the Ravens will be forced to keep four tight ends on the roster for the first time in recent history. And that could be a good thing considering the fact that offensive coordinator Marc Trestman loves getting the ball to his tight ends and the age/question marks at wide receiver.

Justin Tucker, meanwhile, signed his franchise tender and could still sign a long-term deal prior to the July 15 deadline, a deal that would most likely make him the highest-paid kicker in the league. He suffered something of a regression in 2015, posting a career-worst field goal percentage of 82.5%, but of his seven misses, six were from 50 yards and beyond, so it’s not as if he has suddenly lost his touch. Even if the two sides do not reach an agreement on a multi-year contract prior to July 15, Tucker will almost certainly remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.

Continue reading about the Ravens’ offseason…

Chris Canty, DL: Club declined 2016 option
Jimmy Clausen, QB
Chris Givens, WR
Will Hill, S: Released after being suspended 10 games (substance abuse policy)
Eugene Monroe, T: Released
Kelechi Osemele, G
Matt Schaub, QB
Daryl Smith, LB: Released
Brynden Trawick, S
Courtney Upshaw, LB

Oakland handed Kelechi Osemele a five-year contract worth up to $60MM during the early days of free agency, heady territory for a player who has manned left guard for the majority of his career and who will likely remain at left guard with the Raiders with Donald Penn at left tackle. But Osemele has established himself as one of the better guards in the league and played well enough at left tackle at the end of 2015 to suggest that he could shift to the outside if necessary, so his loss is certainly a major blow. Now that both he and Eugene Monroe are out of the picture, Baltimore will be relying upon a rookie at left tackle (Ronnie Stanley), and a rookie (Alex Lewis) or similarly-inexperienced player (John Urschel or Ryan Jensen) at left guard (unless newly-acquired Vlad Ducasse wins the starting job, in which case something has gone terribly wrong).

Monroe’s release was one of the most-discussed transactions in recent weeks, which speaks more to the lack of newsworthy items to report at this time of the year than the impact that his absence will make. After all, since signing a five-year $37.5MM deal with the Ravens in 2014, Monroe has appeared in just 17 games, which forced the Ravens to turn to former UDFA James Hurst as their primary left tackle in his stead. While Monroe still has considerable talent, and is young enough to realize that talent, questions about his toughness emerged from within the Baltimore locker room, and he has been mediocre at best even when he has seen the field in the past two seasons.

Still, given that the Ravens did not really need the salary cap space they created by releasing Monroe at this point in the year, and given the inexperience of the projected starters on the left side of the line, it is a bit curious that the Ravens would not keep him around to compete with Stanley and to serve as a viable and experienced backup if nothing else. As such, many have speculated that the release was at least partially motivated by Monroe’s highly public campaign to have marijuana removed from the NFL’s list of banned substances so that players could use it as a potentially safer alternative to the addictive opioids that league physicians generally prescribe. However, team owner Steve Bisciotti publicly lauded Monroe for his articulate and well-researched advocacy, and when considering the above-referenced locker rooms concerns, the disappointing on-field performance, and the fact that Monroe publicly attacked the team on Twitter while he was still a member of the organization, it becomes easier to believe head coach John Harbaugh‘s assertion that Monroe was let go for purely football reasons. Nonetheless, should Stanley and/or whoever wins the starting left guard job struggle, the decision will be an easy one to second guess.

Daryl Smith started each of the Ravens’ 50 regular season and playoff contests since joining the club prior to the 2013 campaign, and he immediately proved himself a savvy field general capable of carrying Ray Lewis‘ mantle after Lewis retired at the end of the 2012 season. Smith, though, was more than a veteran leader in his first two years in purple-and-black; he was a good-to-excellent defender against both the pass and the run, and he showed surprising range for a player on the wrong side of 30 who was on the field for almost all of his team’s defensive snaps from the time he entered the league in 2004.

But Smith dropped off a bit in 2015, looking noticeably slower and ranking 71st out of 97 qualified linebackers per Pro Football Focus. The Ravens therefore released him and created $2.625MM of cap room in the process. However, Baltimore did not seek an obvious replacement, either in free agency or the draft. Although the team has expressed some interest in lining up second-round draft choice Kamalei Correa at inside linebacker from time to time, at this point it looks as though Correa will be most valuable as a pass rusher from an outside linebacker position. Zach Orr, who was a UDFA in 2014, saw increased playing time at inside linebacker down the stretch in 2015, and he looked fairly capable, but it remains to be seen whether he can make the jump from standout special-teamer to full-time starter. Albert McClellan, whom the team re-signed earlier this offseason, has proven to be a better special teams player than linebacker, and Arthur Brown, whose pedigree as a former second-round pick (with arguable first-round talent) would appear to make him the favorite over Orr and McClellan, has been one of the Ravens’ great mysteries of the past three seasons. Brown certainly looked like a rookie when he saw the field as a middle linebacker in 2013, but he also did nothing to make one think that he would never make it in the league. And yet, he has apparently never done enough on the practice field to earn Harbaugh’s trust, and he enters the final year of his rookie deal having never started a single game. 2016 represents his best chance to finally prove himself, but it remains to be seen whether he will even get a look with the first-team defense in training camp.

Courtney Upshaw‘s departure is a little less significant than Smith’s. Although he had been a strong edge setter, Upshaw never developed into much of a pass rusher, and the Ravens justifiably believe that last year’s fourth-round selection, Za’Darius Smith, can replicate Upshaw’s performance against the run while offering a higher ceiling as a pass rusher.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 38) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 146) from the Jaguars in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 36).
Acquired a 2016 second-round pick (No. 42) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 107) from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick (No. 38).

The Ravens had the chance to perhaps address their need at inside linebacker and nab the free-falling Myles Jack with the 36th pick in this year’s draft, but instead they traded down not once but twice in the second round and netted two mid-round picks in the process, which we discuss in more detail below.

Draft picks:

1-6: Ronnie Stanley, T (Notre Dame)
2-42: Kamalei Correa, DE/OLB (Boise State)
3-70: Bronson Kaufusi, DE/OLB (Brigham Young)
4-104: Tavon Young, CB (Temple)
4-107: Chris Moore, WR (Cincinnati)
4-130: Alex Lewis, T (Nebraska)
4-132: Willie Henry, DT (Michigan)
4-134: Kenneth Dixon, RB (Louisiana Tech)
5-146: Matt Judon, DE (Grand Valley State)
6-182: Keenan Reynolds, QB/WR (Navy)
6-209: Maurice Canady, CB (Virginia)

The Ravens will be relying on many of their rookies to make an immediate impact. Stanley, as stated above, is the team’s projected starter at left tackle with Monroe out of the picture, and the Ravens are hoping that their decision to pass on Laremy Tunsil in favor of Stanley will not come back to haunt them. Stanley has the maturity that many believe Tunsil lacks, and he is a highly-polished pass protector who significantly improved his run-blocking skills during his final year at Notre Dame. The only real knock on Stanley’s game is his core strength, which is a concern that can be easily remedied. The fact that the Ravens felt good enough about Stanley that they were perfectly comfortable in releasing Monroe is a testament to Stanley’s talent and work ethic.

Correa and Bronson Kaufusi should both get considerable burn in the front seven rotation. Both are athletic, high-motor types that the Ravens hope can take some pressure off of Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. Matt Judon, a small-school wonder, certainly has all the raw physical tools of an elite pass rusher, and Baltimore hopes that he, too, can be groomed into a force off the edge. The diminutive Young should see a fair amount of early playing time at nickel, while Moore’s abilities as a downfield threat should mesh well with Flacco’s big arm. If Perriman cannot stay healthy, Moore could actually play himself into a significant role in Baltimore’s offense.

Kenneth Dixon and Keenan Reynolds are two of the more interesting prospects in the Ravens’ draft class. Reynolds, the former Navy triple-option quarterback who is attempting to transition to wide receiver, is the all-time NCAA leader in total career touchdowns (91), while Dixon is right behind him in second place with 88 career scores. The Ravens, without a true return specialist on the roster, is also giving Reynolds ample opportunity to prove himself in that regard. Although his performance as a slot receiver in training camp and the preseason will likely dictate whether he makes the club, his progress as a returner and his abilities as a ball-carrier will also impact that decision.

Dixon, widely considered one of the steals of the draft, will likely make the team as the No. 3 tailback behind Justin Forsett and Buck Allen, but Dixon could easily move up the depth chart in a hurry. He shouldered a heavy workload in college, so he may not age particularly well, but he is explosive, and even though his Louisiana Tech offense was designed to get him the ball in space more than he can reasonably anticipate at the professional level, his uncanny ability to evade tacklers will serve him well regardless of what system he plays in. He should see immediate action as a change-of-pace back and as a receiver out of the backfield.

Willie Henry may develop into a nice rotational piece on the defensive line, Alex Lewis has shown promise either as a guard or right tackle, and Maurice Canady, while very raw, turned in a strong performance during offseason practices and has a better chance than most sixth-rounders to land on the roster because of the Ravens’ question marks at cornerback.

Extensions and Restructures:

Joe Flacco, QB: Extended through 2021. Three years, $66.4MM. $44MM guaranteed.
Jimmy Smith, CB: Restructured contract to create $4.5MM in cap space, converting $6MM in 2016 base salary into signing bonus.
Marshal Yanda, G: Restructured contract to create $3.975MM in cap space, converting $5.3MM in 2016 base salary into a signing bonus.
Kyle Arrington, CB: Accepted pay cut, creating $1.2MM in cap space by reducing 2016 base salary from $2.1MM to $900K.
Dennis Pitta, TE: Accepted pay cut, creating $4MM in cap space by reducing 2016 base salary from $5MM to $1MM.

When Flacco signed his six-year, $120.6MM deal about a month after his 2012 playoff heroics culminated in a Super Bowl championship, everyone knew that the contract would be revisited after three seasons. After all, his 2016 cap hit was projected to be a staggering $28.55MM, and that number was set to increase to $31MM+ in 2017. By signing Flacco to a three-year extension this year, the Ravens were able to reduce his cap hits for the duration of his deal to numbers that are more palatable relative to the ever-increasing salary cap.

The subject of whether or not Flacco is “elite” has morphed into a running joke over the past few seasons, and he certainly does not put up counting stats that would make one think his contract should be as lucrative as it is. However, while it is generally true that quarterback wins, much like pitcher wins in baseball, are a largely meaningless statistic, it is impossible to overstate how much Flacco has meant to the Ravens. Despite the above-referenced lack of top-tier talent that the Ravens usually boast on the offensive side of the ball, and despite Harbaugh’s preference for a “grind-it-out” style of play, Flacco continues to find ways to win, putting the team on his back one week and doing just enough to scratch out a victory the next. He is prone to the occasional poor game, and he can make some head-scratching decisions from time to time, but he has done nothing but deliver for his club since 2008 while slowly evolving into the undisputed face of the franchise, and he has been appropriately rewarded for that.

The Ravens were flirting with the cap ceiling earlier this year, and to help create enough space to conduct their offseason business, they restructured the Jimmy Smith and Marshal Yanda contracts that both players had just signed in 2015. Along with the Flacco extension and Arrington pay cut, Baltimore was able to create a much-needed $15MM in breathing room. Of course, the club may need to address the Smith contract as soon as next season, because by restructuring his deal, the Ravens increased his future cap charges to $12.6MM (2017), $13.1MM (2018), and $13.6MM (2019). While that might be acceptable for a top-flight corner, it is much too rich if Smith cannot improve on his 2015 season and reestablish his prior level of performance.

Yanda’s contract, which he signed in October, was an ideal candidate for restructuring, since his 2016 salary was already fully-guaranteed and converting a chunk of it to a signing bonus allowed the veteran guard to get that money up front while spreading it over the next four years for cap purposes, all without adding any additional guaranteed money to the Ravens’ tab (though Yanda’s cap hit did increase by about $1.3MM over the next four seasons).

Arrington, who is on the roster bubble anyway, had no choice but to accept a pay cut, and the same goes for Pitta, although Pitta’s new deal could look like a bargain if he can remain healthy. Again, that is a very big “if,” but the Ravens’ $1MM gamble is a worthwhile low-risk, high-reward proposition.

Other:

Hired former Buccaneers DC Leslie Frazier as secondary coach.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for S Matt Elam ($5.676MM).
Learned TE Nick Boyle would be suspended 10 games (PED policy).
Learned WR/TE Darren Waller would be suspended four games (substance abuse policy.)
Learned CB Tray Walker passed away following a motorcycle accident.
Re-signed, then released, WR Marlon Brown.
Signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The addition of Leslie Frazier is an intriguing one. As noted previously, the Ravens’ secondary is a major concern even with the addition of Weddle, and there is reason to believe that Frazier’s background and experience could help get the most out of that unit. Matt Elam, who was selected in the same draft as Arthur Brown–which at least partially explains why the Ravens have missed the playoffs in two of the past three seasons–suffered a torn bicep in training camp last year and missed the entire 2015 season as a result. As someone who has looked like anything but a first-rounder when on the field, Elam may not even crack the 53-man roster this season, so it was an easy decision for the Ravens to decline his fifth-year option.

The suspensions of Nick Boyle and Darren Waller are doubtlessly frustrating for the coaching staff, but as they currently projects as the Nos. 5 and 6 tight ends on the depth chart, their absence should not be especially damaging. Waller, the former Georgia Tech wide receiver who also served as a wideout during his first year as a pro, has been attempting to make the transition to tight end this year. It is a worthwhile experiment, as he has ideal size and athleticism for the job, but because of Baltimore’s current tight end depth, the odds were stacked against him even before the suspension (despite his prowess as a special teams contributor). Boyle, meanwhile, has already been popped for PEDs twice since entering the league last year, and unless the team’s tight ends are victimized by a plague of some sort–which is a distinct possibility–it is difficult to envision a spot for Boyle upon his return.

The passing of cornerback Tray Walker was one of the saddest stories of the offseason. Walker, a fourth-round pick last season out of Texas Southern, was a raw prospect who tantalized the Ravens with his size and athletic ability and who basically redshirted the 2015 season. However, given the state of the team’s cornerback situation, he would have had a real chance to earn some playing time with a solid training camp. But Walker was involved in an accident in March, when his dirt bike collided with a Ford Escape, and he sustained serious head injuries as a result. He ultimately succumbed to those injuries one day later at age 23.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Joe Flacco, QB: $22,500,000
Lardarius Webb, DB: $9,500,000
Terrell Suggs, LB: $7,450,000
Elvis Dumervil, LB: $7,375,000
Jimmy Smith, CB: $5,100,000
Jeremy Zuttah, C: $4,607,206
Justin Tucker, K: $4,572,000
Steve Smith, WR: $4,166,668
Marshal Yanda, G: $4,010,882
Eric Weddle, S: $3,750,000

The Ravens ended the 2015 season with a whopping 20 players on injured reserve, including eight Week 1 starters. That would be enough to derail any team, regardless of that team’s depth, but the fact is that Baltimore simply did not have a great deal of depth to rely upon anyway. The secondary was a nightmare, the receiving corps behind Steve Smith was not much better, and Dumervil was much less effective without running mate Suggs, who went down in Week 1 and whose absence triggered a sickening domino effect on the rest of the team’s pass rushers. Baltimore, to its credit, strayed a bit from its usual organizational philosophy in making a few major free agent signings–though none of those signings will handicap the team financially if they don’t work out–while also prioritizing speed and athleticism in the draft over the old-school maulers. Whether it’s enough for the Ravens to return to the playoffs remains to be seen, but with 19 players landing on IR in 2014 and another 20 in 2015, the team is due for a little good luck. Even with all of those injuries, nine of the Ravens’ 11 losses were one-possession affairs, and the two blowouts they suffered came with the inestimable Jimmy Clausen under center. With an improved roster and a few more breaks, it is not difficult to see Baltimore as a playoff team in 2016.

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

Impact Rookies: Buffalo Bills

July 13th, 2016 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Today, we continue PFR’s Impact Rookie series with his insight on the Buffalo Bills’ draft class:

There is a strange silence coming out of Bills camp – head coach Rex Ryan has yet to boast about his team’s Super Bowl prospects. The coach who thrives on positive thinking is spending the wee hours of the day huddled with his twin brother, Rob, hoping they can come up for a formula to improve their suspect run defense. Until they get that front wall operating on all cylinders, they can not even consider a postseason run with a unit that ranked 17th in the league in stopping the run (108.1 ypg), but allowed an average of 4.4 yards per carry. Only seven other teams allowed opponents a higher mark.

Additionally, their Rolls Royce-priced defensive line could not manage to get to the quarterback, as the only team to register fewer sacks that the Bills (21) were the Falcons (19). At least the Ryans shed the locker room of a high priced veteran who almost wrecked their salary cap in Mario Williams. The NFL’s version of the NBA’s Dwight Howard (I think I’m much better than anybody, so why go and prove it?) was dispatched to Miami, cutting a budget albatross that went to the bank to the tune of $19.4MM last year. He rewarded them with nineteen tackles and five sacks in fifteen starting assignments.

Williams was not the only front wall defender that should have felt somewhat feel embarrassed cashing a paycheck last year. Nose tackle Marcell Dareus recorded 51 tackles and got to the quarterback twice, earning an average of $16.1MM/year with $60MM guaranteed on a deal that runs through 2022. His projected running mate inside, Kyle Williams, garnered a $7.4MM dollar check for 14 tackles and one sack. The aging and injured veteran has a $4.5MM guarantee in the bank, but looms as a roster casualty in camp, especially with rookie Adolphus Washington showing the coaches more than enough to be listed with the first team on the depth chart entering training camp.

While Jerry Hughes tied Mario Williams for the team lead with five sacks in addition to making 52 tackles, it came with a price tag average of nine million with $22MM guaranteed through the 2020 season. Behind him, linebacker Manny Lawson secured three million from the Bills and found just one quarterback in the backfield last year. All told, the team saw eight defensive tackles take home ~16.33% of their cap in 2015. Only Jacksonville ($24,389,776; 16.34% of cap) doled out more money to their interior defenders in the NFL last year.

Their paltry pass rush only cost the team 6.97% of their cap to pay off their defensive ends (21st in the NFL) and their outside linebackers received just 3.18% of the team’s cap funds (31st in the league). You get what you pay for, my grandmother always told me. To rectify that problem, it looks like the Bills went for a long-term solution, but at a possible cost at receiving immediate dividends from their top draft choice in 2016.

Continue reading about the Bills’ rookie class..

First Round- Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB (Clemson, No. 19 overall)

Labeled a Top Ten player during the 2015 season, Lawson saw some of his luster disappear once he arrived in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. He was injured late in the year and then hurt his knee during Clemson’s postseason run, but he wound up being flagged for his suspect shoulder. Every team gets an opportunity to evaluate players with their own medical staff. Despite less than encouraging reports when Lawson was re-examined back in Indianapolis prior to the draft, when Lawson slid to the Bills at No. 19, Ryan and staff did not hesitate to get their card into the commissioner’s hands.

By May, the Bills took the high road in addressing Lawson’s condition to the media, defending their reasons to draft a guy with a bum wing. They revealed that this was not an injury that just happened, explaining that Lawson played three seasons at Clemson with the issue. They recognized that he is a serious PUP candidate, which would put him on the sidelines for at least the early part of the season.

By having the first rounder undergo surgery now, they wanted to eliminate any chance for the injury becoming a much bigger problem down the road and turning into a long-term issue. Surgery was determined to be the only solution after Lawson reportedly tweaked the shoulder during a voluntary practice while making a swim move on a tackling dummy, leading to him going under the knife in May.

Rex Ryan had to have insider information on the extent of the injury before drafting Lawson, as he had a pipeline to the Clemson locker room, where his son is a member of the football team. The player who immediately benefits from Lawson’s extended summer vacation will be Jets castoff IK Enemkpali, who is otherwise penciled in for a reserve role. As the Jets Geno Smith will vouch for, we all know that the new Bills starting end can pack a punch, but Lawson’s injury could also benefit another veteran looking for one last chance to grab the brass ring.

Lawson will still have an effect on this year’s roster, but it might not occur until after the season, when the Bills determine if the money they dished out to receive marginal results in 2015 will lead to cutting those same culprits if they fail to right the ship under the Ryan Twins in 2016.

When healthy, Lawson has been a terror – whether in a relief role or during his lone year as a starter. Through his first two seasons, he recorded 79 tackles (47 solos), an impressive figure for relief duties. However, he delivered 23 of those tackles for losses and brought down eleven other opponents for no gains on running plays. He also registered twenty-one third-down stops from 2013- 14 and recorded five touchdown-saving tackles. Opposing runners were limited to minus 40 yards on 56 running plays directed at the defender. Only four of 32 passes targeted into his area were completed (12.5%), as nine of his twenty quarterback pressures came on third down snaps during his freshman and sophomore campaigns, with three of those hurries causing interceptions, two causing fumbles and another leading to a sack.

Replacing an All-American like Vic Beasley was a tall task for any young player and while Beasley is well remembered by Tigers fans, Lawson helped them move on quickly with his remarkable success attacking the pocket during his junior season. Throughout the 2015 regular season schedule, he was dominant. The first-time full-time starter was leading the nation with 23.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, the eighth-best season total in school annals.

Along the way, Lawson recorded 10.5 sacks, which is tied for sixth on the Tigers annual record list. He produced a career-best 79 tackles (59 solos) and has limited ball carriers to minus 80 yards on 53 running plays directed at him. In addition to his impressive tackle-for- loss figures, he stopped ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain on twelve other rushing attempts, including four times vs. the powerful Florida State running corps. The national championship game vs. Alabama was spent more on the sidelines, as his postseason play was curtailed by a knee sprain.

Second Round – Reggie Ragland, LB (Alabama, No. 41 overall)

Somewhere in heaven, Buddy Ryan is smiling down on the Bills complex, singing out “attaboy” to his kids, as the Bills might have a linebacker in the version of what Buddy had during his Chicago days. No, I’m not putting Ragland in the Mike Singletary category – at least not yet. If you look back at Rex’s history with linebackers like David Harris, Bart Scott, and his frenzied crowd of ‘backers from the Ravens days, you’ll find that having a smart, instinctive player in the middle of the second level has become a Ryan family Staple.

It is already being mentioned that Ragland will be the guy calling defensive signals this year. The plan is to have the Tide standout join Preston Brown to give the Bills a formidable 1-2 inside punch that can tip the scales well past the 250-pound mark, each. Ragland led the Tide in tackles seven times during his lone season in the middle last year. He paced the team with 102 tackles and was a near unanimous All-American selection.

If Jarran Reed was the “backbone” of the Crimson Tide’s front wall, Ragland would have to be considered the defense’s heartbeat, as he seemed to elevate the play of all around him in 2015. The consensus All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year led the team to the national championship, pacing the squad with 102 tackles in 2015. He was a typical “old school” middle linebacker, directing traffic from the center of the field and roaming from sideline-to-sideline.

While some might be concerned that Ragland made only 6.5 tackles-for-loss last year and has generated only five sacks through 53 games, his basic assignment was to conduct traffic, plug inside rush lanes and handle second level pass coverage assignments. As for penetrating the back-field, opponents were more likely to be stopped by the linebacker’s sudden force. Even though his tackle-for-loss total as a senior (just 17.5 for his career), he took down fifteen ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain last year.

Additionally, he limited opposing running attacks to an average of 1.12 yards per carry vs. him last season, his first year manning the middle slot. Ragland took over weak-side outside linebacker duties after C.J. Mosley left for the NFL in 2014 and proceeded to deliver 95 tackles through thirteen starts, posting 10.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He had previously spent his first two seasons with the reserves, compiling 25 tackles through his first 24 contests.

Ragland’s arrival could not come at a better time for the Bills. They thought they had found their weak-side starter when 2012 fourth-round pick, Nigel Bradham emerged to produce 104 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2014. In his contract year, Bradham, like the rest of the team’s front seven, saw his numbers drop sharply – 59 tackles and one sack. Soon after the veteran free agency period opened, Bradham was sporting a two-year contract to become a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. After seeing his replacement excel in mini-camp with Ragland surprising even the Ryans with how quickly he picked up the complex blitz packages, you can imagine the coaches whispering as Bradham left, “nice to know you – don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Third Round – Adolphus Washington, DT (Ohio State, No. 80 overall)

Actually, the Bills third round pick could see another veteran join Bradham on getting the “bring out your dead” treatment. Already listed as the team’s right defensive tackle, Washington was well on his way to first round status with his first half performance in 2015. After eight games, unfortunately, Washington saw bottom drop out on his season.

Through his first seven 2015 appearances, Washington scored on an interception, blocked a kick, averaged seven tackles per game, made twelve touchdown-saving stops on goal-line stands, recorded three sacks with six more stops behind the line of scrimmage and fourteen quarterback pressures. During his last five contests, he averaged three tackles per game and a total of one sack. On 45 running plays through the first half, opponents were held to minus 30 yards vs. the nose tackle. In his final five games, they gained 88 yards on 18 tries.

Compounding his “fall from grace” was his arrest for soliciting a prostitute, which led head coach Urban Meyer to suspend him from the bowl season. Washington concluded his career on a sour note, but was able to gain back favor from NFL by dominating at the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine, and Ohio State’s Pro Day. Still, he would like to forget that second part of 2015, as third round money is petty cash compared to what he would have pulled in as a first round consideration.

With Washington on board, you have to wonder if Kyle Williams’ days in Buffalo are coming to an end. If he is still dealing with injury issues, the team could have serious depth problems at the interior defensive line spots. With Washington and Dareus as the starters, only Corbin Bryant is a capable reserve, if Williams is not ready for action. The rest of the motley crew of camp players includes Leger Souzable, a San Francisco castoff, T.J. Barnes, who was in camp when Rex was with the Jets and Jerrel Worthy.

Worthy seems to have fallen into the Henny Youngman mode (take my defensive lineman, please). Ever since the Packers actually traded up to take him in the second round of the 2012 draft, he has been found wanting in Green Bay, cut from the Patriots practice squad after the Pack had seen enough of him a year later, only to be signed by Kansas City to their practice unit. Let go by the Chiefs, he was a member of Detroit’s practice squad in 2014, but they did not shed a tear when he took an offer to be in the Bills camp this summer.

Washington might be the most crucial rookie pick-up for Buffalo, as they need to rectify their issues up front. Dawson might not be ready to go until the earliest, at midseason, if even then. Ragland will handle signal-calling duties, but the Ohio State rookie needs to play like a veteran, or Rex and brother might have a defense similar to 2015.

If his scouting report holds true, Washington’s wide hips and thick lower body, it is very tough for blockers to gain movement off the snap vs. him, making him a virtual immovable object at the three-technique assignment. He shows excellent balance, quickness (4.87 40-yard dash) and burst off the snap. He plays with good urgency and has the long reach and hand placement to easily sidestep low blocks. He changes direction smoothly and closes in a hurry when working his way down the line. He has the leaping ability and reach to deflect passes at the line of scrimmage and when he keeps his pads down, he can generate a very quick push off the snap to penetrate and shoot the gaps.

For a player of his size, he demonstrates very loose hips, which allow him to slip off blocks and redirect without needing to gather. He has those quick short steps that lets him gain advantage on a lethargic blocker and shows nice flexibility and acceleration in long pursuit. Few three-tech players have his outstanding quickness and agility, as he shows excellent body flexibility when changing direction.

On the field, Washington shows keen awareness to the play developing. He is more of a run containment type, but has the savvy and agility to slip blocks and wreak havoc in the backfield, evident by causing four interceptions chasing quarterbacks out of the pocket last season (see Penn State, Minnesota and Alabama games). He has also excelled in the classroom, earning OSU scholar-athlete recognition. He is quick to find the football in pursuit and is not the type that will bite on play action or misdirection.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Jacksonville Jaguars

July 12th, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

2015 was a good year for the Jaguars on the offensive side of the ball, as quarterback Blake Bortles, running back T.J. Yeldon, and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns showed they can be part of a core that could lift the club out of the AFC South basement. Unfortunately, Jacksonville’s defense didn’t make a similar leap, and the end result was a 5-11 record and another top-five draft pick. But with that draft choice and a bundle of cap space, the Jaguars had an opportunity to make headway this offseason.