PFR Originals News & Rumors

PFR Originals: 7/3/16 – 7/10/16

July 10th, 2016 at 3:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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

Now that the Cowboys have lost Rolando McClain for 10 games due to a substance abuse suspension, I examined several options — both internal and external — that Dallas could consider at it seeks to replace its middle linebacker. PFR reported that the Cowboys are pleased with their current linebacking corps, and is looking forward to letting their younger players compete during training camp. But if the club does look for an outside replacement, we listed Donald Butler, Stephen Tulloch, and DeMeco Ryans as free agents who might get consideration, while noting Arthur Brown and Bruce Carter are among the NFL veterans on roster bubbles who could become available in the coming weeks/months.
The Vikings‘ offensive line is one of the more interesting position groups in the league, so I decided to take a look at the roster, analyzing which players might be cut during training camp. With center John Sullivan returning from injury and free agent Alex Boone inking a four-year deal, 2015 starters Mike Harris and Joe Berger figure to be relegated to the bench. Right tackle Phil Loadholt, meanwhile, will be threatened by new addition Andre Smith, and could be a cap casualty. However, PFR reported that Loadholt expects to enter a strong free agent market if he is let go by Minnesota.
We’re now five days away from the July 15 deadline by which franchise-tagged players must extensions with their respective clubs (or else play out the year under the tender), and Sam Robinson asked PFR readers to weigh in with their thoughts on the franchise players in our latest Community Tailgate. As Sam writes, Eric Berry (Chiefs) and Justin Tucker (Ravens) look like the most likely candidates to agree to long-term deals in the next week. But elsewhere, Von Miller, Alshon Jeffery, Muhammad Wilkerson, Kirk Cousins, and Trumaine Johnson all face various obstacles in reaching a new contract.
Veteran safety Donte Whitner has been a free agent for three months, and though he’s taken a visit with the Rams, he hasn’t drawn much other known interest. But he’s still a productive player, so I listed eight clubs that could benefit by adding him to their secondary. In addition to Los Angeles, the Cowboys, Lions, Jaguars, Chargers, and others might make sense as potential landing spots.
In the latest installment of our Offseason in Review series, I looked back at the Browns‘ moves over the past several months. Cleveland didn’t add many free agents, as Robert Griffin III and Demario Davis were the club’s most high-profile outside additions. But the Browns did overhaul their front office and coaching staff, and made a series of trades that helped them accrual capital for years to come.
PFR was the first to report that free agent offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde has generated interest from three NFL clubs this offseason. Vandervelde, who can play both center and guard, has spent his entire career with the Eagles.

How The Cowboys Could Replace Rolando McClain

July 8th, 2016 at 7:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

For the second consecutive season, Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain will serve a suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on substance abuse. In 2015, Dallas only had to survive without McClain for a quarter of the season, but given that McClain is facing a 10-game ban for 2016, the Cowboys will need to more seriously consider how they’re going to make up for the loss of their middle linebacker.

We’ve examined how Dallas might go about finding a replacement for McClain, looking at players already on the Cowboys’ roster, free agents sitting on the open market, and veterans who could be on the roster bubble with their respective clubs. Let’s dive in…

Internal options:

The primary name being floated to replace McClain in the middle is third-year linebacker Anthony Hitchens, whom the Cowboys selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Thing is, Hitchens was already a starter — he played on the inside in McClain’s absence last year, and then moved to the outside, ultimately seeing action on about half of Dallas’ defensive snaps. So if Hitchens is being counted on to man the middle full-time, including in sub packages, the Cowboys would need to find a replacement at strong-side linebacker, meaning Kyle Wilber and/or Andrew Gachkar could see meaningful snaps after spending most of their respective careers as special teams players.

Gachkar, meanwhile, is another option to fill in at middle linebacker, and he has experience at the position. If chosen, Gachkar would likely be a two-down player, as Pro Football Focus’ grades have shown him to be effective against the run but a liability in pass coverage. The 27-year-old has never been a major defensive contributor — he was forced to step into the starting lineup when the Chargers suffered a variety of injuries at the linebacker position in 2014, but even then, he only played on 36.5% of San Diego’s defensive snaps.

The “wild card” in this race is second-year player Mark Nzeocha, according to Bryan Broaddus of the Cowboys’ website. A seventh-round pick in last year’s draft, Nzeocha only appeared in two games during his rookie season, managing 14 snaps, all of which came on special teams. Extremely athletic, Nzeocha was all over the field at Wyoming, playing safety and all three linebacker positions. His learning curve might be steep, but he clearly has all the physical tools to play the position.

A source tells PFR that the Cowboys are, for the most part, satisfied with the current state of their linebacker room, and are looking forward to have their young players compete for playing time while McClain is suspended. Dallas, says the source, hasn’t shown a lot of interest in scouring the free agent market for substitutes, so one of Hitchens, Gachkar, or Nzeocha might be the favorite to earn significant snaps this fall.

Free agents:

Donald Butler — After selecting Denzel Perryman in 2015 and Joshua Perry in this year’s draft, the Chargers parted ways with Butler, who had spent the past five seasons with the club. At age-27, Butler is the youngest free agent option on this list, but he’s coming off the worst season of his career, having posted just 40 tackles during the 2016 campaign. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune accused Butler of “losing interest” after receiving a massive extension prior to the 2014 season, so perhaps some other clubs have made that same assessment.

Justin Durant — Durant started 12 games for the Falcons last year, but prior to his time in Atlanta he spent two seasons with the Cowboys, so at the very least he’d offer some familiarity with Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli‘s playbook. Versatility is another point in Durant’s favor, as he played mostly inside linebacker with Atlanta and Detroit, roamed the middle during his Jacksonville tenure, and moved between both positions with the Cowboys.

A.J. Hawk — The Bengals signed Hawk to a two-year deal before the 2015 campaign, but despite injuries limiting fellow linebacker Vontaze Burfict to just 10 games, Hawk rarely saw the field, playing on roughly a quarter of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps. Hawk recently told Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer that although he’s aware a club might not express interest until late in camp (or perhaps after the season begins), he’s staying in shape in the hopes of receiving a phone call.

David Hawthorne — Like Durant, Hawthorne offers positional versatility, having seen action at both inside and outside linebacker. In 2015, Hawthorne was shifted to the weak side in favor of rookie Stephone Anthony, but was then benched, declared inactive, and ultimately released after an unproductive season. Still, he’s got 83 career starts under his belt, and would presumably feel comfortable in the middle of the Dallas defense.

Keep reading for more external options that could be on the Cowboys’ radar…

Curtis Lofton — There’s no getting around the fact that 2015 was a bad year for Lofton. The 30-year-old graded as one of the four worst linebackers in the entire league, according to PFF, and was benched late in the season. However, Lofton recently admitted that he’d undergone offseason knee and ankle surgeries, so it’s fair to wonder if injuries limited him during the season. He’s always been an above-average force against the run, and he’s expressed a desire to continue his career in 2016.

Joe Mays — Having bounced around the league for the duration of his career, Mays has never seemed to be any club’s first option. But he’s always filled in when needed, and he’s never been abysmal when doing so. Mays is a run-stuffer, and probably shouldn’t be on the field for passing downs, but he also adds special teams value, and would certainly sign for the veteran’s minimum.

DeMeco Ryans — Ryans is probably the player on this list about whom I’m the least confident. Physically, he could be nearing the end — after suffering two ruptured Achilles during his career, Ryans struggled against both the run and the pass last year,
and with 10 NFL seasons in his rearview mirror, he has quite a bit of tread on his tires. But Ryans has always been viewed as a cerebral player, so adding a veteran with his level of mental acumen could be an appealing option for the Cowboys. Ryans, for what’s it worth, has said that he’d like to continue playing.

Stephen Tulloch — Tulloch might be the most high-profile name on this list, at least at the moment, given that he was finally released by the Lions this week after months of speculation. Detroit waited so long to execute the move to avoid paying an injury guarantee, as Tulloch had undergone surgery earlier this year. Clearly, that could give some clubs pause as they inquire on Tulloch’s health, but he was evidently able to pass a physical prior to his release, and he managed to hold up for 15 games last season.

Veterans on roster bubbles:

Jon Bostic, Lions — Due to a variety of factors, Bostic might not be leaving Detroit any time soon. First, Lions general manger Bob Quinn was formerly the Patriots’ director of scouting, so the fact that he acquired Bostic from New England could mean he has an affinity for the former Florida Gator. Second, Detroit recently released veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch, meaning there could be room for Bostic on the Lions’ roster. But if he were to be cut loose during the next few months, I’d imagine the Cowboys would show some level of interest. Or perhaps Bostic, who’s already been dealt twice during his career, could be had via trade once again.

Arthur Brown, Ravens — A former second-round pick, Brown has completely fallen out of favor in Baltimore, as he’s played only 10 defensive snaps during the past two seasons combined. But with Daryl Smith no longer on the Ravens’ roster, there could be room for Brown to earn playing time, if he can finally put it all together. Brown is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and doesn’t look to have a real future with Baltimore, so it’s conceivable the club finally cuts bait this summer.

Bruce Carter, Jets — Entering his age-28 season, Carter evidently didn’t attract much free agent interest after being released by the Buccaneers earlier this year, as he settled for a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract with the Jets. New York, however, has not only re-signed Erin Henderson to play opposite David Harris at inside linebacker, but spent a first-round pick on Ohio State’s Darron Lee, who would likely be the next man up if either Harris or Henderson suffered an injury. Carter, then, could potentially be available in the next few months, and could be especially attractive to the Cowboys given that he spent 2011-14 in Dallas.

Christian Jones, Bears — In just his second NFL campaign, Jones, a former undrafted free agent, started 13 games on the inside, leading all Bears linebackers in snaps. And though he graded as the league’s No. 38 linebacker per PFF, Chicago sought to replace him this offseason, inking both Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman to multi-year deals. Jones has since been moved to outside ‘backer, but Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com recently projected that he would be a surprise cut. Given that Jones is only 25 years old, the Bears could conceivably get something in return via trade.

Nate Palmer, Titans — It’s not a good sign that the Packers, who have a lengthy history of inside linebacker problems, waived Palmer earlier this year. Tennessee evidently saw something they liked and claimed Palmer, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to earn a role on the team. The Titans are projected to start Wesley Woodyard and Avery Williamson at middle linebacker in their 3-4 scheme, according to Roster Resource, while free agent signee Sean Spence — who has a history with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau — is the top reserve on the inside, meaning Palmer could be the odd man out.

Perry Riley, Redskins — The 28-year-old Riley is the only veteran on this subsection of the list who is making serious money, and Washington could save $4MM by releasing him this summer. And given that he’s not expected to be a starter, Perry could certainly be in danger of losing his roster spot. Will Compton will start at inside linebacker next to Mason Foster, whom the Redskins re-signed to a two-year deal. Riley will compete for a role with former Steelers special teams ace Terence Garvin, who was handed a $75K guarantee over the offseason.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Cleveland Browns

July 7th, 2016 at 6:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the NBA’s Cavaliers have brought a title back to Cleveland, the city’s true love remains the Browns, a club which is seemingly stuck in a cycle of perpetual reassembly. After once again overhauling their front office and coaching staff, the team finally seems to have to be moving in the right direction, formulating a plan both for free agency and the draft (and sticking to it). The 2016 Browns offseason may not have been flashy, but the organization accomplished a number of goals and — more importantly — accrued assets, all with an eye towards the future.

Notable signings:

Robert Griffin III, QB: Two years, $15MM. $6.75MM guaranteed. Max value of $22MM.
Demario Davis, LB: Two years, $8.1MM. $4.1MM guaranteed.
Alvin Bailey, OL: Three years, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Rahim Moore, S: One year, $1.85MM. $400K guaranteed.
Tank Carder, LB: Two years, $2.5MM. $300K guaranteed.
Don Jones, DB: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Austin Pasztor, OL: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Terrelle Pryor, WR: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Justin Tuggle, LB: One year, $700K.
Patrick Murray, K: One year, $525K.

The Browns entered the free agent period armed with nearly $50MM in cap space, but given that they’re in the midst of a full rebuild, they didn’t figure to spend much of it. And they didn’t, as the club still has roughly $42MM in 2016 cap room. But while Cleveland wasn’t very active over the past several months,the team did manage to ink a few interesting free agents, and former Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is atop that list.

Griffin isn’t the only signal-caller on the Browns’ roster, as Josh McCown, Austin Davis, and third-round rookie Cody Kessler are also under the team’s employ. Cleveland reportedly did not promise Griffin the starting job, but all expectations are that he will be under center come Week 1. Head coach Hue Jackson likely won’t officially name a starter until the preseason begins, but with rumors swirling that McCown could be traded (or released), Griffin is the overwhelming favorite to handle snaps for the Browns.

And for a team in transition, Griffin makes a ton of sense as a high-upside play. There’s no question that Griffin, who is still only 26 years old, never built upon the highs of his 2012 campaign, when he was named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. But despite reports of infighting and constant media attention on his situation in Washington, Griffin handled his time in the nation’s capital relatively well, especially during the past two years when he was benched in favor of Kirk Cousins. Signed to what is effectively a one-year deal with an option for 2017, both Griffin and the Browns have quite a bit to gain from this working relationship.

Cleveland’s only other significant addition on the offensive side of the ball was former Seahawks offensive lineman Alvin Bailey, whom the club lured with a three-year agreement. Bailey never made a true impact during his time with Seattle, although he does have youth on his side, as he won’t turn 25 until next month. However, it’s telling that Bailey could never find his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup on a consistent basis given how poor Seattle’s offensive line has been in recent years (he only played about a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps in 2015). He figures to compete with rookie Shon Coleman for time at right tackle, the only open spot on the Browns’ offensive line.

On defense, the Browns managed to land linebacker Demario Davis, who had spent the entirety of his career with the Jets. Davis, who started all 48 games during the past three seasons with New York, will take over at inside linebacker for Karlos Dansby, who was released. The decision to go forward with Davis over Dansby must have come down to age alone — Davis is 27, Dansby is 34 — as Dansby is clearly the superior player and would have actually been a little bit cheaper in 2016. Dansby is regarded as a solid locker room presence, and given that neither linebacker will be in his prime the next time Cleveland is in contention, it was surprising to see the club make the swap.

In the secondary, veteran Rahim Moore will fill the void at safety left when Tashaun Gipson departed for Jacksonville in free agency. As Roster Resource shows, Moore isn’t locked into a starting job, as he’ll have to compete with Jordan Poyer — who played roughly 40% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps last year — for time at free safety. Although Moore bombed with the Texans after inking a three-year pact (he was benched by November), he was a full-time starter for the Broncos from 2012-2014, so he isn’t lacking in experience.

The Browns also invested resources in two linebackers, Tank Carder and Justin Tuggle, who are primarily special teams players. Carder, for his part, played on more than 80% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps in 2015, and was rewarded for his efforts with a $300K guarantee. The Browns ranked in the middle of the pack in special teams DVOA last year, so perhaps that’s an area of the game where they feel they can show marked improvement on the cheap.

Clearly, the Browns didn’t see much use in using their ample cap space during this free agent period. Rather, the club will continue to carry that cap room over to future seasons, allowing them to spend more freely when they enter a period of contention. It’s a solid strategy, and one that will only help Cleveland in the long run, as there’s little reason for the team to sign a few more veterans in order to improve from, say, three wins to five wins in 2016.

Continue reading about the Browns’ offseason…

Johnson Bademosi, S
Travis Benjamin, WR
Dwayne Bowe, WR: Released
Karlos Dansby, LB: Released
Jim Dray, TE: Released
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB: Waived
Tashaun Gipson, S
Brian Hartline, WR: Released
Alex Mack: Opted out of contract
Johnny Manziel, QB: Waived
Craig Robertson, LB
Mitchell Schwartz, T
Connor Shaw, QB: Waived
Scott Solomon, LB: Waived after being re-signed
Randy Starks, DT: Released
Donte Whitner, S: Released

The Browns saw a mass wave of defections during the free agent period, and while that was probably by design, it’s likely still hard for Cleveland fans to stomach the losses of some of the most talented players on the roster. Some agents voiced a concern that the Browns front office was acting in a hesitant manner during negotiations, and that tenor of talks may have led to a few desertions. As Adam Schefter of ESPN said earlier this year: “Players treat the Browns like it’s a college experience — four years and done.”

While the Browns’ declination to engage with some of their internal free agents made sense based on price or the age of the player, the loss of tackle Mitchell Schwartz was perhaps the most difficult to rationalize. Schwartz is a former-second round pick who was drafted and developed by the Browns, and not only started all 64 possible games during his tenure with the club, but grew into one of the best tackles in the league, ultimately grading out as the sixth-best at his position in 2016, per Pro Football Focus.

The 27-year-old Schwartz drew a decent amount of interest from other teams on the first day of free agency, but after Cleveland reportedly pulled its offer, Schwartz landed with the Chiefs on an entirely reasonable deal. His five-year pact is worth $33MM in total, but only $12.66MM is fully guaranteed. It’s a solid pact, and of the top right tackle contracts in the league, but given Schwartz’s relative youth, excellent play, and history with the organization, his loss struck me as the most surprising among the Browns’ divorces.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, center Alex Mack finally left the Browns after attempting to do two years ago. For those who might not recall, Mack signed an offer sheet with the Jaguars after
being designated as Cleveland’s transition player in 2014 — the Browns matched Jacksonville’s offer, which included an opt-out clause that triggered after the 2015 campaign. Mack utilized that option this offseason, and landed a deal with the Falcons that made him the highest-paid center in the league. Given the presence of 2015 first-rounder Cameron Erving, Mack likely wasn’t a priority for Cleveland’s front office.

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is also gone after posting the type of breakout season that many had been expecting for some time. As Matt Harmon explained in his excellent Reception Perception profile, Benjamin unsurprisingly ran a large percentage of vertical routes (thanks to his speed), but he was also successful when deployed in other fashions. After grabbing 68 passes and nearly crossing the 1,000 yard barrier, Benjamin signed a four-year, $24MM pact with the Chargers.

Benjamin isn’t the only wideout who won’t be back with the Browns in 2016, as both Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline were handed walking papers in the past few months. Bowe, specifically, turned out to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory, managing just five receptions while earning $9.75MM for one season. Entering his age-32 season, Bowe has had a nice career, including a memorable 15-touchdown season with the Chiefs in 2010, but he’s nearing the end of the line. Hartline, meanwhile, can still function as a second or third receiving option, but choosing to save $3MM by releasing him was a no-brainer move by Cleveland.

On defense, safety Tashaun Gipson might not be a household name, but he’s been a worthwhile contributor for a number of seasons. Gipson was reportedly unhappy with the restricted free agent tender Cleveland assigned for the 2015 season, and had been prepared to leave the Browns for some time. The one-time Pro Bowler received $12MM in guarantees as a part of the five-year contract he signed with the Jaguars. Like Schwartz, Gipson was another free agent whom I thought Cleveland might try to retain given his age (25), and I even wondered if the franchise tag might be an option. Executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown admitted the tag would be a possibility for Gipson, but the Browns de facto general manager had hoped to hammer out a long-term deal with his free agent safety.

Cleveland’s other starting safety, veteran Donte Whitner, is also out of the 2016 picture after being cut in April. Whitner was miffed about the timing of his release, and he should’ve been. Instead of being let go prior to the free agent period, Whitner was set loose on the open market three weeks after many clubs had spent their allotted cap space. At 31 years old, he was never going to land a massive deal, but Whitner is still a productive player, and he could have scored a multi-year pact with some guarantees instead of the one-year deal that he’ll now likely have to accept.

We’ve already touched on Cleveland’s release of Karlos Dansby above, but fellow linebacker Craig Robertson also left the club, agreeing to a contract with the Saints after hitting free agency. Robertson has never been particularly adept against the run, but he’s always shined in pass coverage — in 2015, for example, PFF ranked him as the league’s 14th-best ‘backer in the pass game. That’s a valuable asset in today’s NFL, but a linebacker who can’t stay on the field for all three downs probably isn’t much of a value.

A few other veterans won’t be back in Cleveland next year, including safety/special teams ace Johnson Bademosi, who became one of the league’s highest paid special teams players after signing a deal with Detroit that guarantees him $2.9MM fully guaranteed. Jim Dray was released after grading out as one of the worst tight ends in the NFL last season, while defensive lineman Randy Starks was cut in a cost-saving move.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t note that the Browns also waived former first-round pick Johnny Manziel after numerous off-the-field issues. There isn’t much to add to the Manziel saga that hasn’t already been written, as he continues to make headlines with his bizarre and seemingly unhinged behavior. He’s earned a four-game suspension for the 2016 season, but that won’t matter much to the Browns — aside from the possibility that the club might be able to recoup some previously guaranteed money — as they’d already given up on Manziel after only two unproductive, incident-filled seasons.

Trades:

Acquired CB Jamar Taylor and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 250) from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 223).
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick from the Eagles in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 2) and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), and a 2017 third-round pick from the Titans in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176).
Acquired a 2016 third-round pick (No. 93), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 129), and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 168) from the Panthers in exchange for a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 141).
Acquired a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 154) from the Raiders in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100).

And now, we come to the most successful part of the Browns’ offseason. Cleveland made hay through their trades, swinging deals both before and during the draft that allowed them accrue assets in 2016, 2017, and 2018 drafts. Through this series of moves, the Browns demonstrated that they might be using a different value chart than most of the league, perhaps something closer to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective’s model than the traditional, Jimmy Johnson-created table.

The trade to hand over the No. 2 overall pick to the Eagles was Cleveland’s most successful deal, as they acquired roughly 175 cents on the dollar, obtaining a smorgasbord of draft choices that will be of great benefit to the club as it continues its rebuild over the next few seasons. But the move from No. 8 to No. 15 was nearly as valuable, as the Browns received about 148 cents on the dollar from the Titans as the latter moved up to select offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Even in a more fair deal — their pick swap with the Panthers — the Browns came out ahead, getting about 114 cents on the dollar.

Aside from simply winning a number of trades (which is always a positive), the Browns showed that they’ve been reading some of the research available regarding the NFL draft. In a paper published in 2012, economists Cade Massey and Richard Thaler explained that NFL organizations simply aren’t that proficient at making correct decisions in the draft, so trading down and amassing more picks is the smarter strategy — in other words, clubs need to give themselves more bites at the apple. Additionally, the pair discovered that choices at the top of the draft are dramatically overvalued; mid-round picks are far more likely to provide surplus value.

And that’s essentially what the draft is all about — asset management. Call it “analytics,” call it “Moneyball,” call it whatever you like. But a front office that isn’t trying to squeeze out every remaining bit of value from an asset isn’t doing its job. The Browns made the most of the hand they were dealt this offseason, and despite the organization’s history of ineptitude, they are now firmly on the right track.

Draft picks:

1-15: Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)
2-32: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB (Oklahoma State)
3-65: Carl Nassib, DE (Penn State)
3-76: Shon Coleman, T (Auburn)
3-93: Cody Kessler, QB (USC)
4-99: Joe Schobert, LB (Wisconsin)
4-114: Ricardo Louis, WR (Auburn)
4-129: Derrick Kindred, S (TCU)
4-138: Seth DeValve, WR/TE (Princeton)
5-154: Jordan Payton, WR (UCLA)
5-168: Spencer Drango, OL (Baylor)
5-172: Rashard Higgins, WR (Colorado State)
5-173: Trey Caldwell, CB (Louisiana-Monroe)
7-250: Scooby Wright, LB (Arizona)

The Browns acquired a bundle of future draft choices, but they also accrued a multitude of 2016 picks — 14, to be exact, three more than any other club. The strategy to obtain a horde of picks won’t matter much, however, if the majority of Cleveland’s selections don’t pan out. But the club did seem to employ the practice of positional-based drafting. Of the Browns’ 14 picks, 10 play the “high-value” positions — quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. (That total rises to 12-of-14 if Joe Schobert is counted as pass rusher and Spencer Drango is viewed as a tackle rather than a guard.)

Of Cleveland’s 2016 class, Corey Coleman is the favorite to offer the most immediate contribution. The speedy pass-catcher might have some work to do in terms of learning a more complete route tree, but at the very least, he can act as a deep-ball weapon during his rookie season. Fellow receiver Rashard Higgins doesn’t offer the measurables of Coleman, but he was well-reviewed by a number of draftniks, and is on pace to start opposite Coleman on the outside.

Offensive tackle Shon Coleman also has a chance to start as a rookie, as he’ll be engaged in a training camp battle with Alvin Bailey, with the winner taking up the mantle at right tackle. Cody Kessler, a third-round pick like Coleman, has been bandied about as a potential 2016 starter, but that seems highly unlikely. Many observers were surprised that Kessler was chosen as high as he was, and he could probably use another year (or two) of seasoning.

On defense, Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib will have every opportunity to earn roles as situational pass-rushers early in the season. Ogbah, a collegiate defensive end, will make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, so he may need some reps in coverage before he’s ready to become a full-time player. Nassib, meanwhile, is staying put at end, and word is that the Browns would like him to bulk up from his current 275 pounds so that he can slide inside on passing downs.

Other:

Hired Sashi Brown as executive VP of football operations to replace general manager Ray Farmer. Hired former MLB executive Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer. Hired Andrew Berry as president of player personnel.
Hired Hue Jackson as head coach to replace Mike Pettine.
Won’t hire formal offensive coordinator to replace John DeFilippo. Hired Al Saunders as senior offensive assistant, Pep Hamilton as assistant head coach/offense, and Kirby Wilson as running game coordinator.
Hired Ray Horton as defensive coordinator to replace Jim O’Neil.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for LB Barkevious Mingo ($11.925MM).
Claimed DE/LB Jackson Jeffcoat off waivers.
Learned LB Armonty Bryant would be suspended four games (PED policy).
Signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The Browns (again) underwent a leadership change this offseason, replacing both the top executives in the front office and much of their coaching staff. The personnel team, now lead by executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and president of player personnel Andrew Berry, is light on NFL experience, but the group has already shown that they have an executable plan for their franchise. DePodesta, a former MLB general manager, got most of the offseason publicity, but he’s essentially taking this year to learn about the finer points on the NFL game before diving into his role, per a number of reports.

New head coach Hue Jackson, meanwhile, does have a long NFL history, and always seemed likely to get another coaching gig after succeeding both as an offensive coordinator and during a short stint as Oakland’s head coach. Considered one of the more innovative minds in the league, Jackson’s long-term goal will be to lead the Browns back to respectability, but his more immediate objective is to resurrect the career of quarterback Robert Griffin III. Jackson will have help, as he brought a number of highly-regarded voices — both on offense and defense — with him to northern Ohio.

Barkevious Mingo, Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2013, has never lived up to his draft billing, and by last season had essentially become an overpaid special teams player. He only played 256 defensive snaps, and didn’t offer much in terms of pass rush (zero sacks). Mingo saw action on nearly 85% of the Browns’ special teams plays, but that type of production doesn’t equal the ~$12MM salary he would have earned had the club exercised his 2017 fifth-year option. Truth be told, there’s no guarantee Mingo even makes this year’s 53-man roster.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Joe Haden, CB: $13,400,000
Joe Thomas, T: $9.500,000
Paul Kruger, LB: $7,700,000
Desmond Bryant, DL: $7,000,000
Tramon Williams, CB: $6,981,250
Barkevious Mingo, LB: $5,201,319
Robert Griffin III, QB: $5,046,875
Josh McCown, QB: $5,041,666
Dwayne Bowe, WR: $4,600,000 (dead money)
Donte Whitner, S: $4,500,000 (dead money)

The 2016 season isn’t going to be pretty for the Browns, and it isn’t meant to be. With three other clubs in their division lined up to contend for the AFC North crown, Cleveland has no real shot at reaching the postseason. But bottoming out and landing another top draft pick won’t be the worst outcome. If all goes according to plan, this could be the last truly embarrassing Browns season for quite some time.

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

Checking In On The Vikings’ Offensive Line

July 6th, 2016 at 11:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Vikings’ 2015 offensive line was, in a word, lackluster. Minnesota gave up 45 sacks, eighth-most in the league, and ranked 29th in adjusted sack rate. The unit was more successful in the run game, earning the No. 10 spot in Football Outsiders’ rankings — but even FO admits that its offensive line metrics are heavily influenced by the quality of the team’s running back, and Adrian Peterson certainly gave his front five a leg up.

But that poor overall performance overlooks the fact that the Vikings had several surprising contributors among their top five lineman. Mike Harris, thrust into a starting role for the first time in his career, played exceptionally well, helping lock down the right side while seeing action at guard after primarily playing tackle in past seasons. Joe Berger, a 34-year-old reserve who had started more than 10 games only once in his career, was even better, grading out as the second-best center in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

Neither Harris nor Berger is projected to enter the upcoming season as a starter, however, as Minnesota’s line will undergo a series of changes. Berger is likely to be usurped by John Sullivan, who missed the entire 2015 campaign after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy. Sullivan, 30, was a full-time starter for the Vikings from 2009-14, and was consistently viewed as one of the elite pivots in the league, ranking eighth in approximate value during that period.

Harris, meanwhile, will head back to the bench as Brandon Fusco moves from left to right guard, paving the way for free agent signee Alex Boone to take over on the left side. Fusco wasn’t very effective last year, but he’s been much more productive at right guard during his NFL stint, so perhaps the move back will do him good. Boone, meanwhile, is locked in as a starter after inking a four-year, $26.8MM deal in the offseason.

The Vikings didn’t stop after adding Boone, though, and subsequently signed former Bengals tackle Andre Smith to a one-year pact. Minnesota now ranks first in offensive line spending among all NFL clubs, ahead of other team such as the Raiders, Eagles, and Dolphins. Here’s a look at the top names on the Vikes’ offensive line depth chart, sorted by 2016 cap figure:

So with Boone, Sullivan, and Fusco manning the interior — and fending off competition from Berger and/or Harris — our attention turns to the outside, which is perhaps the most interesting subset of Minnesota’s offensive line. Matt Kalil‘s struggles have been well-documented, and he’s never returned to the heights he exhibited during his rookie season. The Vikings somewhat surprisingly exercised his 2016 fifth-year option, and his $11.096MM base salary for this year is now guaranteed.

At right tackle, Smith, who is protected by a $1MM guarantee, will compete with longtime Viking Phil Loadholt. The 30-year-old Loadholt has been an elite option on the right side when healthy, but he missed the tail of end of the 2014 campaign with a torn pectoral, and was sidelined for the entire 2015 season after tearing his Achilles. As such, many observers — including Ben Goessling of ESPN.com — have given the edge to Smith in this position battle.

Loadholt reworked his contract earlier this year, reducing his base salary to $2MM while not adding any guarantees, in the hopes of “betting on himself.” There’s likely only room for either Loadholt or Smith on the roster, as neither offers much versatility, and given that Smith has that $1MM guarantee in his back pocket, he is likely the favorite. Loadholt and his camp, however, expect him to venture into a strong market if he does enter free agency, a source tells PFR (Twitter link).

The makeup of this offensive line could realistically go any number of ways over the next few months, and how the front five shakes out could have free agent implications. If Berger mounts an attempt to hold onto the starting center position, is it possible Sullivan is released, especially given that he has no guaranteed money remaining and very little in the way of a prorated bonus? Or could the Vikings decide to go with Harris/Berger at right guard and clear out Fusco’s $3MM+ base salary?

We haven’t even discussed how the Vikings’ front five might change after 2016, when much of the offensive line is projected to hit free agency — but that’s a topic for another day. Suffice it to say: a solid player is going to emerge from this group and hit the free agent market at some point before September, and although Loadholt looks like he’ll be the odd man out, other scenarios could certainly come into play.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Vandervelde, T. Jackson, Rosen

July 5th, 2016 at 8:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde has generated interest from three NFL teams, a source tells PFR (Twitter link). The 28-year-old Vandervelde has spent the duration of his career with the Eagles, but he’s bounced on-and-off the active roster, appearing in just 17 games over five seasons. In 2015 alone, Vandervelde, who can play both guard and center, had three separate stints with Philadelphia. The former Iowa Hawkeye also had a workout with the Seahawks earlier this year.

Let’s take a look at a few more items from around the league:

Former Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a report from TMZ Sports. Jackson was arrested last week for allegedly pointing a gun at his wife and threatening to kill her — he reportedly asked for a public defender because he didn’t have the funds to pay for a lawyer. Seattle has apparently moved on, as the club tried to claim Connor Shaw off waivers from the Browns and is still in the process of finding a No. 2 quarterback.
Looking (far) ahead to the 2018 draft, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is expected to be one of the first players off the board, and NFL clubs are already looking into him, reports Albert Breer of NFL.com. While Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr. is unsurprisingly a major supporter of Rosen (“His potential is unlimited”), some NFL scouts think that Rosen might need to exhibit more maturity over the next two years.
Franchise-tagged players have until July 15 to agree to long-term deals with their respective clubs, leading Mark Maske of the Washington Post to placed odds on the likelihood that on Von Miller, Kirk Cousins, and Muhammad Wilkerson will ink new contracts in the next week or so. PFR’s Sam Robinson posed a similar question last night, asking PFR readers which of the franchisees would sign new pacts with their teams before next Thursday.
As anyone who was watching Amazon’s All or Nothing witnessed, the Cardinals cut defensive end Lawrence Okoye last season after he parked in the wrong parking spot (link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). Of course, had Okoye been a more high-profile player, the parking issue likely would gone unpunished — instead, the incident was used by head coach Bruce Arians as a way to teach his players to become detail-oriented.

8 Teams That Could Sign Donte Whitner

July 5th, 2016 at 5:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran safety Donte Whitner wasn’t happy with the timing of his release from the Browns earlier this year, and he had every right to be upset. After Rodney McLeod, George Iloka, Eric Weddle, Tashaun Gipson, and a cadre of other safeties had already scored large contracts on the open market, Whitner hit free agency about three weeks after many clubs had already spent their free agent money. As such, Whitner will likely have to settle for a one-year deal in the coming weeks.

But Whitner, who will turn 31 years old later this month, is still a talented player, having graded as the league’s No. 24 safety among 89 qualifiers in 2015, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also remarkably durable, as he’s missed only three games over the past six seasons. As such, PFR recently ranked Whitner as the No. 1 free agent available on the defensive side of the ball, ahead of other players such as Leon Hall, Greg Hardy, and Dwight Freeney.

Let’s take a look at some potential landing spots for Whitner as he looks to ink a contract before (or during) training camp…

Carolina Panthers — Former fourth-round pick Tre Boston spent the first two years of his career as a special teams stalwart, biding his time behind Roman Harper while waiting for a starting opportunity. That time has come, but will Ron Rivera and the rest of Carolina’s coaching staff feel comfortable relying on Boston, who has just six starts to his name and has only averaged about 28% playing time over the past two seasons? After rescinding Josh Norman‘s franchise tag, the Panthers will have enough questions at cornerback without having to worry about their safety group, too. Adding Whitner to play opposite Kurt Coleman could help alleviate any concerns the club might have.

Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys defense has taken its share of hits this offseason, with Rolando McClain, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Randy Gregory all facing multi-game suspensions. Dallas’ secondary has remained untouched, but second-year safety Byron Jones is the only above-average option projected to start in the club’s defensive backfield. Strong safety Barry Church has never been special, and the Cowboys didn’t select a safety in the draft until the sixth round (Central Michigan’s Kavon Frazier). If Tony Romo can stay healthy during the upcoming season, Dallas should return to contention in the NFC East, and Whitner could be the final piece of the puzzle on defense.

Detroit Lions — Lions general manager Bob Quinn has been adamant that his club will field a wide-open competition at strong safety, but the latest reports indicate the former Saint Rafael Bush holds the upper hand over fellow free agent signee Tavon Wilson and fourth-round rookie Miles Killebrew. Bush, though, hasn’t been able to stay healthy during his five-year NFL career. The 29-year-old ended the 2014 season on injured reserve with a broken leg, and missed all but one game last year after tearing a pectoral muscle. Wilson, meanwhile, never started a single contest for the Patriots despite being a former second-round pick, and played just 83 defensive snaps in 2015. All in all, it’s an unproven and untrustworthy group, and Whitner could represent a more sure thing.

Houston Texans — The Texans boasted one of the NFL’s best defensive units in 2015, so they don’t need to add a free agent like Whitner. Houston already had a poor encounter with a veteran free agent safety last season, as Rahim Moore was benched in early November before being released just one season into a three-year deal. But that experience shouldn’t scare the Texans off, as Whitner could add a hard-hitting force to a safety crop that possesses quantity, but perhaps not quality. Andre Hal looks like the club’s starter at free safety, but strong safety could be a toss-up between Eddie Pleasant, Quintin Demps, Antonio Allen, and rookie Kris Dillon. Whitner, for all his faults, looks to be an improvement over any of those options.

Jacksonville Jaguars — The Jaguars are going all-in on the 2016 season, and they spent the majority of their offseason upgrading their defense. After handing big-money deals to defensive lineman Malik Jackson and safety Tashaun Gipson, general manager Dave Caldwell spent all but one of his draft picks on defenders, using his first two to pluck cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack. But after allocating all that capital, strong safety is still a weak spot on the Jags’ roster, as former second-round pick Johnathan Cyprien graded out as a bottom-three safety last year, according to PFF. As such, Cyprien is reportedly in danger of losing his job to James Sample, but perhaps Jacksonville would prefer a more stable veteran. And not for nothing, Whitner has working experience with Gipson, as the pair spent the past two seasons together in Cleveland.

Kansas City Chiefs — Even after losing one safety to free agency (Tyvon Branch) and another to retirement (Husain Abdullah), the Chiefs are still pretty well-stocked at the position. All Pro Eric Berry, the club’s franchise tag designee, will hold down one spot, while Ron Parker will man the other. But with Parker taking on so many other roles in Kansas City’s defense, including nickel corner, Whitner could make for a strong depth addition. It wouldn’t be a perfect match, however, as Berry does his best work close to the line of scrimmage — the same area that Whitner regularly patrols. The Chiefs are going to mess with Berry’s role to accommodate someone like Whitner, so the latter might have to be open to a reserve role.

Los Angeles Rams — The Rams are perhaps the most obvious fit on this list, especially given that they’re the only club with which Whitner has had a known visit. Whitner met with Los Angeles in the beginning of April, and though reports have indicated that he remains “in play” for general manager Les Snead & Co., the Rams might be cooling in their pursuit of veteran safeties. LA’s search for secondary help — which, in addition to Whitner, has involved fellow free agent Dashon Goldson — could be limited by the team’s desire to see how its younger options, such as Maurice Alexander, Cody Davis, and Christian Bryant, play out before adding a more experienced player. The Rams’ only safety with more than five career starts under his belt is T.J. McDonald, who could possibly be facing a suspension after being arrested for DUI earlier this year.

San Diego Chargers — San Diego has already replaced franchise legend Eric Weddle, agreeing to a deal with former Colt Dwight Lowery over the offseason. But strong safety remains a weakness — in his first season as a full-time starter, Jahleel Addae was below-average, ranking as the No. 76 safety in the league, per PFF. The Chargers ranked 25th in defensive DVOA last season, and were even worse specifically against the run, where they placed 31st. Whitner would help in that regard, assisting the front seven in rush defense while Lowery covers the back end. San Diego did assign Addae the second-round restricted free agent tender, so the club clearly values him, but none of his $2.553MM salary is guaranteed, so if the Chargers wanted to go in another direction, they could easily get out of that contract.

Others — Given that former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is now with the Bears, I initially pegged Chicago as a good fit for Whitner, given that the pair enjoyed success together in the Bay Area from 2011-13. However, the Bears selected two safeties in this year’s draft, and as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has written on multiple occasions, Chicago would like to see how those younger options play out, and is quite pleased with 2015 rookie Adrian Amos at strong safety.

The Ravens also struck me as a potential landing spot for Whitner, given that general manager Ozzie Newsome has a history of squeezing every last drop out of veteran free agents. But Baltimore already spent money on Eric Weddle this offseason, and even after offloading the troubled Will Hill, the club still boasts cornerback convert Lardarius Webb, former first-round pick Matt Elam, and Kendrick Lewis at safety, so it’s not exactly a position of need. Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com noted that the Ravens have long been fans of Whitner, but allowed that a signing was unlikely.

Finally, the Vikings are known to be looking for the perfect complement to Pro Bowler Harrison Smith, and even after inking Andrew Sendejo to a four-year deal and signing free agent Michael Griffin, the club still doesn’t sound confident with its options at strong safety. Whitner, then, would seem to be a potential fit, but as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com wrote last month, Minnesota is probably looking for a player who can handle pass coverage responsibilities given how often the team moves Smith around the formation. Whitner is not that guy, so perhaps the Vikes aren’t quite a perfect landing spot.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Community Tailgate: Franchise Tag Deadline

July 4th, 2016 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Varying degrees of uncertainty engulf seven players as July begins, with their respective teams having placed their franchise tags on them. With the deadline for these talents to reach long-term deals with their organizations looming on July 15, multiple members of this contingent likely will not agree to a long-term accord with their respective team.

Here’s how the franchise-tagged club looks as of July 4:

Franchise players (exclusive):

Von Miller, LB (Broncos): $14.26MM

Franchise players (non-exclusive):

Eric Berry, S (Chiefs): $10.806MM
Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington): $19.953MM
Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): $14.599MM
Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): $13.952MM
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (Jets): $15.701MM
Justin Tucker, K (Ravens): $4.572MM

Cordy Glenn‘s Bills extension and the Panthers rescinding Josh Norman‘s tag removed two players from the group, but several should remain unsigned by next Friday. With teams having until 3 p.m. CT that day to finalize these agreements, there’s a decent chance multiple tagged performers will play this season on one-year deals.

Of this septet, Eric Berry and Justin Tucker seem most likely to sign contracts with the Chiefs and Ravens, respectively. We’ve heard no acrimony coming from either side in these negotiations, pointing to Baltimore and Kansas City being in good positions to find common ground and secure the rights for the remainder of their tagged cogs’ primes.

But elsewhere, it hasn’t been so smooth. The Broncos have tagged three players — Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas — since John Elway began functioning as the team’s top personnel executive, and they signed each to long-term deals. But Miller’s standoff with the Broncos has surpassed those impasses.

The nature of the deal the linebacker’s seeking, one that would make him the highest-paid defender in league history, was already going to complicate this. But after Miller turned down Denver’s six-year, $114.5MM proposal over money guaranteed at signing, the Broncos rescinded the offer (technically), and Miller vowed not to play the season on the exclusive tag. We could soon learn how serious he is about holding out.

Jeffery, Johnson and Cousins may reside in the same boat, with their respective teams possibly angling to see how they fare this season before being certain of their statuses as cornerstones, respectively.

Ascending into the Bears‘ No. 1 receiver role after Brandon Marshall‘s third career trade, Jeffery couldn’t display the form he showed as an overqualified No. 2 after he missed seven games due to multiple leg injuries. We heard in early June the sides expected the fifth-year receiver to play 2016 on the tag and reassess after the season, but a few weeks later, the bridge to a Jeffery long-term Bears pact doesn’t appear as long as previously thought. The team still has some obvious reservations on whether or not Jeffery’s body can hold up before giving him a $15MM+ AAV deal in line with A.J. Green or Dez Bryant, however.

Not as much has surfaced on Johnson, but news emerged last month the Rams cornerback may view Janoris Jenkins‘ $12.5MM-AAV deal with the Giants as a floor. The fallout from that rumor pointed to the sides not being close enough to agree on a sufficient offer that would keep the breakout corner on the Rams’ books for a while.

In a market that overpays quarterbacks and keeps them away from free agency, Kirk Cousins doesn’t look to be going anywhere else anytime soon. But the talks between the fifth-year passer and the Redskins aren’t progressing just yet. Of course, that could turn by next Friday, with the market for franchise quarterbacks being essentially set. Cousins, whom Washington wants to see perform again after his strong stretch run put him in this spot, would receive approximately $44MM if given the tag again in 2017.

Wilkerson’s prospects of a Jets contract remain slim. The perpetually disgruntled 2011 first-rounder has been angling for a commitment from Gang Green for over two years, threatening a holdout last season before reporting and playing on his fifth-year option. Fletcher Cox‘s extension looks like it will serve as the sixth-year 3-4 end’s floor in terms of asking price, at least in the mind of Wilkerson, who has made the same number of Pro Bowls (one) as the Eagles standout. But Wilkerson’s notched 33.5 sacks since 2012 compared to Cox’s 22.

However, the Jets’ deep defensive end stable, scant cap room and the lack of a starting-caliber quarterback on the payroll make this a dicey proposition, given their history with Wilkerson. The subject of trade speculation for months, Wilkerson would earn a projected $18.8MM if tagged again in 2017.

So, how many among this contingent will play 2016 under the terms of the franchise tag? Which has the best chance to play elsewhere in 2017? Who has the biggest gripe if they don’t see an acceptable long-term offer by next week? Which isn’t worth a long-term deal right now? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

PFR Originals: 6/26/16 – 7/3/16

July 3rd, 2016 at 2:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

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

In the first installment of PFR’s Offseason in Review series, Dallas examined how the Cincinnati Bengals responded after their stunning playoff exit. Noting the team did not intend to bring back both safeties, Dallas points out that George Iloka‘s status makes the back-line defender incredibly likely to play out his second Bengals contract and examines why Cincinnati handled its No. 2 wide receiver spot the way it did. He also categorized the Giovani Bernard extension as a prescient move by the running back.
Connor then continued the 2016 series with the Bills, who re-signed two offensive linemen in Richie Incognito and Cordy Glenn but did not make many splashes in acquiring outside talent. Tabbing Reggie Ragland as the David Harris-type linebacker Rex Ryan lacked in 2015, Connor also notes that GM Doug Whaley‘s extension doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be around for the Bills‘ 2017 campaign if the team that owns the NFL’s longest playoff drought takes a step backward.
We kicked off our Impact Rookies series by profiling three AFC South franchises. The Texans went offense with their first four selections, and Dave-Te Thomas examined how that will aid the defending division champions in their quest to advance in the postseason.
The Jaguars selected two players who were thought to be top-five prospects in Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. Thomas said the Jaguars sprinted to the podium in both instances, with Jack, if healthy, profiling as an impact candidate for Jacksonville on the strong side.
The Titans traded out of the No. 1 spot and selected Jack Conklin, whom Thomas pencils in as Tennessee’s immediate right tackle option, before adding Derrick Henry in Round 2. Although, Henry faces a less-certain situation as a rookie.
Dallas asked readers in our Community Tailgate section which player will sign the first $25MM-AAV contract after Andrew Luck‘s Colts extension left him short of that threshold. He mentions quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Drew Brees among those that could accomplish this, with each potentially being drawn to a shorter contract.
Dwight Freeney intends to play in a 15th season, and Dallas looked at the top 10 teams that would be the best fits for the former All-Pro pass-rusher. In addition to the Cardinals, with whom Freeney’s said he’d prefer a reunion, Dallas mentioned the Chiefs and Cowboys as possible landing spots considering their depleted situations outside.
Nick Foles will almost certainly not be with the Rams for a second season, and Dallas zeroes in on seven teams that loom as potential trade partners for Los Angeles. Along with teams that don’t have much behind their starters like the Seahawks and Cowboys, Dallas notes teams like the Chiefs and Jets — who each boast multiple late-round fliers behind their current starters — as options to trade for Foles.
Ben rounded up the best of the football blogs in his latest edition of Pigskin Links.

Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills

July 1st, 2016 at 5:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After finishing 8-8 in 2015 and extending their NFL-worst playoff drought to an absurd 16 years, a dearth of cap space prevented the Bills from acquiring significant veteran upgrades during the offseason. The club instead had to use the bulk of its spending room to re-sign its two best offensive linemen, leaving it to go the draft route to supplement a defense that was surprisingly underwhelming last season.