Tony Jefferson - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Rumors: Browns, RGIII, Raiders, Jets, Bills

March 20th, 2016 at 10:48am CST by Luke Adams

After hosting him for a visit earlier this weekend, the Browns are now doing more extensive homework on Robert Griffin III, making calls to find out more about the free agent QB’s game and his character, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While it may just be a matter of a team doing its due diligence, the Browns’ efforts could also signal that Cleveland has a level of genuine interest in Griffin. By comparison, the Jets – who brought RGIII in for a meet-and-greet but remain focused on re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick – don’t appear to have done the same amount of research into the former No. 2 overall pick.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Despite having some interest in him, it appears unlikely that the Raiders will make an offer to Cardinals RFA safety Tony Jefferson, tweets Eddie Borsilli of SiriusXM NFL Radio. A source tells Borsilli that Oakland is more likely to focus on adding safety help in the draft.
The Jets have taken a methodical approach to free agency so far in 2016, but they have the resources to be major players a year from now, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. As Cimini observes, the Jets don’t have many non-rookie contracts on their books that feature guaranteed money in 2017, so the team will have the flexibility to make major moves if opportunities arise.
The Bills and cornerback Stephon Gilmore have yet to make headway on a long-term contract extension, and it doesn’t appear that the team is in a rush to get something done, says Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. Although the Bills would like to lock up their top cornerback, it sounds like an issue the club may address sometime after the draft, rather than in the immediate future.

Cardinals Tender RFA Tony Jefferson

March 2nd, 2016 at 5:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The first restricted free agent tender of the offseason has been assigned to Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson, a source tells Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), who adds that Arizona offered Jefferson the lowest tender. If he signs the tender, Jefferson will be paid $1.671MM for the 2016 season.

By giving Jefferson the lowest tender, the Cardinals are opening themselves up to seeing Jefferson poached by another club. If a competing team signs Jefferson to an offer sheet, and Arizona declines to match, it would only be entitled to original round compensation. But because Jefferson was an undrafted free agent, the Cardinals wouldn’t receive a draft pick in return if Jefferson opts to sign elsewhere.

Joining a new NFL club is certainly on the table for Jefferson, and according to Rand Getlin of NFL Network (Twitter link), the Texans are a “team to watch,” as they are on the hunt for an upgrade at safety. Houston saw four players — Andre Hal, Eddie Pleasant, Quintin Demps, and Rahim Moore — rotate through the safety positions last season, and as I noted in my preview of the Texans’ offseason, the team could look to add another contributor in the secondary.

It’s a bit surprising that the Cardinals would tender at Jefferson at the lowest level, as the 24-year-old has been solid in the defensive backfield during his three seasons in the desert. He’s appeared in all 48 possible games, starting 17, and played on more than 70% of Arizona’s snaps last season. The production has been there, too — Jefferson graded as the No. 18 safety among 88 qualifiers in 2015, per Pro Football Focus.

Cap space is something of an issue for the Cardinals, to be sure, as they rank 20th with about $19.3MM in reserves. And the club does have other free agents to re-sign, including Jefferson’s secondary mates Rashad Johnson and Jerraud Powers. But the second round tender is only valued $2.553MM, not even $1MM more than the original round tender, and likely would have come with enough of a draft pick cost attached to dissuade other suitors. For $882K, Arizona is risking the loss of a valuable option in the secondary.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Bell, Wilson, Vaughn

April 7th, 2014 at 1:57pm CST by Matt Feminis

Cardinals safety Yeremiah Bell is likely to retire despite the team offering him a one-year contract, reports Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 in Phoenix (via Twitter). A Dolphins sixth-round pick in 2004, Bell, 36, spent eight years in Miami before joining the Jets in 2012 and the Cardinals in 2013. He played all 16 games in each of the last six seasons, starting all but one contest. Pro Football Talk provides additional perspective on a remarkable career which began when Bell decided to walk on at Eastern Kentucky.

Bell’s retirement would leave the Cardinals with Tyrann Mathieu at free safety and Tony Jefferson or Rashad Johnson at strong safety. However, the secondary has struggled to handle tight ends in coverage, and it would not be a surprise if the team added a bigger, more athletic, more physical safety in the draft.

In other NFC news and notes…

David Wilson would be an ideal No. 2 back for the Giants, but he’s coming off career-threatening neck surgery and his availability is unknown, writes Ralph Vacchiano in the New York Daily News.
Meanwhile, the Giants still have questions at three of five spots on their offensive line, in the opinion of ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
Losing starting center Brian De La Puente to the Bears didn’t surprise the Saints, as they seemingly chose to go another direction, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett, who details De La Puente’s replacement options.
The Lions have agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Cassius Vaughn, reports Aaron Wilson of National Football Post (via Twitter). Vaughn, 26, played all 16 games (four starts) last season for the Colts, recording 30 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Oregon running back/receiver/returner De’Anthony Thomas (otherwise known as “Black Mamba”) will visit the Bears tomorrow, per Ross Jones of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Thomas displayed speed, quickness and playmaking ability in Oregon’s prolific spread attack, but concerns about his size, durability and work ethic could push him into the middle rounds. Thomas’ skill set seems to fit with the Bears, who are in need of a speedy compliment to their large receivers, as well as a replacement for Devin Hester.