NFC North Notes: Packers, Vikings, Bears
When evaluating potential free agents, teams certainly look at a players’ ability to stay on the field for as many games as possible. David Chao of the National Football Post ranked his top-ten injury risks among this year’s free agents and he featured two Packers on that list. Defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was seventh, with Chao pointing out that the 31-year-old will still need another month or two to recover from offseason surgery. Tight end Jermichael Finley was number-eight following his neck injury in October, and the writer believes he’ll be medically cleared very soon. Cowboys’ defensive end Anthony Spencer finished atop the list.
Let’s take a look at some more rumblings from around the NFC North…
- The Packers ended up paying cornerback Sam Shields, which seems to go along with what Packers’ General Manager Ted Thompson has done in the past, writes Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Based on Silverstein’s list of players the Packers have and have not extended, the team has typically made the correct choice in which players they’ve chosen to keep.
- The number of signings, particularly in the NFC North, has shrunk the Bears‘ market, says John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. He points to Shields as a player the team could have used.
- After the Vikings signed Everson Griffen earlier today, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com took a look at what was next for the team. He estimated that the Vikings would have about $25MM left in cap room, which would be enough to sign Michael Johnson and Alterraun Verner (the Vikings have expressed interest in both) but wouldn’t leave the team with enough room to extend Kyle Rudolph or sign other free agents.
- Former Viking Jared Allen will likely take his team choosing a new team and probably won’t have a decision by Tuesday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
FA Rumors: Allen, Johnson, Mitchell, Jones
Jared Allen will not return to the Vikings, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Allen, 34, spent the past six seasons in Minnesota, after the team acquired him in 2008 from the Chiefs in exchange for a first-round-pick. La Canfora reports that Allen has narrowed his focus to teams that can contend next season, and that his list of preferred organizations contains less than five teams (via Twitter). The Raiders have been mentioned as a potential fit, while the Broncos would also seem to be an ideal match, as they are a veteran-laden squad with Super Bowl aspirations, and have a need at defensive end.
Allen’s play slipped last season, as he graded out as just the 34th-best defensive end in the league according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), although he did finish with 11.5 sacks. The Vikings seemed to have replaced him today by re-signing fellow end Everson Griffen to a five-year pact. The team had already extended defensive end Brian Robison in October.
Other notes from free agency:
- Although the Vikings could sign both Griffen and free agent defensive end Michael Johnson, sources expect Johnson to land elsewhere following the Griffen deal, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN. Johnson played under new Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati.
- We noted earlier that the Redskins are expected to be “major players” for cornerback Aqib Talib, but it seems they also have interest in safety Mike Mitchell, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Mitchell, a second-round-pick by the Raiders in 2009, notched 66 tackles and four interceptions in his first season in Carolina last year.
- Defensive end Arthur Jones is a popular name on the free agent market, having already drawn interest from the Titans, Redskins, Giants, and Vikings, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also tweeted that the Packers are also intrigued by Jones. Jones, 27, is a versatile player who would fit in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense, as evidenced by the teams calling on him.
NFC FA Rumors: Ward, Hatcher, Johnson
We passed along some news earlier today that the Lions had shown interest in free agent cornerback Alterraun Verner, but Detroit Free Press writer Dave Birkett was quick to shoot it down, citing the team’s bigger need at safety.
One of the top free agent safeties, T.J. Ward, has reportedly drawn interest from Detroit, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Rapoport says the team hopes it can create cap space with a re-do of its deal with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who currently carries a $22.41MM number for 2014.
Passing along a few more free agent rumors from around the NFC…
- Free agent defensive lineman Jason Hatcher has seven to eight teams interested in his talents, per ESPNDallas.com’s Calvin Watkins (via Twitter). Hatcher had 11 sacks for the Cowboys in 2013, more than double his previous career high.
- Add the Buccaneers to the growing list of teams interested in Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Giants are serious about adding a cornerback, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. They’ve already shown interest in Verner, and an NFL source said the team was inclined to place a competitive bid on Sam Shields before he re-signed with the Packers.
- Free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton has “multiple suitors,” a source tells ESPN.com reporter Michael C. Wright (via Twitter). Melton excelled from 2010-’12 with the Bears, but a knee injury in 2013 coupled with off-the-field issues has curtailed his stock.
Free Agency Notes: Vikings, Johnson, Gerhart
With more than $40MM in cap room available, Vikings GM Rick Spielman and his staff will be busy adding talent to their roster once free agency officially opens at 3:00pm Tuesday. In addition to cornerback Alterraun Verner, Minnesota has also called to express interest in former Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson, tweets ESPN.com reporter Ben Goessling. Following up on that tweet was ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan, who tweeted that at least six teams should be involved for Johnson’s services.
More free agency notes from Minnesota and elsewhere around the league…
- Fullback Jerome Felton is pessimistic that the team will be able to re-sign running back Toby Gerhart, per Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com.
- A league source told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that free agent quarterback Michael Vick is not likely to have interest in the Vikings or Jaguars after the re-signings of Matt Cassel and Chad Henne.
- The Bears and defensive lineman Michael Bennett have mutual interest, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Bennett is the older brother of Chicago tight end Martellus Bennett.
- Free agent safety Mike Mitchell has drawn interest from the Bears, Eagles, Broncos and Falcons, reports Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer.
- Recently released linebacker Jameel McClain has already visited the Bills and Giants, and is expected to visit the Vikings on Monday, said CSNBaltimore.com’s Bo Smolka.
- Due to the increased salary cap, Caplan tweets that it will be hard for the Rams to re-sign offensive lineman Rodger Saffold.
- Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News opines that the Cowboys should go ahead and release defensive cornerstone DeMarcus Ware, saving the team $7.8MM against the cap in 2014.
Eagles Show Interest In Michael Johnson
The Eagles are showing interest in one of 2014’s top free agents, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com, who reports that Chip Kelly‘s team is eyeing edge defender Michael Johnson. A 4-3 defensive end in Cincinnati, Bennett could draw interest from teams like the Eagles, who may view him as a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, writes McManus.
Johnson, a Georgia Tech product, was franchise-tagged by the Bengals for the 2013 season after an incredibly successful 2012 campaign in which he tallied 52 tackles (35 solo) and 11.5 sacks. Considered a high-ceiling prospect coming into the 2009 NFL Draft, Johnson fell all the way to the third round, when the Bengals selected him with the 70th overall pick. The prospective free agent has been linked to several teams this offseason, including the Vikings.
While providing excellent run defense has become Johnson’s calling card, he demonstrated some versatility in zone coverage schemes last season, as McManus exhibits with visual evidence in his piece. In fact, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) found that Johnson dropped into coverage 31 times last season.
The Eagles currently have over $24MM in estimated cap room, so the team could likely afford to make Johnson a lucrative offer. However, a move for the Bengals free agent would raise one intriguing question: What would happen to current starters Trent Cole and Connor Barwin? The two starters are firmly entrenched in their roles within the team and were both effective in 2013.
Within his piece, McManus suggests that Mike Neal and Rob Jackson could be alternative outside linebacker targets for the Eagles this offseason.
FA Rumors: QBs, Saffold, Vikings, Ravens
This year’s class of free agent quarterbacks doesn’t feature any stars, but there are a handful of players who should make very solid backups, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. In his latest piece, La Canfora takes a shot at forecasting where a few of the more notable names on the market will land. Among his predictions: Michael Vick to the Jets, Josh McCown to the Vikings, Matt Cassel to the Texans, and Josh Freeman to the Raiders.
With just over 24 hours left for teams to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents, let’s check out a few more FA rumors and news items:
- Talks are ongoing between the Rams and the reps for free agent offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, but agent Alan Herman says his client will “definitely” reach the open market next week, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Rams appear interested in re-signing Saffold as a guard, but the 25-year-old could draw interest from other teams as a tackle, which would likely increase his earning potential.
- Expect Michael Johnson to be a top target for the Vikings and head coach Mike Zimmer if the Bengals defensive end becomes available next week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Defensive lineman Arthur Jones is expected to draw significant offers in free agency that the Ravens won’t compete with, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Head coach John Harbaugh hinted at that outcome at the combine last month.
- The Ravens have an offer on the table for prospective free agent Jacoby Jones, tweets Rapoport. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says the team has had “several discussions” with Jones’ reps.
- The Colts remain relatively far apart in contract talks with cornerback Vontae Davis, though there’s still mutual interest in getting something done. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star has the details.
- Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee discusses the 49ers‘ approach to free agency, writing that safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Tarell Brown appear likely to test their value on the open market.
- The Eagles need to add a safety, but Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News would be surprised if the club makes a serious run at the very best free agents, like Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward.
AFC North Rumors: Browns, Bengals, Ravens
CBS’ studio show will look a little different in 2014, with longtime analysts Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe on the way out and a pair of recently-retired players on board. In addition to Tony Gonzalez, Bart Scott will also be joining the CBS team, according to the network. For Scott, who is still just 33 years old, it’s an early transition away from the field, and one that some NFL teams were hoping he’d put off. According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Scott had multiple workouts lined up before accepting the CBS job, and the Browns were among his most serious suitors.
Here’s more from around the AFC North:
- A Browns source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that a Monday report suggesting Cleveland’s new coordinators reported to CEO Joe Banner before the team overhauled the front office was not accurate.
- Some reports have suggested that the Bengals may let Michael Johnson walk after signing two other defensive linemen, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, to big contracts a year ago. However, according to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com, the Bengals intend to make every effort to re-sign Johnson, who will “see a lot of activity” if he hits the open market.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has been keeping close tabs on the players the Ravens have interviewed at this weekend’s combine in Indianapolis, and passes along a couple more updates today. According to Wilson, The Ravens met with a pair of linebackers, Alabama’s Adrian Hubbard and LSU’s Lamin Barrow, as well as Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz.
Cohen Predicts Where Top Free Agents Land
Andrew Cohen of OverTheCap.com has been following free agency very closely, giving updates on the cap situations of every NFL team and details on current player contracts. Earlier today, he took a break from crunching numbers to examine the possible destinations on some of the league’s top free agents. After outlining the effective cap space of each NFL team, which takes into account the amount of money they would have to pay their draft selections, he shows a picture of where some of the biggest names could land.
Of his top ten free agents, he sees more than half of them returning to their teams in 2014, either via long-term contract or because of the franchise tag. Some of those players we already thought would end up with extensions or playing next year under the tag,
However, he does see a few key players changing uniforms this offseason, finding some big money with a new franchise:
- Cohen predicts Panthers‘ star Greg Hardy finding a team that run a 4-3 defense and has some cap room, such as the Raiders or Jaguars.
- The top receiver this offseason, Eric Decker has already been linked to Cleveland by Cohen earlier this offseason, and the Browns are still thought to be a front runner for his services, along with the Jets.
- Bengals‘ pass rusher Michael Johnson played under the franchise tag in 2013, and is unlikely to be tagged again. Cohen could see the Falcons cutting Osi Umenyiora and plugging Johnson into his role.
- Because of the Steelers‘ cap woes, Cohen does not think they will have the opportunity to offer Jason Worilds a contract comparative to what he would get on the open market. For that reason, he sees the pass rusher leaving for greener pastures. According to Cohen he might not have to leave the state, as he sees the Eagles 3-4 defense as a perfect landing spot for the outside linebacker.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Bengals, Ravens
After checking in on the AFC West, let’s head North and round up the latest on the Browns, Bengals, and Ravens….
- The possibility of a reunion between Browns head coach Mike Pettine and safety Jairus Byrd is real, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. However, the Bills could complicate things by hitting Byrd with the franchise tag.
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Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says he’s hoping to get a deal done with free agent defensive end Michael Johnson, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com (Twitter links). In reference to quarterback Andy Dalton, Lewis said, “I’m sure we’ll sit down about contract at some point.”
- The Giants worked out an extension with coach Tom Coughlin to avoid lame duck status in 2014, but the Bengals have yet to take that measure with Marvin Lewis. The coach says he has no problem with that, Hobson writes.
- With Ray Rice facing charges and a potential suspension following his arrest in a domestic incident, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked if there were scenarios in which the running back wouldn’t return to the team next season. “Not that I’m aware of,” Harbaugh replied, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “I haven’t seen anything that would remotely make me think that.”
- Running back prospect Terrence West told reporters that he has about eight meetings scheduled with teams tonight. The Ravens are one of those clubs, tweets Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC North Notes: Sanders, Cap, Weeden, Draft
The Steelers are prepared to let receiver Emmanuel Sanders test free agency, and do not expect to retain him, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert expounded on Sanders’ value, and noted “where he goes in free agency and what his market is we don’t know at this point, but he certainly performed for us last year, and we’ll see where it is in the future.”
Sanders had a nice season as a complementary receiver to Antonio Brown, catching 67 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns. However, the Steelers don’t have much cap room with which to work, and they believe Markus Wheaton is ready to step into the number-two role. Our own Luke Adams put Sanders in the second tier of free agent receivers, and speculated that the Patriots could be interested in his services (as they were last season when they signed to him to an offer sheet, which the Steelers then matched), while we have also learned that the Jets covet Sanders.
Other news from the AFC North:
- The increased salary cap might benefit the Steelers even more than other teams, writes Brown in a separate article. With the team looking to shed salary in any way possible, the slight bump will be very beneficial. The Steelers will look to clear cap space by releasing several players as well as restructuring contracts, perhaps including that of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
- The new salary cap could also be a boon to the Bengals, as they look to re-sign two key free agents. With the 5% increase, the team might be able to retain both defensive end Michael Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins, reports Cole Harvey of ESPN.com.
- A decision on much-maligned Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden will be coming soon, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 30-year-old Weeden is widely expected to be released, though it was rumored that he has requested a trade. Whether the Browns could garner even a late-round pick for him remains to be seen.
- Browns GM Ray Farmer knows what he wants in quarterback, and needs to find out if any of the top QBs in the draft fit the bill, writes ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon. “I truly believe that a guy being able to accurately throw the football, make quick decisions and process and throw from what I call a quote-unquote crowded pocket,” said Farmer. “Guys who can play in those instances [have] critical factors in my mind of what the quarterback needs to be able to demonstrate he can do.”
- The Ravens could look to add either a wide receiver or an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun goes over some of the available options.