Matt Schaub - Pro Football Rumors

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Dennard, Vick

November 23rd, 2015 at 1:23pm CST by Luke Adams

With Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco out for the rest of the 2015 season due to an ACL injury, veteran backup Matt Schaub will get an opportunity to add an extra $1MM to his season’s earnings. As Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explains (via Twitter), Schaub’s deal includes a $500K incentive for playing 5% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps, and another $500K if he reaches 10%. With six games still left on the schedule, Schaub should have no trouble hitting those benchmarks unless he suffers an injury of his own.

Here’s more on the Ravens and a couple of their AFC North rivals:

In the view of Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, losing Flacco makes the Ravens the favorite to land the first overall pick for the 2016 draft. Currently, Baltimore is 3-7, a game ahead of the Browns, Titans, and Chargers, who have two wins apiece, so I’m not sure I’d call the Ravens the frontrunner for that first overall pick. Still, it certainly looks like the team is on track for its highest selection since 2000, when Jamal Lewis went fifth overall. The Ravens have never had a top-three pick.
The Bengals are fearing the worst for second-year cornerback Darqueze Dennard, who was injured in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, Dennard dislocated his shoulder, and will undergo an MRI today to see if he suffered a tear as well. There’s a chance he’ll land on the injured reserve list later this week.
Steelers quarterback Michael Vick said today that he’d like to play for another season, and wouldn’t mind returning to Pittsburgh in 2016, even if Landry Jones is the No. 2 quarterback heading into the summer (Twitter link via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). In previous offseason, Vick has prioritized an opportunity at a starting job, so this would be a much different approach to free agency for him.

North Notes: Lions, Ravens, Packers, Petty

April 2nd, 2015 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

After owner Steve Bisciotti said yesterday that he’d like to see longtime Raven Haloti Ngata return to Baltimore at some point, our Zach Links noted that Bisciotti’s comments could result in tampering accusations. However, it doesn’t appear the Lions are interested in filing a tampering change against the Ravens.

“The Ravens have reached out to us concerning the comments made yesterday by Steve Bisciotti regarding Haloti Ngata,” the Lions said today in a statement (all Twitter links). “We appreciate both the Ravens’ professionalism and the context in which Mr. Bisciotti’s statements were made. We consider the matter to be a non-issue.”

Here’s more from around the league’s two North divisions:

The Packers are bringing in Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty for a pre-draft visit, writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. As Huber notes, it’s an interesting piece of news, since Petty projects as a second-day pick and a top-five QB in this draft class.
While B.J. Raji‘s one-year deal with the Packers could be worth as much as $3.5MM with bonuses and incentives, it only counts against the team’s cap for $1.75MM for now, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Raji also received $500K guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus, whereas fellow defensive tackle Letroy Guion didn’t get any guaranteed money in his new one-year contract with the Packers.
According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Matt Schaub‘s one-year, $2MM deal with the Ravens is fully guaranteed, not including the extra $1MM available in incentives. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun confirms as much, tweeting that the veteran quarterback got a $1MM signing bonus and a guaranteed $1MM base salary.
Emmanuel Ogbuehi, who reportedly agreed to terms with the Buccaneers, didn’t get a contract offer from the Vikings when he visited Minnesota, which made his decision easy, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

Ravens Sign Matt Schaub

March 31st, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

4:52pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk clarifies that Schaub’s deal has a base value of $2MM, and can be worth up to $3MM through incentives. Of course, those incentives are only within reach if Schaub actually plays.

2:05pm: Schaub’s one-year contract is worth $3MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

1:47pm: The Ravens have officially confirmed Schaub’s signing, announcing that it’s a one-year deal (Twitter link). Perhaps there’s a second-year option or a void year; otherwise, it appears Wilson’s report was inaccurate.

1:43pm: Schaub’s deal with the Ravens will be for two years, averaging about $2MM annually, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

12:51pm: After paying a visit to Baltimore today to meet with the Ravens, quarterback Matt Schaub has signed with the team, according to Peter King of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com had reported yesterday that Schaub would likely decide on a new team this week.

By signing with the Ravens, Schaub will immediately become the favorite to assume the backup role in Baltimore behind Joe Flacco. 2014 sixth-round pick Keith Wenning should also be in the quarterback mix for the Ravens, but with Tyrod Taylor having departed to Buffalo in free agency, the team was in the market for a signal-caller with a little more experience.

Schaub, 33, was acquired by the Raiders in a trade with the Texans last offseason, but lost out on the starting quarterback job to rookie Derek Carr, and served as the No. 2 option in Oakland. After new Oakland offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave brought former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder in to back up Carr, Schaub was released and became an unrestricted free agent.

Prior to his lone year in Oakland, Schaub spent seven seasons in Houston, starting 88 total regular season contests for the team, recording a 90.9 overall passer rating, and earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods. However, he fell apart in the 2013 season, his last extended run as a starter, going 2-6 in his starts and throwing more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (10).

Schaub, who also received interest from the Falcons, Cowboys, and Titans, had been slated to earn $5.5MM with the Raiders prior to his release, but will likely have to settle for a more modest salary on his new deal. Still, Ed Werder of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) that Dallas dropped out of the running due to the price tag, so it sounds like the veteran should make out fairly well.

Matt Schaub To Visit Ravens

March 30th, 2015 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that quarterback Matt Schaub would likely sign a new contract this week, with the Ravens, Jets, and Falcons among the teams in play. Now, Aaron Wilson of the Balimore Sun writes that Schaub is expected to visit Baltimore to meet with the Ravens early this week.

According to Wilson, Schaub has also drawn “solid interest” from the Falcons, but the Sun scribe doesn’t list the Jets as one of the clubs in the mix for the former Raider. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets that it’s “fair to say” the Jets probably won’t add another quarterback of consequence until at least the draft, so it sounds like they’re not serious suitors for Schaub. Per Wilson, the Cowboys and Titans have also expressed interest in the veteran QB.

The Ravens would make some sense as a fit for Schaub. Baltimore lost its top backup earlier this month when Tyrod Taylor signed a new deal with the Bills. Keith Wenning currently looks like the No. 2 option behind Joe Flacco, so I imagine the Ravens wouldn’t mind adding a veteran to the roster.

FA Rumors: Schaub, Barnes, Myers, Jaguars

March 30th, 2015 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders opted to replace Matt Schaub with Christian Ponder as their backup quarterback heading into 2015, releasing Schaub earlier this month. However, it doesn’t appear that the veteran signal-caller will be out of work for long. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Schaub will likely sign a new deal this week. The Jets, Ravens, and Falcons are among the teams in the running to land him.

Let’s check in on a few other items related to free agents….

Free agent offensive lineman Tim Barnes, who played center and guard for the Rams, is visiting the Chiefs today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). Kansas City already fortified its interior offensive line by acquiring Ben Grubbs from the Saints, but the team is looking for additional pieces, having lost a big one in center Rodney Hudson.
Speaking of free agent centers, ex-Texans lineman Chris Myers is visiting the Seahawks today, a source tells Schefter (Twitter link). Seattle sent Max Unger to New Orleans earlier in March, and has been eyeing free agent centers, including Stefen Wisniewski.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union takes a closer look at free agent wideout Greg Jennings to determine whether he’s a fit for the Jaguars.
The Ravens aren’t necessarily done adding free agents, but there aren’t many noteworthy players still on the board at the positions they’d want to target. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun examines some of the free agent options for the team at wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, and a couple other spots.

NFC Notes: Guion, Seahawks, Rams, Falcons

March 27th, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

With Letroy Guion‘s legal case now resolved, the Packers continue to explore a potential reunion with the free agent defensive lineman, but it sounds like he’s drawing interest from the team that knocked Green Bay out of the postseason earlier this year. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Guion visited the Seahawks today.

More than other most other teams in the NFL, Seattle has shown a willingness to bring in players for visits without necessarily pushing hard to sign him, so there’s certainly no guarantee Guion will become a Seahawk, but it appears the Packers aren’t his only suitor.

Let’s check in on a few more Friday items from across the NFC….

Despite acquiring Nick Foles from the Eagles, the Rams still intend to draft a quarterback, according to head coach Jeff Fisher (link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Foles is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so St. Louis figures to use the 2015 season to determine whether or not the ex-Eagle can be the Rams’ QB of the future.
For now, T.J. Yates appears to be the favorite to back up starting quarterback Matt Ryan in Atlanta, but Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing a veteran like Matt Schaub, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “Schaub is certainly somebody that we could [add],” Quinn said. “As we get through it, we’ll let you know if we go down that road.”
The Giants‘ five-year, $17.5MM contract for Dwayne Harris, which includes $7.1MM in guaranteed money, has taken its share of criticism over the last couple weeks. However, agent Chad Speck tells Jordan Raanan of NJ.com that 14 teams reached out to him about Harris, and the Giants “weren’t the only team involved in the numbers that Dwayne ultimately signed for.”
A pair of prospects who were dismissed from their respective college teams will visit the Vikings, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who reports (via Twitter) that the team is scheduled to host cornerback Marcus Peters and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.

Raiders Release Matt Schaub

March 16th, 2015 at 3:49pm CST by Luke Adams

As expected, the Raiders have parted ways with quarterback Matt Schaub, terminating his contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). As a veteran player, Schaub won’t have to clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent, and will have the opportunity to immediately sign elsewhere.

Schaub, 33, was acquired by the Raiders in a trade with the Texans last offseason, but lost out on the starting quarterback job to rookie Derek Carr, and served as the No. 2 option in Oakland. After new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave brought former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder in last week to back up Carr, Schaub’s release was viewed as inevitable.

Schaub had been set to earn a $5.5MM base salary for the 2015 season, but by releasing him, the Raiders will clear that entire amount from their books. As for the veteran signal-caller, he should have some backup opportunities around the league now that he’s not tied to that $5.5MM cap hit.

Raiders To Sign Christian Ponder

March 13th, 2015 at 3:45pm CST by Luke Adams

3:45pm: With the Ponder deal set to be finalized, the Raiders are expected to cut Schaub unless a team is willing to give up a draft pick for him, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bill Williamson of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that he wouldn’t be surprised if McGloin is eventually cut as well.

3:24pm: The Raiders are expected to sign Ponder to a one-year deal, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

2:48pm: Former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder became an unrestricted free agent for the first time this week, and his first visit will be to Oakland to meet with the Raiders, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Bill Musgrave, who worked with Ponder in Minnesota for multiple seasons, was hired back in January as the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator

Ponder, who turned 27 last month, started 36 games during his four years with the Vikings, though he was essentially the team’s No. 3 signal-caller in 2014, behind Teddy Bridgewater and Matt Cassel on the depth chart. With a career 59.8% completion rate and 75.9 passer rating, Ponder likely isn’t being considered for any starting roles or even QB competitions this offseason, but he’s a former 12th overall pick and could still be a solid backup.

Derek Carr is set to enter the 2015 season as the Raiders’ starter, but the backup situation in Oakland is uncertain, particularly with a new coaching staff in place. Matt Schaub remains under contract, but the team could clear his entire $5.5MM cap hit from its books by cutting him. Matt McGloin is also under contract.

West Rumors: Fitz, Raiders, Parker, Wilson

February 20th, 2015 at 9:03am CST by Luke Adams

While we learned the basic details of Larry Fitzgerald‘s new contract with the Cardinals earlier this week, we didn’t have the specific figures until today, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com breaks down the deal in a series of five tweets. Fitzgerald will receive a $10MM bonus on the second day of the 2015 league year, and has fully guaranteed $1MM and $11MM base salaries for 2015 and 2016, respectively. That $10MM bonus will be considered a signing bonus, meaning it’s prorated over the course of the deal, which extends through 2018, though it’s scheduled to void five days after the 2017 Super Bowl. The contract, which includes a no-trade clause, reduces Fitzgerald’s 2015 cap hit to $10.85M, creating $12.75M in immediate cap room for the Cards.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFL’s two West divisions….

Although Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie has publicly stated that the team won’t rule out keeping Matt Schaub in 2015, league sources tell Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle that Oakland won’t bring back its high-priced backup. According to Tafur, safety Tyvon Branch and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley could also be on the chopping block, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew would likely have to take a pay cut to return to Oakland.
The Chiefs are engaged in ongoing discussions with the agent for free agent defensive back Ron Parker, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, who tweets that Parker’s asking price is still about $6MM per year. Paylor reported earlier in the month that Parker would be seeking a $6MM annual salary on a four- or five-year deal.
Cap experts like Joel Corry and Jason Fitzgerald have recently speculated that when Russell Wilson signs an extension with the Seahawks, he could become the first quarterback to receive a fully guaranteed contract. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), that possibility is “very real,” and it’ll be fascinating to see how it plays out.
In his examation of the free agent market for tight ends, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap explains why Broncos TE Julius Thomas may be overvalued next month.

Raiders Notes: Rogers, Brown, Branch

February 18th, 2015 at 6:09pm CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie sat down with reporters for a 30 minute chat. He told the press on hand, including Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter) that the Raiders will let both Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown hit the open market as they look to go younger at cornerback. Here are some of the highlights from McKenzie’s chat..

Safety Tyvon Branch has an uncertain future with the Raiders. McKenzie says that he plans to speak with his agent soon to discuss different possibilities, Bair tweets. Branch, under contract through 2017, is due a $1MM roster bonus in March. He has missed almost two entire years thanks to injury.
Even with a starter’s salary, McKenzie said it isn’t out of the question for Matt Schaub to return as a backup, Jerry McDonald of The Oakland Tribune tweets. Schaub is scheduled to earn a $5.5MM base salary and Derek Carr in place as the team’s starter. It seems likely that he could get let go if he was unwilling to restructure.
Talks are ongoing with center Stefen Wisniewski but McKenzie wouldn’t make promises either way, Williamson tweets.
Coach Jack Del Rio told reporters that Austin Howard, who struggled at guard in 2014, will compete with third-year player Menelik Watson at right tackle, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. That could mean that Oakland will be shopping for a guard this offseason.
In no particular order, it seems like McKenzie will be looking at running back, wide receiver, guard, defensive end, defensive tackle, and middle linebacker, Williamson tweets.
The GM said that the Raiders could sign multiple starter quality players, Williamson tweets.