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Poll: Who Should Jets Hire As GM?

May 25th, 2019 at 10:27am CST by Ben Levine

It’s been 10 days since the Jets suddenly fired general manager Mike Maccagnan, leaving a major hole atop their front office. Yesterday, we finally got some clarity on definitive candidates, as the organization requested interviews with Eagles executive Joe Douglas and Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly.

Following reports of tension between Maccagnan and head coach Adam Gase, Kelly would seemingly be a good choice. The two have a history that dates back to their tenures with the Broncos, with Denver earning four division titles during Kelly’s five seasons as Assistant Director of Pro Personnel. Kelly also played a role in signing eight veteran free agents who would go on to earn Pro Bowl nods with the Broncos.

The executive has spent the past four years with the Bears, including the last two as the team’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel. In this role, Kelly has directed both Chicago’s pro personnel and college scouting departments. Kelly was one of the Fritz Pollard Alliance’s recommended GM candidates this offseason, but he didn’t get an interview in the thick of the cycle.

Despite Gase’s connection to Kelly, Douglas is reportedly his top choice for the position. Douglas spent the past three seasons as the Eagles’ vice president of player personnel, and he played a major role in constructing the Super Bowl LII-winning roster. Douglas had a brief stint with the Bears in 2015 after having spent the previous 16 years with the Ravens. Douglas is expected to be choosy when it comes to his next opportunity. Many pundits are questioning the Jets’ power structure given the timing and nature of Maccagnan’s firing, so it’s uncertain if Douglas would be willing to take on the challenge.

Besides Kelly and Douglas, the Jets have also been connected to Peyton Manning. Following Maccagnan’s firing, there were rumblings that the Jets were eyeing the future Hall of Fame quarterback for the open GM gig. However, subsequent reports have indicated that the notion of Manning becoming the Jets’ GM is “unrealistic,” with a source stating that being an NFL GM is “not a job he seems to want.”

Of course, there’s also Gase, who earned the interim GM tag following Maccagnan’s ouster. The head coach has been relatively busy since taking on the job; he’s moved on from a pair of former draft picks (tight end Jordan Leggett and linebacker Darron Lee), and he’s added wideout Deonte Thompson. There were reports that Gase was opposed to Le’Veon Bell‘s lucrative contract, and the organization’s apparent trust in their head coach indicates that he’ll surely have a say in future transactions (assuming he doesn’t maintain the GM role).

There are a number of additional candidates who could emerge in the coming days. We learned earlier this week that Gase would be receptive to a number of GM hires, including the 49ers’ Adam Peters and the Lions’ Lance Newmark. Additionally, Jets ownership is believed to “think highly” of Vikings exec George Paton.

So that brings us to today’s question: who should Christoper Johnson hire as the team’s next GM? Should they bring on Douglas, Kelly, or another executive from outside the organization? Should they take a flyer on Manning, who has no front office experience? Should they allow Gase to maintain control over the 53-man roster?

Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Who should the Jets hire as their GM?
Joe Douglas 37.77% (454 votes)
Peyton Manning 21.13% (254 votes)
Other 18.64% (224 votes)
Champ Kelly 13.14% (158 votes)
Adam Gase 9.32% (112 votes)
Total Votes: 1,202

This Date In Transactions History: Broncos Sign Jerry Rice

May 24th, 2019 at 1:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Jerry Rice is best remembered for his remarkable 16-year career with the Niners, in which he earned a dozen Pro Bowl nods and ten First-Team All-Pro selections. After that, Rice had some less remarkable – but still productive – seasons with the Raiders. His final NFL games were spent in a Seahawks uniform, but that wasn’t the original plan. On this date in 2005, Rice signed a one-year contract with the Broncos. 

“For so many years there was so much pressure on me,” Rice told Denver beat reporters on a conference call after signing his deal (via The Associated Press). “I had to set a certain standard and I still carry on that standard. But I had a lot of weight on my shoulders. I had blinders on. I couldn’t hear the crowd. I couldn’t hear them chanting my name and I couldn’t see little kids in the stands. I was so focused on what I had to do. The last couple of years, though, he has been more of a role player. The ball was not coming my way every down and I’m really enjoying the game and having fun.”

Rice was 42 years old at the time, meaning that his plans to continue playing were ambitious, even by Jon Gruden‘s standards today. In 2004, the legendary receiver totaled just 30 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Even though he still averaged an impressive 14.3 yards per reception, he was no longer the player that he once was, and Denver head coach Mike Shanahan did not guarantee his place on the roster.

“I told Jerry that I don’t know if he’s lost a step or two steps, but you’re going to come here for one reason and that’s to compete with the other guys,” Shanahan said. “And if you’re one of our top five guys at the end of camp, then you’re going to be on our football team. If you’re not, I said I’d have one of the toughest jobs in the world.”

As the season drew near, Rice realized that he would be no higher than fourth or fifth on the Broncos’ depth chart. After serving as a role player in ’04, Rice decided in September that he would rather retire than be a role player in Denver.

The receiver left the game with remarkable league-record totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns – numbers that are in no danger of being eclipsed anytime soon, unless Larry Fitzgerald changes course and decides to play into his 40s.

So, Rice’s run with the Broncos never came to pass, but if you happen to have his replica orange-and-blue jersey hanging in your closet, you can probably fetch a nice price for it on eBay.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

This Date In Transactions History: Cowboys Sign Randy Gregory

May 20th, 2019 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

Four years ago today, the Cowboys inked Randy Gregory to his first NFL contract. After taking a gamble on the Nebraska edge rusher in the second round of the 2015 draft, the Cowboys were optimistic about his potential at the pro level. 

Gregory was viewed as a probable top-10 pick based on talent alone, but a failed drug test at the combine and potential mental health concerns caused him to drop into the second round. Had Gregory been a top-10 selection, he would’ve been assured of a four-year contract worth upwards of $14MM fully guaranteed, with a signing bonus of more than $8MM. After falling to No. 60, he landed a four-year pact worth $3.815MM, with a signing bonus of about $1.035MM.

Despite those off-field concerns, PFR readers were surprised not to see Gregory come off the board in round one — heading into the second round, he edged Landon Collins as the most surprising non-first-round pick in our poll. Unfortunately, Gregory’s demons derailed his career early on.

In February 2016, Gregory was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That same year, Gregory went on to fail a second drug test, resulting in an additional ten-game ban. Months later, we learned that Gregory had failed a third drug test, but the league did not immediately institute the ban. That gap allowed Gregory to play in the final two games of the regular season, though he was barred from appearing in the playoffs and sidelined for the entire 2017 campaign.

Last year, Gregory was given another chance by the league office and was reinstated on a conditional basis. Playing mostly in a reserve role, Gregory managed six sacks and 25 tackles in 14 games and showed serious promise. Sadly, the offseason would bring another familiar hurdle for Gregory as he violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy yet again and was banned indefinitely.

Despite it all, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has remained steadfast in his support of the 26-year-old.

“He’s a pure soul first and foremost, the proof of that is how he’s thought of everybody around him, teammates coaches everyone,” Jones said in March. “He’s genuinely afflicted, genuinely. It’s real. He has to work through, just as you would many things as human beings. He has to work through this, the way and the way he works through it, the way he deals with his circumstances. It’s impressive. It may not look that impressive when you say look at the penalties that he’s endured, but it is impressive.”

Weeks later, Jones backed up those words with an extension that will keep Gregory in a Cowboys uniform through 2020, provided that the NFL allows him to play. The Cowboys remain hopeful that Gregory will be cleared to play sometime in 2019, and, more importantly, get his personal life on track.

Poll: How Will Chris Harris’ Holdout End?

May 19th, 2019 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tied with Von Miller as the Broncos’ longest-tenured player, Chris Harris has opted to stay away from his team’s offseason work thus far in an effort to secure a new contract. Given that the All-Pro cornerback has been one of the top players at his position for many years, and his place financially among active corners, it makes sense.

Harris is entering the final season of a five-year, $42.5MM deal. This contract was considered to be Broncos-friendly at the time, and as the former UDFA helped anchor dominant Denver secondaries the next two years and kept his Pro Bowl form going into his late 20s, it became one of the NFL’s best bargains. But the Broncos changed the equation this offseason, signing Kareem Jackson to a three-year, $33MM contract — in a move largely responsible for this situation.

Considering Jackson is a year older than Harris and has four fewer Pro Bowl honors (4-0), this looks like one of the more justified holdouts in recent memory. (Though all of the missed workouts have been voluntary thus far, Harris appears intent on continuing his absence through mandatory team activities.) Will John Elway end up redoing his top corner’s deal? The Broncos provided an incentive package last year; it does not sound like that will be an option this time.

Despite a trade-or-extension demand from Harris’ camp, Elway kept the ninth-year defender through the draft and has exchanged offers with the disgruntled standout. Harris’ current deal stands to pay him $7.8MM this season — 26th among corners in terms of AAV. Jackson, brought in because of the Broncos’ inability to develop a reliable corner opposite Harris after trading Aqib Talib, sits 14th on this list.

Elway has a history of being a hard-line negotiator, but the GM has taken care of his own on several occasions — Miller, Demaryius Thomas, Ryan Clady and Champ Bailey being notable extensions. The Broncos’ trade for Joe Flacco suggests they believe they can compete for a playoff spot this season. Removing Harris from the equation would make that a more difficult task. The Broncos were 6-6 last season but lost their final four after late-season injuries to Harris and Emmanuel Sanders.

But Harris is going into his age-30 season. The Broncos are also in better shape at corner, with Jackson and Bryce Callahan in the fold. Harris’ play has not tailed off, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the No. 3 overall corner last season, but counting on a corner to remain a top-tier cover man into his early 30s is somewhat dicey. This explains the parties discussing a short-term deal. Elway extended Bailey when he was entering his age-33 season, and the recent Hall of Fame inductee delivered two more Pro Bowl campaigns before suffering a major injury in 2013.

While Harris has accomplished more than new $15MM-per-year corner Xavien Howard, his age has surely given the Broncos reservations about meeting his $15MM-AAV asking price. Should the sides reach an agreement, a compromise seems likely. Ten corners earn between $12-$14.5MM annually.

If the Broncos’ final offer ends up being too low, Harris could opt to bet on himself and hit free agency in 2020. But walking away from money now and entering free agency in advance of an age-31 slate would be much riskier now than had he done this prior to free agency in 2015.

A trade would have made more sense during the draft, but that endgame could still be in play if it becomes clear there is no post-2019 future for Harris in Denver. But will another team give the Broncos reasonable value at this point in the offseason? It may take an injury to a key performer to induce a suitor to submit a fair offer for a 30-year-old talent in a contract year.

How will this process end? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

How will the Chris Harris holdout end?
An extension will be reached 43.47% (343 votes)
The Broncos trade Harris 33.84% (267 votes)
Harris plays 2019 on his current deal 22.69% (179 votes)
Total Votes: 789

5 Key Stories: 5/12/19 – 5/19/19

May 19th, 2019 at 3:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jets allow Mike Maccagnan to run wild in free agency, then fire him: Maccagnan’s four-plus-year run as Jets GM ended this week after CEO Christopher Johnson picked Adam Gase in an apparent power struggle. Given the fifth year that Todd Bowles wasn’t, Maccagnan doled out north of $175MM in contracts for the second straight offseason. One of those deals — Le’Veon Bell‘s — did not go over well with Gase, nor did Maccagnan’s limiting of his HC’s pre-draft input. New GM candidates have emerged, with Eagles exec Joe Douglas and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah the top names, but Gase may end the offseason with 53-man roster control. It does not look like Peyton Manning will be a candidate.

Jets trade Darron Lee; is Leonard Williams next?: One of Maccagnan’s many underperforming draft picks, Lee is now a Chief. Gase quickly unloaded the former first-round pick for a 2020 sixth-rounder. The Jets passed on Lee’s fifth-year option. While a Lee move could be expected, with C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson entrenched as starters, Gase may have his eye on a higher-profile trade. Williams has now been mentioned as a player the interim GM would be interested in moving.

Patrick Peterson receives six-game ban: The Cardinals’ surefire All-Decade cornerback will have a tough time extending his Pro Bowl streak to nine seasons after this suspension, which is for a positive PED test. No appeal is coming, so the Cardinals will go well into October without their best player. Peterson, whose contract runs through 2020, also asked for guaranteed money to be moved into this season — perhaps to compensate for losses during this suspension. Steve Keim denied the request. This ban will void the remaining guarantees in Peterson’s deal.

Long, Levitre hang up their cleats: The Eagles’ defensive line became thinner Saturday; the former No. 2 overall pick retired rather than play a 12th season. One of the NFL’s top statesmen, Long enjoyed a rather notable late-career run. After nine playoff-less seasons in St. Louis, Long landed on back-to-back Super Bowl champions — playing auxiliary edge rusher roles with the Patriots and Eagles. The 34-year-old pass rusher also donated his entire 2017 salary to charity. Levitre retired after 10 seasons. The Falcons released him this offseason. Levitre’s career broke down rather interestingly. The Titans gave the former Bills draft choice a massive free agent deal in 2013, but he only played two years in Tennessee. Instead, Levitre resurfaced in Atlanta and played four seasons. The upper-echelon guard started in Super Bowl LI against Long’s Patriots.

Two reunions commence for UFA defenders: Both Jamie Collins and Pernell McPhee will return to where it began for them as NFLers, with Collins making his way back to the Patriots and McPhee rejoining the Ravens. The Pats shipped Collins to the Browns during their Super Bowl LI season, and he went on to sign what was then a high-water contract for off-ball linebackers. The Browns removed that deal from their books this year, and the former Patriots second-rounder spent more than two months in free agency. McPhee has struggled with injuries since his first Ravens run concluded, but after stints with the Bears and Redskins, the versatile linebacker will supply some depth to a Baltimore team that lost Mosley and Terrell Suggs in March. The Ravens also signed Shane Ray.

PFR Originals: 5/12/19 – 5/19/19

May 19th, 2019 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

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

  • A member of the Falcons’ talented skill-position corps is entering a contract year, and PFR’s Rory Parks looked at where Austin Hooper stands at a key point in his career. While the Falcons’ extension efforts are aimed at Julio Jones and Grady Jarrett at this juncture, Hooper figures to draw attention fairly soon. The former third-round pick is coming off a Pro Bowl season, but the tight end market has been somewhat stagnant.
  • Just 64 of this year’s 254 draft choices remain unsigned, and PFR’s Zach Links examined why. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of the unsigned players are first- or third-round picks — the latter largely due to the vague CBA language regarding Round 3 selections.
  • The term “offset language” comes up each year around this time, with that being a haggling point in first-rounders’ negotiations. Zach delved deeper into this term and what it means for top rookies.
  • Most of the top remaining free agents are defensive players, and teams have acted accordingly on that front this week. But some notable talents from the offensive side of the ball remain unsigned. On a list that includes Michael Crabtree and Jay Ajayi, PFR’s Dallas Robinson looked into who is left on the market and their best fits.
  • Thirty 2020 draft picks have already changed hands, most notably in last summer’s Khalil Mack deal. Dallas charted what teams gained in next year’s draft. Notably, the Patriots hold four seventh-round selections next year.
  • The defender market still includes big names like Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry and Muhammad Wilkerson. Dallas ranked the top defensive players still unsigned. Some key starter-level talents are available.
  • Building on that, Rory asked the PFR community — in our latest Community Tailgate installment — who will end up with Suh. With the Rams likely to move on from the acclaimed defensive tackle, Suh will have a fourth employer soon. This will be the mammoth defender’s age-32 season.

Community Tailgate: Where Will Ndamukong Suh Sign?

May 19th, 2019 at 9:47am CST by Rory Parks

We recently graded defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as the best free agent remaining on the market, but the only reports we have heard on him this year have concerned teams who are not interested in his services rather than teams who are.

For instance, despite a positive meeting with Suh last year, the Titans are not expected to consider signing the three-time First Team All-Pro this year. And although Suh enjoyed a strong season with the Rams in 2018, Los Angeles is not expected to renew the partnership.

Rumor has it that Suh’s asking price is the major deterrent for clubs who may otherwise be interested in his services. As the No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft, when the old CBA was in effect, Suh landed a massive rookie contract from the Lions that included $40MM in guaranteed money, and his six-year, $114MM free agent deal with the Dolphins ratcheted him further up the career earnings leaderboard.

Even Suh’s one-year contract with the Rams paid him $14MM, so he has never had to “settle” for less than an eight-figure annual income. The 32-year-old is surely content to wait out the market until a team becomes more willing to meet his asking price due to injury or poor performance, so it may be awhile before this situation resolves itself.

We tabbed the Seahawks, Cowboys, Broncos, and Vikings as potential fits, and Minnesota would perhaps be the most likely destination if the club had more cap space. But unless the Vikes make several significant moves to free up some room, they will not likely be able to give Suh anywhere close to the money he wants.

Whoever does get the Nebraska product will add a player who will instantly upgrade the D-line. Suh may not be the same player he once was, but he showed in 2018 that he still has plenty to offer, and the only two games he has missed in his nine-year career were due to suspension rather than injury.

So where do you think Suh will ply his trade in 2019? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to offer a guess as to the contract he might get.

Top 10 Remaining NFL Free Agents: Defense

May 16th, 2019 at 7:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The most high-profile NFL free agent signings occurred two months ago, but as we near June, there are still talented free agents available on the open market. Most of these players won’t command much guaranteed money, and none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula given that we’ve passed the May 7 deadline for comp selections. After looking at the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday, let’s go over the defensive players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT

Suh hasn’t drawn any known interest since the free agent period began in March, and that’s apparently due to his asking price. As Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reported earlier this month, Suh — who has never played on an annual salary of less than $10MM — is searching for another large contract. The 32-year-old Suh ratcheted up his play near the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, generating nine pressures and 1.5 sacks during Los Angeles’ run to the Super Bowl. The Rams aren’t likely to re-sign Suh but probably can’t be completely ruled out, while the Vikings are defensive tackle-needy yet cap-strapped. Cutting or trading tight end Kyle Rudolph would free up $7.625MM that could go into a Suh fund.

Possible fits: Seahawks, Cowboys, Rams, Broncos, Vikings

2. Tre Boston, S

Boston has been in free agent limbo before. In 2017, he was forced to wait until May 12 to sign a one-year deal with the Chargers, and last season, he didn’t get a contract done with the Cardinals until July 25. Still only 26 years old, Boston has posted 10 interceptions over the past three years and in 2018 graded as the 20th-best coverage safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. That deep, center-field ability is extremely valuable in the NFL, so it’s certainly surprising to see Boston still on the sidelines. Jacksonville needs to replace Tashaun Gipson in the back end of its secondary, and Boston would be a worthwhile target.

Possible fits: Jaguars, Cowboys, Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Buccaneers

3. Shane Ray, EDGE

The 23rd overall selection in the 2015 draft, Ray posted his best campaign during his sophomore season, registering eight sacks and finishing as a top-40 edge defender with 45 pressures. He’s only played roughly 600 defensive snaps in the two years since, however, as multiple wrist surgeries have kept him off the field. A one-year deal seems likely for Ray, but a smart team might attempt to secure an option for the 2020 season. If Ray can stay healthy and provide production, he’d stick around at a cheap rate. If not, there’d be no loss for the club.

Possible fits: Colts, Raiders, Seahawks, Bengals, Giants, Ravens, Rams

4. Morris Claiborne, CB

While there aren’t a ton of NFL clubs with glaring needs at cornerback, the importance of coverage means that nearly every team could stand to add a steady defensive back like Claiborne. The 29-year-old has a concerning injury history, as he played in only 47 of a possible 80 games during the first five years of his career. But Claiborne managed to stay healthy during his two years with the Jets, appearing in 30 games and playing nearly 2,000 defensive snaps since 2017. Gang Green hasn’t ruled re-signing Claiborne, although it was former general manager Mike Maccagnan — and not interim GM/head coach Adam Gase — who indicated a reunion was possible.

Possible fits: Jets, Giants, Chiefs, Bills

5. Eric Berry, S

Now 30 years old, Berry has only played three total games over the past two seasons, with an Achilles injury limiting his availability. The Cowboys took a visit with Berry during the opening days of free agency, but they’ve since added free agent George Iloka. The Browns, too, reportedly expressed interest in Berry, but went on to sign Morgan Burnett and acquire Eric Murray. Colts general manager Chris Ballard, a former Chiefs executive who places an emphasis on character, could team Berry with incumbent safeties Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers, while the Buccaneers and Panthers are in both in desperate need of secondary help.

Possible fits: Cowboys, Colts, Jaguars, Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, Panthers

6. Danny Shelton, DT

Shelton is a free agent after the Patriots — who acquired him from the Browns last offseason — turned down his fifth-year option, which would have netted the former first-round pick $7.154MM for the 2019 season. A behemoth at 6’2″, 345 pounds, Shelton isn’t really a great fit for today’s NFL, as run-stuffing nose tackles are slowly making their way out of the league. Still, PFF graded Shelton as a top-45 interior defender a season ago, so he should still be able to find a new club. The Bengals met with him earlier this offseason, and could still make sense as a destination.

Possible fits: Bengals, Texans, Colts, Titans, Falcons, Rams

7. Coty Sensabaugh, CB

While he’s probably not a household name, Sensabaugh was a fairly regular starter for the Steelers over the past two seasons, starting four games at the tail of end the 2017 campaign and 10 more last year. Football Outsiders was a fan of Sensabaugh’s work, charting him as ninth among qualified corners in yards allowed per pass and 26th with a 56% success rate (meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks). Tampa Bay, which has yet to re-sign Brent Grimes and is instead relying on Vernon Hargreaves and a cavalcade on inexperienced players at corner, should give Sensabaugh a call.

Possible fits: Buccaneers, Lions, Redskins, Giants, Jets, Dolphins

8. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT

The 2018 season couldn’t have gone much worse for Wilkerson. Forced to sign a one-year, prove-it deal with the Packers, Wilkerson managed to play in only three games before going down with a fractured ankle. Wilkerson’s contract with Green Bay was worth $5MM and carried $3MM in available incentives, and he’ll have to accept something far cheaper to find a new team this time around. The Packers and Wilkerson reportedly had “mutual interest” in a fresh deal as of March, but nothing has come of those talks.

Possible fits: Packers, Patriots, Titans, Raiders, Cowboys, Seahawks

9. Corey Liuget, DT

Speaking of lost 2018 campaigns: Liuget was suspended for the first four games of the season after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, and was then pressured to accept a pay cut from the Chargers. The former first-round pick appeared in just six contests before a torn quad ended his season prematurely. Los Angeles moved on at the end of the season, declining his option for the 2019 season. Liuget never lived up to his draft billing, but he’s got 108 games of experience under his belt and didn’t have any serious injury concerns unless last year. He’s met with the Giants, Seahawks, and Jaguars this offseason.

Possible fits: Giants, Seahawks, Jaguars, Cowboys, Vikings

10. Nick Perry, EDGE

This final spot came down to Perry and fellow edge rusher Derrick Morgan, and we went with Perry because he’s actually garnered interest this offseason after being released by the Packers. The 29-year-old Perry visited the Seahawks earlier this year, while the rebuilding Dolphins have also made an overture. The 28th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Perry posted 11 sacks in 2016, a performance which earned him a five-year, $60MM contract from Green Bay. A knee injury cost him the final seven games of the 2018 season, during which PFF graded Perry as a bottom-seven edge defender among 113 qualifiers.

Possible fits: Seahawks, Dolphins, Bills, Ravens, Giants

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2020

May 16th, 2019 at 7:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the majority of trades that occurred before and during last month’s draft involved 2019 draft choices changing hands, some 2020 selections have also been dealt. This list will continue to be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back after trades have been consummated for an updated look at which picks are on the move for 2020. If you have any corrections, please contact us.

Here are 2020’s traded draft picks:

Round 1

Round 2

  • Bears acquired pick from Raiders in deal for LB Khalil Mack.
  • Chiefs acquired pick from 49ers in deal for DE Dee Ford.
  • Seahawks acquired pick from Chiefs in deal for DE Frank Clark.
    • Kansas City currently owns two 2020 second-round picks and will send the lower pick to Seattle.
  • Colts acquired pick from Redskins in deal for DE Montez Sweat.
  • Dolphins acquired pick from Saints in deal for C Erik McCoy.

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

  • Redskins acquired conditional pick from Broncos in deal for S Su’a Cravens.
    • Washington will acquire pick if Cravens appears in a playoff game for Denver.
  • Broncos acquired pick from Redskins in deal for QB Case Keenum.
  • Dolphins acquired pick from Cowboys in deal for DE Robert Quinn.
  • Bears acquired conditional pick from Eagles in deal for RB Jordan Howard.
    • Pick could become fifth-rounder based on unknown conditions.
  • Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in deal for WR John Ursua.
  • Jets acquired pick from Chiefs in deal for LB Darron Lee.

Round 7

Top 10 Remaining NFL Free Agents: Offense

May 15th, 2019 at 7:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The most high-profile NFL free agent signings occurred two months ago, but as we near June, there are still talented free agents available on the open market. Most of these players won’t command much guaranteed money, and none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula given that we’ve passed the May 7 deadline for comp selections. Let’s take a look at the offensive players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:

1. Donald Penn, T

Jon Gruden and the Raiders did nearly everything they could to marginalize Penn over the past year or so — including cutting his pay, using two top-65 draft selections on offensive tackles, moving him to the right side, and making free agent Trent Brown the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history — but Penn may have still been Oakland’s best tackle when he was released on March 16. As recently as 2017, Pro Football Focus graded Penn as the NFL’s No. 11 tackle, charting him as allowing only 25 total pressures (18th among tackles who played at least 50% of their club’s snaps). The Browns, planning to deploy Greg Robinson on Baker Mayfield‘s blindside, should have Penn on speed dial, while the Texans expressed interest before spending two of their first three 2019 picks on tackles.

Possible fits: Browns, Texans, Jets, Vikings

2. Jay Ajayi, RB

Like Penn, Ajayi dealt with injury for most of the 2018 campaign, as a torn ACL ended his season in Week 5. But he’s been pretty effective when healthy. In 2016, Ajayi finished seventh in Football Outsiders’ DYAR, which measures value over a replacement level player. The following year, he ranked 10th in broken tackle/per touch percentage, a statistic that, as Josh Hermsmeyer of FiveThirtyEight.com tweets, is mostly under the back’s control and thus a reliable metric for evaluating the position. The Buccaneers, who finished 24th in rushing DVOA and 28th in expected points gained by their rushing attack in 2018, could add Ajayi to a backfield that includes Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones.

Possible fits: Buccaneers, Vikings, Colts, Jaguars, Texans

3. Ryan Schraeder, T

Let’s start with the bad. The Falcons benched Schraeder for the final three games of the 2018 season, opting to go with non-world-beater Ty Sambrailo at right tackle to close out the year. (Atlanta traded back into the first round to select right tackle Kaleb McGary in last month’s draft, which should give you an idea of the club’s view on Sambrailo, and in turn, Schraeder). But the 31-year-old Schraeder graded as the No. 30 tackle in the NFL last season, per PFF, which means he’s still a starting-caliber player. And he offers a wealth of experience, having started 73 contests and played nearly 5,000 snaps over the past six seasons. The Chargers need to add competition for Sam Tevi on the right side, and Schraeder would be a worthwhile addition.

Possible fits: Chargers, Dolphins, Jets

4. Michael Crabtree, WR

Crabtree wasn’t the most efficient receiver in 2018, but Lamar Jackson didn’t help with volume. After reeling in 8.4 targets per game in Joe Flacco‘s nine starts, Crabtree only received 3.4 targets per contest once Jackson took over. He still managed an even 100 targets on the year, and he’s one of only eight receivers to handle at least 100 targets in each of the past five seasons. That’s in large part due to his availability, as Crabtree has only missed three total games since 2014.

Possible fits: Packers, Texans, Broncos

5. John Sullivan, C

The Rams declined Sullivan’s option and let Rodger Saffold walk in free agency, but still surprisingly decided not to use a draft choice on an interior lineman. Los Angeles is now set to roll with Brian Allen and Joseph Noteboom — who played a combined 110 snaps a season ago — at center and left guard, respectively. Sullivan is entering his age-34 campaign and saw a decline in production in 2018, but he’s still viewed as one of the more cerebral centers in the game. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Los Angeles (or another team that suffers a center injury) signs Sullivan to a cheap, one-year deal as the regular season approaches.

Possible fits: Rams, Jets, Dolphins

6. Jermaine Kearse, WR

Kearse will offer his next club versatility, as he’s spent ample time in both the slot and out wide (70% slot in 2018 but only 44% in 2017). He’s had trouble getting open in recent seasons, averaging just 2.75 yards of separation since the 2017 campaign, but that may have been a scheme issue in New York. A fresh start in Denver (where new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will run Kyle Shanahan‘s scheme) or Green Bay (where Matt LaFleur will install Sean McVay‘s offense) could be helpful for Kearse. Quantifying soft factors such as leadership is difficult, but Kearse is a highly-valued locker room presence and referred to as a “pro’s pro.”

Possible fits: Ravens, Broncos, Chiefs, Lions, Packers

7. Bilal Powell, RB

You really don’t want to be a free agent running back in today’s NFL. Only six FA backs received more than $2MM annually this offseason, and only one — Le’Veon Bell — surpassed $5MM/per year. Powell might be hard-pressed to find even $1MM on the open market at this point, but now that he’s been fully cleared from a neck injury that once was considered potentially career-ending, he should draw interest. As recently as 2016, Powell ranked eighth in FO’s success rate, and he’s always been effective as a pass-catcher. A team like the Texans, which has a recovering D’Onta Foreman but little else behind starter Lamar Miller, could come calling.

Possible fits: Texans, Buccaneers, Ravens, Giants

8. Jermaine Gresham, TE

The Cardinals and general manager Steve Keim inked Gresham to one of the worst free agent deals of the 2017 offseason, a four-year, $28MM pact that contained $13MM in guarantees. Gresham, unsurprisingly, failed to live up that that contract, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still serve a role (although his next accord might be of the minimum salary variety). The 49ers took 2018’s best pass-blocking tight end off the board earlier today by signing Levine Toilolo, but Gresham wasn’t far behind, finishing seventh in PFF’s pass-block grades. If Delanie Walker isn’t healthy for the Titans this year, Gresham could be a fit, while the Vikings could make sense if Kyle Rudolph is traded.

Possible fits: Titans, Giants, Vikings

9. Jermey Parnell, T

At 6’6″, 326 pounds, Parnell is a prototypical, road-grading right tackle, and he’s still good at what he’s asked to do. While the Jaguars ran behind right tackle at a league-low 4.6% clip last season, they generated 5.22 adjusted line yards when doing so, the third-highest figure in the NFL, per FO. The Dolphins are entering a rebuilding period, but they still need at least some sort of competency along their offensive line in order to judge new quarterback Josh Rosen. Parnell would give Miami more stability than would rookie sixth-rounder Isaiah Prince.

Possible fits: Chargers, Dolphins, Jets

10. Brandon Fusco, G

The Raiders have Denzelle Good penciled in at left guard after trading Kelechi Osemele to the Jets, but Oakland has admitted it’s still looking for help at the position. Fusco would be a solid alternative in Tom Cable‘s zone-based blocking scheme, especially after spending last season in Atlanta. Now 30 years old, Fusco missed the final nine games of the 2018 campaign with an ankle injury, but he’d been relatively healthy in the three seasons prior and appeared in 46 of a possible 48 contests.

Possible fits: Raiders, Titans, Texans, Buccaneers, Rams

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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