HEADLINES

PFR Originals News & Rumors

Largest NFL Free Agent Contracts Of 2015

May 14th, 2015 at 9:01am CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, identifying the NFL’s largest free agent contract wasn’t so easy. If you looked at a list of the biggest contracts by overall base value, Denver’s Aqib Talib topped the list at $57MM over six years. However, Talib only ranked third among free agents in per-year salary, and he didn’t even crack the top 10 in fully guaranteed money.

This time around, there’s less ambiguity. A player of Ndamukong Suh‘s stature rarely reaches the open market, so it’s no surprise that his new contracts blows away the field when it comes to overall value, annual average, and fully guaranteed money. After Suh, Darrelle Revis, who opted for a long-term contract this time around rather than settling for another short-term deal, places second on each list.

After those two top-tier free agents though, the lists diverge a little, as you’ll see below. One thing seems certain though, when comparing this year’s data to 2014’s — teams were more willing to pay top dollar for the best players on the market in 2015. A year ago, only Revis and DeMarcus Ware earned eight-digit annual salaries in free agency, and both players were on fairly short contracts. This year, five players signed for $10MM per year or more, and all of those players are on at least four-year contracts.

Similarly, a year ago, Branden Albert‘s $20MM guarantee topped all free agents — the Dolphins’ tackle was the only player to receive at least $20MM in fully guaranteed money. This time? Not only does Suh’s guaranteed money nearly triple Albert’s, but Revis’ almost doubles it, and a total of eight players were guaranteed at least $20MM.

We could point to a number of factors for that increase in spending. Most notably, the top of this year’s free agent class was simply more impressive than 2014’s class; additionally, the cap is in the rise, which means player salaries are too. Whatever the reason, a handful of clubs were willing to roll the dice this offseason on big-time free agent contracts that will be on their books for years.

While the lists below include players who neared free agency before ultimately re-signing with their own teams – think Jerry Hughes or Kareem Jackson – it doesn’t include a number of other big-name free agents. Greg Hardy‘s one-year, $11.312MM deal with the Cowboys isn’t included in the group of contracts with the largest per-year salaries, since most of his money is tied to per-game roster bonuses, which Hardy won’t earn while he’s suspended.

Meanwhile, franchised players like Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Justin Houston, and Jason Pierre-Paul would also crack that list of top annual average salaries if they accept their one-year offers. But so far, none of those players has actually signed his franchise tender, as I outlined yesterday.

Without further ado, here are the biggest free agent contracts of 2015:

Largest contracts by overall base value:

  1. Ndamukong Suh, DT (Dolphins): $114.375MM, six years
  2. Darrelle Revis, CB (Jets): $70.121MM, five years
  3. Byron Maxwell, CB (Eagles): $63MM, six years
  4. Jeremy Maclin, WR (Chiefs): $55MM, five years
  5. Devin McCourty, S (Patriots): $47.5MM, five years
  6. Julius Thomas, TE (Jaguars): $46MM, five years
  7. Jerry Hughes, OLB (Bills): $45MM, five years
  8. Rodney Hudson, C (Raiders: $44.5MM, five years
  9. Jared Odrick, DE (Jaguars): $42.5MM, five years
  10. (tie) Randall Cobb, WR (Packers): $40MM, four years; DeMarco Murray, RB (Eagles): $40MM, five years; Torrey Smith, WR (49ers): $40MM, five years; Mike Iupati, G (Cardinals): $40MM, five years

Largest contracts by annual average:

  1. Ndamukong Suh, DT (Dolphins): $19.063MM
  2. Darrelle Revis, CB (Jets): $14.024MM
  3. Jeremy Maclin, WR (Chiefs): $11MM
  4. Byron Maxwell, CB (Eagles): $10.5MM
  5. Randall Cobb, WR (Packers): $10MM
  6. Devin McCourty, S (Patriots): $9.5MM
  7. Julius Thomas, TE (Jaguars): $9.2MM
  8. Brandon Flowers, CB (Chargers): $9.1MM
  9. Jerry Hughes, OLB (Bills): $9MM
  10. Rodney Hudson, C (Raiders): $8.9MM

Largest contracts by fully guaranteed money:

  1. Ndamukong Suh, DT (Dolphins): $59.955MM
  2. Darrelle Revis, CB (Jets): $39MM
  3. Charles Clay, TE (Bills): $24.5MM
  4. Jeremy Maclin, WR (Chiefs): $22.5MM
  5. (tie) Devin McCourty, S (Patriots); Byron Maxwell, CB (Eagles): $22MM
  6. Julius Thomas, TE (Jaguars): $21MM
  7. Kareem Jackson, CB (Texans): $20MM
  8. (tie) DeMarco Murray, RB (Eagles); Brandon Flowers, CB (Chargers): $18MM
  9. Jerry Hughes, OLB (Bills): $17.625MM
  10. Jared Odrick, DE (Jaguars): $17MM

Data from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post.

Update On Franchise-Tagged Players

May 13th, 2015 at 7:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Pro Football Rumors’ list of current free agents features a number of interesting names, including veteran players like Steven Jackson, Wes Welker, and Reggie Wayne. But the most intriguing free agents remaining on the list are a handful of players with an “(F)” following their names — Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Justin Houston, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Of course, if these players were truly unrestricted free agents, they would’ve been snapped up about two minutes after free agency opened back in March. That “F” signals that they’ve been franchised by their respective clubs, with the non-exclusive tag. They’re still technically free agents, since they have yet to sign their one-year tenders, but their free agency is restricted — any team wanting to sign one of these players would have to submit an offer sheet, and surrender two first-round picks if their offer isn’t matched by the player’s current club.Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 37-28. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

That’s a steep price to pay for any team, which is likely why we haven’t heard of any potential suitors trying to make a run for any of these players. You could make an argument that a team with cap flexibility that expects to pick late in the first round in the next couple years – the Packers, Bengals, or Chargers, for instance – should consider making a run at a star pass rusher like Houston. However, spending time negotiating with a franchised player and attempting to craft an offer that his team won’t match takes a lot of time and effort. And when the alternative to simply wasting time is losing two first-round picks and committing upwards of $15MM annually to a free agent, it makes sense that teams would be wary.

In all likelihood then, these four “free agents” will simply return to their current teams. So far though, none of the four have reported to their respective clubs’ offseason programs.

Asked about Pierre-Paul’s potential attendance at next month’s mandatory minicamp, Giants coach Tom Coughlin told Newsday’s Tom Rock, “I expect him to be there.” That’s a sentiment I imagine head coaches Jason Garrett, Gary Kubiak, and Andy Reid would echo for their own franchised players.

Because these four players have yet to sign their tenders though, they’re under no obligation to attend a so-called “mandatory” minicamp or even July’s training camp. Those camps are only mandatory for players under contract, and Bryant, Thomas, Houston, and Pierre-Paul aren’t under contract for now.

So what’s the next step for these players? That next step could still be a couple months away. July 15 represents a key deadline, since it’s the last day a franchised player can sign a multiyear extension with his team. If no long-term deal is in place by then, the player will likely have to simply sign his one-year tender (though not necessarily right away) and play out the 2015 season before potentially hitting unrestricted free agency in 2016.

The Cowboys, Broncos, Chiefs, and Giants are all believed to have discussed long-term contracts with their franchised players at some point, whether that happened recently or as far back as last fall. While those talks may not have been fruitful up until now, deadlines tend to spur action, so over the next two months, it will be worth keeping an eye on these four players to see how many of them bridge the gaps and reach agreements on multiyear extensions, avoiding the uncertainty of a one-year deal for 2015.

For what it’s worth, the only player whose franchise tender remained unsigned as training camp approached last year was Jimmy Graham — Graham and the Saints ultimately struck a deal on – you guessed it – July 15.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extension Candidate: Sam Bradford

May 10th, 2015 at 2:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As soon as the Eagles acquired quarterback Sam Bradford on March 10, rumors began to swirl that the former Ram wasn’t long for Philadelphia. Both St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher and Eagles head coach Chip Kelly both claimed that they’d been offered a first-round pick for Bradford (the Browns were eventually revealed as the mystery club), and many assumed that the former Sam BradfordNo. 1 overall pick was simply trade bait, an asset for Kelly to flip in an effort to acquire his former college QB, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.

As the draft approached, it appeared that Bradford was still on the table, as reports indicated that Kelly was attempting to deal some combination of draft picks, defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, cornerback Brandon Boykin, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, and Bradford in an effort to acquire either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick. Kelly later denied that he offered Bradford (or any other players) in trade negotiations, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report said the Eagles offering up Bradford “like he was a slice of pizza.”

In the end, neither the Buccaneers nor the Titans accepted any of Philadelphia’s rumored proposals, and ultimately selected quarterbacks Jamies Wintson and Mariota, respectively. The Eagles, meanwhile, stayed put at pick No. 20, and drafted USC receiver Nelson Agholor. Kelly & Co. now appear fully committed to utilizing Bradford as their starting quarterback in 2015, and apparently still have interest in extending him.

Even if Bradford and the Eagles agree to discuss a multi-year deal, there could be significant hurdles to clear. For his part, Bradford has indicated that he won’t accept a “substandard” extension; rather, he’d prefer to play out 2015, hope for a strong season, and reassess his market value during next year’s free agent period. So if Philadelphia has hopes of leveraging Bradford’s injury issues into a team-friendly contract, it might be disappointed.

For Bradford, this mindset makes complete sense. As the final No. 1 overall pick under the previous contractual bargaining agreement, Bradford was able to sign a rookie deal that had no slot value, and offered significantly larger base salaries and guarantees than the current CBA allows for. Somewhat surprisingly given his injury history, Bradford will end up playing out the entirety of his six-year rookie contract, earning $78MM in the process. Provided he’s managed his money correctly, Bradford has zero financial incentive to settle for a mediocre extension — he can simply wait out the Eagles until they offer a package that he likes, or head to free agency next March.

From the Eagles’ perspective, a possible extension for Bradford carries risk for two opposing reasons. On one hand, Kelly’s offensive scheme has the power to inflate quarterback statistics — take Nick Foles‘ 2013 season, or part of Mark Sanchez‘s 2014 season, for example. Bradford may not be the perfect fit for Kelly’s system that Mariota was, but neither was Foles or Sanchez. It’s not difficult to imagine Bradford posting an excellent 2015 season, and in the process significantly upping his contract demands. With that in mind, working out an extension now could save Philadelphia money in the long run.

On the other hand, it’s difficult not to be wary of Bradford’s lengthy injury history. He’s now suffered two torn ACLs in his five-year career, and he’s played in only 49 out of a possible 80 games since entering the league. The Eagles unquestionably field a better offensive line than the Rams, which should lead to a cleaner pocket for Bradford and in theory, less injury potential. But it could be tough for Philadelphia to commit a large sum of money to a player who might not be on the field too often.

Though Bradford may not be the perfect fit for Kelly’s scheme, Kelly realizes that finding such a quarterback could prove difficult. Additionally, the Eagles plan to be in a constant state of contention, meaning they will reload, not rebuild, as Kelly explained to Derrick Gunn of CSNPhilly.com last week:

“[T]he one thing I can promise is that we’re not going to just sit there and hopefully in a couple of years we’re going to build this thing. We’re not waiting for the draft of 2017 to turn this thing around.

 

“[I]f you want to play with the odds as we want to play, it’s got to be with a quarterback situation and then the only way you’re going to get a quarterback is you got to be really not very good so you finish in the top 1-2 in the draft. If we’re not very good and we finish with the top 1-2 in the draft, I don’t think I’m going to be here, so we better find another way to find a quarterback.”

Kelly is clearly happy with Bradford as his starting quarterback, and Bradford seems to want to stay in Philadelphia, as reports last month indicated that he would only sign an extension that contained a no-trade clause because he wants to play for Kelly. Now that the draft has passed without him being dealt, Bradford probably isn’t dead-set on such a clause any longer, but the sentiment remains.

Ultimately, I think a short-term extension makes the most sense for both sides. It’s easy to forget that Bradford is still just 27 years old, so tacking on three years to his current deal would result in him hitting the free agent market at 31, when he could garner yet another large contract. Bradford could end up earning a somewhat surprising total — the fact the clubs were willing to part with a first-rounder to acquire him signifies his value in the current QB-scarce landscape.

A three-year deal that compares to that of Cardinals signal-caller Carson Palmer could make some sense — at age 35, Palmer is significantly older than Bradford, but he also has a more recent record of success. Palmer is scheduled to earn almost $50MM over three seasons, with $14MM in full guarantees. I’d guess that a Bradford extension would come in lower than that, maybe around $35-40MM, with roughly the same guarantees. It would also need to come with serious injury protection for the Eagles, and would probably contain quite a bit of money tied up in per-game roster bonuses — if Bradford isn’t on the field, he wouldn’t be earning those bonuses.

Whether or not Bradford would accept such a deal is the central question. Would he prefer to bet on himself, hope to perform well this season, and offer his services to the highest bidder next March? Or does he want to commit to a talented coach in Kelly and a team that is set up for success? The answer could provide the blueprint for the Eagles future for years to come.

PFR Originals: 5/3/15 – 5/10/15

May 10th, 2015 at 11:46am CST by Ben Levine

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

  • Luke Adams provided us with an update on restricted free agents. A large portion of the restricted free agent class, including Seahawks wideout Jermaine Kearse and Ravens safety Will Hill, simply signed their tenders. Defensive end George Johnson and safety Sean Richardson signed offer sheets with other teams, and Chris Polk had his RFA tender rescinded by the Eagles. Although the deadline to sign with another team was in April, two restricted free agents (both Browns) remain unsigned: safety Tashaun Gipson and defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen.
  • The deadline for teams to decide whether to pick up their 2012 first-rounder’s fifth-year option was last Sunday, and Luke reviewed who had their option exercised and who did not.
  • Luke asked which draft-day faller ultimately ended up being the best value. More than a quarter of you pointed to the Cowboys‘ selection of defensive end/linebacker Randy Gregory, while 18-percent of you said Texans‘ wideout Jaelen Strong.
  • As teams look to ink their draft picks to rookie contracts, you can stay updated on the progress of your favorite team.

Update On Restricted Free Agents

May 6th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

Most of the league’s notable unrestricted free agents come off the board in mid-March, within days – or hours – of officially hitting the open market. However, the process for restricted free agents can often drag out a little longer.

Over the last several weeks, players who received restricted free agent tenders from their respective teams have, for the most part, simply signed them. Players like Ravens safety Will Hill, Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, and – most recently – Seahawks wideout Jermaine Kearse will return to their clubs for at least one more season, earning either $1.542MM (the low-end tender) or $2.356MM (the second-round tender). Then, if they don’t work out a longer-term deal, they’ll be unrestricted free agents in 2016.

Not every restricted free agent has simply signed his tender. Lions defensive end George Johnson signed an offer sheet with the Buccaneers, and Packers safety Sean Richardson inked one with the Raiders. After disputing the terms of his offer sheet with the Bucs, the Lions eventually let Johnson go to Tampa Bay, getting a draft pick in the deal for their troubles. Green Bay, meanwhile, matched Oakland’s offer for Richardson, bringing him back to the team.

One restricted free agent, Eagles running back Chris Polk, had his RFA tender rescinded by the team, allowing him the freedom to sign with another team — Polk and his new club then wouldn’t have to worry about Philadelphia matching an offer sheet. The running back quickly found a new home with the Texans, just a couple days after the Eagles withdrew their one-year offer.

The deadline for restricted free agents to sign an offer sheet with another team came and went last month (April 24), but two players appear to still be unsigned, and both of them are Browns — safety Tashaun Gipson, who received a second-round tender, and defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, who got a low-end tender, have yet to sign their contracts for 2015.

There’s no indication that Kitchen is unhappy with his situation. In fact, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported two weeks ago (via Twitter) that the defensive lineman intended to sign his tender. No confirmation has come from the team or Kitchen’s camp since then, but it’s possible he signed his tender and it has yet to be announced — it’s also possible he’ll make it official any day now.

Gipson’s case isn’t quite so simple. The 24-year-old has started 26 games for the Browns in the last two seasons, racking up 146 tackles during that stretch and showing a knack for coming up with big plays — he has grabbed 11 interceptions during the last two seasons, returning two of them for touchdowns. Despite playing just 11 games in 2014, Gipson earned a Pro Bowl nod.

After an impressive first three seasons, Gipson was reportedly less than thrilled to receive a second-round tender from the Browns, and didn’t report to the club’s voluntary offseason program last month. Head coach Mike Pettine indicated that the club is “very optimistic” about working something out with Gipson, but the team has most of the leverage here, at least for the 2015 season.

Since the deadline has passed for Gipson to negotiate with other teams, if he wants to play in ’15 and earn his $2.356MM, he’ll have to sign his tender with the Browns at some point. In Philadelphia, Polk was expendable after the Eagles signed a pair of running backs in free agency; for the Browns, Gipson is a key contributor, so they’re not about to withdraw his RFA tender.

A longer-term deal is also a possibility for Gipson and the Browns, but the team isn’t under any pressure to work something out with the safety. According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, Browns sources don’t expect Gipson to be on the roster is 2016, believing that he has priced himself out of the team’s range. That asking price could eventually come down, but for now it appears Cleveland is simply satisfied to welcome Gipson back to the roster for 2015 if and when he signs his RFA tender, with no guarantees beyond this season.

Poll: Best Value Among Draft-Day Fallers?

May 5th, 2015 at 11:42am CST by Luke Adams

With NFL rookie contracts coming in at a far more affordable rate than they used to, the most effective way a team can build a cap-friendly roster involves nailing a few draft picks every year, and carrying those players on cheap deals for the first four years of their NFL careers. And given how important it is to get those picks right, teams are increasingly shying away from players with off-field, character, or injury concerns, which might derail their NFL careers or result in suspensions down the road.

A team like the Browns provides a case study for how drafting high-risk, high-reward players can backfire — heading into the 2015 campaign, Cleveland’s best receiver, Josh Gordon, is facing a season-long suspension for repeated drug violations. Meanwhile, the team’s first-round quarterback from a year ago, Johnny Manziel, is coming off a stint in rehab, and it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to bounce back from a forgettable rookie year and contribute to an NFL franchise.

In 2015’s draft, a handful of players who would have been first-round talents, or even top-10 picks, had a number of question marks swirling around them as the draft approached. In some cases, those players still went about where we expected — cornerback Marcus Peters didn’t fall far, going 18th overall to the Chiefs, and defensive end Frank Clark was a second-round pick despite an alleged domestic violence incident that got him kicked off the team in Michigan.

Still, most players who had off-field questions or injury concerns slipped precipitously on draft day. Potential drug concerns for Shane Ray and Randy Gregory resulted in them going 23rd and 60th respectively, rather than in the top 10. Dorial Green-Beckham, Ronald Darby, and P.J. Williams had very strong cases to come off the board on day one if not for off-field question marks. And health concerns caused players like Jaelen Strong, T.J. Clemmings, and Jay Ajayi to fall further than expected.

In some cases, teams’ wariness may be warranted. But given the talent these players possess, I expect at least a couple of them to have long, successful NFL careers, and to make the teams that passed on them regret it. It’s just a matter of identifying which of these players is most likely to overcome the roadblocks currently facing them.

What do you think? Which of the following picks will provide the best value?

Which of the following picks will provide the best value?
Dallas Cowboys (2.60): Randy Gregory, DE/OLB 28.54% (260 votes)
Houston Texans (3.70): Jaelen Strong, WR 18.00% (164 votes)
Minnesota Vikings (4.110): T.J. Clemmings, T 17.23% (157 votes)
Miami Dolphins (5.149): Jay Ajayi, RB 11.64% (106 votes)
Tennessee Titans (2.40): Dorial Green-Beckham, WR 9.55% (87 votes)
Denver Broncos (1.23): Shane Ray, DE/OLB 9.22% (84 votes)
New Orleans Saints (3.78): P.J. Williams, CB 3.07% (28 votes)
Buffalo Bills (2.50): Ronald Darby, CB 2.74% (25 votes)
Total Votes: 911

Fifth-Year Option Decisions For 2016

May 5th, 2015 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

While the deadline for exercising fifth-year options typically falls on May 3, teams around the league had an extra day to make those decisions this year, since May 3 didn’t land on a business day. For 2012’s first-round picks, if their fifth-year options for 2016 weren’t picked up by midnight on Monday, they’re now on track to become unrestricted free agents after the 2015 season — assuming they’re still even playing on their rookie contracts, that is.

In total, 20 of 2012’s 32 first-rounders had their fifth-year options exercised by their respective teams. However, that leaves 12 players whose options weren’t picked up, including four of the top seven picks from the ’12 draft.

Of those 12 players, five didn’t have an option to exercise for various reasons, including release, suspension, or retirement. One of the remaining seven, Whitney Mercilus, inked an extension with the Texans to avoid the need for the option. That leaves just six players who had their option years outright declined.

The numbers suggest that if a first-round player plays out the first three years of his rookie contract, there’s a very good chance his team will exercise his fifth-year option. Even players who were considered potential question marks, such as Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil or Dre Kirkpatrick, had their options exercised, and it’s hard to question their clubs’ decisions. After all, these fifth-year salaries are only guaranteed for injury at the moment, so those teams have until the start of the 2016 league year to rethink their decisions.

Here’s a full breakdown of the fifth-year option decisions for 2016:

Exercised:

  1. Andrew Luck (QB, Colts), $16.155MM: Exercised
  2. Robert Griffin III (QB, Washington), $16.155MM: Exercised
  3. Matt Kalil (T, Vikings), $11.096MM: Exercised
  4. Ryan Tannehill (QB, Dolphins), $16.155MM: Exercised
  5. Luke Kuechly (LB, Panthers), $11.058MM: Exercised
  6. Stephon Gilmore (CB, Bills), $11.082MM: Exercised
  7. Dontari Poe (DT, Chiefs), $6.146MM: Exercised
  8. Fletcher Cox (DE, Eagles), $7.799MM: Exercised
  9. Michael Floyd (WR, Cardinals), $7.32MM: Exercised
  10. Michael Brockers (DT, Rams), $6.146MM: Exercised
  11. Quinton Coples (OLB, Jets), $7.751MM: Exercised
  12. Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Bengals), $7.507MM: Exercised
  13. Melvin Ingram (OLB, Chargers), $7.751MM: Exercised
  14. Kendall Wright (WR, Titans), $7.32MM: Exercised
  15. Chandler Jones (DE, Patriots), $7.799MM: Exercised
  16. Riley Reiff (T, Lions), $8.07MM: Exercised
  17. David DeCastro (G, Steelers), $8.07MM: Exercised
  18. Dont’a Hightower (LB, Patriots), $7.751MM: Exercised
  19. Kevin Zeitler (G, Bengals), $8.07MM: Exercised
  20. Harrison Smith (S, Vikings), $5.278MM: Exercised

Not exercised:

  1. Trent Richardson (RB, Raiders): Not applicable due to release
  2. Justin Blackmon (WR, Jaguars): Not applicable due to suspension
  3. Morris Claiborne (CB, Cowboys), $11.082MM: Declined
  4. Mark Barron (S, Rams), $8.263MM: Declined
  5. Bruce Irvin (OLB, Seahawks), $7.751MM: Declined
  6. Shea McClellin (OLB, Bears), $7.751MM: Declined
  7. Brandon Weeden (QB, Cowboys): Not applicable due to release
  8. Whitney Mercilus (OLB, Texans), $7.751MM: Signed extension
  9. Nick Perry (OLB, Packers), $7.751MM: Declined
  10. A.J. Jenkins (WR): Not applicable due to release
  11. Doug Martin (RB, Buccaneers), $5.621MM: Declined
  12. David Wilson (RB): Not applicable due to retirement

PFR Originals: 4/26/15 – 5/3/15

May 3rd, 2015 at 2:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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

2015 NFL Draft Picks By Team

May 2nd, 2015 at 5:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s the complete breakdown of 2015 NFL draft picks by team, sorted alphabetically. Picks are listed by round and overall selection, and the number of picks each team holds is noted in parentheses:

Arizona Cardinals (7):

  • 1-24: D.J. Humphries, T (Florida)
  • 2-58: Markus Golden, DE/OLB (Missouri)
  • 3-86: David Johnson, RB (Northern Iowa)
  • 4-116: Rodney Gunter, DL (Delaware State)
  • 5-158: Shaq Riddick, DE (West Virginia)
  • 5-159: J.J. Nelson, WR (UAB)
  • 7-256: Gerald Christian, TE (Louisville)

Atlanta Falcons (7):

  • 1-8: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB (Clemson)
  • 2-42: Jalen Collins, CB (LSU)
  • 3-73: Tevin Coleman, RB (Indiana)
  • 4-107: Justin Hardy, WR (East Carolina)
  • 5-137: Grady Jarrett, DT (Clemson)
  • 7-225: Jake Rodgers, T (Eastern Washington)
  • 7-250: Akeem King, S (San Jose State)

Baltimore Ravens (9):

  • 1-26: Breshad Perriman, WR (UCF)
  • 2-55: Maxx Williams, TE (Minnesota)
  • 3-90: Carl Davis, DT (Iowa)
  • 4-122: Za’Darius Smith, DE/OLB (Kentucky)
  • 4-125: Buck Allen, RB (USC)
  • 4-136: Tray Walker, CB (Texas Southern)
  • 5-171: Nick Boyle, TE (Delaware)
  • 5-176: Robert Myers, G (Tennessee State)
  • 6-204: Darren Waller, WR (Georgia Tech)

Read more

Pro Football Rumors Mock Draft 2.0

April 30th, 2015 at 9:56am CST by Rob DiRe

The NFL draft gets underway later today, finally giving football fans across the country (and around the world) the opportunity to find out how their favorite teams will supplement or rework their rosters over the weekend. The prospects drafted in the next three days will swing games next season, and in some cases, they’ll become part of a future championship team’s core group of players.

Since our first Mock Draft almost three weeks ago, we have examined every position group in our 2015 NFL Draft Breakdown Series. With dozens of prospects analyzed, scouting reports read, and team needs examined, here is our updated version just in time for tonight’s first round.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
    Winston still seems like a lock for the first pick. If the Buccaneers are running a long con on everyone, maybe they will go with Marcus Mariota or even trade the pick to a quarterback-needy team. That wouldn’t be the craziest draft-day scenario of all time, but Winston should find out he is staying in the Sunshine State on Thursday.
  2. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
    Mariota almost fell out of the top 10 in our first mock, but with a number of teams reportedly interested in trading for him, his stock is on the rise. I still don’t see the fit in Ken Whisenhunt‘s offense, but I think the Titans are more likely to either draft Mariota or trade the pick so someone else can take him, rather than drafting another player here. If the Buccaneers are serious about their interest in Mariota, the Titans could trade up one spot for Winston, who fits Whisenhunt’s preferences on the field.
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
    Cooper is the best receiver in this class, and the Jaguars could grab a number one receiver here and put together a formidable set of weapons for Blake Bortles to work with in Jacksonville. I still think this pick could go in a couple different directions, with Dante Fowler Jr. as the presumed favorite, but after the team was so secretive about selecting Bortles last year, their reported interest in Fowler has Jedi-mind tricked me into going the other way here. I’d guess we’re looking at a 35% chance of the team drafting Fowler and a 35% chance for Cooper, with a Leonard Williams pick or a trade down comprising the remaining 30%.
  4. Oakland Raiders – Leonard Williams, DT, USC
    The Raiders miss out on their presumed top receiver if the draft breaks out this way, but still have the opportunity to take Kevin White at No. 4 if they so choose. Unfortunately for David Carr‘s stat line, given this year’s deep receiver class, the team can’t pass on Williams, who may have given Cooper a run for his money at this spot anyway.
  5. Washington – Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
    Marijuana-related incidents have created character red flags for Randy Gregory and Shane Ray, but fortunately for Washington, Fowler is still on the board. The team could use a versatile pass rusher, and can afford to pass on a receiver. Brandon Scherff could be a good fit here, and Washington would probably love to trade down to a spot where it would be more appropriate to nab a cornerback or offensive lineman, but GM Scot McCloughan and co. should be happy Fowler is available if they don’t want to roll the dice on Gregory or Ray.
  6. New York Jets – Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
    Gregory might be the best overall player in this draft, and if Washington is scared off, the Jets reap the benefits. This probably doesn’t happen if Cooper or Mariota is available, and if they get a good offer to trade down, the Jets could target Scherff or Andrus Peat. However, this scenario worked out perfectly for the team to take Gregory.
  7. Chicago Bears – Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
    The Bears could use a pass rusher, but White is too good a value to pass up. Ray’s marijuana incident could take him out of the running here, and I am sure Chicago is hoping Williams somehow falls to this spot. In this scenario though, White slides into Brandon Marshall‘s spot on the offense, as the Bears try to rebuild on the fly.
  8. Atlanta Falcons – Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
    Ray’s incident only costs him a few spots from our last mock to this one, as Dan Quinn gets a big-time pass rusher for his first stint as a head coach. Pass rusher is Atlanta’s biggest need, and both Vic Beasley and Bud Dupree would be in play here. Neither has an off-the-field issue on the record, but Ray is leaps ahead of both as a polished edge rusher. The Falcons would really like to make a move up to No. 3 to grab Fowler, whom Dan Quinn coached at Florida. It would be a big jump, but Quinn has a good relationship with Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, and if we see a blockbuster move from either team, I expect it to net the Falcons the top pass rusher on their board.
  9. New York Giants – Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
    Somehow, no matter how the draft plays out, the Giants seem to have a good chance at getting Scherff at this spot. The best offensive lineman in the draft and one of the most fun players in this class to watch, he should be a day one starter somewhere along the offensive line. Where he plays doesn’t matter so much — the Giants are smart enough to figure that out later.
  10. St. Louis Rams – DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
    The Vikings would probably love Parker, but the Rams can’t pass him up. St. Louis hasn’t had any consistency in its passing game since Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce retired, and Parker could change that in a hurry — he’s just about as good a prospect as either Cooper or White.
  11. Minnesota Vikings – Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
    Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t get his former Louisville teammate, and while the Vikings would probably rather trade down a few spots, they get their tall, fast cornerback to pair with Xavier Rhodes in the secondary. The team could fill their need at receiver later in the draft, and address the offensive line sometime on day two.
  12. Cleveland Browns – Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
    My instinct is to purposely sabotage this pick, but that’s only because I am taking the Mock Draft too seriously and trying to channel the Browns’ thought process. Then again, I’m not a fan of Beasley, but he does have the physical tools to warrant a pick here. Cleveland could also get an interior defensive lineman or a receiver in this spot, but the feeling is both those positions will be in play at No. 19.
  13. New Orleans Saints – Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
    The Saints have needs at cornerback, pass rusher, receiver, and offensive line, and they own five picks in the first three rounds. Still, I see them coming out with defense. Dupree would be an easy fit if New Orleans weren’t in win-now mode, and the team could get good value among their pick of offensive linemen. Beasley would have been a slam dunk, but the Saints get a good cover corner in Peters.
  14. Miami Dolphins – La’el Collins, OG, LSU
    The Dolphins have a bunch of holes on the team, and the Ndamukong Suh signing will have their salary cap hamstrung for years. If Parker, Wayne, or Peters fall to this pot, Miami could go in another direction, but with all three off the board, Collins could shore up the offensive line at a number of spots and immediately begin protecting Ryan Tannehill. Of course, Collins is wanted for questioning by police in Louisiana, but if we take their word that he’s not a suspect in that case, I’m assuming he won’t plummet down teams’ draft boards.
  15. San Francisco 49ers – Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
    Cornerback is still a possibility here, even with the top two off the board, and Peat would make sense as a swing tackle. However, the Niners should be thrilled to get Armstrong, who should help create nightmares for quarterbacks when he’s paired with Aldon Smith.
  16. Houston Texans – Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
    Without an obvious need besides inside linebacker, the Texans are free to take a flier here. I would hope if it came down to receiver they would pull the trigger on Dorial Green-Beckham, but Perriman is more likely. With DeAndre Hopkins and Cecil Shorts on the roster, Perriman’s speed could add a new dimension to the offense.
  17. San Diego Chargers – Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
    Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley are both in the running here, but I hate the idea of using a first-round pick on a running back. Peat, on the other hand, is a swing tackle with the talent to come in and start on either side of the line. It’s more likely San Diego finds a running back in rounds two or three rather than finding a starting-caliber tackle in those rounds. Malcolm Brown and Danny Shelton would both also make a lot of sense here.
  18. Kansas City Chiefs – Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
    I once again thought of giving the Chiefs Cameron Erving to plug in at center, but this team needs a receiver in a bad way, even after signing Jeremy Maclin. I like Green-Beckham a lot more than most, and my job isn’t on the line by writing his name in here — I understand why this is a risky move for a general manager to make. Still, Andy Reid isn’t afraid of a troubled player, and nobody on the board is going to help this team score touchdowns in the passing game better than Green-Beckham.
  19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) – Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
    The Browns already got their pass rusher at No. 12, and I think the way the board falls they pass up a receiver here to really solidify their defense. Shelton isn’t my favorite player, but he’s a mammoth on the interior defensive line, and he should help open up things for other players in the defense. While Jaelen Strong and Nelson Agholor could be options, the Browns can afford to wait until round two for a pass catcher at this point.
  20. Philadelphia Eagles – Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
    The Eagles need a corner in a bad way, but I don’t view Kevin Johnson as a great fit and Jalen Collins is a bit of a reach. I imagine Dupree’s physical skills will really entice Chip Kelly, even if that leaves Marcus Smith as the odd-man out in the linebacker depth chart. I was tempted to give the team a running back here just to make enemies in Philly, but realistically Kelly could go a number of ways, and I’m pretty sure he values players very differently than I do (or anyone else does, for that matter), so this was a tough pick.
  21. Cincinnati Bengals – Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
    Without an obvious pass-rushing option on the board, I am leaving Erving to the Bengals. He should solidify a very good offensive line and keep a strong team moving forward. Cincinnati could target a receiver or defensive line help here, or even go for one of the tackles, but Erving is the sort of prospect who could improve the team as a rookie, and the value in that is too hard to pass up.
  22. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
    If Dupree were available here, he’d have been a great project with high upside for the Steelers, but the team is in desperate need of secondary help and Johnson is a very solid corner who can hold up in man coverage or in the cover three. Pittsburgh needs a safety as well, but without a standout in that group, Johnson is a more valuable player.
  23. Detroit Lions – Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
    I don’t know how the Lions landed Brown again in this version of the mock, but good for them. They keep filling the hole left behind by Suh and Nick Fairley, Brown will join Haloti Ngata as a menacing interior line duo. The team could have targeted Gurley or a cornerback, and could always improve along the offensive line.
  24. Arizona Cardinals – Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
    I don’t want to give the Cardinals a running back, but I just have to at this point. If Johnson or one of the better pass rushers is on the board, it’s easier to let Gurley go, but the board is begging them to take the Georgia runner. Andre Ellington averaged 3.3 yards per carry in 2014, and Arizona needs the extra juice in the backfield. Taking Gurley over Gordon is risky given his injury history, but he’s the better prospect.
  25. Carolina Panthers – Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
    I think this is a pretty easy call for the Panthers. I know they need secondary help and would love another receiver, but with Flowers on the board, they have to prioritize tackle. Corner and receiver will come later in the draft — for now, they have a probable starter at right tackle who has the potential to move to the left.
  26. Baltimore Ravens – Byron Jones, CB, UConn
    The Ravens are a great candidate to move back off this spot, and there isn’t an obvious fit with the team. Gordon could come in and help immediately, but I don’t see Ozzie Newsome pulling the trigger on a first-round running back. The best corner available is probably P.J. Williams, but his DUI charge might scare teams off, even though it was dismissed — and Jalen Collins‘ footwork is even scarier. Jones is a versatile player who should be able to handle himself on the outside. If not, the contingency plan to move him to safety if necessary, which would fill a need anyway.
  27. Dallas Cowboys – Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
    I still love Goldman here, as he’s just too solid to pass up. I think he ends up being a very good run defender for a long time, and he makes the linebackers better by eating up space on the inside of the Cowboys’ defense. Running back is in play, and cornerback or free safety could be positions Dallas looks at, but Goldman is the guy who brings the immediate impact, assuming the team is confident he will hold up against NFL offensive linemen.
  28. Denver Broncos – D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
    This is another pretty easy decision, as Humphries can come in and start from day one in an attempt to extend Peyton Manning‘s championship window. Humphries will have a lot of pressure to fill in at right tackle and keep his quarterback healthy. Jordan Phillips and Carl Davis could both be replacements for Terrance Knighton in that defense, and Phillips especially could handle the nose tackle role well.
  29. Indianapolis Colts – Jordan Phillips, NT, Oklahoma
    I thought pass rusher would be a good idea here, but with Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, and – for the optimistic – Bjoern Werner on the roster already, that might be a luxury pick. The Colts added to the defensive line already, but bringing in this big fella could change the dynamic of the middle of the defense. Safety is also in play, and Damarious Randall could be the first safety taken here if the Colts think they’ve done enough with the defensive line. There are also a few guards that are valued as early second-round picks the Colts could jump on.
  30. Green Bay Packers – Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
    I wanted to get cute with the Packers because they don’t have many holes, and I wanted to fit Shaq Thompson into my round one. However, common sense won out. The reason the Packers don’t have holes is because they don’t get cute. They target good football players. Kendricks is the best linebacker in the draft, and the Packers’ only real need is at inside linebacker. Kendricks can play the run and cover tight ends. He makes the defense better and allows Clay Matthews to stay on the edge. Phillips would have been a great fit here as well, and the Packers could also consider Davis.
  31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) – Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
    The Saints could definitely look at a receiver here, and I considered given them one of Agholor and Phillip Dorsett, but the Saints just gutted their offense, and it appeared that the purpose was to get better on defense — Harold makes them better on defense. He does a great job getting after the quarterback, and should improve at the next level
  32. New England Patriots – P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
    With Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner moving on after only one season, Williams fills a need and is a great value at corner. He could have gone higher without the off-the-field concerns, and Bill Belichick could turn around his bad luck with corners by hitting this pick. Of course, it would surprise me more if I’m right about this pick than if the team traded back a few spots and picked up an extra pick somewhere along the way.

Like last time, I’m letting the Bills and Seahawks in on the fun by projecting a player to them with their first picks in the second round.

50. Buffalo Bills – Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB, Louisville
Last time we ran through the possibilities for the Bills at No. 50, I had them taking a running back, not because it was their biggest need but because it was the position and player I was most certain would be available. The subsequent three weeks have provided some clarity, and if Rex Ryan is thinking like I am, he could view Mauldin as a perfect fit as a pass-rushing specialist in his defense. Whether Mauldin is there or not depends on what happens with the pass rushers early in the draft. This is a player I thought would be a great fit for the Jets in round two if they decided to go with another position in round one. He’s also a guy the Saints could target if they miss on a pass rusher with both of their first-rounders. Some projections have him falling to the third round, but he’d be a solid pick here, and the Bills could look to add depth at running back or in the secondary later in the draft.

63. Seattle Seahawks – Hroniss Grasu, C, Oregon
The Seahawks will draft at least one receiver and one corner in this draft, but I doubt they’ll prioritize any position over the interior offensive line with their first pick. A.J. Cann and Tre Jackson are my favorite players on the inside, and Laken Tomlinson has a chance to go ahead of both of them. It isn’t clear who will end up being available at No. 63, and Ali Marpet might still be a logical choice based on the board, but I worry about waiting 62 picks to take a Division III prospect with my first selection. Marpet might be a good value, but if a D-III player headlines your draft board and flames out, that’s going to stick out. Grasu is a more known commodity, and could step in at center right away to replace the departed Max Unger.

Load More Posts