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PFR Originals: 7/20/14 – 7/27/14

July 27th, 2014 at 6:40pm CST by Rob DiRe

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

  • We continued our Offseason in Review series, as Ben Levine covered the Eagles, David Kipke covered the 49ers, and Zach Links evaluated the Giants and the Cowboys.
  • As we finished up our Offseason in Review series in the NFC East and NFC West, PFR took to the polls to see who our readers thought would win each division. The Eagles took a good lead in the East and the Seahawks barely edged out the 49ers in the West.
  • Our Extension Candidate series plugged along, as Dallas Robinson examined the case for 49ers guard Mike Iupati.

Offseason In Review: Dallas Cowboys

July 24th, 2014 at 7:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 34) from the Redskins in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 47) and third-round pick (No. 78).
  • Acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 146) from the Lions in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 158) and a seventh-round pick (No. 229).
  • Acquired Rolando McClain and a conditional seventh-round pick from the Ravens in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick. Conditions for the traded picks, which also could turn into a swap of seventh-rounders, can be found within the linked story.

Draft picks:

  • Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame (1.16): Signed
  • Demarcus Lawrence, DE/OLB, Boise State (2.34): Signed
  • Anthony Hitchens, LB, Iowa (4.119): Signed
  • Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh (5.146): Signed
  • Ben Gardner, DE, Stanford (7.231): Signed
  • Will Smith, LB, Texas Tech (7.238): Signed
  • Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor (7.248): Signed
  • Ken Bishop, DT, Northern Illinois (7.251): Signed
  • Terrance Mitchell, CB, Oregon (7.254): Signed

Other:

AT&T Stadium is an everlasting reminder that Jerry Jones isn’t a fan of the understated. That’s why it was rather surprising to see the Cowboys have a relatively quiet offseason in 2014.

The Cowboys made a major upgrade on their defensive line when they inked tackle Henry Melton. The Bears opted not to extend an offer to the 27-year-old before the start of free agency and had hoped to re-sign him after they figured out how much room they had to work with. Chicago never got the chance as Melton signed on with the Cowboys on a multiyear deal. The deal makes a lot of sense for both sides. Melton can earn nearly $28MM over four seasons if everything works out in 2014 and the Cowboys pick him up for another three seasons. If he struggles to stay on the field, as he did in 2013, the Cowboys can simply decline their club option and move on. Melton, who only played in three games last season, was said to be seeking a one-year, make-good contract, but he came away with the potential for a longer commitment. Even though 2013 didn’t work out as Melton had hoped, he made 14 starts and racked up a career high 31 tackles with six sacks en route to his first Pro Bowl in the season prior. He’ll look to get back to that level this season.NFL: Pro Bowl-NFC Media Day

Melton will be filling the space left by the departure of Jason Hatcher and it’s hard not to like that trade-off for the Cowboys. Despite the time missed in 2013, Melton is younger and probably better suited for Dallas’ defensive scheme. That’s not to say there won’t be challenges for this Cowboys front seven. Hatcher has joined up with the rival Redskins, longtime Dallas mainstay DeMarcus Ware is with the Broncos, and linebacker Sean Lee is done for the season after suffering an injury during OTA’s. On the defensive line, the Cowboys are expected to trot out a front four of George Selvie, Melton, Nick Hayden, and free agent pickup Jeremy Mincey. The Cowboys dropped Ware because of his $16MM cap number for 2014 and Mincey comes in at a much more reasonable $3MM over two years with just $500K guaranteed. Further down the depth chart, the Cowboys added former Texans defensive tackle Terrell McClain on a three-year deal, re-signed pass rusher Anthony Spencer to a one-year deal, and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a former No. 10 overall pick.

In the wake of Lee’s injury, the speculation starting coming in fast and furious as to which high-profile linebacker the Cowboys would sign. Would it be former Bears star Brian Urlacher? Would they coax London Fletcher out of retirement? Or how about Jonathan Vilma who was coming off of a 2013 knee injury? The answer: none of the above. Justin Durant will man the middle linebacker position, Kyle Wilber and Bruce Carter will likely be on either side, and rookies DeMarcus Lawrence and Anthony Hitchens will be among those in support.

On the other side of the ball, the conversation is more about who won’t be there in 2014 rather than the additions. New Jersey native Miles Austin, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Cowboys in 2009, has been plagued by a pesky hamstring in recent years and hasn’t been the same player. Not many would have guessed that backup quarterback Kyle Orton would be the center of attention in Dallas throughout the spring and summer, but that’s exactly what happened. After a standoff where Orton intimated that he wouldn’t suit up for the Cowboys and Dallas badly wanted him to play, the Cowboys wound up cutting the bearded QB loose earlier this month. Now, it turns out Orton doesn’t plan on retiring at all and will look to play elsewhere while still enjoying his signing bonus money. It’s a crummy situation for the Cowboys who are without a strong backup behind starter Tony Romo, but on the bright side, they have a little additional cap flexibility this year which could help facilitate extensions for Dez Bryant or Tyron Smith.

The Cowboys didn’t make massive changes this offseason but then again, in a wide open NFC East after an 8-8 season, they didn’t necessarily have to.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: New York Giants

July 22nd, 2014 at 8:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

  • Chris Snee (G): Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2014 base salary from $6.75MM to $2MM in exchange for $1MM in guaranteed base salary and up to $500K in per-game roster bonuses.
  • Steve Weatherford (P): Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2014 base salary from $2.025MM to $900K in exchange for increased roster bonus, workout bonus, and incentives.
  • Mathias Kiwanuka (LB): Accepted pay cut. Reduced 2014 base salary from $4.375MM to $1.5MM in exchange for $700K roster bonus and up to $125K in incentives.

Draft picks:

  • Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU (1.12): Signed
  • Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State (2.43): Signed
  • Jay Bromley, DT, Syracuse (3.74): Signed
  • Andre Williams, RB, Boston College (4.113): Signed
  • Nat Berhe, S, San Diego State (5.152): Signed
  • Devon Kennard, OLB, USC (5.174): Signed
  • Bennett Jackson, CB, Notre Dame (6.187): Signed

Other:

The Giants didn’t renovate this offseason, they practically knocked their house down and built a brand new one. Nearly half of the G-Men roster hit free agency following the 2013 season and, predictably, their 2014 incarnation will look rather different. The Giants historically like to build from within, but they had little choice after a 7-9 showing last season.

Big Blue’s biggest move of all was signing cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a five-year, $35MM deal as a part of their rebuild of the secondary. After signing a one-year deal with the Broncos last year, DRC enjoyed a strong season in Denver, snagging three interceptions and breaking up 19 passes while ranking fifth overall among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). A $35MM pact is far from cheap, but it’s certainly not an overpay for Rodgers-Cromartie, even with nearly $12MM guaranteed. The Broncos made a six-year, $54MM offer to him before landing Aqib Talib, though that offer didn’t include enough guaranteed money to make him want to stay put. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Joining Rodgers-Cromartie in the overhauled secondary will be cornerback Walter Thurmond and safety Quintin Demps. Thurmond, who missed a quarter of last season thanks to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, recorded 24 tackles to go along with one interception and one sack for the defending Super Bowl champs. Thurmond won’t be as integral as DRC or Prince Amukamara, of course, but he should fill the slot role nicely after the departure of Terrell Thomas. Demps, who signed at a discount price, will start at free safety with Antrel Rolle at the other safety spot.

For all of the change happening in East Rutherford, NJ, the Giants maintained some stability when it comes to their linebackers. Jon Beason, who was widely viewed as the No. 1 priority for the Giants amongst their own free agents, was retained with a three-year, $17MM deal (~$6MM guaranteed). It’s a nice deal for the 29-year-old University of Miami product and he won’t have to dole out an extra 10% to anyone since he represented himself in negotiations. The advanced metrics weren’t kind to Beason as Pro Football Focus’ stats ranked him 47th out of 55 qualified inside linebackers last season. Even though his pass coverage might have been lacking, he still registered 93 tackles and an interception in just 12 games with the Giants. One new face joining Beason will be former Ravens LB Jameel McClain. McClain will be moving from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 defense but should be a disruptive force for his new team if he stays healthy. The 28-year-old has missed nine games over the last two seasons. A familiar face, Spencer Paysinger, will be back in the fold after accepting a $1.43MM restricted free agent tender. Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka accepted a pay cut in the offseason, keeping him in place as well. Keith Rivers and Marcus Dowtin, meanwhile, will be plying their craft elsewhere in 2014.

The Giants also moved on from a pair of expensive veterans on the defensive line this offseason in Justin Tuck and Linval Joseph. To help replace Tuck, the Giants inked Robert Ayers to a very reasonable two-year, $3.75MM contract. The former first round pick started 27 games in Denver over five seasons and has a reputation for stuffing the run like few others can and registered 5.5 sacks last season. On the interior, third-round pick Jay Bromley and Mike Patterson (signed to a minimum deal) will be there to support projected starters Johnathan Hankins and Cullen Jenkins. Those men will have to step their games up considerably after Joseph was plucked by the Vikings.

Aside from Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants’ biggest free agent signing was offensive guard Geoff Schwartz. The Giants’ guard situation left much to be desired with mediocre options such as Kevin Boothe. Schwartz, on the other hand, was both a pass-blocking force and a strong run-blocker for Kansas City last season once he was brought into the starting lineup. The Giants also made a very interesting move when they picked up center J.D. Walton, who hasn’t seen the field since Week 4 of the 2012 season. When he was healthy, Walton was viewed as a high-upside talent, but it’s been a long time since he’s seen the gridiron. If he’s healthy, the Giants may have pulled off two of the best o-line signings of this offseason.

Schwartz and Walton will look to open up holes for the returning Peyton Hillis and new addition Rashad Jennings. After years of backing up NFL notables Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, Jennings is looking to establish himself as a feature back. He’s coming off of a season in which he ran for a career-high 733 yards last season and he should surpass that total easily as the Giants’ No. 1 option at tailback. Eli Manning, who was less-than-stellar in 2013, will need a strong running game to help keep defenses honest. The addition of first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. should help make his job easier as well. The speedy LSU wide receiver vaulted up boards in the weeks leading up to the May draft and a number of teams were drooling over his skill set, including MetLife Stadium’s other tenants.

The NFC East wasn’t all that imposing last season and if the trend carries into 2014, the Giants could have an easier path to the postseason than a lot of other teams in the NFL. No matter how things play out, you can’t fault GM Jerry Reese for a lack of trying. Big Blue has turned things upside-down in search of their fifth franchise Super Bowl.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: San Francisco 49ers

July 21st, 2014 at 11:30pm CST by David Kipke

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired Jonathan Martin from the Dolphins in exchange for a conditional 2015 seventh-round pick. Pick changes hands if Martin makes 49ers’ opening day roster.
  • Acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick (No. 205) and a conditional 2015 draft pick. 2015 pick changes hands if Gabbert starts eight or more games in 2014.
  • Acquired Stevie Johnson from the Bills in exchange for a 2015 fourth-round pick which could become a third-rounder depending on Johnson’s performance.
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 63), a fifth-round pick (No. 171), and a 2015 fourth-round pick from the Broncos in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 56) and a seventh-round pick (No. 242).
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 57) from the Dolphins in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 63) and a fifth-round pick (No. 171).
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 70) and a fifth-round pick (No. 150) from the Jaguars in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 61).
  • Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 106) and a sixth-round pick (No. 180) from the Browns in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 94).

Draft picks:

  • Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois (1.30): Signed
  • Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State (2.57): Signed
  • Marcus Martin, C, USC (3.70): Signed
  • Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin (3.77): Signed
  • Brandon Thomas, G, Clemson (3.100): Signed
  • Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina (4.106): Signed
  • Dontae Johnson, CB, North Carolina State (4.129): Signed
  • Aaron Lynch, DE/OLB, South Florida (5.150): Signed
  • Keith Reaser, CB, Florida Atlantic (5.170): Signed
  • Kenneth Acker, CB, SMU (6.180): Signed
  • Kaleb Ramsey, DL, Boston College (7.243): Signed
  • Trey Millard, FB, Oklahoma (7.245): Signed

Other:

The 2013 49ers were a team with very few holes. Few were surprised when Jim Harbaugh‘s squad progressed all the way to the NFC Championship Game before falling to the soon-to-be Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Although Colin Kaepernick was solid throughout the season, he was no longer the lightning rod he had been in 2012 when he led the team to Super Bowl XLVII before falling to the Ravens.

The offense received a major shot in the arm with the Week 13 return of Michael Crabtree from a long-term Achilles injury. The additional threat that Crabtree provided opposing defenses was enough to open up holes for the rushing attack, which was vital for the successful operation of Harbaugh’s run-first offense.

The defense, which boasted five 2013 Pro Bowlers, was one of the best units in the entire NFL. Former blue-chip flameout Glenn Dorsey appears to have found a home at the interior of Vic Fangio‘s 3-4 base defense. The linebacking corps, led by interior Pro Bowl duo NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, was as good as any in the league. In the secondary, Donte Whitner was the group’s largest contributor and leader. Heading into the offseason, the team had to confront the expiring contracts of several potentially expensive players, and the 2014 roster will have a slightly different look to it because of that.

Offensively, the 49ers made dramatic strides at the receiver position during the offseason. They retained Anquan Boldin, traded for Stevie Johnson, signed Brandon Lloyd, and drafted deep threat Bruce Ellington. Frank Gore, who has the second-most rushing attempts among all active running backs, has been surrounded with several intriguing talents to lighten this year’s load. Perennial spell back Kendall Hunter will be joined by second-round pick Carlos Hyde, LaMichael James, and former South Carolina standout Marcus Lattimore.

The team extended Kaepernick through 2020, giving the Nevada alum a six-year, $114MM deal. Along the line, the team re-structured the deal of stalwart left tackle Joe Staley, ensuring the protection of Kaepernick’s blind side for the foreseeable future. Daniel Kilgore, who spent two years learning the 49ers offense while backing up Jonathan Goodwin, will look to finally start at center. The team also traded for Jonathan Martin, a hometown Stanford alum, who possesses higher upside than most NFL swingmen. The absences of the team’s two holdouts, Vernon Davis and Alex Boone, would be significant blows to the entire offense should their messy contract situations carry into the regular season.

Defensively, the biggest transition will be made in the secondary — Eric Reid is the only projected returning starter heading into training camp. He will likely be joined by Tramaine Brock, Chris Culliver, who’s returning from an ACL injury, and former Colt Antoine Bethea. The club brought in Bethea to replace the veteran safety void left by Whitner, who departed to Cleveland. First-round draft pick Jimmie Ward is the favorite to line up as nickel back.

The linebacking corps will take on a fairly new dynamic with the absence of Bowman and possibly Aldon Smith, whose legal woes could result in suspensions. Given their intriguing collection of linebackers, including Michael Wilhoite and Nick Moody and rookies Chris Borland and Shayne Skov, another Stanford alum, the 49ers will have many solid options. The line will again feature Justin Smith, with Ray McDonald playing opposite Smith and Dorsey lined up at nose tackle.

The 2013 49ers came a few plays away from back-to-back Super Bowl berths. That team managed to improve dramatically on offense and more or less hold the line defensively this past offseason, which makes the Niners a serious Super Bowl contender heading into 2014. The team’s regular season matchups against the Seahawks will be two of the season’s most anticipated games, and for good reason — one could reasonably expect the NFC West rivals to meet again in the NFC Championship.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Eagles

July 20th, 2014 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired Darren Sproles from the Saints in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 169). Extended Sproles through 2016. Two years, $7MM. $5.5MM guaranteed. Reduced cap hit for 2014.
  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 26) and a third-round pick (No. 83) from the Browns in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 22).
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 42) from the Titans in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 54) and a fourth-round pick (No. 122).
  • Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 141) from the Texans in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 83).
  • Acquired a a seventh-round pick (No. 224) and an additional draft pick that will be either a 2015 fourth-rounder, a 2016 third-rounder, or a 2016 fourth-rounder from the Bills in exchange for Bryce Brown and a seventh-round pick (No. 237). Conditional pick dependent on Brown’s and Stevie Johnson‘s performance.

Draft picks:

Other:

In March 2012, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson sat at the podium to talk about his recent five-year extension. The star wideout didn’t want to discuss the value of the contract. Instead, he wanted to focus on his desire to stay in Philadelphia.Chip Kelly

“The relationship I had with the Eagles, I would rather take the opportunity than go anywhere else,” Jackson said (via Bob Grotz of DelcoTimes.com). “So, regardless of what money I thought I could have got, or how much more, I’m comfortable. I’m not greedy. I feel good where I’m at here and like I said, I still have ways in my contract of making whatever I’m worth in that contract.”

Considering the questions regarding Jackson’s character and attitude, general manager Howie Roseman assured the doubters that the team wasn’t worried.

“We have no questions about DeSean as a person or a player,” Roseman said. “And I think his contract reflects that.”

Oh, how things have changed. Jackson was released in late March amid allegations of
“continued association with reputed Los Angeles street gang members.” That NJ.com piece by Eliot Shorr-Parks and A.J. Perez also pointed to the player’s “bad attitude, an inconsistent work ethic, missed meetings and a lack of chemistry with head coach Chip Kelly.” Meanwhile, Kelly attributed the release to “football reasons.”

Regardless, the Eagles will be without their cornerstone receiver in 2014. Jackson’s production is practically irreplaceable – he was responsible for more than 30 percent of his team’s receiving yards last year. His 2013 season is among the best single-season performances in team history (as are his 2009 and 2010 campaigns). If fans were pessimistic following the Jackson move, they probably didn’t feel much better about the release of eight-year veteran Jason Avant. So, with all those departures, the dynamic offense will certainly take a step back in 2014, right? Not so fast.

Let’s not forget that the Eagles re-signed wideouts Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper. Maclin has shown flashes of potential since he was a first-rounder in 2009, but it would be tough for him to single-handedly fill the void left by Jackson. The 26-year-old hasn’t played since 2012 and is coming back from an ACL injury, so expecting immediate production might be unfair. Cooper had his best statistical season in 2013, finishing with 835 yards and eight touchdowns. The duo will likely top the depth chart, but there’s also two promising rookies backing them up. The Eagles used their second and third picks on receivers, taking Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews and former Chip Kelly product Josh Huff. Matthews could certainly make an impact immediately; he finished his senior season with 112 catches for 1477 yards and seven touchdowns. While the group may lack the star power, it is certainly a deeper receiving squad than last year’s crew.

To help make up for Jackson’s loss, the Eagles also traded for Saints running back Darren Sproles. The team didn’t need much help in the running game after finishing with a league-leading 2566 rushing yards last season. However, Sproles is an elite receiving halfback, and the veteran will certainly be one of Nick Foles’ favorite targets. Bryce Brown was a solid, young running back, but Sproles universal impact on offense made the 23-year-old expendable.

The team extended two key members of the offensive line, Jason Peters and Jason Kelce. Peters earned his second First-Team All-Pro selection in 2013 and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Peters as the fourth-best overall tackle in the league. Dishing out a four-year contract to a 32-year-old lineman certainly has some risk, but Peters should at least contribute at an all-star level in 2014. The team also locked up the 26-year-old Kelce for six more years. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best center in 2013, and he will now be among the five highest-paid at his position.

The team’s other “big” offensive move shouldn’t make much of an impact on the field, as the team replaced Michael Vick with former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. The offense is clearly in the hands of Foles, and it will be interesting to see whether the sides come to an agreement on an extension or hold off until next offseason.

The team will also see a bit of a makeover defensively. The majority of the team’s departed defenders had their roles reduced once Kelly took over. The Eagles lost a solid run-defending safety in Patrick Chung, but the rest of the team’s departures only accounted for a combined 368 snaps last season. While the team didn’t lose much defensively, they certainly gained some reinforcement, notably safety Malcolm Jenkins. The 26-year-old finished 2013 with 68 tackles and two interceptions. Newcomer Nolan Carroll, who proved to be a solid cornerback with the Dolphins last season, will also help out the secondary along with veteran Nate Allen, who was brought back on a reasonable one-year deal.

The team also focused on defense in the draft, selecting Louisville defender Marcus Smith with the 26th pick. Smith finished last season with 42 tackles, including 18.5 for a loss, and 14.5 sacks, earning him AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He’ll likely be stuck in a rotation with Connor Barwin and Trent Cole, but Kelly could capitalize on the rookie’s versatility to keep him on the field. The team also selected Florida’s Jaylen Watkins in the fourth round, and the cornerback could contribute immediately as a nickelback.

It’s hard for any team to win 10 games in the NFL and even harder to do it in consecutive seasons. However, Kelly’s system clearly succeeded, and the coach spent the offseason constructing a roster that reflected his game plan. We’ll see if it works again in 2014.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extension Candidate: Mike Iupati

July 20th, 2014 at 4:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers have been forced to pick their battles when it comes to handing out fresh contracts — while they have yet to pony up new money for Vernon Davis or Alex Boone, San Francisco has extended both Colin Kaepernick and Joe Staley, and seem likely to do the same for Michael Crabtree (whom PFR’s Luke Adams examined as an extension candidate last week). Guard Mike Iupati appears to be on the outside looking in when it comes to a new deal; his contract, which is set to pay him a base salary of $2.97MM, expires after 2014, and it’s unlikely he will return to the Bay Area.Mike Iupati

Offensive guard isn’t typically a highly-valued position, even when the player in question is as talented as Iupati. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, only eight guards have been selected in the first round of the draft since 2000. Additionally, the 49ers have already heavily invested along the offensive line, handing both Staley and right tackle Anthony Davis new contracts over the past 18 months, so the team, with only about $5MM in cap space with which to work, might be wary about pouring more money into its front five.

Additionally, San Francisco has set itself up well in the event that Iupati does leave via free agency. In fact, the team held “behind-closed-doors conversations” last season regarding its options if Iupati leaves, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. In May, with their seemingly endless supply of draft picks, the 49ers added viable guard replacements in the third round. Pick No. 70 Marcus Martin was viewed as one of the top centers available in the draft, but if Daniel Kilgore cements that position for San Francisco, Martin could conceivably be shifted to guard. Clemson product Brandon Thomas, picked 30 spots after Martin, is a natural guard, but will miss the upcoming season after tearing his ACL during predraft workouts. He’ll be ready for the 2015 opener, however, and his presence could allow San Francisco to let Iupati walk.

In the likely event that the Iupati departs the 49ers, he will draw plenty of interest around the league. After being selected with the 17th pick in 2010, the 27-year-old Iupati has started 60 out of a possible 64 games. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in both 2012 and 2013, and was named an All-Pro in 2012. Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required) have fluctuated on Iupati: During his first three seasons, Iupati never ranked lower than 13th among guards, and topped out at 5th overall in 2012. Last season, however, Iupati fell all the way to 35th at his position, largely due to his subpar pass blocking grade.

2013’s poor performance aside, Iupati is in line for a hefty payday, with Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee opining that Iupati could become the highest-paid guard in the league. Working in his favor is the lack of competition among prospective free agents at his position group next offseason. The Broncos’ Orlando Franklin had a nice season as a tackle last season, and if he succeeds in his transition to guard, could be looking at large contract. The rest of the 2015 free agent guard class, however, is filled with second- and third-tier options like Jeromey Clary, Willie Colon, James Carpenter, and Lance Louis.

Currently, the highest-paid guards in the league on an average annual value basis are Carl Nicks, Logan Mankins, and Jahri Evans, who earn $9.5MM, $8.5MM, and $8.1MM, respectively. Nicks also received the largest guarantee at $25MM, good for an guarantee per year of $5MM; 52.6% of his contract was guaranteed. After those three players, the total values and guarantees fall quickly into a second tier, Andy Levitre, Ben Grubbs, and Josh Sitton all earning between $6.5-8MM per season.

Iupati’s new deal will almost certainly fall into the first tier of guards. After his declining level of play in 2013, a lot hinges on his 2014 performance. With a solid season, I could see him topping Nicks’ contract, and perhaps even cracking the $10MM per season barrier. He could be looking at a guarantee in the neighborhood of $26-28MM. It’s a lot of money for a non-premier position, but I think Iupati is well-regarded enough around the league that a bidding war could ensue. Even with a lackluster season, Iupati should still match Evans’ $8.1MM average salary.

An extension with the 49ers can’t be completely ignored. Perhaps Iupati wants to stay in San Francisco, where he plays on perhaps the league’s best offensive line. The Niners’ coaching staff and front office are solid, and the team is expected to remain competitive for some time. If that means enough to Iupati, maybe he would take a discount to stay in San Francisco. But the more likely scenario entails him leaving the Bay Area, and seeking the highest contract for his services.

PFR Originals: 7/13/14 – 7/20/14

July 20th, 2014 at 2:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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

  • We continued our Offseason in Review series, as Rory Parks covered the Lions, David Kipke covered the Packers, and Zach Links evaluated the Bears and the Redskins.
  • Prior to Jimmy Graham‘s new deal with the Saints, Luke Adams took a look at the potential outcomes for the tight end.
  • In our latest Free Agent Stock Watch piece, Rory profiled receiver Santonio Holmes, who is still looking for a job after being released by the Jets in March.
  • Zach rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
  • Our Extension Candidate series plugged along, as Luke examined the case for 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree.
  • Alex Boone and Vernon Davis are both unhappy with their current contracts, and Crabtree and Mike Iupati are among the other 49ers who could be searching for new deals. With that in mind, Zach asked which Niners will get extensions. Thanks for voting!
  • I spoke with Chris Kluwe‘s lawyer, Clayton Halunen, as the former punter prepares his lawsuit against the Vikings following his 2012 release.

Offseason In Review: Washington Redskins

July 18th, 2014 at 1:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 47) and a third-round pick (No. 78) from the Cowboys in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 34).
  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 186) and a seventh-round pick (No. 228) from the Titans in exchange for a sixth-round pick (No. 178).

Draft picks:

  • Trent Murphy, LB, Stanford (2.47): Signed
  • Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia (3.66): Signed
  • Spencer Long, G, Nebraska (3.78): Signed
  • Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson (4.102): Signed
  • Ryan Grant, WR, Tulane (5.142): Signed
  • Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (6.186): Signed
  • Ted Bolser, TE, Indiana (7.217): Signed
  • Zach Hocker, K, Arkansas (7.228): Signed

Other:

  • Hired Jay Gruden as head coach.
  • Promoted tight ends coach Sean McVay to offensive coordinator.
  • Exercised Ryan Kerrigan‘s fifth-year option for 2015 ($7.038MM).
  • U.S. Patent Office canceled Redskins trademark.
  • Tanard Jackson suspended indefinitely again.
  • Signed 14 rookie free agents after the draft.

Okay, so things didn’t go quite as planned in 2013 in the nation’s capital. The Redskins finished with their worst record since 1994, canned coach Mike Shanahan after four seasons, and waged what might be a losing PR battle against those who want them to change their nickname. In more ways than one, this is a team in search of its true identity."<strong

While John Gruden has been connected to multiple openings in recent years, but it was younger brother Jay Gruden who was hired to be a head coach in 2014. The former Bengals offensive coordinator and longtime arena football mainstay is also an ex-quarterback and the Redskins are hopeful that he’ll click with Robert Griffin III better than his predecessor did last season. The game is bigger than one person, but the Redskins won’t get far if Gruden can’t get RGIII back to his 2012 form.

Between the player-friendly Gruden and the arrival of former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, RGIII won’t have many excuses in 2014. After he was cut by Philly, the Redskins gave Jackson what amounts to a three-year pact worth ~$24MM, with $16MM fully guaranteed. The average annual value and guarantee are higher than what Eric Decker got from the Jets and shows how important it was for the Redskins to get another weapon in the passing game. Last year, Pierre Garcon led the league with 181 targets and many of those looks figure to transfer over to Jackson this season. Jackson should also pick up more attention from opposing secondaries, opening things up more for Garcon and others. The only person in D.C. who might not be thrilled about the arrival of Jackson might be fellow free agent addition Andre Roberts. Roberts was often overshadowed in Arizona by Larry Fitzgerald and, at times, Michael Floyd, and came to the Redskins in hopes of occupying the No. 2 WR role. Jackson’s arrival bumps him down the depth chart a bit and barring injury, there’s no way he’ll see the kind of target total he was hoping for. Impressively, the Redskins were able to add Jackson and Roberts to their receiving corps while losing only Dezmon Briscoe and Josh Morgan.

While Jackson and Gruden should bring change to the offense, the bulk of the Redskins’ change came on the other side of the football this offseason. The Redskins added defensive tackle Jason Hatcher on a four-year, $27.5MM deal. The 32-year-old was a valuable member of the Cowboys, recording 19.5 sacks on both the interior and exterior over the past three years. However, Dallas’ cap situation kept them from competing to retain his services. In support of defensive line starters Hatcher, Barry Coefield, and Jarvis Jenkins, the Redskins retained Chris Baker and added former Eagles lineman Clifton Geathers. Both players can play on the inside and outside, giving the Redskins additional versatility off the bench.

London Fletcher decided to hang ’em up after the 2013 season, but there’s still plenty of stability in the linebacking corps. The Redskins used the franchise tender on Brian Orakpo, giving him a fully guaranteed one-year, $11.45MM deal. The Redskins could have also worked out a new deal to lock him up for years to come, but that deadline came and went this week. Orakpo ranked fourth among 3-4 outside linebackers in 2013 according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). Ryan Kerrigan, who was a Pro Bowler in 2012, will be back alongside him after the Redskins exercised his fifth-year option at just over $7MM. The 25-year-old turned in 8.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and even though PFF’s metrics weren’t as kind to him in 2013 as they were in 2012, Kerrigan is still a force that can help put pressure on opposing QBs. Perry Riley will also be back in the fold after signing a three-year, $12MM ($5MM guaranteed) pact.

Longtime Redskins safety Reed Doughty is no longer with the team and a couple of notable veterans are slated to start at safety for the Skins this season. Ryan Clark and Brandon Meriweather both came aboard on highly reasonable one-year make-good deals. Meriweather, who re-signed for just $1MM, was the Redskins’ choice as they weren’t enamored with the second-tier safeties available on the open market. Playing free safety and strong safety for the Redskins in 2013, Meriweather logged 69 tackles and a pair of interceptions in 13 games. However, he ranked just 77th out of 86 qualified safeties according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Clark, who was Troy Polamalu‘s partner in crime in Pittsburgh for years, agreed to terms with Washington in early April. The 34-year-old had a career-high 104 tackles to go along with two interceptions in 2013 and Washington got him for just over $1MM when factoring in the signing bonus. Cornerback Tracy Porter, who appeared to be getting pretty cozy with the Giants, joined up with the Redskins following a strong year for Oakland. He’ll look to keep receivers in check with DeAngelo Hall, back on a four-year, $17MM deal, manning the other side of the field.

This wasn’t an offseason of tremendous on-the-field change for the Redskins, but what they needed more than anything was a new voice in the locker room and another offensive weapon. They got just that in Gruden and Jackson, respectively. Now it’s time for Washington to get back on track.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Chicago Bears

July 17th, 2014 at 6:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 131) and a seventh-round pick (No. 246) from the Broncos in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 156) and a 2015 fifth-round pick.

Draft picks:

  • Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (1.14): Signed
  • Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU (2.51): Signed
  • Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State (3.82): Signed
  • Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Arizona (4.117): Signed
  • Brock Vereen, S, Minnesota (4.131): Signed
  • David Fales, QB, San Jose State (6.183): Signed
  • Pat O’Donnell, P, Miami (FL) (6.191): Signed
  • Charles Leno Jr., OT, Boise State (7.246): Signed

Other:

After an 8-8 season and their third straight campaign without a playoff appearance, the Bears are looking to turn things around in a big way in 2014. As evidenced by the lengthy catalog of their moves above, few teams were busier this offseason than Chicago.

Jay Cutler missed a good chunk of last season, opening the door for the emergence of backup quarterback Josh McCown. As the pouty signal caller was set to hit the open market, many wondered if the Bears might instead opt to roll with McCown and let their longtime starter go elsewhere. However, early on in the New Year, General Manager Phil Emery announced that the Bears signed Cutler to a new contract worth a reported $126MM over seven years with $38MM guaranteed. The Bears are ostensibly happy about the new deal and Cutler must be over the moon, but not everyone was crazy about the contract. Cutler hasn’t played a full season since 2009 and while he’s getting paid like Tony Romo (the contracts are quite similar), he doesn’t have the same kind of yardage totals as the Cowboys QB. So why pay that kind of money for a quarterback who has just one career playoff victory to his credit and doesn’t have the stats of others at his pay grade? There are a few reasons. The Bears are banking on Cutler holding up better than he has in recent years, which would go a long way towards making his contract worthwhile. Those yardage totals should also spike under the continued tutelage of pass-happy head coach Marc Trestman. And, while the payout is high over a seven year period, it’s unlikely that Cutler ever sees the later years of that contract. The reality is that there aren’t a ton of high-quality quarterbacks out there in today’s NFL and Chicago understandably felt more comfortable with Cutler than 35-year-old journeyman McCown.Jared Allen

Cutler has a better chance of staying on the field if his offensive line holds up and the new four-year deal for guard Matt Slauson will help with that effort. Chicago agreed to sign the former Jets lineman to a $12.8MM deal with $3.9MM guaranteed before other teams had the opportunity to steal him away. After free agent guards like Geoff Schwartz, Jon Asamoah, and Shaun Lauvao signed deals with higher average annual values on the open market, Slauson’s deal looks pretty solid. He wasn’t much of a force during his time with Gang Green but he has blossomed into a very solid offensive guard for Chicago and should continue to be for years to come.

The Bears and Brandon Marshall agreed to a contract extension in May that allowed for Chicago to lock down one of the game’s best wide receivers. The deal gives Marshall $30.1MM in new money and will pay him $15MM in 2014. The veteran also made NFL history by becoming the first NFL player to announce his new contract on “The View.” Whoopi Goldberg opined that Marshall is the kind of high-end receiver needed to help make Trestman’s fast-paced passing offense succeed. Joy Behar also gave a thumbs up to Emery, citing Marshall’s league leading 33.0 rating on Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The real overhaul came on the other side of the football where the Bears added two impact defensive ends. The Bears signed former Raiders DE Lamarr Houston after he turned in a career year with 56 tackles, 6 sacks, and two forced fumbles. The Bears’ run defense left much to be desired in 2013 and the addition of Houston should go a long way towards fixing that issue. To help beef up the pass rush, the Bears edged out the defending champion Seahawks and other interested suitors to land Jared Allen. Allen, 31, may not be quite as fearsome as he was in his prime, but he remained productive and durable in 2013, recording 11.5 sacks in his last season with the Vikings. It was the sixth straight year in which Allen had started all 16 regular season contests for the team, and the seventh consecutive season he’d notched 11 or more sacks. Pro Football Focus’ metrics ranked the veteran fifth overall among 4-3 defensive ends in ’13 and is out to prove that he’s very much prepared to continue as a full-time player. The Bears will also have Willie Young, who started for the Lions last season, there in support of Allen and Houston. The Bears were forced to make Julius Peppers a cap casualty in March, but they made up for it with some very notable additions.

The Bears shiny new bookends should be exciting to watch but it’s hard to say whether the defensive line will succeed as a whole after the departure of Henry Melton. The loss of Melton to the Cowboys hurts. While missed most of 2013, he made 14 starts and racked up a career high 31 tackles with six sacks en route to his first Pro Bowl in 2012 and showed a great deal of potential. In his place, the Bears will now count on former Cowboy Jay Ratliff along with the returning Stephen Paea and second-round picks Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton.

There are some new faces on the defensive line, but the Bears managed to keep some stability in their secondary by re-signing Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman. Jennings could have potentially found a nice deal if he put his toe in the free agency pool, but that was far from a certainty given that he’s on the wrong side of 30. Over the last two seasons, Jennings has 13 picks and 104 tackles to his credit, so Chicago was happy to lock him down before he hit the open market. However, one has to wonder if the Bears could have retained him for less if they let him collect offers from other clubs first. There is some change of note at safety with Ryan Mundy – who was signed to a reasonable two-year, $3MM deal – former Packer M.D. Jennings and ex-Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson in reserve roles.

All things considered, much of the Bears’ success will probably hinge on the overhauled defensive line and the health of Jay Cutler. If things fall into place for Chicago, there’s no reason why they can’t come out on top of the NFC North in 2014.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extension Candidate: Michael Crabtree

July 17th, 2014 at 1:17pm CST by Luke Adams

While several players will likely sign extensions before hitting free agency in March, the current crop of wide receivers eligible to be unrestricted free agents in 2015 is impressive. Demaryius Thomas of the Broncos, Dez Bryant of the Cowboys, and pair of Packers wideouts – Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – lead a talented group of pass catchers who will certainly cash in if and when they reach the open market.Michael Crabtree

One of the most intriguing names in the group is Michael Crabtree of the 49ers. Richard Sherman‘s arch-nemesis underwent surgery in the spring of 2013 to repair a torn Achilles tendon, and the injury ultimately sidelined Crabtree for a sizable chunk of the regular season — he didn’t return to the field until December.

In 2012, Crabtree enjoyed a breakout season catching balls from Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick, establishing new career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105), and touchdowns (9). He was just as dynamic in the postseason, compiling 285 yards and three touchdowns through the air and helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl, where he nearly hauled in a game-winning touchdown on the team’s final drive.

Had he continued to build on 2012’s success last season, Crabtree would be eyeing a contract extension that places him among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers, and would be challenging Thomas and Bryant to earn the largest contract among in the free agent wideout class of 2015. As is, the Texas Tech product may still be seeking such a deal, but his lost 2013 season clouds his value a little.

There’s no doubt that Crabtree, who turns 27 in December, has proven to be a talented and dangerous downfield threat, and is an important part of a 49ers offense whose passing game often struggled last year when he was sidelined. As Crabtree enters a contract year, the club should be interested in working out a new deal to ensure he remains in San Francisco catching balls from Kaepernick for years to come. But 2012 was the first and only season in which it all really came together for the former 10th overall pick, so the modest overall receiving numbers on his career résumé could hurt his leverage in contract negotiations.

A look at other contracts on the Niners’ books suggest that Crabtree could run into further roadblocks in negotiations. Vernon Davis and Alex Boone are among the players who have already taken a more active stance in pursuing new contracts this year, having skipped the club’s spring workouts and minicamp. As such, addressing those potential extensions may be a priority for the 49ers before they get around to entering serious discussions with Crabtree.

Additionally, the new deal signed by Kaepernick earlier this offseason was a fairly team-friendly one, with only about $13MM of the contract’s total $114MM value guaranteed at the time of its signing. While the structure of that extension may not have an impact on signings around the league, the Niners will have it in their back pocket when they negotiate extensions with other players, able to point out that the team’s leader was willing to make something of a sacrifice on his new contract.

While these factors will all come into play, none of them are significant enough to diminish Crabtree’s value significantly. The largest deals signed by receivers this offseason – Eric Decker‘s $7.25MM per year contract ($15MM guaranteed) and DeSean Jackson‘s $8MM per year deal ($16MM guaranteed) – should be a floor for Crabtree, barring another major injury or a disappointing 2014 season. The Niners pass-catcher may not find himself among the top five highest-paid wideouts in 2015 and beyond, but something in the neighborhood of Greg Jennings‘ current deal ($9MM annually, $17.8MM guaranteed) could make sense, and there’s certainly potential for something even bigger.

Ultimately, considering the club has other contracts to address and Crabtree is coming off an injury-shortened 2013 campaign, I’d expect the Niners to take their time negotiating an extension, unless they can lock up the wideout at a bargain price this summer. A full, healthy 2014 season for Crabtree would go a long way toward re-establishing his value, and could make the club even more confident to invest in him in the new year, either via a long-term extension or the franchise tag.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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