NFL Workout Updates: 10/1/18
Today’s tryouts:
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Chicago Bears
- OL Willie Beavers, Will Holden, Marcus Oliver, Menelik Watson
Green Bay Packers
- DEs Joey Mbu, Kendall Reyes
Houston Texans
New York Jets
- DEs Jared Crick, Anthony Lanier; G Jamil Douglas; FB Jalston Fowler; CB Sterling Moore; WRs Brandon Reilly, DeAngelo Yancey
Philadelphia Eagles
- S Robert Golden, Charlie Miller; LBs Dewey McDonald, Hayes Pullard
Bills Work Out DL Jared Crick
The Bills worked out defensive lineman Jared Crick on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Crick, 28, missed the entire 2017 campaign after undergoing back surgery in September, but he’s now apparently healthy and ready to find a new team. Last season was scheduled to be his second campaign with the Broncos, who signed him away from the Texans prior to the 2016 season. A starter from 2014-15 with Houston and in 2016 with Denver, Crick has appeared in 79 games and racked up 113 tackles during his six-year career.
Crick has exclusively played in 3-4 schemes during his NFL tenure, so a move to the Bills’ 4-3 look would mean something of a change. Still, he’d still be playing on the interior, and would join a Buffalo defensive tackle depth chart that includes Kyle Williams, free agent addition Star Lotulelei, rookie Harrison Phillips, and Adolphus Washington, among others. The Bills are playing 290-pound Trent Murphy at end in their 4-3, so it’s possible Crick could be allowed to see the edge, as well.
Broncos Place Jared Crick On IR
Broncos defensive end Jared Crick is having surgery on his back, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He is looking at a lengthy absence, Rapoport adds.
The Broncos placed Crick on IR.
[RELATED: Broncos To Sign DT Ahtyba Rubin]
Crick went from the Texans to the Broncos when he signed a two-year, $4MM deal with Denver prior to the 2016 season. He appeared in all 16 games last year with Denver including 15 starts and finished out with 53 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections. This year, Denver was hoping to start him at left defensive end, but they’ll have to get by without him for at least a couple of months.
To help soften the blow, the Broncos signed former Seahawks defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin on Friday morning. Rubin will probably need some time to learn the playbook, but he could be in line for a major role after the Broncos face the Bills on Sunday.
AFC Contract Details: Crick, Kuhn, Velasco
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has the details on a few of the latest contracts to be agreed upon or signed from around the NFL. Here are the specifics:
- Jared Crick, DE (Broncos): Two years, $4MM. $1MM signing bonus. Annual $250K workout bonus (Twitter link).
- Markus Kuhn, DT (Patriots): One year, $1.2MM. $140K bonus. Bonus of $18,750 for each game Kuhn is active. $300K in playing-time incentives. $428K preseason split (Twitter link).
- Fernando Velasco, OL (Bills): One year, $965K. $80K signing bonus. $453K preseason split (Twitter link).
Broncos Sign Jared Crick
3:08pm: Crick’s two-year deal is worth $4MM, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
12:40pm: The Broncos announced that they have signed defensive end Jared Crick. It’ll be a two-year deal for the former Houston bookend. 
Crick played under head coach Gary Kubiak, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and defensive line coach Bill Kollar when he was with the Texans and the staff’s familiarity with him surely played a role in the signing. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive end will now join a rotation of defensive ends who will collectively try and make up for the departure of Malik Jackson. Jackson, of course, inked a massive six-year, $85.5MM deal with Jacksonville in March. Denver’s defensive ends depth chart also includes Vance Walker, Kenny Anunike, Derek Wolfe, and George Uko.
Over the last two seasons, Crick has racked up 5.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, 47 tackles, and one forced fumble across 31 starts. The former fourth-round pick was hampered by injuries in his first two NFL seasons.
The Broncos likely aren’t done adding defensive ends this offseason as Kubiak has previously indicated that the team will be eyeing defensive ends in the draft.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agent Rumors: M. Jones, C. Long, Crick
Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones is expected to get a “huge” deal in free agency, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com, who tweets that Jones is the top wideout on most NFL free agent boards. While that may come as a surprise for those who haven’t been paying close attention to the available players at the position, it makes sense when considering the alternatives.
When Alshon Jeffery received the franchise tag this week from the Bears, the top free agent wide receiver was removed from the equation (unless a team is willing to part with two first-round picks to land him). That leaves Jones, Travis Benjamin, Rishard Matthews, Anquan Boldin, and Rueben Randle among the receivers in line for the biggest deals. And don’t forget Jones’ teammate, Mohamed Sanu — Russini tweets that he’s also in line for a nice payday.
As we wait to see how the wide receiver market plays out, let’s check in on a few other free agent notes and rumors from around the NFL….
- Although he was cut by the Rams after another injury-plagued season, veteran defensive end Chris Long is “100% healthy,” per Russini, who tweets that Long only wants to sign with a Super Bowl contender.
- Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who technically remains a free agent until his franchise tender is signed, may come off the market very soon. Peter Schrager of FOX Sports tweets that Johnson is expected to accept his tender later today.
- The Texans are expected to try to re-sign defensive end Jared Crick, whose rookie contract is expiring, writes Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Crick, who operates primarily as a run-stopper, will likely draw interest from other teams when the legal tampering period begins on Monday, but he has indicated he “would love to be back” in Houston.
- Cornerback Sterling Moore will almost certainly hit the open market next week, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, who tweets that the Buccaneers could still re-sign Moore, but will let him gauge his value.
Sunday Roundup: Wood, Burfict, Koetter
As the Vikings and Seahawks do battle in frigid Minneapolis, let’s take a look at some links from around the league:
- New Lions president Rod Wood admits to not having any football experience, but no one was especially concerned about that, as Wood is expected to handle the business side of the club while new GM Bob Quinn will handle the football side. But as Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes, Detroit’s press release announcing Quinn’s hire noted that Quinn would report to team ownership and to Wood, which suggests that Wood could be wielding more power than initially believed.
- Unsurprisingly, Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict is facing a suspension for his hit on Antonio Brown last night, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
- ESPN’s Ed Werder believes it is “unlikely” that the Bengals will part ways with head coach Marvin Lewis (Twitter link), and Mark Maske of the Washington Post lays out the reasons for his belief that Lewis should stay.
- Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel believes the Packers‘ efforts this season have been hampered by GM Ted Thompson‘s lack of in-season roster moves to address the team’s weaknesses. Since 2010, Green Bay has been awarded just two players on waivers, and Thompson has gone to the practice squad 70% of the time to fill vacancies on the 53-man roster.
- Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune tweets that Dirk Koetter is still the leading candidate for the Buccaneers‘ head coaching job, though Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that Koetter “really impressed” the 49ers during his interview with San Francisco yesterday. Tampa Bay also interviewed Panthers DC Sean McDermott yesterday.
- Gus Bradley is taking his time with the Jaguars‘ search for a new defensive coordinator and has yet to establish a deadline for the decision, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida-Times Union.
- Texans unrestricted free agents Ben Jones and Jared Crick both expressed their desire to remain in Houston, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- Meanwhile, two notable players have declared that they will enter the NFL draft: Arkansas RB Alex Collins (Twitter link via ESPN’s Joe Schad) and Utah State LB Nick Vigil (Twitter link via Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net).
2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.
Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR
Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB
Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;
Browns: Billy Winn, DL
Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T
Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G
Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR
Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE
Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB
Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T
Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB
Packers: Mike Daniels, DL
Panthers: Josh Norman, CB
Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB
Raiders: Miles Burris, LB
Rams: Chris Givens, WR; Trumaine Johnson, CB
Ravens: Gino Gradkowski, C
Saints: Akiem Hicks, DT; Corey White, CB
Seahawks: J.R. Sweezy, G; Russell Wilson, QB
Steelers: Kelvin Beachum, T
Texans: Brandon Brooks, G; Jared Crick, DL; Ben Jones, G
Titans: Coty Sensabaugh, CB
Vikings: Robert Blanton, S: Rhett Ellison, TE; Josh Robinson, CB; Jarius Wright, WR
Washington: Alfred Morris, RB
Extra Points: Byrd, Murray, Smith, Jets
Miscellaneous news and notes from around the league. . .
- Saints safety Jairus Byrd underwent “optional” back surgery to repair a disc issue, according to Katherine Terrell of Nola.com. While head coach Sean Payton downplayed the seriousness of the procedure, Terrell’s colleague Larry Holder is skeptical, especially since Byrd just inked a six-year, $54MM ($26.3MM guaranteed) deal.
- The Cowboys have acknowledged a contract extension for star receiver Dez Bryant is “a possibility,” but he’s not the only skill player on the roster in need of a new deal, as running back DeMarco Murray is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie pact. The Cowboys are a different team with Murray healthy, asserts ESPN’s Todd Archer, who considers what the team should reasonably be willing to pay to retain Murray’s services beyond 2014.
- Eagles first-round pick Marcus Smith is working exclusively at Connor Barwin‘s “Jack” (left outside) linebacker position, which enables him to learn multiple responsibilities while honing his technique, writes csnphilly.com’s Matt Allibone.
- Michael Wilhoite leads a group of 49ers linebackers vying to keep NaVorro Bowman‘s seat warm, writes Eric Branch on sfgate.com.
- Who says fullbacks are a dying species? More love from Pro Football Focus, who tabs Collin Mooney as the Titans’ “Secret Superstar.”
- With the departure of Antonio Smith, third-year defensive lineman Jared Crick has a chance to take on a more prominent role for the Texans, writes Dale Robertson in the Houston Chronicle.
- The Jets have $23MM in cap space, notes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini, who also states the team views Kyle Wilson as a slot corner, “nothing more.” Meanwhile, Cimini hears from scouts that Dimitri Patterson, projected to start outside opposite Dee Milliner, is actually better suited in the slot.
- After losing Morocco Brown to the Browns, the Redskins have promoted Alex Santos to director of pro personnel, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter). Santos has spent the last six years as a pro scout.