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Offseason Outlook: Miami Dolphins

February 6th, 2016 at 6:37pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Pending free agents:

Louis Delmas, S
Shamiel Gary, S (ERFA)
Matt Hazel, WR (ERFA)
Ulrick John, T (ERFA)
Rishard Matthews, WR
Jacques McClendon, G
Lamar Miller, RB
Matt Moore, QB
Tyler Patmon, CB (ERFA)
Spencer Paysinger, LB
Derrick Shelby, DE
Kelvin Sheppard, ILB
Shelley Smith, G
Jake Stoneburner, TE (ERFA)
Michael Thomas, S (ERFA)
Robert Thomas, DT (ERFA)
Olivier Vernon, DE
Brandon Williams, TE (RFA)

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

Ndamukong Suh, DT: $28,600,000
Ryan Tannehill, QB: $11,640,000
Branden Albert, T: $10,150,000
Mike Pouncey, C: $10,025,000
Cameron Wake, DE: $9,800,000
Jordan Cameron, TE: $9,500,000
Brent Grimes, CB: $9,500,000
Reshad Jones, S: $8,202,942
Quinton Coples, DE: $7,751,000
Dion Jordan, DE: $6,202,377
Greg Jennings, WR: $5,500,000
Koa Misi, LB: $4,878,000
Earl Mitchell, DT: $3,500,000
Brice McCain, CB: $3,500,000
Philip Wheeler, ILB: $2,800,000 (dead money)

Notable coaching/front office changes:

General manager: Promoted college scouting director Chris Grier to replace Dennis Hickey.
Head coach: Hired Bears OC Adam Gase to replace Dan Campbell, who left to become Saints’ assistant HC and TEs coach.
Offensive coordinator: Hired Colts QBs coach Clyde Christensen to replace Zac Taylor.
Offensive staff: Hired Bears offensive assistant Bo Hardegree as QBs coach.
Defensive coordinator: Hired Bengals DBs coach Vance Joseph to replace Lou Anarumo, who returned to DBs coach role.

Draft:

No. 8 overall pick
Acquired seventh-round pick from Ravens in deal for CB Will Davis.

Other:

Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $2.69MM over projected cap
DE Dion Jordan remains suspended due to repeated substance-abuse violations.
Signed German League MVP Tyler Davis.

Overview:

The Dolphins entered the 2015 season with playoff aspirations, but they ultimately went through two different head coaches, Joe Philbin and Dan Campbell, en route to another bitterly disappointing campaign. Miami finished last in the AFC East at 6-10, its worst record since 2011, and extended its playoff drought to seven years. The Dolphins have also failed to register a season above .500 during that span.

Naturally, then, major changes are needed, and those changes began last month with the ouster of general manager Dennis Hickey, the promotion of Chris Grier from director of college scouting to GM, and the hiring of Campbell’s replacement, first-time head coach Adam Gase. Grier and Gase will work in unison with the rest of the Dolphins’ hierarchy, led by executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, as they try to restore glory to a franchise with just one playoff berth since 2002.

The organization is optimistic that the 37-year-old Gase, the NFL’s youngest head coach, is the right fit to get the most out of big-money quarterback Ryan Tannehill and his teammates. Prior to serving as the Bears’ offensive coordinator last season, Gase held the same position with the Broncos from 2013-14, during which time Peyton Manning piled up 94 touchdown passes. In Chicago, Gase helped maligned quarterback Jay Cutler to one of the most efficient seasons of his career — Cutler completed better than 64 percent of his passes and threw only 11 interceptions in 15 games.

In addition to having full control over the Dolphins’ 53-man roster, Gase will call their offensive plays, giving him an unusually high amount of responsibility for a neophyte head coach. He’ll have assistance on the offensive side from coordinator Clyde Christensen, formerly the quarterbacks coach in Indianapolis. Vance Joseph, who previously coached the Bengals’ defensive backs, will run a Dolphins defense that placed 25th overall in ’15-16 and looks poised to undergo a drastic overhaul in the approaching months.

Key Free Agents:

The Dolphins’ most noteworthy pending free agent is defensive end Olivier Vernon, who hasn’t missed a game since they spent a third-round pick on him in 2012. Vernon has paired durability with productivity, having racked up 29 sacks in four years (25.5 over the last three seasons). Vernon took down enemy QBs 7.5 times this past season and ranked third out of 91 qualifying edge defenders in overall performance by Pro Football Focus’ standards (subscription required), trailing only superstars Khalil Mack and Von Miller. When you consider all of the above, not to mention his age (26 in October), it’s clear Vernon is on the cusp of a significant payday. Vernon is aware of that, and he indicated in early January that the Dolphins won’t have an easy time keeping him.

“I only get one shot [at free agency], so I’m not [doing] a hometown discount,” he told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Given their lack of long-term certainty at defensive end (Cameron Wake is 34 and recovering from a torn Achilles, Dion Jordan‘s career has been a disaster on and off the field, and Derrick Shelby joins Vernon as a free agent-to-be), the Dolphins should do everything within reason to retain Vernon. It’s estimated the franchise tag for DEs in 2016 will be just under $15MM, which looks too rich for a team that has work to do to get under the cap. It’s possible the Dolphins will tag Vernon in order to keep him under their control as they try to work out a long-term accord, though. Otherwise, he’s an obvious risk to go to the open market and sign with the highest bidder. James Walker of ESPN.com wrote that a contract worth upward of $9MM annually for Vernon could take the Dolphins out of the race to sign him. Considering all that he brings to the table, that type of annual value seems fair for Vernon, who could end up with a deal in the neighborhood of the five-year, $47.25MM pact fellow 4-3 edge rusher Vinny Curry recently signed with the Eagles.

It’s conceivable Vernon’s fate will determine Shelby’s, as the Dolphins might have trouble re-signing both. Shelby, who has missed only one game in four years, played over 72% of Miami’s defensive snaps in 2015-16 and totaled a career-high 3.5 sacks. He also ranked as PFF’s 23rd-best edge defender. Shelby, 27 in March, is seemingly in line for a raise over his expiring $2.36MM salary. If the Dolphins work something out with Vernon, Shelby will probably get his pay increase someplace else. Should Vernon walk, perhaps the Dolphins will look to Shelby as a cheaper, albeit less effective, replacement. A defense that finished 25th in sacks can’t afford to lose both Vernon and Shelby, so the likelihood is that at least one of them will stay in the fold.

Aside from Vernon and Shelby, the Dolphins have other defenders primed for free agency in middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who started 14 games last season, and safeties Michael Thomas and Louis Delmas.

Sheppard has been underwhelming throughout his five-year career, last season included, and doesn’t seem likely to return to Miami – not as a starter, anyway.

As an exclusive rights free agent, Thomas can’t negotiate with other teams. That means he should be a Dolphin again. Thomas started 12 games last season and earned a respectable assessment from PFF (41st-ranked safety out of 88). He’s also a standout on special teams.

Delmas has been solid when on the field during his career, but health has long been an issue. The 28-year-old sat out all of ’15-16 with a torn ACL (his second in a nine-month span) and has missed 33 of a possible 112 regular-season games since entering the league in 2009. If the Dolphins elect to bring him back, expect a short-term, inexpensive deal with possible incentives.

On the offensive side, the Dolphins’ control over running back Lamar Miller is set to end. Miller has put up a tremendous 4.6 yards-per-carry average during his four-year career, but the Dolphins haven’t leaned on him enough. The 24-year-old accrued only the 18th-most carries in the league last season (194), though he made them count with 872 yards and eight touchdowns, also adding 47 receptions and two more scores. Miller closed the season poorly, however, rushing for 103 yards on 43 attempts over the final three weeks. He also had seven games with 10 carries or fewer, which is more an indictment of the prior coaching staff than him.

Gase puts much heavier emphasis on the run than previous Dolphins regimes, as Fox Sports’ Cameron DaSilva wrote last month. Gase’s offenses ranked in the league’s top 12 in rushing attempts the last three years (sixth in ’15), while the Dolphins were 29th, 22nd and 32nd, respectively. There’s a chance Gase believes in Miller and will make a push for the front office to re-sign him, but Miller’s future “depends on the economics,” a club official told Jackson last month. Miller is ostensibly a good bet to test the market, which would make him a good bet to find a contract richer than the one Miami will presumably offer.

Receiver Rishard Matthews joins Miller as a notable Dolphins weapon scheduled to explore free agency. Matthews’ departure seems likelier than Miller’s considering the Dolphins already have three capable wideouts in Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and 2015 first-rounder DeVante Parker. After catching a paltry four passes through Nov. 22, Parker broke out during the final six games of his rookie season and became an explosive part of Miami’s offense. That was especially evident in the 13-catch, 286-yard tear he went on over the season’s closing three weeks. Thanks to Parker’s emergence, the Dolphins are in fine shape at the position and will presumably let Matthews walk.

Matthews appeared in 11 games last season and caught 43 passes for 662 yards (a prolific 15.4 YPC) and four TDs. Before Matthews’ season ended in late November on account of broken ribs, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald reported that the 26-year-old was in line for a deal worth $4MM to $6MM annually. The expectation is that Matthews will have to get that money from another team.

Possible Cap Casualties/Contract Issues:

The Dolphins are over the cap right now, but they’ll free up a sizable chunk of room by releasing a slew of players. The most obvious of the bunch is edge defender Quinton Coples, whom the Dolphins claimed off waivers from the Jets in November. Coples didn’t make a single tackle for the Dolphins and certainly won’t be on their books next season at the $7.75MM for which he’s presently slated.

Similarly, releasing 35-catch tight end Jordan Cameron would save Miami a large amount ($7.5MM). There’s also receiver Greg Jennings, who was a non-factor last season and whose release would make $4MM of space. Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and cornerback Brice McCain are both pink slip possibilities, which would open up another $5MM ($2.5MM apiece).

The same is possible for linebacker Koa Misi, who has been with the Dolphins since they took him in the second round of the 2010 draft. Although he earned above-average ’15-16 marks from PFF (21st-ranked LB out of 97 qualifiers), Miami would save $4.3MM by designating Misi a post-June 1 cut ($3.72MM beforehand). That could seal his fate, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

In addition to getting rid of players, the Dolphins could look to create cap space by restructuring a handful of contracts. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Brent Grimes, Wake, Cameron, and Jordan are candidates to have lesser cap hits next season. If none are open to that, all except Suh may end up on the chopping block.

In Suh’s case, it’s worth noting that Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap has warned against restructuring his contract because of the negative ramifications it would bring over the long haul. Nevertheless, in an effort to decrease Suh’s $28.6MM cap number this year, the Dolphins are considering altering the mammoth deal he signed last offseason, a move which wouldn’t require the former Lion’s approval.

Wake has 70 sacks in seven years with the Dolphins – seven of which came in only seven games last season. But it’s hard to imagine the team being content with an aging player coming off a serious injury taking up $9.8MM of its cap. Worst-case scenario: Miami can release Wake and recoup $8.4MM of breathing room. If that happens, it could help the Dolphins retain both Vernon and Shelby.

Grimes will eat into $9.5MM of the cap, $6.5MM of which can be saved by parting with him before June 1. By designating Grimes as a post-June 1 cut, the team would create $8MM in cap savings. However, given Grimes’ track record and their dearth of quality corners, bringing the nine-year veteran back at a lower amount would seem more beneficial for the Dolphins.

Finally, there’s Jordan, who had to sit out this past season after the league suspended him for violating its substance abuse policy. If the league reinstates Jordan in the spring, he’ll go back to factoring into the Dolphins’ cap. His hit for next season exceeds $6.2MM, an unpalatable total for a player who has amassed three sacks and 22 games missed because of suspensions since Miami drafted him third overall in 2013. While cutting Jordan outright would save the Dolphins upward of $3.21MM this year, they’re open to giving him another chance, according to Jackson.

Positions Of Need:

Even without taking the nebulous statuses of its all-important edge rushers into account, most of Miami’s offseason focus will lie with a defense that struggled against both the run and pass, and didn’t generate much pressure or force many turnovers last season.

With Sheppard’s contract up and Misi a release candidate, the team could search for two new starting linebackers this offseason to join the young and inexpensive Jelani Jenkins, per Salguero. The Dolphins might be better served continuing on with Misi instead of creating another hole, though. Keeping Misi would mean the Dolphins would only have to land one starting-caliber LB. That player could come via the draft, where UCLA’s Myles Jack, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith are all potential fits for the Dolphins at eighth overall.

Miami’s defensive backfield, which largely aided in allowing 31 touchdown passes and an opposing QB rating of over 97.0 in ’15-16, also requires fixing. Even if Grimes isn’t released, the unit is devoid of impact players outside of him and star strong safety Reshad Jones. With Joseph now in charge of the defense, Jackson thinks the Dolphins will consider cornerback Adam Jones and free safety Reggie Nelson. Both played under Joseph in Cincinnati and are presently without contracts.

Jackson also lists the Rams’ Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins, ex-Dolphin Sean Smith (Chiefs), Casey Hayward (Packers) and Prince Amukamara (Giants) as some established corners Miami could turn to in free agency. If the Dolphins want to go for a high-ceiling CB in the draft, a couple of in-state collegians – Jalen Ramsey (Florida State) and Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) – are prospective top 10 picks. Another local product, the Miami Hurricanes’ Artie Burns, could be a second-round target, along with William Jackson (Houston) and Eli Apple (Ohio State).

As for safety, after intercepting a career-high eight passes and ranking as PFF’s 10th-best player at his position last season, Nelson will be on plenty of teams’ radars — not just the Dolphins’. The same is true regarding the Chargers’ Eric Weddle, a three-time Pro Bowler who “would welcome” an offer from Miami, Jackson wrote in January. The Browns’ Tashaun Gipson also looks like a player who could garner interest from the Dolphins. At 26, the one-time Pro Bowler would be more of a long-term solution than Nelson or Weddle.

Offensively, the Dolphins’ concerns begin along the line. With Branden Albert and Ja’Wuan James manning the tackle positions and Mike Pouncey at center, most of their starting five is a strength. Guards Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner are in over their heads, however. The Dolphins agree, per Jackson, and will search for more suitable starters.

If true, that should put the club in contention for in-their-prime free agents like the Ravens’ Kelechi Osemele, the 49ers’ Alex Boone and the Texans’ Brandon Brooks. Osemele would upgrade left guard substantially and bring experience at left tackle, where he’d be able to sub for Albert in the event of an injury (Albert hasn’t played a 16-game season since 2011). Boone has played both guard spots and has a connection to Miami’s new offensive line coach, Chris Foerster, who oversaw Boone and the rest of San Francisco’s O-line last season.

Other options include Denver’s Evan Mathis, whom the Dolphins courted last summer, and Atlanta’s Chris Chester. Both are among the adept veteran Band-Aid types who are likely to sign low-term, mid-tier-money contracts. They should be appealing to the Dolphins if they’re unable to reel in the younger choices, as should adding depth to the position later in the draft.

With Miller’s contract up, Jay Ajayi is the in-house starter at running back. After combining for 89 yards on 11 carries in his first two appearances, the fifth-round rookie fell to earth, accumulating 98 yards on 38 attempts the rest of the season. With that in mind, it would be overly optimistic of the Dolphins to hand the reins to Ajayi in the wake of Miller’s possible departure. They could instead pair with him with a free agent, perhaps the Bears’ Matt Forte – who totaled 1,200-plus yards and seven TDs under Gase last season – or Washington’s Alfred Morris. Gase also has familiarity with the Broncos’ Ronnie Hillman, who is set to hit the market off a career year and won’t turn 25 until September.

As is the case with running back, how Miami will handle tight end is unclear. Whether the team brings in a prominent outsider will depend on what happens with Cameron, who, as mentioned earlier, is unlikely to return at his current cap hit. If he agrees to come back at a lower cost, the Dolphins will get by with him and Dion Sims for at least another year. Otherwise, they might have to venture into free agency for another unremarkable veteran of Cameron’s ilk to helm the position until someone better comes along.

Overall Outlook:

The Dolphins will have plenty to do in the coming months as they try to ascend from the cellar of the AFC East, a division which they went 1-5 against last season, to playoff contention. Not only will Gase have to prove himself as the correct coaching hire, but the front office must make numerous shrewd roster moves to boost a club that had the league’s eighth-worst record and fifth-worst point differential during the 2015-16 campaign. Tannehill is the Dolphins’ most scrutinized player, but any possible progress he makes next season will probably go for naught if the front office doesn’t adequately address the team’s abundance of glaring issues through free agency and the draft.

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

Offseason Outlook: Cleveland Browns

February 5th, 2016 at 9:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Pending free agents:

Johnson Bademosi, S
Travis Benjamin, WR
Tank Carder, ILB
Travis Coons, K (ERFA)
Pat Devlin, QB (ERFA)
Tashaun Gipson, S
Darius Jennings, WR (ERFA)
Kaleb Johnson, G (ERFA)
Don Jones, S (RFA)
Jamie Meder, DE (ERFA)
Darrian Miller, G (ERFA)
Raheem Mostert, RB (ERFA)
Austin Pasztor, T (RFA)
Terrelle Pryor, WR (RFA)
Craig Robertson, LB
Mitchell Schwartz, T
Scott Solomon, OLB (RFA)

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

Joe Haden, CB: $13,400,000
Joe Thomas, T: $9,500,000
Donte Whitner, S: $8,450,000
Dwayne Bowe, WR: $8,000,000
Alex Mack, C: $8,000,000
Paul Kruger, OLB: $7,700,000
Desmond Bryant, DE: $7,000,000
Tramon Williams, CB: $6,981,250
Karlos Dansby, ILB: $6,500,000
Barkevious Mingo, OLB: $5,201,319
Josh McCown, QB: $5,041,666
Brian Hartline, WR: $3,750,000
Randy Starks, DT: $3,625,000
Justin Gilbert, CB: $3,500,046
John Greco, G: $2,925,000

Notable coaching/front office changes:

Front office: Fired general manager Ray Farmer, VP of player personnel Morocco Brown, and executive chief of staff Bill Kuharich.
Front office: Promoted Sashi Brown to VP of football operations, hired MLB executive Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer, and hired Colts pro scouting coordinator Andrew Berry as VP of player personnel.
Head coach: Hired Bengals OC Hue Jackson to replace Mike Pettine.
Offensive staff: Will go without OC after firing John DeFilippo. Hired Al Saunders as senior offensive assistant, Pep Hamilton as assistant head coach/offense, and Kirby Wilson as running game coordinator.
Defensive coordinator: Hired Titans DC Ray Horton to replace Jim O’Neil.

Draft:

No. 2 overall pick
No traded picks

Other:

Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $33.22MM
Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for OLB Barkevious Mingo.
WR Josh Gordon has filed for reinstatement from his suspension.
C Alex Mack can opt out of his contract to become a free agent.

Overview:

In 2014, the Browns finished out the year with a 7-9 mark and at least showed glimpses of competitiveness. In 2015, there wasn’t much to write home about after a 3-13 campaign. Naysayers around the league whispered about Johnny Manziel‘s off-the-field issues, and the party-loving quarterback proved them all right. Of course, the Browns’ issues ran much deeper than the quarterback position, but their poor play under center has been an issue for decades now and it’s unlikely that they will get back on track until they finally find a solution there.

Throughout 2014, Browns fans wondered whether it would be Brian Hoyer or Manziel starting at QB for Cleveland in 2015. As it turns out, it was neither. Instead, that mantle was given to offseason acquisition Josh McCown. The 6’4″, 213-pounder spent the 2014 campaign in Tampa Bay and performed poorly in 11 games for a Buccaneers team that finished with the NFL’s worst record. Thanks to a string of injuries, things didn’t go much better for him in 2015. McCown suffered a concussion in Week 1, a shoulder injury in Week 8, a rib injury in Week 9, and a season-ending collarbone injury in Week 12.

As for Johnny Football? The injuries opened up the door for him to show his skills and, for a brief moment, he did. He wound up squandering that opportunity at mid-season, however, after he was caught on video partying and lied to the team about it. There were numerous off-the-field transgressions for Manziel in 2015 and the most recent run-in will probably bring an end to his time in Cleveland.

“We’ve been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field,” executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown said in early February. “Johnny’s continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules. We will have no further comment at this time.”

Assuming they don’t designate him as a post-June 1 cut, the Browns will take on a ’16 cap hit of about $4.33MM if they release Manziel on or after March 9. Of course, the team could remove that entire figure from its cap if the 23-year-old is claimed on waivers, but that seems extremely unlikely. A first-round pick in 2014, Manziel started eight games during his two years in Cleveland, completing 57% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns to seven interceptions, for a QB rating of 74.4. While his on-field performance was unspectacular, it was off-field behavior that will cost him his roster spot.

What follows is a detailed look at what lies ahead for the Browns — not just at quarterback, but everywhere else on the field.

Key Free Agents:

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin broke out in 2015, hauling in 68 catches (125 targets) for 966 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, this wasn’t the easiest year for the Browns, but Benjamin has been generally positive when asked about making a future in Cleveland and in December, he said he was 75-80% on the way to reaching a new deal with the Browns.

“I’m not looking for (free agency),” he said in October. “Me and the Browns have a great relationship. I love them, they love me and I love the community so if we get a deal done that’ll be great for me…I love it here, my wife loves it here and we’re just happy to be here.”

Safety Tashaun Gipson was the league’s final restricted free agent on the market last offseason and only re-signed with the Browns in June of 2015. The team assigned Gipson a second-round tender worth $2.356MM earlier in the offseason and, despite his protests, he ultimately signed it in order to join his team in training camp. While Gipson wasn’t happy with the RFA tender he received from the Browns, it’s not a huge surprise that he eventually relented and signed it, given his lack of leverage.

This past season, Gipson played in (and started) 13 games, racking up 60 tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions. The former UDFA could, theoretically, sign a deal with the Browns before the start of free agency, but he has stated in the past that he wants to test the open market to assess his value.

It has been speculated for some time that Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz could be in for a big payday this offseason. For his part, Schwartz recently said he’d like to re-sign with Cleveland. The 26-year-old is a four-year starter at the right tackle position and Pro Football Focus is wild about him, having named him to its “All Third-Year Team” for the 2015 season. The Browns have the money to retain him, but it’s not clear if they’re willing to make him the kind of offer that will convince him to bypass the open market, or if his stated preference to stay in Cleveland is genuine.

Possible Cap Casualties:

As noted above, Dwayne Bowe currently stands as the Browns’ fourth-highest cap hit with an $8MM figure in 2016. And, of course, you’ve seen the math on how much money Bowe has been paid per reception and the end result is not pretty. Bowe’s contract is not just the worst in Cleveland – it’s arguably one of the worst in the entire NFL. Cleveland gave Bowe $9MM in guaranteed money in March of 2015. In September, it was already rumored that coaches were displeased with his work ethic and performance. Bowe, 32 in September, is not wanted back in Cleveland and it would not be a surprise to see him let go.

Outside of Bowe, there are a handful of notable players that would make at least some sense as possible cap casualties. Wide receiver Brian Hartline might not have a major role going forward, but he’s also not too expensive with a cap number of $3.75MM in 2016. He also produced with 46 catches (77 targets) for 523 yards and two touchdowns across 12 games.

Barkevious Mingo would be a possible release candidate if his salary weren’t fully guaranteed. Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant carry high cap numbers ($7.7MM and $7MM, respectively), but they gave Cleveland some decent production last year. Donte Whitner also gets honorable mention in this section, though he doesn’t seem like a strong candidate given his production.

The Browns also shouldn’t be too strapped for space as they will be carrying over ~$20MM in unused cap room from last year.

Positions Of Need:

Obviously, the quarterback position is the No. 1 priority with a bullet for the Browns. Armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, the Browns could try their luck again with a rookie QB. The latest word is that Cleveland prefers Carson Wentz to Jared Goff, but they’ll be evaluating all quarterback options over the next few months. If the Browns look to the free agent market for a quarterback, they’re not likely to find any real slam dunk options. Someone like Ryan Fitzpatrick, who seems likely to re-sign with the Jets anyway, would serve only as a transitional option, and that’s something Cleveland already has with McCown.

The Browns will continue to discuss a new deal with Benjamin and the outcome of those talks will largely dictate what they do at wide receiver. If the 26-year-old cannot be retained, the team would have even more room to go out and try to hit a home run at the position. If the Browns are thinking big, they could potentially make a move for Bears free agent wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The soon-to-be 26-year-old is primed to cash in soon, be it with the Bears, Browns, or someone else, having accumulated 228 receptions, 3,000+ yards, and 21 touchdowns over the last three years (41 games). Of course, the Browns already have one of the game’s most talented wide receivers in-house: Josh Gordon (more on him later).

Cleveland threw some money at its defense last offseason, but it sure didn’t show. The Browns’ pass defense finished outside of the lower third in the league with 250.8 yards surrendered per game, but that’s partly because teams decided to just run them over instead — opponents averaged 128.4 yards per game against Cleveland, putting the club in a virtual tie for the NFL’s second-worst run defense.

Specifically, the Browns badly need an edge rusher to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Von Miller stands as the most desired free agent player at the outside linebacker position, but few expect him to actually reach the open market since the Broncos reserve the right to use the franchise tag on him. However, Seahawks free agent Bruce Irvin could be available for the Browns, if they’re interested, and he’d cost less than Miller on a long-term deal too. How much exactly? That’s hard to say, but it has been suggested that Vinny Curry‘s recent five-year, $47.25MM ($23MM guaranteed) deal with the Eagles could be a reasonable starting point for talks. Meanwhile, Joey Bosa could be a consideration for them with their top pick.

Inside linebacker will have to be addressed, particularly with Karlos Dansby getting up there in age. A strong second cornerback opposite Joe Haden would also give the Browns’ secondary a much-needed boost — 2014 first-rounder Justin Gilbert hasn’t been that player so far.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The Browns have some serious decisions to make when it comes to wide receiver Josh Gordon. Gordon was suspended for the 2015 season but just a few weeks ago, he applied for reinstatement. Since his entry into the league in 2012, Gordon’s NFL career has been tumultuous to say the least. He missed the first two games of the 2013 season following a drug suspension, but then went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.

Hopes were high for the 2014 season, but Gordon’s off-the-field issues resurfaced, as he was first arrested for DUI, and then suspended for one year after again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was eventually reinstated after only 10 games as part of the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to a new drug policy, which reduced the sentences for some players-in-limbo. The Browns subsequently suspended Gordon for the final contest of the season after he reportedly violated team rules, and then a failed alcohol test resulted in the wideout’s ban of at least a year last February.

Will the Browns hang on to Gordon? The old regime was vocal about wanting to build a future with the 6’4″ receiver. However, that will now be up to a group that includes head coach Hue Jackson, lead decision maker Sashi Brown, and (for some reason) former MLB executive Paul DePodesta.

The Browns’ offensive line could look drastically different in 2016 depending on how things play out. While Cleveland’s starting right tackle is a potential free agent, left tackle Joe Thomas said he was considering asking about a way out of the organization before the team hired its new coach and top decision maker. After Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown were chosen, Thomas indicated that he was unlikely to ask for a trade. Still, given that a potential deal that would have sent Thomas to the Broncos for a bevy of draft picks reportedly fell through at last year’s trade deadline, it was fair to wonder if the club might attempt to deal Thomas again.

At last check, Browns center Alex Mack said that he has yet to make a final decision on whether he’ll opt out of his contract this winter. The offensive lineman says he’ll start seriously considering his options after the Super Bowl, with a decision to follow within the next month or so. Ultimately, it stands to reason that Mack will opt out. Even if he wants to remain in Cleveland, he can easily best his current pact which calls for $8MM annual salaries for the next three seasons, with only his 2016 salary guaranteed.

Overall Outlook:

The Browns have already done some major remodeling by showing coach Mike Pettine and GM Ray Farmer the door. Now, they’ll have to do even more work to the roster if they hope to compete in 2016. Odds are ’16 will be yet another rebuilding year for the Browns, but they can set themselves up nicely for the future if they make good use of their high draft picks and significant cap space.

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

Offseason Outlook: San Diego Chargers

February 4th, 2016 at 8:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Pending free agents:

Jahleel Addae, S (RFA)
Joe Barksdale, T
Kellen Clemens, QB
Malcom Floyd, WR
Antonio Gates, TE
Ladarius Green, TE
Chris Hairston, T
Dontrelle Inman, WR (ERFA)
David Johnson, TE
Cordarro Law, OLB (ERFA)
Jeff Linkenbach, G
Ricardo Mathews, DE
Joe Mays, ILB
John Phillips, TE
Kendall Reyes, DE
Patrick Robinson, CB
Brandian Ross, CB (RFA)
Damion Square, DE (RFA)
Johnnie Troutman, G (RFA)
Cassius Vaughn, CB
J.D. Walton, C
Eric Weddle, S
Kenny Wiggins, T (ERFA)

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

Philip Rivers, QB: $21,000,000
Corey Liuget, DE: $10,000,000
Brandon Flowers, CB: $9,750,000
Donald Butler, ILB: $9,280,000
Melvin Ingram, OLB: $7,751,000
Orlando Franklin, G: $7,200,000
King Dunlap, T: $6,343,750
Mike Scifres, P: $4,162,500
Steve Johnson, WR: $3,900,000
D.J. Fluker, T: $3,628,067
Donald Brown, RB: $3,500,000
Danny Woodhead, RB: $3,000,000
Melvin Gordon, RB: $2,424,946
Trevor Robinson, C: $2,375,000
Jason Verrett, CB: $2,151,546

Notable coaching/front office changes:

Head coach: Extended Mike McCoy‘s contract through 2017.
Offensive coordinator: Hired former Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt to replace Frank Reich.

Draft:

No. 3 overall pick
Owe fifth-round pick to 49ers in deal for RB Melvin Gordon.
Acquired sixth-round pick from Vikings in deal for T Jeremiah Sirles.

Other:

Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $27.75MM
Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for T D.J. Fluker.
Chargers will play in San Diego in 2016, but hold option to move to Los Angeles for 2017.

Overview:

After narrowly missing a playoff berth in 2014, with a 9-7 record, the Chargers came into the 2015 season determined to take a step forward and become a postseason contender. Instead, the team headed in the other direction.

Plagued by injuries, particularly on the offensive line, the Chargers’ offense struggled to put points on the board. The defense, an area of weakness in past seasons, didn’t improve at all, and the end result was a disappointing 4-12 season.

While the team’s on-the-field performance was a letdown, Chargers fans were preoccupied all season with concerns about the franchise’s long-term future in San Diego. Team owner Dean Spanos filed for relocation and was approved by his fellow NFL owners, who deemed San Diego’s stadium proposal as insufficient.

However, since those other team owners approved Stan Kroenke‘s Inglewood project, rather than the Carson plan put forth by the Chargers and Raiders, Spanos had the option of partnering with Kroenke in Los Angeles or returning to San Diego for another year. The Chargers opted for the latter scenario, meaning the team and the city – armed with an extra $100MM from the NFL – have another 12 months to try to improve their plan for a San Diego stadium. If those efforts fall short, 2016 may very well be the Chargers’ final year in San Diego.

The Chargers’ uncertain long-term future looms large over the offseason, but while Spanos and his closest confidantes work to solve that issue, the club’s top personnel decision-makers, including general manager Tom Telesco, must focus on improving the product on the field after an unsatisfactory 2015 showing.

Key Free Agents:

By working out a new contract with quarterback Philip Rivers last August, the Chargers ensured that their most noteworthy potential free agent won’t reach the open market this winter. However, the team’s list of free-agents-to-be still includes a handful of big names.

We’ll start with one longtime Charger who almost certainly be back with the team in 2016: Eric Weddle. The veteran safety, who failed to record an interception last season for the first time in his career, was still fairly effective on the field, but his relationship with the team seemed to grow more and more acrimonious as the year went on.

After refusing to discuss a potential extension in the summer, to the chagrin of Weddle and his agent, the Chargers placed the former second-round pick on injured reserve heading into Week 17, even though he felt he could play. Reports also indicated that the team fined Weddle $10K for remaining on the field during halftime to watch his daughter perform during a dance ceremony, and said there would be no room for him to travel on the team plane to the regular season finale in Denver. Several days after that game, Weddle publicly stated that he doesn’t think re-signing with the Chargers is a realistic possibility.

While Weddle spent nine years in San Diego, tight end Antonio Gates has been with the franchise even longer, having made his Chargers debut way back in 2003. He’s also eligible for free agency this offseason, and so is his understudy at the position, Ladarius Green. Gates has said he’d like to play for at least one more season, and the Chargers appear to reciprocate that interest, but it will be interesting to see what that means for Green.

Long viewed as Gates’ eventual replacement, Green has seen the veteran continue to get the majority of the targets at the position over the last few seasons. When Gates missed the first four weeks of the 2015 season due to a suspension, it looked like Green was poised to break out. However, after catching 26 balls in his first six contests, Green didn’t have more than two receptions in any game the rest of the way. Unless the Chargers are willing to give him a nice raise, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the 25-year-old to explore his options on the open market and potentially find a spot where he could get out of Gates’ shadow.

The Chargers’ offensive line was a mess in 2015, but one constant was offensive tackle Joe Barksdale. Not only was he the only lineman to start all 16 games for San Diego, but he was by far the team’s most reliable player up front, ranking 22nd among 81 qualified tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades. Given the number of question marks facing the Chargers on the offensive line heading into 2016 in terms of both performance and health, it would make sense for the team to make a strong effort to bring Barksdale back into the fold.

The Chargers’ other free agent offensive linemen – including Chris Hairston, Jeff Linkenbach, and J.D. Walton – are more expendable, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one or two of them re-signed for continuity’s sake.

While none of the rest of the Chargers’ unrestricted free agents are must-sign players, cornerback Patrick Robinson was a nice complementary piece to Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers in the secondary, and should be affordable enough to bring back. Restricted free agents Jahleel Addae, Johnnie Troutman, and Damion Square are also decent bets to receive low-end tenders.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Linebacker Donald Butler has a complicated contract that includes a $12MM option bonus in 2017. The Chargers must make their decision on that option this offseason, and given Butler’s underwhelming performance on the field, it seems obvious that San Diego will move on from him. Doing so would create more than $2.5MM in cap savings in 2016, and would remove his contract from the books entirely for the following four seasons.

The contract signed two years ago by Donald Brown raised some eyebrows at the time, and the running back hasn’t done a whole lot since then to justify the Chargers’ investment. Brown’s paltry 3.1 yards per carry average on his 144 attempts in San Diego can be attributed partially to the team’s ineffective offensive line, but it would still be a surprise if he’s on the roster by September. The Chargers could create $3.5MM in cap room by cutting him.

Other candidates to be cut include center Trevor Robinson and punter Mike Scifres. Robinson stayed relatively healthy compared to the rest of the Chargers’ offensive line in 2015, but PFF ranked him 37th out of 39 qualified centers, so the team could potentially replicate – or improve – his production at a lower cost.

As for Scifres, like Gates, he has been with the Chargers since 2003, so the club may prefer not to release him. But he ranked in the bottom half of the league in both total yards and net yards per punt last season, and his cap number ($4.163MM) is high for a punter. Depending on how aggressive San Diego is in free agency, the team may not need that extra cap room.

Positions Of Need:

As noted above, the Chargers’ offensive line was extremely shaky in 2015. Pro Football Focus ranked the group dead last in the NFL overall, placing it in the bottom five in terms of pass blocking, run blocking, and penalties taken, writing that the Chargers “just haven’t got it right on the line and it shows each and every game.”

Health issues are partly to blame for the offensive line’s ineffectiveness, but even when they were healthy, big-money investments like King Dunlap and Orlando Franklin were far from dominant in 2015, and D.J. Fluker has yet to play like an 11th overall pick. Even if Barksdale returns, the Chargers will have to assess nearly every spot on the line, deciding whether they want to continue to rely on the current group, or whether it’s time to make some significant changes.

It might make sense for the Chargers to take an approach to the 2016 draft that the Bengals did in 2015 — Cincinnati’s first two picks were offensive tackles, despite the fact that the team didn’t expect them to play right away. If the Chargers were to use the third overall pick on Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, it would give the club an immediate starter, one who would likely be a cog on the offensive line for years to come.

After the free agent market produced mixed results for the Chargers a year ago, adding some young offensive line talent to the current group could create a strong insurance policy in the event that Dunlap, Franklin, and/or Fluker don’t play like San Diego believes they’re capable of playing. If the team does decide to revisit free agency for offensive line solutions, Byron Bell, who played for offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee, could be a player worth watching.

While some of the Chargers’ skill position players struggled in 2015, improved offensive line play would likely create a domino effect and allow some of those players to have bounce-back seasons in 2016 — Melvin Gordon, for instance, could be in line for a nice increase in production if the line creates some holes for him. The return of Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator also bodes well for the offense. As such, it makes sense for the Chargers to devote most of the rest of their resources to the defensive side of the ball.

San Diego should be fairly solid on the outside in 2016 — the cornerback group is a good one, particularly if Robinson returns, and outside linebackers Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu played well in 2015. However, that still leaves a number of spots on the middle for the Chargers to address.

Corey Liuget is a nice piece on the club’s defensive line, but he didn’t get much help up front, making me wonder if the Chargers might take a long look at a veteran nose tackle in free agency. With Damon Harrison, Ian Williams, B.J. Raji, and Letroy Guion among the players whose contracts are expiring, there will be no shortage of potential options.

At inside linebacker, 2015 second-round pick Denzel Perryman took over Butler’s starting role in the second half of last season, and I’d expect him to run with that job next year. But he only has nine career starts to his name, and fellow starter Manti Te’o has had major issues against the run, so the Chargers might want to fortify this group with another veteran. Spending a day two or three draft pick on the position might not be a bad idea either, since top inside linebackers typically don’t come off the board right away.

Finally, with Weddle on his way out, the Chargers will be in the market for a new free safety. Reggie Nelson, Tashaun Gipson, Rodney McLeod, and Isa Abdul-Quddus are among the free agents at the position that could appeal to San Diego. And while the division-rival Chiefs are a good bet to lock up Eric Berry, the Chargers may want to take a look at his backup, Husain Abdullah, who played well as a full-time starter in 2014 and is also eligible for free agency.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

Although the Chargers had a disappointing year on the whole in 2015, outside linebacker Melvin Ingram enjoyed his best season as a pro, establishing new career highs with 65 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He’s under contract for one more year, since San Diego exercised his fifth-year option for 2016 last spring. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Chargers seriously explore a contract extension for their best pass rusher before the season begins.

Outside linebackers who can rack up double-digit sacks don’t come cheap, so if the Chargers intend to extend Ingram, it will almost certainly require an annual salary north of $7MM, and perhaps one much higher than that. A logical point of comparison if and when the two sides enter negotiations could be Bills pass rusher Jerry Hughes, whose 2014 numbers were very similar to the ones Ingram posted in 2015. Hughes, who had a slightly more extensive track record than Ingram, signed a five-year, $45MM contract that included nearly $18MM in fully guaranteed money.

Like Ingram, wide receiver Keenan Allen will be entering a contract year, and you could make the case that he’s the most important player on San Diego’s offense, outside of Philip Rivers. With 62 receptions in his first seven games, Allen was on pace to challenge the record for most catches in a season before a lacerated kidney in his eighth game prematurely ended his season.

Because Allen’s breakout season was cut short, his reps and the Chargers may have a hard time agreeing on his value this offseason. I’d expect Allen’s agent to aim for a T.Y. Hilton-type deal ($13MM per year), while San Diego may prefer something in the Randall Cobb range ($10MM per year). If the two sides can agree on the numbers, the Chargers will want to get something done as soon as possible, to ensure the 23-year-old remains under contract for years to come.

Overall Outlook:

As long as the Chargers still hold an option to move to Los Angeles in 2017, fans in San Diego will be apprehensive about getting too attached to the roster on the field. There’s some reason for optimism from a football standpoint though — if the Chargers can stay a little healthier in 2016 and fortify two or three key positions, there’s enough talent here for the team to bounce back to respectability.

The Chargers’ ability to take a major step forward and return to postseason contention will hinge on whether the team can put together an offensive line capable of keeping Rivers upright and creating holes for Gordon, and whether the club can add some defensive playmakers at up-the-middle positions. Those figure to be the areas GM Tom Telesco prioritizes as he makes his roster decisions this winter and spring.

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

Offseason Outlook: Dallas Cowboys

February 3rd, 2016 at 7:22pm CST by Rory Parks

Pending free agents:

Mackenzy Bernadeau, G
Charles Brown, T
Matt Cassel, QB
Morris Claiborne, CB
Tyler Clutts, FB
Jack Crawford, DE
Lance Dunbar, RB
James Hanna, TE
Greg Hardy, DE
Nick Hayden, DT
Jeff Heath, S (RFA)
Cameron Lawrence, LB (RFA)
Ronald Leary, G (RFA)
Rolando McClain, ILB
Danny McCray, S
Jeremy Mincey, DE
Josh Thomas, CB
Robert Turbin, RB
Kyle Wilber, LB

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

Tony Romo, QB: $20,835,000
Tyron Smith, T: $14,000,000
Brandon Carr, CB: $13,817,000
Dez Bryant, WR: $13,000,000
Tyrone Crawford, DT: $8,750,000
Jason Witten, TE: $8,612,000
Orlando Scandrick, CB: $7,782,271
Sean Lee, LB: $5,950,000
Doug Free, T: $5,500,000
Barry Church, S: $4,750,000
Cole Beasley, WR: $3,356,000
Dan Bailey, K: $3,300,000
Zack Martin, G: $2,445,763
Travis Frederick, C: $2,185,918
Darren McFadden, RB: $2,150,000

Notable coaching/front office changes:

Defensive staff: Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson left to become Falcons’ defensive passing game coordinator.

Draft:

No. 4 overall pick
Owe fifth-round pick to Raiders in deal for WR Brice Butler.
Owe sixth-round pick to 49ers in deal for TE Geoff Swaim.
Owe seventh-round pick to Seahawks in deal for RB Christine Michael.
Acquired sixth-round pick from Raiders in deal for WR Brice Butler.

Other:

Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $8.71MM
Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for C Travis Frederick.
QB Tony Romo is expected to undergo offseason collarbone surgery.

Overview:

The Cowboys, fresh off an NFC East title and a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, came into 2015 with high expectations. But when Dez Bryant broke his foot in the second half of the team’s Week 1 contest against the Giants, and when Tony Romo fractured his collarbone in Week 2, Dallas’ fate seemed all but sealed, even after the team managed to cobble together a 2-0 record to open the season. Romo would return to the field in Week 11, leading his struggling club to a victory over Miami, but he re-injured his collarbone in Dallas’ Thanksgiving game a few days later, ending his season.

Bryant, meanwhile, returned to the field in Week 8, but the injury sapped some of his usual explosiveness and he was hampered by the mediocre play of the quarterbacks who filled in for Romo. After finishing 2014 among the league’s five most efficient offenses, the Cowboys were the second-worst in 2015, per Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. They were, however, a slightly better defensive club in 2015 than they were in 2014, but they were still below league average, further proving that as the offense goes, so goes the team.

Nonetheless, the NFC East should again be a wide open division in 2016, and as long as the Cowboys can stay healthy, they should compete for the division crown.

Key Free Agents:

There aren’t a ton of invaluable names on this list, which is good news for Cowboys fans. Morris Claiborne didn’t escape the injury bug in 2015 — his entire career, in fact, has been beset by injury. He has not lived up to the promise that comes with a former sixth overall pick, and he finished last season ranked as the 106th-best corner out of 113 eligible players per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

However, there is still some upside there, and Claiborne is probably not as bad as his PFF rating would suggest. And considering the state of the Dallas secondary, “not bad” might be as good as the team can hope for. We heard in late November that the Cowboys planned to move Byron Jones to safety in 2016, which increases the likelihood that Claiborne will stay in Dallas. He would probably not command a great deal of money on the open market, so unless he wants a change of scenery, it seems like a reunion is in the cards.

The same cannot be said for Greg Hardy, who continued to find his name in the headlines for the wrong reasons even as he was playing out his 2015 season under a fairly lucrative contract from a team willing to take a chance on him. Hardy was not the same player for Dallas that he was for Carolina, but he still had a strong season as a pass rusher, recording six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 12 games and ranking as the league’s 28th-best edge defender out of 110 qualified players, according to PFF. Dallas, whose defense is in desperate need of playmakers, would love to have that production back, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club will try to find that production elsewhere. Hardy, for his part, will probably have to settle for another short-term, incentive-laden contract.

Rolando McClain, on the other hand, could be back. Another player who has struggled to stay out of off-field trouble, McClain was a revelation for Dallas in 2014, but he was suspended for the first four games of 2015. When he returned to the field, McClain was noticeably rusty, but he seemed to get his legs back under him as the season rolled along and played some of his best football down the stretch. Given his history, McClain will not find a big-money deal in free agency, and he could probably be retained for a modest, one- or two-year contract. I would expect Dallas to do what it can to keep McClain in the fold.

Lance Dunbar, one of the candidates to help replace DeMarco Murray in 2015, was put on injured reserve on October 10, but he demonstrated skill as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 215 yards in a little more than three games. If nothing else, Dunbar is a nice option as a change-of-pace back, and his receiving ability could make him a valuable part of the team’s offense moving forward. The Cowboys, though, will certainly need to address their running back situation in some capacity, as the injury-prone and aging Darren McFadden probably can’t be expected to replicate his 2015 performance in 2016. There are some intriguing names both in free agency (Lamar Miller, Matt Forte) and in the draft (Ezekiel Elliott, DeVontae Booker) that could interest the Cowboys.

The team will also look to address the backup quarterback situation, a position that let the Cowboys down in a big way in 2015. They may look to a mid-round QB prospect like Dak Prescott in this year’s draft to serve as a backup and potential successor to Romo.

RFAs Ronald Leary and Jeff Heath will almost certainly receive tenders.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Brandon Carr is perhaps the biggest name on the roster that could find himself as a cap casualty this offseason. Luckily for him though, he also plays a premium position, one which happens to be among the Cowboys’ bigger weaknesses. He remains, however, a prime restructure candidate, as we will discuss below.

Other potential cap casualties include Doug Free and Barry Church, but the problem is that they are both starters who are valued for their leadership (Church, in fact, is a team captain). Free is seen as the weakest link on an otherwise dominant offensive line, but that does not mean he is a bad player, and there is no way of knowing whether or not Chaz Green, who did not play a down in his rookie season, is a capable replacement.

On the other hand, if the Cowboys do, in fact, move Jones to safety, then they would have a replacement for Church, who performs well as an in-the-box safety but who tends to struggle in coverage. He has just one year remaining on his current contract, and if the team were to cut him, it would save $4.25MM in cap space.

Longtime stalwart Jason Witten could conceivably be a cap casualty, considering he will be 34 when the 2016 regular season opens and given that the Cowboys could create up to $6.5MM in cap space by cutting him. But again, there is no obvious replacement for Witten on the field or in the locker room. He remains one of the most durable players in the game, and despite playing most of the 2015 season with a parade of backup quarterbacks, he still managed to grab 77 passes for over 700 yards and three scores. Assuming Romo returns fully healthy, Witten may have another strong season or two left in him.

Positions Of Need:

As noted above, the Cowboys need to address their running back corps. They would presumably like to bring back Dunbar, and even if they don’t add one of the bigger names in free agency – a luxury they probably would be unable to afford – a mid-round draft selection or second-tier free agent like Alfred Morris could put up good numbers behind Dallas’ talented offensive front.

Dallas will also likely invest a draft pick on a quarterback, especially since the free agent class of quarterbacks as it currently stands will likely be devoid of any meaningful talent after some of the more intriguing names, such as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brock Osweiler, re-sign with their current clubs. Johnny Manziel, of course, is believed to have interest in playing for the Cowboys, and so is Robert Griffin III (the assumption is that both players will be cut by their current teams). After Manziel’s latest off-field incident, I would not expect him to wind up in Dallas, but Griffin might be a possibility. RGIII has significant starting experience, but is young enough to still have some upside.

All in all, though, the offense should be in pretty good shape, as long as Romo stays healthy. The bigger concerns will be the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys need defensive playmakers, and although they are counting on the return of Orlando Scandrick from injury, the secondary remains suspect at best. First-tier free agents like Josh Norman may be out of Dallas’ price range, but even a player like Phillip Adams or Tracy Porter would provide a nice boost.

If Dallas is to make a big splash in free agency, it is likely happen along the defensive line. Whether or not Hardy returns, the Cowboys would still like to fortify their defensive line the same way they strengthened their offensive line. Olivier Vernon, who could reach the open market, might be a realistic option, and the Cowboys will surely monitor whether longtime Dallas tormentor Jason Pierre-Paul re-ups with the Giants or tests the free agent waters. But the Cowboys could use some help at every position in the front seven, especially if McClain were to depart. Potential draft targets that could immediately impact the team in that regard include Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

The Cowboys have been in so-called salary cap hell in recent years, but as Todd Archer of ESPN.com points out, they should be in decent shape moving into 2016. They still, though, will need to create some cap room to sign their draft picks, retain their own free agents, and to add a couple of impact players from other clubs. Again, it is unlikely that the team will cut Carr, and as Archer observes, it would be problematic to restructure Romo’s or Bryant’s contracts, given Romo’s age and both players’ recent injuries.

That leaves Tyron Smith and Tyrone Crawford as the most likely restructure candidates. The Cowboys can create roughly $7MM in cap space by converting Smith’s $10MM base salary to $1MM and turning the rest into a signing bonus, and when Crawford signed his deal last season, it was set up to be restructured to give the Cowboys more flexibility. The team could also give Carr a completely new deal, which would serve the same purpose. And again, Church is a candidate to be released. Any combination of those maneuvers, along with one or two less dramatic restructures, should give Dallas enough flexibility to accomplish its offseason goals.

Overall Outlook:

All in all, then, the Cowboys appear to be in pretty good shape, and they will enjoy some continuity in the coaching staff, as defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson is the only notable coach to be heading elsewhere (the team is reportedly considering Mike Nolan and Tim Lewis, among others, to replace Henderson).

Romo is not getting any younger, and although his recent injury history is a bit troubling, all signs point to his being ready to go well in advance of the 2016 regular season opener. Dallas will look to add depth behind him, as the team went 1-11 in Romo’s absence in 2015, but it’s not as though many other clubs in the league could lose a starting signal-caller of that caliber for over 12 games and stay afloat. I would expect the Cowboys to sign a veteran like Chad Henne or Matt Moore while adding a prospect like Prescott in the middle rounds of the draft.

Defense has been a problem the last several seasons, and unless the team hits big on a couple of draft picks, it will probably remain so. Any splash signings would certainly come on the defensive side of the ball, with Vernon representing perhaps the most realistic option. But a few lesser-profile acquisitions would make sense, particularly in the secondary. Given the potential value for money, the Cowboys may also want to revisit their stance on Hardy, assuming they can deal with the persistent off-field headache he creates.

If I had to bet on the 2016 NFC East champion today, I’d be very tempted to put my money on Dallas.

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

Offseason Outlook: Tennessee Titans

February 1st, 2016 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Pending free agents:

Antonio Andrews, RB (ERFA)
Byron Bell, T
Zach Brown, LB
Dorin Dickerson, TE
Brandon Harris, CB
Sammie Lee Hill, DT
Steven Johnson, ILB
Joe Looney, G
Mike Martin, DT
Jamon Meredith, T
Coty Sensabaugh, CB
Craig Stevens, TE
Al Woods, DT

Top 15 cap hits for 2016:

Jason McCourty, CB: $8,800,000
Michael Griffin, S: $8,300,000
Brian Orakpo, OLB: $8,250,000
Jurrell Casey, DE: $8,120,000
Kendall Wright, WR: $7,320,000
Derrick Morgan, OLB: $6,312,500
Da’Norris Searcy, S: $6,312,500
Perrish Cox, CB: $5,833,333
Marcus Mariota, QB: $5,503,176
Delanie Walker, TE: $5,275,000
Harry Douglas, WR: $4,483,333
Wesley Woodyard, ILB: $4,250,000
Andy Levitre, G: $4,200,000 (dead money)
Chance Warmack, G: $3,871,205
Ropati Pitoitua, DE: $3,803,125

Notable coaching/front office changes:

General manager: Hired Jon Robinson to replace Ruston Webster.
Head coach: Retained Mike Mularkey after interviewing other candidates.
Offensive coordinator: Hired Falcons WRs coach Terry Robiskie to replace Jason Michael, who becomes new QBs coach.
Defensive coordinator: Promoted assistant HC/defense Dick LeBeau to replace Ray Horton.
Special teams coordinator: Hired Jets ST coordinator Bobby April to replace Nate Kaczor.

Draft:

No. 1 overall pick
Acquired sixth-round pick from Falcons in deal for G Andy Levitre.

Other:

Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $40.62MM
Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for G Chance Warmack.
NFL has concerns with team’s ownership situation.

Overview:

After reportedly turning down multiple offers from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, the Titans had to be happy they did so, as they player selected at that slot, quarterback Marcus Mariota, looks like the club’s franchise signal-caller. But Mariota’s play wasn’t enough to save the job of head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after less than two years with the team.

Tennessee posted a 2-7 record under interim head coach Mike Mularkey, and its 3-13 overall mark means it owns the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. The man making the decision on draft day will be new general manager Jon Robinson, hired away from the Patriots after a long search process. His first move as GM was to install Mularkey as the full-time head coach, inking him to a three-year deal.

The Titans opted for continuity on their coaching staff, but for a club that’s finished a combined 5-27 over the past two seasons, settling for more of the same isn’t going to be an option going forward, at least from a roster standpoint. Some observers have argued that Tennessee possesses the worst 53-man roster in the league, so Robinson, Mularkey, & Co. will have their work cut out for them as they aim to overhaul the club’s personnel in the coming months.

Key Free Agents:

Unsurprisingly, for a club that finished 3-13, there aren’t a ton of impending free agents on the Titans’ roster who must be retained. In fact, it could be argued that none of the free agents listed above are locks to be re-signed, at least based on their 2015 performance.

Among the Titans’ offensive free agents, right tackle Byron Bell was the most oft-used contributor, as he played on 99% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps. Bell, 27, isn’t a star by any means, and his (below-average) time spent protecting Cam Newton‘s blindside in Carolina might affect his value around the NFL. But the Titans’ offensive line was one of the worst in 2015 (No. 32 in pass protection per Football Outsiders’ metrics), so the club can use any modicum of talent it can get. Bell has the ability to play both tackle and guard, and isn’t expected to cost much, so he could be brought back on short-term deal.

29-year-old Jamon Meredith is very similar to Bell in that he can play tackle and guard, but simply put, he’s just not as talented as Bell. Tennessee needs to get younger up front, and if they do decide to keep a veteran swing tackle/guard, they should probably opt for Bell, making Meredith redundant. The Titans were Meredith’s ninth NFL stop, and could be his last.

Guard/center Joe Looney does have youth on his side — the former 49er is just 25 years old — but he probably doesn’t have a role on the Titans going forward. Although he started six games last season, Chance Warmack and Quinton Spain figure to open the 2016 season at guard, with Jeremiah Poutasi backing up both spots. At best, Looney would be the club’s fourth option.

On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Coty Sensabaugh saw the most action of any Tennessee free agent, playing on 95% of the team’s defensive snaps. Miscast as a No. 1 corner in the absence of Jason McCourty, Sensabaugh struggled mightily, grading as league’s No. 89 corner, among 113 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The 27-year-old has experience, to be sure, but at this point, the Titans can only be comfortable retaining Sensabaugh as a depth piece.

Elsewhere on defense, linebacker Zach Brown probably has the strongest argument of any Titans free agent to be re-signed. A former second-round pick, Brown missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 1, but rebounded in 2015, staying healthy for the duration of the year, starting five games, and playing on nearly half of the team’s snaps. Still, with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard manning the middle in Dick LeBeau‘s 3-4 defense, Brown can probably find a larger role elsewhere.

Along the defensive line, the Titans have two veterans — Al Woods and Sammie Lee Hill — heading for free agency. Both contributed last season (34% snap percentage for Woods, 18% for Hill), but both are also closing in on 30 years old. On a team that needs an infusion of youth, defensive line is a solid place to start, because the club can set up a rotation of young talent. Neither Woods nor Hill figure to be retained.

Possible Cap Casualties:

Michael Griffin has been a solid force in the Titans’ secondary for a long time, but at 31 years old, it’s probably time for the club to move on. Griffin finished as just the 60th-best safety in the league last season, among 88 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s set to count $8.3MM against the cap in the final year of his deal. Cutting him would save Tennessee $6.5MM.

Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, Jason McCourty is also a candidate for release, as the Titans could save $7MM by releasing the 28-year-old. Underrated for much of his career, McCourty played in just four games in 2015 as he dealt with injury. The team could ask him to rework his contract and lower his cap charge, but if he balks, they might have no other option but to keep him. As noted below, the Titans’ secondary is so porous that hoping for a rebound season from McCourty might be worth the (expensive) risk. If he is cut, the Patriots might have interest, as they reportedly considered dealing for him near the trade deadline.

Defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua played only 31 defensive snaps during the entirety of last season, so as outside observers, we can take that as a clear indication of how Tennessee’s coaching staff feels about him. Despite the Titans’ need for depth along their defensive line, there’s no way the 30-year-old Pitoitua is coming back with his 2016 cap charge of about $3.1MM.

On offense, wide receiver Harry Douglas and tight end Anthony Fasano both look like potential cap casualties, but I’d argue that neither is a foregone conclusion. Douglas knows new offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie from their Atlanta days, so while Douglas is due a a $4.48MM cap charge, he might stick around due to his knowledge of the offensive system. Fasano isn’t quite as expensive (about $3.2MM), and he’s an excellent run blocker. Tennessee needs to establish the run in order to help quarterback Marcus Mariota, so I could see Fasano being retained.

Running back Dexter McCluster had a nice season in 2016, but a third-down back isn’t worth $3.65MM. I expect the Titans to either try to lower his base salary or release him.

Positions Of Need:

The most pressing area of need on the Titans’ roster is offensive line, as the front five gave up a league-leading 54 sacks and finished last in adjusted sack rate. Outside of left tackle Taylor Lewan, Tennessee could arguably seek upgrades at every other position along the line, but since that that’s unlikely, we’ll start with the most urgent area: right tackle.

As noted above, Byron Bell isn’t the answer as a starting right tackle, but luckily, the upcoming free agent market is flush with tackles. Mitchell Schwartz, Andre Smith, Bobby Massie, and Joe Barksdale top the available right tackles, while Russell Okung, Cordy Glenn, and Kelechi Osemele (who could help at a number of positions) are left tackle options. (If the Titans did sign an Okung or Glenn, for example, I’d guess that they’d shift Lewan to the right side.) Via the draft, the club could also pick up Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil with the No. 1 pick, or if they trade down, someone like Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.

The Titans could use an upgrade at center, but there aren’t many free agent options (unless Alex Mack opts out of his Browns contract), so the team will probably stick with some combination of Brian Schwenke and Andy Gallik for the time being. At guard, former first round pick Chance Warmack will likely get another chance to start on the right side, but left guard could be an area where improvement is needed. Alex Boone, Amini Silatolu, and Jeff Allen are a few impending free agents that could make sense for the Titans.

If Tennessee is able to bring in some talent to better protect Marcus Mariota, the club might also find him more weapons at the skill positions. The Titans’ No. 1 receiver in 2015 was tight end Delanie Walker, so it’s clear that the Titans need other options besides Kendall Wright, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Justin Hunter.

Again, youth should be a primary consideration for the Titans, so pass-catchers like Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, or Brian Quick could be of interest. The Dolphins’ Rishard Matthews might also make sense, but I wonder if he’s too similar to Wright, as both are possession-type receivers. While he’s not certainly not young, Roddy White would be a candidate to follow offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie to Tennessee if he’s cut by the Falcons.

The Titans’ running game was putrid last season — 32nd in DVOA — but I’m not sure I’d invest any money (or draft capital) on a running back if I were Tennessee. Improving the offensive line should help matters immensely, so the club could probably just use a rotation of Antonio Andrews and David Cobb — and take a final look at former second-rounder Bishop Sankey — instead of bringing in new blood.

On defense, Tennessee can afford to revamp much of its secondary, and the first step might be spending big on a No. 1 corner. The Titans did give a large contract to Perrish Cox last offseason, and given how that’s worked out so far, they might be reticent to do so again. Nonetheless, there are so many high-quality options available that I think the club needs to bite the bullet and use some its $40MM+ in cap space on a new cornerback. I’d target one of Sean Smith, Janoris Jenkins, and Trumaine Johnson, each of whom finished inside the top 30 of Pro Football Focus’ CB rankings. If none of those three bite (or even if one does), the Titans should also take a long look at Casey Hayward, who would shut down opposing teams’ slot receiver. At the lower end of the market, Prince Amukamara might have to take a discounted deal given that he missed a significant portion of the season with injury.

Safety could also be an area of need, especially if the Titans release Michael Griffin. Like cornerback, safety has a number of intriguing free agent options available. George Iloka makes a lot of sense, as he’s a young, ball-hawking safety capable of manning center field while Da’Norris Searcy plays closer to the action. Rodney McLeod would be my second choice, but if Tennessee wants a veteran in the back end, Eric Weddle and Reggie Nelson are also on the market.

The Titans could add depth to both their defensive line and their linebacking unit, but those are positions they can target in the draft, rather than exhausting their cap space on high-end deals.

Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:

Delanie Walker turned into the Titans’ No. 1 receiving threat last season, and his contract expires after the 2016 season. The club would obviously like to keep him around, but with his recent track record, he’s going to ask for $7MM+ per season. Walker is already 31 years old, so Tennessee might be better off playing out the string.

On the other hand, receiver Kendall Wright is the type of player the Titans should look into extending right now. He’s still only 26, and coming off a down season riddled with injuries, meaning he shouldn’t break the bank — and he’s probably not the type of pass-catcher who would secure a large deal even if he does hit the open market. Tennessee would be smart to lock up Wright now, and hope for a big season between him and Marcus Mariota in 2016.

While Wright will play under a fifth-year option in 2016, the Titans have to make a fifth-year option decision on guard Chance Warmack for 2017. Warmack has been thoroughly uninspiring to this point in his career, but because he was a top-10 pick, his fifth-year option is likely to going be worth $11MM+. The Titans are unlikely to risk that type of money on Warmack, even though it’s guaranteed for injury only.

Overall Outlook:

The AFC South is a perennially winnable division, but with the Texans looking like they’re just a quarterback away from being solid contenders, Andrew Luck returning to help the Colts, and the Jaguars expected to take another leap, the Titans might be stuck in fourth place again in 2016. There’s no question that Tennessee is in the middle of a rebuild, but a smart offseason will help ensure that it’s not a perpetual remaking.

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

Longest-Tenured Head Coaches In The NFL

January 26th, 2016 at 9:44am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL is a league of relative parity, one where a perennial contender can bottom out practically overnight and a team expected to finish at the bottom of its division can win it. As such, it’s probably not a surprise that NFL head coaches’ jobs are rarely safe, with most coaches around the league just one or two underachieving seasons away from being replaced.

Of course, there are exceptions to that rule, as is the case in New England, where Bill Belichick just completed his 16th season as head coach of the Patriots. However, while there are several long-tenured coaches across the NFL, most men in the position are relative newcomers. Over a third of the league’s 32 coaches have coached no more than one season with their respective teams, and only 11 have been with their current teams for more than three years.

A coach like Belichick has such a proven track record that a poor 2016 season wouldn’t jeopardize his position. But as is the case every year, there are likely several names on the list below who won’t still have their jobs by next January. Even longer-tenured head coaches aren’t always safe — Tom Coughlin had been with the Giants since 2004, placing him third on this list, before the two sides parted ways earlier this month.

Here’s the list of the current head coaches in the NFL, ordered by tenure, along with the month and year in which they assumed the role:

Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000
Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals): January 14, 2003
Mike McCarthy (Green Bay Packers): January 12, 2006
Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints): January 18, 2006
Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 22, 2007
John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008
Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks): January 9, 2010
Jason Garrett (Dallas Cowboys): November 8, 2010 (interim; permanent since January 2011)
Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers): January 11, 2011
Jeff Fisher (Los Angeles Rams): January 13, 2012
Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis Colts): January 25, 2012
Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013
Mike McCoy (San Diego Chargers): January 15, 2013
Bruce Arians (Arizona Cardinals): January 17, 2013
Gus Bradley (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 17, 2013
Bill O’Brien (Houston Texans): January 2, 2014
Jay Gruden (Washington): January 9, 2014
Jim Caldwell (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2014
Mike Zimmer (Minnesota Vikings): January 15, 2014
Rex Ryan (Buffalo Bills): January 12, 2015
Todd Bowles (New York Jets): January 14, 2015
Jack Del Rio (Oakland Raiders): January 15, 2015
John Fox (Chicago Bears): January 16, 2015
Gary Kubiak (Denver Broncos): January 19, 2015
Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons): February 2, 2015
Mike Mularkey (Tennessee Titans): November 3, 2015 (interim; permanent since January 2016)
Adam Gase (Miami Dolphins): January 9, 2016
Hue Jackson (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2016
Chip Kelly (San Francisco 49ers): January 14, 2016
Dirk Koetter (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 15, 2016
Ben McAdoo (New York Giants): January 15, 2016
Doug Pederson (Philadelphia Eagles): January 18, 2016

Latest On Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Searches

January 25th, 2016 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, 12 NFL teams made changes at their defensive coordinator position, while nearly half the league named a new offensive coordinator. This time around, it doesn’t appear there will be quite as much turnover around the league. However, plenty of clubs have announced changes at offensive and defensive coordinator since the regular season ended.

While many teams have finalized their coordinator changes, we’re still waiting for official announcements on a few of those moves. And in at least one case, we continue to wait on a team to make a decision on who to hire as its defensive coordinator. Here’s a round-up of the vacancies that remain up in the air to some extent:

Offensive coordinators:

The Browns, Rams, and Giants are the teams currently without an official offensive coordinator on their respective staffs, but barring any surprises, it’s clear which direction those teams are heading. Hue Jackson has added several offensive assistants to his coaching staff, but isn’t expected to name an actual offensive coordinator, since he’ll handle play-calling duties in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, the Rams have interviewed some offensive coordinator candidates, but it seems they’ll keep interim OC Rob Boras in that role, perhaps adding a passing-game coordinator to their staff. As for the Giants, we heard when Ben McAdoo was hired that he was expected to promote quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan to offensive coordinator, and there have been no indications over the last week and a half that he has changed his mind.

Defensive coordinators:

The 49ers appear to be the only team making a change at offensive or defensive coordinator that hasn’t decided yet who that new coordinator will be, so perhaps the lack of competition means that the club will be patient in making the decision.

San Francisco reportedly offered Mike Vrabel the team’s defensive coordinator job, which Vrabel turned down. The Niners are now said to be considering Ravens linebackers coach Don Martindale, along with their own LBs coach, Jason Tarver. Those aren’t the only candidates though — Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that former Browns DC Jim O’Neil recently interviewed for the job.

The only other DC job with any measure of uncertainty is in New Orleans, where a report earlier this month indicated that Dennis Allen would be retained as the Saints DC after taking over for Rob Ryan during the 2015 season. The team hasn’t formally confirmed that, but there have also been no reports of the Saints looking for someone else or interviewing candidates, so it looks like Allen is safe.

For the full list of OC/DC changes that have been confirmed, be sure to check out our tracker.

PFR Originals: 1/10/16 – 1/17/16

January 17th, 2016 at 4:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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

With so many coaching staffs undergoing overhauls, it’s hard to keep track of every hiring. Bookmark our 2016 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker to make sure you’re up on the latest moves.
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins made a big leap in the latest edition of our 2016 Free Agent Power Rankings, and another NFC East QB, Eagles signal-caller Sam Bradford, makes a first-time appearance.
Now that the head coaching hiring cycle is complete, I took a look at some of the candidates who didn’t land a job, and what lies ahead for them.
In our latest Community Tailgate post, Luke Adams asked which head coaching hire was the best. Based on the comments so far, Adam Gase and Hue Jackson look like the early favorites.
While many of the coaching searches were still underway, Luke checked in on where each hunt stood.

2016 Free Agent Power Rankings

January 16th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In the four weeks since the first edition of our Free Agent Power Rankings, two players listed (albeit, as honorable mentions) have inked extensions, as defensive end Derek Wolfe agreed to a four-year, $36.75MM pact with the Broncos, while fellow defensive end Mike Daniels signed a four-year, $42MM deal with the Packers. There’s still an impressive crop of 2016 free agents heading for the open market, however, so let’s check in on the status of the top unrestricted free agents, ranked by projected guaranteed money.

1. Von Miller, LB: Miller did nothing over the final four weeks of the season to lose his top spot, picking up two sacks (to finish the year with 11) while being named both a first-team All Pro and and Pro Bowler. Nothing has changed regarding his contract expectations, but the Broncos’ quarterback situation could have an effect on Miller’s status. Denver probably won’t have to worry about using the franchise tag on Brock Osweiler now that he’s lost his starting job, meaning the tag will be in play for Miller.

2. Alshon Jeffery, WR: Jeffery missed two of the season’s final four games, and was ultimately placed on injured reserve prior to Week 17. He only played in nine games on the year, but it’s hard to think that his nagging injuries will affect his free agent stock, as most teams will likely assume he’ll be at full health by next season. And Jeffery was productive when he played, averaging nearly 90 yards per game, and the Bears are open to an extension. Jeffery doesn’t sound as amenable to such an offer, however, so the threat of the franchise tag looms.

3. Kirk Cousins, QB: Perhaps no player in the league did more over the last four weeks of the regular season to help their stock than Cousins, who completed 74% of his passes for nearly 1,200 yards, while posting a 12:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio to go along with a 134.0 quarterback rating. Washington has made it clear that it will retain Cousins one way or another, and they’ve indicated that a long-term extension is the preferred option. Just 27 years old and having shown he can serve as a franchise QB, Cousins could ask for the Ryan Tannehill contract ($77MM total, $21.5MM guaranteed) — or more.

4. Kelechi Osemele, G/T: Osemele moves up from sixth to fourth primarily due to the Ravens’ decision to play him at left tackle for the final three games of the season. Already an outstanding guard, the ability to handle tackle only increases Osemele’s value, and Baltimore agrees, as a report last month indicated that the club would be willing to pay up for a quality left tackle (whereas they probably couldn’t justify retaining Osemele as a guard given that they’ve already extended Marshal Yanda). Osemele himself sounds optimistic about his chances to stay, noting that he had a positive end-of-the-year conversation with GM Ozzie Newsome.

5. Josh Norman, CB: Compared to Norman’s outstanding first three-quarters of the regular season, it’s difficult to call his final four games anything other than a disappointment. He was still a solid corner, to be sure, but he wasn’t the top-notch standout he had been during Weeks 1-13. For example, when I listed Norman on the first edition of these rankings, he graded as the league’s No. 1 corner, per Pro Football Focus — but he finished the season at No. 13, indicating a precipitous dropoff. At 28, he’s a little older than a typical first-time free agent, so he might need to set his sights a little lower than the Richard Sherman/Patrick Peterson territory.

6. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE: Wilkerson suffered an unfortunate injury in Week 17, breaking his leg in a loss against the Bills that prevented the Jets from earning a playoff berth. He should be able to fully recover by the start of the regular season, but there is a chance that he’ll miss some training camp activity. New York has expressed an interest in re-signing Wilkerson, but with a defensive line already chock full of talent, the club’s best route might be assigning him the franchise tag and then attempting to trade him, a possibility that has been floated.

7. Sam Bradford, QB: Bradford’s first season in Philadelphia is a little hard to value production-wise. He ranked 11th in completion percentage, 18th in passing yards, 22nd in touchdowns, and 26th in quarterback rating. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 11th-best QB, but he ranked just 26th in Football Outsiders’ DYAR (a metric that grades performance against replacement level). Bradford didn’t put up the type of numbers that some thought he might in Chip Kelly‘s offense, but the fact remains that QBs get paid. With so many teams looking for mere competency at the position, Bradford will earn a nice contract.

8. Cordy Glenn, T: Recently-extended Bills GM Doug Whaley said last week that re-signing both Glenn and fellow offensive lineman Richie Incognito would be a “major point of emphasis” this offseason. While Incognito should only require a short-term deal, Glenn will want both a longer contract and more money. The 26-year-old Glenn was outstanding this season (PFF’s No. 10 tackle) and is nothing if not durable — he’s only missed three games in his career, all during his rookie season.

9. Russell Okung, T: Okung has name value after being a former top-10 pick, but his play has continued to deteriorate (he slid all the way to No. 32 among tackles per PFF).Okung will probably point to the extensions signed by Trent Williams and Tyron Smith as he negotiates his next deal, but the fact is that he’s not that caliber of player. I wonder if he might get a little bump simply by being a part of successful team in Seattle, but I predict he’ll come up short of his contractual target.

10. Eric Berry, S: Berry has moved down a few spots since the previous edition of our rankings, but that’s not because of his production. Safeties just don’t get paid like other positions included here do, and while Berry could certainly hit the $9MM/year mark, his guarantees likely won’t match what the quarterbacks, tackles, pass-rushers, corners, and receivers earn. Still, it should be all good news for Berry this offseason, and he’s certainly the favorite for Comeback Player of the Year.

Dropped out: Brock Osweiler, QB.

2016 Head Coaching Candidate Review

January 16th, 2016 at 6:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 2016 NFL head coaching hiring cycle is now complete following the Titans’ promotion of interim HC Mike Mularkey to the full-time job. Seven new head coaches were named, but as our head coaching search tracker shows, many more candidates were a part of interview processes around the league. Let’s take a look at some of those coaches who didn’t land a job this year (but who could certainly be candidates again at this time next season):

Teryl Austin – Lions DC: Like he was in 2015, Austin was among the most popular candidates on the interview circuit, as he was scheduled to interview for five of the seven vacancies (Browns, Dolphins, Eagles, Giants, and Titans). Instead, he’ll return to Detroit under head coach Jim Caldwell, who will remain with the club for as least one more season. Austin, whose defenses have finished in the top half of the league in terms of DVOA in each of the past two years, should be a viable head coaching candidate again in 2017.
Tom Coughlin – former Giants HC: After resigning in New York, Coughlin didn’t opt for retirement, instead interviewing for both the 49ers and Eagles head coaching jobs. In fact, the Philadelphia gig was likely his for the taking, but Coughlin withdrew his name after realizing that most of his former assistants would be staying with the Giants (and new HC Ben McAdoo). Coughlin will be 71 years old when the 2017 season begins, so his days as a head coach are probably over.
Doug Marrone – Jaguars OL coach: Marrone has been on the hunt for a head coaching job ever since opting out of his Bills contract following the 2014 season. He met with the Browns, Dolphins, Giants, and Titans but, as he did last year, failed to land a new gig. He’ll once again lead Jacksonville’s offensive line (and serve as the club’s assistant head coach) this season.
Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia – Patriots OC/DC: Between the two, McDaniels and Patricia only ended up taking one interview (Patricia with the Browns). But both coaches were hot names on the coaching market as a result of being key figures in New England’s success. The Dolphins requested interviews with both (neither went), and both were considered strong candidates for the Titans vacancy. Spending another season under the tutelage of Bill Belichick isn’t the worst outcome, however, and both will look for top jobs again next year.
Sean McDermott – Panthers DC: For a coach who has lead one of the league’s best defenses for the past five year (including a No. 3 DVOA finish this season), McDermott didn’t garner that much interest. He interviewed with the Browns and Buccaneers, and was also linked to the Giants and Eagles jobs. McDermott never seemed close to landing a head coaching job, however, so another season in Carolina is in the cards.
Anthony Lynn – Bills RB coach: Lynn — who is also an assistant head coach with Buffalo — might have the least name value of anyone on this list, but he did interview for two jobs (Dolphins and 49ers). Former NFL scout Dan Hatman recently tweeted that Lynn “has head coach written all over him,” so perhaps the 2017 cycle will be kinder to his prospects.
Mike Shanahan – former NFL head coach: 2016 marked the second consecutive season that Shanahan was linked to the 49ers’ head coaching position, and of course, the second consecutive that San Francisco chose another candidate. He also interviewed for the Dolphins job. At 63 years old, it’s doubtful that Shanahan will be a candidate for vacancies next year.
Mike Smith – former Falcons HC: After sitting out the 2015 season, Smith interviewed for both the Dolphins and Giants jobs, and was mentioned as a candidate for the 49ers and Buccaneers gigs. As it stands, he will be heading to Tampa Bay, albeit as Dirk Koetter‘s new defensive coordinator.

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