NFC East Notes: Bryant, JPP, Eagles, Locker
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com views the Cowboys as one of the four teams likely to use their franchise tag this offseason, identifying Dez Bryant – rather than DeMarco Murray – as the probable recipient. According to La Canfora, there is “trepidation” within the Cowboys’ front office about putting a ton of guaranteed money on the table for the star wideout, given his off-field history.
While La Canfora doesn’t include the Giants among the four clubs likely to use the franchise or transition tag this winter, he thinks the club will at least consider tagging Jason Pierre-Paul. However, he doesn’t see it happening since JPP has been streaky, and hasn’t always been able to stay on the field. The Giants don’t make use of their franchise tag too often, but Dan Graziano of ESPN.com believes it might be the best course of action for their standout defensive end.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- An agent tells Mark Eckel of NJ.com that he expects Chip Kelly and the Eagles to have interest in Jake Locker this winter in free agency. Philadelphia will be in the market for a signal-caller if the team decides not to bring back Mark Sanchez.
- Pierre Garcon‘s numbers took a hit in 2014 as DeSean Jackson cut into his targets and Washington’s quarterback situation deteriorated. Now, with Garcon on the books for the team’s second-largest 2015 cap hit, Mike Jones of the Washington Post examines how the wideout factors into Washington’s plans going forward.
- ESPN.com’s John Keim takes a look at a few other contract situations in Washington, as salary guarantee dates inch closer for wideout Andre Roberts, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, and cornerback DeAngelo Hall.
Contracts Void For Suh, Pierre-Paul, Spiller
The contracts for several notable players will void today, formally paving the way for them to hit free agency next month, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com details. Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, and Bills running back C.J. Spiller are among the players who will see the 2015 seasons on their deals void, since the language in their respective contracts called for that to happen on the fifth day after this year’s Super Bowl.
In each case, the fact that the player’s contract is voiding today doesn’t mean he’ll immediately become a free agent. The Lions, for instance, will still be the only team that can negotiate a new agreement with Suh for the next few weeks. If the star defender still hasn’t worked anything out with the team by March 3, Detroit could use its franchise tag on him. If the Lions pass on using a tag, Suh would be able to talk to other teams as of March 7, and could sign elsewhere on March 10.
While these players won’t necessarily be returning to their current clubs, those teams will each carry a cap hit for 2015 due to the contracts. In some cases, that cap number is modest — for JPP and the Giants, it’s just $1.35MM. However, the Lions’ hit for Suh is approximately $9.74MM. In other words, if Detroit has to use the franchise tag – worth $26.895MM – on Suh, the team will be using over $36MM in cap room to a single player.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explained in greater detail why a number of players from 2010’s draft class have a voided year at the end of their rookie contracts, and adds a few more names to the list of players whose deals void today: Jaguars defensive end Tyson Alualu, Eagles edge defender Brandon Graham, Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, and Titans edge defender Derrick Morgan will also be eligible for free agency next month after their 2015 years void.
East Notes: Revis, Jets, McCoy
It’s long been assumed that the Patriots would not pick up Darrelle Revis‘ 2015 option as it would mean carrying the cornerback’s $25MM cap charge next season. However, the idea of New England exercising the option has been gaining traction, and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) passes along how the contract’s guarantees would be structured. Per Corry, Revis would be entitled to a $12MM roster bonus on the first day of the 2015 league year. The bonus would be paid in four $3MM installments, with payments coming on March 31, October 31, December 31, and March 31 of 2016.
Here’s more from the league’s east divisions:
- As PFR’s Zach Links wrote in his evaluation of the Jets’ offseason, Gang Green could look to release Percy Harvin and/or Chris Johnson to create cap space. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com agrees, and adds that linebacker Calvin Pace and defensive lineman Jason Babin could also be on the chopping block.
- Christopher Price of WEEI.com offers his free agent forecast for the Patriots, noting that both Devin McCourty and Stephen Gostkowski are legitimate candidates for the franchise tag.
- Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com looks at the state of the Eagles‘ running back corps going into the offseason. It’s a diverse and talented group, but the team will have to decide what, if anything, should be done with LeSean McCoy. Although McCoy was not the electrifying playmaker in 2014 that he was in 2013, he still had a very productive season, with 1,319 rushing yards and a 4.2 YPC average. However, his $11.95MM cap hit has left some wondering if Philadelphia would be better off cutting him. Kapadia, though, believes McCoy is not going anywhere, though the Eagles could approach him with a restructure proposal and may select a running back in the middle rounds of the draft.
- Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com look at how Washington might approach their safety positions, which seem to be in a constant state of flux, this offseason. Although the team has often tried to bring in cheap veteran free agents without much success in the past, both writers believe Washington has no other choice but to open the checkbook again. Tandler suggests Kendrick Lewis as a possible target for free safety, while advocating for Phillip Thomas to be given the strong safety job. El-Bashir, though, thinks the team must fill both positions in free agency and expresses no confidence in Thomas.
- Liz Clarke of the Washington Post examines the value of Brian Orakpo, who was Washington‘s highest-paid player in 2014, as he hits free agency.
Zach Links and Rory Parks contributed to this post.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Mariota, Giants, JPP
The Eagles’ pass rush is in a state of flux, writes Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com, who notes that the club will have some tough personnel decisions to make this offseason. Veteran edge defender Trent Cole is a candidate for release — after accruing 6.5 sacks last season, he’s set to count $11.625MM against Philadelphia’s cap in 2015, and the Eagles could clear more than $8MM by cutting him. Fellow pass-rusher Brandon Graham is a free agent, and could earn a hefty deal on the open market from a team with a 4-3 defense. Meanwhile, 2014 first-rounder Marcus Smith is a “complete unknown,” per Kapadia, who can’t be counted on to produce next year.
Let’s check out more from the NFC East:
- The Eagles are one of four teams who should consider trading up in the draft to select a quarterback, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required). Although the cost to move up figures to be prohibitive, reuniting Marcus Mariota with head coach Chip Kelly would be “tantalizing,” writes Yates, who lists the Jets, Bears, and Rams as other clubs that could look to trade up.
- After a disappointing season that saw them finish 6-10, the Giants might not want to retain many of their free agents. But defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul clearly tops the list of impending FAs, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who ranks all 21 New York free agents. Defensive backs Walter Thurmond and Antrel Rolle follow JPP at Nos. 2 and 3, per Raanan.
- Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com (video link) discussed the changes that new defensive coordinator Joe Barry might make in Washington as well as the gameplan of new GM Scot McCloughan.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Tannehill, Foles, Bryant
Former Creative Artists Agency employee Ben Dogra is now the co-CEO of the football division at Relativity Sports, as Darren Heitner of Forbes.com writes. As of September 26, Dogra was on record as representing 39 players signed to NFL deals, but it’s not clear how many he’ll be taking over with him. Dogra will share duties with contract advisor Eugene Parker, an interesting twist since the two men were bitter rivals for nearly two decades in the business. More from around the NFL..
- There is a lot of work for the Dolphins to do this offseason, but their biggest decision might be how to handle the contract situation of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, James Walker of ESPN.com writes. Miami could trigger Tannehill’s expensive fifth-year team option at $15MM, work out a long-term extension, or roll the dice and wait it out with the QB. The $15MM option is obviously steep, but Miami could theoretically justify it by contrasting it to Tannehill’s $2.117MM salary for 2015. Averaged out, that’s just $8.5MM per year.
- Sheil Kapadia of Philadelphia Magazine looked at the Eagles‘ quarterback spot. There has been buzz that the Eagles will replace quarterback Nick Foles with Marcus Mariota, but it seems like a longshot that they can move up to No. 1 to grab the Oregon product. Instead, Kapadia sees Foles staying while the Eagles bring in a new backup to replace Mark Sanchez and a developmental prospect to replace Matt Barkley.
- Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News is optimistic when it comes to the Cowboys‘ chances of keeping their two star free agents. He’s about 100% certain that Dez Bryant will be back in Dallas and 70-75% on DeMarco Murray.
- The Patriots announced that special teams coordinator Scott O’Brien is retiring and assistant coach Joe Judge has been elevated to his role, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter).
- The Eagles announced (on Twitter) that Matthew Harper will be the team’s new assistant defensive backs coach while Michael Clay will be the new assistant special teams coach. The Eagles (link) also hired Princeton’s inside linebackers coach Stephen Thomas to be the team’s defensive quality control coach.
- Alabama Director of Football Operations, Joe Pannunzio, is also headed to the Eagles, according to Aaron Suttles of The Tuscaloosa News (on Twitter).
2015 NFL Franchise Tag Candidates: NFC East
The deadline for assigning a franchise or transition tag on a 2015 free-agent-to-be is less than a month away, and we’re in the process of taking a look at players who are candidates to be tagged this year. Last week, we examined all four AFC divisions, covering the East, North, South, and West. This week, we’re shifting our focus to the NFC, starting with the East. Here’s a breakdown of the franchise and transition tag candidates for Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington:
Dallas Cowboys:
- Candidates: Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray
- Odds of being used: Likely
- Rolando McClain, another Cowboys free-agent-to-be, might be a viable candidate for a tag at another position, but as an inside linebacker, he’d be subject to the pricier franchise salary assigned to an outside linebacker, making it too expensive to really consider. That leaves Bryant and Murray as possible candidates, and it seems probable that one of the two will receive a tag. Bryant, who will be Dallas’ No. 1 priority in free agency, is the likelier option, but if he and the Cowboys work out a long-term extension within the next few weeks, it would make sense to consider franchising Murray.
New York Giants:
- Candidates: Jason Pierre-Paul
- Odds of being used: Possible
- Pierre-Paul came on strong in the season’s second half, increasing his overall sack total to 12.5. JPP was having a good year even without the sacks, playing particularly well against the run, but that sack figure is what improved his earning potential as he neared free agency. A former first-round pick, Pierre-Paul only turns 26 this month, and has a chance to be the best pass rusher to reach the open market, depending on what happens with Ndamukong Suh and Justin Houston. That’s a valuable asset to keep around, so if the Giants can’t work out a long-term deal with him, franchising him could be the team’s best course of action.
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Candidates: Jeremy Maclin, Brandon Graham
- Odds of being used: Possible
- Maclin perhaps isn’t in the same tier as top free-agent-to-be wideouts Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, but he certainly should head up the second tier, along with Randall Cobb. A year ago, Maclin turned down a five-year offer from the Eagles, choosing to bet on himself with a one-year contract that could significantly increase the value of a multiyear deal this offseason. That decision paid off, as the 26-year-old posted career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,318), and touchdowns (10), and now it might be the Eagles that prefer to just stick to one year. If it comes down to having to offer Maclin a five-year, $50MM+ deal or locking him up at the franchise salary for one year, the club may favor the latter. As for Graham, he’s probably not a truly realistic candidate for a tag, since he still hasn’t become more than a part-time player in Philadelphia, but when he sees the field, he has played very well — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had Graham down for 53 total quarterback pressures this year in just 524 defensive snaps, ranking him as the league’s third-best 3-4 outside linebacker.
Washington:
- Candidates: Brian Orakpo
- Odds of being used: Very unlikely
- As I observed when I discussed the Steelers and Jason Worilds, if a team is willing to tag a player once, and he plays well in the following season, it makes sense to at least consider it again. In Orakpo’s case though, the edge defender was struggling even before a torn pectoral wiped out the second half of his season, recording just 0.5 sacks in his first seven games. 2014 second-round pick Trent Murphy is a younger, cheaper alternative to Orakpo, so more likely than not, Washington will simply let Orakpo walk if he wants a lucrative deal.
NFC East Notes: Dez, Cowboys, Eagles, McCoy
Speaking at a charity basketball game yesterday, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant seemed confident that he and his representatives could work out a new deal with Dallas. “It’s business. I am a free agent,” said the impending free agent, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I’m very confident that something is going to happen, something is going to get done, and have these Cowboys fans excited for a long time.” Bryant is presumably looking for a deal with a $12-14MM AAV, but he’s also a strong candidate for the franchise tag.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Running back Ryan Williams signed a two-year extension with the Cowboys that guaranteed him $240K, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock for next year’s 53-man roster even if DeMarco Murray leaves via free agency, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Williams was “caught in a numbers game” last year, and the same thing could happen in 2015, adds Archer.
- There’s no room in the Eagles’ front office for Howie Roseman, opines Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. Roseman was technically promoted in Philadelphia’s recent FO shakeup, but he was stripped of his power in personnel matters. Now that Ed Marynowitz has been given more control over personnel decisions, there’s no need for Roseman, and his $1.7MM salary to stick around, per Frank.
- Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com assesses the Eagles’ salary cap situation, and outlines that the club should have the room to keep both LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. McCoy recently indicated he would not be willing to accept a pay cut, while Maclin, like Kulp, believes Philly can keep both him and Shady.
NFC Links: Foles, Maclin, Seahawks, Bucs
Nick Foles season ended prematurely, but the Eagles quarterback is confident heading into the offseason. In fact, he doesn’t only expect to be back with the Eagles in 2015, he expects to be the starting quarterback.
“My expectation is to be out there and be the starting guy,” Foles told Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “I expect to be out there with my teammates leading them. I’ve never thought otherwise throughout this whole time. I know there’s been a lot of things said, but the only thing I’m worried about is making myself the best player, the best person to help lead my team.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFC…
- Jeremy Maclin‘s future with the Eagles is uncertain, but the wideout sounded like he’d be interested in returning while talking with Jeff McLane of Philly.com. “I’m excited about what the future holds,” Maclin said on Friday. “Once again, both sides have made it known what we want to do. I think it will take care of itself.”
- O’Brien Schofield‘s successful season with the Seahawks may have never happened if not for a failed physical with the Giants. “I look at it now, and it probably was one of the bigger blessings of my career because I got the chance to work with this group of guys and these coaches again,’’ Schofield told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
- Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has a fan in Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks. The Buccaneers legend believes it would wise for Tampa Bay to select the former Heisman winner with the first-overall pick. “I believe he will show them his work ethic behind the scenes, as well as his knowledge of the game and the feel of the game,” Brooks told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I do hope he impresses them enough to pick him.”
NFC Notes: Maclin, Frank Gore, Ed Dickson
Let’s take a look at some news items from the NFC…
- We heard earlier today that Jeremy Maclin‘s agent had begun extension talks with the Eagles, and now the veteran receiver has weighed on in the notion that Philadelphia can’t afford both he and running back LeSean McCoy (who has indicated he isn’t open to a pay cut). “I don’t know where everything started, people saying they can’t keep us both,” Maclin told Comcast SportsNet’s John Clark (link via Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com). “I think that’s crazy. As far as what he does with his deal, that’s not my place to comment on that. There’s no reason why you can’t keep us both. That’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard all offseason.”
- Had the 49ers hired Rob Chudzinski as offensive coordinator, Matt Barrows of the Sacrament Bee would have placed good odds on running back Frank Gore returning to San Francisco next season, as Chud was Gore’s OC at the University of Miami. Now that the club has instead promoted Geep Chryst, Barrows thinks Gore’s future in the Bay Area is less clear.
- After signing a one-year deal for the veteran minimum to join the Panthers last year, tight end Ed Dickson would like to return to Carolina in 2015, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Dickson would like to sign a multi-year contract, and has spoken to offensive coordinator Mike Shula about augmenting his role in the offense, Person adds.
East Notes: Dolphins, Maclin, Eli, Blount
The Seahawks selected Russell Wilson 75th overall in the 2012 NFL draft, meaning every team had a shot at him, and can play the “what if?” game. However, as Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN.com details, the Dolphins in particular can look back at what might have been. According to Merrill, current Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, who was interviewing for the Dolphins’ head coaching job at that point, pushed the idea of drafting Wilson – Bielema’s QB at Wisconsin at the time – in the second round. That didn’t go over well with team management, including then-GM Jeff Ireland, and Miami ultimately ended up hiring Joe Philbin and drafting Ryan Tannehill eighth overall.
As we contemplate how the last three NFL seasons might have changed if the Dolphins had opted for Bielema and Wilson, let’s check in on a few more items from out of the AFC East….
- Addressing his contract situation today, wideout Jeremy Maclin confirmed that negotiations between his representation and the Eagles are ongoing, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Maclin still expects to return to Philadelphia, though he acknowledged that nothing’s imminent yet. According to McLane, the veteran receiver will likely be seeking a five-year contract worth $10MM+ per year, which could make the franchise tag a viable option for the Eagles.
- Speaking of that tag, in an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Adam Caplan identifies Maclin as one of the league’s top five candidates to be franchised.
- While his older brother made the move from the Colts to the Broncos late in his playing career, Eli Manning is less likely to leave the Giants and play elsewhere, in the view of father Archie Manning. As Jordan Raanan of NJ.com writes, the elder Manning thinks Eli would rather simply retire than play for a team besides the Giants.
- Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount had faced marijuana possession charges earlier in the season, but those charges have been dropped after Blount completed 50 hours of community service, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.