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Five Teams Interested In Phillip Dorsett

March 17th, 2020 at 12:36pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Free-agent wideout Phillip Dorsett tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that the Jets, Seahawks, Chargers, 49ers, and Raiders have all shown preliminary interest in his services. Dorsett added, “I just want to come in and have a great opportunity to play and showcase how I can really flourish as a player.”

While Dorsett has never lived up to the expectations placed upon a first-round pick (the Colts selected Dorsett with the 29th overall pick in 2015), he has consistently been a healthy pass-catching depth option over his five-year career.

Dorsett was most productive in 2016. Appearing in 15 games with a career-high 7 starts, Dorsett caught 33 receptions for 528 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Colts. Indianapolis shipped Dorsett to the Patriots the following offseason in a trade for quarterback Jacoby Brissett. In New England over the past three seasons, Dorsett was a decently productive depth piece, accruing 73 receptions for 881 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Of course, the Patriots struggles to find legitimate options at wide receiver over the past few seasons have been well documented. Yet even amidst the dire straights, Dorsett was never able to emerge as a top option. Still, given his long history as a sturdy player, it’s no surprise that many teams remain interested in his services.

Tom Brady Bids Farewell To Patriots

March 17th, 2020 at 7:54am CST by Zachary Links

Tom Brady doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but he knows it won’t be with the Patriots. On Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer took to social media to announce that he’ll be signing elsewhere. 

“To all my teammates, coaches, executives, and staff, Coach Belichick, RKK, and the Kraft family, and the entire organization: I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values. I am grateful for all that you have taught me – I have learned from everyone.

You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can ever hope for. Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. I couldn’t be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you. I have benefited from all you have given me. I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team, and I love you all for that.

“Our team has always set a great standard in pro sports and I know it will continue to do just that. Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for your incredible TEAM accomplishments. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we’ve created together.”

There’s been talk of Brady leaving the Pats for more than a year, but many believed that the two sides would ultimately resolve their differences and come to terms on a new deal to cover the rest of his career. Ultimately, that was not the case – Brady found lots of suitors, and greener pastures, when the league’s legal tampering period opened this week.

Beyond the obvious reasons, Brady’s departure will sting the Patriots badly. Thanks to his revised deal from last summer, Brady will count $13.5MM in dead money against the Patriots’ cap – while he plays elsewhere. The Pats may be able to spread that hit out over the course of two seasons, but it’s a blow to their limited flexibility nonetheless.

Brady’s next destination remains a mystery, though the Buccaneers and Chargers have both made strong offers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. He has not reached a handshake (elbow-bump?) deal with any clubs, either: he’s still exploring his options, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.

The Dolphins, long rumored to be a potential suitor for Brady, did not make a major play for him, according to Rapoport. And, according to previous reports, the same goes for the Giants, Colts, Titans, and 49ers.

It’s not clear where the Patriots will go from here, but history suggests that they will not replace Brady with a similarly high-priced quarterback. By the same token, it’s hard to imagine the Pats relying on a rookie QB as their Week 1 starter. Instead, the Patriots could bypass the star signal-callers and acquire a less glitzy veteran via trade – Bengals QB Andy Dalton, perhaps.

Brady has been the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the past 19 seasons, entering the fray in 2001 after a frightening Drew Bledsoe injury. He grew from sixth-round pick to a game manager-type role in his early years to one of the most legendary players in NFL history, being tabbed for an NFL-record-tying 14 Pro Bowls.

The New England icon does not lead the quarterback pack in MVPs or All-Pro honors (three and three, respectively), but his postseason resume dwarfs his peers. And his nine Super Bowl appearances will be difficult for future passers to match. He will attempt to book a 10th big-game outing in another uniform, however.

Tom Brady Market Down To Patriots, Buccaneers, Chargers?

March 16th, 2020 at 11:08am CST by Sam Robinson

The tampering window has opened, and Tom Brady‘s options are narrowed. The Patriots legend is down to the Buccaneers, Chargers or a Pats return, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Several teams were linked to the 42-year-old superstar, but the 49ers and Raiders balked and the Titans — perhaps the most closely linked suitor — ended up extending Ryan Tannehill.

The Patriots also extended Devin McCourty and used their franchise tag on guard Joe Thuney, tying up funds going into the tampering period. Brady’s contract will void once the new league year starts at 3pm CT Wednesday. While the new CBA will allow the Pats to spread Brady’s $13.5MM cap hit out through 2021, the future Hall of Famer not re-signing by Wednesday afternoon will make matters tougher for the perennial power.

Both the Bucs and Bolts have the Pats outflanked in cap space, and each team has extensive skill-position weaponry under contract. The Chargers also took Hunter Henry, a potential Patriots target, off the market. Still, the exits of the 49ers and Titans figure to help the Patriots in their efforts to keep the all-time great. New England has also surfaced as a potential buyer in deals for wideouts or tight ends.

Broncos Notes: Harrises, Wolfe, OL, RBs

March 14th, 2020 at 2:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos both traded for A.J. Bouye (and a $13MM salary) and used their franchise tag on Justin Simmons, signaling Chris Harris‘ time in Denver was almost certainly up. The four-time Pro Bowler said during an NFL Network appearance the door is “pretty much” closed on a 10th Broncos season (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala). The decorated cornerback is expected to have at least 10 teams pursuing him, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. The Browns, Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Jets, Lions, Raiders, Seahawks and Texans are expected to have “strong” interest in signing the 30-year-old defender, Renck adds. This list interestingly omits the Eagles, who have been linked to Harris at multiple junctures over the past five months.

Although Harris is arguably the best slot cornerback in NFL history, his consistent usage as a boundary player as well will likely push his market near the current corner standard of $15MM per year. He turned down the Broncos’ three-year, $36MM proposal before the trade deadline.

Here is the latest out of Denver:

  • Denver’s Week 1 starting defensive line consisted of Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis. All three are poised to hit the market, with Gotsis doing so after being benched early in the season. Shelby Harris would prefer to stay in Denver but has acknowledged, at 28, this is his lone chance at a big payday. The Colts are among the teams interested in the late-blooming D-lineman, Renck notes.
  • On the Wolfe subject, the eight-year veteran has been the most vocal about returning to Denver. His agent’s Combine meeting with the Broncos led him to believe he will hit the market. “[The Broncos] talked to my agent at the Combine. … It looks like they’re going to let me hit free agency, see what the market is,” Wolfe said during an interview with KOA Radio (via DNVR Sports’ Andrew Mason, on Twitter). “… It’s a nice way of saying, ‘We like you; we love you, but not for that kind of money.” The Broncos may bring back Wolfe or Shelby Harris, but not both. The team drafted Dre’Mont Jones in Round 3 last year, so it may be covered at one of its defensive end spots. Wolfe, 29, said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio (audio link) he is eyeing two to four more seasons.
  • The Broncos’ interest in a running back stems not necessarily from their current regime’s desire to replace Phillip Lindsay but to complement him, per Renck, who adds the team is expected to add a bigger back in either free agency or the draft. Royce Freeman has underwhelmed in that role over the past two seasons.
  • The Broncos plan to pursue a guard on the market, Renck notes (on Twitter). They declined Ronald Leary‘s 2020 option, so a replacement will be needed. They also may try to add a swing tackle and are likely to draft a tackle, which makes sense given left tackle Garett Bolles‘ struggles.
  • Elijah Wilkinson was supposed to work as a Broncos swing man in 2019, but Ja’Wuan James‘ near-season-long absence thrust Wilkinson into Denver’s right tackle spot. He spent time as a first-string guard in 2018 and stands to factor into the Broncos’ 2020 plans at one of those two positions. The team is expected to use a priority tender on Wilkinson, per Renck. This will likely mean a second-round tender. That will cost more than $3MM.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman Restructures Contract

March 13th, 2020 at 4:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chargers have been busy today. So far they’ve franchise-tagged Hunter Henry, released Brandon Mebane and Thomas Davis, and now they’ve also adjusted a contract. 

Los Angeles agreed to a restructure with linebacker Denzel Perryman that will keep him with the team for the 2020 season, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Originally set to make a little over $6MM in the final year of his current deal, he’ll now need to hit some incentives to reach that figure, Rapoport reports. Perryman was due a $1.5MM roster bonus on the third day of the new league year, and there had been some speculation that the Chargers might move on.

The hard-hitting inside linebacker has been a big part of their defense the past handful of years when healthy, but he’s had some trouble staying on the field. He appeared in only seven games in 2017, only nine the following year, and has never played in more than 14. Linebacker has been a weak spot for the Chargers’ otherwise talented defense, and with the release of Davis it’s a position they’ll certainly be addressing further this offseason.

Perryman was drafted 48th overall out of Miami back in 2015. He also got in a bit of trouble with head coach Anthony Lynn last year, as he was sent home before the team’s game against Jacksonville after missing a team meeting.

Bolts Cut Thomas Davis, Brandon Mebane

March 13th, 2020 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after opting to use their franchise tag on Hunter Henry and add an $11MM-plus cap figure to their payroll, the Chargers restored some of their cap space.

The Bolts released starting defenders Thomas Davis and Brandon Mebane. The two have a combined 28 seasons’ worth of NFL experience; each played key roles for the 2019 Chargers team. Together, these releases will create $9.5MM in cap space for the Bolts.

Davis signed with Los Angeles last year and was the team’s runaway tackles leader. Eight-plus years after his most recent ACL tear, the 36-year-old linebacker started all 16 games. Davis indicated he was prepared to retire after the 2018 season, but since it began with a suspension, he preferred to keep going.

Davis instead chose a two-year Chargers deal, but being set to turn 37 next week, retirement surely will be on the table for the Panthers’ all-time tackles leader.

Mebane spent four seasons with the Bolts, beginning his Charger run in San Diego and playing in L.A. for the past three years. The former Seahawk worked as a starting nose tackle during each season.

Chargers To Franchise Hunter Henry

March 13th, 2020 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time in six years, a tight end will receive the franchise tag. The Chargers are following through with their rumored plan to tag Hunter Henry. The Bolts will cuff their fifth-year tight end, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

No tight end has been franchise-tagged since the Saints locked down Jimmy Graham in 2014. Henry’s price will come in a bit higher. It will cost the Chargers approximately $11.1MM to tag Henry, making him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end for the time being. This ensures the promising but injury-prone target will not hit the market and thus potentially help another team that is courting Tom Brady.

The Patriots have needed a tight end for over a year now, having not replaced Rob Gronkowski. They naturally would have been a Henry fit, but the Bolts — also in the hunt for Brady — now have Henry’s retention as a selling point. The Chargers have Henry, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams under contract for 2020. They just extended RFA Austin Ekeler as well, giving Philip Rivers‘ to-be-determined successor a nice complement of weapons.

Henry, however, is not yet a surefire bet to be a long-term Pro Bowl candidate. He has flashed promise and posted career-high catch (55) and yardage (652) numbers last season, those coming in just 12 games. But Henry tore his ACL in 2018, missing the regular season, and missed four games due to a knee injury last season as well.

The Bolts will have roughly $46MM in cap space after tagging Henry. Unlike the Raiders, they have not yet shown an indication they are backing out of the Brady sweepstakes. At just 25, however, Henry profiles as a player who would stand to help the next long-term Chargers quarterback. He, Williams and Ekeler are each 25 or younger.

Former Chargers LB Kyle Emanuel Comes Out Of Retirement

March 12th, 2020 at 3:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Kyle Emanuel is ready to get back in the game. Last year, the former Chargers linebacker retired at the age of 27, but he has decided that he wants to return to the NFL, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Emanuel walked away for a multitude of reasons, at a time when he had multiple contract offers as a free agent:

“There is no specific reason why I came to this decision, but as I contemplated it this offseason, something told me it was time to walk away,” Emanuel wrote last April. “Although it wasn’t the sole reason, the injuries have started to pile up and I had to take my long-term health into consideration. I have no idea what will come next, which is scary and exciting at the same time, but I can’t wait to get started on whatever it is.”

Across four seasons with the Chargers, Emanuel appeared in 63 games with 33 starts. In 2018, he finished out with 30 tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery. The Raiders were among the clubs to express interest in him prior to his retirement.

Latest On Tom Brady: Patriots, 49ers, Chargers, WRs, TEs

March 9th, 2020 at 4:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots saw their offense decline considerably last season. The team cycled through wideouts and did not come especially close to replacing Rob Gronkowski. With Tom Brady on the doorstep of free agency, this certainly marks an unusual time for the 11-time reigning AFC East champions.

New England is looking into potential trades for wide receivers and/or tight ends, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, perhaps to help entice Brady to return. A trade-happy franchise during more stable offseasons, the Pats exploring deals should not necessarily surprise. But it could pertain to their quarterback situation.

Brady worked with either Randy Moss or Gronkowski from 2007-2018 and had high-end Gronk replacement Martellus Bennett in the fold in 2016. But the Pats struggled for much of last season, failing to bring in a viable Gronk successor and seeing both Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon in uniform for a short time. Julian Edelman remains under contract, going into his age-34 season, and N’Keal Harry will ideally be available for the first half of the 2020 slate. But Brady has expressed a desire to be surrounded with more talent, per Breer, and the Patriots are now competing with other teams for their 19-year starting quarterback.

The Patriots — who acquired Bennett, Gordon, Phillip Dorsett and Brandin Cooks via trades in recent years — have just one week before the legal tampering period. It is also possible the Pats will use the trade market to upgrade around a Brady replacement. But for now, they are still interested in re-signing the future Hall of Famer.

The Titans and Chargers remain in the mix for Brady, with a few other teams likely looming with some degree of interest. The 49ers rumors that emerged last week were driven more by the Brady camp than the 49ers, Breer adds. While the Raiders may be pivoting to a cheaper quarterback option, Breer notes the Bolts are still in this chase. They have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams under contract and are expected to use their franchise tag on Hunter Henry, thus taking away a potential free agent option for the Patriots.

Latest On Chargers, Tom Brady

March 7th, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The Chargers have gone quiet on the Brady front, but Volin notes a source indicated the 42-year-old passer’s only realistic option outside of the Patriots would be going to Los Angeles. That is an interesting description of Brady’s market, pointing to some of these suitors not being as high on the legendary quarterback as other reports would indicate. The Bolts’ lack of history regarding these types of moves in free agency, however, leads the Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer to question how serious the Chargers’ pursuit of Brady will be.
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