Robert Saleh: Titans Could Add Veteran CB Depth
The Titans have done some work to remake their cornerbacks depth this offseason, and the organization may not be done. While speaking with reporters last week, coach Robert Saleh hinted that the organization could bring in additional veteran depth at the position (via Jim Wyatt of the team’s website).
There were five Titans cornerbacks who garnered more than 300 snaps last season; only one of them, slot CB Marcus Harris, is still on the roster. The team used free agency to plug some of their openings. They gave former Saints CB Alontae Taylor a three-year, $60MM deal, and they signed former Giants defensive back Cor’Dale Flott to a three-year, $45MM pact. The two free agent acquisitions are currently penciled in for starting roles on Tennessee’s defense.
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is also high on another free agent addition. Former Chiefs CB Joshua Williams inked a modest two-year deal with the Titans this offseason and is expected to be the team’s top depth option on the outside. Bradley lauded Williams’ length while reaffirming that he’d likely be the top backup behind Taylor and Flott (per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com).
While Harris is penciled in as the team’s top slot CB, he earned notable praise from his head coach. Saleh told reporters to not “sleep” on the 2025 sixth-round pick, noting that Harris is “going to be a fun one to watch” (per Wyatt). This could be an indication that the 25-year-old could also contribute on the outside, although that would force the coaching staff to identify another candidate for the slot role. The rest of the team’s current depth consists of Micah Robinson, Keydrain Calligan, Erick Hallett, and a handful of UDFAs.
As for reinforcement, there are still some names remaining in free agency. It’s hard to imagine the team investing in the likes of Marshon Lattimore, Trevon Diggs, or old friend L’Jarius Sneed, especially since the organization seems content with Taylor and Flott leading the way. However, a veteran who’s used to a backup role could be a logical target for the Titans, especially if their current depth proves to be underwhelming.
ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/4/16
Earlier today, we rounded up the latest decisions on restricted free agent tenders. Now, we’ll shift our focus to the day’s exclusive-rights free agent tenders, for players with fewer than three years of NFL experience. here’s the latest:
- The Dolphins tendered ERFA offers to six players today, including defensive back Michael Thomas, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). The other players to get tenders were safety Shamiel Gary, wide receiver Matt Hazel, offensive lineman Ulrick John, cornerback Tyler Patmon, and tight end Jake Stoneburner.
- Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter), the Dolphins didn’t tender ERFA tight end Brandon Williams. That leaves defensive tackle Robert Thomas as the only one of Miami’s eight ERFAs whose situation wasn’t reported on today.
- The 49ers have tendered offensive lineman Jordan Devey, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- Washington has tendered offers to all three of its exclusive-rights free agents, according to John Keim of ESPN.com, who reports that linebacker Will Compton, running back Chris Thompson, and punter Tress Way will be retained.
- The Giants have tendered a contract offer to ERFA punter Brad Wing, tweets Pelissero. They’ve done the same with running back Orleans Darkwa, tight ends Jerome Cunningham and Will Tye, safety Bennett Jackson, receiver Myles White and offensive lineman Adam Gettis, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Wideout Marcus Harris did not receiver a tender and is now an unrestricted free agent, Vacchiano adds.
- The Chiefs have issued ERFA tenders to defensive linemen David King and tackle Nick Williams, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, who tweets (links: 1, 2) that running back Charcandrick West and safety Daniel Sorensen also received tenders.
Giants Sign Jeromy Miles
FRIDAY, 6:17pm: Miles’ deal is for one year and worth $745K, Jordan Raanan of the New York Daily News reports. There is no guaranteed money in this team-friendly agreement, and should Miles head to injured reserve, IR salary language that would pay Miles a $413K split or a smaller lower settlement exists in the contract.
WEDNESDAY, 1:35pm: The Giants have officially announced the signing of Miles, waiving wide receiver Marcus Harris and safety Justin Currie. Harris received an injured designation.
WEDNESDAY, 9:56am: Miles will sign a one-year contract with the Giants later today, a source confirms to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY, 9:10am: Having lost their top three safeties from the 2014 season, the Giants continue to explore ways to replace that production, and their search has led them to a former Raven, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Caplan reports (via Twitter) that New York is expected to sign ex-Baltimore safety Jeromy Miles to a contract.
Miles, who turns 28 next week, began his career with the Bengals before joining the Ravens in 2013. Having played mostly on special teams during his first few seasons in the league, Miles saw 365 defensive snaps in 2014 and held his own, making 34 tackles, grabbing an interception, and forcing a pair of fumbles.
Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown, Quintin Demps all left the Giants in free agency this offseason, leaving a significant hole at the safety position. The team opted not to address that hole in free agency, using a second-round pick on Landon Collins and experimenting with cornerbacks at the safety spot. Assuming Miles officially puts pen to paper and joins the Giants, he should provide the club more depth at the position, and will likely have the opportunity to earn regular playing time.
East Notes: Kromer, Cassel, Harris
Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is scheduled to appear in court for an August 12 plea date, following his arrest last weekend, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. With Kromer having been placed on indefinite paid administrative leave by the Bills this week, that August court session could go a long way toward determining whether or not he’ll have a job with the team by the time the regular season gets underway.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- We’ve been hearing in recent weeks that Matt Cassel may be in danger of losing his roster spot on the Bills, but Rodak believes that, despite a shaky spring and a sizable salary, Cassel still has about a 60% chance of making the regular season roster.
- This week, ESPN.com’s AFC East writers weighed in on which coach is on the hottest seat in the division. Unsurprisingly, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin ran away with the dubious distinction. Philbin is 23-25 as Miami’s head coach. Meanwhile, Rex Ryan (Bills) and Todd Bowles (Jets) were just hired earlier in 2015, and Bill Belichick‘s job with the Patriots certainly seems safe.
- Wide receiver Marcus Harris, cut by the Giants yesterday with an injured designation, underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee last month, which led to his removal from the team’s 90-man roster, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Assuming he’s not claimed today, Harris figures to land on the Giants’ injured reserve list. It’s the second straight year that the 26-year-old has seen his chances of earning a spot on the club’s Week 1 roster dashed by injuries.
Giants Waive 13 Players, Place Two On IR
10:49am: Graziano provides the last four Giants moves, reporting in a pair of tweets that the team has also cut safety C.J. Barnett and defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, as well as placing wideout Marcus Harris and safety Cooper Taylor on season-ending injured reserve.
10:27am: Vacchiano adds two more names to the list of Giants’ cuts (via Twitter): Travis Harvey (WR) and John Sullen (G). The team still has to part ways with four more players by this afternoon.
9:26am: In addition to McManus and James, the Giants have cut the following players, according to reports from Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News and Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger:
- Spencer Adkins, LB
- Justin Anderson, LB (waived-injured)
- Jerome Cunningham, TE
- Emmanuel Dieke, DE
- Xavier Grimble, TE (waived-injured)
- Kyle Sebetic, S
- Ross Weaver, CB
The seven additional cuts bring the Giants’ roster count down to 81.
8:34am: The Giants’ first wave of roster cuts is underway, and one of the team’s first moves will settle the kicking battle in New York. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Giants have informed Brandon McManus that Josh Brown will be the club’s kicker, with McManus being cut. Additionally, defensive back Charles James will be waived, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter). James announced that move himself this morning, via Instagram.
McManus, 23, may have lost the Giants’ kicking competition to the veteran Brown, but he has a big leg, having reportedly made a 75-yard field goal in training camp, as well as frequently putting kickoffs 10 yards out of the end zone, writes Bill Pennington of the New York Times. He’ll have to make it through waivers to become a free agent, so we’ll keep an eye out this week on whether another team decides to put in a claim for him.
As for James, he spent last season with the Giants and only saw two total defensive snaps, but was a frequent contributor on special teams — he recorded six overall tackles in kick and punt coverage. Graziano tweets that New York would have liked to delay its decision on James, but recent injuries on the offensive line have forced the team to change its plans.
The Giants have yet to announce these transactions, but figure to make them official later today when they finalize the rest of their cuts. The team will have to part ways with 13 more players by this afternoon’s roster cutdown deadline.
Extra Points: Cowboys, 49ers, Browns, Giants
Let’s check out some leftover links on this Saturday night…
- The Cowboys broke ground on a $115MM training facility in Frisco, Texas yesterday, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
- ESPN.com’s Todd Archer says (via Twitter) that Ryan Williams is among the 53-best players on the Cowboys roster, but that there is no guarantee that he’ll make the final cut.
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com believes the 49ers will likely roll with either Blaine Gabbert or Josh Johnson as the backup quarterback. If the players struggle, the team might be forced to look outside of the organization.
- Josh Gordon was not in the Browns starting lineup on Saturday, and Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com thinks that this could be an indication by the team that Gordon will not be around for the start of the season.
- Giants wide receiver Marcus Harris will be out for about three weeks, and it’s a tough blow for the player. While he was originally expected to be the team’s fifth receiver, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com questions whether the player will now even make the roster.
NFC East Links: Schwartz, Cowboys, Redskins
Giants‘ guard Geoff Schwartz was brought in this offseason to sure up the offensive line, but in light of his recent injury, the team needs to look at potential replacements on the roster, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Rookie center Weston Richburg is the logical replacement, although he was thought of as the center of the future and was already competing to be the starter at the other guard spot with Brandon Mosley. John Jerry and Dallas Reynolds are the other guards on the roster.
Here are some more links from around the NFC East:
- The Giants‘ offensive line is not the only cause for concern heading into the regular season, as the team’s tight ends and their quarterback Eli Manning have struggled as well, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The team is also short on wide receivers with rookie Odell Beckham Jr. and former practice squad star Marcus Harris struggling with injuries. Harris was thought to be a lock to make the roster before his injury, writes Raanan.
- There are still a few starting spots on the Cowboys‘ depth chart up for grabs, and David Moore of DallasNews.com points out three places where those jobs are up for grabs. The team still has a decision to make at left guard, left defensive end, and middle linebacker.
- The writers of DallasCowboys.com have highlighted two players each to watch going into the Cowboys‘ preseason game against the Dolphins. The players to watch are not necessarily in straightforward position battles, and range from rookie Devin Street to franchise quarterback Tony Romo.
- The Redskins‘ cornerback depth chart is still up in the air, with multiple players impressing so far during camp. Tracy Porter seems to have the slot corner spot locked up, but if his injury history comes back to haunt him, that could open up a roster spot for a player like Chase Minnifield, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. Bashaud Breeland has also had an excellent camp, but must learn how to play the slot before he sees significant playing time.